New Hope Church - Podcast

It's easy to point out what's wrong with everyone else. But Jesus flips the script—inviting us to examine our own hearts before we criticize anyone else's. Judgment without self-awareness turns us into hypocrites, but grace paired with humility opens the door for growth and restoration. What if, instead of condemning, we chose compassion? What if, instead of pride, we chose mercy? What if, instead of pointing fingers, we chose to reflect first? What if we chose love over judgment—every time? Because the world doesn't need more critics. It needs people willing to lead with grace, live with humility, and love like Jesus.

We live in a world that's hurting, divided, exhausted, and searching for answers. People are longing for something real, something that brings healing, hope, and direction. Thankfully there are many amazing organizations out there making a real difference. But the church is called to something more. In the middle of all the noise, confusion, and pain, the church has what our world needs now- not just kindness or good deeds, but the life-changing message of Jesus. New Hope's mission is to help all people become fully devoted followers of Jesus, because we believe He is the answer and hope to the brokenness we see all around us.

The Spirit-filled life isn't just about feelings—it's about being truly changed from the inside out. Discover how the Holy Spirit shapes how we speak, love, forgive, and live with purpose. 

God's Spirit wants to guide your thoughts, decisions, and even your relationships. In this message, we explore how to recognize His voice and follow His lead in real, practical ways. 

What if you had power, beyond just your own capacity to live a confident and successful life? This week, discover how the Spirit gives power for life, purpose, and the challenges you face. 

Maybe you've heard of God and Jesus—but what about the Holy Spirit? Week one explores who He is and why He matters to your life today. 

This week we are excited to welcome back a good friend of New Hope – Tom Eggum. Many of you know him for the selfless work he does with Hope for Kids International. Some of you know him for his infectious enthusiasm and joy. Not many of us know Tom's back story. One thing is certain, God uses difficult circumstances to write the most beautiful stories.

We just celebrated the most important day in history. The death and resurrection of Jesus is a beautiful promise for followers of Christ. It's also a rally cry for God's church. We have a purpose that only begins on Easter Sunday. It's time for us to RISE, join together, and represent Him well in the world around us.

He is Risen! When Jesus rose from the dead, we were offered an indescribable gift. He traded our sin and shame for hope and joy! Because He rose, we can also rise…knowing we are His forever. The real question is this: what do we do now?

When we examine Jesus' life, it becomes clear He wanted others to believe He was God's son who came to rescue us. Was it a deliberate attempt to deceive us? Was He delusional?

In a world of many religions and spiritual paths, isn't it narrow-minded to say Jesus is the only way to God? This week, we'll have an honest conversation about truth, faith, and what makes Jesus different from all other religious leaders.

If Jesus was so loving, kind, and good, why was He crucified? What does His rejection say about human nature—and about us today?

When we examine Jesus' life, it becomes clear He wanted others to believe He was God's son who came to rescue us. Was it a deliberate attempt to deceive us? Was He delusional?

Jesus didn't just politely follow societal norms. He often moved in the opposite direction of common cultural and religious practices. There is no getting around the fact that His teaching and example were disruptive!

Many agree the teachings of Jesus greatly influenced individuals, nations, and institutions throughout the world. Within his teachings are some outrageous claims that shouldn't be ignored.

If God exists, why did He come in human form? Is Jesus really God, or is that just a religious story? This week, we'll explore how Jesus claimed to be God and why that claim still challenges us.

This message sets the stage for why answering the question, “Who is Jesus?” is so important. Fortunately, we don't have to rely merely on people's opinions. We have solid historical evidence to guide us.

The heart wants what it wants – but can it always be trusted? While the world tells us to follow our feelings, the Bible warns us of the heart's potential to mislead. This week, we'll learn how to follow God's truth instead, leading to a life of clarity and peace.

While it may be true that many wounds soften and heal over time, some stick us for a lifetime. God wants to help us grow in strength, wisdom, and compassion through the hardest seasons.

This is an interesting idea. Sometimes it's used to comfort people that are struggling with things that defy understanding. Other times it's invoked as a mantra to keep on going and not give up. But is it true?

This attitude can feel free, but it denies the transformative power of God. In Christ, change is not only possible but promised. Let's discover the hope of becoming new creations through Him.

We all get angry sometimes. When the perceived source of our anger is another person, seeking vengeance can feel really good and justified.

This is a very common idea. It paints a picture of the right job/career as one that we always fully enjoy and have fun doing. If we aren't completely fulfilled, we must be in the wrong place.

It's easy to come up with plans we like and then ask God to bless them. There is a better way for followers of Jesus when we remember we're managers and not owners of our life and opportunities. When we adopt this mindset, we find real freedom to live our lives with confidence, hope, and purpose.

The Bible reminds us that true change comes when we let go of our old selves and allow God to renew our minds and hearts. This year, what if we focus less on our own plans and more on trusting God's transformation in our lives?

As we step into a new year, hope is the anchor that keeps us steady. No matter what lies ahead, God has a plan for us that is good and filled with hope. With Jesus, we can face the days ahead with confidence.

All of us, whether we realize it or not, are in deep need of God's reconciling forgiveness. Once we understand and receive it our lives will never be the same. God's forgiveness is the greatest gift ever offered!

Joy is very different from happiness. Happiness is dependent on circumstances, while joy comes from knowing that God is with us and will take care of us regardless of our circumstances.

It's easy to get lost in what we want for Christmas. In His wisdom, God gave us the only thing we really need: Jesus. The calm and hope He offers bring us lasting peace that transforms our lives.

Christmas can leave many of us longing for the ‘good old days' because the rough edges of life are often softened over time. When our circumstances feel daunting, we can seek real peace by remembering the first Christmas and what Jesus brought to all of us.

The weekend after Thanksgiving carries a significant tradition at New Hope. We dedicate our Sunday services to honor and remember God's goodness in two ways. First, we get to witness how God has worked in people's lives as they make a public profession of their faith through baptism. Second, we have an open mic time. Anyone who wants to can express thanks to God for how He has shown His goodness to them during the past year. This service gives us an inspiring reminder of how God is actively working among us.

Our attitude plays a huge role in everything we do. We can view things as struggles or opportunities. When we operate from a place of gratitude, it's easy to find joy in all tasks, big and small.­

Some situations feel beyond our control. Seeking both the wisdom to discern and the faith to trust God through prayer helps us fully rely on God.

The partnership between Moses and Aaron shows us that true strength comes not from individual effort but from working together to fulfill God's plan. We need both thinkers and heavy lifters!

Grasping tightly to hope, humility, and devotion to Jesus, the follower moves courageously into relationships with all people for Christ's sake.

There are some who come across as “above it all” and believe pursuing change is futile. They rarely have anything positive to add to the conversation and exist with an “I told you so” mentality.

This may be the most common mindset in America. This lack of hope results in a general malaise. Many feel unrepresented and without a voice.

There is an old saying, ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease.' That means the one who makes the most noise gets the attention. There are some who take this to another level, because the need to win often interferes with reason and wisdom.

The place to start shifting our focus to the bigger picture is to evaluate where we each are with our attitude and perspective related to the current state of our culture. We can choose to hold tightly to hope and humility.

This time in our country is like no other. Emotions are high, spirits are low, and many of us have experienced strained relationships. As followers of Jesus, we have both challenges and opportunities. Our goal in this series is to remember to look at the bigger picture, not just our immediate circumstances.

There's a cliché that has been around for a while that says, “Love is a verb”. Sometimes clichés pass the test of time because they involve some truth. Our faith requires us to take action, as well, as we learn to follow Jesus better.

What would it look like if we were given a training manual for followers of Jesus? Maybe it would teach us how to grow in our faith, how to help others grow in theirs, and how to relate well with others. The good news is we do – it's called the Bible and it's God's instruction manual for all of us.