Word of Hope Sermon Series Podcast

Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 = This message addresses a problem that is common to many believers, and that is very similar to the problem experienced by the church in Corinth in the days of the apostle Paul. It deals with the abuse and misuse of spiritual gifts, and the dangers it can cause. It offers the same solution Paul offered to the Corinthian church, a solution that honors God and reflects His calling for everyone of us.

Acts 8:14-17 - Unfortunately, some people think that receiving the Holy Spirit is all about personal empowerment. They think it is something God gives us to endow us with some supernatural power. This, however, can only lead to a self-centered attitude, contrary to the Lord's commandment to love one another. It is a problem the New Testament talks about, as it was addressed quite directly in Paul's letter to the Corinthian church. It was also a problem in Samaria, where Simon the magician attempted to buy that power with money. But the giving of the Holy Spirit is not something that is independent from the church, and certainly not something God grants for personal gain or power. 

This is an audio sample from the Introduction of our pastor's most recent book, Responding to Suffering. The book is available in print from most major retailers. Click here for additional information.

This is an audio sample from the Preface of our pastor's most recent book, Responding to Suffering. The book is available in print from most major retailers. Click here for additional information.

Reading: Matthew 5:8 = Purity is a familiar concept. We want pure water to drink, pure air to breathe, and pure products that are free from contamination. But what does it mean to be "pure in heart"? Is our heart free from anything that would contaminate it? Are our motives pure? Can we ever do the right things and still be wrong?

Reading: Matthew 5:7 = Mercy is a vital aspect of our character. But what is it, actually? Where does it come from? How can we have it in us? You may be surprised to discover how much it depends on love and giving. In this message you will find not only a definition of mercy, but what it looks like in actual practice.

Reading: Matthew 5:6 = A starving person has a single, all-consuming passion for food and water. Nothing else has the slightest attraction or appeal; nothing else can even get his or her attention. What are you starving for? What do you thirst for? It has to do with desire, passion, and ambition.

Reading: Matthew 5:5 = What do we do when someone is less than perfect and annoys us? A Rembrandt's painting, the Nightwatch, was sliced with a knife. Michelangelo's Pietà was damaged by a man with a hammer. What did the curators do? Did they dismiss those works of art because they were defective or damaged? How much more important are people than a painting or a statue?

Reading: Matthew 5:4 = Blessed are those who mourn. As we continue in our series on the beatitudes, we encounter another strange statement from Jesus that needs to be understood. It seems like a paradox, and perhaps it is, especially if we look at life from a secular perspective. How can mourning be a blessing?

Reading: Colossians 3:1-17 = Surely, you would not put on dirty gardening clothes to attend a formal wedding, nor would you put on a formal dress or a tuxedo to work on your garden. Changing clothes is a very familiar illustration for all of us, and one that is rich with meaning. It is for that reason that the apostle Paul was inspired to use it to illustrate our need for spiritual transformation.

Reading: Matthew 5:3 = Blessed are the poor in spirit. What does this famous statement mean? How does it apply to us today? What difference does it make? In this first sermon in the series on the beatitudes in Matthew 5 we address this and other important questions.

Reading: 1 Peter 4:12-19 = Suffering has always been present in our world, but in time like these the amount of suffering we experience just seems to be overwhelming. The figures are staggering, not only for COVID, but the wars, the natural calamities, the famines, the social injustices, the accidents, the broken relationships. It seems as if the whole world around us is now in turmoil. Faced by all this, we ask many questions, but most of all, we ask "Why, God? Why do You allow so much?" It is not a topic we like to talk about, but it is an important one, and Scripture addresses it, pointing us to the greatest hope we can ever have. This message looks directly at that hope.

Reading: Mark 7:24-37 = Two miracles among the Gentiles that speak volumes about Jesus. He modeled care, compassion, patience, understanding, and does the same for us. God looks at our heart and our faith. It doesn't matter who we have been, what color our skin is, or how righteous we thought we were. In Him we find redemption, but it is all about Him, not us!

Reading: Mark 7:1-23 = Just as in the days of Jesus, today too many people live an external religion without the heart. In this message we address what discipleship is all about by taking a close look at what Jesus said about the heart of a disciple.

Reading: Colossians 2:6-15 = There are subtle deceptions, according to the philosophies of men, that could take us captive. How can we recognize them, and be firmly rooted and established in the truth? How can we make sure that our contribution to the church is truly according to God's will?

Reading: John 6:56-69 = It was a difficult time, and many of those who had followed Jesus left Him disappointed. Why did they leave Him? Did Jesus fail? What does this event teach us about discipleship? But most importantly, would we leave Him as well? If so, where else would we find "words of eternal life?"

Reading: Colossians 1:1-14 = The apostle Paul left us an amazing example of prayer. But what he was praying for may surprise some of us. He would ask God to fill us with all knowledge of His will, to grant us all spiritual wisdom, that we may bear fruit in every good work, and that we may attain all steadfastness and patience. That does not sound like the typical prayers we hear today, does it? How can we regain a heart like that? How can we return to such a vivid faith? Paul provided the answer that that as well.

Reading: John 6:47-58 = It was controversial and offensive then, and in many ways it continues to be today. It was all about a seemingly cryptic statement: that we have to eat His flesh and drink His blood. Taken out of context, this makes no sense at all, but once understood it call us to participate in the very nature of God and to live in Him. Our eternal life, as Jesus stated, depends on it.

Reading: John 6:1-15 = The Lord has called us to accomplish great tasks for Him. But how often do we think that what we have (what the Lord has provided) is not enough to face the task at hand? Does that mean that the Lord has made a mistake, or that the task at hand is impossible to accomplish? Do you have what it takes? The answer may surprise you!

Reading: Colossians 1:15-28 = What do you think about when you think of Jesus Christ? God, through Paul, points us to at least seven things that we should remember and be amazed by. Do you know what they are? Are you sure you are not missing something? Knowing Jesus Christ is vital for everyone of us.

Reading: Psalm 23 = Where do we find comfort, reassurance and peace in our times of trouble? Psalm 23 has provided that comfort to many, and it still stands out today as a psalm of encouragement and peace. In this message we take a fresh look at this psalm in its proper context, pointing to the perfect example of the Lord Jesus, and drawing from it hope for all of us as well.

Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14 - It may not seem to be that relevant, but your life does depend on it. The gospel is the most important message of all, and yet there are still discussions and disagreements about what the nature of this message really is. We must know! Thankfully the Lord has provided us with the answer.

Reading: Mark 6:1-13  -  Somehow, when we think of sharing, especially as Christians or as a church, we assume that first we must have all that we think we may need. It could be finances, resources, expertise, health, perfection, and the list goes on. But what is that we really need? Once again, this is a lesson that Jesus taught His disciples as He was training them.

Reading: Mark 5:21-43  -  When you think of faith, what do you think about? Is faith like a magic formula to get what we want? Does our faith compel God to do our bid? The events in the life of Jesus addressed in this message give us vital lessons about faith: the manifestation of our profound trust in God.

Reading: Galatians 6:1-10 - We all have burdens to carry, and some of them can be overwhelming. Still, what we go through, our circumstances, are not what defines us. Who we are, and how we face our burdens in life depends on whether we walk by the flesh or by the Spirit. But what does all this mean? How do we live it? A very personal message from our pastor that will touch your heart and life.

Reading: Mark 4:35-41 - In our Christian walk, as in life, things may be exciting and certainly rewarding, but sooner or later we will also encounter storms that frighten us, and test our faith. How we face these storms depends on our perspective about God. This passage relates vital lessons Jesus taught His disciples, and all of us.

Reading: Mark 4:26-32 - A man followed by a small band of misfits, fishermen, a tax collector and a zealot: not quite the picture of a glorious kingdom that will take over the whole world, and will continue to grow and expand forever ... but it will! Likewise, a call, a letter, a kind act, a donation: they are not quite something you would expect to change the world, but they are. No small deed is without fruit. Even when for a time we are unable to see it, it keeps growing until it produces fruit and multiplies many times over.

Reading: Mark 3:20-35 - You probably have met a number of people making preposterous claims about themselves. None of them, however, was as great as the claim Jesus made of being the Son of God, and Messiah. Was He really that? Or was He just another one of those strange people with grandiose ideas about themselves?  In His days, some were moved to faith, some to questions and doubts, while others rejected Him completely. What about you? Are our doubts and questions the unforgivable sin? You must find out!

Reading: John 15:26-27; 16:4-15  -  The Holy Spirit is called the Helper, the Advocate, the Counselor. He proceeds from the Father through the Son as the Spirit of Truth, who will convict the world and judge all of us. But what is this truth? Is it just a doctrine or an idea? What does the Holy Spirit do? What is His role? The answers are of vital importance for all of us.

Reading: John 17:6-19  -  What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? To be sanctified in truth? Has God left us to ourselves with an idea or a message to pass on to others, or is He involved not only in that truth, but also in protecting us from being entrapped by the evil of this world? We need to understand our calling, and we can do so directly from the words of Jesus, as He prayed to God the Father.

Reading: John 15:9-17 - We are given commandments, instructions, principles that teach us how Christianity is not superficial, half-hearted or reluctant. Our calling is deep and changes everything, not only in our life, but in the life of others as well. It is a profound blessing that the Lord has chosen us. But chosen for what? And how are we to respond? There is much joy in the answer!

Reading: Acts 26:19-32 - At times, much happens in people's lives that could cause them to question the Lord's faithfulness. Certainly, being under arrest in front of a king, as Paul was, could be one of those situations. Yet, rather than questioning the Lord's faithfulness, Paul saw the opportunity that the Lord had given him and seized it for the sake of the gospel. What could have been misunderstood as a tragedy was seen by Paul for what it turned out to be: a unique opportunity.

Reading: Psalm 50:14-15 - Time and time again, in the Old Testament, we read of people who cried out to the Lord in their distress, and He brought them out. God is in the business of teaching us to rely on Him, rather than on ourselves.

Reading: Philippians 4:1-13 - In a world riddled with anxiety we can find true peace. It is a peace that transcends even our own understanding.

Reading: Philippians 4:4-8  -  What does it mean to be a Christian when things don't go the way we would hope? When it is impossible to be happy in the circumstances of life? Paul was inspired by God to share with all of us how we can indeed be strong and of a good courage even as we are faced by trials in life.

Reading: Matthew 6:25-34; Romans 8:16-18 - We can think of spiritual myopia as the inability to see what really matters in life because we are focusing too much on the moment, on what is close to us. Many of us are not spiritually blind, but myopic, but there is hope. The Lord heals us of our spiritual myopia as well, often through difficult times, but always for our ultimate good. Find out how.

A special message from our pastor.

Reading: John 15:1-8  -  We have learned that the Lord is our all in all, that He has given Himself to us and for us, and that it is in Him that we can find our safety and security. But how do we respond to all that? Do we take a passive approach, or are we involved and somehow participate in such a profound giving of oneself? Jesus addressed these questions in a parable, and it is vital that we understand it.

Reading: John 10:11-18  -  When we face setbacks, failures and rejection in life, many of us are tempted to think that God has rejected us as well. We tend to portray Him more like an angry Zeus than the compassionate, good shepherd that He is. We all need to be reminded of how much the Lord has done for us, and how much He actually cares for us, not just in general, but personally, and individually. This is a message of hope that will lift you up.

Reading: Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:11 - Often, when we have a major problem to overcome, most of us strive hard not to fall into temptation. We adopt systems of accountability, barriers and more. Yet, for some mysterious reason, we end up falling and failing again. Why? What is the real reason for such failures? Join us for this important message. The answer will surprise you, and make you truly free.

Reading: Galatians 3:15-18; 4:1-7 - Where do we find our identity? Do we define who we are by what we do, or rather what we do based on who we are? Scripture shows us that we are heirs of the promises of God. We are His children and as such we are called to behave accordingly.

Reading: John 20:19-31 - The life of the disciples of Jesus speaks to our experience as well. Their distress, their fear, their grief are sentiments we are bound to experience as well. Like them we become tired, overwhelmed, tempted to question the presence of God. But what they learned is something we all need to keep firmly in our hearts: the Lord has not abandoned us. He has not left us in our hour of sorrow. He is present, and He will never leave us or forsake us.

Reading: Luke 24:13-49 - Sometimes we can be so focused on our problems and disappointments, that we may miss what the Lord in doing in our lives. We can see that in the lives of two of Jesus' disciples, and how the Lord Himself helped them to understand that what He has done is absolutely amazing, glorious, and eternal.

Reading: Mark 15:1-39 - It was the most important time in all history, a series of events that changed everything, including us. Join us as we look at the account of a witness and seek to determine who was actually responsible for it all.

Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 - Why is it that so often, together with our blessings, we find challenges and pain? Why is it that God at times answers our prayers in glorious ways, and at other times He just seems to say “no”? It has been said that you cannot tell a Christian’s character by how many things go well in his/her life, but by the way he/she reacts to the painful events in life. This is a lesson the apostle Paul had to learn the hard way, leaving an important message for all of us today about the sufficiency of God’s grace.

Reading: John 12:20-33 - What is the goal of our life? What is that we actually live for? If we live our life to find pleasure and comfort in this world, we will be sorely disappointed. But if we are willing to give up our lives, to stop serving ourselves and our pleasures and turn to Christ, then we will find out what true living is really all about. Our life will acquire meaning and purpose. 

Reading: John 3:14-21 - You are in the wilderness and you were just bitten by a deadly snake. You are surely to die, and there is nothing you can do about it. Suddenly, you hear someone telling you to look up and gaze at something Moses was told by God to lift up on a standard. Inexplicably, when you look at it your body reacts differently and you are healed. The symbolism is deep and profound. But what does it have to do with us?

Reading: John 2:13-22 : It is supposed to be a sacred time, a time for prayer and worship, a time for communion with God. All too often, however, it is turned into something different: a time for personal contacts, for networking, for socializing, and for self-interest. Jesus confronted this problem directly, leaving a vital teaching for all of us.

Reading: Mark 8:31-38 - Do we have our own views of what it means to be Christians? Do we look for the Lord to meet our expectations? Or are we willing to surrender to the Lord's perfect plan? Are we just closet Christians, ashamed of being labeled as His followers, or are we committed to being openly disciples of Jesus Christ in a way that truly makes a difference in our lives as well as in the lives of others? Peter's problem as he confronted Jesus helps us to understand and gives us comfort, showing us a God who accepts our humanity and is willing to work with it.

Reading: Mark 1:4-15 - In a world in which strength and power are admired, the greatest battle ever won, the most important victory was accomplished with humility, a servant's heart, and personal sacrifice. The One and only God, the Creator, the great King chose to seek us out to serve us, to bear our sins, experience death and rise from the dead for us.

Reading: 2 Samuel 12:1-13  It was a story of sex, intrigue, conspiracy, and the interplay of lust with power that would seem to be made for modern movies. But it was life, real life, and not too different from what we witness today. The biblical narrative is a didactic narrative, written, as the apostle Paul pointed out, "for our instruction." It is important, then, for us to understand how the events in king David's life apply to us all, and how they illustrate how love, lust and power played a role, then and now, in the fall of otherwise godly leaders.