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Daily Dose of Hope September 16, 2025   Scripture – Luke 19:28-48   Prayer: Lord, We need you. Our world is unstable and unjust. It is a place where innocent people die and power and control take precedent over mercy and compassion.  While we know that sin and brokenness are everywhere, it is still hard to take it in.  We don't know which way to turn.  So, we need you.  We need your peace, your justice, and your wisdom.  Help us be the people you have called us to be, even when it's hard.  Fill us with your courage to speak truth and grace.  More of you and less of me.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we finish up Luke 19.   We start with Jesus entering Jerusalem as King; this is what we call the Palm Sunday passage.  We are so used to this narrative that sometimes we don't see the strangeness of it.  This is an odd scene.  Jesus sends two of his disciples to go on ahead to the village and find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden.  If someone asks why you are taking it, then just say the Lord needs it.  What this says to us is that Jesus has taken care of every single detail.  We don't know how he has done it, but Jesus is God and he has made sure everything is right.    So, they get the colt.  They put their cloaks on the colt and Jesus rides on it.  Others spread their cloaks on the road.  As he makes his way down the Mount of Olives, a crowd of his disciples gather and begin praising God.  Now, this isn't just the twelve disciples.  This is probably a fairly large group of believers that have seen his power, the people who have heard his teaching, watched his miracles.  And they shout out, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”   A couple things to note here: ·      All of this is very intentional.  This is not a coincidence.  This is a very intentional show of power.  Jesus is being given a royal welcoming.  First, he is riding on a colt.  In the Old Testament, new kings would come riding in on the mule or donkey of the the previous king.  We see in 1 Kings 1 that David puts his son Solomon on his own mule, a trumpet is sounded, and the people rejoice and shout, then the priest and the prophet Nathan anoint him as king of Israel.  The mule is like the presidential limo, a sign of power and prestige that says that this is the new leader. ·      What's interesting here is that Jesus is not riding on the previous king's mule or donkey.  He is riding on a colt that has never been ridden.  Scripture makes a point of telling us this.  Why?  Because God is doing a new thing, Jesus is a different kind of king. ·      Then, there is this whole issue of the cloaks being thrown down on the path for Jesus to pass.  The people are running ahead and shouting his praises.  This is the kind of welcome that a royal official of the Roman government would receive.  Think of it like the red carpet being rolled out.  This is the sign that a very important leader, the new king, has arrived.  All of this has meaning.   And for the Jews in the crowd, and most of them would have been Jewish, they would have known that this was a fulfillment of prophecy.  Zechariah 9:9, Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. All of this is pointing to the fact that Jesus is the king.   This large group of disciples were praising God joyfully and shouting, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord…” What might not be apparent to us is that when they shout this – Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord, Peace in heaven and glory on highest” they are expressing that this is the Messiah, this is the anointed one, the one they had been waiting for that God had sent to save them.  These words echo Psalm 118:22-26, The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 23 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. 25 Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.   Surely, this is the long-expected Messiah, this is the one that God sent to sit on the throne of David, just as he promised some 600 years before.  You see, its all coming together for them.  And thus, there is much joy and celebration for God has sent King Jesus to save us.    But what happens next is worth noting.  The Pharisees tell Jesus to make his disciples stop.  Stop the praising.  Stop the quoting of Scripture.  In fact, what they say is, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”  Seriously, make them stop.  Why was it that the Pharisees wanted the people to stop praising Jesus?  What was behind this rebuke?    Could it be that they know exactly what's going on?  They know that Jesus is declaring himself to be the long-awaited Messiah.  Maybe they are scared, maybe they are angry, we really don't know.  What we know is that they want it to stop quickly.  And Jesus refuses this request.  He says, “...if they keep quiet, then the rocks themselves will cry out.”  Creation itself will cry out and proclaim that Jesus is Lord.  Think about that.    And this narrative ends with Jesus crying over Jerusalem, this city that he loves but he knows will reject him.    I want to focus briefly on the crowd.  What kinds of people were part of this group of disciples, praising Jesus and hailing him as King?    I would imagine that some of them were those who saw his miracles.  They were those people who had life-changing encounters with him.  People like Zacchaeus, Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus (who Jesus raised from the dead), the Roman centurion whose slave was healed, Mary Magdalene, the bleeding woman who Jesus healed…people who experienced the expansive love and miraculous healing power of Jesus.  They received grace in ways they never knew possible.  I'm guessing they were in the crowd, cheering loudly and throwing their cloaks on the ground.  They know Jesus as Lord and King.   But who else?  What about those who so badly wanted a king to overthrow the Romans?  Everything about Jesus screamed revolutionary.  Wasn't the long-expected King going to return the Jews to their rightful place?  Wasn't he going to put an end to this oppression and take care of these stupid Romans for good?  Yes, there were probably some of those in the crowd.   So, let's get this clear:  There were those who wanted something from Jesus, there were those who liked the idea of Jesus, and there were those who truly worshiped Jesus.  What group would you fall into?  Before you quickly make a decision, really think about this.  What kind of king is Jesus to you?  What are your expectations of Jesus?    So often in the Christian life, we give lip service to Jesus being King of Kings and Lord of Lords but we don't really live like it.  What kind of king is Jesus to you?  What are your expectations for King Jesus and what happens when they aren't met?  How often have we expected Jesus to ensure us that nothing bad will happen?  If only we believe and are faithful, maybe my loved ones won't get sick, my job will be protected, my marriage will be secure, you get the idea.  How often have we wanted to lean on Jesus as counselor, as self-help guru, as protector, as doctor, but we aren't really that keen on making him Lord of our Lives.   You see, Jesus as Lord means turning everything over to him.  It means giving him our desires, our relationships, our resources, our thoughts, our time, everything, and saying --- Jesus, your will be done, not mine.  Lately, I've been really wrestling with this whole concept of seeking God's will, not my own.  I've found that my prayers too often are a list of what I want to see happen and I'm not really, truly asking Jesus for his will to be done.  I'm working on this.  Because if Jesus is my King, then it's his will I desire.  It's his solution to the problem.  It's his desire for this church, for my children, for my marriage, for my future.  How often do we want Jesus to be provider, sustainer, protector, and friend BUT not Lord?  What kind of king is Jesus to you?   I don't want to end this devotional without talking, at least a bit, about Jesus in the Temple.  According to Luke's Gospel, he enters Jerusalem as King and goes directly to the Temple.  Things are a mess there.  To put it mildly, there was much unholy commerce in the Court of the Gentiles. There were many merchants selling animals for sacrifice and there were money changers present for foreign Jews to exchange their money to the local currency for the temple tax.    So why was Jesus so upset?  Wasn't this all part of the sacrificial system?  This was the one area of the temple designated for Gentiles (the nations) to pray. They weren't allowed in any other area of the temple. And the Jewish people had taken over the entire area for trade and profit. Lots of money was being made here.  Jesus is beyond angry.  The religious leaders have an interesting reaction to this.  They are scared.  I'm thinking that they know they are in the wrong but they don't want to submit to this Jesus character.  Thus, they begin to plot how to kill him.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope September 15, 2025   Scripture - Luke 19:1-27   Prayer (from St. Augustine): Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, That my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, That my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, That I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, To defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, That I always may be holy.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we begin a deep dive into Luke 19.   At the beginning of the chapter, we meet Zacchaeus.  Zacchaeus' encounter with Jesus is worth a fair amount of reflection. Zacchaeus was a tax collector. The Roman government hired local Jews to actually go around collecting the taxes for them. One article I read said that they didn't receive a salary per se but instead collected significantly more in taxes than was owed so they could keep that money for themselves and evidence suggests they took a lot for themselves. Thus, tax collectors tended to be wealthy and they were hated by their fellow Jews. The Jews thought of them as selling their services to a foreign oppressor at the expense of their own people. The rabbinical writings refer to these tax collectors as "robbers" and the Gospels call them "sinners." They were the scum of the Jewish community. And Zacchaeus was one of them.   Zacchaeus wasn't just a run of the mill tax collector but a chief tax collector. You typically don't get to be chief of something unless you have worked at it for a while and climbed your way to the top so I'm thinking Zacchaeus had probably been living a dishonest life for years, extorting and deceiving others for his own financial gain. He wasn't a newbie at this.   Zacchaeus lived in the town of Jericho, which was Jesus' last stop on his journey from Galilee to Jerusalem. It's interesting...people must have heard that Jesus was coming through. Zacchaeus must have heard it because he is determined to see him. I'm curious what it was that made Zacchaeus want to see Jesus so badly-curiosity or conviction-but Scripture says that the crowd that had gathered was quite large and he couldn't see over all the people because he was short. But he was persistent, so he ran ahead to a place where he knew that Jesus would walk by, he climbs a tree, and he waits.   As Jesus walks by, he notices Zacchaeus and he calls him by name. He knows him. (I hope each of you know that Jesus knows your name too!) When Jesus calls to him, he tells Zacchaeus to climb down from the tree, for he had plans to go to his home. We might not recognize the significance of this, but to go to someone's home, to dine with them, demonstrated connection and belonging. To break bread with someone was a big deal.   It was pretty much a given that the Pharisees didn't like this. He was hanging out with "those" people again. But Jesus goes to Zacchaeus' home and possibly while they are dining together, something happens within Zacchaeus. Maybe it started when Zacchaeus heard Jesus was coming through Jericho-something within him stirred for a different way of doing life. Maybe it started when Jesus really knew him and saw him up in that tree. Maybe it was when Jesus offered him the gift of acceptance by offering to dine with him. Maybe it was in their dinner conversation (I wonder what they talked about over their meal)...but we know that because of his encounter with Jesus, something changes within Zacchaeus. In fact, he eventually tells Jesus, "I'm going to give half of my money to the poor and if I have cheated people, I will payback four times as much.” Four times! He didn't just say, I'll pay them back, I'll make amends ,but he specifically says he will pay them four times as much as he took. He was no longer the crooked, thieving Roman sympathizing tax collector, but rather a repentant, generous Jesus follower.   What can we learn here? ·  God has the power to transform any person, no matter how far gone we think they are. God isn't done with anyone yet! I'm guessing many people had given up on Zacchaeus but Jesus wasn't one of them. ·  Never discount how God may use you to be prevenient grace for someone else. I think about how Jesus noticed Zacchaeus in the tree. There were many people, probably lots of noise and distractions, and yet Jesus notices individual people and responds to their needs. That was an act of prevenient grace that led Zacchaeus closer to a place of change. Do we notice individual people around us, do we really notice them, and show them care and kindness in a way that leads them closer to Jesus?   Immediately after his interaction with Zaccheaus, on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus shares the parable of the minas.  This is very similar to the parable of the talents, which we talked about in Matthew, and it gives us another glimpse into the Kingdom of God.  As a traveling preacher, Jesus would have told the same parable at different times and in different ways.  We see this here.   In the parable, a man leaves for a foreign nation in order to be made king. Before he left, he gave ten minas to ten of his servants. A mina was a good sum of money (about three months' wages), and the future king tells his servants to put the money to work until he returns.  The servants admit they don't like the man and they don't want him to be king.  Nevertheless, some servants invested the money and some didn't.  When the man returns, this is made obvious.    It is clear that the man, now king, expected a return on his investment.  Likewise, God expects a return on his investment.  God has given us resources, which he expects us to use to benefit the kingdom.  This includes material resources but it isn't just material resources.  We have gifts and talents which God has given to us for a particular purpose.  If you have the gift of teaching, God wants you to teach.  If he's given you the gift of leading, then he expects you to lead.  If you have the gift of discernment, prayer, music, then he has the expectation you will use those for the Kingdom.    God also expects us to take our financial resources and use those for the Kingdom as well.  Every single thing we have is a gift from the Lord.  We may think that we have earned it, but it's all a gift from God.  We are to use what we have been given for his glory.     Blessings, Pastor Vicki

1 170825 B by Greyfriars & New Hope Church

2 310825 B by Greyfriars & New Hope Church

3 070925 B by Greyfriars & New Hope Church

4 140925 B by Greyfriars & New Hope Church

Daily Dose of Hope September 12, 2025   Scripture - Luke 18:18-43   Prayer: Heavenly Father, We come before you today in awe of your Word. Thank you for speaking to us through Scripture.  Help us commit to being grounded in your truth.  Help us make learning more about you a priority.  We get so distracted!  The world comes at us from all sides.  Lord, in these next few moments of silence, help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we finish our deep dive into Luke 18.   Today's reading begins with people bringing their babies to Jesus.  The disciples rebuke them.  At the time, children really had very little value.  I know that is hard for us to understand because we value both human life and the innocence of children. But in the ancient world, children had the absolute lowest status.  Jews would have considered children a blessing but they were also needed to be part of the family workforce.  Young children worked full time and they worked hard.  There was nothing innocent or romantic about being a child in the first century.   Enter Jesus.  He had a totally different idea about the value of children.  He said the Kingdom of God belonged to those who are like the little children.  Basically, Jesus picks up a toddler and says, “You have to be like this little one.  You have to be willing to be nothing, to totally give up your status.  Why?  Because my Kingdom is not about raising up rulers of this world but its about giving dignity and life to the least of these.”  You see, over and over again Jesus is showing us that he is not interested in what the world values and sees in people.  Rather, he is actually interested in the people themselves.  They have value to Jesus.   We move from the children to the rich ruler.  A man comes to Jesus and asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus says, “Well you need to follow all the commandments.” And he lists them, you shall not murder, commit adultery, steal, give false testimony. You shall honor your father and mother.   The man simply says, “Yes, I've done all those things since I was a boy.”  Jesus looks at him and says there is still one thing you lack. Yes, you follow all the laws, but there is still something you lack. It was assumed that if one followed the law perfectly (we know that's impossible but if one did a good job following the law) then they would receive eternal life. Jesus is saying, that is not the case.   Jesus isn't denying that this man is following the law, he isn't disputing that. This is obviously a man of high integrity who is clearly doing all he can to be obedient to God's laws. “One thing you lack,” Jesus said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” The text says that the man's face fell. He went away sad because he had great wealth. This is the irony. The children in the former story who possess nothing are told that the kingdom of God is theirs; yet this man who possesses everything still lacks something! Only when he sells all he has—only when he becomes like a vulnerable child—will he possess everything. But he isn't willing to do that. He decides to walk away from Jesus. The man wasn't expecting to have to make that kind of sacrifice. He had no idea following Jesus would be so hard.   This is confusing.  Jesus talks about the sacrifices needed to enter the Kingdom.  Jesus tells the disciples, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Most of us should feel at least slightly uncomfortable when we read this passage. Don't dismiss that feeling, rest in it a bit before you move on. The reality is that we are all wealthy in comparison to the rest of the world. Jesus isn't saying that having possessions is a bad thing. Allowing our stuff, our resources, to get in the way of our relationship with Jesus is a bad thing though.    What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? I think we have so often fallen into the trap of thinking that following Jesus, being a disciple, is about following a list of rules: following commandments, generally being a good person, going to church, giving some money to good causes, and doing good “Christian” things. But here Jesus is saying that being a disciple is not about following a list of rules. If that were the case, then the rich young ruler would have been a shoo-in. Jesus is saying, following him is about denying yourself and picking up your cross. And we don't like to deny ourselves. We don't like to be uncomfortable. It means looking at your life and renouncing any part of it that gets in the way of your walk with Jesus.   We go from here to Jesus proclaiming his death for the third time.  He basically spells it out for them, but the disciples do not understand.  Things will be clear in due course.   The chapter closes with Jesus healing a blind beggar on the road to Jericho.  The man knows that Jesus is passing by and he calls out to him.  Jesus asks the man, “What do you want me to do for you?”  The man says he wants to see and Jesus immediately restores his sight.    So this is how I want to end today.  I want you to picture Jesus walking by you.  Maybe you are at home, maybe you are at work, or the gym, whatever makes sense in your case.  Anyway, Jesus asks you, “What do you want me to do for you?”    Think about it.  What do you most need from Jesus right now?  Spend some time in prayer and just ask him to intervene in your life in a powerful way.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki        

Daily Dose of Hope September 11, 2025   Scripture – Luke 18:1-17   Prayer:  Almighty God, We come before you with awe and humility.  Help us remember all you have done for us.  We are nothing without you.  We need you desperately, Lord.  Help us gather our scattered thoughts today as we focus on you.  In these next few moments of silence, help us remember that we belong to you.  Help us lay our worries and cares on the throne of your grace...We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we begin to dive into Luke 18.   We begin with the parable of the persistent widow.  I've always found this to be a fascinating parable. Jesus uses two opposing characters to make an important point about prayer. First, we have a judge who is arrogant and without integrity. Then, we have a widow, who continues to go to the judge for help from her adversary. A widow at the time would have represented helplessness and vulnerability. She must not have had money to bribe the judge so she does the only thing she can–she pesters him! She will not leave him alone until he gives her justice.   Since even an unjust judge can do justice, how much more should we expect from a loving, righteous God. God wants his people to be persistent in prayer. Don't give up! God will answer, although it may not be in our timing or in the way we desire. But God always answers.   Is there some situation or person for which you have stopped praying? Be like the persistent widow. Continue to plead before a loving and just God.   And then we have the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector.  Both go to the Temple to pray.  The Pharisee prays loudly, thanking God that he isn't like the other sinners around him.  He lists his “religious activity.”  The tax collector, recognizing his sinfulness, stands back and prays humbly.  Jesus says that it is in the tax collector who is justified.  Why?   Jesus was speaking to a group of people who saw themselves as righteous before God because of their actions.  They kept the law, they fasted, they were religious in every sense of the word.  But their hearts were far from God.  They trusted in themselves, rather than God.  Their righteousness was something to be grasped and attained.    The tax collector, on the other hand, is totally different.  His head is bowed.  He asks God for mercy rather than pointing out the sins of others.  He is quick to call himself a sinner.  And he certainly could have been; tax collectors were known for manipulation and thievery.  But he goes home justified because he recognizes the pain he has caused others.  He is repentant.  He recognizes what he has done and it appears he seeks some form of transformation.   Recognizing that all of our hearts have strayed from God is key.  Each of us are sinners.  The more mature we are as Christians, the more we realize our own sinfulness and the less we are inclined to point out the sinfulness of others.    How have you experienced this?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope September 10, 2025   Scripture – Luke 17:20-37   Prayer:  Almighty God, we start by pausing before you.  Help us set aside the distractions of the morning or the day and focus on you.  In these next few moments of silence, help us gather our scattered thoughts and think only of you...Help us be still and know you are God.  God, we rejoice that we can freely read your Word and we are grateful that you speak to It's truly a miracle.  Holy Spirit, we also invite you to join us as we seek to grow deeper in relationship with you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  This is the podcast and devotional that goes along with the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.    It's Wednesday so that means Recharge day.  If you are local, I hope to see you tonight at New Hope, on the Moon Ave. side of campus, for worship, fellowship, prayer, and small groups.   Today, we are finishing up Luke 17.  Jesus is initially asked by a Pharisee about the Kingdom of God.  Keep in mind, the Pharisees expected God's Kingdom to be an earthly one, a Kingdom that would overthrow the Romans and allow the Jews to govern themselves, as they once did.  But when Jesus speaks of God's Kingdom, he is talking about something quite different.    We've discussed the Kingdom of God quite a bit in the Daily Dose of Hope, but let's do a little review.  God's Kingdom exists anywhere that God reigns as king and his values are at work, where the world is working in the way that God always intended it to work. The kingdom of God was central to the message of Jesus and wherever he traveled, he proclaimed its coming. Jesus truly lived out the Kingdom in all he did, in all he taught, and in the way he did life. In God's Kingdom, there is no sickness, so Jesus healed the sick. In God's Kingdom, there is no discrimination, so Jesus elevated the oppressed, he ate with tax collectors and prostitutes. In God's Kingdom, there is justice, there is mercy, there is love. So Jesus offered forgiveness, he offered acceptance, he offered LOVE in all he did, ultimately giving up his life in the greatest act of love in the history of the world.    Thus, it makes sense that Jesus says to the Pharisee that the Kingdom is not something that can be observed, but rather it is something that is in your midst.  Jesus ushered in the Kingdom of God.  The disciples and the early church continued Jesus' mission of growing the Kingdom.  Even we are part of expanding the boundaries of God's Kingdom today.  It is here in our midst.  But at the same time, there are elements of God's Kingdom that will not be fully realized until Jesus returns in final victory.  The Kingdom has a NOW and a NOT YET quality about it.  It's possible that Jesus is alluding to this.  And then, Jesus not so subtly steers the conversation to the last days.  He speaks of how people in the time of Noah and with the destruction of Sodom were caught off guard by the judgement.  They should not have been, as there were warnings, but they were.  And people will also be caught off guard when Jesus comes to judge the living and the dead.    We get this warning once again – be ready.  Be watchful and be prepared because Jesus will return again and it will be at a time that is most unexpected.  When the disciples ask Jesus where this will happen, he responds with a proverb, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”  Basically, the location is not the point.  Rather, the fact that judgment will occur is the point and it will occur wherever there is sin and spiritual death.  The vultures gathering gives us a word picture for what's going to happen --- they will gather around the spiritual “carcass” or dead body.    What are your thoughts about the end times?  Media and Hollywood have given us a lot of bad information about what will happen when Jesus returns.  The Left Behind series, while entertaining, is not very scriptural accurate.  As believers, we really don't have a lot to fear.  In fact, we have nothing to fear, we simply need to be ready.  Are you ready?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope September 9, 2025   Scripture – Luke 17:1-19   Prayer: Holy God, How amazing it is that we can come before you today.  You are God of all things, Lord of everything, and yet you care about each of us.  We give you glory and praise.  We thank you most of all for Jesus, who made it possible for us to walk hand in hand with a holy God.  Help us see today's Scripture through fresh eyes.  Keep teaching us, Lord.  Continue to reveal yourself to us.  We are open and grateful.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently working our way through a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we start Luke 17.   As we start this chapter, Jesus is listing some pretty serious requirements for discipleship.  He warns against causing little ones (children, new believers, those who are vulnerable) to stumble.  He tells his followers that radical forgiveness is required toward one another. Jesus continues to remind his followers that being a disciple is life-changing in the most extreme way.    This obviously challenges the disciples.  They proclaim, “Increase our faith.”  Jesus' answer probably wasn't what they wanted to hear.  He tells them about just needing the faith of a mustard seed.  I picture the disciples rolling their eyes at this.  “Really, just a mustard seed-sized faith?  I feel like I need a bit more.”   So what was Jesus' point?  Faith isn't easily quantified.  It doesn't just magically increase with some special prayer.  Faith increases through our life experiences.  Faith increases only through practice, as we begin to trust God and see him come through for us.  Faith increases as we begin to see Jesus at work in our lives, giving us comfort, peace, and strength, in the good and bad times.  It's usually not a fast process.   How have you seen your faith grow through experience?  What kinds of things in the past few years have had the most impact on your faith journey with Jesus?   The next portion of today's reading is another miracle.  Jesus heals ten men with leprosy.  This is such a wonderful text!  A couple things to note...   First, Jesus told the men to show themselves to a priest while they still had leprosy. It was as they went that they were cured. If the priest examined them and they were no longer sick, then they were able to behave like normal people again, socialize, and live normal lives. Walking to the priests while they still had leprosy meant trusting God even when they didn't really have grounds to do so. They really didn't know what was going to happen. They could have gotten to the priests and still been sick and been yelled at or banned or worse. But they had faith and trusted Jesus.   That's a definition of faith–trusting in what we cannot prove. In Hebrews 11:1 it's described as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." If we want everything plain and clear before we take a step of faith, it's not really faith. Faith is trust, even when we don't understand and even when the evidence is against us.   It's interesting that the one who comes back is a Samaritan. As you know from previous readings, Samaritans were enemies of Jews; they hated each other. So why was he the one to come back, rather than the Jews? Maybe he had a deeper sense of what had been done for him. Maybe the Jewish men felt entitled, like they deserved a healing and the Samaritan man did not. Regardless, it speaks of God's grace to everyone. The men's healing doesn't depend on them coming back to say thanks. Jesus heals them anyway; it's not as if the healing of the other nine would be miraculously withdrawn because they didn't return. God does lots of good things for everyone, whether they acknowledge it or not. He makes the sun shine on the righteous and unrighteous and the rain fall on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45).   There are many people who are not Christians, but who are still blessed. At one level, Christians ought just to be the people who acknowledge what God's done for them, and turn back to say "Thank you." What do you need to thank God for? Even when circumstances are hard, we are called to spend time rejoicing in what God has blessed us with. It's so easy to fall into an attitude of negativity and complaining. But God wants us to have an attitude of gratitude, spending more time recognizing how he has healed us, blessed us, saved us, taken care of us, and loved us rather than focus on all the crummy stuff.   We will finish up chapter 17 tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki        

This sermon was delivered by Pastor Cory Klein at New Hope Church of Oxford on September 7, 2025. The text of Scripture is James 1:5-8.

This sermon was delivered by Aaron Jerome at New Hope Church of Oxford on August 3, 2025.

Daily Dose of Hope September 5, 2025   Scripture – Luke 16:1-18   Prayer:  Abba Father, Prepare our hearts for your Word today.  Help us approach this Scripture with an openness to learning something new from you.  Jesus, thank you for your perfect example of mercy and love.  More of you and less of me.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan for New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  It's Friday, yay!, and we are beginning Luke 16.   This chapter has us interpreting more parables.  Just as Luke put like parables together in Luke 15 (the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son), Luke pairs the parable of the shrewd manager that we read today with the parable of Lazarus and the rich man which we will read tomorrow.  Both address the topic of money from various perspectives.   In today's parable, we meet a manager who is accused of not being a good steward of his master's possessions.  In fact, it seems he had been a bit careless and the master was planning to hold him accountable.  The manager, seeing that his fate wasn't good, decided he needed to get to work.  He made shrewd deals with the master's debtors and recovered not all, but at least a good portion of what was owed.  This pleases the master. After Jesus offers this teaching, he goes on, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”  Basically, if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? If you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? Jesus continues his teaching in verses 10-13,“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”  It says that the Pharisees, who loved money, were very displeased with Jesus, even sneering at him. Jesus is making it clear – people in this world are pretty self-serving.  The manager and the master in the story are both really looking out for themselves. Jesus also wants his followers to look out for themselves, but not in the same way, in a more eternal way. He's encouraging them to think long term, to store up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). He's encouraging us to use our finances in a way so that God enthusiastically welcomes us as good and faithful servants.  What God has given us is a gift and we need to be good stewards of God's precious gifts.  We are to be careful and wise with what we have because none of it is really ours to begin with. Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope September 4, 2025   Scripture - Luke 15   Prayer:  Lord, We give you glory and praise for who you are.  Who are we that you love us so much?  We thank you for your love and care.  Help us be even but a small reflection of your love toward those around us.  More of you and less of me.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan for New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are reading through Luke 15.   This is a great text, all the parables have to do with things that are lost.  We start with the parable of the lost sheep.  A man has one hundred sheep and loses one.  He leaves all the others to go find that one sheep.  Lost sheep matter to God.  Every single person matters to God and he will go to great lengths to search for them.   In our tradition, we talk about prevenient grace.  That is God's grace that goes before us, that seeks after us before we know God or recognize God or even believe that God is real.  It is God putting people and circumstances in our lives to keep pointing us toward him.  He is wooing us toward him.  He is seeking us out.  Why?  Because he loves each of us so dearly.  He is willing to leave the ninety-nine to go seek out the one.    And one of my favorite parts of this Scripture is when Jesus says, I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.  When someone gives their life to Jesus, heaven throws a party!  How amazing is that? Jesus follows the parable of the lost sheep with the lost coin.  It's a similar story, in which a woman tears her home apart looking for one lost coin.  When she finds it, she rejoices!  Again, Jesus says, In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  There we go again, heaven is partying and rejoicing when one person is saved. But Jesus closes this teaching with the parable of the lost son.  We also know it as the parable of the prodigal son and many of you are probably familiar with it.  I want to point out a few things from this text.  The Scripture says that when the son was a long way off, his father saw him coming and it says he was “filled with love and compassion” so he ran to him, embraced him, and kissed him. Now, respectable Middle Eastern men did not run. Maybe women and kids ran but men did not. Here is this father lifting his robes, baring his legs, and running to his son. This would have been unthinkable. Then, the father embraces his son and kisses him. This probably wasn't the reception his son was expecting.   Remember, the son is ready with his speech that he practiced about being a hired hand. But the son doesn't even geta chance to finish his speech. The father stops him and says, “Bring the finest robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.” The finest robe would have been the father's robe and here he is asking for the servants to bring it quickly and put it on the youngest son. Wearing the father's robe was a sign of restored standing in the family.   The father didn't say, “We will work on you repaying the debts or I'll take you back after you've groveled a bit.” Rather, he covered his poverty and his ragged clothes with all the signs of the honor. Next, the father asks that the fattened calf be cooked in celebration. Keep in mind, meat was reserved for special occasions and the fattened calf would have been for very rare, very special occasions. And all are invited to celebrate the return of the son.   Most of us know that the story isn't quite over, we have the whole issue of the older brother, and that's an important piece but I'm not going to unpack it today. For now, let's reflect on the father and the youngest son. By now, I'm sure you have figured out that the father is God. We are the sons. We aren't going to get into deep theological analysis of each son, I just want to make a couple points:         God loves us with a love that is so incredibly deep and intense. We can't, in our human brains, really imagine it. If you are a parent, you might understand it to a certain extent. But what is hard for me to understand is that God gave up his own son to die for us (John 3:16).       We have all done things that separate us from God. We are all sinners (Romans 3:23). We have all done things that create a barrier in our relationship with God. We might like to rationalize our sins (think well my sins aren't that bad), the reality is that sin is sin. God sees sin the same, and no matter how big or small in our human way of thinking, it prevents us from being in a restored relationship with God.      Many of us have had our gutter moments. Regardless of how far away from God we are, God is always seeking us, wooing us toward him. He is like the father in the story, looking out the window–is he close by? Is he getting closer? This is certainly an example of prevenient grace.      When we decide to turn back to God, to seek God, God is more than willing to receive us. When we seek Jesus AND decide to say yes to him, he is ready to welcome us into the Kingdom.       When we ask forgiveness from God for our sins, God freely offers it. It doesn't matter what we have done, when we say to God, “I believe in you, I believe in Jesus, I want a relationship with you, I've been wrong, I need your forgiveness.” Just like the father in the story, God is like “YES! Let's celebrate. Let's have a party! I've been waiting for you! Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope September 3, 2025   Scripture - Luke 14:15-35   Prayer: Lord, We come before you today on this Wednesday, and we pray for you to speak to us.  We need you.  We need a new word from you.  We need your guidance, your wisdom, your help, your courage.  Help us set aside the distractions of our day, our many scattered thoughts, and focus on you.  During these next few moments of silence, Jesus, help us remember that we belong to you...Give us the confidence to stand firm in YOU today.  In Your Name, Amen   Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we dive into the second half of Luke 14.  I should also mention that today is Wednesday so it's Recharge day! Yay!!!  If you are local to the Brandon, Florida, area, please consider joining us at New Hope Church at 6:30 for a time of worship, prayer, fellowship, and small community.  We meet in the Garage, on the Moon Ave. side of campus.   Our reading for today starts with a parable about a great banquet.  Many important people were invited but they all send excuses for why they cannot attend.  As a result, the host (who we can assume is God) asks his servants to go and invite those in the streets – the poor, the downtrodden, the sick, the lowly, in order to fill the seats.  These are people, after all, who will come with both faith and humility.    So what does this all mean?  What is Jesus' point?  The invited guests were initially the Jews, the ones who held on tightly to the law.  They saw themselves as God's people and they thought they were the only ones worthy to come to God's banquet table.  But Jesus was right in front of them and they chose to reject him.  His own people did not receive him.    In the parable, after the spiritually “worthy” send their excuses, the host invites in those who the Jews saw as unworthy – the unclean people, the sick, the weak, even the Gentiles.  The host wants the whole banquet hall to be filled.  God wants as many people as possible to receive his invitation of salvation.   We move from this parable to the cost of being a disciple.  It keeps getting harder.  Jesus speaks of the need to hate those close to us, including our mother and father, wife and children, brothers and sisters, even our own life, in order to follow him.  What do we make of this?  Jesus usually talks about loving others, not hating them.  Remember, whenever a Scripture feels off, we need to go deeper.  So let's do that here.   There are a couple different ways to interpret this Scripture.  Some people might want to go with a literal interpretation but I quickly dismiss that.  Jesus cannot mean to literally hate our family members.  That would contradict so much of his earlier teaching.  It also would contradict his character in general.  So something else is going on here.   It could be that Jesus is using hyperbole.  Remember, hyperbole is an overexaggeration to make a point and Jesus was prone to this kind of speech.  But Jesus is not one to exaggerate commitment.  That also seems out of character.    It seems most likely that there is something going on in the word usage.  When we dig deeper, we find that the word “hate” is sometimes used in ancient Hebrew to mean, “love less.”  One example of this is found in Genesis, when the author writes that “Leah was hated” by Jacob but it is more correctly interpreted as Jacob “loved Rachel more than Leah.”  We see this same kind of language here.  Jesus is saying that those who follow him need to love everyone else less, to such an extent that it might look like hate.  To become a follower of Jesus means to put Jesus above all people and things that we hold most dear.   Jesus also speaks about the necessity of carrying our cross if we want to follow him.  Remember, the cross was a method of execution.  To follow Jesus, we are to carry the thing that will cause our death.  Think about that.  There is pain and suffering in following Jesus.  That isn't something we like to focus on much.  We love the comfort of the Gospel, but what about the cost and challenge of the Gospel?    Would you still be willing to follow Jesus if it meant walking to the gallows?  This is such a foreign idea to us in the United States.  But around the world, there are people who regularly face this threat.  Following Jesus has true cost.  Here's a question for us:  If I were being tortured and persecuted for my faith, would I stay faithful to Jesus or would I give in to the pressure and deny Christ?   What cost have you experienced in following Jesus?  I think this is something for which we need to spend some time in prayer?  What cost have you experienced in following Jesus?  And what if that cost were to get more real? More intense? What if it threatened your very life?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope September 2, 2025   Scripture - Luke 14:1-14   Prayer: Holy and Merciful God, We come to you today rejoicing in your holy name.  It's amazing that you, the God of all, care about the minute details of our lives.  I mean, who are we?  But yet, you love us, you care, you died for us!  Thank you, Jesus.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Help us, as we move on throughout this day to remember your presence.  Guide our words, our actions, and our thoughts.  Help us hear your voice as we engage with your Word today.  We love you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan for New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are beginning Luke 14.   We start by joining Jesus at a dinner party on the Sabbath.  Jesus is quite the dinner guest.  He makes things really uncomfortable!  He begins by having a discussion about healing on the Sabbath, which we all know is a sensitive topic.  There is a man there who is desperate for healing (and Jesus does heal him) but he knows that the others will judge his actions.  Jesus speaks preemptively by asking, once again, wouldn't you save a child or an animal who falls in a well on the Sabbath?  They don't answer him but we know that they would in fact save the child or animal.  Do they think this man is less valuable than their own child or animal?  It's a worthwhile question.   But the dinner party isn't over yet.  Jesus looks around and he sees that people have already taken the places of honor.  He speaks of how the guests vie for the best spots, the ones that indicate honor and prestige. But that's dangerous, Jesus says. For the host may actually find someone more distinguished and ask that individual to sit in the seat of honor. Then, the one who originally worked so hard to gain that seat will have to sit somewhere less important. In the end, they will experience humiliation.   While the advice is wise, Jesus is teaching people to be genuinely humble. Before Jesus, the whole concept of humility was unusual. In Roman culture, to be humble was to be weak. Jesus is saying that to be humble is actually smart. It is more in tune with what God calls us to do. In the end, God is going to settle things anyway. God will ensure that the truly humble person will end up where they are supposed to end up and receive the honor that is theirs. But those who think highly of themselves and place themselves on a pedestal risk the very real chance of being knocked off.   Are you humble? I think that's an important question for us all to ask occasionally. Do you think you deserve more honor than others? Where does that thought come from? Let's close with some Scripture from Philippians 2:1-11, Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,     did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,     being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,    he humbled himself     by becoming obedient to death—         even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place     and gave him the name that is above every name,  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,     in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,    to the glory of God the Father.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope September 1, 2025   Scripture – Luke 13:22-35   Prayer:  Abba Father, We come to you today with gratitude.  Thank you for loving us.  Thank you for wanting a relationship with us. Thank you for never leaving our side.  Help us to follow you more closely, Lord.  We need your truth.  We need your guidance and direction.  With every fiber of our being, we need you.  As we read your Word today and reflect on it, Lord, speak to us.  Help us grow closer to you.  Let us know where we are falling short so that we can be the people you have called us to be.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan for New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  Happy Monday!  We are currently working our way through the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are finishing up Luke 13.   Jesus tells his listeners that the way to heaven is through the narrow door.  He doesn't directly answer the question about how many will be saved.  It's less an issue about how many (which is out of our control) but rather you will be saved (totally in our control).  The door is narrow because only a few choose to truly follow Jesus through it.  Most people would choose the wider door or the wider road; it's easier and most of the people are headed that way.    This Scripture always reminds me of Robert Frost's poem, The Road Not Taken.  Many of you probably know it.  I would close with the poem except for Frost was a complicated man who was never that clear about his faith.  He had some kind of belief but never professed Jesus as Savior.  I think he struggled with this narrow door/wide door issue.  And there really isn't anything more important in life, getting the doors and roads correct.  Yet, elements of Frost's work point to exactly what Jesus is saying, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”    Which door have you chosen?  Which road will you pursue? We close today's reading with Jesus' sorrow over Jerusalem.  This text has always touched me.  People are warning Jesus to leave Jerusalem.  Even Jewish leaders are warning Jesus that Herod is out to get him, although we have no idea if their concern is sincere. But most people know Jesus is no longer safe there.  The stark reality is that powerful people want him gone, as in dead.  But he continues to lament over his people, he laments over the city.  Keep in mind that to Jews, Jerusalem was the center of everything.  This is where the Temple resided.  This was God's city.  Jesus proclaims, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'”  And when he says this, he is grieving over his city, God's city.  But he is also making a point.  Jesus knows his fate.  He tells them to warn the fox (Herod) that he already knows his fate.  Jesus knows what will happen and he knows that it will happen in Jerusalem.  He will be killed but he will rise in three days.  God will have the last word.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

This sermon was delivered by Pastor Cory Klein at New Hope Church of Oxford on August 31, 2025. The text of Scripture is James 1:1-4.

Daily Dose of Hope August 28, 2025   Scripture – Luke 12:35-59   Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are the hope of the world but you are also our hope.  I pray for all those who need hope today.  May they seek you.  I pray for all those who need healing.  May they run to you. I pray for all those who need forgiveness.  May they come to you.  Lord, we all need you.  Before we run to the things of the world, may we rest in you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we finish Luke 12.   In today's reading, the servants (the disciples in this case) are told to be ready for the return of the master, Jesus, from a wedding banquet.  In the Old Testament, wedding banquets often represent the eschatological hope of God's people.  When we say eschatology, we are referring to the last judgement or the last things, the ultimate destiny of God's people and world.  In the New Testament, the wedding banquet imagery would be centered around Jesus and the hope he brings.  He is the one who came to redeem the world and he is the one who will ultimately come to judge the world.  The disciples are called to be ready and actively waiting for Jesus' return.  And so are we.    The return of Jesus is certain.  When he will return is not.  Are you ready?   The next portion of our reading is difficult.  If I were to ask you why Jesus came to earth, how many of you would say “to bring conflict?”  Hmmm...probably not many.  And yet, Jesus says here that he has come to bring fire on the earth.  He has come to bring division.  How do we reconcile this with Jesus being a Prince of Peace?    I think it's important we look at the context.  Jesus is speaking of the conflict and division his coming will cause.  There was and is division in families because some believe and others don't.  Jesus is saying to expect this rather than be surprised by this.  Following Jesus well is a revolutionary thing.  Maybe following Jesus as a cultural Christian doesn't bring much discord, but truly following the ways of Jesus (as described in the Gospels) puts us at odds with our culture and the greater society.   In the final portion of our reading today, interpreting the times, we find Jesus again referring to the Pharisees as hypocrites.  Afterall, he says, they can interpret the weather, understanding when it's going to rain, but they can't interpret the meaning of Jesus' presence.  They have no idea how significant it is that Jesus is there, nor do they understand his teachings or purpose.  They truly have no idea that the God of the universe has come down among them.    How often do we fail to recognize God in our midst?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope August 27, 2025   Scripture – Luke 12:1-34   Prayer:  Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, That my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, That my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, That I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, To defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, That I always may be holy.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we start Luke 12.   We start with Jesus warning his disciples against hypocrisy.  That is the yeast of the Pharisees, saying one thing and doing another.  Another way to put it is to be outwardly religious and inwardly self-serving.  Jesus also warns his disciples to proclaim the Gospel boldly.  Walk the walk.  Those who acknowledge Jesus openly will be acknowledged by God.  Those who are ashamed or fearful to acknowledge Jesus openly will not be acknowledged by God.  There is a real emphasis on not worrying about the fate of the physical body, but focusing on how God will care for us, he will remember us.    This is hard teaching.  We get quite consumed with worrying about our earthly bodies and our earthly livelihoods.  Don't we?  I mean, Jesus is saying to put him first at all costs and he will ensure we are okay. But being okay doesn't mean he will save us in an earthly sense, although he may.  It definitely means he will save us in an eternal sense.  Jesus is saying that is enough.  The big question is --- is that enough for you?  Do you, do I, trust Jesus enough to know that he will not forget me and he will care for me eternally.  This physical world is just a temporary dwelling place.    Our reading goes from here to the parable of the rich fool.  This is a great parable for talking about God's design for wealth.  Yes, we are to save for retirement and ensure we have an emergency fund.  That isn't what Jesus is speaking of!  The man in the parable had abundance, way more than he needed for himself.  But he didn't share it with those in need, nor did he ask God for wisdom in how to use his money.  He built bigger barns.  He liked the idea of having plenty for the future.  In fact, we get the impression that he felt a bit smug because his own future was secure.  But in hoarding his wealth, he failed to consider how God would want him to use his money.  Nor did he consider his eternal future.  He wasn't prepared, as he did nothing to prepare his soul.    What really matters?  How does God call us to use our abundance?   Finally, we move to the portion of the reading dealing with worry.  What is it about us and worry? I have struggled with worry and anxiety for most of my life! I finally had to admit to myself that worrying is lack of trust in God. After all, God loves me and God has promised to care for me. He cares for the birds of the fields; certainly, he cares for me! This doesn't mean things will always go my way. Nor does it absolve me of responsibility in life. I still need to work hard and get things done. But I can know that I know that God is with me and God wants to take care of my needs.   For me, I've found the antidote to worry is prayer. Pray often, pray fervently, pray sincerely. I go through a visual exercise of giving my worry to Jesus. Sometimes I hand it right to Jesus. Other times, I lay it at the foot of the cross. Then, I have to make the decision to not pick it back up. It takes discipline to give our worry to Jesus; I've had to practice this many times. Butit's life changing. When I give my worry to Jesus, I know it's in good hands. And worry no longer steals my joy and monopolizes my thinking. I am free, knowing the God's got this.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

This sermon was delivered by Denny Johnson at New Hope Church of Oxford on July 27, 2025. The text of Scripture is Matthew 5:1-12.

This sermon was delivered by Pastor Cory Klein at New Hope Church of Oxford on July 20, 2025. The text of Scripture is Matthew 28:16-20.

Nothing is impossible with God by Greyfriars & New Hope Church

Daily Dose of Hope July 15, 2025   Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46   Prayer:  Lord God Almighty, You have given us everything.  Not only did you create the world, but you created us.  Everything we have is a gift from you.  Forgive us for when we begin to think that things are “ours.”  Soften our hearts.  Help us become more generous.  Lord, I give you my whole self.  I want to offer myself as a living sacrifice; may I be pleasing in your sight.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are finishing up Matthew 25.   We closed up our devotional yesterday by talking about the importance of earning a spiritual profit for the Kingdom.  If you recall, we read the parable of the bags of gold, also called the parable of the talents, and we talked about how God expects us to be diligent with the resources he provides us.  Afterall, everything we have is from God and he expects us to use our finances, gifts, and skills, to expand his Kingdom, to earn a spiritual profit.    But what does that look like in a very practical way?  Well, the rest of Matthew 25 gives us a picture of how God expects us to use our resources – our time, our money, our talents, and our skills.  It's the text about Jesus separating the sheep and the goats.    There are a lot of thngs about this parable that are worth mentioning.  First, Jesus is clear that the Son of Man, that would be him, will be coming in glory to judge the nations or all the people.  Some people say that Jesus will not return and others say he will not judge.  Actually, he himself says he will do both.  I think it is clear throughout the Gospels but it is also very clear right here.   What are the criteria for judgement?  It's pretty clear.  Jesus has already spoken about how he came to serve and give his life as a ransom for many (Matt. 20).  Thus, he expects us also to serve the least of these.  But we have to be very careful here.  Salvation, as we know, is a free gift that comes through faith in Jesus alone.  We have to not turn this into a lesson in works-righteousness.  The Kingdom is a gift.  Think about it.  Those who are deemed righteous in this text don't even know what they have done.  They are like, “Lord, but when did we see you hungry?”  They haven't been out there trying to earn salvation.  They have just been overflowing with the love of Jesus, doing what should come naturally to a person who follows Jesus.  Their actions are evidence that they have a relationship with a loving, compassionate, merciful God.    Scripture definitely demonstrates that Jesus strongly identifies with the poor and oppressed. Whenever we use our resources and talents to help alleviate the suffering of the poor or oppressed, then it is like we are doing it for Jesus.  But we really have to examine our hearts.  Are we trying to earn spiritual merit badges?  Are we serving out of obligation?  Are we serving or giving to feed our ego?  OR...are we serving and giving as an outpouring of the love, grace, and mercy that Jesus has shown us.  Yes, God expects us to use our resources well.  He expects us the earn a spiritual profit for the Kingdom.  But if doing so leads us to resentment and bitterness, then we have to look deep in our soul.  God loves a cheerful giver.  God wants us to want to serve him.   I guess this would be a good time to stop and just allow all of us to spend time in prayer.  First, are we working to earn a profit for the Kingdom?  If not, why?  And then, where is our heart in all of this???  Do we feel joy in serving and giving?  What is our motivation?  Let's just talk to Jesus.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope July 9, 2025   Scripture – Matthew 23   Prayer:  Almighty God, Thank you for a new day and a new chance to give you glory and praise.  You are an amazing God.  How incredible it is that you, who created everything, know my name.  You know every hair on my head.  While I am so grateful for your love and care, it is sometimes difficult for me to adequately wrap my brain around your expansive love and mercy.  Help me be a better reflection of you, Lord.  Help me see others through your eyes.  Help me be merciful, kind, and good.  Lord, I know I fall short.  So often.  But I want to do better.  In these next few moments of silence, Jesus, hear my prayer...  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are working our way through a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are deep diving into Matthew 23.   Throughout most of this chapter, we see Jesus strongly denounce the Pharisees. Their system of rules and regulations was originally designed to help people seek godliness but their extremism only harmed people. The rules had become an end in themselves and the teachers of the law were much more concerned with following the letter of the law than they were about the people themselves. This gives the appearance of godliness but it is all a facade. The heart is still far from God.   We begin the chapter with a warning about hypocrisy.  You may remember this from Mark, but hypocrisy involves a discrepancy between one's outward actions and one's inner character, essentially acting a part rather than being genuine. The Pharisees were all about looking holy.  Jesus mentions how they don't practice what they preach.  He reminds his followers that the greatest among them will be a servant.    Let's think about this.  Think particularly about our faith community.  For most of us listening, that means New Hope Church.  Are the greatest among us serving?  Are we rolling up our sleeves and getting dirty?  My prayer is that no one thinks they are too good or too important to do the dirty work.  We are all equal at the foot of the cross and if we think otherwise, we have a big problem.    Okay, it's time to move on to the woes.  The word woe is an exclamation of grief, denunciation and means great sorrow or distress. The woes criticize the Pharisees for hypocrisy and illustrate the differences between inner and outer moral states.  The seven woes are addressed specifically to the teachers of the law and Pharisees; in one of the woes, He calls them “blind guides.” At the end of the woes, Jesus calls them “snakes” and “brood of vipers.”  He isn't kidding about hypocrisy.  What's interesting to me is that Jesus prefaced the seven woes by explaining to the disciples that they should obey the teachings of the Jewish leaders—as they taught the law of God—but not emulate their behavior because they were so far from God.    Jesus' final words in this chapter about Jerusalem are quite sad. Jesus loves Jerusalem and had longed for the people to love him back. He wanted to gather the people under his protective wings and offer them true solace and hope. Remember, this was the holy city where the temple of God resided. And yet, over and over again, the people of Jerusalem had rejected God's efforts to care for them. It was no different with Jesus. Jesus' words were also prophetic. When he says...”Look, your house is left to you desolate,” we understand from history that it isn't long before the Romans totally destroyed the city in AD 70. But besides the physical desolation of the city, there is this tone in the text that suggests God had forsaken it as well. And, of course, when Jesus states that they will not see him again, we know that he is indeed heading to the cross. His earthly ministry has come to a close until God does a new thing.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

In today’s teaching we'll see God respond to the ‘brokenhearted' – and those that mourn are comforted… – It's a fascinating journey into both 2 Kings 5 and Mark 1, as we find individuals who have a very bleak future, rescued by the God who Cares!

Every trial and struggle we face in life has a voice; it is calculated to speak to us and teach us. It is true that God never waste a trial. Join us in 2 Kings 4 this week as we consider what it is that God is working toward in the life of a woman […]

Daily Dose of Hope June 24, 2025   Scripture - Matthew 16:13-28   Prayer:  Holy God, Thank you for this day and thank you for the ways you provide and care for us.  We rejoice in your powerful and mighty name.  As we read through the Scripture today and reflect on what it means for us, help us hear a new word from you.  Help us set aside the distractions of the day and really listen for your voice.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are covering the second portion of Matthew 16.   Jesus has taken his disciples on a retreat of sorts, and they have traveled away from Judea, further north into Gentile territory.  Maybe it's to get away from the crowds, maybe it's so they can speak more freely.  Caesarea Philippi is pretty far north in Israel.  It was a quiet place at the headwaters of the Jordan River but also a place filled with idol worship and signs of Roman occupation everywhere.  And it's here that Jesus decides he is going to settle his identity with these men.  So he asks each of them, “Who do people say I am?”    Over the two years that the disciples had been with Jesus, people had all kinds of thoughts about who Jesus was.  Some thought he was the precursor to the Messiah, others (like King Herod) thought he was John the Baptist reincarnated, others thought he might be one of the prophets returned.  But Jesus presses them, “who do you say I am?”  Now, it doesn't matter what the others say – who is it you say I am?  That's really the question for all of us, isn't it.  It doesn't matter who others say Jesus is.  If I were to do a man on the street interview right now, I'm sure I'd get all kinds of answers to who is Jesus?  A teacher, a healer, a crazy person, Son of God, the Savior.  But it doesn't matter what others say, what matters is what you believe and what YOU say about Jesus.  And that's what Jesus is asking his disciples.  What do you say about me?  What are you willing to confess about me?  This was really a rubber meets the road question for them, as it is for us.  What are you willing to confess about me, to others, publicly?   Jesus asked all of them but it was Peter who spoke up.  And he says, “You are the Messiah, Son of the Living God.”  The word Messiah means anointed one or God's anointed.  And the term “Messiah” was the Hebrew word for God's anointed, the term “Christ” was the Greek word for it.  Messiah and Christ mean the same thing, different languages.  I know this might come as a surprise to some of us but Christ is not Jesus' last name.  It is a title.  And Peter is giving Jesus this title, you are the Messiah, the anointed one.   What's the big deal with being anointed?  In ancient Israel, when someone was given a position of authority, oil was poured on his head to signify his being set apart for God's service. I Samuel 10:1 is an example, Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul's head and kissed him, saying, "Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance?  Kings, priests, and prophets were anointed in this way. Anointing was a symbolic act to indicate God's choosing.  Although the literal meaning of anointed refers to the application of oil, it can also refer to being chosen or set apart by God, even if oil is not literally used.  So, Peter is saying you are the anointed one, chosen, set apart by God, the Messiah.   But there is more to this.  Throughout the OT, there are many, many verses that point to the Messiah delivering the Hebrew people from captivity, from pagan kings.  The Jews expected the Messiah to deliver them from Roman occupation via military might.  That was the expectation.  The Christ, the Messiah is the one who God sent to deliver his people, to make things right for them – the one they had been waiting for hundreds of years.  So when Peter says this, you are the Messiah, he probably doesn't quite understand how Jesus is going to deliver them.  No one really got it that the Messiah would be the one to deliver people, not from the Roman occupiers, but from their own sin.    Peter says that Jesus is Messiah but then he says that Jesus is the Son of the living God.  Just to clarify something, in the OT, there are a number of men, particularly prophets, who are called a son of God.  That was not an uncommon title for a Godly man.  But that is not what Peter is saying, Peter says that Jesus is THE son of the living God.    Let's clarify something here because I think we can get confused - Jesus is not God's Son in the sense of a human father and a son. God did not get married and have a son. God did not mate with Mary and, together with her, produce a son. Jesus is God's Son in the sense that He is GOD in human form – John 1:1, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  Keep in mind, the term “Word” is referring to Jesus.  Jesus was there in the beginning.  Jesus was there with God in the beginning.  Jesus was there with God and Jesus is God.  Brain cramping yet?  Let's read v. 14, The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  So, the “Word”, Jesus, became human and lived among us.  Of course, that is the Christmas story, Jesus became a human being, was born to a woman named Mary, who became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.  When the angel comes to Mary in Luke and explains the situation, he tells her that this holy one you will give birth to will be called the Son of God.   This clearly separates Jesus from the prophets. He is not a son of God but the Son of the living God.  Jesus walks with a very distinct, specific authority.  I mean, look at his miracles.  He heals people with a word or touch.  He rebukes a storm and it listens to him.  He could read people's minds.  He raises Lazurus from the dead.  He doesn't argue with demons.  Think about it – when Jesus encounters a demon, they tremble.  Colossians 1, The son is the image of the invisible God…  He walks in a distinct, divine authority.  Because he is the Son of the living God – the second person of the Godhead.    So, Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, and he is Lord.  I didn't count this myself, but I read that Jesus is referred to as Lord almost 300 times in the New Testament.  Lord was the most common title for Jesus in the early church.  Why is that significant?  When the Hebrew Bible, what we call the OT, was translated from Hebrew to Greek, the term Yahweh (which was the Hebrew word for God) was translated to Lord in the NT.  That means, to say that Jesus is Lord is to say that Jesus is God.  It is saying that Jesus is divine – he is God – and Caesar is NOT, a claim that was quite dangerous at the time.    To say that Jesus is Lord means that Jesus has claim over all things; he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He is LORD over all things – over the cosmos, over the whole earth, over all nations and their leaders, he is Lord over Vladimir Putin, he is Lord over Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, he is Lord over all the celebrities in Hollywood, he is Lord over Florida and Brandon, he is Lord over each of us.    Now, here is where I'm going to get kind of personal.  At least I'm giving a warning.  What I've found working in ministry is that people like the idea of Jesus as Savior.  Yes, I've said yes to Jesus as my Savior so I'm going to heaven.  That feels good and it should.  But man, do people struggle with this concept that Jesus is Lord.  Because saying Jesus is Lord is one step further.  It's saying that he is Lord over everything and he is Lord over my family and me.  That means, I defer to him in every area of my life.  I trust him with everything.  That means, before I make a decision, I ask Jesus for his will.  It means I have given my job over to him, my children and grandchildren over to him; it means I have given the words I speak, my actions, my thoughts over to Jesus.  My finances belong to him.  That means that tithing isn't an issue because, well, it all belongs to Jesus anyway.  I have no claim on my life.  I belong to Jesus.    I struggled with this for years.  In a culture that tells us that its all about us, how hard WE work, the fruits of our labor, its OUR money, OUR children, OUR lives.  Maybe it sounds weird, but turning over my money to Lord Jesus wasn't that difficult.  I made a decision.  We are supposed to tithe so we are going to do it and I had been around people who tithed for a long time.  What was hard for me was giving my marriage to Jesus, giving my kids to Jesus.  I might have had a bit of a control issue.  And if you have a control issue – teenagers will humble you.  And it was in the midst of some real struggles that I just turned it all over to him.  They are your kids first, Lord.  They were never mine to begin with.  If I make it sounds easy, it isn't but it's life changing.  It's a shift in perspective that really brings a tremendous amount of peace.  Alright, that was pretty important, but so is the next portion of text.  Jesus is beginning to reveal to the disciples that he will die; he will be leaving them.  They aren't quite getting it.  And when they do get a hint of where he is going, Peter isn't happy.  And the Scripture says that Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked him.  Here is where we miss something significant in English.  In the Greek, this word rebuke is much stronger.  Peter is really laying into Jesus here, saying “This is not the way it's going to be.  You are supposed to be the messiah who saves us from the Romans. This is not what we signed up for.”  And Jesus' response to him is interesting.  Jesus rebukes Peter right back, same word in the Greek, and says, “Get behind me, Satan!”  He tells him that he is setting his mind on human things, not on the things of God.  This is one of those moments in Scripture that highlights the vast distance between us and God. Though Jesus is God with us (he was God in human form), we cannot tame him or make him over into our image. We would like a savior who is a winner, and one who makes us winners, but Jesus insists on identifying with the lowliest of losers. He will allow himself to be judged and condemned as a blasphemer by Jewish religious leaders. He will allow himself to be mocked, tortured, and executed as a criminal by the Romans. And that's not all. Jesus actually expects his disciples to follow him on this path of suffering and death.  After telling them that they don't understand the mind of God, he says this very hard thing, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.  We tend to think of taking up our cross as dealing with really annoying circumstances.  In Jesus' day, no one thought of beating one's cross as a persistent annoyance or burden. So bearing our cross does not mean we need to have patience with difficult neighbors or coworkers.  Furthermore, Jesus is not talking about the suffering that is part of living in a broken world, things like serious illnesses, broken relationships, and even natural disasters. That isn't what he is talking about.  Nor is he telling us to seek out suffering or martyrdom. We don't have to become monks and live in the desert.  Jesus did not go seeking suffering, although he ended up having to endure it for his mission.  To a person in the first century, the cross meant one thing and one thing only: death by crucifixion. And the Romans made the people who were about to be killed carry their own cross to the execution location.  It was humiliating and horribly painful and the condemned person had no choice but to submit. Bearing one's cross was and is a show of complete and utter submission. A call to bear one's cross as part of following Jesus, then, is a call to be as submitted to Christ as the condemned criminal was to his death.  When Jesus says this, he's claiming authority. Following Christ means disowning the self and giving allegiance to him instead. And it means giving him allegiance down to the very depths of our being.   Are you willing to surrender all to follow Jesus?  What needs to change in your life and thinking to be more consistent with the ways of Jesus Christ? Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

Have you ever been fooled? Of course, we all have! The advent of AI often makes it difficult to discern real from fake. What about when it comes to what God says; how do we respond when we come up against ‘False' teachers? Find out more this week at NH as dive into 1 Kings […]

Daily Dose of Hope June 17, 2025   Scripture – Matthew 13:1-23   Prayer:  Holy God, We start by praising your name.  You are a good God, a mighty God, and a wise God.  Work in our lives.  Speak to us.  We need you, Lord.  Over and over again, we need you.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements the daily Bible reading for New Hope Church.  As you all know, we are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are starting Matthew 13.   Picture this: Jesus is sitting by the lake (Sea of Galilee). Large crowds of people have gathered around him, so many in fact that he got into a boat and started teaching from the boat while the people stood on the shore. And he begins to tell stories, parables. These were stories that people could relate to, they understood about farmers and seed,t hey could picture them in their head as he talked, but they pointed to deeper spiritual truths about living under the Kingdom of God.   Jesus says that a farmer goes out to sow seeds. But the farmer doesn't worry so much about where he is throwing the seeds. He seems to be pretty indiscriminate with his seed-throwing. He is literally just throwing seed everywhere. Some of the seed falls right on the path, where all the people walked and the soil was hard and had been packed down. So the birds ate most of that seed. Some of the seed fell in rocky places (there are lots of rocky places in that part of the world) and while it would sprout, the soil was shallow, and there wasn't enough root for the plant to survive. Some of the seed fell among thorns, and the thorns were invasive and took over. The plants had no real chance of survival there. But then some seeds fell on good soil, which produced an amazing crop---100, 60, or 30X what was sown.   First, I think it's important for us to not dwell on the different kinds of soils too much. I think one of our first temptations is to go, I know someone who is like that soil, and then that group of people are like this soil, and so forth. We'll get to the soil but I want us to start with what is most important. Who is the star of the story? Well, the farmer or the one who is sowing the seed. He throws that seed everywhere–he is generous with the seed, throwing it everywhere there is any chance it might take root. Friends, we are the sowers. We are the ones called to throw seed. What's the seed we are supposed to be throwing around? Well, the Good News of Jesus.    The Good News is for ALL. We aren't supposed to decide who to share our faith with. No, we are truly to share our faith, in word and deed, with everyone. This is so important. We aren't just supposed to share Jesus with those in our congregation, with our friends who are “safe.” We are supposed to be kind of reckless, sharing the love of Jesus Christ, sharing our faith story, telling people the source of our hope, with all kinds of people - people who don't look like us, people who we don't know, and people we do know. This is one thing we know about God's Kingdom: If God has brought us to a certain place, a certain store, a certain vacation spot, a certain meeting---we trust that there isa greater purpose. We always should be on the lookout for ways to have spiritual conversations, to share the Good News.   I want you to think about your past week. Think about the places you went, the people you spoke to, the things you did. I want you to think about each of those situations. What would it have looked like if you had sowed some seeds at each of those places?   We aren't responsible for what happens to the seeds. We are just called to sow. Sow with joy wherever we go. Sow with love. Sow obediently and abundantly. Then, we trust that God will do the rest. Trust God with the harvest. For me, this takes the pressure off...we are not responsible for the harvest, we are simply sowers.    As the sower, we truly have the desire for all the soil to bear fruit. That's why we keep throwing those seeds, having those conversations, offering to pray for someone, telling people how much Jesus loves them. God loves all people, we are called to love all people. Remember that love of God and love of others cannot be separated. They are intricately linked.   But we have to recognize that some soil has had people trample on it. It has not been nourished, it might be filled with rocks. It may take years to get to the point in which the soil can bear fruit. I read that to get soil just right, really nourished, it can take years. And it usually means continuing to add nourishment to it, continuing to add things to it to develop it and enrich it so that it can be fruitful. People are no different. We love on people, we pray for them, we tell them Jesus loves them. We listen to their stories. We ask questions. And this could go on for years. But we never give up on anyone. We trust that God is at work in ways we can't see or understand. We trust that God is working behind the scenes to nourish the fields, to strengthen the roots.   Is there someone you have given up on? Remember, God isn't done with any of us yet. Who is it you have gotten discouraged with? Maybe you've stopped praying for them. Maybe you are simply angry with them because they have made bad choices or turned away from the faith. Let's ask God to bring that person to mind. Say a prayer for that person, specifically that God gives you the wisdom how to continue sowing in their life.    We can trust that God is working in the most difficult places, in difficult people, in difficult circumstances. And God gives us beautiful glimpses of hope.  I recently learned about the church in Iran and how it is growing under the harshest and most difficult of conditions.  But God is there, growing his church.  These are rays of hope in the midst of hardship. When God is involved, when the Kingdom is at work, there is ALWAYS HOPE.   Now, let's talk soil.  The soil is an important element in this story. There were three ways the poor soil was described, “hardened”, “shallow” and “cluttered.” And then, there was the well-nourished soil. As Floridians, we live in a climate and environment in which you really have to amend the soil if you want anything to grow. We basically live in sand. There is no nourishment in sand. Weeds seem to grow well but not a lot of other desirable plants. My mother-in-law is an avid and successful gardener and she constantly is amending her soil, putting nourishing elements in it to ensure that the plants will grow and be healthy.   Friends, we have to pay attention to our soil. We need to enrich the soil in others' lives but we have to ensure that our soil is cared for as well.   How is the soil of your soul? Is it hardened? Is it shallow? Is it cluttered? Or is it nourished? How is your soil?  How is our soil here at New Hope?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Many lives start off well, but along the way, the consequences of personal poor decisions rock their world. The reality is, we all fail in some way or another. Gratefully, God's Grace and Mercy is greater than all our shortcomings. In E2E Pt 91 we are reminded of the evidence of this Biblical truth and how […]

Daily Dose of Hope June 9, 2025   Scripture - Matthew 9:18-38   Prayer:  Heavenly Father, We come to you today in awe.  You are almighty and wise but also filled with love and mercy.  And we have the pleasure of experiencing that love and mercy.  Despite our brokenness, you care for us and you continue to walk alongside us.  Thank you, Lord, for your patience.  Help us to focus more on you.  Fill us with a consuming desire to know you better.  Work in us.  Stretch us.  Challenge us.  Convict us.  We love you.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast that complements the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts and today, we are finishing up Matthew, chapter 9.   The last portion of Matthew 9 includes some amazing healings.  Remember, in God's Kingdom there is no sickness so Jesus healed people physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  The first one in today's text is the healing of the bleeding woman.  This story was also found in Mark.  This is probably my favorite miracle (if we are allowed to have a favorite.) I can't help but think about this woman's difficult life. To be bleeding in Jewish culture meant she was unclean. She couldn't go to the synagogue, nor was she really supposed to be around people. If she had been married, her husband would have long left her because of her condition. She would have lived a very isolated, lonely life, not to mention being poor and physically weak.   And then Jesus comes along. She must have heard about him. She knows where he will be passing and she takes a chance. She wasn't supposed to even be in the crowd because she was unclean. But something within her knows that this man could change things. Her faith is beyond what Jesus has seen in the religious people or those in high positions. In a crowd of people who see themselves as righteous and important, Jesus elevates this humble woman above all the others. She is no longer ostracized but healed, whole, and part of Jesus' family. That word “daughter” would have been so healing for her. Condemned by the rest of society, Jesus empowers this woman and calls her his own.   But Jesus met this woman on his way to a synagogue leader's home.  The synagogue leader had come to Jesus in desperation because his little girl had just died.  Two things are notable to me here.  First, this had to have been humbling because a synagogue leader would not have normally resorted to asking Jesus, a rogue Jewish rabbi, for help. But, if you are a parent, you know that you will do just about anything to help your child.  We are seeing this here.  The other thing that is amazing is that this man seems to have real faith. He says if Jesus will just come and lay his hand on her, then she will live.  She wasn't just sick.  She was dead, but this man believed that Jesus could fix that.  And he does.   It's on the same journey that day that Jesus heals two blind men and a demon-possessed man who was mute because of the demon.  The Pharisees say that Jesus is healing through the power of the Prince of Demons.  Why their resistance to belief?  Jesus doesn't look, talk, or behave as they think a Messiah should.  He challenges their fundamental beliefs.  If we are honest, Jesus challenges some of our fundamental beliefs.  The question is always:  will we choose to believe or will we reject?  The Pharisees rejected but what about you?   Jesus spent a great deal of time going from town to town, teaching, healing, and demonstrating to people what life under the Kingdom of God is like. The last portion of today's Scripture says that Jesus saw the people and he felt compassion for them because they were sheep without a shepherd. Think about sheep–they are totally vulnerable without a shepherd to care for them, guide them, and provide protection. Goats, who we often think of as similar to sheep, tend to do fine on their own. But sheep, not so much. They are helpless and vulnerable to predators. Jesus is saying that he looked at the people and realized how vulnerable and defenseless they were. They needed guidance and divine protection. Without it, they were doomed. Friends, without Jesus, we are all doomed.   The text closes with the very famous Scripture about the harvest. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few so ask the Lord of the harvest to send more workers. Of course, Jesus is speaking about the people harvest. There are so very many people who need to know about Jesus Christ. They need the guidance of the divine shepherd and they don't even know it. Someone must tell them. Jesus is counting on his followers to do the work of sharing the Gospel. And yet, how often it feels like there just aren't enough people willing to go and share, go and tell, go and proclaim, go and harvest. We need more workers. This really got me thinking. Are you one of God's workers? Are you willing to help with the harvest? Why or why not?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

This weekend at NH we will examine what it cost to follow Jesus. It was Jesus Himself who laid out the clear terms. He wanted everyone who follows Him to be sure they understand what they are signing up for. Join us as we apply the principle of these relevant issues to our world.

Join us for a Sunday of worship and communion together!

Ask yourself, do I believe God has been at work in my life? And, do I believe there is more for me to accomplish in my lifetime? The prophet Elijah seems to have believed his usefulness in life was over, but God had other plans. The events we will explore in 1 Kings 19 demonstrate that God […]

Daily Dose of Hope May 22, 2025 Day 4 of Week 8   Scripture – Matthew 4:1-11   Prayer:  Holy and Almighty Father, We come to you today with humble hearts.  We know we are broken and need you.  We are weak.  We are vulnerable to temptation.  Lord, fill us with your strength.  Give us your stamina and wisdom.  We can't do this life without you, Lord.  It's in the powerful name of Jesus we pray, Amen.   Welcome back, everyone, to the daily devotional that complements New Hope Church's Bible reading plan.  This is the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we begin Matthew 4.   In the first portion of this chapter, Jesus is led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan.  The Judean wilderness doesn't look like a forest, by any means.  Rather, it is dry, rocky, and hot.  It is more like a desert with rocks.  Let's start by envisioning that.    The first big question is why did the Spirit lead Jesus into the wilderness knowing what would happen?  We can assume that this is part of getting Jesus ready for his public ministry.  Jesus has the credentials and the authority, but now he gets to have the experience of coming face to face with evil.  Consider this: He has just been baptized and the Spirit is with him.  Afterall, the Spirit didn't leave him in the desert.  But he then allows himself to be made weak with lack of food.  Remember, Jesus was God but he was also human.  He allows himself to be made physically weak for this purpose – to demonstrate that he could still resist temptation.   Now, he is ready to face his main adversary.  And as you read this, notice that the devil is never in control of the situation.  Jesus is.  He may be weak, tired and hungry, but he is totally in control.  Jesus is strong and ready for each and every temptation.  In this scene, Jesus gives us a powerful picture of how to go into a spiritual battle, leaning totally and completely on the Word of God.    What were the temptations?  There is the temptation to make stones into bread (remember, he was fasting), the temptation to hurl himself down from the top of the Temple and have God rescue him, and the temptation to have political leadership over all the Kingdoms of the world.  Satan's temptations get immediately to the core question of Jesus' identity, calling into question his relationship with God by beginning with, “If you are the Son of God….” This relationship, announced earlier at his baptism, is now confirmed through Jesus' unwavering trust in God.   These temptations in the wilderness are not one-time experiences, they are tests that are preparing Jesus for his earthly ministry.  Jesus is going to be confronted with all kinds of evil.  He will cast out demons.  He will battle Satan on many fronts.  He will face all kinds of physical and emotional pain.  Think about the cross.  This is good news for us.  Jesus has, after all, already gone before us into the most forsaken places in the wilderness.  Jesus has been tempted and won the victory over temptation and Satan.  We can too, with his help.  But he isn't asking us to go anywhere he hasn't already been.   Spiritual warfare is real. At least a quarter of Jesus' ministry dealt specifically with the conflict between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of darkness.  Jesus was God with flesh on and he came to crush Satan under his feet.  On the cross, Jesus has won the victory and the ultimate divine victory is not in doubt.  But the spiritual forces of evil have not totally conceded.  We live in this in between time.  Victory in Jesus Christ is ours.  In the spiritual sense, we possess everything necessary as Kingdom people, we are children of God, redeemed, reconciled, and make right in Christ.  That being said, in this in between time, there will still be spiritual warfare, there are still difficult battles to be fought, there will still be destruction, and there will be casualties.  The apostle John wrote in I John 5:19, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”   And so the church stands its ground and uses everything God has equipped her with to resist evil.  In today's passage, Jesus gives us a great example of how to do this.    When it comes to spiritual warfare, here are some things to consider:   -God has an enemy who is committed to working against his people and his work in this world.    -This isn't really our battle.  It is God's battle.  We are simply joining him in this mission of fighting back darkness.  And we have nothing to fear in the midst of it, as long as we stay close to Jesus.  It's when we start wondering off on our own that we may have problems.  So, submit yourself to God.  The enemy wants to keep you from growing in your walk with Jesus.  Give yourself over to God; stay focused on him.    -As believers, we aren't to go on the offensive but rather to be prepared for a defensive battle.  Stand firm in doing good and obeying God's will.  Stay faithful.  When you do that, you are pushing back darkness. Don't be surprised if the enemy tries to trip you up and make you ineffective.  Keep proclaiming Jesus but expect opposition.  Anytime we do something significant for the Kingdom, expect opposition.    -God will give us the equipment and strength we need to stay strong.  God provides us with everything we need, the Bible, the armor, the protection, and the prayer connection.   -Be careful not to open yourself up to things that are not of God.  There are some things that we think are kind of harmless, like psychics, tarot cards, Ouija boards, crystals, a lot of the new age stuff.  While some of it might have no power, some of it does.  I've known of people who had really powerful and scary experiences with some of this.  At times, it can be really accurate.  Please know that power doesn't come from God.  As Christians, we should not be exposing ourselves to anything that is remotely evil; it isn't something to play around with.  It's serious.    I truly think Satan's attacks are getting more intense at the same time that many western Christians are not taking spiritual warfare seriously at all.  Satan rejoices in self-centered Christianity.  Satan loves the fact that so many of our churches could care less about leading people to Jesus.  But we are at war – we are at war for the souls of our children, our grandchildren, and our greatgrandchildren.  If the Kingdom of Darkness makes the church ineffective, then they are winning the battle.  And the casualties are really huge.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope May 20, 2025 Day 2 of Week 8   Scripture – Matthew 2   Prayer:  Dear God, You are amazing!  How awesome it is that you who created all things are also so intimately involved in our lives.  We give you glory and praise for who you are.  We are so thankful for your love.  We want to know you more.  We want and need to hear your voice.  Help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...  In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back, friends, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a devotional and podcast connected to the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, FL.  Today, we are digging into Matthew 2.  This is pretty familiar Scripture to many of us.  Let's try to see it with fresh eyes. The text begins with foreign Magi visiting King Herod.  These men are an interesting and mysterious group. We don't really know much about the magi who come seeking Jesus from eastern lands.  Some translations call them wise men or kings.  Matthew doesn't include a lot of details.  We have no idea how many there actually were (despite the popular carol, Scripture does not say there were just three of them).  Like the shepherds, the magi seem an unlikely group to seek out and worship Jesus. They were pagans, gentiles, involved in the occult, and yet they knew there was something more.  They were searching for something more.  So these magi embark on a long journey, carrying expensive gifts worthy of a king, eager to pay homage. Their efforts lead them to an encounter far beyond their expectations. Unlike an earthly king who would have been found in a palace, the magi are led to what we can probably assume is a modest home of a Jewish family and it's there that they find Jesus with his mother and Scripture says they bow down and worship him.  Maybe it wasn't what they expected but they see God's hand in it nonetheless and worship the one they know to be the Messiah, the savior of the world.  They were outsiders but they recognized the Messiah when so many insiders failed to do so. Up until now, it all sounds great, right?  But there is another character in this story.  His name is Herod the Great. The Herod family ruled over the holy land both before and after the time of Christ, they were somewhat like puppet kings, put in place by the Romans to keep order.  And they don't have a great reputation at all.  They were, for the most part, insecure and power-hungry. One reason I don't think it's accurate to refer to the magi as wise men is because they did one thing that was really unwise.  They go straight to King Herod, “So where is the NEW king? Where is the one who has been named king of the Jews?”  Keep in mind, Herod the Great considered himself to be king of the Jews.  The man is insecure and vicious so he tries to trick the magi into divulging Jesus' location.  But no amount of earthly power can get Herod what he wants.  The magi are warned in a dream to not return to Herod.  And this angers him more.  Herod was both feared and hated. The Jewish historian Josephus painted a picture of Herod as a suspicious and cruel client king, with a history of killing anyone whom he saw as a threat, including three sons and his wife. So even though the magi remind Herod of Micah's prophecy that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), his response was not to pay homage but to destroy the newborn king.  In Matthew 2:16, we read that Herod decides to take matters into his own hands and kill all the baby boys who might be in the age range of Jesus, When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.  Truly dark and horrific.  The extent to which human beings will go to gain power surely demonstrates the brokenness of our world.  Then and now.  But through all of this, Jesus is saved.  The baby's family is warned in a dream and they head down to Egypt for a period of time to keep the boy safe from Herod before they come back to Israel and settle in Nazareth.  Because God's purposes will prevail.  God had promised long, long ago to send a Savior for his people and there is nothing that could get in the way.  Listen to this prophecy from in Isaiah 9:6-7, spoken 700 years before the birth of Jesus, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.  It's like God was saying “I'm going to send someone who will restore the people of Israel to me.  This person will be a light to the Gentiles, and will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth AND it will be obvious once more that your God reigns.”  No power-hungry king could mess that up as hard as he tried.  No earthly power could thwart God's plan of redemption for his people.  It's true that bad things to happen.  God allows human beings free will and that is too often used for evil.  But that doesn't mean God isn't involved, it doesn't mean he isn't invested, God can and has orchestrated, changed, and/or stopped the plans of all kinds of people to get done what needs to get done.  God has been working, in his time, over the course of thousands of years, to achieve his bigger purpose. And what was the bigger purpose?  God's mission from the beginning was to redeem his world.  He did this through Jesus.  That little baby that the wise men knelt down and worshiped, that child that Herod felt so threatened by --- that child would grow to become the Savior of the world.  He would bring sight to the blind, freedom for the oppressed, he would proclaim good news to the poor.  He would preach the Kingdom of God and show the world a different way of living, ultimately giving up his own life voluntarily on a Roman cross.  In doing so, he became the final sacrifice for sin, providing a way for you and me and all people to be redeemed.  Because of Jesus' sacrifice, our sins can be forgiven and we can walk hand in hand with a holy God.  Because of Jesus, nothing separates us from God.  And then, three days after he died, he was resurrected, defeating evil and death and demonstrating to the world who HE is.  He is, after all, God.  Jesus is the Lord. Jesus is LORD of all.  Paul writes this in Colossians 1:15-20, The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.  Jesus is above all things.  Jesus is Lord. And over the course of 2000 years, rulers and kings and dictators and autocrats have tried to wipe out his influence.  They have misused his teachings, they have twisted the Gospel.  Like Herod, they have done all kinds of things to either try to eliminate the influence of Jesus or to use the Gospel for their own deceitful purposes.  And at times, it's been ugly and violent and really sad.  But this is TRUTH:  God will ensure that his purposes prevail.  Yes, in our sinful and broken world, all kinds of horrors will occur.  Vladimir Putin will think he's invincible.  Kim Jong Un will declare himself supreme ruler.  American politicians will think themselves unshakable.  You and I will experience heartbreak, loss, and illness.  And yet, Jesus is still Lord of all.  God is still working in our lives, God is still present with us in the middle of the mess, and Jesus is still in the business of transforming lives.  Friends, Jesus is on the throne, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  The rulers of the world may oppose him but they are ultimately answerable to him.  Because he will come again. I'll stop there for now.  But I do have to ask this question:  Is Jesus Lord of your life?  More tomorrow. Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

At the core of every societal problem is a deep spiritual issue; in 1 Kings 18, Elijah reveals that he knows what he is dealing with is the spiritual condition of the nation. He logically asks, “What do they believe about God?”  Join us as we explore how the nation responds in our E2E study, Pt. 89.

Daily Dose of Hope May 14, 2025 Day 3 of Week 7   Scripture - Mark 15:33-47   Prayer: Holy God, How amazing it is that we can come before you today.  You are God of all things, Lord of everything, and yet you care about each of us.  We give you glory and praise.  We thank you most of all for Jesus, who made it possible for us to walk hand in hand with a holy God.  Help us see today's Scripture through fresh eyes.  Keep teaching us, Lord.  Continue to reveal yourself to us.  We are open and grateful.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a devotional connected to the daily reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  Today, we are finishing up Mark 15, which is the death of Jesus Christ.    The text detailing Jesus' death on the cross is what we call the Good Friday scripture.  It may seem odd that we would call the day that Jesus was crucified and died “good.” Apparently, the term came into common use in the 1200s because for us, it was a truly good day, as Jesus became the final sacrifice for all sin for all people for all time. As the full expression of God's love for us, Jesus voluntarily gave his life so that we could be reconciled to holy God.   The text starts with darkness.  How appropriate.  And it says that at the ninth hour, Jesus spoke his last words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  This statement was in reference to Psalm 22.  At the time, people would reference a psalm by stating the first line and the rest of the psalm would be assumed.  Psalm 22 was written by David, and it's a psalm that expresses abandonment and despair in the face of sorrow.    But this leads to some questions.  Did Jesus really feel abandoned by God at that moment on the cross?  And how would that work?  Here is a thought - by quoting Psalm 22, Jesus is actually expressing confidence in the face of suffering, trusting that God will ultimately deliver him. We gain confidence in this interpretation because it is faithful to our understanding of the Trinity as inseparable - one part of the Godhead can't abandon another part of the Godhead.  There is also a distinct union of Jesus' divine and human natures.  All of this comes together on the cross.  Let's read Psalm 22, verses 1-8...   My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?    Why are you so far from saving me,    so far from my cries of anguish? 2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,    by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;    you are the one Israel praises. 4 In you our ancestors put their trust;    they trusted and you delivered them.5 To you they cried out and were saved;    in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man,    scorned by everyone, despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me;    they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,    “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him,    since he delights in him.” And as the psalm continues (it is a bit long to real in full here), we see how the psalmist begins to express trust in the Lord and praise his name.  He knows that God will deliver him.  The bottom line seems to be that on the cross, Jesus bore the weight of our sin as the God-man, but the Father did not literally abandon him, as that would divide the Trinity and undermine Christ's saving work.  Jesus knew that God would deliver him but also provide a way to deliver the whole world.  Right before Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross, the curtain in the Temple was torn down the middle. This is the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (the Holiest of Holies) where the ark of the covenant was kept and the presence of God remained. When the curtain tore, it was a sign that the New Covenant was instituted. Because of Jesus' sacrifice (the final sacrifice for sin), those who believe in him can now go directly to the throne of God's grace. When holy God looks at us, he doesn't see our sinfulness but the blood of Christ. Thus, there are no more barriers that can separate us from God.  Hebrews 10 refers to this incredible phenomena...   Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22   The chapter closes with Joseph of Arimathea taking Jesus' body and placing it in a tomb.  Joseph was a wealthy man and also a member of the Jewish ruling council.  It is implied that he is a believer in Jesus and if he tried to hide it before, there is no hiding it now.  Joseph has gone to great risk and expense to make sure Jesus' body is wrapped and buried.  Of course, at this point, they are deep in grief.  All feels heavy.  But Sunday is coming.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Elijah committed to doing “whatever'” God called him to! Saying yes to God will cost you and takes a really mature approach to fully surrender to the Lord's eternal purposes. Find out more as we dig into 1 Kings 17 for personal application.

God gives every person an opportunity to join Him in His work of advancing the Kingdom. How you respond is entirely up to you. Join us this week as we look at a couple of examples of individuals who decided to go their own direction.

If you've always wondered about baptism, here are the basics—we're calling it “Baptism 101,” and it's all the stuff ChatGPT can't tell you.

If you've ever felt confused by what's happening in your life—maybe even to the point of questioning your faith or feeling deep sadness—know this: God is still at work.Even when we can't see Him, He's moving behind the scenes to bring about His purposes. We'll explore this important, biblical truth as we look at Luke […]

Our culture desperately needs a biblical perspective of the “Power of God.” Join us this week as we examine that very element in a Palm Sunday venture into a fresh view of Jesus!

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Daily Dose of Hope March 27, 2025 Day 5 of Week 25   Scripture:  Job 40-42; Psalm 150; Revelation 22   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  You guys, we have made it.  Today is the last devotional for our reading plan.  Of course, we are starting a new one on Monday on the Gospels and Acts BUT let's not discount what we have done together.  We have read the entire Bible in a year.  What an accomplishment!  I am so proud of all of you.   Our final Old Testament reading is in Job.  We are finishing up the book by reading chapters 40-42.  God asks Job if he wants to run the world for a time based on the strict principle of justice that he and his friends believed in and professed.  Should every evil deed be punished and every good deed rewarded?  The world and humanity are so much for complicated than that.  The world is beautiful and orderly in some ways, but also dangerous and without order in other ways.    Of course, we end with the big question – why is there suffering in this world?  God doesn't really give an answer.  What he does say is that we live in an incredible world, with lots of amazing things, but at this point, it isn't designed in such a way that people can avoid suffering.  God simply asks Job, as he asks us, to trust in His wisdom and character.    In the end, Job responds to God with humility.  He is sorry for ever questioning God.  God admonishes Job's friends, who did not get anything right.  What's interesting is that God praises Job for his ability to question God and his honesty about what he was dealing with.  God obviously wants us to bring him our struggles and trust that he cares and hears us.  Ultimately, Job recovers.  His body heals.  He has more children and his wealth and wisdom expand.  Yet, this does not feel like resolution.  What are your thoughts on all of this?   Our New Testament reading is the last chapter of Revelation, which also happens to be the last chapter of the entire Bible.  In this chapter, we find another metaphor for the new creation. It is the river of life, crystal clear and flanked on each side by the tree of life, which provides abundant fruit. The number twelve represents the sufficiency of these fruit, they will provide nourishment to God's people for ever and ever and ever. The leaves of the tree are like medicine, providing healing to the nations. These beautiful images immediately remind the reader of the original Garden, Eden, the way the Lord intended his world before the fall. Human beings will find their ultimate purpose and will live without suffering, but rather total contentment and satisfaction, something that could never be achieved before the curse.   As we finish up the book of Revelation, and John's visions conclude, we are reminded of the choice we have. Do we want to take up residence in the Babylon of today, in those things the world promises, OR do we want to seek a life characterized by holiness, pursuing God, and ultimately residing with him in the perfect city, the new Jerusalem, the city created and sustained by God? The book continually reminds us that the choice is ours.   Okay, this is the last devotional of the last week of our journey all the way through Scripture.  I am honored that so many of you stuck with me.  I have learned a lot and I hope you have as well.  It's truly a miracle that Scripture is one continuous story.  Yes, it's 66 separate ancient texts that together, tell God's story and ours for that matter.  How many times did we read about something and find ourself right there in the midst of it?  Scripture is truly alive and active.  It is unchanging and yet speaks to us in many changing circumstances.  It is TRUTH.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope March 26, 2025 Day 4 of Week 25   Scripture:  Job 37-39; Psalm 103: Revelation 21   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  Tonight is Recharge night so please come and join us at 6:30pm in the Garage for community, worship, fellowship, and study.37-39.    The Old Testament Scripture is Job 37-39.  The first chapter is the continuation of Elihu's response.  Then, we hear from the Lord.  He speaks directly to Job.  God basically asserts his authority.  He speaks of how he is creator and knows everything about the world.  He asks Job if he was there when the ocean was created, when the morning was spoken into being...  Basically, he is asking Job, who are you to question me???  God is sovereign, he is in control, and Job is not.  These are questions not meant for Job to actually answer, but to humble him.  I'm not sure what I think about this yet.  More tomorrow.   The New Testament passage is Revelation 21.  John's final vision is that the redemption of creation is now complete. The old earth and creation, that which was broken and sinful, has passed away and a new earth has come. Finally. this is what we have been waiting for. God's people reside in this new earth.   There is no more populace simply mechanically following the ways of the world. There is passion. God's people dwell with the Almighty himself, his glory fully revealed. And now, there will be no more tears, suffering, or loss. All is new, all is healed, and all is redeemed.   Then, there is a description of God's Holy City. Please be sure to read through this beautiful vision. This city is a place of perfect worship, where humanity is not seeking achievement but rather exists to worship God in the presence of God. God's Kingdom is fully revealed and it is incredible.   I have a seminary professor who used to tell us that our lives, as believers, are intended to be a preview to the world of the perfect world to come. So very convicting! If someone were to look at your life, what might they deduce about God's perfect world to come?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

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