Hope Alliance Bethlehem

Too much in life is artificial!  At Hope, our desire is to see people make a real connection to God and real connections to each other.  We also want to help people connect to their unique, God-given calling so they can pursue it.

At Hope we believe it should not be hard to meet Jesus, but it is hard to stay with him.  So, we are guided by a key priority we call casual depth.  That means we want to create environments were everyone is welcome without expectation.  But when we gather, we also intend to to go deep in the gospel and in relationships to find the true life that Jesus offers.

At Hope we value gospel saturation.  Everything we do is saturated with the gospel because it is our true message and the only way we can bear fruit.  The gospel is not just an entrance into faith, it is the ongoing basis of faith.   

At Hope, we are defined by the statement Simply Jesus.   Jesus is first.  Everything else is second.  It's that simple.  The story of the transfiguration helps remind us that our role is to point people to Jesus only and avoid the common pitfalls and traps of religion.

Everyone has a shepherd.  In Psalm 23, David is telling us that God is the best shepherd.  Why?  He lead us to true contentment.  He nourishes our soul and gives it true rest.  He directs us toward God, even through dark seasons.  And he is a covenant companion with us.  

The psalmist says that one day in God's presence is better than a thousand elsewhere.  Why?  Because in God's presence we find strength.  The presence of God is our true home where we experience his genuine care, are restored by his grace and are redirected to worship.  In God's presence we are immersed in his goodness and even the valleys of weeping become blessings.

The psalmists love to remind us that God is our refuge.  That amidst the darkness of the night and terror of the day, God is our shield and protector.  However, this is not simply a call to hide in fear, but rather an assurance to keep moving forward.  And as we engage the world around us, we do so with God as our refuge when we trust, love and call on him.

When David says that God is compassionate, he is reminding his forgetful soul of what God has done and who God is - his character and his covenant.  This is the God who forgives and restores us. The God who redeems and rescues us.  The God who crowns us with his love and adorns us with his goodness.   This is a God to be feared and praised.

In the course of life, just like David, we run into fears, pain, loneliness, guilt and uncertainty.  Often beneath these feelings are deep questions in our soul.  David asked those same questions.  Will I be ashamed?  Can I trust God?  Is God good?  But he knew the Lord was good because he had experienced his guidance, his forgiveness, his protection and his comfort.

The holiness of God represented by the ark of the covenant was an anchor for the people of God.  No matter their circumstances or the powers that threatened them, the holiness of God meant that his just and equitable reign not only existed but would prevail.  How do we live in a broken, unjust and inequitable world today?  The resurrection of Jesus is our anchor, a fulfillment of the ark's promise of God's presence and victory.