Hope Church (Dubuque)

This week, Ross continues our Bumper Sticker Theology series by tackling the phrase, “We’re All God’s Children.” Looking at John 1:9–13, we see the important difference between being created by God and becoming a child of God through faith in Jesus. While every person bears God’s image and has value, Scripture teaches that adoption into God’s family comes through receiving and believing in Christ. Through Jesus, we are invited into a new relationship with God marked by belonging, security, and transformation.

Marty challenges the common phrase “God won’t give you more than you can handle,” showing that Scripture paints a different picture. He explains that suffering, trials, and temptations don’t always come directly from God, but can result from living in a broken world, the choices of others, spiritual opposition, or our own decisions. Rather than promising an easy escape, God invites us to depend on Him in our weakness. Through Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” and teachings on temptation, Marty reminds us that God’s grace is sufficient, Jesus walks with us in hardship, and we are never meant to face life alone. The message points us toward a deeper truth: with God, we can face more than we could ever handle on our own.

Mark challenges the common phrase “everything happens for a reason” by showing that it is an oversimplification that raises difficult questions about suffering and evil, and he grounds the discussion in key truths that God is sovereign, holy, and will be glorified. Using the story of Joseph in Genesis, he explains that events in life come from a mix of causes—God’s sovereign work, human free will, a fallen world, others’ choices, and our own decisions—while emphasizing that God is not the author of evil but can work through even harmful intentions for good. He concludes that while we often cannot see the full picture in the moment, believers trust that God ultimately brings about His purposes and glory, even through hardship.

Sean challenges the common phrase “Heaven gained an angel,” showing that while it sounds comforting, it’s not what Scripture teaches. Angels and humans are distinct creations with different purposes—angels serve God as messengers and ministers, but humans are uniquely made in God’s image and invited into a relationship and inheritance that angels don’t share. Rather than becoming angels after death, we remain fully ourselves and are promised something greater: a future resurrection into glorified bodies, free from sin and brokenness. This reframes how we see both death and identity, reminding us that we are not ordinary or insignificant—we are known, loved, and destined for a restored life with God that far exceeds the role of angels.

Ross kicks off the Bumper Sticker Theology series by challenging the popular phrase “follow your heart,” showing us that while culture treats our hearts like a trustworthy compass, Scripture reveals they are actually bent, broken, and deceptive (Jeremiah 17:9). Instead of leading us to life, our hearts often lead us deeper into confusion and sin, exposing our need for something more than self-help or self-discovery. Ross points us to the real solution: not fixing our hearts, but surrendering them to Jesus, who gives us a brand-new heart and His Spirit to transform how we think, desire, and live (Ezekiel 36:26–27). This message invites us to stop trusting ourselves and start trusting God daily, allowing Him to take His rightful place at the center of our lives.

Ross walks us through Mark 16:1–8 and centers on the moment that changes everything—the resurrection of Jesus. He challenges us to see that Easter isn’t just a meaningful ending, but the defining event that gives power to our faith. Because Jesus is risen, it reshapes what we believe about Him—not just a teacher, but Lord—and what we believe about ourselves as people in need of grace. And it transforms what we receive: not judgment, but forgiveness, new life, and a restored relationship with God. The question left in front of us is simple but personal: how will we respond to the risen Jesus today?

As we come to the final moments of Jesus’ life, we look at familiar figures—Peter, Judas, and a devoted woman—and discover that their stories reflect our own. This message challenges us to stop using Scripture to evaluate others and instead let it reveal what’s in us. We see how devotion can take different forms: passionate but incomplete, self-serving, or rooted in pride. And ultimately, we are invited to the one place that truly matters—the seat of promise—where we stop striving, surrender fully, and trust in Jesus as the One who has done everything needed to bring us to God.

Jesus is asked what matters most, and instead of simplifying things, He raises the bar—calling us to love God with everything we are and to love others just as deeply. In this passage, we see that faith isn’t about checking boxes or doing just enough to feel okay with God; it’s about a transformed heart that overflows in love. The tension is clear: we can understand the truth, agree with it, and still be “not far” from the kingdom without ever stepping in. The good news is that Jesus doesn’t just give the command—He fulfills it for us and invites us to stop performing and start trusting Him, allowing His love to reshape how we live, think, and love every day.

In Mark 13, Jesus responds to the disciples’ questions about the temple and the end of the age by calling his followers to readiness rather than giving a timeline. He warns us not to be deceived, alarmed, surprised by opposition, or spiritually asleep as history moves toward his return. Instead, we are called to remain faithful, alert, and anchored in the truth, hope, and mission of Jesus as we await the fulfillment of his kingdom.

As Easter approaches, we begin slowing down to look closely at the most important week in human history—Holy Week. In Mark 11, Jesus enters Jerusalem to crowds shouting “Hosanna,” appearing to receive the authority people wanted to give Him. Yet instead of claiming power the way they expected, He rides in humbly on a colt and heads to the temple, where He boldly confronts corruption and restores its purpose. When religious leaders challenge Him, asking by what authority He acts, Jesus exposes the deeper issue—the question of His authority over our lives. As we walk through this week together over the next month, we’re invited to consider what these events truly mean and whether we will recognize and surrender to the authority of Jesus.