Hope Community Church

God is good all the time, and all the time God is good! It’s catchy and it’s true, but do we really believe it? Duane Calvin takes us through the Book of Ecclesiastes to uncover the goodness of God and the source of real satisfaction. 

Glorious isn’t a word we use too often—it’s reserved for things that are special and powerful. In week three of the series, guest teacher Ben Foote explains how truly believing God is glorious has the power to conquer all fear.

This Is Our God: Week 2
Chase Gardner

Description:

It’s not that hard to believe that God could love us when we’re at our best, but how could He possibly love us when we’re at our worst? In week two of the series, Chase Gardner uses the story of the Samaritan woman at the well to show how Jesus goes out of His way to meet us in our shame.

Message Notes:

God is gracious and we don’t need to prove ourselves.

John 4:3 (ESV)

Jews and Samaritans saw each other as unworthy of dignity or respect.

Jesus intentionally goes to Samaria.

John 4:7a (ESV) - The Samaritan woman goes to the well at a time when she knows no one will be around.

John 4:7b (ESV) - Jesus speaking to this woman would have been seen as scandalous.

John 4:9 (ESV) – Jesus isn’t worried about what people are thinking; He just cares about this woman.

John 4:10-14 (ESV) – Jesus is talking about her spiritual thirst.

John 4:15-17 (ESV) – People often misinterpret that this woman is an adulterer.

What if the problem Jesus was trying to fix was actually shame?

Jesus is breaking every social rule to meet this woman at the epicenter of her shame.

At our worst, Jesus still wants to draw near.

John 4:19-26 (ESV)

Jesus is the answer to receiving the forgiveness, acceptance, transformation, redemption, and unfathomable grace that you have to experience to truly believe.

John 4:27-29 (ESV)

The woman leaves her shame and runs to the people who have harmed her because they have no power over her anymore.

Not only did God freely forgive her and love her, but He used the rest of her life in a powerful way.

This Is Our God: Week One

Chase Gardner - Teaching Pastor - Hope Community Church

Description:

If God is great, what does that mean for us? In week one, Chase Gardner shares just how "great" the God of the Bible is and why that changes everything.

Message Notes:

God is great.  

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” – A. W. Tozer

The things that you most want to change about your life are probably rooted in lies that you believe about God.

Romans 12:2a (ESV) Transformation comes through the mind.

Judges 6:1-6 (ESV) Israel begins to believe a lie about God that He is not great and in control.

Your prayer life will reveal how great you believe God is.

“I’m increasingly persuaded that there are only two ways of living: 1) trusting God and living in submission to his will and his rule, or 2) trying to be God. There’s little in between.” – Paul Tripp

God teaches Israel that they make lousy gods.

• Judges 6:1, 6a (ESV)

God first humbles them, but He’s still with them regardless of the circumstances.

• Judges 6:11 (ESV)
• Judges 6:12-13 (ESV)

God is who He says He is no matter the circumstances.

• Judges 6:14-16 (ESV)
• After God humbles us, He will usually weaken us.

The army was too big for God to show Israel that He was in control and had the power to save them.

• Judges 7:2-3 (ESV)
• Judges 7:4a (ESV)
• Judges 7:7-8 (ESV)

If dependence is the goal, then weakness is an advantage.

• 2 Corinthians 12:9b (ESV)

In the end, God shows Israel that He is great, and He is in control. 

• Judges 7:19-21 (ESV)—

Helpful Links:

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, check out: https://gethope.net/next/ 

If you’d like to receive regular updates on what’s happening around Hope, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://gethope.net/enews/  

Give to support Hope's ministries at https://gethope.net/give 

Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq 

Stay Connected with Hope:

Website: https://gethope.net/

Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch 

Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/

Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope

Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Subscribe to Our Podcast - Hope In Real Life YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HopeInRealLife

Hope In Real Life Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eifzI0r9uY8rUaBMGs7q1

Hope In Real Life Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-in-real-life-with-jason-gore/id1691710678?uo=4

Beyond Christmas Week Two - Holy Days, Not Just Holidays

Duane Calvin - Raleigh Campus Pastor - Hope Community Church

Description:

Have you ever wondered if there's more to this season than just lights, activities, and the hustle and bustle? Join Duane Calvin as he continues to explore the true meaning of Christmas—as a Holy day dedicated to God, not just another holiday. 

Message Notes:

Christmas is a special time of year for most of us with people typically showing more love and kindness than in other seasons. Wouldn’t it be nice to carry the same heart and compassion throughout the rest of the year?    

 What is Christmas supposed to be about, and how do we get back to the true meaning of Christmas?  

 Most people reduce Christmas down to two areas:

1. Shopping for the perfect gift

2. The general sense of busyness

Is this all there is to Christmas? 

Christmas is supposed to be more than another Holiday. It’s supposed to be a Holy day dedicated to God.

 Jesus was sent by God to bring the peace that only He could bring to His people.

 Are you right now experiencing that kind of peace?

 How do we get back to what Christmas is supposed to be?

 We need to turn the Christmas experience back into the Holy day it was meant to be.

Luke 2:1-20 (NIV)

1. Seek Jesus.

“Jesus, He ain’t hard to find.”

Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

2. They shared the Good News about Jesus. 

Luke 2:17 (NIV)

How many times have you said the name of Jesus?

Who have you shared Jesus with lately?

3. They took Jesus with them.

Luke 2:20 (NIV)

“Want to keep Christ in Christmas? Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies, and do unto others as you would have done unto you.” - Steve Maraboli

—

Helpful Links:

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, check out: https://gethope.net/next/ 

For Beyond Christmas initiatives, visit https://gethope.net/beyond 

Give to support Hope's ministries at https://gethope.net/give 

If you’d like to receive regular updates on what’s happening around Hope, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://gethope.net/enews/  

Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq 

Stay Connected with Hope:

Website: https://gethope.net/

Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch 

Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/

Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope

Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Subscribe to Our Podcast - Hope In Real Life YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HopeInRealLife

Hope In Real Life Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eifzI0r9uY8rUaBMGs7q1

Hope In Real Life Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-in-real-life-with-jason-gore/id1691710678?uo=4

Beyond Christmas Week One - What’s the True Meaning of Christmas? 

Ayren Nelson (Teaching Team - Hope Community Church)

Description:

What is the true meaning of Christmas, and how do we carry it with us throughout the entire year? Ayren Nelson shares a message that makes us rethink Christmas as we know it.

Message Notes:
Christmas is a special time of year for most of us with people typically showing more love and kindness than in other seasons. Wouldn’t it be nice to carry the same heart and compassion throughout the rest of the year?    

What is the true meaning of Christmas, and how do we carry that truth throughout the entire year?  

The story of Jesus begins with the account of John the Baptist’s birth.   

Luke 1:5-7 (NLT)

Luke 1:8-17 (NLT)

Malachi 4:5-6a (NLT)

Luke 1:18 (NLT)

Christmas is a reminder that God hasn’t forgotten about you.

Hebrew Translations of the names of Zechariah and Elizabeth:

Zacharias (Zechariah) – Hebrew: Zacharyah

• zakar – to remember
• yah – Yahweh (God)
• “God Remembers”

Elizabeth – Hebrew: Elisheva

• El – God
• sheva – oath
• “Oath of God”

Together their names mean, “God remembers His oath.”

God hasn’t forgotten about us!

—

Helpful Links:

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, check out: https://gethope.net/next/

For Beyond Christmas initiatives, visit https://gethope.net/christmas/#beyond.

Give to support Hope's ministries at https://gethope.net/give

If you’d like to receive regular updates on what’s happening around Hope, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://gethope.net/enews/

Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:

Website: https://gethope.net/

Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch 

Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/

Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope

Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Subscribe to Our Podcast - Hope In Real Life YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HopeInRealLife

Hope In Real Life Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eifzI0r9uY8rUaBMGs7q1

Hope In Real Life Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-in-real-life-with-jason-gore/id1691710678?uo=4

Jesus saw people in their helplessness and confusion, and He had compassion. What would it look like for us to fully receive that compassion and allow it to fuel our mission? Lead Pastor Jason Gore looks back on 2023 and forward to what’s in store for 2024.

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Every year at Hope, we take a moment to look back through the past year and highlight what we’ve experienced and accomplished. We also paint a vision for what the next year will be like for us as a church.    

What has the last year looked like for us at Hope, and what are we looking forward to in this next year?  

Near the end of the year, we do three things:

 1. Celebrate what God has done through this church family

 2. Evaluate where we are as a church family

 3. Look ahead to what God has for us in the coming year

Matthew 9:35 (NLT)

Jesus was with the people.

Matthew 9:36 (NLT)

Jesus had compassion on the people.

Our God is a God of compassion.

Matthew 9:37-38 (NLT)

Jesus told them to pray. Pray for more workers.

Matthew 10:1, 5a, 7-8 (NLT)

Jesus made His disciples the answer to the prayer He told them to pray.

 Jesus sends those who understand His compassion to go to the ones who need compassion.

Two things we need to learn from this passage:

 1. Jesus has compassion for us in our brokenness.

 2. We are led to show that compassion to the world around us.

Compassion fuels the mission.

Compassion should move us to prayer, and that prayer should lead to action.

Who We Are – Our mission as a church is to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

• Strengthen families by investing in marriage, parenting and youth.
• Equip and empower our church to be missionaries in everyday life.
• Meet the needs of our community before they come to us. (locally and globally)
• Leverage online platforms to maximize our reach and impact.

Here’s what we’ve seen in 2023…

Strengthening Families:

• ReEngage – More than 400 men and women went through it and came out with healthier marriages. 
• Family Conversations

Meeting the needs of our community:

• Love Your School Initiative
• Fostering Hope
• Food Pantry
• Partnership with Ship of Zion

Global Impact:

• 11 long-term global partners on four continents, reaching more than 50 countries
• Agape
• Global Teams relaunched in 2023.
• More than $650,000 in global initiatives/$10,000 to support Jewish families in Israel

Equip and Empower our Church:

• Launched our Fuquay Campus

Maximizing our reach through online platforms:

• Hope in Real Life podcast
• App in final design phases

Overall:

• Attendance  (+15%)
• Baptisms  (+33%)
• Serving  (+10%)
• Small Groups  (+30%)
• Giving  (-2%)

Looking ahead to 2024…

• Parenting Class/Family Convos
• Launching of Fuquay
• Local/Global initiatives
• Young Adult Ministry (YAM)/Student Ministry
• Hope In Real Life (app/podcast)

Equipping

Beyond Christmas

Remember Matthew 10:8b (NLT)

“Give as freely as you have received!”  

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For Beyond Christmas initiatives, visit https://gethope.net/christmas/#beyond.

To subscribe to the Hope In Real Life podcast, visit https://gethope.net/hope-in-real-life.

To get connected at Hope or to view our Communion resource, go to https://gethope.net/next.

Give to support Hope's ministries at https://gethope.net/give

Start to Finish Week 3 - What Does It Mean to Finish Well? 

Clay Burgess - Director of Preaching & Theology

Description:

There’s one thing in life we never really plan for… and that’s getting old. Clay Burgess (Director of Preaching & Theology) wraps up the series with a message on aging, honoring, and what it means to finish well.

Message Notes:

One thing we tend not to plan for is getting old.

As we get older, we start to understand Psalm 90:10 (ESV)

“…everywhere you look horizontally has been affected by the fall in some way… Every horizontal thing, this side of eternity, is in the process of decay.” -Paul David Tripp

In the process of decay, how do we finish well?

The sandwich generation = generation that is both raising kids and caring for aging parents

Ephesians 6:2-4 (ESV)

Honor = to value highly (it has to do with attitude)

Leviticus 19:2-3a (ESV)

We have a responsibility not a guarantee.

• We are responsible for what we can control—our actions, response, attitude

2 responsibilities:

1. God wants me to honor my parents.
2. God does not want me to provoke my children.

Ways we dishonor:

• Disrespectful words
• Sarcastic words
• Being unavailable—not useful or helpful

Ways we provoke:

• Crazy, unrealistic expectations
• Always being critical—having a negative spirit
• Physical or verbal abuse

Bring them up = nourish or feed

In the discipline = systematic training

And instruction

Of the Lord = moving toward Christlikeness

Ways to honor

1. Honor by helping

• Pray, show up, serve
• Extend patience

1. Prepare so we won’t provoke

• Plan for the future now
• Talk about the hard things now
• Make decisions now that will reduce stress on others later

Psalm 34:14 (ESV)

Ask: Do I love them more than I hate where they’re at?

“Remember, what is out of your control exists under the careful control of the One who is all-knowing, all-wise, all good.” -Paul David Tripp—

Helpful Links:

Surround yourself in community. Join a small group here: https://gethope.net/smallgroups

For family resources, visit https://gethope.net/familyministry/#resources 

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’d like to receive regular updates on what’s happening around Hope, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://gethope.net/enews/

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:

Website: https://gethope.net/

Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch 

Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/

Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope

Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Subscribe to Our Podcast - Hope In Real Life YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HopeInRealLife

Hope In Real Life Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eifzI0r9uY8rUaBMGs7q1

Hope In Real Life Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-in-real-life-with-jason-gore/id1691710678?uo=4

Start to Finish Week 2 - Is Marriage Still Important? 

Ben Foote (Teaching Pastor - Flatirons Community Church)

Description:

You can read all the parenting books in the world, but at the end of the day, each one of your kids is a totally unique human being—unlike anyone else who has ever existed. So where’s the instruction manual? Join Ben Foote (Teaching Pastor of Flatirons Community Church) in week two of the series for a message on parenting.

Message Notes:

How do we parent the way God wants us to parent?  

What does the Bible say about parenting?

Deuteronomy 6:4-6 (NIV)

Deuteronomy 6:7a (NIV)

Deuteronomy 6:7-9 (NIV)

To impress on our children requires repetition + time.

Our kids are being shaped and sharpened by the way we’re choosing to talk, think and act.

Three characteristics to follow for godly parenting:

Attention

• 1 John 5:14 (NIV)

Affection

• John 3:16 (NIV)
• Kids need to hear and feel our love for them.

Authority

• All authority has been given to Jesus. (Matthew 28:18 NIV)
• Authority allows Jesus to empower us, tell us hard truth, discipline us and forgive us.
• Our kids need our authority just like we need Jesus’ authority. 

—

Helpful Links:

For family resources, visit https://gethope.net/familyministry/#resources 

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’d like to receive regular updates on what’s happening around Hope, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://gethope.net/enews/

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:

Website: https://gethope.net/

Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch 

Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/

Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope

Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Subscribe to Our Podcast - Hope In Real Life YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HopeInRealLife

Hope In Real Life Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eifzI0r9uY8rUaBMGs7q1

Hope In Real Life Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-in-real-life-with-jason-gore/id1691710678?uo=4

Start to Finish Week 1 - Is Marriage Still Important? 

Ben Foote (Teaching Pastor - Flatirons Community Church)

Description:

These days it's easy to wonder if marriage still is (or ever was) all that important. In week one of the series, Ben Foote (Teaching Pastor of Flatirons Community Church) takes a look at what Jesus has to say about marriage and brings back the why for those of us who may have forgotten.

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Message Notes:

Life is not a sprint. We need to focus on living a godly life From Start to Finish. Christianity helps us for the long haul in youth, singleness, marriage, parenting and aging.    

Why is marriage so important?  

Jesus directly addresses marriage and divorce.

Matthew 19:1-2 (NIV)

Matthew 19:3 (NIV)

In Jesus’ time, there were basically two sides of the divorce debate.

 1. God only allows divorce in the case of infidelity.

 2. God allows divorce for any and every reason.

The culture in Jesus’ time sounded something like this about marriage:

Marriage is a contract that can be easily broken whenever men don’t feel served or pleased by it anymore.

Jesus responds to the Pharisees trying to trap Him on the issue of divorce.

Matthew 19:4-6 (NIV)

Jesus’ answer points to two different Scriptures on why marriage is important.

Genesis 1:27 (ESV)

Genesis 2:24 (BSB)

God unites the man and woman into ONE FLESH, one spiritually inseparable unit, to reflect God’s goodness to the world around us.

Why is marriage so important? 

Jesus says marriage is NOT a contract but a COVENANT.

Covenant: A spiritually-binding oath between God and His people.

The common view of marriage in Jesus time:

Marriage is a contract that can be easily broken whenever men don’t feel served or pleased by it anymore.

Jesus’ view of marriage:

Marriage is a covenant that cannot be broken without doing a lot of damage because marriage is a covenant designed to show the world what God looks like.

Marriage is uniquely designed to show the world what God’s never-ending, never-quitting love and commitment look like.

Married people should be able to swap their names for the end of the verse in Romans 8:38-39.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate (name) from the love of (spouse’s name).”

Marriage is designed to show the world what God’s never-ending, never-quitting love and commitment look like. 

—

Helpful Links:

For family resources, visit https://gethope.net/familyministry/#resources 

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’d like to receive regular updates on what’s happening around Hope, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://gethope.net/enews/

Subscribe to Family Conversations for weekly prompts and resources: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnePageReg/2451

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:

Website: https://gethope.net/

Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch 

Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/

Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope

Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Subscribe to Our Podcast - Hope In Real Life YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HopeInRealLife

Hope In Real Life Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eifzI0r9uY8rUaBMGs7q1

Hope In Real Life Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-in-real-life-with-jason-gore/id1691710678?uo=4