Hope Community Church

Most Christians don’t suffer the physical oppression described in the Bible but, in today’s world, many experience a different form of persecution. In this message, Chase Gardner shares 3 keys that will help you handle persecution in the workplace, at school, in social settings, and even at home. Listen this message to find out what they are!

Message Notes
Persecution has been a part of many Christ followers’ lives in the past and present, but Peter gives us a defense against it. 

Peter makes sure his readers know he’s talking about persecution and not punishment. 

1 Peter 2:20 (ESV) 

1 Peter 4:15 (ESV) 

Peter teaches how to handle real religious persecution. 

1 Peter 3:13 (ESV) 

Peter gives us a three-step process on how to deal with persecution: 
1. Endure 

1 Peter 2:19-21a (ESV) 

Matthew 13:20-21 (ESV) 

Matthew 10:21-23 (ESV) 

2. Entrust 

1 Peter 2:21-23 (ESV) 

1 Peter 4:19 (ESV) 

3. Bless 

1 Peter 3:9 (ESV) 

1 Peter 2:21-24 (ESV) 

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Many of us can easily think of an authority figure in our life who we have struggled to follow. In this message, Chase Gardner explains how important it is that we honor authority and choose to submit for God’s sake. Listen to this message to learn more!

Message Notes
As Christians, we need to adopt an attitude of submission to ultimately show honor to God.

1 Peter 2:11-12 (ESV) Be careful how you speak and act because the world is watching, and you need to live a life that glorifies God.

1 Peter 2:13-18 (ESV) Peter tells us to honor authority.

• Submission is a choice.
• Romans 13:1-2, 7 (ESV)

God will not ever raise you up until you learn to bow down.

• 1 Peter 5:5b-6 (ESV)

God will never call you to lead until He can trust you to follow.

• Until you know the restraint of the spirit, you’ll never know the release of the spirit.

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Save your seat at one of our upcoming Easter services at https://gethope.net/easter/

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

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

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/

Stay Connected with Hope:
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Hope is something that most of us would like to have but, these days, fear, anxiety, and hopelessness are all around us. With mental health, addiction, and suicide rates increasing rapidly in recent years, it seems like we are losing the ability to remain hopeful. In this sermon, Jason Gore shares three keys that will help us all navigate life with an unshakable hope. Listen to this message to learn what they are!

Message Notes
To walk through life filled with an Unshakable Hope is countercultural.

1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) The devil fights against us.

Unshakable Hope in difficult times doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. It means we know it’s temporary, and we have confidence in the future.

There are three keys to Unshakable Hope found in 1st Peter. (1 Peter 1:3-8 NIV)

            1. Look to God.

                        1 Peter 1:3 (NIV) continued

            2. Remember What He’s Done.

                        1 Peter 1:4-5 (NIV) 

            3. Have Confidence in the Future. 

                        1 Peter 1:6-8 (NIV)

Revelation 21:4 (NLT) Everything that has been wrong will be made right again.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV) God will take all our worry and anxiety because He loves and cares for us.

“Give all your worries and cares to him…because he cares for you.”

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Save your seat at one of our upcoming Easter services at https://gethope.net/easter/
*Free tickets are available starting Monday, March 21 at 10:00 AM ET

If you want to get involved with our Spring Food drive, check out https://gethope.net/fooddrive/

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

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

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/

Stay Connected with Hope:
Website: https://gethope.net/give/
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Hope YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch 

As popular culture seems to transition from Godly to godless, it can be challenging for Christians to do the same, to conform their beliefs and actions to everyone else’s. In this sermon, Chase Gardner outlines 3 motivations for Christ-followers to hold on to holiness in the world today. Listen to this message to learn what they are and how we can best respond to them.

Message Notes
When we face persecution, the instinct is to turn our backs on our beliefs, but we must hold onto holiness. 

1 Peter 1:13-19 (ESV) Peter encourages the Christians not to turn their backs on living holy lives. 

Peter gives a definition of holiness. (1 Peter 1:15-16 ESV) 

Holiness is being like God. It’s God calling us back to our original design. 

That’s what God’s laws are for: to bend us and to mold us back into shape, back into His image. 

Holiness is the mold that we are to be pressed into. 

That’s what holiness is: the power to become who we were created to be…like God. 

Holiness is something we as Christ-followers should pursue, not something we push on others. 

Peter gives us three motivations to hold on to holiness. 

• 1) Out of Reverent Fear
  • 1 Peter 1:17 (ESV)
  • Fear is just seeing God for who He really is.
  • 1 Peter 3:14-15a (ESV)
• 2) Because You are Free
  • 1 Peter 1:18-19 (ESV) 
  • You have been ransomed.
  • 1 Peter 2:16 (ESV) 
  • Holiness is not God trying to rob you of joy; it’s God trying to lead you to joy.
  • Psalm 19:7-11 (ESV) 
• 3) To Unleash a Force
  • Our pursuit of holiness will always offend certain people and attract certain people.
  • 1 Peter 4:3-4 (NLT) 
  • Be ready to tell people what the source of your hope is. 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV) 

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If you want to get involved with our Spring Food drive, check out https://gethope.net/fooddrive/

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

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

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/

Stay Connected with Hope:
Website: https://gethope.net/give/
Hope Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch
Hope Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/
Hope Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope
Hope YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch 

As Americans, we have seen our world shift in the last few years. What was once a nation where the majority believed in the Christian faith, the U.S. is now a place where Christ followers are a minority. Culture tells us a lot about who we should be, how we should behave, and what we should believe. With so many opinions and so much hostility, how will we ever fit in? Maybe we weren’t ever meant to. This series will deal with how to counter the culture. 

Throughout history, Christians have been left out and persecuted for our faith. And while this isn’t new, we need to be equipped on how to deal with it.

Peter wrote to the Christ followers during the time of Nero, a Roman emperor who severely persecuted Christians.

1 Peter 1:1-2 (ESV) 

Anger is one of the easiest emotions to fall into while we’re being mistreated, persecuted or simply being forced onto the sidelines.

Peter points out that our true enemy is the devil, not the institutions, organizations or political parties.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV)

The tactics of Satan used to hurt Christians:

1. Separation - The enemy knows we are much easier prey when we are alone. Divide and conquer.

2. Attack the family - The enemy tries to dismantle the nuclear family and confuse people about gender and sexuality, which can destroy the family.

3. Indoctrination - The enemy teaches false ideas, and we can easily start to believe these lies if we’re not careful.

“Gradually, though no one remembers exactly how it happened, the unthinkable becomes tolerable. And then acceptable. And then legal. And then applaudable. Then everyone with a different view is seen as extreme, as backwards, and on the wrong side of history. They are threatened with the loss of jobs, the loss of respect, punished until they come to agree with the accepted ideology of the day.”    

None of this surprises God.

1 Peter 1:1-2 (ESV)

1 Peter 4:12 (ESV)

The most powerful moments in church history are when Christ followers are overlooked, persecuted or even martyred for their faith.  

1 Peter 4:19 (ESV)

How do we get through these hard times? 

Trust and obey.

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

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

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/

Stay Connected with Hope:
Website: https://gethope.net/give/
Hope Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch
Hope Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/
Hope Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope
Hope YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

We often want to serve where our gifts and talents can shine the brightest, but God wants us to meet the biggest needs first. In this sermon, Chase Gardner asks us to start with the little things and see where God will take us.

Message Notes 
In the beginning of the Book of Acts, the Christian movement not only grew in numbers, but it was also healthy. 

Acts 4:32-35 (ESV) 

The two ministries of the church in Acts were: 

• Proclamation (Word) 
• Demonstration (Deed) 

A growing church will have problems, which are growing pains common to all churches. 

Acts 6:1 (ESV) This had racial undertones because it was the Greek and Romans against the Jewish Christians.  

• They assumed bad intentions. 
• They didn’t take their complaint to the leaders. 

Acts 6:2-4 (ESV) The apostles’ response was to set up the “demonstration” part of ministry to allow them to continue the “proclamation” part of ministry. 

Acts 6:5-6 (ESV) The people were pleased and chose seven men to fill the needs of the church. Most of these men were Greek, which helped bridge the racial divide. 

Acts 6:7 (ESV) The results were that God’s Word spread and many more came to Christ. 

There were three things that enabled the church to overcome its growing pains to continue to impact the world. 

1. Every member was a participant. 
   1. Acts 4:32 (ESV) 
   2. Ephesians 4:16b (ESV)
   3. When one person sits out, everyone misses out. 
2. They realized that small things matter.
   1. Often the areas of greatest need are the small things. 
   2. Go where you are needed; and then, God will move you where he wants you. 
3. Because they were faithful in the small things, God entrusted them with bigger things. 

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Are you ready to find your role in God’s story? Get signed up today at https://gethope.net/serve/

If you're interested in signing up for one of our upcoming classes, click here: https://gethope.net/classes/ 

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

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

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/

Stay Connected with Hope:
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Hope YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

What if instead of being paralyzed by fear, we were mobilized by faith? In this sermon, Ayren Nelson encourages us to let God change our “what if” to a “why not?”

Message Notes 

We all love a great story; but sometimes, we get confused about which ones we should believe and follow. In this series, we will look at THE main story that should be guiding our lives—God’s story, and what role we play in that story.

God sent Jesus to die in our place in order to save us from our sins.

            2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT)

We are minor characters in the story all about God, but we have a major role to play.

The words “what if” can be one of the biggest roadblocks in our obedience to God because our what-ifs are usually based in fear.

The difference between a concern and an excuse is…

            To have a valid concern means to bring up an issue in hopes of finding a

            solution. An excuse looks a whole lot like an emergency exit.

What if instead of being paralyzed by fear, we were mobilized by faith?

The story of Moses shows us how we can play a part in God’s story. (Exodus)

            Exodus 3:7-9 (NLT)

            Exodus 3:10 (NLT)

            God sees, hears, is aware and gets involved… but He wants to do it through us.

            Exodus 3:11 (NLT)

            Exodus 3:12a (NLT)

            Exodus 3:13 (NLT)

            Exodus 3:14a (NLT)

            It’s not about your ability; it’s about God’s power.

            Exodus 4:10 (NLT)

            Exodus 4:11-12 (NLT)

            The difference between a “what if of fear” and a “what if of faith” is our focus.

            Exodus 4:13 (NLT)

          After God addresses all of Moses’ “what if’s,” the truth comes out.

Let God change your “what if?” to a “why not?”          

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Are you ready to find your role in God’s story? Get signed up today at https://gethope.net/serve/

If you're interested in signing up for one of our upcoming classes, click here: https://gethope.net/classes/ 

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

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

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/

Stay Connected with Hope:
Website: https://gethope.net/
Hope Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch
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Hope YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

If we’re not the main character, what is our purpose in God’s story? In this sermon, Chase Gardner explains the role that a Christ-follower is called to play.

Message Notes:
We all love a great story; but sometimes, we get confused about which ones we should believe and follow. In this series, we will look at THE main story that should be guiding our lives—God’s story, and what role we play in that story.

•     As minor characters in a story all about Jesus, we need to find the role all of us must play.

We are minor characters in a story all about Jesus.

God uses minor characters in major ways.

Jesus explained what type of Kingdom He was going to set up in the book of Mark.

            Mark 10:32-34 (ESV)

            Mark 10:35-37 (ESV)

            Mark 10:38 (ESV)

            Mark 10:39-41 (ESV)

            Mark 10:42-45 (ESV)

Instead of chasing after a crown, Jesus tells us to pick up our cross.

Instead of chasing after glory for ourselves, we are called to do everything we can to glorify Jesus.

Glorify Jesus by serving others like He served you.

            Mark 10:45 (ESV)

Serving is dying to yourself so that others can experience life.

            2 Corinthians 4:11-12 (ESV)

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Are you ready to find your role in God’s story? Get signed up today at https://gethope.net/serve/

If you're interested in signing up for one of our upcoming classes, click here: https://gethope.net/classes/ 

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

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

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/

Stay Connected with Hope:
Website: https://gethope.net/
Hope Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch
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Hope YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

All of us walk around telling ourselves stories about our lives. Why we made that decision. Why things went wrong. Stories are the way we make sense of our lives and many of us believe that we are the main character. In this sermon, Chase Gardner will reveal that, instead, we only play a minor role in God’s greater story.

Message Notes:
We believe that we are the main character in a story that is all about us.

We are minor characters in a story that is all about Jesus.

Paul writes in the book of Colossians about who Jesus is and our role in His story.

Colossians 1:15 (ESV) “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”

Colossians 1:16 (ESV) “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him.”

Colossians 1:17 (ESV) “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Colossians 1:18 (ESV) “And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”

Why are you here? Jesus. What is your purpose? To glorify Him.

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Are you ready to find your role in God’s story? Get signed up today at https://gethope.net/serveconnect/

If you're interested in signing up for one of our upcoming classes, click here: https://gethope.net/classes/

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

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

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/

Stay Connected with Hope:
Website: https://gethope.net/
Hope Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch
Hope Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/ 
Hope Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope
Hope YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Even after we have renewed our relationship with God, we are still in a process of heart work that God has designed to get us to care about the things that He cares about.

Message Notes:

God is a God of second chances, and He wants to transform our lives.

Jonah 3:1-4 (ESV) Jonah answered the Lord’s call and warned Nineveh of future consequences.

Jonah 3:5-9 (ESV) The entire city believed God, repented and turned from their evil ways.

God is always working. Even when we can’t see it, even when we least expect it, He is working behind the scenes in every single person’s life in ways we will never understand.

Jonah 3:10 (ESV) Because the people of Nineveh repented, God stopped the disaster about to hit them.

Jonah 4:1-3 (ESV) Jonah was upset that Nineveh repented and was saved.

Jonah 4:4 (ESV) God asked Jonah if he had a right to his anger.

God was probing Jonah’s heart.

God began a process of exposing Jonah’s heart and asking him questions.

Jonah 4:5-11 (ESV)

What do you care about the most?

Our anger reveals what we really care about.

James 4:1-2a (ESV)

Psalm 37:4 (ESV) When you aim your heart towards God, He will change what your heart desires.

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If you're interested in learning more about foster parenting, sign up to join us at our Fostering Hope Info Meeting on February 9n at 6:30 P.M. at https://gethope.net/fosteringhope

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

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

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/

Stay Connected with Hope:
Website: https://gethope.net/
Hope Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch
Hope Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/ 
Hope Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope
Hope YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch