Hope Community Church

Week 3 Sex

God blessed humanity when He made us to live in community, and there is no closer community than our families. What makes a family strong? In this series, we’ll examine topics to help us get to a solid, Christian family based on God’s principles.

• When used in the right way, sex is an amazing gift that God gave us to enjoy.

Song of Solomon 2:3-6 (ESV) Part of this couples’ dating experience is the awakening of sexual desire for each other.

Song of Solomon 2:7 (ESV) She says to not awaken love until the time is right.

When it comes to sex, there’s a time not a line.

The proper time for any sexual touch or activity is after marriage.

Solomon records what the wedding night is like from the man and woman’s perspective.

Song of Solomon 4:1-5 (ESV) 

Song of Solomon 7:7-8a (ESV)

Song of Solomon 5:10,14-15 (ESV)

Song of Solomon 4:16-5:1 (ESV) 

There are aspects of sex that are incredibly helpful for married couples and incredibly harmful and destructive to anyone else.

1. Sex Blinds

“You can’t objectively judge compatibility with someone you’re sleeping with.” – Dave Lanuti

2. Sex Binds

Song of Solomon 6:3 (ESV)

Song of Solomon 8:6 (ESV)

1 Corinthians 6:12-18 (ESV)

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (ESV) No matter what your past is, not only can God forgive you, but He can also cleanse you and use you in His Kingdom.

To support the mission of Hope Community Church, visit gethope.net/give today.

Week 2 Marriage

God blessed humanity when He made us to live in community, and there is no closer community than our families. What makes a family strong? In this series, we’ll examine topics to help us get to a solid, Christian family based on God’s principles.

• What is the point of marriage?

Your marriage will reach its highest potential and will give you the greatest satisfaction when it is operating according to how God designed it.

Genesis 1:26-27 (ESV) God created man in His own image. He created male and female.

Genesis 2:18a (ESV) God said something He never had before. It wasn’t good for the man to be alone.

Genesis 2:18b (ESV) God made a helper fit for the man. This term implies a yin and yang situation, a complement to each other.

Genesis 2:19-20 (ESV) Even with all of creation surrounding him, Adam felt alone.

Genesis 2:21-22 (ESV) God crafted a woman by His own hand.

Genesis 2:23 (ESV) She was named “woman” because she was taken out of “man”. They were alike and yet so different.

Genesis 2:24-25 (ESV) A man will leave the comfort and safety of his family to join his wife because it’s not good to be alone.

 Marriage exists to show the watching world what God is like.

Genesis 3:7 (ESV) When sin entered the world, their relationship with each other and with God became imperfect.

The purpose of your marriage is to tell a story about the saving and transforming love of Jesus.

Marriage is actually a sermon on the Gospel, proclaiming the good news of  Jesus Christ.

Marriage is not about what you can get out of it. It’s the means by which you tell a story that reflects Jesus.

The image of marriage is used throughout the Bible.

– The Bible starts with the marriage of Adam and Eve.

– Throughout the Old Testament, God uses the metaphor of marriage to describe His love for His people.

– Jesus begins His ministry at a wedding.

– Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of God is like a wedding reception.

– The New Testament uses the metaphor of marriage to describe Jesus’ love for us.

– Our first moments in eternity are described as a wedding and marriage celebration. Revelations 19:7 (ESV)

The purpose of your marriage is to tell a story about the saving and transforming love of Jesus.

To support the mission of Hope Community Church, visit gethope.net/give today.

Week 1  Dating – Ayren Nelson, Apex Middle School Pastor 

God blessed humanity when He made us to live in community, and there is no closer community than our families. What makes a family strong? In this series, we’ll examine topics to help us get to a solid, Christian family based on God’s principles.

• What is the purpose of dating?

Dating is a period of evaluation.

Song of Solomon 7:1-3 (NLT) Solomon wrote about his love and attraction in his descriptive poetry.

The natural progression of a dating relationship:

1. An immediate physical attraction – Song of Solomon 1:2-4 (NLT)

2. Just hanging out – Song of Solomon 1:7 (NLT)

3. A meaningful, God-honoring relationship – Song of Solomon 2:2-3 (NLT)  

Evaluation of character is the first thing to look at while dating. 

Song of Solomon 1:3 (NLT) The young man had a reputable and honorable character.

Proverbs 31 – Attributes of a Christian woman of character

Ephesians 5 – Attributes of a Christian man of character

Attraction grabs the attention, but character keeps them around.

You have to allow others to evaluate your relationship.

Song of Solomon 1:4b (NLT) Others supported their relationship.

One of the most accurate ways you receive the type of evaluation you need in dating is 

to allow others to evaluate your relationship.

Allow God to evaluate your relationship.

Song of Solomon 2:2-3 (NLT) Their focus was on one another.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (BSB) Do everything to the glory of God.

You need to allow God to evaluate your relationship.

Inside Out: Week 5 Addiction

For five weeks, we will be tackling issues that have raged out of control over the last couple of years like anxiety, anger, depression, hurry and addiction. Our goal is to let God help us through these hard times, so that when challenges hit us and we start to feel it on the inside, we’ll have the tools to work it out.

• Addiction can be to many different things and affects many people.

Addiction is a personal attempt to solve an emotional problem.

“I’ve learned that all people are addicts, that addictions to alcohol and other drugs are simply more obvious and tragic addictions than others have. To be alive is to be addicted, and to be alive and addicted is to stand in need of grace.” – Gerald May, Addiction and Grace

• The Bible has a lot to say about addiction even without using the labels.

Addiction is really the worship of a false idol.

Romans 1:21-23, 25 (NLT) The people traded the truth of God for a lie.

Isaiah 44:9-10, 19-20 (NLT) The people bought into a lie and worshipped something worthless.

Addiction becomes a voluntary slaver with diminishing returns.

Jeremiah 2:13 (NLT) The people abandoned God and tried to fill the hole with something that can never fill it.

Romans 6:14 (NLT) People can live in the freedom of God’s grace.

To receive freedom and grace, you have to:

1. Admit you have a problem.

2. Allow God to meet your underlying need.

For more resources, click here.  

To support the mission of Hope Community Church, visit gethope.net/give today.

Week 4: Hurry

For five weeks, we will be tackling issues that have raged out of control over the last couple of years like anxiety, anger, depression, hurry and addiction. Our goal is to let God help us through these hard times, so that when challenges hit us and we start to feel it on the inside, we’ll have the tools to work it out.

When we become too hurried, our lives can feel out-of-control.
In John Mark Comer’s book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, he gives a quiz on the symptoms of Hurry Sickness.

1. Irritability
2. Hypersensitivity
3. Restlessness
4. Workaholism
5. Emotional numbness
6. Out-of-order priorities
7. Lack of care for your body
8. Escapist behaviors
9. Slippage of spiritual disciplines
10. Isolation

• If you want to experience the life of Jesus, you must adopt the lifestyle of Jesus.

Jesus invited us into a “full life.” John 10:10 (MSG)

Jesus was busy but never hurried. The Gospels repeat the the phrase, “as Jesus walked along…”

Matthew 6:34 (NLT) Jesus said to not worry about tomorrow.

Jesus made several statements about how to live. Mark 1:35-39 (NLT)

Jesus made the first “thing” first.

Mark 1:35 (NLT)

This is the principle of the tithe: give back to God the first 10% of everything.
Jesus took control of His schedule.

Mark 1:36 (NLT)

Mark 1:37 (NLT)

Jesus said no.

Mark 1:38 (NLT)

Jesus did what God lead Him to do.

Mark 1:39 (NLT)

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

Practice the discipline of “slowing.”

1. Drive the speed limit.
2. Get into the slow lane.
3. Show up 10 minutes early for an appointment.
4. Get in the longest checkout line at the grocery store.
5. Take your email off your phone.
6. Put your phone to bed before you and make it sleep in.
7. Keep your phone off until after your morning quiet time.
8. Set a time and a time limit for social media.
9. Take a regular day alone for silence and solitude.
10. Cook your own food…and eat in.

For more resources, click here or check out gethope.net/insideout.

To support the mission of Hope Community Church, visit gethope.net/give today.

Week 3 Depression 

For five weeks, we will be tackling issues that have raged out of control over the last couple of years like anxiety, anger, depression, hurry and addiction. Our goal is to let God help us through these hard times, so that when challenges hit us and we start to feel it on the inside, we’ll have the tools to work it out.

• Millions of people in this country and worldwide suffer from depression. Dr. Mike Garrett, Executive Director of Christian Counseling Associates of Raleigh, gives us insight into depression and how to address it from a christian perspective.

Statistics about Depression:

• 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression.
• 17 million Americans currently suffer from depression.
• Anxiety screenings are up 634% since last January.
• Depression screenings are up 873% since January of last year.

9 Primary Features of Depression:

1. Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day
2. Loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities
3. Decrease or increase in appetite
4. Insomnia or hypersomnia (too little or too much sleep)
5. Feelings of restlessness or sluggishness
6. Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
7. Feelings of worthlessness or guilt 
8. Inability to think or concentrate clearly (brain fog)
9. Recurrent thought of death or suicide

4 Different Types of Depression:

1. Biochemical Depression
2. Situational Depression
3. Toxic Depression
4. Spiritual Depression

Is there hope? Is there a cure/steps we can take? Yes!

• Sleep
• Diet/exercise
• Vocational – work/life balance
• Medication
• Cognitive Therapy
• Relationship Resolution
• Spiritual Help (Matthew 5, Matthew 18, Hebrews 12:15, 1 Peter 5:7, Galatians 6:2)
• Spiritual Steps/Perspective:
• Galatians 6:2,5
• Psalms 50:10
• Jeremiah 2:13

Keep the main thing, the main thing. (Matthew 22:37-40) 

To support the mission of Hope Community Church, visit gethope.net/give today.

Inside Out

Week 2: Anger

Everyone feels anger, we just respond to it in different ways. Anger left unchecked will destroy your relationships.

Ephesians 4:26 Be angry, but don’t sin.

God warns us about the dangers that come with anger.

Psalm 37:8

Proverbs 14:29

James 1:19

Anger is a warning that something is wrong. We should process the warning quickly or it can wreak havoc in our lives.

Ephesians 4:26 

1 Peter 2:1

There are 2 types of anger:

1. Righteous anger – when something gets in the way of God’s desires
2. Unrighteous anger – when something gets in the way of your desires

Steps to process anger:

1. Ask which kind of anger you feel—righteous or unrighteous?
2. Lay anger aside and replace it with the appropriate emotion.

If your anger is unrighteous, you should repent and submit.

Philippians 2:3-5

If your anger is righteous, you should serve in love. Righteous anger says, This is wrong. God, would you make it right and use me to do it?

For additional resources, click here. 

To support the mission of Hope Community Church, visit gethope.net/give today.

Week 1: Anxiety

For five weeks, we will be tackling issues that have raged out of control over the last couple of years like anxiety, anger, depression, hurry and addiction. Our goal is to let God help us through these hard times, so that when challenges hit us and we start to feel it on the inside, we’ll have the tools to work it out.

• Millions of people in this country suffer from anxiety problems, and we need a Biblical way to help us deal with these issues.

Anxiety is basically the fear of something bad happening in the future, which causes mental, emotional and physical repercussions.

Matthew 6:25-34

Three truths about anxiety or worry to consider:

1. Worry is a sin.

2. Worry is unproductive.

3. Worry is acting as if God doesn’t exist.

Philippians 4:6 (ESV)  God gives us a plan to get free from anxiety and worry.

Some ways to deal with anxiety and worry:

Write down the root of your worries.

Give your worries to God.

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Psalm 55:22 (NIV)

Remember God’s faithfulness. 

Receive the peace of God.

To support the mission of Hope Community Church, visit gethope.net/give today.

It All Starts With…

Standalone message – Jason Gore, Lead Pastor

This week will be both informational and inspirational. As a church, we have been going through a transition, and we need to get back to the basics of who we are and where we are going.

• As a group, we need to look at the direction of where we are going with some specific positions within the church and why we exist as a church.

1 Samuel 8:4-5 (NIV)  The people of Israel wanted a king.

When situations get crazy and when things get out of our control, it’s always good to go back to the basics.

Matthew 22:35-39 (ESV)  First, love the Lord with everything in you; and then, love your neighbor as yourself.

Why should we love God?

Philippians 2:6-8 (NASB)

Philippians 2:6-8 (The Message)

To love God, we need to:

Know Him (read Scripture)

Listen to Him (prayer)

To love our neighbors as ourselves, we need to:

Know them (BLESS)

Serve them

Who is our neighbor?

Let’s make a fresh covenant and commit to a few things together as Hope Community Church.

1. Commit to daily time in Scripture and listening to God in prayer.

2. Commit to daily serving someone, somewhere.

Week 3 Community – Duane Calvin – Garner Campus Pastor

As Christians, we were made to be in community. We need community to support each other in times of difficulty and to push each other to live the way God wants us to live.

• As Christians, we must care for the people in our community who are may be far from God.

This fits into our mission statement at Hope, which is to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus.

Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV)

Identity

Tendency

Opportunity

Here are some truths learned when seeking opportunities to share the Gospel:

Presence builds trust. 

When you show up for people who are far from God, they are much more likely to show up for you.

God will provide the resources you need to reach people who are far from God.

We don’t have to add anything to our schedule, just be intentional with the resources you already have.

How do we apply these concepts?

1st – Take inventory.

2nd – Develop an action plan and get specific.

3rd – Take action and get after it. Go out and be salt and light.