Are your relationships truly reflecting the love of Christ? In this message, we explore what it looks like to live out God’s design for marriage, parenting, and family life—all with Jesus at the center. Learn how submission, love, and discipline flow from a Christ-centered life and how every season of life—single, married, parenting—can honor God.Scripture references:- Colossians 3:18–21- Ephesians 5:21–6:4What you’ll discover in this sermon:- Why submission and love are rooted in Jesus, not cultural expectations- How husbands and wives can live out covenant love- Raising children as disciples of Christ, not just obedient kids- The role of every believer in supporting marriages and familiesTakeaway:Whether you’re single, married, a parent, or part of the body of Christ, your relationships can reflect Jesus’ love. Learn practical ways to make Him the center of your home and life.#Marriage #Parenting #Ephesians5 #Colossians3 #ChristCenteredLife #ChristianFamily #BiblicalLiving #FaithInAction🔔 Stay Connected:📌 Subscribe for more biblical teachings → https://www.youtube.com/@Hope_Community📸 Follow us on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/hcminerva/👍 Like us on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HCMinerva🌍 Visit our website → https://hcminerva.church/About Us: At Hope Community, we are dedicated to making disciples of Jesus who are transformed by truth, sent out on mission, and live together in unity. Join us on this journey of faith and discover the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

In Colossians 3, Paul reminds us that if you are in Christ, you are not who you used to be—you’ve been given a new life. That new identity leads to a new lifestyle, shaped by love, forgiveness, humility, and the Spirit of God working in you.

In this message, Pastor Phil unpacks:

• Why your identity in Christ is the foundation for transformation

• What it looks like to “put off the old self” and “put on the new self”

• How to live with cross-shaped love in everyday relationships

• Why Christian growth is not about trying harder but trusting deeper

Whether you’ve been following Jesus for years or you’re curious about faith, this episode is an invitation to remember who you are in Christ—and to walk in the new life He’s given you.

Join Pastor Phil as he delves deeper into the teachings of the Apostle Paul in the book of Colossians. In this series, we explore the central theme that Christ is sufficient and supreme over all things. This week, we focus on Colossians Chapter 2, where Paul addresses the false beliefs tempting the early church in Colossae and emphasizes that Jesus Christ alone is enough. We discuss the victory of Christ over evil, the disarming of spiritual powers, and how believers can live out the gospel in a world filled with darkness. 

Join us as we embark on a journey through the book of Colossians, exploring the depths of Apostle Paul's letter to the ancient city of Colossae. Discover the timeless truths that Paul imparts to a church he never visited but deeply cared for.

In this episode, we addresses the challenges the early Christians in Colossae faced that threatened to distract them from the simplicity and sufficiency of Christ.

We also explore Paul’s heartfelt prayer for the Colossians, emphasizing faith, love, and hope. Learn how these pivotal virtues are as crucial today as they were two millennia ago, inspiring us to live out our faith authentically and courageously in a modern world.

Key highlights of this episode include:

- An introduction to the historical and spiritual context of Colossians.

- Insight into Paul's motivations and connections with the city of Colossae.

- An exploration of the "Colossian heresy" and its modern parallels.

- A detailed breakdown of Paul’s prayers, focusing on spiritual wisdom, understanding, endurance, joy, and gratitude.

- Encouraging reflections on how the gospel can transform lives today just as it did in the early church.

**Episode Chapters & Timestamps:**

- (00:00) - Introduction and overview of Colossians

- (00:08) - Delving into the background of the book and Paul’s connection to the Colossians

- (06:10) - A deep dive into the content and uniqueness of Paul’s letter

- (07:40) - Discussion on the structure and key themes in Colossians Chapter 1

- (10:12) - Examination of faith as depicted in the scriptures and its relevance today

- (14:13) - Exploring the pivotal role of faith in the Christian life

- (18:37) - Paul’s spiritual insight for the Colossians and its application for us

-(22:24) - How understanding God’s will can transform Christian lives

-(29:39) - Wrap-up of Paul's message to the Colossians

- (34:54) - Summary and closing prayers

- (35:55) - Conclusion

Thank you for tuning in to our podcast. Please subscribe for more insightful episodes that seek to edify, encourage, and educate in faith. Share with friends and family to extend the blessing.

In the final week of our We Are Hope series, Pastor Phil unpacks Jesus’ prayer in John 17:20–23 and shows us what it means to live in unity as disciples of Jesus. Unity is more than just “getting along” — it’s a supernatural oneness rooted in Christ that impacts how we worship together, share life in community, and live as family across generations and cultures.

At Hope Community, we believe disciples are called to live in unity in three key ways:

• Unity in Worship — gathering as one body to lift up Jesus.

• Unity in Groups — sharing life together beyond Sunday mornings.

• Unity in Family — building up both our homes and the global family of God.

Listen in as we explore how Jesus’ prayer for unity still shapes His church today — and how you can step into it.

In this message, We Are Hope | Sent on Mission, Pastor Phil unpacks Jesus’ prayer in John 17, where He sends His disciples into the world just as the Father sent Him. Being a disciple of Jesus means more than attending church—it means living on mission. Together we’ll explore what it looks like to be generous, to share the gospel, and to serve others as Jesus did.

Whether you’re new to following Jesus or seeking to go deeper in your discipleship, this teaching will challenge and encourage you to live as someone sent into the world with the hope of Christ.

Scripture: John 17:13–21
Series: We Are Hope

In this episode, Pastor Phil unpacks what it truly means to be Transformed by Truth. Drawing from Scripture and practical application, we explore how God uses His Word, the Holy Spirit, and spiritual disciplines to shape us into the image of Christ. Discover why transformation is more than a one-time decision — it’s a lifelong journey of renewal, obedience, and intimacy with Jesus. Whether you’re just starting your faith journey or seeking to deepen your walk with God, this message will inspire you to align your life with His truth and live out your calling as a disciple.

In this episode, we conclude our series on the Sermon on the Mount, focusing on Matthew 7:13-27. We explore Jesus' powerful call to choose the narrow path that leads to life, contrasting it with the broad road that leads to destruction. We discuss the importance of discernment in recognizing false prophets and the dangers of superficial faith. Through the lens of Jesus' teachings, we examine the significance of building our lives on the solid foundation of His words. Join us as we delve into the transformative message of the Kingdom of God and the invitation to live a life rooted in Christ. Whether you're new to these teachings or revisiting them, this episode challenges us to reflect on our spiritual journey and the choices we make. Tune in for an inspiring and thought-provoking discussion on what it means to truly follow Jesus.

In this message from our Summer on the Mount series, we dive into one of Jesus’ most famous and misunderstood commands: “Do not judge.” But does that mean we stop using discernment altogether? How do we deal with hypocrisy—especially our own? And how does the Golden Rule reshape our relationships, our prayers, and our posture toward others?

This episode unpacks Matthew 7:1–12, exploring how followers of Jesus are called to live with humility, wisdom, and Spirit-led love in a world full of snap judgments and surface-level spirituality.

🔑 In this teaching, you’ll learn:

- The difference between judgment and discernment

- How to spot and remove your own “logs” before calling out others’ “specks”

- Why spiritual arrogance is so dangerous

- How the Golden Rule reframes every human relationship

- What it really means to ask, seek, and knock in prayer

📖 Scripture: Matthew 7:1–12

🎙️ Speaker: Phil Rittenhouse

📍 Series: Summer on the Mount

🏠 Hope Community Church

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This week Pastor Phil dives into a vital but often overlooked aspect of Christian life: the unseen disciplines that foster a deep, rewarding relationship with God. Inspired by Matthew 6, he unwraps the rich teachings of Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount, focusing on the intrinsic rewards of private spiritual disciplines such as giving, praying, and fasting.

Drawing on Matthew 6, Phil highlights Jesus’s caution against performing religious acts for public admiration, which he argues not only undermines their purpose but forfeits divine reward. He expands on the Scriptural guidance for practicing these disciplines secretly, not as a means to earn salvation—which is a free gift—but as a way to deepen one’s relationship with God.

The sermon also includes profound insights into prayer. Delving into the Lord’s Prayer, Pastor Phil elucidates how prayer serves not just as a means to present requests before God, but as a transformative practice that realigns our desires with God's will and deepens our dependency on Him.

Fasting is revisited as a lost art in modern Christian practice, explained as not just abstinence for its own sake but as a spiritual exercise to strengthen one’s spiritual resolve and focus on God.

This episode is not merely academic; it is a call to introspection and action. It encourages listeners to reflect on which reward they seek—the applause of men or the approval of God—and to cultivate personal spiritual habits that foster genuine intimacy with the Creator.

Chapter Breakdown with Timestamps:

- (00:00:00) - Introduction

- (00:00:00) - A Moment of Praise for 11 People Last Week

- (00:02:20) - Discipline and the Challenge of Regret and Obedience

- (00:05:56) - Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

- (00:07:46) - The Importance of Secrecy in Good Deeds, referencing Matthew 6

- (00:11:56) - The Perils of Public Displays of Piety

- (00:15:53) - The Nuances of Reward in Spiritual Practices

- (00:20:27) - In-depth Teaching on How to Pray Meaningfully

- (00:25:19) - Detailed Analysis of the Lord’s Prayer

- (00:29:06) - Understanding Fasting as a Spiritual Discipline

- (00:34:15) - Identifying the True Reward of Spiritual Discipline

- (00:40:30) - Conclusion and Call to Action for Personal Spiritual Growth

Tune in to enrich your spiritual journey and anchor your faith in practices that lead not to public acclaim, but a transformative, deeper communion with God.