HOPE Sermons

Who Knew? | Ephesians | Part 3

In a world marred by sin, we know that things will inevitably fall apart—relationships may disappoint, beauty fades, bodies wither and wane, and wealth never truly satisfies.

Yet, in the midst of this brokenness, there is the Church. The Church—imperfect, yet radiant—stands as a community of brothers and sisters in Christ, shining like stars in a dark world.

We are that Church. Together, as Jesus’ hands and feet, we are called to reveal His boundless love to others. As we step into this new week and the months ahead, let us pray that we become agents of reconciliation, grace, and light in a fallen world.

Listen to this morning’s message from Senior Associate Pastor Pete Bowell and catch up with all messages from our Ephesians series at the link in our bio.

From… To | Ephesians | Part 2

We continued our sermon series on the book of Ephesians with a powerful message from Senior Pastor David Dwight. You can watch it online at the link in our bio!

In Ephesians 2:1-10 (NIV), Paul gives us a clear snapshot of the gospel, and we couldn’t summarize it any better:

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

We encourage you to dive deeper with discussion guides which are available weekly at the link in our bio and at hopechurchrva.com/moreresources

It’s a beautiful fall day here at HOPE. The crisp air, blue skies, and changing leaves are only made better by the start of a new sermon series!

This morning, Senior Pastor David Dwight introduced us to the first chapter of Ephesians, the book we’ll be covering over the next five weeks. Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus gives us a robust vision of the church and this passage details the spiritual truths and blessings of being united with Christ and as one body.

Contrary to our culture, our life is not found in material success, but the life that’s genuinely life is found in the person of Jesus Christ. We know this to be true because, in Ephesians 1:7-14, Paul reminds us that the Holy Spirit — the seal with which we are marked when we say yes to Jesus — in us is the guarantee of our inheritance in heaven.

We’re excited to explore Ephesians, and we invite you to worship + dive into scripture with us each week. Join us on Sundays at:


West Creek: 8am | 9:30am | 11:15am

The Lodge: 9:30am | 11:15am

Livestream: 9:30am | 11:15am

Beloved Words | When God Speaks | Part 5

Mark 1:9-11 says, “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.’”

Over the past five weeks, we’ve journeyed through what it means when God reveals His name, how we can recognize His voice, and how He speaks to us. This morning, Senior Pastor David Dwight wrapped up this series with a powerful message – when we are made new in Christ, the infinite, all-powerful, boundless, ever-present, everlasting I AM gives us a new name: beloved.

This new name anchors our identity. It tells us we are adopted, forgiven, fully known, and deeply loved. And it’s a name we will grow into over the course of our lives.

If you’d like to look back at previous messages from this series, click the link in our bio to watch on YouTube at @hopechurchrva

The God Who Whispers | When God Speaks | Part 4

This morning, Senior Associate Pastor Pete Bowell shared a message on 1 Kings 19:9-15. He reminded us that to truly recognize God’s voice, we must first know His Word, for it is through scripture that He speaks to our hearts.

Pastor Pete left us with three key takeaways to carry into the week:

1. Preach to yourself before your emotions preach to you – ground yourself in scripture, speaking God’s truth over your life first.

2. God’s “Plan A” is always His grace – no matter what happens, His grace is unwavering and always available to us.

3. Jesus has already borne the earthquake, the fire, and the wind on our behalf – so that we might receive the unshakable grace of God.

This week, let’s ground ourselves in scripture, echo God’s love by offering grace to those around us, and reach out in love just as He reaches out to us.

If you missed it, you can watch this message online at YouTube.com/hopechurchrva or click the link in our bio!

Learning God’s Voice | When God Speaks | Part 3

In this week’s message, Senior Pastor David Dwight continued our When God Speaks series with a powerful and practical teaching.

Drawing from 1 Samuel 3:1-20, we see how the Lord calls Samuel to speak truth to Eli. Yet, at first, Samuel doesn’t recognize God’s voice. Like Samuel, many of us are still learning how to discern when God is speaking. So, how can we better understand His voice? How do we sense what He’s calling us to—whether in a specific moment or over the course of our lives?

The key is remaining deeply rooted in Scripture and persistent in prayer. Above all, we are first called to an intimate relationship with God. From that place of closeness, we begin to recognize His voice more clearly.

If you missed this message, we encourage you to watch it online at / hopechurchrva or click the link in our bio.

What’s Your Name? | When God Speaks | Part 2

We continued our sermon series, When God Speaks, with a message from Senior Pastor David Dwight.

In Exodus 3:7-15, God commissions Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian captivity and into the promised land. Seemingly overwhelmed by the enormity of the task, Moses protests, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

God’s response is profound, though not what we might expect. He doesn’t reassure Moses by addressing his doubts or limitations. Instead, God makes a promise: “I will be with you.” He then reveals His name, “I AM WHO I AM.”

In Scripture, names carry deep meaning, often reflecting one’s essence. Here, God is revealing His character — boundless, all-powerful, ever-present, and existing beyond the limits of time.

Like Moses, we often feel immobilized by our own fears, anxieties, and perceived inadequacies. Yet, in His grace, God lifts us beyond the tyranny of self-focus. He invites us to shift our gaze to Him — the God who was, who is, and who will always be — and to invest our energy in cultivating an intimate relationship with Him.

The God Who Asks + Seeks | When God Speaks | Part 1

This morning, Senior Pastor David Dwight kicked off our new sermon series, When God Speaks, with a message on Genesis 3:6-11.

Have you ever wanted God to speak to you personally? To speak into your life and your circumstances?

The Bible tells us that our God speaks to us and that His word is powerful and personal. He listens, asks, and seeks us out like a loving father would his child.

We invite you to join us for the next four weeks as we explore the times throughout scripture when God speaks!

Join us on Sundays at:

West Creek at: 8 | 9:30 | 11:15am

The Lodge: 9:30 + 11:15am

Livestream: 9:30 + 11:15am

Esther | Walk On | Part 10

Senior Associate Pastor Pete Bowell concluded our Walk On sermon series with a powerful message on the life of Esther — an ordinary woman used by an extraordinary God.

Though God’s name isn’t mentioned in the entire book of Esther, His providence is evident. Through Esther, God worked to protect His people in a time of darkness and brokenness. With her Jewish heritage hidden, she was elevated from orphan to royalty and made queen to the king of Persia.

After an order to kill all the Jews in Persia is enacted, she is faced with a conflict that would impact herself and her entire family. In her pivotal moment, Mordecai’s words still resonate today:

“If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” — Esther 4:14 (NLT)

As God’s handiwork, we too were made for such a time as this. Right here, right now, with the gifts and talents God has entrusted to us — He is weaving a story of restoration in our broken world. There’s a purpose behind where He’s placed each of us. As we often remind one another at HOPE, “You go nowhere by accident.”

God isn’t sending Esther, Daniel, or Moses back to accomplish His work in 2024. Today, He’s calling you and me — with Christ alive in us — to step into this moment. To be agents of reconciliation in a world that longs for healing and to bring glory to Him alone.

So rise up, church, and walk on. We were made for such a time as this.

Daniel | Walk On | Part 9

This morning, Worship + Family Ministries Pastor Kyle Freedman delivered a poignant message on the life of Daniel — a Hebrew exile in Babylon.

The story of Daniel showcases a man, who even in exile, stayed faithful to God in a nation that desperately needed to see + experience Him.

In fiery trial with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, he miraculously withstood the flames, confidently displaying God’s rescuing grace to the king. In the lion’s den, Daniel trusted God to keep him safe and by morning, emerged unscathed, impressing the king to decree that all should fear and revere the living God.

Daniel embraced the circumstances he was placed in and allowed God to use him to reach the people of Babylon. He stood confidently in his beliefs, but built bridges, not walls, along the way. Through deep relationships and genuine connection, the impact of his testimony spread far and wide.

Like Daniel, we can stand confidently on the promises of the Lord and trust Him in any circumstance. We can embrace our circumstances and display the love and character of God within them. Like Daniel, we can build bridges, share our story, bless those around us, and represent the Lord well where He’s placed us.