HOPE Sermons

By Hope ChurchReligion & Spirituality Christianity

HOPE Sermons episodes

August 26, 2024 Elijah - Matt Hartman | Walk On
This morning, Missional Pastor Matt Hartman continued our sermon series, Walk On, with a message on Elijah – a prophet called to lead the people of Israel back to the Lord.
During Elijah’s time, civil war had divided Israel and the hearts of many had wandered and began to worship different gods and idols. Elijah, called by God, challenged the people for their divided loyalties and urged them to return to the Lord. Their pursuit of multiple gods left them aimless, hopeless, and without clear purpose. Rather than relying on the Lord, they placed their trust in idols and their self-sufficiency—seeking from themselves what only God could provide.
It is not so different for us. How often do we turn inward to ourselves instead of upward towards God? How often do we allow our attention to drift and linger on earthly things instead of the things of above? How often do we place our trust and rest our security on things that will tarnish and fade?
Just as God used Elijah to turn Israel’s hearts back to Him, He worked through Jesus to do the same for us. He restores us, often disrupting our path to redirect our hearts towards Him. He finds us in our darkness and our sin and because of His great love and mercy, makes us new through the blood of Christ.
32 min
August 19, 2024 Ruth - Catherine Turner | Walk On
Ruth | Walk On | Part 7
The story of Ruth, set against a backdrop of both spiritual and physical famine, is a powerful picture of redemption—a vivid snapshot of the gospel message. It reminds us how God often uses the most unlikely individuals to demonstrate faithfulness in the face of uncertainty.
Amid grief and despair, Ruth became a source of hope and strength for her mother-in-law, Naomi, whose heart was broken by loss. Despite the unknowns that lay ahead, Ruth walked forward in obedience, embracing Naomi’s God as her own and journeyed to a foreign land. Her faithfulness and trust in God as her sustenance were richly rewarded.
Today, we may find ourselves in a season of spiritual famine, navigating through a wilderness of uncertainty. Yet, the only true sustenance for us in the midst of our hardships—and our victories—is Jesus, the bread of life.
Discipleship Pastor Catherine Turner offers a simple “bread recipe” to help us return to the basics in these times:
Be anchored in Biblical truths.
Recognize your need.
Eat His words daily.
Align your will to His.
Do the next thing.
34 min
August 15, 2024 David - Wes Peterson | Walk On
The story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 offers a powerful illustration of how God can do extraordinary things through ordinary people. David, just a 15-year-old shepherd, found himself on the frontlines of battle after consistently saying yes to the tasks laid before him.
With unwavering courage and faith, he defeated Goliath using only a sling and a stone—a mighty act that showcased God’s glory. But before this remarkable moment, David's life was filled with the simple, everyday responsibilities of a shepherd.
David’s daily life involved tending a flock of sheep, a task far removed from battling giants. He had no idea that such a challenge awaited him — he was simply being obedient to the duties before him. Through his routine, he cultivated a deep relationship with God, drawing nearer to Him in the quiet moments of his life.
Executive Pastor Wes Peterson reminded us this morning that there is profound purpose in the ordinary. Just as David’s faithfulness in the small things grew his relationship with the Lord and prepared him for a great challenge, our daily tasks offer us the opportunity to grow closer to God. He calls us to engage with Him — not someday, not later, but right now.
Through David’s story, we learn the importance of loving God and tending to the “sheep" entrusted to us. Jesus asks us to be faithful in the everyday moments, trusting that our obedience, even in the mundane, opens the door for Him to work in extraordinary ways
29 min
August 05, 2024 Gideon - Drew Paulette | Walk On
Gideon | Walk On | Part 5
We’re halfway through the Walk On series!
This morning our Outreach Director, Drew Paulette, shared a powerful message on Gideon + how God called him to a mission and purpose bigger than himself.
Gideon, a member of one of the weakest clans, led an army of just 300 soldiers against 135,000 Midianites with a seemingly ridiculous plan. Against the odds, they won the battle, not by their own might, but by the Lord’s.
If we were to place ourselves in this story, we’d probably wonder if there was a better way. We’d ask, am I the right person? How is this a good plan? Is this possible? Judges 6-7 reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways. God continues to choose strategies and methods that require Him to show up in big ways so that He is glorified and our dependence + faith upon Him are strengthened.
The Lord is calling all of us into the same story + mission that He called the heroes of the faith. We can move forward confidently + courageously in that call because He is with us, as He was with Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, and Gideon.
The Lord is with you so walk on.
32 min
July 31, 2024 Joshua - David Dwight | Walk On
Upon his passing, Moses’ assistant, Joshua, was called by the Lord to lead the people of Israel into the promised land. We can imagine how daunting stepping into his predecessor’s role may have felt for Joshua, but the Lord promised His presence and commanded him to be strong, courageous, and obedient God’s Word.
To be obedient, whether in leadership or not, means to seek the Lord, hear Him, and act according to His will. Thankfully, He gifts us the law, which instructs us how to love Him, love people, and live to the full intention of His design.
Senior Pastor David Dwight shared five big-picture foundations that God is bringing about through the obedience of Biblical figures like Joshua:
A faith: a trusting relationship with God
A doctrine: the way of life with this God
A place: a homeland where they live this life with God
A savior: the one who is life, gives life, and in whom life is found
A living hope: a life in loving relationship with God, anticipating the joy that’s to come
33 min
July 22, 2024 Moses - David Dwight | Walk On
Senior Pastor David Dwight continued our series on ordinary people called by an extraordinary God with a message on Moses.
The Lord called on Moses to ask Pharoah to free the Israelites, but Moses felt he was inadequate for the job. He even asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
The Lord answered him, not with precise answers, but by promising His presence. This passage tells us that the good news is that it’s not so much about us, but God with us. It’s not that we have all the perfect character traits, strengths, and abilities to do the job, but that we faith in the Lord.
The common thread between Abraham, Joesph, Moses, and all the other people we will cover in Walk On, is that they were faithful + obedient in saying yes to Him.
23 min
July 15, 2024 Joseph - Pete Bowell | Walk On
This morning, we continued our Walk On series with a message on Joseph — a man who suffered mistreatment at the hands of his own loved ones, but would later offer reconciliation that could only be possible by being deeply rooted in the Lord.
Senior Associate Pastor Pete Bowell shared three poignant questions we can ask ourselves in relation to Joseph’s remarks in Genesis 50:19-21:
Who is in my chair?
What is in my view?
Who writes my story?
We encourage you to listen to the entire message, available online at youtube.com/hopechurchrva and at the link in our bio.
36 min
July 08, 2024 Abraham - David Dwight | Walk On
Abraham | Walk On | Part 1
Today we began Walk On — a series on Old Testament figures that said yes to God in faithfulness + obedience.
Senior Pastor David Dwight kicked us off with a message about the father of our faith, Abraham. Genesis 12:1-4 shows Abram's obedience to God's call. He stepped out in faith without knowing the full plan, but trusting in God's promise, “I’ll be with you.” True faith doesn't need complete understanding—it's about small, faithful steps. God calls us to obedience in this moment and each moment of putting God’s interest above our own builds upon each other into the bigger vision: God is our ultimate reward.
We invite you to join us as we study the lives of these heroes of the faith on Sundays at 8am | 9:30am | 11am at West Creek and 9:30am + 11am at the Lodge! You can also watch via livestream at 9:30am + 11am at @hopechurchrva on YouTube.
34 min
July 02, 2024 Vision for Heaven - David Dwight | Abundant
Vision for Heaven | Abundant | Part 7
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
If we pursue God’s vision for abundant life, it will be anchored in a robust vision for Heaven. Senior Pastor David Dwight concludes our sermon series with a focus on eternity. If we are seeking an abundant life, we must make our vision about our heavenly eternity, not our earthly temporality. We are prudent to prepare for the realities of life here on earth, but it is all the wiser to focus on the eternal life that is waiting for us. The Bible tells us our citizenship is in heaven and our time on earth is temporary. If we are seeking an abundant life, we will align our decisions to that reality.
38 min
June 24, 2024 Committed Relationships - David Dwight | Abundant
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. - John 15:4
We all long for relationships in which we can know and be known, but we sometimes struggle with how to find the true intimacy we are seeking. Senior Pastor David Dwight continues our sermon series, “Abundant,” reminding us that the way to be fully known in relationships starts with remaining in Jesus. In our relationships with Jesus, we learn transparency, honesty, humility, forgiveness, safety and love. As we grow in this rich depth, we are equipped to live out the same characteristics in our human relationships. We all want easy steps towards unity, particularly in the close and hard relationships of life, but the truth is, relationships are hard work. The best way to come into honest and loving relationships is to model our relationship with Jesus, “remain in me, and I will remain in you.”
37 min