HOPE Sermons

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Thank you for joining us this Sunday at HOPE!

This is a time to worship together, hear God’s Word, and be reminded of His faithfulness. Today’s sermon gently explores the journey of grief, the question “why?”, and the healing through God’s truth.

The Protector | Isaiah’s Voice | Part 8

Outreach Director and Lodge Pastor Drew Paulette continued our summer series with a message from Isaiah 43. Written to the Israelites during their exile in Babylon, this chapter offers a picture of a people living in captivity — far from home, disconnected from their identity, and uncertain of their purpose.

But God speaks through Isaiah to remind them — and us — of what is true:“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (v. 1)

Even today, as believers living as pilgrims in a world not our own, we often need this same reminder. Drew challenged us with two questions: What captivities are we living in? What cisterns are we drinking from?

We were made to glorify God — our lives a song to the Lord. But have the dry, broken cisterns of this world distracted us? Have they lured us away from our true identity and calling?

Take heart, Church: Jesus has set us free. We are no longer bound to sin or the empty promises of the world. Because of Him, we drink from the well of Living Water — one that flows in aeternum.

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.” (v. 18-21)

Sunday mornings at HOPE are the heartbeat of our week — worshiping together, hearing God’s Word, and being reminded of His faithfulness. Thank you for joining us today!

This morning, Senior Pastor David Dwight guided us through Isaiah 35, reflecting on the reality and purpose of spiritual deserts. These seasons can feel dry, disorienting, and deeply painful — when all that once brought comfort or strength seems to vanish, and hope feels out of reach.

But in the quiet and barrenness, something sacred happens: our souls are laid bare before God. Stripped of distractions and self-reliance, we are invited into deeper communion with Him — where false beliefs are challenged, surface-level faith is exposed, and our hearts are reoriented toward what is true.

If you find yourself in a desert now, it may feel impossible to imagine joy, renewal, or even peace. But hold fast. Deserts do not last forever. Living water will flow again. The wasteland will bloom.

“Be strong, do not fear; your God will come…” (Isaiah 35:4)

The Peace | Isaiah’s Voice | Part 5

The Bible tells a sweeping story — one of promises made, promises fulfilled, and the space of waiting in between. This morning, we explored Isaiah 11:1–12, a powerful prophecy that foretells the coming kingdom of peace through the root of Jesse — Jesus, who reigns with perfect justice and righteousness.

Isaiah offers us a breathtaking glimpse of what the world will be like when Jesus returns to make all things new (vv. 6–8):

“In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together;the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion,and a little child will lead them all.The cow will graze near the bear,the cub and the calf will lie down together.The lion will eat hay like a cow.The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.”

Even now — amid hardship, struggle, and waiting — we can cling to hope because we know how the story ends. The Most High God has given us His Son for our redemption and His Spirit to dwell within us, reminding us daily of the unshakable hope we have in Jesus.

Isaiah 9:1-7 is a beautiful reminder that even in seasons of darkness, God is not silent, and He is not distant. We often spend so much of our energy fearing the threats around us, consumed by what could go wrong. But Isaiah calls us to a holy reset — to turn our eyes from fear and fix them on the living, true God who holds all things in His hands.

God doesn’t promise a life free of hardship, but He promises His presence in the midst of it. And in His presence, even suffering can become something redemptive, deepening our joy and drawing us closer to Him. The darkness will not last forever. Light is coming, and it’s found in Him.

Isaiah also challenges us to examine our hearts. So often, we’re focused on the problems “out there,” when the real battle is happening “in here.” Sin and death — our deepest enemies — are the true yokes of slavery. But the good news? Jesus is coming to break those yokes. He brings peace where there was anxiety, freedom where there was bondage, and joy where there was sorrow.

So let’s not walk away from the glory of the one true God. Let’s shift our prayers from striving to trusting, from self-centeredness to God-centeredness. He is worthy. He is trustworthy. And He is with us — our Light in the darkness.

The Virgin | Isaiah’s Voice | Part 3

This morning, Senior Pastor David Dwight continued our series Isaiah’s Voice with a message from Isaiah 7:5–16 (NLT), a powerful passage that anchors this third week of our journey through the book.

Isaiah was given a vision of God’s glory—and a calling to remind the people of Israel of the Lord’s greatness, power, and holiness. But at this point in their story, the Israelites had lost sight of who God truly was. They had constructed a religion of their own making—one void of God’s presence and shaped by their own desires.

Even so, in His mercy, God offers a promise of rescue. Through Isaiah, He declares a sign of hope:

“All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’)."

This morning, we heard from our Missional Pastor, Matt Hartman, as he continued our sermon series Isaiah’s Voice with a message from Isaiah 6:1–8.

In the first five chapters of Isaiah, we see the spiritual state of Israel—prosperous, yet far from God. Their hearts had turned away from Him. Then, in chapter six, Isaiah is given a stunning vision: he finds himself standing in the presence of the Lord, seated on His throne in the temple. In that moment, Isaiah is overwhelmed—not by the beauty of the vision alone, but by the deep awareness of his own sin. He believes he is undone, unable to survive such holiness.

But then something extraordinary happens. In a foreshadowing of the gospel, a seraph touches Isaiah’s lips with a burning coal from the altar and declares, “Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for” (v. 7). It’s a moment of mercy and cleansing. And when the Lord asks, “Whom shall I send?” Isaiah responds with a heart transformed: “Here I am. Send me!”

In reading this passage, we can see our own deep need for God, the incredible gift of salvation through Christ, and the willing response that flows from a heart changed by His love.