HOPE Sermons

Senior Pastor David Dwight opens “Only Jesus,” a lenten sermon series examining Jesus as the victorious risen champion. As we progress towards Holy Week, this series will help us know the person of Jesus more fully.

David closed the sermon with this prayer from Ephesians 3:

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

We invite you to pray into this and ask God to reveal Jesus to us as we follow his journey to the resurrection of Easter.

I Refuse | Soul Calling | Part 6

This morning, Senior Pastor David Dwight closed out our sermon series, Soul Calling, with a message on the parable of the wedding banquet.

Ultimately, this parable is not about being good or bad but about the posture of the heart. God’s invitation comes with His authority, and entry into His kingdom is based on repentance and humility, not personal merit. Many assume that being “good” is enough, but Jesus reframes the question entirely — asking not if we are good, but if we are willing to surrender to God’s terms rather than our own.

The closing words, “Many are called, but few are chosen,” remind us that while the invitation is extended to all, only those who respond with true humility are welcomed into the joy of God’s kingdom.

To watch all messages from this series, visit us on YouTube at @HopeChurchRVA or click the link in our bio.

The Business of Heaven | Soul Calling | Part 5

We are deep into our sermon series, Soul Calling, where we’re exploring Jesus’ teaching through the parables. Today, we were in Matthew 21:33-44, where in the last week of His life, Jesus shares the parable of the tenants.

We see a vineyard owner intentionally investing in his business — tilling the ground, planting seeds, digging a winepress, and building a watchtower. After renting the land to farmers, he sends his servants to collect the fruit, but they are met with hostility and greed for the farmers intended to reap the harvest for themselves.

Jesus delivers a sobering truth: “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who produce its fruit.” (v. 43)

We are called to live a Kingdom life in partnership with God. We are called to work alongside Him with joy — sharing in His vision and plan for redemption. We are invited into His mission — serving Him and bearing fruit. Do we see it that way?

Senior Pastor David Dwight challenged us to examine our vision of life with God. Do we ask what God does for us or what we do for God?

Wait for It | Soul Calling | Part 4

This morning, Senior Associate Pastor Pete Bowell continued our Soul Calling series with a message on Matthew 25:1-13.

The parable of the ten bridesmaids is one of hopeful perseverance, but also of sober judgement. The parable begins by saying, “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.”

If the bridegroom we, the Church, wait for, Jesus, is on the way, as Scripture says, then that reality changes everything. It changes the way we live. It calls us to be thoughtful and watchful, to prepare in the waiting. It calls us to keep the lamps of our souls burning and to ensure that we fill our reserve of oil to sustain us in the in-between.

Jesus Christ is coming to redeem, restore, and make all things new, and we eagerly anticipate that day. As we wait with eternal hope, it would be wise to ask ourselves this question: Are we like the bridesmaids who did not prepare enough oil? Or are we the ones who watched and prepared in anticipation of receiving the King of Kings?

We encourage you to dive deeper into messages from this series with discussion questions! You can find them on our website at the link in our bio.

The Shadow of Righteousness | Soul Calling | Part 3

This morning, we continued our series, Soul Calling, with a powerful message from Senior Pastor David Dwight on the parable of the tax collector.

In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus cuts to the core of the human condition. We see the Pharisee, a religious figure of this time, thanking God that he isn’t like other sinners — measuring his righteousness against others — wholly unaware of the sickness pervading his own soul.

Meanwhile, the tax collector stands at a distance, overwhelmed by his unworthiness. He doesn’t justify himself or compare his sins to anyone else’s. Instead, he humbly cries out, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Jesus declares that it was the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who went home justified before God. “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)

Through this parable, Jesus invites us to repent and examine ourselves not by the standards of others but by the holiness of God alone.

Self-righteousness makes us feel safe and powerful, but in repentance, we find life. And here’s the good news: when we turn to Jesus in humility, we don’t find condemnation — we find mercy, love beyond measure, and open arms waiting to receive us.

The Weight of Forgiveness | Soul Calling | Part 2

This morning, we continued our series, Soul Calling, with a message from Executive Pastor Wes Peterson.

In Matthew 18:21-35, Peter asked Jesus how often he should forgive someone who wrongs him — seven times? Jesus challenged him to go far beyond, saying, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. He then shares the parable of the unforgiving servant. Out of mercy, a king forgave a servant’s incredible debt. Yet, when confronted with a much smaller debt owed to him, the servant chose not to forgive as he was forgiven.

The message is clear: we have been forgiven beyond measure, and in response, we are called to extend that same mercy to others. Forgiveness isn’t about keeping score — it’s about reflecting the limitless grace we’ve received.

If you missed today’s message, we encourage you to take the time and listen/watch on YouTube at @HopeChurchRVA.

Fruitful Teaching | Soul Calling | Part 1

Today, we kicked off a brand new sermon series exploring Jesus’ teachings through the parables. These powerful stories were one of Jesus’ ways of teaching truth — inviting reflection and provoking thought unique to each person.

This morning, Senior Pastor David Dwight walked us through Matthew 13:1-15, the parable of the sower. Just as the condition of the soil determines whether a seed thrives or dies, so the state of our souls affects how God’s Word takes root in us.

Are our souls tended and enriched by scripture, prayer, community, and service? Or are they strangled by this life’s anxieties, distracted and hardened by culture, or weakened by the storms of hardship?

In the same way Adam was created to tend the Garden of Eden in partnership with God, we are invited to cultivate the soil of our souls — making them soft, receptive, and fertile ground for the seed of God’s Word to sow and continuously bear fruit.

Everything New | New | Part 5

This morning, Senior Pastor David Dwight concluded our first sermon series, New, with a powerful and hope-filled message.

In the beginning, God created the Garden of Eden — a place of perfect peace, unity, security, love, and wholeness. But when sin entered the picture, so did doubt, shame, fear, confusion, brokenness, and death.

Over the centuries, humanity drifted further from God’s original design. Yet, in a world marred by disease, hardened hearts, and suffering, Jesus came to redeem and restore it.

Through His birth, death, and resurrection, Jesus set the stage for God’s ultimate plan of redemption. And we can hold fast to this promise: God is making all things new. One day, He will restore creation completely — sin abolished, death defeated, every tear wiped away. In its place will be a love so whole, so complete, that it surpasses anything we could ever imagine.

You can watch all messages from this series online at @HopeChurchRVA on YouTube, and you can dive deeper individually or in your small groups with discussion guides available on our website.

New Jerusalem | New | Part 4

This morning, Senior Pastor David Dwight shared a powerful message on the vision God is inviting us to behold.

In Revelation 3:12, 21:1-2, we get to see the vision of the new Jerusalem — God’s perfect, heavenly city where His people will dwell with Him forever. A city of joy, free from darkness and brokenness. A place of beauty beyond our wildest imaginations.

The resurrection is at the center of this vision — the ultimate, eternal miracle for all. Through Jesus’ resurrection, God transforms the hearts of His people, preparing us for eternity like a bride for her groom (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Let this vision fill you with hope. The new Jerusalem is coming — don’t lose sight of it!

If you missed today’s message, we encourage you to check out our YouTube channel at @hopechuchrva. If you’re looking to dive deeper, check out the discussion questions for this message at the link in our bio.

New People | New | Part 3

This morning, Senior Pastor David Dwight continued our “New” sermon series with a poignant message on what it means to be made new in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

The word “new” in this verse comes from the Greek word “kainos,” meaning something completely new, unique, and unprecedented. Through Christ, we are invited to step into this extraordinary newness — a life transformed by His presence as we surrender ourselves fully to Him.

We’re excited to celebrate this new life in Christ at our upcoming Worship and Baptism Night! Join us on Tuesday, January 28 at 6:30 pm in the Main Auditorium for an evening of worship + believers baptisms.

If you’d like to be baptized, we invite you to attend a pre-baptism meeting on Sunday, January 26 at 3pm in the Hope Café. This meeting will provide all the information you need to take this meaningful step. Click the link in our bio to register — we can’t wait to celebrate with you!