Hope Unlimited Church

Matthew 5:13–16 NLT

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

🔑Key #1 - CHANGE THE FLAVOR — BE THE SALT

Salt PRESERVES what is good

Salt ENHANCES flavor

Colossians 4:6 NLT

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

Salt that loses flavor becomes useless

🔑Key #2 - CHANGE THE ATMOSPHERE — BE THE LIGHT

Light requires fresh oil.

Light breaks the darkness.

Don’t hide your light.

🔑Key #3 - CHANGE THE NARRATIVE — LIVE ON MISSION

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”  

1 Peter 1:18

says you were handed down an empty way of life from your fathers…

"lead with a H.U.G.” “Humility Understanding & Grace”

🔑 The Distortion of the Modern Man

I am what I have… I am what I've done… I am what I control

🔑 God’s Man lives out a rested life, a Surrendered Life

Romans 12:2 GWT

“Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think.”  

Proverbs 27:17

“You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another.”

🔑“the Prodigal & the Kezazah"

Luke 15:17

“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!  

Luke 15:18

I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 

Luke 15:19

and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

Luke 15:20

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

🔑When the Father intervenes

🔑KEY #1 God Draws Purpose Out of Dry Places 

Acts 8:26

As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

🔑 KEY #2 Your Pace Reveals Your Posture

Acts 8:30

Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

🔑 KEY #3 God’s Not Afraid of Your Questions

Acts 8:31

The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.

🔑 KEY #4: God Met You Here… And He’s Sending You There

Acts 8:36

As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?”[d] 38 He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

Isaiah 56: 3-5

3 “Don’t let foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord say, ‘The Lord will never let me be part of his people.’And don’t let the eunuchs say, ‘I’m a dried-up tree with no children and no future.’ 4 For this is what the Lord says: I will bless those eunuchs who keep my Sabbath days holy and who choose to do what pleases me and commit their lives to me. 5 I will give them—within the walls of my house—a memorial and a name far greater than sons and daughters could give. For the name I give them is an everlasting one. It will never disappear!

Acts 9:1–6 NLT

1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest.

2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.

3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.

4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!

6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

KEY #1 - NEW LIGHT. NEW LORD.

Acts 9:3-4 NLT

“As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground…”

Acts 9:4b-5 NLT

“He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?’ ‘Who are you, lord?’ Saul asked. And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!’”

Key #2 - New Faith. New Fire.

Acts 9:18-20 NLT

“Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is indeed the Son of God!’”

Matthew 5:14-16 NLT

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden... let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

Key #3 - New Name. New Nature.

Acts 9:21 NLT

“All who heard him were amazed. ‘Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?’ they asked. ‘And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?’”

Ephesians 4:22–24 NLT

“Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life… Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”

Isaiah 62:2 NLT

“You will also be given a new name by the Lord’s own mouth.”

KEY #4 - NEW MIND. NEW MISSION.

Romans 12:2 NLT

“Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”

Acts 9:15 NLT

“But the Lord said, ‘Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.’”

Key #1 - HIS WAYS ARE NOT MY WAYS

Isaiah 55:8–9 (NLT)

"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, 

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

  and no mind has imagined

what God has prepared

  for those who love him.”

Key #2 - CLARITY COMES THROUGH TRUST

Isaiah 55:10 NLT

"The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry."

Key #3 - THE DETOUR MAY BE THE DIRECTION

Isaiah 55:11 NLT

"It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it."

Key #4 - REMEMBER HE’S NOT DONE YET

Isaiah 55:12 NLT

"You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!"

Proverbs 27:17 NIV

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

Key #1 - Will Shape your Standards

1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV

“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’”

Proverbs 27:6 

“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”

Key #2 - Will influence your Direction

Amos 3:3

How can two walk together unless they be in agreement?

Proverbs 13:20 NIV

“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”

2 Corinthians 6:14 NLT

Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 

Key #3 - Should Reflect the kind of person you want to become

Philippians 3:17 NIV

Join together in following my example… and keep your eyes on those who live as we do.

Key #4 - Should CALL YOU TO GOD'S STANDARD

1 Samuel 23:16 NLT

Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God. 

Proverbs 31:28-29

“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”

Key #1 - Speak Life, Even in the Mess

Proverbs 18:21

“The tongue has the power of life and death.”

Key #2 - Model the Message

2 Timothy 1:5

I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

Key #3 - Pray Bold Prayers

James 5:16

“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

Key #4 - Love Unconditionally, Lead Intentionally 

Proverbs 22:6

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Key #1 - It's Weather Tested

Matthew 7:25 NIV

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

Key #2 - Chooses Covenant Over Convenience

Hebrews 7:22 NIV

Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

Ephesians 5:25 NLT

For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her.

Key #3 - Practices Patience

1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT

Love is Patient…

Ephesians 4:2 NIV

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Key #4 - Allows God to fill the Gaps

1 Peter 4:8 NIV

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."

Mathew 7:24-27 NIV

 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Key #1 - The Cornerstone: The Main Brick 

Ephesians 2:20

“Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.”

Isaiah 28:16 NASB

Therefore this is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a tested stone, A precious cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. The one who believes in it will not be disturbed.

Key #2 - The Brick of Vulnerability: Be Real

2 Corinthians 6:11

“We have spoken freely to you… and opened wide our hearts to you.”

Key #3 - The Mortar of Forgiveness: Hold it Together

Colossians 3:13

“Bear with each other and forgive one another… Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Key #4 - The Brick of Encouragement: Build Up

Proverbs 18:21

 “The tongue has the power of life and death.”

Key #5 - The Insulation of Grace: Give Room to Grow

Romans 15:7

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

Philippians 1:6

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.”

Acts 1:3 NIV

After His suffering, He presented Himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

KEY #1: - God’s just getting started

Luke 24:6-7

"He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’”

Romans 8:28 NIV

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

KEY #2: - The Empty Tomb Is Our Receipt

1 Corinthians 15:17

"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins."

KEY #3: - The Resurrection Rewrites Our Story

2 Corinthians 5:17

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

Romans 8:37

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."