Real Hope Conversations

The God who created the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, because it is He who gives to all [people] life and breath and all things. And he made from one man every nation of mankind… ACTS 17:24–26a (AMP)

Who better to discuss the topic of opinion and disagreement than a couple of siblings? This week we're joined by Sam Fagan, with well over a decade of pastoring churches and currently studying his Masters of Theology, he is also the younger brother of Abby our host!

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THE INTERSECTION OF FAITH & CULTURE: Opinion & Disagreement

Often it is hard. So hard, in fact, that Jesus’ decree to love and pray for our opponents is regarded as one of the most breathtaking and gut-wrenching challenges of his entire Sermon on the Mount, a speech renowned for its outrageous claims. There was no record of any other spiritual leader ever having articulated such a clear-cut, unambiguous command for people to express compassion to those who are actively working against their best interests.
LEE STROBEL

 The world is FULL of opinions! It seems that these days everyone can have a platform to voice those opinions if they have a social media account. But along with opinions comes disagreements. Disagreements that divide, incite anger, hatred and judgement.

When it comes to our faith, how can we live a life set up by Christ in a world so divided by opinion and disagreement. How can we navigate these conversations and possible opposition in a way that glorifies God? On the flip side, how do we also navigate disagreement and opposition with each other – our brothers and sisters in Christ.

This week, we hope you gain greater insight into how to navigate the sometimes-difficult world of opinion and disagreement.

And we hope that God challenges you in new ways and gives you the tools you need to approach the opinion-fuelled world with confidence knowing our loving God is with you.  

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“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)

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THE INTERSECTION OF FAITH AND CULTURE: Uncertainty & Doubt

Some of us who have preached the Word for years, and have been the means of working faith in others and of establishing them in the knowledge of the fundamental doctrines of the Bible, have nevertheless been the subjects of the most fearful and violent doubts as to the truth of the very gospel we have preached. CHARLES SPURGEON

In the Christian life, doubt and uncertainty are inevitable. Often we can feel like we may have lost our faith or are sinning if we question or wrestle with God about something in our lives.

However, as we will see this week, the wrestle often refines us and leads us into greater relationship with our heavenly Father.

As we journey through the devotionals this week, may you gain a greater understanding of God and grow closer to Him and more certain of who He is in the midst of uncertainty and doubt.

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Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ MATTHEW 20:26–28 (NIV)

Today we're joined by Druvi Pererra, talking to us about where Faith and Culture meet, specifically about Service and Hospitality

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THE INTERSECTION OF FAITH & CULTURE: Service & Hospitality

Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither. CS LEWIS

It’s hard to live out our faith in a world where the Christian life seems to be counter to the culture we live in. But together we can help one another navigate those challenging situations where the people we’re seeking to minister to may not understand or may think we are just plain weird.

Over the next three weeks, we’ll be looking at three topics that many may find challenging, difficult, and awkward when trying to live out our faith, and what we believe, in a broken world.

This week we’re looking at service and hospitality. For some, this comes easily but others find this difficult. Also, the practice of service outside the church, to many unbelievers, is odd and confronting. Although we may be seen as different (we are supposed to be), these acts of service and hospitality give us an opportunity to share experiences of God’s love.

May you grow and learn from our contributors’ experience and, more importantly, be encouraged by the words of our servant King.

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Today we have the pleasure of chatting with Leila Armstrong about radical transformations. Specifically, we hear about Leila's transformation, one that took well over 18 years.

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RADICAL TRANSFORMATION

The same Jesus Who turned water into wine can transform your home, your life, your family, and your future. He is still in the miracle-working business, and His business is the business of transformation. ADRIAN ROGERS

How has God transformed your life? How does He transform people who were once lost? How does He transform homes, families and the trajectory of a person’s life?

This week, join us as we take the time to reflect on the transforming love and grace we have in Christ.

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Grandson of the legendary evangelist Billy Graham, and current head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Will Graham joins us from the USA to chat with us about how we can evangelise in our own lives.

Watch the interview: Click Here

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REVIVAL

A Series By Will Graham

It was March 2020. I was supposed to be in Tifton, Georgia, in the southern United States, holding a three-day evangelistic outreach. Instead, I sat next to my wife in our North Carolina home, contemplating the suddenly-tumultuous state of our world.

The COVID-19 pandemic had quickly raced around the globe. Schools were cancelling classes. Businesses were shutting down. Churches were closing their doors.

The news was filled with breathless updates of an apocalyptic nature. In the United States we were seeing semi-trucks being used as morgues, and interviews with people who were dying in hospital beds.

It became clear that our event in Tifton needed to be postponed. In its place, we hastily scheduled an online program; an opportunity to share the Gospel via livestream to Georgia and beyond.

It seemed like a good idea at the time, but – as I sat there with my wife, contemplating what I would speak about during the livestream – I was overwhelmed. What could I possibly say in my message? What did I have to offer as the world was being consumed with disease and death?

If I’m being fully honest with you, I wasn’t just overwhelmed. I was afraid as well. Despite my focus on eternal matters, I am human. And that part of me was just as scared of the potential for mass casualties – perhaps even my own family – as everybody else.

My godly wife, sensing my struggle, offered her guidance: “Just talk about Jesus. The Name of Jesus is the only thing that has the power to drive out fear.”

She was absolutely right, and that’s what I did. To a world gripped by panic and anxiety, I proclaimed the Name of Jesus: the hope, peace, power and purpose found in Him alone.

The world has changed a lot in the last 24 months. The spirit of fear is still very strong. People are afraid of COVID, of lockdowns, of losing their jobs, or of getting sick. Relationships are strained. Some have lost faith in their governments, their schools, and even their doctors. The world, in many ways, is a mess.

But that doesn’t change this fact: The Name of Jesus is still the answer to every problem we face. The temporary struggles of this world fade away in the presence of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

The problem, however, is that so many of our friends, neighbors and loved ones do not understand the hope that Christ offers, and the peace that can be found in a true relationship with Him. They’re desperate for something, but have not yet found the fulfillment they seek.

My friends, in the following devotionals, I hope to not just challenge you to share your faith with others, but also equip you with a few basic strategies for sharing “the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). We have a limited amount of time on this earth to make an impact for the Kingdom, and we must use that time wisely. Eternity is at stake.

Will Graham

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There is a lot of disappointment when the things we planned or hoped for don't come to pass, which has been a fairly common sentiment recently. Today Laura Bennett opens up to us about this disappointment and where it fits on a journey to finding contentment when we're living in a world that doesn't go our way.

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CONTENTMENT

The cure for the sin of envy and jealousy is to find our contentment in God. JERRY BRIDGES

Life has a way of throwing us curve balls. Things may be on track then all of a sudden the unexpected happens and we stand surrounded by the pieces of things that were.

We also live in a world where there is a constant striving for more. More things, more money, more love, more me.

So as Christians how can we live our faith out when life throws you curve balls and in the world of ‘more’? How do we find contentment in a society where contentment seems to be a mysterious unattainable ideal?

As we look at our readings this week, we pray you find the answers to these questions and the hope and contentment that isn’t unattainable but can be found in our Heavenly Father.  

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Dwayne Jefferies returns for another conversation, this time discussing just what Jesus was "supposed" to look like. Sometimes we try to fit Christ into a box or expect or "want" him to look a certain way. But maybe that's just because he's more than we could possibly comprehend?

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JESUS: THE UNEXPECTED

Jesus was long expected. But when and how and where and why He came were all unexpected. - JON BLOOM

Jesus, our loving King. The long-awaited Saviour of the world. Prophesied for centuries. Expected and anticipated by generations.

However, although He was expected, His life was anything but what people thought it would look like.

Whilst He was expected to be born in Bethlehem, no one expected Him to be born in the back cave of an inn. No one expected that in His ministry He would surround Himself with the broken, oppressed, ostracised sinners of society.

And no one expected He would be broken, beaten, rejected, hung on a cross and would die.

But the best bit is that no one expected our Saviour would defeat death and then rise again three days later! ALL FOR US!

Our Jesus, His life, was unexpected but it led to the amazing saving grace we can now proclaim! This week, together, lets marvel and reflect on the unexpected life of our gracious King who saved not only you and me, but the world!

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In today's episode, we talk about one of those topics that no one really wants to talk about. Suffering is something that everyone experiences and we as Christians are even told to expect it! Today's guest Ben McEachen shares how sharing the load can be a good way to deal with this tricky subject. 

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SUFFERING

Suffering drives us like a nail deep into God’s love and into more spiritual power than we can imagine. - TIM KELLER

Suffering is something that many of us don’t like to think about. It can be confronting, challenging and sometimes depressing to think about the suffering we may have experienced or even the suffering of people around us or the suffering of the world. It can be hard to see hope in the midst of suffering.

However, we have a God who is working in every situation. Even in the darkness. Even in our sorrow. Even in our suffering.

Through the devotions this week, we pray you will find hope. That you will find strength. That you will find God in your midst. He has never left you and will never forsake you.

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Kath Henry is the amazing chaplain here at hope media and she joins us once again for another Real Hope Conversation. This time we talk about the importance of prayer and the significance of the prayer that Christ himself gave to us.

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YOUR KINGDOM COME

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 
MATTHEW 6:10 (NIV)

Have you had moments when you don’t know how to pray? When you don’t know how to express the things in your heart? When you don’t know where to start when it comes to the things you need to bring to our Heavenly Father?

The Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:9–13 is a great place to start. It’s more than just the words that many of us can recite by heart. It’s a passage of scripture that shows us how to pray. In the moments when we don’t know how to start, and in the times when it just seems to pour out of us, even in the season of thanksgiving, this passage brings us back to the heart of prayer – God’s heart.

Through this week’s readings, may your approach to prayer be renewed, refreshed, and reawakened. May you see prayer as a way to connect to the heart of our ever-loving Saviour.

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A writer, coffee connoisseur, consultant and an old friend! Today Leila Armstrong chats with us about her experience praying bold and dangerous prayers. The kind that might push us out of our comfort zone, the kind that we don't want to ask because of the fear of change.

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DANGEROUS PRAYERS

How do you think your life might change if you prayed daily a daring, faith-filled prayer of whole-life devotion to the one who gave it all for you? - CRAIG GROESCHEL

Dangerous prayers. Prayers that have the power to not only change circumstances but could completely shift and change the trajectory of your life. Prayers that push you out of your comfort zone. Prayers that are bold and require your complete surrender to God and His will for your life.

Dangerous prayers. Can bring us pause. Can make us nervous. Can be scary to even think, let alone whisper in the quiet of the night.

However, these dangerous prayers invite God to do His will in our lives. These prayers release God to write a new chapter in our lives. These prayers are bold, scary, challenging, and nerve-wracking, but oh the wonder that can unfold when we step boldly into these prayers knowing God has us in the palm of His hand.

Our prayer is that this week those dangerous prayers that may have been planted in your heart will begin to flourish. That you will be encouraged and inspired to step boldly into these prayers knowing God has a plan and a purpose for your life.

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