We often mistake hope for simple optimism that fades when things go wrong. We learn that real hope is a gritty, resilient trust in God's character that allows us to stay grounded, holding on firmly even when we are stuck in the tension of difficult circumstances, because hope can bloom in the unlikeliest places in our lives.

• Yakal (יחל) - Hebrew Word - defined as a biblical word for "to wait" in a passive, standing-at-your-post sense.  
• Kava (קוה) - Hebrew Word - defined as a biblical word for hope, specifically the feeling of tension and expectation while you wait for something to happen. The root word cav means "cord" or "rope".

Are we constantly exhausted because we've confused rest with a reward we earn, rather than a command given for our own good? Instead of just trying to "turn off" our work, we find true rest by intentionally "plugging in" to God, which helps us surrender our need for control and find the freedom to walk at an unhurried pace, even when our schedule is full. 

• "Hurry is not just a disordered schedule, hurry is a disordered heart."
• "The solution to an overbusy life is not more time. It’s to slow down and simplify our lives around what really matters."
• "Hurry and love are incompatible."
• "Sabbath is coming for you. Whether as delight, or as discipline. Maybe that's why God eventually has to command the Sabbath... to rebel against the limitations of time itself." 

Science & Faith: Interpreting the Bible's Creation Stories, Tim Mackie, Co-founder of The Bible Project

Are we building our lives on a firm foundation or sinking sand? We must choose to move beyond simply admiring Jesus's teachings—like his call to love our enemies or forgive others—and commit to the costly, daily practice of putting them into action, because the cost of not following him is far greater than the cost of discipleship.

Discover the radical call to trade a passive life of "don'ts" for one of proactive, strategic love, where the Golden Rule transforms into your roadmap for relational change, urging you to move from simply criticizing others to intentionally asking what you can do to truly live for them.

Feeling completely swamped by the modern "age of anxiety"? This sermon reveals that when Jesus says "don't worry", he's not being dismissive, but inviting us to stop trying to serve money and stuff (Mammon) and put our total trust in God instead. We're encouraged to adopt a posture of open-handed dependence—like the birds and flowers—and to seek first his kingdom, knowing everything else we need will follow.

Why do we often feel dry and exhausted even when we are doing all the "right" spiritual practices, like giving, praying, and fasting? Matthew 6 challenges us to shift from seeking performance and human recognition to pursuing an intimate, authentic relationship with the Father, which is the key to lasting rest and spiritual vitality in everyday life. 

• “Forgiving others is vital to our spiritual vitality.” Dr. Rob Reimer, Soul Care
• “It is utterly absurd for us to hold someone in our debt in light of the remarkable forgiveness God has offered us.” Dr. Rob Reimer, Soul Care

When Jesus tells you to love your enemies and "turn the other cheek," it's not about being a doormat; it's a call for clever, non-violent resistance that reclaims your dignity and exposes injustice. By living out this radical, borderless love—the same kind God showed us—you can actually break the world's cycle of hate and find a whole, mature, and purposeful way to live. 

• "All that requires for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

True righteousness is about a deeper heart issue that demands we move beyond the letter of the law to change how we fundamentally view and treat every person around us. By exploring Jesus' teachings on lust, power, and honesty, we are called to a radical "kingdom ethic," challenging us to live with integrity and see everyone as a dignified image-bearer of God, not merely a commodity for our own personal gain. 

Sometimes everything looks fine on the outside, but underneath we’re carrying anger or resentment we don’t even notice. Jesus invites us to dig below the surface, let go of the grudges that harden our hearts, and choose reconciliation—the kind that actually brings peace to our everyday lives.

• “Righteous anger is possible, but it is exceedingly rare. Most of our anger is not righteous, but self-righteousness.” - John Stott