SCRIPTURE: Matthew 7:1-6 OBSERVATION: One of Jesus’ most well-known sayings, though often not understood. This does not mean we should not judge things to be true or false, good or bad, healthy or unhealthy, holy or unholy. It does mean that we should not play the Judge over others, and spend more time focusing on our…
Jan 27 — Matthew 6:19-34
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:19-34 OBSERVATION: Here it comes again. Jesus challenges the self-centered, comfort and pleasure loving nature of the heart. Who are we serving, what are we living for, where do we put our confidence? Those who surrender themselves to worldly pleasures, treasures or concerns will only end up more burdened and depressed than when they…
Jan 26 — Matthew 6:1-18
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:1-18 OBSERVATION: Jesus is addressing the motivation of the heart. Are we religious (doing good deeds, praying, attending church, giving, etc.) for the “applause” of others, do we put on a show to make a good impression, are we looking for peoples’ admiration or appreciation? For it to be real, it needs to be…
Jan 25 — Matthew 5:38-48
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:38-48 OBSERVATION: If I want to be like Jesus, Who is like God, then I need to determine to show this kind of love. To be more interested in showing grace than demanding justice. To be quick to serve, to forgive, and to help out my enemy. This is the way God’s new world…
Jan 24 — Matthew 5:27-37
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:27-37 OBSERVATION: Keeping one’s word is essential in the world as God designed it. Broken promises undermine the stability and welfare of society. Jesus’ kingdom ethic is clear on the need for maintaining fidelity within marriage. Stay true to your promise, says Jesus. The only exception is when the other partner severs the relationship…
Tree Huggers Rule!
How is this for a controversial statement? Am I aligning myself with Greenpeace and other perhaps more radical environmental groups? This Sunday I will be reflecting on our role as caretakers of God’s garden (Genesis 2:15) Check out this link for more Bible verses that speak to creation care. Feedback…
Pledge Sunday (2008)
Hey everyone, please pray for our Pledge Sunday this coming weekend as we once again give the people at Hope the opportunity to pledge their support to the mission and ministry of our Church. We are moving towards the long term goal of basing our Ministry Investment Plan (MIP, formerly ‘budget’) completely on the pledges…
Jan 23 — Matthew 5:21-26
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:21-26 OBSERVATION: The “rules” speak against murder, but the way of Jesus digs deeper to anger and its results (the words that anger produce, like fool). Anger that burns within lashes out with words that burn. Jesus is not saying that someone who says “fool” will go to hell, but that those who vent…
$4000 Surplus!
We are excited to announce that this past year we have experienced a $4000 surplus over what we budgeted for 2007, something we have NEVER experienced here at Hope. That number could increase, depending on how much we spent in 2007 (still to be determined, stay tuned!!) We are thankfully seeing this as a confirmation…
Jan 22 — Matthew 5:13-20
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:13-20 OBSERVATION: The implication of living counter-culturally, living the way of Jesus in this world, is that we will season this world like salt, and we will shine in an otherwise dark and dreary world. This is how God’s kingdom (the world as God intends it to be) is revealed. But its more than…