Info

Hope Church - Fort Worth, TX

Since 1978, helping people get traction on their journey with Jesus Christ. For more information go to hopechurch.com.
RSS Feed
Hope Church - Fort Worth, TX
2024
March
February
January


2023
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2022
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2021
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
June
February


2017
March
February
January


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: Page 1
Mar 25, 2024

One type of pressure we all face is injustice. God has given us an innate sense of right and wrong, so when we experience injustice, it stirs strong emotions. The challenge is handling it correctly so we don't lose sight of our goals to live for God and share Christ with others.

It's important to remember that God's patience with injustice in the world now doesn't mean He tolerates it. There will be a day when He makes everything right. In the meantime, injustice will happen because we live in a broken world with broken people.

James warns that God will bring consequences to those who are unjust, especially those who use wealth and power to take advantage of others. He hears the cries of those who have been mistreated. While good people should step up to address large-scale injustices, James focuses on the everyday wrongdoings between individuals that we must navigate.

When someone wrongs us, we want them to pay. But trying to get revenge only makes things worse. Instead, we must let God deal with it and say, "Enough." Just as Jesus bridged the gap between us and God, we can stop the cycle of retaliation and allow for possible reconciliation.

So, how do we handle the pressure of injustice? James gives four key ways:

  1. Be patient and keep working faithfully, like a farmer waiting for his crops. Justice is God's job, not ours.
  2. Strengthen our hearts by staying committed to doing right, even when treated wrong. Setting our hope on Jesus' return empowers us to endure.
  3. Refuse to complain, which only magnifies the problem. Remember, Jesus is always near, hearing everything.
  4. Follow the examples of the prophets and Job, who endured suffering by keeping their hope in God.

While waiting on God amid injustice, we may be tempted to look to others to rescue us, escape through unhealthy means, try to fix it ourselves or get discouraged to the point of giving up. But God wants us to turn to Him so He can train us to be stronger and transform us to be more like Christ. That's His purpose in allowing us to go through pressures.

Remember, the pain and pressure we experience in life have a purpose. Look to God first and let Him grow and change you through it. Trust Him to deal with injustice in His perfect way and time. Let's pray for a great turnout next week to celebrate our risen Savior!

Mar 18, 2024

In this sermon, Pastor Jeremy delves into the roots and destructive nature of conflict, using a unique onion analogy. Just as an onion has layers, conflict has layers that need to be peeled back to uncover its underlying causes of quarrels and fights.

On the surface, conflict manifests as visible arguments. But digging deeper stems from coveting and desiring what others have. This leads people to rely on themselves instead of turning to God. When people pray, it's often with selfish motives, seeking to fulfill their passions rather than aligning with God's will.

At its core, conflict arises from the sin of pride. Pride says, "I deserve this," and "I'm right no matter what." It elevates the self above God. The Bible says God actively opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

However, there is a way out of this destructive cycle. It starts with humility - submitting to God, resisting the devil, repenting of wrongdoing, and mourning over the damage caused by conflict. When we humble ourselves and turn to God, He promises to lift us up and guide us toward resolution.

Pastor Jeremy shares a historical example from his family heritage to illustrate how unresolved conflict escalates with devastating consequences over time. The Proctor and Beck families, both part of the Cherokee nation, ended up in a deadly feud known as the Goingsnake Massacre - all because pride and grievances were left to fester. I

n closing, Pastor Jeremy underscores the unique role of Christians in conflict resolution. We must choose humility, speak well of each other, and trust God as the ultimate judge. While the world will always have conflict, the church, as a beacon of peace, should be different. Humility is not just a starting point for reconciliation but a way of life that reflects God's peace.

Mar 12, 2024

Jared Jeffries, the director of student ministry at Hope Church, spoke about the power of words as part of a series on the Book of James and dealing with life's pressures. The sermon focuses on the power of words and how they relate to the pressures we face.

Jared begins by discussing his love for construction and how powerful tools like excavators can be used to build up or tear down. He draws a parallel to the power of words, citing Proverbs 18:21, which states that the tongue has the power of life and death. He then explores two ways in which pressure and words are related: pressure points can lead to words that reveal our hearts, and our words can escalate or alleviate life's pressure points.

Jared uses examples from his own life and a clip from the movie "Toy Story" to illustrate these points. Diving into James 3, Jared highlights three sobering perspectives on words:

  • Words are hard, and we all make mistakes with them.
  • Words are powerful; small words can have a big impact.
  • Words are untameable; no one can control their words on their own.

However, he emphasizes that with Jesus, there is hope and help. Our words can be forgiven and controlled with Jesus. Jared then provides three practical guidelines for using words:

  • Words should be used for building up, as stated in Ephesians 4:29.
  • Words can be forgiven and controlled with Jesus by confessing Him as Lord and believing in His resurrection.
  • Words should be filtered through God's wisdom, which is pure, peace-loving, gentle, humble, merciful, and accompanied by good deeds (James 3:17).

To gain wisdom, Jared encourages daily Bible reading, prayer, spending time with godly people, and asking God for wisdom (James 1:5).

He concludes by urging the congregation to put what they've learned into practice, suggesting actions such as memorizing verses, seeking forgiveness for hurtful words, and writing encouraging notes to others. Jared emphasizes the importance of relying on God to help control and guide one's words. 

Woody and Buzz at the Gas Station: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt6PL26aJNY

Words by Hawk Nelson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anVweXDcxhA

 

Mar 5, 2024

Have you ever gone through a season where your faith in God was struggling or lacking? Maybe you're in that tough place right now, questioning whether walking with Jesus is worth it. If so, this encouraging message is for you!

In this sermon from our "Pressure Points" series through the book of James, Pastor Luke opens up about the crisis of faith he experienced years ago in college. He shares transparently about the factors that led to a dark period of doubts, isolation, exhaustion, and discouragement in his spiritual journey.

However, Pastor Luke doesn't leave us in that pit of lacking faith. He provides biblical wisdom and personal insights into the steps he took by God's grace to regain his footing and move forward in an authentic, life-giving faith.

The main point is this: Your faith makes a difference in how you live your life. Pastor Luke unpacks the biblical definition of faith as complete trust and confidence in Jesus Christ, contrasting it with our culture's vague, self-focused notions of faith.

Going verse-by-verse through James 2, he shows how genuine faith is based on the resurrection evidence of Jesus and will prove itself through outward actions like loving others, showing mercy, and producing good deeds. Using the life of Abraham, he reconciles the relationship between faith and works.

Pastor Luke then identifies four everyday situations where our faith may be lacking:

  1. Misplaced faith in ourselves, "the universe," or belief without evidence rather than faith in Christ.
  2. Dead faith - acknowledging the facts about Jesus but lacking repentance and obedience.
  3. Tested faith - enduring trials and persevering as God purifies and strengthens our faith.
  4. Lack of first-time faith - being ready to put your faith in Jesus initially.

For each of these scenarios, Pastor Luke provides practical next steps we can take to realign our faith, such as:

-Identifying misplaced faith and seeking truth in Christ

-Choosing to obey God and be vulnerable with others

-Rejoicing and enduring testing while remembering God's purposes

-"B.A.S.E." our life on Christ by believing, accepting, switching to His plan, and expressing our commitment publicly

The message ends with an opportunity to place your faith in Jesus for the first time or rededicate yourself to walking with Him wholeheartedly, no matter what doubts or struggles you may be facing.

Whether you're a longtime Christian or simply exploring faith, this candid and empowering sermon will speak to you about persevering when your faith is lacking. You'll be inspired by the personal testimony and biblically grounded wisdom Pastor Luke shares.

Feb 26, 2024

Where do you turn for help when you're under pressure? As Christ-followers, the Bible should be our guide. But what do we do when the Bible challenges us to act?

Feb 19, 2024

Temptations are something we deal with every day, especially when under pressure. Where does temptation come from and how can we handle it?

Feb 13, 2024

To conclude the message series The Faithful Steward, Pastor Matt interviewed two panels of deacons to share their experiences with God's ways of stewarding relationships and other areas of life. 

You can listen to the other panel here: Faithfully Stewarding My Relationships

Feb 5, 2024

As we wrap up The Faithful Steward series, what is one's responsibility in terms of relationships?

Jan 29, 2024

God, as creator, has given a level of responsibility to us as stewards. What then does it mean to faithfully steward the truth?

Jan 22, 2024

As we strive to follow God's ways and be faithful stewards, how does that apply to our treasures?

Jan 16, 2024

Pastor Matt Sturdevant shows that our use of the precious resources of our time and talents will help us make the best use of what God has given us.

Jan 9, 2024

Lead Pastor Matt Sturdevant walks through an understanding of our realm of responsibility in life, who we are responsible to, and the two most important days we need to worry about.

Jan 2, 2024

On the last day of 2023, let's take a look back and recap some learnings from this year and then reset on God's ways for 2024.

Dec 18, 2023

As we approach Christmas, we'll take a look at the beginning of the Christmas story. How does Mary respond to the news that she will be with child and what can we learn from it today?

Dec 11, 2023

At the conclusion of the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul reminds and encourages Christ-followers regarding the spiritual battle we are in. How does being rooted in Christ help us to stand strong amidst this battle?

Dec 4, 2023

In Christ, we are called to live in a way different from the world to find the good life. This includes the ways that we relate in various relationships. What does Ephesians 6 have to say about the standards for relating at work?

Nov 20, 2023

In Christ, we are called to live in a way different from the world to find the good life. This includes the ways that we relate in various relationships. What does Ephesians 6 have to say about the standards for relating as parents and children?

Nov 13, 2023

God has been generous with us and has given us a way to live the good life. As we launch the 2023 Christmas Offering, what is one way we can share the good life we have found with others?

Nov 6, 2023

In Christ, we are called to live in a way different from the world to find the good life. This includes the ways that we relate in various relationships. What does Ephesians 5 have to say about the standards for relating in marriage?

Oct 30, 2023

Pursuing "The Good Life" according to God's ways means that we live differently. As Ephesians 5 calls us to holiness, how can we be rooted to live that way?

Oct 23, 2023

As we work on being rooted in God's ways, what are we rooted for? The first part of Ephesians 4 begins the "how" section of this letter, highlighting God's design for community. How then do we see this in the local church?

Oct 16, 2023

Given current events between Hamas and Israel, Pastor Matt answers three questions from a biblical angle to give us hope.

Oct 9, 2023

As we seek to build a good life and root ourselves in hope, grace, and peace, we can also know that we have purpose! How does the Apostle Paul's perspective in Ephesians 3 demonstrate being rooted in our purpose?

Oct 2, 2023

As we pursue the good life, we cannot escape the divisions in our culture. How can we be rooted in peace to navigate these divides?

Sep 25, 2023

As we seek "the good life," we often run into problems. How does being rooted in God's grace provide a solution to our problem?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next » 15