Hope Community Church

Origin Story – Week FiveThis is the third consecutive year that we’ve worked through the Bible, five books at a time. As we read the stories and learn about the history written in the Old Testament, we learn truths that we can apply to our own lives. In week five, we’ll examine: The major characters in the book of Esther.The story in the Book of Esther. Principles and lessons to learn from Esther.There are five major characters in the book of Esther.1st – Xerxes, King of Persia2nd – Vashti, Queen of Persia3rd – Haman, the Villain4th – Mordecai, the Good Guy5th – Esther, the HeroAfter the Babylonians were overthrown by the Persians, some of the Jews chose to remain in Persia when Xerxes allowed them to go back to their homeland.The story in the Book of Esther reads like a Broadway play.King Xerxes wanted to show off all his wealth and possessions including his beautiful wife, Queen Vashti. She refused and Xerxes became furious. (Esther 1:12) All the men were concerned that other wives throughout the empire would follow the queen’s example so Xerxes decided to make an example of her by removing her as queen. He made a proclamation that every man should rule his own house. (Esther 1:17-18, 19-20, 22)They began searching for a new queen throughout the land. Esther, who had not revealed her nationality, was one of the women chosen to be presented to the king. (Esther 2:8, 10)The king favored Esther above all others and made her the new queen. (Esther 2:17)Mordecai overheard a plot to kill the king, and Esther warned the king, which saved his life. (Esther 2:21-22)Haman became an elevated official in Xerxes’ court, but Haman hated Mordecai because he wouldn’t bow down to Haman. (Esther 3:1, 2, 5-6)Haman plotted to get the king to make a decree that would eventually destroy the Jewish people. (Esther 3:8-9)Mordecai enlisted Esther’s help, but Esther knew she could be killed for entering the king’s presence without being summoned. (Esther 4:11)Mordecai reminded Esther that she too would be killed and that she might be in her position “for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:12-14)Esther asked for fasting and prayer from all the Jews and risked death to approach the king. (Esther 4:16)Esther gained access to the king and invited him and Haman to a banquet. Then she invited them to another banquet. (Esther 5:1-2, 3-4, 5-8, 9-11)Haman began setting up a execution pole for Mordecai. (5:14)The king had overlooked that Mordecai had saved his life and decided to honor Mordecai. (Esther 6:2-3, 4-9, 10-11)At the next banquet, Esther requested King Xerxes to save her life and her people’s lives. Haman was outed as the villain and died on the pole he had made for Mordecai. (Esther 7:1-4, 5-6, 9-10) There are principles and lessons that can be learned from the Book of Esther.We will never take the risk to do great things until we believe that one person can make a difference.Refuse to settle for anything less than fulfilling God’s calling on your life.When life doesn’t make sense, do you turn to God or away from Him?

Origin Story – Week FourThis is the third consecutive year that we’ve worked through the Bible, five books at a time. As we read the stories and learn about the history written in the Old Testament, we learn truths that we can apply to our own lives. In week four, we’ll examine: The beginning section of Nehemiah, which showed the type of man he was.The later sections of Nehemiah and the positions he held throughout his life. Three lessons from the book of Nehemiah.The beginning section of Nehemiah explained the type of person he was and what he wanted to accomplish in his life.Nehemiah held a high position in the Persian King’s court as the cupbearer to the king. His heart was with his people back in Jerusalem because they had no wall of protection around the city. (Nehemiah 1:1-3)Nehemiah 1:4 Nehemiah was devastated about the state of his homeland.Nehemiah 1:11 He begged God for success with the king to able to go back to Jerusalem. Nehemiah 2:1-2 The king noticed Nehemiah’s sadness.Nehemiah 2:3-4 He told the king his plight. The king was moved because God moved his heart. (Proverbs 21:1)Nehemiah 2:4-6 He asked the king for permission to return and help his homeland. He also asked for letters of protection to get there. (Nehemiah 2:7-10)The next sections of Nehemiah started his work as a builder and politician.Nehemiah 6:15 The wall was completed in 52 days.Those 52 days were full of opposition. (Nehemiah 4:1-3, 4) Nehemiah motivated the people to have faith in God and to fight for their families by building the wall even though there was opposition. (Nehemiah 4:14)Nehemiah 4:16-17 He used half the men as soldiers to protect the other half who were working on building the wall.There is nothing that will mute opposition like continued progress.The opposition tried to meet with Nehemiah, but he refused. (Nehemiah 6:1-3, 4)They tried writing a letter to question Nehemiah’s motives, but he dismissed them. (Nehemiah 6:5-7, 8-9)They tried to threaten Nehemiah physically, but he wasn’t afraid. (Nehemiah 6:10, 11-12, 16)The wall was finished and dedicated to God. The people rejoiced. (Nehemiah 12:43)God is good; mankind isn’t. When the people went back to their evil ways, Nehemiah stopped it, sometimes brutally. (Nehemiah 13:25)Here are three lessons from the book of Nehemiah.1st – Fixing problems begins with honest observation.“I have never heard of a longstanding wrong quickly and easily corrected.” Mike Lee2nd – Correcting wrong demands fearless conviction.3rd – Honest observation and fearless conviction must be tempered with authentic devotion to God.How’s your devotion to God?1. You will become what you are passionate about.2. If you want to become like Jesus, you will have to be passionate for Jesus.

Origin Story – Week ThreeThis is the third consecutive year that we’ve worked through the Bible, five books at a time. As we read the stories and learn about the history written in the Old Testament, we learn truths that we can apply to our own lives. In week three, we’ll examine: The history of the times during the book of Ezra.The breakdown of the parts of the book of Ezra, which highlight his objective in life. Ezra’s objectives.The history during the time of Ezra is a little complicated.2 Chronicles 36:15 God looked on the nation of Israel with pity and compassion.2 Chronicles 36:16 But eventually, God had had enough of their disobedience.2 Chronicles 36:17-19 God gave them over to Babylon, and the temple was destroyed.Jeremiah 29:1,10 The people had hope that they would be delivered from captivity after 70 years. Jeremiah 29:11-13 God wanted His people to know Him; and so, He would bring them home.2 Chronicles 36:22-23 The king of Persia set the Jews free to go back to their homeland and rebuild the temple. The people were overjoyed.They returned in three waves under three different commanders over a 95 year period.The 1st group under the command of Zerubbabel came to rebuild the temple.The 2nd group under Ezra came to establish worship about 80 years later.The 3rd group under Nehemiah came to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem about 12 years later.There were different sections to the book of Ezra, which highlights Ezra’s objective in his life and makes us question our own. Ezra 1-6 The main focus was the construction of the temple. Ezra 7 This picked up the story of Ezra himself.The hand of God was on Ezra (Ezra 7:6, 9, 27-28) because Ezra devoted himself to the study and the observance of God’s law. He also taught God’s decrees and laws. (Ezra 7:10)The Hebrew word for “devoted” means “to set your heart, to be firm, to direct, to arrange something.”What is your objective in life?“Life has value only when it has something as its object.” Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hagel“Who keeps one end in view makes all other things serve.” Robert Browning“When you determine what you want, you have made the most important decision in your life.” Dwight PentecostYour prayer should be, “God set my heart on the thing you have for me.”Ezra lived his life with specific objectives.1st Objective: To study the Law of GodThe Hebrew word for “study” means “to seek, to resort to, to consult, to inquire.”2nd Objective: To teach the Law of God3rd Objective: To observe the Law of God (practice what it taught)The goal of studying the Bible isn’t to have more knowledge; it’s to have your life changed.Ezra 9:1-2 The people began intermarrying with other people who worshiped many gods.Ezra despaired over this and chastised the people for breaking God’s law. (Ezra 9:3, 10:10-12)Ezra taught the Word of God after the wall was built around Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 8:1, 4, 5, 8) It changed their lives.The teaching of God’s Word (the Bible) always changes people when it touches their lives.What is your objective in life? Become an Ezra.

Origin Story – Week TwoThis is the third consecutive year that we’ve worked through the Bible, five books at a time. As we read the stories and learn about the history written in the Old Testament, we learn truths that we can apply to our own lives. In week two, we’ll examine: The principle 2 Kings revolves around.The history found in 2 Kings.Some relevant lessons to learn from 2 Kings.2 Kings revolves around the principle that persistent sin may be forgiven; but often, the consequences can’t be erased.Our sins may be washed away (forgiven); but often, we bear the consequences of those sins.(Job 4:8, Galatians 6:7-8, Colossians 3:25)The history of 2 Kings is filled with stories of the rise and fall of the kings, and the fall of the nations of Israel and Judah.2 Kings 1:1-2 There was rebellion and Satan worship in the first two verses.At the end of chapter 17, the northern kingdom (Israel) fell. In chapters 18-25, the southern kingdom (Judah) fell.2 Kings 2:11-12 Elijah was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire, and the mantle passed to Elisha.2 Kings 17:13-14 God warned Israel and Judah to turn from their wicked ways, but they didn’t.2 Kings 17:17-18 They did such evil that God removed Israel from His presence. 2 Kings 16:1-3, 7-8, 20 Ahaz, one of the kings of Judah, did terrible evil even sacrificing his son in the fire. He gave the temple treasures as a bribe to another king. His son, Hezekiah succeeded him.2 Kings 18:3-4 Hezekiah did what was right in God’s eyes. He was remarkable and had great faith in God. (2 Kings 19:19, 35)2 Kings 20:1 Hezekiah became ill and was about to die, and he begged for his life. The prophet Isaiah spoke to him about God giving him 15 additional years to live. (Isaiah 38:4-5, 7-8)Hezekiah did remarkable things with those added years:1. He took on a project to preserve the Old Testament Scriptures.2. He is associated with 10 ascent psalms.3. He created a water source under the city of Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 32:30)2 Kings 20:21, 21:1-3, 10-11 Hezekiah died, and his son, Manasseh, did evil in the eyes of God.2 Kings 25:7, 9, 11 The final king of Judah was Zedekiah. The Jews were taken into captivity by the Babylonians. (Psalm 137:1-4)Disobedient Christians don’t sing (worship).There are some incredibly relevant things to learn from this ancient book. J. Sidlow Baxter said, “We cannot read 2 Kings without thinking of Solomon’s proverb, “The way of transgressors is hard.” Paul’s words, “The wages of sin is death,” is here demonstrated on a national scale in clearly declared terms of poetic justice for all to see and heed. Sinning, despite warning, brings ruin without remedy. Inexcusable wrong brings inescapable wrath. Abused privilege incurs increased penalty. The deeper the guilt, the heavier the stroke. Correction may be resisted, but retribution cannot be evaded. All these thoughts crowd in our mind when we read 2 Kings as we see the battered, broken tribes of Israel and Judah dragged behind the chariots of their heathen conquerors. We surely cannot fail to see the central message of the book, “Willful sin brings a willful end.”Could we be modern day prophets warning our country to return to God?1. If you are a Christian and you love your neighbor, you will wear a mask.2. If you are a Christian and you love your neighbor, you will share the gospel.

Origin Story – Week OneThis is the third consecutive year that we’ve worked through the Bible, five books at a time. As we read the stories and learn about the history written in the Old Testament, we learn truths that we can apply to our own lives. In week one, we’ll examine:Why we’re doing this series.The history found in 1 Kings.Some relevant lessons to learn from 1 Kings.A few words to parents.Why are we doing this series?You can’t really appreciate the New Covenant that Jesus ushered in unless you understand the harshness of the Old Testament Law that we’ve been saved from.The history of 1 Kings is filled with stories of the rise and fall of the kings of Israel. 1 Kings 1:5-6 David’s home and children were falling apart despite all his success as a leader of Israel.1 Kings 2:1-4 David gave Solomon advice right before his death.1 Kings 2:10-12 David died, and Solomon began his rule when he was 20 years old.God appeared to Solomon three times:1 Kings 3:5-7,9 Solomon asked for wisdom to lead his people, and God gave him wisdom and great knowledge. (1 Kings 4:29-30,32,33-34) – Solomon built a temple and dedicated it to God. (1 Kings 5-8, 8:66)1 Kings 9:1-3,5,6 God promised that David’s line would continue forever. But, Solomon had to stay with the Lord. Solomon was vulnerable to stray. – When life is a bowl of cherries, you’re not aware of the pits. – “The long, dull, monotonous years of middle-aged prosperity or middle-aged adversity are excellent campaigning weather for the devil.” C.S. Lewis – 1 Kings 9:6-7 God warned what would happen if they turned away from Him. – 1 Kings 9:7-8 Israel would be ridiculed, and the temple would be destroyed. – 1 Kings 9:10 After 20 years, Solomon hit a midlife crisis. – 1 Kings 11:1-2,3 He had 700 wives and 300 concubines, and they led him astray. – Berkeley Translation says that “They perverted his mind…”1 Kings 11:9-10 God became angry with Solomon for worshipping other gods. – 1 Kings 11:11 God said that He would tear the kingdom away from Solomon’s descendants.Kings ChartThe Kingdom of Israel divided into the North called Israel and the South called Judah. (1 Kings 15:1, 2-3)Deuteronomy 5:9 God told His people that sins followed down the line to the 3rd and 4th generations.1 Kings 16:29-30 The story of Ahab and Elijah began.There are some incredibly relevant lessons from this ancient book.We are most vulnerable when we least expect the temptation.God always has the right person to match the hour.When life seems especially dark, God comes especially close.Unchecked sinful bents are passed from the parent to the child.There are a few words for parents who have, like David, blown it (all of us).1st – We are all imperfect…and that includes our kids.2nd – We can’t change the past…and that includes the way we reared our children.3rd – When we blow it as parents, we’re personally responsible…and that includes mistakes made in ignorance.4th – Because of grace, we have the hope of healing…even when we fail as parents.

Obstacle Course – Week FourWhen we begin to live life according to the path we believe God is leading us toward, we can face many obstacles along the way. We’ll discuss what God is teaching us through these obstacles by examining: The last temptation of Jesus in the wilderness.Two aspects of testing.The characteristic of trust.The last temptation of Jesus from His time in the wilderness involved testing God.Luke 4:9-10 In this temptation, Satan tells Jesus to throw himself off the temple to see if the angels will save Jesus.This would be a shortcut for Jesus to bring God’s Kingdom to earth without having to go through the agonies of the cross. It would be a huge spectacle and would amass a huge following.Psalm 91:9-13,14 Satan twists Old Testament Scripture out of context.Luke 4:12 Jesus responds by repeating the command to not put God to the test.There are two aspects of testing we can see from this temptation.1st – Expecting God to bless disobedience.“Don’t expect the blessing of God if you disobey the principles of God.” Mike Lee2nd – Don’t test God.Deuteronomy 6:16 Jesus replies to Satan with Scripture to not test God.Exodus 17:1-4 The Israelites bring a legal complaint against Moses where the punishment could be death.Moses replies, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”Exodus 17:5 God answers that Moses should take some elders and the staff and go.At the end of the story we get a picture of how God is good.Exodus 17:6-7 God is better than we could imagine. He took the punishment the Israelites deserved and gave them what they didn’t deserve…water.1 Corinthians 10:2-4 This story from Exodus was a foreshadowing of Christ.The characteristic that God wants to develop in His followers is trust.“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” Corrie Ten BoomLuke 4:13 While successful in resisting this last temptation in the wilderness, it didn’t mean that Jesus wouldn’t face these temptations again. (Matthew 16)Jesus’ victory is our victory.

Obstacle Course – Week ThreeWhen we begin to live life according to the path we believe God is leading us toward, we can face many obstacles along the way. We’ll discuss what God is teaching us through these obstacles by examining: A key principle in this series.How there is more to temptation than we realize.The story of Jesus’ second temptation.A statement of trust.There are key principles to learn from this series.God’s primary means of expanding His Kingdom is you.God uses obstacles as a way to prepare and grow us to make the biggest impact possible.There is always more to temptation than what we consider in the moment.In every temptation, there’s always more at stake:– the choice between the immediate and the important,– to do the right thing, in the wrong way or the wrong time.What if we could develop a new habit to help us remember there is more at stake, avoid the shortcuts and remember that God can be trusted in the moment?The second temptation Jesus faced revealed another truth we can learn.Matthew 3:13-17 The baptism of Jesus proclaimed to the world who Jesus was, God’s Son.Luke 4:1-2 Right after the baptism, Jesus is led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where He was tempted for 40 days.3 Truths about temptation1. It’s not a sin to be tempted.2. God doesn’t tempt you.3. God may leave you in a place where you will be tempted.Luke 4:2-4 This is the first temptation Jesus faced.When you discover the truth about temptation, it will give you power over it. Jesus came to the world to die for your sins and to break the power of sin in your life.Luke 4:5-6 Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and offered Jesus authority over them.When sin entered the world, man lost authority over everything. Jesus reclaimed all authority on earth through His death and resurrection. Matthew 28:18If Jesus took the shortcut Satan offered, Jesus would not have had to suffer and die for our sins.Luke 4:7 Satan wanted Jesus to worship him to set aside Jesus’ devotion to God temporarily. The lie was that it would only be for a moment.“Temptation is always more than just a test of your self-control…it’s a test in your trust in God.” –Andy StanleyCan you trust God? Satan used a similar pattern of tempting Eve with rewards by making her think it’s just a little compromise. Genesis 3:1-6 Luke 4:8 Jesus quoted the Bible in answer to the temptation. He said that He would worship God only. Deuteronomy 6:10-13Jesus was able to resist temptation because He knew His identity, and He knew the truths He had from Scripture. Jesus showed us how to respond to temptation. Luke 4:8, Matthew 6:33When tempted to take a shortcut, trust God and do the right thing the right way.

Obstacle Course – Week TwoWhen we begin to live life according to the path we believe God is leading us toward, we can face many obstacles along the way. We’ll discuss what God is teaching us through these obstacles by examining: The temptation of Jesus and the characteristic of dependence.The story of Gideon.Where we struggle the most.Jesus’ ministry began with His temptation where we learn about the characteristic of dependence.James 1:13-14 This tells us that God doesn’t tempt anyone, but God can use temptations in our lives to teach us something or to grow us.Venn diagram The circumstances where God can prepare you the best are also the circumstances where Satan can tempt you the most.Luke 4:1-2 God’s plan was for Jesus to go into the wilderness where He would be tempted. – Jesus was hungry at the end of the 40 days. He is fully God and still fully human. – Jesus was tempted over and over again for 40 days.Luke 4:3 Satan is trying to get Jesus to question God, to doubt God’s goodness. – Satan wants Jesus to provide for Himself and not depend on God. – This is a tactic used on us all the time. – This brings us to the characteristic of dependence and how we need to depend on God.The story of Gideon shows us how the Israelites learned to depend on God.Judges 7:1-3 God reduces the army of Israel by 22,000 until only 10,000 remain.Judges 7:4-6 God reduces the army again until only 300 remained to fight a massive army. God showed them how He would take care of them no matter the circumstances. (Back to the temptation of Jesus)Luke 4:4 Jesus knew that it didn’t matter how hungry or weak He was because He was depending on God.Judges 7:17-21 Gideon and the Israelites won through no skill of their own. It was because God provided, and they depended on Him.(Back to the temptation of Jesus)Luke 4:14 Jesus returns to begin His ministry in the power of the Spirit. – Through weakness, God provides strength. God accomplishes His plan through the dependence of His followers.The areas in your life that you are struggling in the most are not the areas where you are too weak. They are the areas that you are still too strong.2 Corinthians 12:9-10 … “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Obstacle Course – Week OneWhen we begin to live life according to the path we believe God is leading us toward, we can face many obstacles along the way. We’ll discuss why this happens by examining: Acts 19:8-10.Truths about God and His plan for you.How to prepare your mind to embrace obstacles.A final question about why you might not believe in God.Acts 19:8-10 speaks about how Paul shared the Gospel.The Gospel was shared to all the Jews and Greeks living in the province of Asia.The Word of the Lord is spread by believers, and we all play a part in that.Here are some truths about God and His plan for you.1. God’s primary means of expanding His Kingdom is you. Ephesians 2:8-10 – God has an amazing purpose for your life.“God’s plan for your life necessitates that you change.” (Galatians 2)2. Between God’s promise and God’s payoff, there’s always a process. The main way that God prepares us is through trials. There are ways to ready your mind to embrace obstacles, which is how God prepares us for His Will.James 1:1 Seasons of preparation can either create perseverance or anger, maturity or bitterness towards God.James 1:2-4 God says to consider/count it joy (be thankful) to face obstacles or trials.“What could God be achieving through this?”James 1:3-4 James gives us a list of things that God is working in us.1. A greater awareness of our faith (testing)2. Perseverance3. Maturity4. Completeness5. Gaining something we lackVenn diagram “God will allow evil only to the degree that it brings about the very opposite of what it intends.” — Tim KellerJames 1:5 Draw near to God to lay down your anger against Him. James 1:5b God can handle your questions. He answers without hesitation over and over again. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17Here’s a final question to ask yourself if you don’t believe.Could it be that the very experiences you’ve used as proof that God doesn’t exist are actually the uncomfortable mercies of God trying to draw you into a relationship with Him?

Lessons From a Quarantine – Week Five This has been a crazy few months for all us because of Covid-19, the quarantine and racial tensions. There are so many emotions and fears, which leave us with many questions. We’ll tackle some of these concerns by examining: A recap of our series, “Lessons From A Quarantine.”6 stages to rebuild after difficult times.An application to rebuild.Letting your difficulties be your opportunities to rebuild.Here is a recap of the series, “Lessons From A Quarantine.”Where is God in all of this chaos?How do we deal with conflict?How do you grow your faith in your fears?How do we slow down in the busyness and stress and find real rest?Let your difficulties be your opportunities to rebuild.There are 6 stages to rebuild after difficult times.1. Shock Nehemiah 1:2-32. Sorrow Nehemiah 1:4-6 (He mourned. He fasted. He prayed.)3. Struggle Nehemiah 2:1-2 4. Surrender Nehemiah 2:2-5 (Then I prayed to the God of heaven and THEN I answered the king.)5. Strategy Nehemiah 2:6-8 (“And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests.”)6. Surround Yourself Nehemiah 2:11-18, Nehemiah 2:20There is an application to rebuild, which is actually the 7th step.7. StartLet your difficulties be your opportunities to rebuild.You can have a changed life, a changed family and a changed community.

Lessons From a Quarantine – Week FourIn America, we glorify busy. We sleep less, stress more and hurry through life. This week in ‘Lessons from a Quarantine’ we are going to talk through one of the things that has become apparent during this time at home, which is the crazy pace of our lives. We will look at this fast pace by evaluating: The history of hurry.The increase of stress.The inability to rest.How to slow the pace in our new normal.Matthew 11:28-30“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”Jesus said it’s okay to get some rest!Does ‘weary and burdened’ describe you? Are you trying to earn the rest that Jesus said He will give to us as a gift? You don’t have to earn it.Psalm 127:2“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.”God commands us to take one day a week where we stop all of the busyness and work and just rest and enjoy Him.Genesis 1:3And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.Genesis 2:7Then the Lord God formed a man[a] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.For six days, God was breathing out. On the seventh day, He breathed out and was refreshed. If God refreshes Himself, why don’t you?Matthew 11:29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.This verse is an invitation from Jesus to partner with Him and share our load. Matthew 11:30“…For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”Jesus isn’t saying that life is easy; but when we are connected to Him, He carries the significant burdens.An easy life isn’t an option; an easy yoke is.Here are four practices to finding rest through your relationship with Jesus:Set regular routines in your life.Encouragement – Encourage five people every day.Silence and solitude – Get alone with God in an intentional way. Time – What do you need to say no to? What do you need to say yes to?

Lessons From a Quarantine – Week ThreeThis has been a crazy few months for all us because of Covid-19, the quarantine and racial tensions. There are so many emotions and fears, which leave us with many questions. We’ll tackle some of these concerns by examining: What fear does to us.Questions that fear causes us to ask.Ways in which to grow your faith to withstand fear.Fear does different things to us.Fear robs us of our joy.Fear clouds our judgment.Fear breeds more fear.There are some questions that fear causes us to ask.Mark 4:35-37 Did God cause it? Following Jesus will put us in uncomfortable situations because He cares most about our character and becoming more like Him.Mark 4:38-39 Does God care? Jesus does care. He is present and responds to our stress and anxiety.Mark 4:40 Why are you so afraid? Jesus has the power to make a difference. Do you still have no faith?Mark 4:41 Who is this man? Jesus is awe-inspiring in His power.Faith isn’t the absence of fear, it’s not forgetting who’s really in control. There are some ways to grow your faith to withstand fear.Faith is believing when I don’t see it. Hebrews 11:1Faith is obeying when I don’t understand it. Hebrews 11:7Faith is persisting when I don’t feel like it. Hebrews 11:27Faith is thanking God before I receive it. Hebrews 11:30Faith is trusting God even if I don’t get it. Hebrews 11:38-40Faith isn’t the absence of fear, it’s not forgetting who’s really in control.

Lessons From a Quarantine – Week TwoThis has been a crazy few months for all us because of Covid-19, the quarantine and racial tensions. There are so many emotions and fears that leave us with many questions. We’ll tackle some of these concerns by examining: The balance in a Christian life.Some things about conflict that we all need to remember.The conflict between Paul and Barnabas.Applications for handling conflict.Four principles from Ephesians 4 that will allow you to have a solution-driven conversation.There has to be balance in a Christian’s life.Jesus is loving, gentle and kind, but He was also the most controversial, confrontational person who ever walked this earth. – Matthew 5:7 – Matthew 10:34“The key to a healthy Christian life is balance.” Chuck SwindollThere are some things about conflict that we all need to remember.There are things about conflict we need to remember. 1st – Conflict is inevitable. 2nd – In every conflict there are two ingredients: There’s an issue and there are varying perspectives. 3rd – In many conflicts, each side is valid. In David Augsburger’s book, Caring Enough to Confront, he says, “Conflict is neither right nor wrong – it just is, and you’ve got to deal with it.”The Bible records the conflict between Paul and Barnabas. – Acts 13:4-5 – Acts 13:13 – Acts 15:36-37 – Acts 15:38 – Acts 15:39We get our English word, “paroxysm,” from the Greek word translated “disagreement.” It means, “a sudden attack, a convulsion, a violent emotion and action.”This is what happened between Paul and Barnabas with good points on both sides. However, it says that they parted ways, and we never see them together on a missionary journey again.There are applications to apply when handling conflict.1st – When in conflict, work hard at seeing both sides, not just your own.– Philippians 2:3-4– Most of us suffer from ingrown eyeballs.2nd – When both sides have good support, look for a wise compromise.3rd – When the conflict persists, care enough to work it through.– To resolve conflict, you have to have a solution-driven conversation.There are four principles from Ephesians 4 that will allow you to have a solution-driven conversation.1st – Communicate Truthfully.– Ephesians 4:252nd – Communicate Tenderly.– Ephesians 4:153rd – Communicate Timely.– “When it comes to communication, timing is often more important than content.”– Ephesians 4:26-274th – Communicate Tactfully.– Ephesians 4:29Stop Posting! Start Hosting!

Lessons From a Quarantine – Week OneThis has been a crazy few months for all us because of Covid-19 and the quarantine. There are so many emotions and fears that leave us with many questions. We’ll tackle some of these concerns by examining: Some questions about God.The reasons why there is pain and suffering in the world.That God is good; mankind isn’t.There are some questions we usually ask about God during a crisis.Where is God in all of this chaos? – This leads to more questions wondering if God can or would fix a disaster. – There’s something in us that wants to point a finger at God.Who is God? That’s the question we should be asking.Why is there pain and suffering in the world? In the midst of the creation story, God reminds us that we’re dealing with a good God. – Genesis 1:1-4 – Genesis 1:9-10 – Genesis 1:12 – Genesis 1:21 – Genesis 1:24-25 – Genesis 1:26-27 – Genesis 1:31There are reasons why there is pain and suffering in the world.Reason #1: Pain and suffering are the result of original sin. – Genesis 2:17 – Genesis 3:16 (God casts judgment on humanity) – Genesis 3:17 – Genesis 3:18-19Reason #2: Pain and suffering are the result of man’s freedom to choose to be evil. – God gives people the freedom to choose to be in a relationship with Him so it can be an authentic relationship. God is good; mankind isn’t.God made a perfect environment and loved us enough to give us the freedom to mess it up.God is good, and He’s so good that He judged sin the way sin needed to be judged. Humanity knows what it could be and should be, but we can’t get it to stay that way because of our sin and our knowledge of good and evil.There is hope, and it is found in Jesus. He came to save us from our sin and to restore our relationship with God. It is a gift, freely given, if we choose to accept it.

Ten: Week TenThe Tenth Commandment – ContentmentGod gave us the Ten Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this tenth commandment by examining: The Principle of Contentment and the question of what is coveting.Three suggestions to battle the temptation to covet.The question of what’s the answer to being content.In the Tenth Commandment, God gives us the Principle of Contentment, but what is coveting? In Exodus 20:17, God warns us not to covet, which brings us to the Principle of Contentment. The only reason we covet what someone else has is because we’re not content with what we have.What is coveting?– Deuteronomy 5:21 restates the commandment not to covet and adds the phrase, “set your desire.” Covet means, “to strongly desire.”– Here are some verses that warn against coveting: 1. In Luke 12:15, Jesus says to beware of coveting. 2. In 1 Corinthians 5:11, covetousness is listed in a group of some serious sins. 3. In Colossians 3:5, covetousness is equated with idolatry. When the desire for something or someone replaces God or is put above God, it’s idolatry. – God isn’t saying it’s wrong to desire. He’s saying it’s wrong to strongly desire what belongs to someone else because it will become an idol.Here are some suggestions that can help us battle the temptation to covet.1. Learn to admire without the desire to acquire. – Discontentment is an appetite that’s never fully satisfied.2. Make a confession about your obsession. – Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 6:8 to be content with all our blessings. More than anything, our blessings include forgiveness. – In 1 Timothy 6:7, Paul reminds us that we start with zero, and we end with zero. – Psalm 139:16 tells us that all our days have been ordained. 3. Turn your resentment into contentment. – In Philippians 4:12, Paul tells us that he knows what it’s like to have plenty and to be in need. Regardless of the situation, Paul always found contentment. What’s the answer to being content?Psalm 37:4 tells us to delight in the Lord, and the Lord will give us the desires of our heart. How do you get your desires right so you can delight? – David refers to those who are evil or wicked 14 times in this Psalm. He explains that when it feels like evil is winning, you have to learn to trust God. – In Psalm 37:3-4, David says that if you’ll learn to be content with what God has provided for you, you won’t focus on what’s going on around you.Most people think Psalm 37:3-4 means that if you’ll follow Jesus, He’ll give you whatever you want, but that’s not correct. Rather, it’s that if you’ll follow Jesus, He will put the right desires in your heart.If we passionately pursue God, we will be passionate about the right things.

Ten: Week NineThe Ninth Commandment – HonestyGod gave us the Ten Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this ninth commandment by examining: What the Ninth Commandment is and the Principle of Honesty.Three simple ways to develop honesty in you life.Four transformational truths.In the Ninth Commandment, God tells us that “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor,” which brings us to the Principle of Honesty. In Exodus 20:16, God warns us not to lie, but there are a few things we need to understand about this commandment. 1st – When the Bible talks about your neighbor, it’s not talking about the person living beside you. Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan and explains that your neighbor is anyone you come in contact with. (Luke 10:27, 29)2nd – God gave these commandments to help the Israelites understand what a civilized society looked like. This is a society governed by moral laws, and morality is not subjective.3rd – The Ninth Commandment is actually a legal commandment, “Don’t perjure yourself.”The principle behind this commandment is the Principle of Honesty.There are three simple ways to develop honesty in your life.1. Learn to be honest with yourself. – Dishonest people are dishonest. – In John 8:32-33, Jesus explains that the truth will set you free. – God cannot help you if you can’t be honest about yourself.2. Learn to be honest with others. – In James 5:16, God takes the idea of honesty beyond just Him to include confessing to others. There’s a humility and accountability that comes along with confession. – Confession forces us to bring what we’re dealing with out of the darkness into the light. – There are two types of people in life: Those who are wise and those who are foolish. A wise person takes correction. A foolish person makes excuses. (Proverbs 9:8) – Start being honest with people.3. Learn to be honest with God. – In Psalm 32:1-5, David says, “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven…” He explains how sin weighed him down, but forgiveness is freeing. – When you’re dishonest, there’s deceit in your spirit. (Psalm 32:2) – When you lie, you link or align yourself with Satan. (John 8:44) But in John 16:13, Jesus tells the disciples that the Holy Spirit will guide them into all truth.Here are four transformational truths that can set your life free.In John 8:32, Jesus says, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”We are all sinners.One day our sins will be uncovered.We will all face a forever. (heaven or hell)It’s a personal decision. It’s between you and God. It’s your choice to confess and believe that Jesus died for you to save you from your sins and to give you eternal life. (Romans 10:9, John 3:16)

Ten: Week EightThe Eighth Commandment – GratitudeGod gave us the Ten Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this eighth commandment by examining: What the Eighth Commandment is and the Principle of Gratitude.Some definitions of stealing.Four words that will change your life.How to be grateful for what God has given you and the life He’s chosen for you.In the Eighth Commandment, God tells us that “You shall not steal,” which brings us to The Principle of Gratitude. In Exodus 20:15, God warns us to not to steal, and the principle behind this commandment is The Principle of Gratitude.After 430 years of slavery and 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, Moses led the Israelites to the Promised Land. They were incredibly poor, and God knew they would face a desire to steal from each other.Here are some definitions of stealing.Anytime you improve your situation by taking someone else’s stuff, you’re stealing.Anytime you deceive someone for personal gain, you’re stealing.When you take what belongs to God, you’re stealing.– Tithe means one-tenth, and the word ten represents a test all though the Bible.Four words that can change your life: God owns it all!God asks us to show our trust and gratitude by returning 10% to Him.In Malachi 3:8, the Israelites were trying to rob God by not giving Him their tithe. In 1 Chronicles 29:14, King David gives us two lessons.1. We don’t realize that everything we have comes from God.2. We don’t understand that God distributes to each of us as He decides.If you miss those simple truths from David, you’ll never be grateful for what God has given you.Are you grateful for all that God has given you and for the life that He’s chosen for you?How do we cultivate a grateful heart? Here are three specific ways:1. We need to learn to be grateful for imperfect gifts. – If we wait for perfect gifts, we’ll never be grateful at all.2. We need to learn to be grateful in times of anxiety and frustration. – Gratitude often comes in the midst of pain and suffering, or it usually doesn’t come at all. -C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasure, but shouts in our pain.”3. We need to develop the discipline of noticing. – If you’ll take the time, you’ll discover that you have a lot more to be grateful for than you realize. Thank God for all these blessings.The difference between people isn’t the circumstances we go through or what we have and don’t have. The difference between people is how we deal with where God takes us on this journey called life.

Ten: Week SevenThe Seventh Commandment – IntimacyGod gave us the Ten Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this seventh commandment by examining: What the Seventh Commandment is and The Principle of Intimacy.How we get to adultery and how lust affects our lives.Some suggestions to keep us from adultery and the Ten Commitments of Marriage.In the Seventh Commandment, God tells us that “You shall not commit adultery,” which brings us to The Principle of Intimacy. In Exodus 20:14, God warns us to not commit adultery, and the principle behind this commandment is The Principle of Intimacy, which helps us understand how to have intimacy with God and with our spouses.God created sex as a way to enjoy the pleasure and intimacy of marriage.Because of how sex can be abused, God warns us to flee from sexual immorality because it is a sin against ourselves. (1 Corinthians 6:18, Exodus 20:14)There is a process in getting to adultery, and the impact of lust greatly affects our lives.Lust precedes adultery.The word for lust is also used in the Bible with the meaning, “to have a passion for other things.”What are the negative impacts of lust in our lives?1st – Lust affects your relationship with God.The Bible uses different words for sin: transgression (action), iniquity (inward motivation). 2nd – Lust affects your relationships with the people in your life.“If we love each other, and we’re going to get married anyway, what difference does a piece of paper make?” It’s not the marriage license; it’s God’s blessing on your life that makes the difference.All sexual immorality opens the door to numerous sins (deception, manipulation, lying).Looking precedes lust.Don’t look at attractive people! (Genesis 39:6-7, Matthew 5:28, Job 31:1)Here are some suggestions to keep us from adultery, and there are Ten Commitments of Marriage that are helpful to follow.1st – Push the clock forward.2nd – Recognize your times of vulnerability. C.S. Lewis said, “The long, dull, monotonous years of middle-age prosperity are excellent campaigning weather for the devil.”3rd – Continue to work on your marriage.4th – Obey the Ten Commitments of Marriage. The Ten Commitments of Marriage1. You shall have no other human relationship before your spouse.2. Remember to date and keep it fresh.3. Remember your anniversary so your life may be long on the earth.4. You shall not be apathetic toward your marriage.5. You shall not search for old sweethearts on Social Media.6. You shall not ride in a car alone with a member of the opposite sex.7. You shall not eat alone with a member of the opposite sex.8. You shall not have a trainer that’s a member of the opposite sex.9. You shall not work late with members of the opposite sex.10. You shall not share intimate details of your marriage with a member of the opposite sex.To what degree are you willing to go to protect what is most important to you? Why not be extreme now instead of finding yourself in a place where you wished you had been extreme? We either have extreme regret or extreme standards.

Ten: Week SixThe Sixth Commandment – ForgivenessGod gave us the Ten Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this sixth commandment by examining: What it means to murder and The Principle of Forgiveness.The six stages that lead to murder.How unconditional forgiveness breaks the progression to murder.In the Sixth Commandment, God tells us that “You shall not murder,” and The Principle of Forgiveness will keep us from breaking this commandment. We don’t have the right to take another person’s life.The word “murder” in Hebrew means “a wrongful killing.” This is different from the Hebrew word “kill,” which is used in cases like capital punishment, war or self-defense.This leads us to the relationship principle behind this commandment, which is The Principle of Forgiveness. The ability to forgive will keep us from breaking the Sixth Commandment.There are six stages that lead to murder.1st Stage: Unconditional LoveIn John 13:34, Jesus tells us to love one another as He has loved us.Jesus uses the word “agape,” which means “seeking the highest good of the other person.”This is not an emotion; it’s a decision regardless of how you feel about a person.2nd Stage: Unconditional Love often leads to Unmet ExpectationsIn Luke 7, John the Baptist (Jesus’ cousin) is in prison where he will stay until he’s beheaded.In Luke 7:19, John questions Jesus because his feeling are hurt over his unmet expectations.3rd Stage: Unmet Expectations often lead to Unresolved OffensesIn Luke 7:22-23, Jesus replies with a blessing on those who don’t get offended because of Him.Unmet expectations create offenses in our relationships. With a spouse, employer or friend, we assume certain needs/wants will be met. When those expectations aren’t met, we get offended.4th Stage: Unresolved Offenses often lead to Unbridled AngerThe first murder in the Bible was because of anger, which is the story of Cain and Abel. (Genesis 4:3-5,8)It’s ok to feel angry, because we can’t control how we feel. But, it’s not ok to act on that anger because it can lead to sin. Our anger should never control us. (Ephesians 4:26)In Ephesians 4:26, Paul tells us to deal with our anger in a timely manner.5th Stage: Unbridled Anger often leads to Uncontrollable HateGenesis 37:4-5 tells the story of how Joseph’s brothers came to hate him.In Genesis 37:17-18, we see how that hate turned murderous.6th Stage: Uncontrollable Hate sometimes leads to MurderUnconditional forgiveness stops the progressive stages to murder.Hate can lead to murder, but forgiveness leads back to love. This is seen in the story of Jacob and Esau. (Genesis 27:41, Genesis 33:1, Genesis 33:4)If you have a problem giving forgiveness, you have a problem receiving forgiveness. (Matthew 10:8)If you feel like you have to earn forgiveness from God, you will make other people earn forgiveness from you.In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus tells us it goes beyond murder. He says that if anyone is angry with a brother or sister, he/she will be judged. Do your part and forgive and God will do His part and heal you.

Ten: Week FiveThe Fifth Commandment – HonorGod gave us the Ten Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this fifth commandment by examining: How the Fifth Commandment is a transitional commandment.The principle of honor.The benefits of honoring your parents.Some suggestions of ways to honor your parents.The Fifth Commandment is a transitional commandment. The first 4 Commandments are vertical, which is having to do with God. The last 6 Commandments are horizontal directives dealing with our relationships with each other.This helps us understand how our theology determines our ethics not the opposite.Put God in the rightful position in your life, and your ethics and behavior will fall in line.In Exodus 20:12, God chooses the parent-child relationship as a connective commandment bridging the first 4 Commandments (the relationship to God) and the last 6 Commandments (relationships with each other).To understand the Fifth Commandment, we must understand the principle of honor.In Exodus 20:12, the meaning of the word “honor” is much stronger than the word “respect.” To honor our parents, it should be reflected by our attitudes and our actions.Are you honoring your parents? No matter how worthy they are of honor, are you honoring them?There are benefits to honoring your parents.1. Longevity – “…so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:122. Stability – “…so that you may live long and that it may go well with you…” Deuteronomy 5:16 – We are to be subject and obedient to authority. (Romans 13:1-2, Luke 2:51-52)3. Sensibility – It’s just common sense. (Ephesians 6:1)4. Tranquility – There’s inner peace when you do life God’s way. (Colossians 3:20)Here are some suggestions of ways to honor your parents.1. You can honor your parents by loving them. It’s a demonstration. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)2. You honor your parents by cooperating with them or choosing to live under their authority. (Romans 13)3. You honor your parents by valuing them. (Your parents are smarter than you are.)4. You honor your parents by appreciating them. – Meet their needs.– Include them in special days.– Give them gifts.You can honor dishonorable people by forgiving them so that you can be set free from the hurt and anger. (Ephesians 4:26-7) Forgiving someone is a decision not an emotion. It’s for you not the person who hurt you because you’ll be free.

The weekend of Easter is the most important of our faith. We will learn about why Easter is the defining moment for christianity by examining: The historical worldview and implications.The various theories given for the question, “If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, how do I explain everything that’s happened?”How this impacts your life.How you take the next step.The historical perspective from a non-biblical worldview is frequently taught.Around 25 AD during political turmoil in Jerusalem, a teacher named Jesus of Nazareth came on the scene, gathered followers, stirred up the people and was put to death for treason by Rome.After Jesus’ death, several followers continued to spread His teachings.If that was it, how do you explain that over half of the world’s population believes that Jesus is the Son of God?This perspective doesn’t explain what happened historically, and it doesn’t explain what continues to happen for believers. (Acts 2)There are various theories given for the question, “If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, how do I explain everything that’s happened?” Someone stole the body (Matthew 27:62-65)1. Roman officials assigned soldiers, under penalty of death, to guard the tomb and seal the tomb. Matthew 28:1-152. Would you die for a hoax? Jesus’ disciples died for their belief that Jesus rose from the dead.3. There was no reason for a Jewish leader or a Roman official to steal the body and create a bigger problem for themselves.4. There were ten specific appearances by Jesus after the resurrection.The Hallucination Theory1. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:6 that 500 people saw Jesus alive at one time. Most of those people were still living at the time of his writing and could verify his statement.The Swoon Theory – Jesus didn’t really die but was just unconscious.1. Jesus could have never rolled away a two-ton stone after His ordeal of beatings and crucifixion.The Twin Brother Theory – It takes more faith to believe that than the resurrection.The implications of Jesus’ resurrection impacts your life. The fact that Jesus rose from the dead changed the world at the time of His resurrection, and it continues to change the lives of believers today.The implications of whether or not Jesus did rise from the dead changes how we live our lives. There has to be a response. If you’re at the “Something happened; what happened?” stage, take the next step and investigate. How do you take the next step? Find the Gospel of John and just start reading it. Get to know the story of Jesus. There’s not much to lose but a whole lot to gain.

The Week Before EasterThe final weekend before Easter is called Palm Sunday. We will learn about this time leading up to Easter by examining: The sequence of events during that last week.How Pilate tried to substitute Barabbas for Jesus.The interruption by Pilate’s wife.How God treated Jesus like Barabbas so He could treat Barabbas like Jesus.The week before Easter was a purposeful sequence of events. Matthew 21:9 describes the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem where the crowd cheered Him as the King who would free them from Rome. Rather, He came to free them from sin.On Monday, Jesus wept over the brokenness of the people and cleansed the temple.On Tuesday, Jesus did some teaching and Judas began his betrayal.On Thursday, Jesus celebrated the last supper and went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.On Friday, Jesus was crucified, died and was buried.Pilate tried to substitute Barabbas for Jesus. In Matthew 27:11-18, Pilate tries to gain Jesus’ freedom by having the people choose Jesus, an innocent man, to be released.Pilate offered a man named Jesus-Barabbas, which means “son of the father” in comparison to Jesus the Messiah who is the “Son of God.” Mark 15:7 shows how Barabbas was a known criminal deserving of punishment.Pilate’s wife tried to warn her husband to not hurt Jesus, an innocent man. In Matthew 27:19, Pilate’s wife tries to get her husband to have nothing to do with Jesus’ persecution because of a dream she had.There is a big contrast between the Jewish leaders who are wanting Jesus’ death and a Gentile woman who believes that Jesus is truly innocent.God sent a warning through Pilate’s wife, but he didn’t listen.God treated Jesus like Barabbas so He could treat Barabbas like Jesus.In Matthew 27:20-23, the chief priests and elders persuade the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. (Luke 23:16)In Matthew 27:24-26, Pilate washes his hands of the responsibility. Instead of doing what was right, he releases Barabbas and gives Jesus to the leaders to be flogged and crucified. John Stott says, “For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be; God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be.”We can substitute our names into the equation. For God so loved _______ (John 3:16)God treated Jesus like _______ (our names) so He could treat _______ (our names) like Jesus.

Ten: Week FourThe Fourth Commandment - RestGod gave us the 10 Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this fourth commandment by examining: How resting gives God the opportunity to provide for us supernaturally.How resting gives us the opportunity to be refreshed.That there are consequences when we don’t trust.That there are blessings when we do rest.Resting gives God the opportunity to provide for us supernaturally. Exodus 20:8 says, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”Sabbath is a Saturday, but Christians worship on Sunday because Jesus rose from the dead on the 1st day of the week. Exodus 20:8-11, which is the longest commandment, teaches the Principle of Rest.We don’t keep the 10 Commandments to be saved. (Ephesians 2:8-9) But, there are blessings if we keep them.In Exodus 16:23-30, God showed how He would provide for the Israelites day by day as long as they trusted in Him.The Jewish people were to remember and observe the Sabbath day. (Deuteronomy 7:12)While in slavery, the Israelites were never given rest, but God loved and rescued them. (Deuteronomy 7:8)Resting gives us the opportunity to be refreshed.The Sabbath was a great sign to the world because no other nation before Israel rested one day a week. (Exodus 31:14-17)On the seventh day after creating everything, God breathed in, and He rested and was refreshed. (Exodus 31:17, Genesis 1:3, Genesis 2:7) If God refreshes Himself, why don’t you?There are consequences when we don’t rest.In Numbers 15:32-36, a man was sentenced to death for breaking the Sabbath. Four things in the Old Testament incurred the death penalty: murder, not keeping the Sabbath, adultery and rebellious children.Is it possible that you’re killing yourself by not resting one day a week?In 2 Chronicles 36:20-21, the Israelites went 490 years without letting the land rest every seventh year. This added up to 70 missed Sabbaths, which is how long they were in captivity, 70 years. There are blessings when we do rest.In Mark 2:23-27, Jesus explains that the Sabbath was made for man not as a legalistic rule with God.There’s an old Jewish saying, “More than Israel has kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept Israel.” If you don’t rest one day a week, you’re not trusting God, and the principle of rest is a gift from God.

Ten: Week ThreeThe Third Commandment - HumilityGod gave us the 10 Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this third commandment by examining: Why God would be so concerned that we don’t misuse His name.Three ways that we sometimes misuse God’s name.How we can use God’s name in a positive way and how it comes back to grace.Why would God be so concerned that we don’t misuse His name?Exodus 20:7 says, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”God’s name is His character. It’s who He is. The name of God is synonymous with the person and character of God. In the Lord’s prayer, “hallowed be Thy name” means “to be set apart, holy.”“Yahweh” is used almost 7,000 times in the Old Testament and means, “He who caused existence; He who has always existed.”Israel went into exile in 586 B.C. after they misused and profaned God’s name. (Ezekiel 36:20-23)“Misuse” means “lift up or carry.” God is saying in the third commandment that “You shall not carry my name in a vain, empty, worthless or prideful way,” which teaches the principle of humility.” We need to make sure we carry the name of “Christian” with humility by honoring what that name means.The name of God is interchangeable for the person of God throughout the Bible. (Proverbs 18:10, Psalm 20:7, Romans 10:13)We misuse God’s name in three common ways. We misuse God’s name when we pray with the wrong motive. (James 4:3)We misuse God’s name when we speak for God.(Leviticus 19:12, Jeremiah 23:25, Ezekiel 22:28)We misuse God’s name when the use of His name doesn’t honor Him.We can use God’s name in a positive way, and it all comes back to grace.We can praise God’s name and give Him gratitude. (Psalm 44:8, Psalm 100:4, Psalm 113:3)In the second part of the third commandment, God says that He will not leave anyone “guiltless” or “unpunished” who misuses His name. We’ve all misused God’s name before, but it’s important to remember how holy and reverent God’s name is. Jesus took on our sin and took our punishment for us. (2 Corinthians 5:21) The Ten Commandments are all about grace because God is such a God of grace.

The Second Commandment - PurityGod gave us the 10 Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this second commandment by examining: The Israelites’ new home and how it affected their relationship to God.The principle behind the second commandment, which is purity.The blessings of purity.The Israelites left slavery to enter a pagan land, and God instructed His people to distance themselves from that.In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus answered the religious leaders when asked about how to sum up the Old Testament. He said to love God more than anything, which is the point of the first four commandments. He also said to “love your neighbor as yourself,” which is the point of the last six commandments.In Deuteronomy 18:9-15, God told the Israelites to not follow the pagan rituals and beliefs of their new homeland in Canaan. God would raise up a prophet for them.- Psalm 106:37 describes how the Canaanites sacrificed their sons and daughters to false gods.- Acts 3:22 says that Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy found in Deuteronomy 18:14-15.God created His people to be in relationship with Him. The relationship principle behind the 2nd Commandment is “The principle of Purity.”Exodus 20:4 says, “You shall not make for yourself an image (idol) in the form of anything in heaven above or on earth below.”Israel was the only nation on the planet at that time in history who didn’t worship images of their God. He was the invisible God, and Jesus is the embodiment of that (Colossians 1:15). The Israelites were tempted by their environment and began making idols and worshiping other gods (Judges 3:7 and 1 Kings 18:19). Satan tempted and deceived people into thinking an image could have power by the fact that God made man in His image with His Spirit in man (Genesis 1:26). You are the image of God on Earth, and God puts His Spirit in you.When you begin to imagine yourself in a situation other than what God has provided for you, you have an idol, and you’re never content as a result.Exodus 20:5 says, “You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing (visiting) the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me…”The Hebrew word for “punishing” can be translated as “visiting” throughout the Old Testament. The sin of the parents would affect the lives of children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc. in multigenerational homes. A good “jealous” is when you love someone so much that you don’t want anything bad to happen to him/her.In Ezekiel 18:13-17, God says that a son will no longer die for the sins of his father. There are blessings from living a life of purity.The ending of Exodus 20:5-6 says, “…but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”Deuteronomy 7:9 says that God is showing His love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.We often read the Old Testament and only see judgement, law and rules, but it’s all for relationship. God wants to have a pure relationship with us.

The First CommandmentGod gave us the 10 Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this first commandment by examining:How the 10 Commandments are about relationships.Why the Israelites (us) try and keep a distance with God.The Principle of Priority.God gave us the 10 Commandments to teach us about relationships. In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus answered the religious leaders when asked about how to sum up the Old Testament. He said to love God more than anything, which is the point of the first four commandments. He also said to “love your neighbor as yourself,” which is the point of the last six commandments.In Exodus 20:1-3, God reminded the Israelites that He is their Lord, and He brought them out of Egypt. He freed them from slavery.Paul says that Jesus frees us from being slaves to sin in Romans 6:6.In Exodus 20:18-20, the Israelites kept their distance while Moses approached God.Moses and the Israelites wanted to have a deeper relationship with God, but the Israelites wanted that relationship through Moses not themselves.The people were afraid that they would die in God’s Presence (Exodus 20:19). Our “old self” always dies in the Presence of God. When the “old self” dies, Jesus can live through us.Moses not only knew what God did but why He did it (Psalm 103:7), which can only happen through relationship.The relationship principle behind the 1st Commandment is “The principle of Priority.” Exodus 20:3 says, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” God is not saying that you can have other gods but just make Him first. The word “before” can be translated as “besides” (Isaiah 45:5). It could say, “There is no god besides Me.”When we put others first, we put God first.This principle runs throughout Scripture. The Israelites gave their first and their best to God.In the story of Cain and Able (Genesis 4:3-5), Cain gave some of his fruits for offering while Able gave his first and his best to God.Jesus speaks of this principle in Matthew 6:31-33 when He tells us to seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness.When we put God first, the rest falls into place. In 1 Kings 17:12-17, God provided for the woman who put Him first. We can share in that same blessing if we put Him first in our lives.

God has given us timeless traditions and elements to practice that bring us into a closer relationship with Him. Being God-centered or having trust is the last in this series. We will study this truth through questions and key points. What would my life look like if God was the center?In Luke 5:1-11, Jesus teaches His disciples a valuable lesson about trust.God will never take anything from us that He doesn’t replace with something better.Life can only be experienced to the fullest when we trust in God.What would my life look like if God was at the center of every area of my life? Instead of letting God be the center, we often argue with God rather than just trusting Him.Sometimes, we get so focused on the risk that we miss the goodness and faithfulness of God.What do you want out of life? Who’s smarter? Who fulfills those needs better? Jesus said in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”In Luke 5:1-11, Jesus proved His trustworthiness and called His disciples to a different life. Jesus performed a miracle by nearly sinking the boats of the fishermen with such a large catch after they had fished all night with nothing to show for it.This is God’s pattern for our lives:1. Jesus gives us evidence of His trustworthiness.2. Then, He asks us to trust in Him.3. We weigh the risks and choose to trust Him or not.When God asks us to trust Him, the only thing we’re sure of is what’s in our hand. But, trust is making the leap without knowing the results. God will never take anything from us that He doesn’t replace with something better.God waits for us to trust Him and make the first move.It’s really not about our stuff or the substitutes we acquire to try and bring fulfillment to our lives; it’s about whether we believe God is trustworthy.Life can only be experienced to the fullest when we trust in God.You have a loving Heavenly Father who has your best interest in mind.To be obedient and follow Him will cost you, but not to obey and follow will cost you far, far more.When you choose to trust, your fear will intersect with God’s faithfulness, and you’ll experience God like never before.

God has given us timeless traditions and elements to practice that bring us into a closer relationship with Him. In this fourth week of our series, we’ll look at stewardship and generosity by studying:The difference between member vs mission The parable of the mina in Luke 19 The Mina Project for our communityAt Hope, we want to be on mission instead of just being members.A question for a member is, “What are they doing for me?”A question for someone on mission is, “What am I doing or giving to others?”Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…”God has given us three ways to invest in His Kingdom:Time – spending our time wiselyTalents – the ways in which God has gifted each individualMoney – handling what God has entrusted to you because it ultimately belongs to Him (Job 41:11, Exodus 19:5, Psalm 24:1)In Luke 19:11-15, Jesus shares the story of the parable of the mina.There were five elements to the story:There’s a man of noble birth.There’s a group of servants.There’s a certain money given to the servants.There are specific instructions given.There’s accountability for the servants. (The servant who hid the mina away was declared wicked when what he did was measured against what he could have done.) There are a couple lessons in this parable as it relates to us as stewards of what we’ve been given.When we invest in God’s Kingdom, it’s an investment of His resources not ours.We will ultimately give an account to God for how we manage His resources. (1 Timothy 6:17-19)The Mina Project is an initiative where Hope invests resources in our community through our people.Every person over 18 gets an envelope with money inside to invest it, grow it and cultivate it. Grow it and return it on the weekend of April 18 & 19.In John 17, Jesus gives us the Lord’s Prayer in which He prayed for three things:Jesus prays for Himself. Jesus prays for His disciples.Jesus prays for us.To Reach the Triangle and Change the World, all gospel-centered churches must be unified around the gospel.Our goal is to make sure that every man, woman and child have multiple opportunities to see, hear and respond to the gospel.Send these notes to me

God has given us timeless traditions and elements to practice that bring us into a closer relationship with Him. In this third week of our series, we’ll study the church service by examining:How society views church serviceWhat the Bible says about church serviceHow we should approach church serviceSociety’s views of church service have changed dramatically over recent years.The statistics are sobering: 49% of Baby Boomers, 46% of Generation X, 35% of Millennials attend church twice a month. Outside of Northern America and Europe where christianity is often oppressed, church service is thriving.As an American Christian, we are deeply affected by a distrust of man-made institutions and by consumerism.The Bible explains the meaning and significance of church service.In Hebrews 10:19-25, the author helps us understand through two phrases he repeats three times each: “we have” and “let us.”“We have” 1. “…we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place…”2. “…we have a great priest over the house of God…”3. “…having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water…”“Let us”1. “…let us draw near to God…”2. “…let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess…”3. “…let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together…”In Ephesians 4:14-16, Paul tells us how to grow so that we aren’t immature infants in our faith.Without intentional faith-building togetherness, it’s nearly impossible to live and progress in our spiritual walk.There are things we can do to be intentional in our approach to church service.Show up early.Show up often.Show up to the same service.Show up with a plan.Show up expecting.

God has given us timeless traditions and elements to practice that bring us into a closer relationship with Him. This week we’re studying baptism, which includes:1. The truths that baptism symbolizea. We are forgiven of sinb. The old self has diedc. We are a new creation2. The tension between what God says is true and our lived reality3. The battle to believe and the weapon of baptismIn Romans 6, Paul explains what baptism is all about and what it symbolizes.Some people think that being saved lets them go on sinning because they have been forgiven in the past, present and future. Paul emphatically says the opposite.Romans 6:1-11 When we believe in Jesus, we give our lives to Him, and the following three things happens:All of our sins, mess-ups and mistakes are fully forgiven.Our old, sinful self dies, and our connection to sin is severed.We become a new creation in Christ.2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”Baptism symbolizes our death to sin when we go down into the water, and it symbolizes our new life as a new creation when we come up out of the water.The tension between what God says is true and the reality we live can seem to be in conflict. (Romans 8)God has killed our old, sinful nature and made us a new creation in Him. Our old self seems to have power over us trying to bring us back to our sinful desires, but it’s dead. It just doesn’t know it yet. Our battle to believe follows us throughout our new lives and baptism is a weapon to help in this fight.The parts of ourselves that want to go on sinning even though we are new creations make it feel like a battle of belief is being waged.In this battle, we radically overestimate the power of sin and radically underestimate the power of the Spirit. We can choose to believe that God can and will free us from our sin when we live in faith. 1 John 3:5-9 “But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning… No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed (or Spirit) remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.”This means that God is actively changing us, and we don’t have to live in habitual sin forever. These promises give us Hope.Philippians 1:6 “I am confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”We are commanded to be baptized because it is a powerful weapon in the battle of belief.Baptism grounds us as a reminder of how we died to sin and arose a new creation in Christ. If you are ready to take your next step and be baptized, click here to sign up to talk to an area pastor. Our next baptism weekend is on Feb. 22 & 23. Send these notes to me

Communion: Luke 22God has given us timeless traditions and elements to practice that bring us into a closer relationship with Him. The first we’ll study is communion by examining:The historical beginnings of communionThe symbolic meaning of communionThe significance of communion in our livesIn Luke 22:14-18, Jesus began the practice of communion with his disciples based on the Jewish Passover meal. The Passover meal was a yearly celebration that all the Israelites did in remembrance of their captivity and escape from slavery in Egypt.God sent Moses to free His people from slavery by unleashing ten plagues.The last was the plague of the firstborn where the angel of death struck down every firstborn male whether animal or human.The Israelites escaped this by putting the blood of a lamb on their doorposts so the angel would pass over and spare them.In Luke 22:19-20, Jesus gave us the two symbolic elements of communion, the bread and the wine. The Bread The bread is a symbol representing his body that He sacrificed for us.As we take the bread, we are to remember Jesus’ suffering when He died for us.The WineGod established a covenant with Israel sealed in the blood of sacrificial animals.Exodus 24:3-8The people couldn’t live up to the commandments of the covenant so Jesus came to live a sinless life as the ultimate sacrifice. The wine signifies how Jesus shed His blood and established a new covenant for us by becoming the perfect sacrifice.Communion carries significance in our lives by reminding us of what Jesus did for us and what we have in Him. God used the two elements we need to survive, bread and water, as the symbols of His saving grace.They are given to us just as God’s grace is given, not to be earned by works but by faith.We have freedom because we have been forgiven from sin, and we don’t have to live a life of shame any longer.Communion reminds us that Jesus came to give us life, an abundant life, so we take it in remembrance of Him and what He did for us.Send these notes to me

Three gifts that the Father gives each one of us as His children:A robeA ringSandalsGod has given us a robe to put on every day. (Isaiah 61:10)The robe the Father has given us is a robe of righteousness. (Zechariah 3:3-4, Isaiah 64:6)God removes our sin and covers us with a robe of righteousness. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, God not only removes my sin, but He also covers my shame. (Isaiah 61:10)Are you wearing your robe the Father gave you? (Colossians 3:12-14)The Father gave the son a ring. (Genesis 41:42-43)The ring represents authority in the Bible. We don’t have authority on our own; we have authority because God gave us authority. (Matthew 21: 23-31)Why do we need authority? (Matthew 28:18-19)If we are going to “Reach the Triangle and change the world," it will require us to live and operate under the same authority.We also need authority because there is a spiritual battle going on, but God has given us authority over satan and his demons.(James 4:7, 1 John 4:4, 1 Peter 5:9)How do you stand firm in your faith? You learn to apply God’s Word and you live out what you learn.You spend time in prayer.You get into a small group.You’ve been given the authority to resist satan’s power, but you have to wear the ring of authority that the Father gave you. The Father gave the son shoes (Ruth 4:7, Deuteronomy 25:8-10)Taking off your shoes means you’re giving up your rights.What are the benefits of putting on shoes?Shoes protect us. (Ephesians 6:13-15)Shoes give us confidence.Shoes give us freedom.When Jesus died for our sins, it was His way of saying, “Welcome home - this is where you belong.”

The story of the Prodigal Son is a story about two sons, both with issues and it’s also the story about a father who loved them both unconditionally. (Luke 15:1-3, 21-25, and 29-30)Three affects of Older Brother Syndrome: It affects how we see ourselves (Luke 15:29 and Luke 18:9-14) It affects how we see others (Luke 7:36-43, 47 and James 2:10)It affects how we see the Father (Luke 15:11-12 and Luke 15:31, Galatians 1:1, 1 Corinthians 15:9, Ephesians 3:8, 1 Timothy 1:15 and 1 Corinthians 2:2)Symptoms of Older Brother Syndrome: You’d rather judge people than help people You’re disappointed when people don’t get what you think they deserve You’re angry when it appears that God blesses others more than youYou often say, “I would never do that,” even though, deep down inside you’d like toIf you don’t think you’re as bad as others, you’re not going to be as grateful as others.Our mission at Hope is to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus. Let’s work hard at extending our arms to the broken people around us.

We began last week addressing the question, “Why would we, as Christians, ever leave home, go prodigal?”Phases on going prodigal:The Delirious Phase (Luke 15:13)The Destructive Phase ( Luke 15:14-17)The Decision Phase (Luke 15:18)After going prodigal, how do we return home?If you want to return home, you have to come clean with the Father. (Luke 15:17-20)No matter how much you screw up, the Father never runs out of grace, forgiveness and love for you!After returning home, how do we stay home?If you want to stay home, you have to come clean with yourself.Is there an area in your life where you’re giving Satan an opening?There are openings in our lives where we allow Satan to roam free and lure us down from the cross:Secrets -(John 12:4-6, Malachi 3:8)If you have a secret, the best thing you can do is shed light on it and get it out into the open.When you shed light on your secret, you close that opening in your life for Satan to work. (James 5:16)Sin – (Luke 15:13)If you have sin in your life that you are not tolerating, it’s an openingDo you have sin in your life that you’re tolerating? Shame (Hebrews 12:2)You have a choice to make:Ignore your secrets, sin and shame or go before God and say:1 – God, I’m coming clean with You about what I did wrong and I claim Your forgiveness and by your grace, mercy it won’t happen again.2 – I’m coming clean with myself. I’m closing the openings that have allowed the enemy to roam freely in my life. Claim the promise of Romans 8:1.The only alternative is a defeated, prodigal life.

Mike Lee shares the first message in our series entitled Lost & Found at Hope Community Church on Jan. 4 & 5.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the fifth message in our series entitled Life Lessons at Hope Community Church on Dec. 14 & Dec. 15. Over the course of King David’s long, crazy life, he made plenty of mistakes—many of which ended in disaster. But by the end of his life, he finally learned to trust God, no matter what the circumstances. In this series, we’re taking a look at a few different episodes from David’s life, including some lesser known stories, in order to examine that process of developing wisdom.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the fourth message in our series entitled Life Lessons at Hope Community Church on Dec. 7 & Dec. 8. Over the course of King David’s long, crazy life, he made plenty of mistakes—many of which ended in disaster. But by the end of his life, he finally learned to trust God, no matter what the circumstances. In this series, we’re taking a look at a few different episodes from David’s life, including some lesser known stories, in order to examine that process of developing wisdom.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the third message in our series entitled Life Lessons at Hope Community Church on Nov. 30 & Dec. 1. Over the course of King David’s long, crazy life, he made plenty of mistakes—many of which ended in disaster. But by the end of his life, he finally learned to trust God, no matter what the circumstances. In this series, we’re taking a look at a few different episodes from David’s life, including some lesser known stories, in order to examine that process of developing wisdom.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the second message in our series entitled Life Lessons at Hope Community Church on Nov. 23 & 24. Over the course of King David’s long, crazy life, he made plenty of mistakes—many of which ended in disaster. But by the end of his life, he finally learned to trust God, no matter what the circumstances. In this series, we’re taking a look at a few different episodes from David’s life, including some lesser known stories, in order to examine that process of developing wisdom.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the first message in our series entitled Fear at Hope Community Church on Nov. 16 & 17. Over the course of King David’s long, crazy life, he made plenty of mistakes—many of which ended in disaster. But by the end of his life, he finally learned to trust God, no matter what the circumstances. In this series, we’re taking a look at a few different episodes from David’s life, including some lesser known stories, in order to examine that process of developing wisdom.

Pastor Donnie Peters shared the third and final message in our series entitled Fear at Hope Community Church on Nov. 9 & 10. How often does fear hold you back? Does it prevent you from trying new things or feeling comfortable in your own life? Fear can be powerful, but it doesn’t have to control you. Join us for our new series and learn how to recognize when fear is getting in your way, as well as how you can rise above it to live a fuller, more joyful life.

Pastor Donnie Peters shared the first message in our series entitled Fear at Hope Community Church on Nov. 2 & 3. How often does fear hold you back? Does it prevent you from trying new things or feeling comfortable in your own life? Fear can be powerful, but it doesn’t have to control you. Join us for our new series and learn how to recognize when fear is getting in your way, as well as how you can rise above it to live a fuller, more joyful life.

Pastor Donnie Peters shared the first message in our series entitled Fear at Hope Community Church on Oct. 26 & 27. How often does fear hold you back? Does it prevent you from trying new things or feeling comfortable in your own life? Fear can be powerful, but it doesn’t have to control you. Join us for our new series and learn how to recognize when fear is getting in your way, as well as how you can rise above it to live a fuller, more joyful life.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the seventh message in our series entitled House of Cards at Hope Community Church on Oct. 19 & 20. Most of us want our public image to look as successful as possible—fun job, exciting social life, comfortable marriage, etc. But, behind the scenes, our lives can be messy and as fragile as a house of cards. One wrong move, and the illusion of that persona falls apart. How do we stop worrying about our image? How do we start feeling comfortable in our real lives? Join us for our series, House of Cards, as we shine a light on the illusions we create and learn how to leave them behind.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the sixth message in our series entitled House of Cards at Hope Community Church on Oct. 12 & 13. Most of us want our public image to look as successful as possible—fun job, exciting social life, comfortable marriage, etc. But, behind the scenes, our lives can be messy and as fragile as a house of cards. One wrong move, and the illusion of that persona falls apart. How do we stop worrying about our image? How do we start feeling comfortable in our real lives? Join us for our series, House of Cards, as we shine a light on the illusions we create and learn how to leave them behind.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the fifth message in our series entitled House of Cards at Hope Community Church on Oct. 5 & 6. Most of us want our public image to look as successful as possible—fun job, exciting social life, comfortable marriage, etc. But, behind the scenes, our lives can be messy and as fragile as a house of cards. One wrong move, and the illusion of that persona falls apart. How do we stop worrying about our image? How do we start feeling comfortable in our real lives? Join us for our series, House of Cards, as we shine a light on the illusions we create and learn how to leave them behind.

Pastors Donnie Peters and Heather Sullivan shared the fourth message in our series entitled House of Cards at Hope Community Church on Sept. 28 & 29. Most of us want our public image to look as successful as possible—fun job, exciting social life, comfortable marriage, etc. But, behind the scenes, our lives can be messy and as fragile as a house of cards. One wrong move, and the illusion of that persona falls apart. How do we stop worrying about our image? How do we start feeling comfortable in our real lives? Join us for our series, House of Cards, as we shine a light on the illusions we create and learn how to leave them behind.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the third message in our series entitled House of Cards at Hope Community Church on Sept. 21 & 22. Most of us want our public image to look as successful as possible—fun job, exciting social life, comfortable marriage, etc. But, behind the scenes, our lives can be messy and as fragile as a house of cards. One wrong move, and the illusion of that persona falls apart. How do we stop worrying about our image? How do we start feeling comfortable in our real lives? Join us for our series, House of Cards, as we shine a light on the illusions we create and learn how to leave them behind.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the second message in our series entitled House of Cards at Hope Community Church on Sept. 14 & Sept. 15. Most of us want our public image to look as successful as possible—fun job, exciting social life, comfortable marriage, etc. But, behind the scenes, our lives can be messy and as fragile as a house of cards. One wrong move, and the illusion of that persona falls apart. How do we stop worrying about our image? How do we start feeling comfortable in our real lives? Join us for our series, House of Cards, as we shine a light on the illusions we create and learn how to leave them behind.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the first message in our series entitled House of Cards at Hope Community Church on Sept. 7 & Sept. 8. Most of us want our public image to look as successful as possible—fun job, exciting social life, comfortable marriage, etc. But, behind the scenes, our lives can be messy and as fragile as a house of cards. One wrong move, and the illusion of that persona falls apart. How do we stop worrying about our image? How do we start feeling comfortable in our real lives? Join us for our series, House of Cards, as we shine a light on the illusions we create and learn how to leave them behind.