Shows
Living HopeSamson: From Strength to WeaknessJudges 16:22-31
Samson gets remembered as a great Bible hero. His miraculous strength from God is legendary. But if you really look at who Samson was you quickly realize he was kind of a dud. He was a letdown of a judge. He could have been great. But he was selfish and lustful and worldly. He didn’t live up to his potential. He had to lose his strength in order to remember where his true strength was found.
We may have more in common with Samson than we care to admit. But, like him, no matter how far we fa...
2020-09-0623 min
Living HopeJephthah: God's Deliverance Comes No Strings AttachedJudges 11:1-11, 29-40
The account of Jephthah is simply tragic. The worst part is that the tragedy Jephthah self-inflicts on himself with a rash oath was completely unnecessary and uncalled for. God was going to bring deliverance to Israel apart from anything Jephthah gave up or sacrificed.
Jephthah’s folly can be a loud warning siren to us - that we never attach strings to God’s no-strings-attached deliverance in Christ. The only necessary sacrifice was made for our sins so that none of our stories have to end in tragedy. They end in victory.
2020-08-3028 min
Living HopeGideon: In Search of ConfidenceJudges 6:11-16, 36-40
Are you someone who struggles with a lack of self-confidence? You're probably not alone. Many struggle with a low self-esteem.
The judge, Gideon, struggled with a lack of confidence. But the Lord did for Gideon what he also does for you. He values you highly and fills you with confidence by pointing you to himself and who he declares you to be in Christ!
2020-08-2322 min
Living HopeBarak: Fear Makes Way for FaithJudges 4:1-16, 23-24
What's the proper Christian response to coronavirus? There's multiple correct answers to this question - as long as faith, not fear, is the determining factor.
Listen and learn how God took Barak out of fear's grip and taught him to let faith control his actions.
2020-08-1628 min
Living HopeEhud: The Cripple Delivers the Crippling BlowJudges 3:12-30
Ehud probably wasn't the kind of savior the Israelites expected God to send. Ehud was most likely a cripple. He didn't look like a great hero. But God used a cripple to deliver the crippling blow to Israel's evil overlord, King Eglon.
Jesus may not be the kind of Savior we had in mind either. But by crippling himself and becoming a servant and dying on the cross, Jesus our broken Savior won an eternal victory for us, his people.
2020-08-0925 min
Living HopeHigher EducationMatthew 13:24-30, 36-43
The parable of the wheat and the weeds gives us a glimpse of judgment day but it also gives us a glimpse of our God’s grace. Pursuing a “higher education” in God’s Word will help us learn to be blessings in the world and give us a leg up on the surrounding “weeds.” And our education in the Word also reveals that we get to be wheat gathered into God’s arms.
2020-08-0220 min
Living HopeThe Sower Knows What He's DoingMatthew 13:1-9, 18-23
The parable of the sower and the seed is well-known. But have you ever stopped to think about how bad at sowing seed the farmer in that parable was? The sower doesn’t look like he knows what he’s doing. He threw a bunch of seeds on the path, on the rocks, and in the thorns! How hard can it be to avoid those places! Just throw the seed on the good soil, right?
But we’re thankful that God still chooses to throw his seed of the Word into our hearts that often look very path-l...
2020-07-2625 min
Living HopeGod ReignsPsalm 99
God is not just your run-of-the-mill ruler. He doesn’t reign over a nation but all nations. God is far holier and mightier than the best earthly ruler. God rules with perfect justice and equity. God reigns for you.
While God may seem too lofty, too holy, too strong, and too just for us to approach him, we know he uses all his best qualities to serve us. We know because he sent us his Son to prove it. Our God who is lofty and holy above all stoops down into an intimate relationship with us, his subjects.
2020-07-1924 min
Living HopeGod PreservesMatthew 10:24-33
The pep-talk Jesus gives his disciples, and us, before sending us out as his proclaimers might sound a little sobering. He's honest with us about the dangers and persecutions we may face.
But Jesus comforts and assures us that God is on our side. He will preserve and protect us. Three times here Jesus tells us "Don't be afraid." Trust those words as you carry out God's mission.
2020-07-1225 min
Living HopeGod SendsMatthew 9:35-10:8
"Here am I. Send me!" Those words may not come easily to our lips. But the God who sends his only Son to bring forgiveness to harassed and helpless sinners is sending us.
The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. What a privilege to be one of those few - out on the front lines bringing good news to a hurting world.
2020-07-0524 min
Living HopeGod CallsMatthew 9:9-13
Matthew the tax collector wasn't a guy who seemed like he would well represent the Messiah. But Jesus called Matthew and Matthew followed.
And God says something to us in the calling of Matthew. "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." That's the best news we sinners could hope to hear!
2020-06-2822 min
Living HopeGod Speaks1 Kings 22:10-28
God speaks, we listen. Except sometimes we'd rather not. Sometimes God lays out some inconvenient truths we'd rather not hear.
God tells it like it is...but he also speaks words of grace and hope. God has some very good things to speak to us. Let's open our ears to listen.
2020-06-2127 min
Living HopeGod PlansProverbs 16:1-9
God plans and God carries out his plans.
That's a truth we struggle with.
That's a truth we rejoice in.
That's a truth we plot our course by.
The one who planned and carried out our salvation is the one we want directing our whole lives with his love.
2020-06-1422 min
Living HopeThe New Operating SystemMatthew 28:16-20
When Jesus gave his "Great Commission" to his disciples he also commissioned us to go make disciples too. Take a look at the purpose and the promises Jesus gave his people for this new operating system
2020-06-0725 min
Living HopeThe Holy Spirit UpgradeActs 2:1-21
Our world needs a reboot. Not just a reboot to get us out of pandemic or the current problems of racism...We all need a gospel reboot.
God gave his New Testament Church a reboot on the day of Pentecost. He gave his Holy Spirit upgrade to us. Now we get to be messengers, bringing the gospel reboot to a hurting, confused world.
2020-05-3126 min
Living HopeA Victory to Share With All PeopleLuke 24:44-53
40 days after Jesus rose from the dead he ascended into heaven. But we might have a problem with the ascension. We probably wish Jesus could have just stayed here with us!
But Jesus' ascension is a victory. It's a joyful day. Listen in to hear why we can say that.
2020-05-2424 min
Living HopeVictory No Matter What Happens In This Life2 Corinthians 4:13-18
Our eyes tend to be fixated on the problems, worries, and stresses that face us each day. We can't ignore them - but we don't have to fix our eyes on them.
We fix our eyes on Christ and the eternal glory he's prepared for us through his resurrection. When we zoom out on the big picture of God's grace we can even view our earthly struggles as light and momentary. No matter what happens in this life, God gives us victory!
2020-05-1725 min
Living HopeVictorious Living: Empowered by Christ's Love1 John 3:13-18
Easter victory empowers the way we live. Christ's love shines through us in word and deed. From the big sacrificial acts of laying down your life for someone to the small everyday acts of kindness you share, love is something that naturally flows from a Christian.
2020-05-1024 min
Living HopeVictory Over HeartbreakLuke 24:13-35
If Easter joy seems to be fading by now and the heartbreaking reality of life in a pandemic is setting in - don't give up hope. Heartbreak of all kinds will be an ongoing reality in this world but God's Word can be your source of burning hope, just like it was for the Emmaus disciples. If Jesus lives, hope lives!
2020-05-0423 min
Living HopeVictory Over SkepticismJohn 20:19-31
Thomas was a true skeptic. He doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead. He demanded undeniable proof if he was going to believe.
We might feel like we're in a similar spot as Thomas. We're skeptical of things we can't verify with our own senses. We might be skeptical right now about God's control and skeptical about his promise of peace for us.
But today Jesus offers proof that leads to peace and gives victory over skepticism.
2020-04-2624 min
Living HopeSing Your Victory SongRevelation 5:11-14
Singing is a hard thing to do right now. Things look more hopeless than they did last week. Victory seems far away. Suffering and trouble are right at hand and don't look like they'll be going away anytime soon. How can we sing right now? How can Chattanooga celebrate victory right now?
God gives us a picture of a victory celebration today to set our eyes on things above and not on earthly things. We get to hear the victory song of the Lamb. It might seem like a distant far-off song but the song's message has already...
2020-04-1922 min
Living HopeVictorious!...and UnafraidMatthew 28:1-10
Fear was a common theme running through the resurrection account. Just read this section from Matthew. Life for the Christian, even after Christ's resurrection, is one defined by fear mixed with joy. The time we're in right now proves that.
But the risen Lord dispels fears. Your joy can be so much greater than your fear. We may not be immune to fear but we've conquered it through Christ!
2020-04-1222 min
Living HopeSomeone to Rule Us in RighteousnessPalm Sunday-Matthew 21:1-11
God continues his perfect line-up for getting us through pandemic today. Palm Sunday reminds us that Jesus, our king, is in control. He brings peace. He gives us a reason to shout "Hosanna!" even today. Jesus is the king we need right now.
2020-04-0525 min
Living HopeSomeone to Defeat DeathJohn 11:17-27, 38-45
Now more than ever we need Jesus. Death has made its way onto headlines worldwide as the COVID-19 epidemic spreads.
We need Jesus, the one who defeats death. We see him doing this as he raises his friend Lazarus from the dead. And best of all he reminds us that he is "the resurrection and the life." This is the story we need to hear right now.
2020-03-2921 min
Living HopeSomeone to Suffer for UsMatthew 20:17-28
When crisis hits, humanity has a tendency to have an "everyone for themselves" mentality.
But Christians are different. We're called to be suffering servants, putting others first. Because Christ, THE suffering servant put us and our salvation first.
2020-03-2222 min
Living HopeSomeone to Meet Our NeedsJohn 9:1-7, 13-17, 34-39
You know we have to talk it about it. Everyone else is. Coronavirus. It's here.
But with eyes of faith we live in hope. We know that God gives us someone to meet our needs. Jesus doesn't just meet our physical needs. He meets our even deeper spiritual needs, just like he did for a man in Jerusalem who was blind from birth.
2020-03-1521 min
Living HopeSomeone to Seek Us When We're LostJohn 4:4-26
When someone launches a search and rescue mission they do everything they can to find the ones they’re looking for. They don’t give up, no matter the obstacles!
In John 4, Jesus bursts through social, cultural, and spiritual barriers to rescue a Samaritan woman from her past and to give her an eternal future. Jesus lets nothing stand in his way.
And he does the same for us. He pulls us from the rubble and fills us with living water.
2020-03-0823 min
Living HopeSomeone to Withstand TemptationHebrews 4:14-16
We know what we want. The conveyor belt of temptation is always running in front of us. It parades sinful desires and sinful attitudes within arm's reach. And so often we reach for and take what we want. It's the same old story.
We need someone to withstand temptation. Someone who can also show us the way to God's throne where we can receive help in time of need.
2020-03-0121 min
Living HopeGiven A Trust1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Here's the perfect bookend to our "Upside Down Wisdom" series.
Because we've had the mystery of salvation revealed to us we're given a call to action. We're given a trust. We're called to be faithful managers of this message. It's a big responsibility. Are we up for it? Can we do it?
2020-02-2323 min
Living HopeAll is Mine?1 Corinthians 3:10, 11, 16-23
There's a bold claim being made here. Paul says, "All is yours." Can we believe him? Is that too good to be true?
It's not.
Listen to the 4 big reasons why you can really say, "All is mine."
2020-02-1623 min
Living HopeSpirit-Taught Words1 Corinthians 2:6-13
The Bible is a big book. We might be intimidated by it and think we’ll never be able to understand everything it says. And in some ways it’s true. We could study God’s Word for a lifetime and never be able to comprehend all its depth.
But when we immerse ourselves in the Word and when we get the right teacher, the Holy Spirit, we can come to know even the deep things of God.
2020-02-0921 min
Living HopeJesus + Nothing = Everything1 Corinthians 2:1-5
"I resolved to know nothing when I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." With these words the apostle Paul reminds the Corinthians that Jesus + Nothing = Everything.
We clear the way for this gospel message. We simply let the message stand on its own.
2020-02-0224 min
Living HopeCheck Your Self-Esteem1 Corinthians 1:26-31
It's time for a self-esteem checkup. Do you have low self-esteem? Do you have overly-high self-esteem? Neither kind of self-esteem is healthy.
But the apostle Paul gives you a new way to measure self-esteem and personal worth. And, actually, this kind of esteem has nothing to do with us.
(Access a graphic that goes with the sermon by clicking "resources" to the left.)
2020-01-2621 min
Living HopeThe Foolishness of God1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Christianity has been called a "religion for losers." The message of Christ crucified is viewed as foolishness. But Paul says the opposite. "To those who are being saved, Christ crucified is the power of God and the wisdom of God."
Watch as the foolishness of God, Christ crucified, turns conventional human wisdom upside down. We'll find that clinging to the foolishness of God is better than clinging to the greatest of mankind's wisdom.
2020-01-1920 min
Living HopeNot Who. Not How. What.1 Corinthians 1:10-17
The message matters much more than the messenger.
Human tendency is to gravitate toward wise and eloquent leaders but God's upside down wisdom is to focus more on WHAT a person is saying than WHO they are or HOW they say it.
2020-01-1220 min
Living HopeJesus was baptized? Or, Jesus was baptized!Matthew 3:13-17
Guest pastor Wayne Uhlhorn gives a message on the necessity and wonder of Jesus being baptized like one of us - for each of us.
And yet, Jesus' baptism was also unlike any other baptism you've seen before...
2020-01-0519 min
Living HopeThe Weight Is Over! - 4 LessonsLessons and Carols service
Listen in to 4 lessons from Living Hope's annual Christmas lessons and carols service.
The Weight Is Over! A recurring theme in Scripture. Even though Christmas has come and gone, we're not done celebrating.
2019-12-2918 min
Living HopeThe Weight Is Over!Isaiah 9:2-7
When God's prophet Isaiah spoke about the birth of Jesus he said, "You have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders."
Whatever burden you're carrying this Christmas, know that Jesus was born to shatter it. Christmas means the weight is over!
2019-12-2418 min
Living HopePrepare FearlesslyMatthew 1:18-25
Matthew gives us the PG-13 version of Christmas. Listen to find out why. Listen to the mess a conflicted, scared Joseph finds himself in. Listen to hear how a Savior born under messy circumstances cleans up our messes. Listen to find out why we can prepare fearlessly for our Savior's birth like Joseph did.
2019-12-2220 min
Living HopePrepare PatientlyMatthew 11:2-11
God's Word helps to prepare patiently. Like John the Baptist, we may want to see the judgment, power, and glory immediately. And yet, just as those things came after the defeat, denial, and sacrifice for Jesus, so they did for John and so they will for us. As we wait, we don't always see God's plan for our lives. As a result we must patiently cling to his promises.
2019-12-1521 min
Living HopePrepare ProductivelyMatthew 3:1-12
During Advent, John the Baptist helps us to prepare productively. The production God wants is fruit that grows out of a repentant heart. Through the warnings of his law and the comforting assurance of his gospel, God turns us into healthy trees that will naturally and inevitably produce all kinds of good fruit. John the Baptist may come across as harsh in his preaching of repentance but his ultimate goal is to point us to the Savior.
2019-12-0820 min
Living HopePrepare SleeplesslyRomans 13:11-14
Getting ready for "the most wonderful time of the year" might leave you with less sleep than usual. And that means it can be even harder to wake up in the morning.
While we might wish we could go the next month without any sleep, that's impossible. However, it is possible to wait for Jesus without any spiritual sleep. Jesus' presence among us now in Word and Sacraments enables us to wait for his arrival on the last day as wide awake. Scripture encourages us: "Night is nearly over; the day is almost here!"
2019-12-0219 min
Living HopeGive Thanks Every DayPsalm 118
Many Christians use these words from Psalm 118 to return thanks to God after eating a meal. "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever."
Jesus gives us reason to have "big picture thanksgiving." But we also have everyday thanksgiving. Even on days we don't feel happy or thankful we can still say, "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." Each new day is one we get to live under the Lord's goodness and love.
2019-11-2422 min
Living HopeThe Good Shepherd is with MePsalm 23
Our Good Shepherd is with us to provide for us, protect us, and give us peace. And if there's any doubt that, Jesus shows us just how masterfully he fulfills every word of this comforting Psalm. Walk along with your shepherd today.
2019-11-1721 min
Living HopeLonging for GodPsalm 63:1-8
Someone lost in the desert would have single-minded purpose: find water! In our walks of life, we will sometimes have to trek through emotional and spiritual deserts. We might feel parched for hope. This is when we long for God. We long for his promises to be upheld. We long for his deliverance.
The good news is that God longs for you and me even more than we long for him!
2019-11-1020 min
Living HopeMighty FortressPsalm 46
Martin Luther loved Psalm 46. He would turn to this song when he felt discouraged or that his work was in vain. In this song of faith, God assures his people that even if all seems lost, even if everything comes crashing down, that those who find refuge in God will stand secure.
We will stand secure in God's promises in his Word.
We will stand secure in God's proclamation of righteousness through faith in Christ.
"The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."
2019-11-0321 min
Living HopePlantedPsalm 1:1-3
A tree planted in a good spot gets all the nutrients it needs to survive and thrive. That's the picture Psalm 1 gives for a person who is planted in God's Word - who delights in it. For the fuel we need to get through a busy life, we need to be planted in God's Word.
2019-10-2720 min
Living HopeSpared No ExpenseMark 12:41-44
Did you know that money is one of the biggest topics discussed in Scripture? Why? Because it's a major part of our life! "Money makes the world go round." Therefore it's important to have an appropriate attitude towards money.
In Mark 12 a poor widow teaches us that the Lord cares so much more about the giver than he does the gift. The Lord who spared no expense to save us gives us motivation to bring offerings from the heart. It's not about what we're giving to, it's all about what we're giving from.
2019-10-2019 min
Living HopeThe Comparison GameRomans 12:3-8
“Who’s the smartest? Who’s the best looking? Who’s the funniest?” These questions bothered us when we were in high school. We had an obsession with comparing ourselves to others...and maybe we still do. The comparison game can be dangerous when we feel like our talents and abilities just don’t measure up with others’.
But we don’t need to play the comparison game anymore. Being part of Christ’s body, means we are exactly who we need to be.
2019-10-1320 min
Living HopeTimewiseEphesians 5:15-20
Time management. It's something we all need more of but can never hope to master. Time is in short supply and no matter how much we wish we could just "buy back" more time, that's not exactly how it works. Time marches on and takes us with it.
Since time is a limited resource we want to be wise in our use of it. God gives his own time management plan in Ephesians 5 and points us to the best use of time we could possibly have.
2019-10-0621 min
Living HopeKnockin' On Heaven's DoorLuke 13:22-30
The door to heaven is narrow. But we know who the door is. Cling to Jesus - he is the way to your heavenly home. We can joyfully await the day that the choir of angels welcomes us home.
2019-09-2921 min
Living HopeYou Have An Everlasting FamilyRevelation 22:1-5
We might wish family life could go on forever. But we know it can't go on forever here on earth. The curse of death cuts short our family time and rips loved ones away.
But in Christ we are part of an everlasting family. We can face the death of Christian loved ones with comfort and peace. We will see them again. We will be together as a family again in our eternal home.
2019-09-2220 min
Living HopeThe Truth Will Set You FreeJohn 8:31-36
Sometimes hearing the truth is hard. We don't always want to face reality. But for every hard truth in God's Word there is a sweet gospel truth found in Christ. That gospel truth, what Jesus has done for us, sets us free.
It's good to be free. It's good to be free to live as a member of God's family.
2019-09-1519 min
Living HopeYou Don't Have To Go It AloneHebrews 2:9-13
We weren't designed to go it alone through life. We need others. We need a family.
But you're not alone. You don't have to go it alone. You don't have to be an army of one. God supplies you with a spiritual family of believers...and a brother named Jesus.
2019-09-0821 min
Living HopeThe Lost Are Now FoundLuke 15:1-10
There’s a certain satisfaction and joy that comes with finding something that we lost. Whether it’s a lost wedding ring or even just a missing sock, we’re happy to recover things that are lost.
Today Jesus calls us to share in the joy of finding lost souls for God’s kingdom. Every sinner is precious to God. Jesus welcomes sinners, has concern for them, and seeks them out when they stray from the fold. As Christ’s people we do the same.
2019-09-0125 min
Living HopeDon't WorryMatthew 6:25-34
We worry...a lot. And we worry about a lot of things. Our worries feel like they're pulling us in 20 directions at once.
But a voice cuts through to our anxious thoughts - "Do not worry." The voice of your Savior gives you the cure for your worried heart.
2019-08-2520 min
Living HopeRadical Love: The Christian's ID CardMatthew 5:38-48
Jesus' sermon on the mount continues with another hard truth to swallow. Children of God love their enemies. Do we though? It's much easier to say we love enemies than it is to actually love them. If we're going to give this kind of RADICAL love then we're going to first need to be given some radical love.
2019-08-1823 min
Living HopeBe What You AreMatthew 5:13-20
Jesus tells us we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. But Jesus seems to be mistaken about who we are. We're pretty dim lightbulbs. We're pretty bland salt. Is he really sure he wants to give us this responsibility?
But Jesus isn't mistaken about who we are. Because he's the one who made us what we are!
2019-08-1119 min
Living Hope#Blessed?Matthew 5:1-12
If you scroll through Facebook or Instagram long enough you're going to see at least one post captioned with #blessed. But when you compare what social media defines as blessed with what Jesus defines as blessed in his sermon on the mount you'll notice a lot of differences. Jesus' description of a blessed person seems backwards! His description seems to be of a sad, empty person.
But listen in today to hear how God's backward definition of blessed brings real happiness. Let's take a zoomed-out mountain view of living a truly blessed life.
2019-08-0421 min
Living HopeThe Eager Prophet: Take Up the Mantle1 Kings 19:14-21
Elijah and Elisha both served as God's prophets. Elisha was an eager prophet. Elijah was a very tired prophet. Most days we might feel like taking up the calling of faith and following Jesus is a tiring experience. It's a full time job! There's no taking breaks in our faith life. We feel like the tired prophet, Elijah. But God has an answer for us when we get tired in our calling of faith. God gives his Son to take up the mantle of Savior so that we can also be eager to take up our callings and...
2019-07-2821 min
Living HopeThe Prince of Egypt: What You Don't See Is What You GetHebrews 11:24-27
"What you see is what you get." We're familiar with that phrase. But maybe we're not so familiar with the phrase: "What you DON'T see is what you get." And yet that's exactly what faith says. Faith means trusting in things we can't see and believing in what our eyes can't verify. How can we have a faith that trust what we don't see is what we get? Listen in for the answer.
2019-07-2120 min
Living HopeThe Servant Girl: Know That There Is A Prophet In Israel!2 Kings 5:1-15a
Naaman the fearsome warrior and general of Aram finally met his match. He had the disease called leprosy, a death sentence. But his wife’s Israelite servant girl knew he could be healed. She knew there was a prophet of God in Israel. She knew that the God of Israel was merciful. And so Naaman takes a leap of faith and listens to his servant girl. Soon Naaman knew the same thing the servant girl knew—there is a prophet in Israel. Today that servant girl is going to show us how confident we can be in our...
2019-07-1414 min
Living HopeThe Weeping Woman: Forgiven and GratefulLuke 7:36-50
Faith has a face - a face drenched with tears. A weeping woman, who was a known sinner in her town, approaches Jesus. And what Jesus says to her is surprising. "Your sins are forgiven, go in peace."
Jesus makes it clear that no debt of sin is too big for his forgiveness. Yes, God is serious about sin but he's even more serious about forgiveness through Christ. The gospel always gets the last word.
2019-07-0718 min
Living HopeThe Angry Widow: From Tragedy to Trust1 Kings 17:17-24
Do you get angry when tragedy strikes? The widow of Zarephath had every right to be angry. Her son was dead. What could God's plan possibly be? Why would he allow something like this to happen?
These are the questions we ask when tragedy strikes. Like the widow we might get angry at God too. But God does what is needed to bring us from tragedy to trust.
2019-06-3019 min
Living HopeThe Centurion: Faith That Makes Jesus MarvelLuke 7:1-10
We don't often hear Jesus being amazed at things. But the faith of a Roman centurion got him to say, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."
What made this centurion's faith so great? Would Jesus say the same about you and me? Is our faith great? As we look at this first "Face of Faith" we'll explore what great faith really is.
2019-06-2319 min
Living HopeI'm A Know It AllJohn 16:12-15
Today, June 16, was Trinity Sunday. It's a day we confess the saving acts of our Triune God. It's also a day we scratch our heads. How can God be three but one? The math doesn't add up. It doesn't make sense. And there's lots of other things in the Bible we have trouble understanding.
In John 16 Jesus comforts his disciples, and us, that we will receive the Holy Spirit who will reveal to us everything we need to know. By the power of the Spirit we are salvation know it alls.
2019-06-1620 min
Living HopeLook Who's With YouJohn 15:26-27
On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out on God's people. The Spirit was the Counselor sent from Jesus and the Father. Now the Counselor is with us, guiding us in the truth and strengthening our testimony of Jesus.
2019-06-0918 min
Living HopeA New Creation2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Relationships can get pretty messy. Even people who seem like they've got a strong relationship can end up with a shattered one. But our relationship with God is secure. Jesus has reconciled us to God. He has restored our good relationship. And now we get to be new creations with new identities. We get to be ambassadors of God's amazing reconciliation.
2019-06-0219 min
Living HopeYou Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet!Isaiah 43:16-25
God says, "forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing!" The blessings God gave us in the past are amazing. He sent his only Son to rescue us from sin. He worked faith in our hearts through hearing his Word. But God is always doing something new. He says, "You ain't seen nothin' yet!"
2019-05-2619 min
Living HopeA New HomeRevelation 21:1-6
Maybe Christians don't spend enough time talking about heaven. It's easy to get wrapped up in the things going on in this world and to lose focus on what's waiting for us. Let's talk about heaven. We have a new and better home being prepared for us. We might even find that our hope for a future gives us current confidence too.
2019-05-1920 min
Living HopeYour Shepherd Knows BestJohn 10:22-30
Today is Mother's Day. It's a day we all have to admit that mother knows best. She always did what was best for us.
Today we also recognize as Good Shepherd Sunday. You also have a shepherd that knows best. You've really got it made!
2019-05-1221 min
Living HopeA New CallingActs 9:1-19
Saul the Persecutor seemed like the last person on earth to become a believer in Jesus. But the risen Jesus appeared to him, turning Saul the Persecutor into Paul the Proclaimer. God gave Saul a new calling and a new purpose in life - to spread the good news of salvation to the world.
Because Jesus rose from the dead we too have a new calling. We are called out of blindness and called as God's chosen instruments. The grace God has given us makes us great candidates to share grace with other and lead them to the...
2019-05-0519 min
Living HopeA New LifeRomans 6:1-11
Dead to sin but alive to God. This is our new Easter identity thanks to Jesus’ death and resurrection on our behalf. Our old way of life is over. Through faith and the waters of baptism we rise to new life. We experience a new life when we are eventually resurrected to be with Jesus in heaven but new life is also something we get to live right now.
2019-04-2819 min
Living HopeA New StartJohn 20:1-18 - Easter
New starts are exciting. New starts give endless opportunities and the promise of a better future. But for every new start in this life there are also endings. Every new thing gets old. Every good thing must eventually come to an end in this world. And we all have one common ending to face. The end called death.
But Easter changes everything. Jesus gives us a new start - a story that doesn't end. Because of the resurrection, death will not be the end of your story.
2019-04-2123 min
Living HopePonder Palm Sunday ParadoxesMatthew 21:1-11
Palm Sunday is full of paradoxes. A paradox is something that seems self-contradictory or logically unacceptable. A paradox means two opposites can be true at the same time.
Ponder the many paradoxes surrounding Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem.
2019-04-1415 min
Living HopeGrumbling Against GodNumbers 21:4-9
During the exodus the people of Israel grumbled...a lot. They always had a complaint to bring against Moses and God. We find it pretty easy to scold the Israelites for their negative attitude. Unfortunately, we have a lot in common with the Israelites. We love to grumble against God when we think he's holding out on us. We need the cure for our poisonous grumbling. A cure only God can provide.
2019-04-0720 min
Living HopeLive as Friends of the CrossPhilippians 3:17-4:1
We live as friends of the cross of Christ and gather together with other friends of the cross. This is how we want to run the race laid out before us.
2019-03-3114 min
Living HopeWatch and Pray!Matthew 26:35-41
A loving Savior warns us to watch, be alert, and keep our eyes open rather than sleepwalk through life. Pray because battling temptation is something we can't do ourselves like we can with car repair or painting the house. Jesus invites us to pray and promises to help us - for our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak.
2019-03-2420 min
Living HopeRefusing to ChangeJeremiah 26:8-15
The people of Jerusalem didn't want to change. They didn't like Jeremiah's message from the Lord telling them to reform their ways. And so they took out their frustration on God's messenger. We have plenty of old sinful ways we don't want to change either. God gives us constructive criticism in his law to turn us to him. But we still have a hard time letting go and making the necessary changes. We're going to need God to change us. He does.
2019-03-1720 min
Living HopeWanting Only What I WantLuke 4:1-13
Temptation stands across from you in the boxing ring. It knows your weaknesses and exactly how to attack you.
Jesus entered the boxing ring too. He faced off against the bringer of temptation, the devil. Learn from your Savior how to defend yourself against the temptation of wanting only what you want. Learn temptation's goals and tactics. Learn how to strike back. Most importantly - see your champion!
2019-03-1024 min
Living HopeIt Is Good for Us to Be HereLuke 9:28-36
Glory doesn't last forever here on earth. It only comes in glimpses. There are days in life we feel like saying, "It is good to be here." But there will also be plenty of days we may not feel like saying that. Listen to how Jesus turns our glimpses of glory into an eternity of glory.
You'll be saying, "It is good for us to be here" now, and you'll be saying it forever in heaven.
2019-03-0319 min
Living HopeForgiveness is UnexpectedGenesis 45:1-8, 15
As humans we have a natural, sinful impulse to seek revenge and hold grudges. We feel it's only fair that if someone hurts or wrong us, they deserve to feel our pain in equal measure. Revenge is expected.
Forgiveness is unexpected. The story of Joseph forgiving his brothers unveils a larger narrative of just how unexpectedly God has forgiven us. And this leads us to do the unexpected too. We forgive.
2019-02-2422 min
Living HopeWeakness is Strength2 Corinthians 12:7-10
We love playing to our strengths. We live in a world where hard work, resourcefulness, and strength bring success. Weaknesses, on the other hand, we try to cover up or get rid of. But then God comes along and tells us the opposite of what the world tells us. God says, "Power is made perfect in weakness. When we are weak then we are strong." Learn to embrace weakness and look to God's grace for your true strength.
2019-02-1722 min
Living HopeShare the Master's MissionLuke 5:1-11
What would it take for us to leave everything behind? Why did some fishermen on the Sea of Galilee decide it was a good idea to leave everything behind and follow Jesus? They left behind their homes, their families, and their livelihoods. Why? Our master unveils our mission to us and now we want to join him in his rescue mission. We know how sweet it is to be rescued.
2019-02-1022 min
Living HopeRejected for the TruthAre you scared of rejection? Most people are terrified of it. We all want to be liked. We all want to be accepted. The thought of someone rejecting us causes panic. Today we see Jesus get rejected to the point of almost getting shoved off a cliff. He got rejected for telling the truth about who he was: the promised Messiah. As Christians we will occasionally face rejection. Let's learn how to handle rejection from the one who experienced the worst rejection of all on the cross.
2019-02-0320 min
Living HopeFrom Weeping to RejoicingNehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10
The more we come to revere and understand God's Word the more we see the truth of God's Law. The Law unveils truths about us that make us want to weep. And yet, the more we come to revere and understand God's Word the more we also see the truth of God's Gospel. The good news of Jesus dries our tears and brings joy to our sin-weary hearts. God's Word takes you from weeping to rejoicing.
2019-01-2720 min
Living HopeGuest or Master?John 2:1-11
Jesus came as a guest to a wedding in Cana but by the time he left he had used a sign to make it clear that he was actually the master of the wedding. We sometimes want to treat Jesus like a servant or guest; a genie we can summon to grant our wishes exactly how we want him to. But we need to remember to let God act on his own time, according to his own will. He will swoop in to save the day in the best way.
2019-01-2021 min
Living HopePositively DelightedLuke 3:15-17,21-22
Jesus' baptism was a big deal. He was unveiled as God's Son and his work on behalf of sinners was officially getting started. God the Father's voice boomed down from heaven, "I am positively delighted with my Son." Jesus' baptism was a big deal - for you too! You're about to find out why.
2019-01-1319 min
Living HopeExtraordinarily OrdinaryMatthew 2:1-12
The account of the Magi visiting baby Jesus is full of extraordinary signs and details. But all the extraordinary events surrounding this visit by the Magi led to a very ordinary village, a very ordinary house, and a seemingly ordinary baby. What did those wisemen see? They saw something extraordinarily ordinary. And that's exactly what they were looking for.
2019-01-0619 min
Living HopeExtend the Joy of Christmas3 Lessons and a sermonette from our Lessons and Carols service
Christmas is over. You have to wait a whole year to get excited for it again. What will you do now that Christmas is over? You'll probably go back to work or back to school. You'll just head back to the old grind. Christmas joy sometimes leaves you very quickly once Christmas is over. Today let's break that old chain of events that happens to you every year when Christmas ends. Let's extend the joy of Christmas!
2018-12-3024 min
Living HopeA Light in the DarknessLuke 2:1-20
Light and darkness are polar opposites. Where light advances, darkness must retreat. Light and darkness point to the ultimate of polar opposites—good and evil, holiness and sin. Ever since mankind fell into sin, God promised to send a great Light to pierce the darkness of sin and death.
2018-12-2318 min
Living HopeRejoice Always?Zephaniah 3:14-17
The Gift of Joy
Does Christmas joy ever feel forced? Are you just supposed to be happy this time of year because all the songs tell you to be? Forced joy isn't real joy and leads to broken expectations. Find your reason to rejoice always, despite the season you find yourself in. Find your joy at the manger in Bethlehem.
2018-12-1619 min
Living HopePeace Requires PreparationLuke 3:1-6
The Gift of Peace
Before the big moments in life that could determine the course of your future it might be hard to find peace. Stress floods your body before the big test. Anxiety leading up to the big interview makes you feel lightheaded. And it's the same with the moment that we meet our God. The thought of standing before God, who holds our eternal fate in his hands, might not be a thought that brings you peace? Are you prepared?
2018-12-0919 min
Living HopeHope > OptimismJeremiah 33:14-16
The Gift of Hope
Optimism is better than pessimism. But even optimism doesn't actually determine an outcome. You need something greater: hope. God extends to you "a Branch." This Branch will assure you that your hope in God's promises is secure.
2018-12-0219 min
Living HopeUnmuted JoyMark 7:31-37
We know Jesus brings salvation to the whole world. But maybe sometimes we feel that the message of Jesus is just a "copy-and-paste" answer given to everyone. We have unique challenges. We have unique temptations. We have individual needs. Is God's message of salvation for the world too big to meet our own personal needs?
Can I be sure that God loves and cares for me as an individual? That's the big question. Listen in!
2018-11-2522 min
Living HopeThe Greatest PhysicianMark 2:1-12
The best kind of doctor is one who doesn't just treat the symptoms but the cause of the symptoms. That's the kind of doctor Jesus is. He is the greatest physician, the one who heals souls. Listen in to hear about the greatest miracle of all.
2018-11-1821 min
Living HopeWaterproofMatthew 14:22-33
Do you trust waterproof stuff? How can you know if that new phone really is waterproof? Same with your faith. Is it waterproof? What if you have doubts? What if you have fears? Look to Jesus who walks upon your seas - waterproof.
2018-11-1122 min
Living HopeSatisfiedMatthew 14:13-21
A crowd of over 5,000 people found themselves out in the wilderness and nothing to eat. Like those crowds, we find ourselves in a desolate wilderness full of hunger and disappointment due to sin. But God enters our wilderness and satisfies us with compassion. Listen in for some supernatural satisfaction.
2018-11-0521 min
Living HopeBy God's Grace We Are Doubly Blessed!1 John 1:1-4
God calls you a member of his family. He also gives you a place in the family of believers. We are doubly assured that we are part of the family!
2018-10-2818 min
Living HopeAnxiety Relief1 Peter 5:6-11
Ever struggle with anxiety, stress, worry or depression? If you don’t you just might be one-of-a-kind. Everyone deals with anxiety. When squeezing a stress ball just isn’t enough, how will you find relief? God knows how to deal with anxiety. Listen in!
2018-10-2121 min