New Hope Church

OUR GLORIOUS SAVIOR AND LORD GOD ALMIGHTY  He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.  For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn…

ONCE SLAVES, NOW PART OF GOD’S FAMILY!  I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. —Philemon 1:12  If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. —Philemon 1:18              These are amazing statements made by Paul about Onesimus to Philemon.  Paul is sending this redeemed slave back to his owner that they can be reconciled.  It is an astounding statement that Paul says of Onesimus— I am sending you… “my very heart.”  Wow!  Now just imagine a literal statement from our perspective today.  Instead of sending Onesimus think of Paul’s heart being sent— that would be Paul’s emotions and desires,…

TAKE THE APPROPRIATE ACTION WITH THOSE WHO DIVIDE  As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. —Titus 3:10-11              We are in a battle, a spiritual fight and we have to be wise and obedient to our Lord and His directives.  Sometimes these directives are uncomfortable for us to carry out.  We do not like conflict nor want conflict.  But we must remember that we are in conflict, have been since sin entered through Adam and will be until Jesus comes back to set all…

FAITHFUL OR FAITH DENYING…  But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. —I Timothy 5:8  If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows. —I Timothy 5:16              Family… should be the strongest bond among those who follow Jesus.  It should be a place where I feel safe, taken care of and loved.  Here is where I know that I would be supported and protected, find understanding and encouragement…

IN THE LATER TIMES…  Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. —I Timothy 4:1-5              In later times we see that certain things will happen— Some will depart from the faith Those…

THANKFULNESS TO OUR CREATOR!  The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. —Psalm 19:1-4  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. —Romans 1:20              Look into the night sky or do so during the day.  The sky proclaims the “handiwork” of God. …

INDICATORS JUST PRIOR TO THE RETURN OF JESUS!  Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. —II Thessalonians 2:3-4              Before Jesus comes back there will be some things that will happen.  We can glean a few from these couple verses above— There will be those who seek to deceive us about His coming There will be a rebellion/apostasy/falling…

ENCOURAGE & BUILD UP, DON’T’ DISCOURAGE AND TEAR DOWN  Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. —I Thessalonians 5:11             It is so encouraging to see a new building- a house or some other building- being built.  Each week as you drive by the progress can be seen.  First you see the site work.  Then the foundation goes in and is capped.  Then the framing of the building causes it to take shape.  The sheathing encloses it, the roof goes on, the windows are installed and it is sided.  The well and septic are installed, the driveway graded and finished and…

CONFLICT!  And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit. —I Thessalonians 1:6  For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind, —I Thessalonians 2:14-15  For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just…

SERVING GOD NOT PEOPLE AS FIRST PRIORITY  On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. —I Thessalonians 2:4  Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. —Galatians 1:10  Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.  —I John…