New Hope Church

GIFTED TO SERVE Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. —I Peter 4:10-11             What gift or gifts has God given you? (Romans 12:6-8; I Corinthians 12:7-11; Ephesians 4:8-13).  How are you using the gift or gifts God has given you to…

HONOR JESUS! Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s…

SEEKERS OF THE LOST My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them. —Ezekiel 34:6 “For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.” —Ezekiel 34:11-12 For the Son of…

AUTHENTIC FAITH Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found…

EXAMPLES OF THE FAITHFUL THAT SUFFER As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. —James 5:10-11             We have examples of those who suffered and those who were patient.  Surely, the prophets suffered much, even death, because they were faithful to our Lord— “Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, from the…

YOUR TONGUE IS CONSTRUCTIVE OR DESTRUCTIVE If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.  Look   at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.  So also the tongue is a small member… —James 3:3-5             I have never weighed a horse, but I read that the average weight is about 1,100-1.200 pounds.  Horses’ bits weigh 1 pound or less and yet that bit can direct that heavy horse wherever direction the rider wants to go.  So…

 FAITH WORKS! What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well.…

HANDLING THE TRIALS IN THIS FALLEN WORLD Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. —James 1:12             Let’s face it— none of us desires to go through hard times.  Who wants to have trials?  Who wants to suffer pain and heartache?  Surely none of this is something we desire for ourselves or for anyone.  But… we live in a fallen, sinful world and because of that trials come. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the…

BE FAITHFUL TO HIS CALL ON YOUR LIFE! Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. —Hebrews 13:16 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. —Hebrews 13:20-21             It is God’s will that we do good and share with others.  He is the One who equips us…

I AM IN THE UNSHAKEABLE KINGDOM OF JESUS!  At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. —Hebrews 12:26-29             In the days of Moses, God shook the earth.  It was so dreadful…