Hope Church

God invites us into a deep, life-giving relationship with Him, but experiencing His fullness takes intention. In this message, Marty challenges us to surrender our habits and cultivate spiritual disciplines—like prayer, Scripture, fasting, worship, and serving—that open us to God’s presence and help us grow together as disciples.

On Vision Sunday, we celebrate all God has done this past year and look ahead with boldness to the year to come. Together, Ross, Mark, and Marty walk us through our vision of “Raising up disciples who surrender their lives to Jesus”—a vision not about producing busy churchgoers, but wholehearted followers who give their lives fully to Christ. We are reminded of the simple but powerful steps of Connect, Grow, and Serve, and as we reflect on the stories, numbers, and lives God has already transformed, we are called to lean in with faith, generosity, and courage as we continue to pursue this mission together.

In this final message of the Etched in Stone series, Pastor Mark walks us through the Tenth Commandment: “You shall not covet.” We learn that coveting is more than simply wanting something—it is a restless longing for what God has given to someone else. This heart issue distorts our contentment, damages our relationships, and distracts us from worshiping God. Ultimately, coveting exposes our need for a Savior. Only in Jesus, who resisted temptation and offers us a new heart, do we find freedom from restless desires and discover true contentment in Him.

In a world filled with hype, spin, and half-truths, the ninth commandment calls us back to honesty: “You shall not give false testimony.” Marty shows us how lying—whether outright, through gossip, exaggeration, half-truths, excuses, flattery, or false accusations—destroys trust, damages relationships, and reflects the character of the enemy rather than God. We are invited to choose truth, confess where we’ve deceived, repair broken trust, and live in the power of the Spirit of Truth. God delights in honesty, and He calls us to be people who love the truth.

This commandment goes beyond bank heists—it exposes how we take more than we give, whether through time, effort, or trust. Mark reminds us that God gives good gifts, calls us to work with integrity, and invites us to live generously. Stealing reveals a heart that doesn’t trust God to provide—but as His people, we’re called to reflect His generous nature.

Marty unpacks the seventh commandment by reminding us that God's laws are not just rules—they are protections for what is precious. This command protects the sacred gift of sex and the covenant of marriage. God gave sex as a good gift—for creating life, cultivating pleasure, and bonding two hearts as one. When misused, that gift can deeply damage trust, intimacy, and our ability to connect. From adultery to pornography to cohabitation, Marty challenges us to push back against cultural lies and pursue purity with conviction and hope. In Christ, there is forgiveness, strength, healing, and a new start. Let’s honor what God calls sacred.

This week, Pastor Sean Holloway walks us through the Sixth Commandment, showing that it’s more than just avoiding physical harm—it’s a call to value every human life. Jesus teaches that even anger and contempt break this command. We’re reminded that all people are made in God’s image, and we’re called to reflect His heart by cherishing life in both our actions and attitudes.

This week in our “Etched in Stone” series, we reach the fifth commandment: “Honor your father and mother.” It’s a turning point in the list—moving from loving God to loving others. But honoring parents isn’t always straightforward, especially in a world where not all parents live honorably. Mark walks us through what biblical honor truly means: valuing, respecting, and showing appreciation across all stages of life—not because our parents are perfect, but because God calls us to it. Drawing from Ephesians 6 and Colossians 3, we explore what this looks like when we’re young, as adults, and even when relationships are complex. Most importantly, we’re reminded that honoring our earthly parents reflects our honor for our heavenly Father, who adopts us into His family through grace.

This week in our Etched in Stone series, we explore the 4th commandment—Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. In a culture that runs on busyness and burnout, God calls us to a different rhythm—one of rest, remembrance, and renewal. We see that Sabbath is not a burden but a blessing, rooted in both creation and redemption. It reminds us that our identity is not in what we produce but in what Christ has provided. As we discover the beauty of work, the blessing of rest, and the fullness of Christ, we’re invited to stop striving and find true rest in Him.

As we continue through the Ten Commandments, we explore the weight and wonder of the third: “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God.” This message challenges us to consider how we speak—and live—in light of God’s name. His name isn’t just a label; it represents His character, His blessing, His authority, and His salvation. Misusing it—through cursing, casualness, or contradiction—diminishes something deeply sacred. But when we treat God’s name with reverence, it shapes our hearts and honors the One who gave everything for us. Let us learn how to speak His name with honor, live with integrity, and reflect Christ in all we do.

In week two of our Etched in Stone series, Mark unpacks the Second Commandment—“No Idols”—by reminding us that the Ten Commandments aren’t a way to earn God’s favor, but a path to walk in relationship with Him. Just like a train needs tracks to move forward, our lives were designed to flourish when aligned with God's ways. Idolatry isn’t just an ancient problem—it’s a human one. Whether it’s our preferences, feelings, or a distorted view of God, anything that replaces or reshapes Him in our hearts becomes an idol. But God hasn’t left us guessing about who He is—He’s revealed Himself in creation, His Word, and ultimately in Jesus. When we truly see Him, we can worship Him rightly and live with purpose.

Ross kicks off our new series Etched in Stone by reframing the Ten Commandments not as restrictive rules but as gracious words from a personal, redeeming, and ruling God who desires relationship with His people. In this week’s message from Exodus 20:1–3, we explore the foundational first commandment: “You shall have no other gods before me.” Ross shows how God gives His law after rescuing His people—not to earn freedom, but to teach them how to live as His own. The commandments reveal who God is, who we are, and how we are to relate to Him—with undivided worship. Ultimately, they point us to our deep need for Jesus, the one who fulfilled the law perfectly and enables us, by grace, to live for God’s glory.

In this message from our One Another series, Pastor Ross unpacks what it means to handle one another’s maturity in Christ—not as a solo journey but a shared one. Drawing from Romans, Colossians, and Galatians, he shows how spiritual growth happens in community when we are devoted to one another like family, teaching one another the Word of Christ, and serving one another humbly in love. These aren't just spiritual tasks to check off, but the relational soil where discipleship takes root. When we live this way, we reflect the very heart of Jesus—who was perfectly devoted, the ultimate teacher, and a servant to all.

Marty walks us through four often-overlooked “one another” commands in Scripture that are essential for how we handle sin—in ourselves and each other—as a church. In a culture that resists accountability and avoids the topic of sin, we’re called to something deeper: to submit to one another, admonish one another, spur one another on, and forgive one another. These practices are uncomfortable, but they’re necessary for us to grow in holiness, protect each other from sin’s destruction, and reflect the grace and power of the Gospel together.

Mark challenges us to “handle one another’s differences” by living out the “one another” commands of Scripture—not just tolerating each other’s quirks, but actively choosing humility, love, and honor in the midst of our differences. Using the metaphor of cartilage in a knee, he explains that these biblical instructions—like patience, gentleness, and forgiveness—keep our relationships from becoming painfully abrasive. While it’s natural to get annoyed with others, especially in close community, we’re called to bear with one another in love, not isolate or grumble. This isn’t extra-credit Christianity—it’s the outflow of God’s work in us. As we clothe ourselves with compassion and put on sincere love, we reflect God’s grace and put the gospel on display in a broken world.

In this message, Mark unpacks Jesus’ final words in Matthew 28—the Great Commission—as both a call and a promise. After exploring the life-changing invitation to follow Jesus, Mark challenges us to embrace the next step: making disciples. He reminds us that this command isn't just for the spiritually gifted, but for all who follow Christ. Mark identifies two common missteps—reversing the order of discipleship and believing evangelism is only for experts—and replaces them with a clear, grace-filled path: be a disciple and make disciples. It starts with understanding our own need for rescue and continues as we share the hope we’ve found in Jesus with those around us. And through it all, Jesus assures us of His presence, power, and partnership.