Hope Church

Today, Caleb, our Student Pastor, shares a powerful message on identity, walking us through Psalm 139 and reminding us that our true worth is found in Christ alone. Drawing from conversations with students and personal stories, Caleb challenges us to recognize how often we chase after false identities rooted in appearance, status, wealth, or skills—and how easily we let the world define us. Instead, he points us back to the unshakable truth that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, known intimately by a God who sees our hearts, not our performance. As we explore what it means to live out our spiritual identity—beloved, righteous, heirs of God, and equipped by His strength—Caleb invites us to step out from behind the masks we wear and fully embrace the freedom and calling we have in Christ.

Ross’s Easter 2025 message invites us to experience the resurrection of Jesus not as a past event, but as a present reality that changes everything. He unpacks how the risen Christ gives us new life—a new position with God, a new perspective on the world, a new purpose for living, and new power through His Spirit. Through the lens of Scripture and real-life baptism, we’re reminded that this life transformation is available not just historically, but personally, today. The empty tomb isn’t just proof of victory over death—it’s an invitation to step into life with Christ right now.

In this week’s message, Pastor Mark walks us through the story of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19, contrasting him with the unlikely team Jesus builds—fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, and outcasts. This man seems like the perfect candidate: wealthy, respected, and moral. Yet when Jesus invites him to follow, the cost—giving up his wealth—is too great. Mark unpacks the invitation through three parts: the character, the call, and the cost. In the end, we’re challenged to consider what we might be holding onto that keeps us from fully surrendering to Jesus.

In this message, Marty continues the Easter series Follow Me by focusing on Jesus’ call to Matthew in Matthew 9:9. He reminds us that the same invitation extended to a despised tax collector thousands of years ago is still being offered to us today. Jesus—who holds power over creation, the spiritual realm, and sin—sees us in our brokenness and calls us to follow Him, not because of our worthiness but because of His grace. Marty challenges us to reflect on who Jesus is, why He would choose someone like us, and what it truly means to follow Him—leaving our past behind, living in a new identity, listening to His voice, serving with our gifts, and surrendering control of our lives to Him.

In this Family Worship message, Ross opens a new series leading to Easter by unpacking the simple yet life-changing invitation of Jesus: “Follow Me.” Looking at Matthew 4:18–22, we see Jesus call His first disciples—ordinary fishermen—to respond in faith, rely on Him completely, and step into a new purpose: reaching the world. Ross challenges us to consider what it truly means to follow Jesus—not just in word, but in daily surrender and obedience—and invites us to reflect on the character, call, and cost of discipleship in our own lives.

Ross concludes the Galatians series by walking us through Paul’s closing words in Galatians 6:11–18, where we’re invited to consider what we truly boast in—ourselves or the cross of Christ. In a world that often encourages us to find identity, comfort, and purpose in our own efforts, Paul makes a bold declaration: “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ross highlights the danger of relying on our own achievements and the freedom that comes when we root our identity in what Jesus has done, not what we do. In Christ, we are a new creation—set free to live a life of transformation, not performance.

Mark’s sermon draws from Galatians 6:1-10, comparing Paul’s exhortation to a coach’s halftime speech—motivating, instructing, and calling believers to action. He highlights how true freedom in Christ is lived out by walking in step with the Holy Spirit, leading us to carry each other’s burdens with love and humility. Paul’s message is clear: believers are not lone pioneers but a team, responsible for confronting sin with grace, supporting one another in struggles, and faithfully carrying their own load without comparison. The sermon emphasizes perseverance—continuing in obedience, sowing to the Spirit, and committing to doing good to all, regardless of differences. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we grow in love, endurance, and selfless service, reflecting Christ’s sacrifice in our daily lives.

True freedom in Christ is not about indulging in sin but walking by the Spirit. In Galatians 5:13-26, Paul warns against two dangerous extremes—legalism and license—and calls us to a life led by the Holy Spirit. Freedom in Christ is not an excuse to follow our sinful desires but an invitation to be transformed by His grace. As we walk by the Spirit, we bear the fruit of God’s character—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This transformation not only strengthens our relationship with God but also impacts how we love and serve others.

Marty challenges us to consider the question, “What’s the big deal?” as he unpacks Paul’s passionate warning in Galatians 5. The Galatians had been led astray by false teaching, believing they needed to add religious works to their faith in Christ to be truly accepted by God. Paul makes it clear—if you add to faith in Jesus, you risk losing everything. Marty walks us through five powerful truths that are lost when we stop fully trusting in Christ: His obedience, His grace, His righteousness, His love, and His truth. In the end, he calls us to treasure Jesus above all else, recognizing that our faith in Him is the biggest deal in our lives.

Ross's sermon on Freedom in Christ: Galatians 4:8-5:1 calls us to stand firm in the gospel, rejecting any attempt to earn salvation through works. He emphasizes Paul's warning to the Galatians, who were turning back to legalism and idolatry instead of embracing the freedom found in Christ. Paul reminds them that salvation comes by faith alone, not by obeying the law. Using the story of Abraham, Ross illustrates the contrast between trying to take control and relying on God's promise. His message is clear: we must let go of idols, relinquish control, and cling to Jesus, standing firm in the freedom He has secured for us.

Mark's sermon focuses on Paul’s message in Galatians 3:26–4:7, emphasizing our new identity in Christ. Through faith, we are no longer slaves to sin but have been adopted as children of God and made heirs to His promises. Paul highlights that the law once enslaved us, revealing our inability to meet God's standard on our own. But through Christ’s redemption, we are not just freed from sin—we are welcomed into God’s family, given the Holy Spirit, and granted the full rights of an heir. This transformation calls us to live with confidence, not as fearful slaves, but as beloved children assured of our Father’s love.

Ross's sermon on Galatians 3:15-25 explores the relationship between God's promise to Abraham and the Law given through Moses, emphasizing that salvation comes by grace through faith, not by works. He explains how the law reveals our sin and points us to our need for a Savior, serving as a guide until Christ fulfilled it. Through vivid illustrations, he highlights God's unchanging promise, the law’s purpose, and the freedom found in Jesus. The message calls us to trust in Christ alone, leaving behind the burden of works-based righteousness to embrace the rest and assurance found in Him.

Ross’s sermon, “Freedom in Christ: Galatians | Galatians 3:1-14 | Relying on the Gospel,” underscores that our salvation is secured solely through faith in Jesus and not by our own works, yet genuine faith naturally produces good works as a response to Christ’s redemptive sacrifice. Drawing on Paul’s urgent rebuke to the Galatians for turning to the law, Ross emphasizes that relying on human efforts only replaces the freedom offered by grace with a burdensome striving for perfection. Instead, when we fully embrace the finished work of Jesus on the cross, our lives are transformed, compelling us to live out our faith through acts of love, service, and obedience. This good works, however, are not the cause of our righteousness but the fruit of a heart already changed by grace, continually reflecting God’s unmerited favor to the world.

In this message, Hope attendee Travis Holtan (Apex Ministries) challenges us to embrace God's calling in our lives with faith and obedience. He encourages us to trust in God's plan, even when the path ahead feels uncertain. Saying 'yes' to God requires courage and a heart surrendered to His will, but it leads to transformation and purpose. Let this sermon remind us to take bold steps of faith, trusting that God's ways are higher than ours.

Marty’s sermon, "Keeping Jesus in the Center," draws a vivid parallel between life and a merry-go-round: the farther you are from the center, the harder it is to hold on. Through the lens of Galatians 2, Marty emphasizes that keeping Jesus at the center of our faith, compassion, relationships, and lives is essential. He explains the struggles of the early church to grasp the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s plan, highlighting Paul’s bold defense of the gospel of grace. Marty challenges us to evaluate our lives, ensuring every area aligns with the gospel, keeping Christ as the unwavering focus and foundation.

Mark’s sermon highlights our universal need for God’s grace, using Paul’s life as an example. Paul was both "too bad" in his sins and "too good" in his self-righteousness, yet neither disqualified nor earned his salvation—it was God’s grace alone. Paul’s response to grace was a life of obedience and mission, showing that grace isn’t about comparison or merit but surrender. Mark urges us to remain grounded in the gospel, always returning to God’s grace as the foundation of faith, avoiding both despair and self-righteousness.

Pastor Ross opens the Freedom in Christ series with a reminder that there is only one true gospel—salvation through Christ alone by grace through faith. In Galatians 1, Paul warns against false teachings that add requirements to the gospel, such as religious rituals or works. These distortions enslave rather than set us free. The heart of the true gospel is that Jesus gave Himself to rescue us from sin, offering a relationship with God through His sacrifice alone. Our freedom is found in trusting His finished work, not in our efforts to earn His love.

Student Pastor, Caleb Driggers teaches on true biblical love, rooted in 1 Corinthians 13. He emphasizes that love—not gifts or actions—is the true measure of faith, challenging us to reflect on how we embody Christ’s selfless and sacrificial love. Using personal stories and examples from Jesus’ life, Caleb encourages everyone to memorize scripture, grow in one attribute of love, and commit to loving others more intentionally in the new year. His message serves as a call to bring Christ’s light into a world in need of His love.

Ross's sermon, "Because of Christmas… I Surrender My Life (Jesus)," highlights the transformative power of surrender in light of Jesus' birth. He explains that the Christmas story teaches us to surrender doubts, status, plans, and possessions to fully experience God's presence. Drawing from the lives of Zechariah, Joseph, Mary, and the Magi, Ross shows how trusting God over worldly concerns leads to freedom and joy. He emphasizes that Jesus, fully God and fully man, is worthy of our surrender because of who He is—the King of kings—and what He does, offering salvation and reconciliation through His death and resurrection. The message calls everyone to surrender to Jesus, embracing Him as the ultimate gift of God's grace and presence, bringing life, peace, and joy.

Marty's sermon examines three responses to the gift of Jesus in Matthew 2:1-12. Herod reacts with unwelcoming hostility, driven by a desire to maintain power and control. The religious leaders show indifferent neglect, possessing knowledge of the Messiah but failing to act or seek Him. In contrast, the Magi demonstrate worshipful surrender, traveling great distances, sacrificing their comfort, and offering valuable gifts to honor Jesus as King. These responses challenge us to reflect on how we respond to the gift and authority of Christ in our own lives.