Hope Church

Ross’s sermon, "Because of Christmas… I Surrender My Plans," based on Luke 1:26–38, emphasizes the necessity of surrendering our personal plans to God’s greater purpose. Reflecting on Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel, Ross draws a parallel between his own journey of transitioning to senior pastor—a role he hadn’t planned for—and Mary’s surrender of her life’s expectations to God’s will. Mary’s humble submission, despite the uncertainty and loss of control, serves as a model for believers to trust in God’s faithful plan, even when it conflicts with their own desires or understanding. Ross challenges us to shift our perspective from fitting God into our plans to aligning ourselves with His. By remembering God’s faithfulness and responding in faith, as Mary did, we allow God to work through us for His glory and our good, following the example of Christ, who surrendered His will for our salvation.

In his sermon "Because of Christmas: I Surrender My Status" (Matthew 1:18–25), Ross highlights Joseph's example of surrendering his worldly status to obey God. Joseph faced a choice: follow the world's opinions or trust God's command to take Mary as his wife despite the societal disgrace. Through Joseph's journey, we learn three key steps: recognizing the reality of our new identity in Christ, responding in faithful obedience to God's commands, and rejoicing in God's provision of Jesus as Savior. Ross emphasizes that surrendering our status in this world is essential to receiving Christ, as Jesus changes everything—transforming our status with God and giving us new life in Him.

As we prepare our hearts to celebrate Jesus's birth, we journey through the stories of those surrounding the nativity, beginning with Zechariah, a priest called to surrender his doubts to God's extraordinary plan. Through Zechariah’s story, we learn that doubt is normal, but faith requires us to trust God even when circumstances seem impossible. Step by step obedience allows us to experience the miraculous, as Zechariah and Elizabeth did. Ultimately, we are called to praise God not only for the answers to our doubts but for the greater redemption found in Jesus, the fulfillment of prophecy and the Savior who secures our eternity.

Ross's sermon, "Nehemiah: Rebuilding for God’s Glory | 1 Peter 2:4-10," draws a powerful connection between the story of Nehemiah and the call to live as people rebuilt for God's glory today. He emphasizes how God’s work in Nehemiah’s time wasn’t just about physical walls but a spiritual renewal, pointing ultimately to Jesus as the cornerstone of faith. By focusing on three realities—coming to Jesus, walking in obedience, and proclaiming God’s grace—Ross invites the congregation to examine their lives and align with God’s purposes. Grounded in the truths of 1 Peter 2, he encourages a foundation in Christ, living as transformed people who reflect God’s mercy and glory in the world.

Mark’s sermon, Finishing Strong, draws parallels between Mr. Rogers and Nehemiah, emphasizing their dedication to making the world better and pointing people to God’s purpose. Nehemiah’s story, as seen in Nehemiah 13, shows his commitment to rebuilding the wall and restoring the people’s faith, yet upon his return years later, he finds the people had fallen back into sin, neglecting the house of God, dishonoring the Sabbath, and disobeying marriage laws. Despite Nehemiah’s passionate efforts, including drastic corrective actions, the story ends with him asking God to remember his work, highlighting humanity’s inability to fully measure up. This points to our need for Christ, who fulfilled the law perfectly. The message concludes by calling believers to finish strong by living as disciples of Jesus, obediently standing apart from the world and relying on Christ’s finished work for salvation, assurance, and eternal life.

Ross’s sermon highlights how Nehemiah’s rebuilding of Jerusalem was about more than restoring walls—it was about God restoring His people’s hearts for His glory. In Nehemiah 11-12, the Israelites pause to marvel at God’s work and respond by dedicating themselves to Him through worship. Ross identifies three marks of a life dedicated to God: setting our hearts on His purposes, rejoicing in His faithfulness, and giving sacrificially. He challenges us to reflect this dedication by making God our ultimate treasure, committing everything we have and are for His glory.

In Marty’s sermon, he uses the analogy of a "Jar of Life" to illustrate the importance of prioritizing our lives according to God’s design. The jar represents our life, filled with big rocks, pebbles, and sand. The big rocks symbolize our primary commitments—things that shape our character and relationship with God. The smaller pebbles and sand represent lesser priorities and trivial matters. Marty emphasizes that if we fill our lives with insignificant pursuits, we won’t have room for the crucial commitments to faith and family. Drawing on Nehemiah’s example, he outlines five foundational commitments that should guide us as believers: honoring God’s Word, living a set-apart life, dedicating time for worship, supporting those in need, and upholding the church. Just as Nehemiah’s people committed themselves to God’s ways, Marty calls us to evaluate and prioritize our own lives for God’s glory, reminding us that true discipleship requires intentional commitment and change.

Mark's sermon highlights that Nehemiah’s story isn’t about building walls but about shaping God’s people. While the wall was built swiftly, the heart transformation took much longer. After completing the wall, the people, now familiar with God’s Word, move from celebration to true repentance—confessing their sins and recalling God’s unwavering faithfulness throughout Israel’s history. True repentance means more than just feeling sorry; it requires an honest heart change. As the sermon reminds us, we too need God’s Spirit and a new heart to break cycles of sin. Jesus fulfills this, empowering us to live fully as God’s people.

In this sermon on Nehemiah 8, Pastor Ross emphasizes the pivotal moment when God's people, having completed the physical rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, now turn to spiritual restoration. The focus shifts to a renewed passion for God's Word. Ezra reads the Law to the gathered people, who respond with conviction, understanding, and worship. Nehemiah encourages them not to grieve but to find joy in the Lord, as His Word becomes central to their lives. The sermon identifies four key aspects of a passion for God's Word: reading it, teaching it, celebrating it, and obeying it. Ross challenges the congregation to make God's Word the foundation of their lives, as it is the only way to truly live for God's glory.

In this sermon, Nehemiah shows how to persevere through distractions while building for God's glory. His enemies repeatedly tried to divert him from his mission, but Nehemiah stayed focused, declaring, “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down.” Distractions, like entertainment, busyness, or even good things, can pull us away from God’s work today. We must, like Nehemiah, stay committed to what God has called us to, knowing that He empowers us to push through distractions and continue building for His glory.

In Marty's sermon, he contrasts the self-centered messages we often hear in modern culture with the biblical call to live for God's glory. He reflects on how phrases like "it's all about you" can lead to emptiness and brokenness, whereas living for God brings fulfillment. Marty emphasizes that from creation to the time of Nehemiah, humanity has struggled with making life about themselves rather than honoring God. Nehemiah, concerned with the people's selfishness, temporarily halted the rebuilding of the wall to address internal conflict, reminding them to live in peace, mercy, and sacrificial love. Marty challenges the congregation to examine whether they are living for themselves or for God's glory, encouraging them to pursue peace, mercy, and love as true reflections of God's character.

In his sermon on Nehemiah 4:1-23, Ross emphasized the theme of being "Faithful in Opposition" as followers of Christ. He discussed how Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem faced both external and internal opposition while rebuilding the city's walls for God's glory. External mockery and threats came from their enemies, while internal discouragement and fear plagued the workers. However, Nehemiah's response—praying, taking action, and uniting the people—serves as a model for Christians facing adversity. Ross encouraged believers to expect opposition in their walk with Christ but to respond by trusting in God, taking faithful action, and standing together as the body of Christ, remembering that Jesus has already overcome the ultimate opposition—sin and death.

In his sermon, Ross teaches from Nehemiah 3, focusing on the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls as a metaphor for building our lives for God's glory. Nehemiah is about a great God who uses people to fulfill His promises. In this chapter, Ross highlights how God uses various types of people to build for His glory: those who are dedicated, diverse, humble, and sacrificial. Just as Nehemiah's community worked together for God's purposes, We're encouraged to dedicate our lives to God's work, serving in unity and with humility, while trusting that Jesus' sacrifice makes us enough.

Mark’s sermon, "Reliant on God’s Wisdom," contrasts worldly leaders who fumble through decisions with Nehemiah, a model of wise and focused leadership. Nehemiah’s story shows a leader who carefully planned, prayed, and trusted in God’s wisdom every step of the way. Unlike Hollywood’s bumbling heroes, Nehemiah didn’t act on impulse; he inspected Jerusalem’s walls in secret, understanding the reality before rallying others to rebuild. He inspired his people, not for personal fame, but for God’s glory, emphasizing the need for community and unity in mission. When opposition arose, Nehemiah confidently relied on God’s promises, showing that success comes not from human strength but through complete dependence on God’s wisdom. The sermon challenges us to inspect our own hearts, work together in faith, and trust God’s wisdom to face the obstacles in our lives, just as Nehemiah did.

In his sermon, Marty emphasizes the importance of building lives, marriages, families, and a community of disciples who surrender to Christ, aiming for a legacy that lasts into eternity. Drawing from the story of Nehemiah, Marty illustrates how God uses unlikely people to accomplish His work, highlighting four key necessities for being on mission with God: watchful patience, strong courage, deep reliance on God, and intentional readiness. Marty challenges you to recognize God's ongoing work around you and to join His mission, just as Jesus did, by surrendering your life fully to God's purpose.

In this sermon, Pastor Ross introduces a new series on the book of Nehemiah, emphasizing that the story is not just about rebuilding walls or a great leader, but about God's desire to rebuild His people for His glory. Nehemiah's journey begins with a deep burden for the brokenness of Jerusalem, reflecting God’s heart for His people. Pastor Ross explains how God uses Nehemiah’s prayer, marked by adoration, confession, and petition, as a model of seeking God's favor. The sermon challenges us to examine our own hearts, asking if we have a burden for what’s broken around us and within us, urging us to turn to God in repentance. Ultimately, it's a call to recognize that, like Nehemiah, we are called to be burdened for God’s glory and to trust in Jesus, who carried the ultimate burden for our sins to restore us to God.

In his sermon, Pastor Ross outlined the church's vision of raising up disciples who surrender their lives to Jesus. He emphasized the importance of connecting with God through Christ, growing together in faith, and serving others as essential steps in this journey. Drawing from scriptures like Ephesians 2:13-18, Acts 2:42-47, and 1 Peter 4:7-11, Pastor Ross encouraged the congregation to embrace unity, radical generosity, and deep love as they fulfill their mission. He challenged everyone to reflect on their personal spiritual journey, asking them to consider how they are connecting, growing, and serving in their faith.

In his sermon, Pastor Ross outlines the new direction for Hope Church, emphasizing a focused vision to raise up fully surrendered disciples of Christ. Drawing from Matthew 28:16-20, he highlights the Great Commission as the foundation for this mission. Pastor Ross identifies three key characteristics of a disciple: worshiping Jesus, obeying His commands, and reaching others for Christ. He encourages the congregation to embrace this vision with a renewed commitment to discipleship, grounded in the promise of Jesus' continual presence and guidance.

In today's sermon, we concluded our series on worship by delving into Psalm 145 and exploring the heart that adores God. We reflected on the various heart postures in worship—seeking holiness, praising, celebrating, trusting, and surrendering—that help us understand and treasure God's infinite worth. Like the facets of a diamond, each posture reveals a unique aspect of God's beauty. Psalm 145 reminds us that true worship captures both our mind and heart, focusing on the greatness of God, who alone is worthy of our adoration. As we draw closer to God, we discover His perfection and our response should be one of awe, reverence, and joyful praise, proclaiming His goodness and passing it on to the next generation.

In his sermon "Heart of Worship" on Psalm 95, Ross emphasizes that true worship involves a heart fully surrendered to God. Worship is more than singing; it is a deep devotion, reverence, and adoration expressed through our entire lives. Ross explains that surrender, akin to raising a white flag in battle, means submitting to God's authority. He highlights recognizing who God is—our Creator, Shepherd, and King—and responding with worship, humility, and obedience. Using the Israelites' failure to trust God as a cautionary tale, Ross urges us to embrace surrender and trust in God. Inspired by Jesus' sacrificial love, he calls for complete surrender, leading to eternal life and present blessings of peace, guidance, and protection. Ross encourages both new believers and seasoned Christians to evaluate their lives and fully surrender to God.