HOPE Sermons

Redemption - David Dwight | Peter's Story

Crisis - Pete Bowell | Peter's Story

Crisis | Peter’s Story | Part 5 Peter’s story tells us that, like him, we will mess up and we will face failure. His story tells us that we have the choice to either live in the condemnation and shame of our mistakes or let them drive us back into the arms of Christ. Jesus sees our mess, knows all our past, present, and future mistakes, and loves us still. Romans 5:6-8 says, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die f...

Passion - David Dwight | Peter's Story

Passion | Peter’s Story | Part 4 As we read about Peter it becomes clear that a story of a man transforming from self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness is unfolding. He, like us, begins as rough rock under the chisel of Christ. He was brash and outspoken. He inserted himself into conversations + situations that did not necessarily need his input. He stumbled, tripped, and failed tremendously along the way. Peter is like us and we are like him. Over time, he entrusts his shortcomings, failures,...

Concern - Wes Peterson | Peter's Story

How often do we find ourselves amid something grand + important, but are unaware of it until we look in hindsight? This morning, Executive Pastor Wes Peterson shared with us the story of the Last Supper in Luke 22:21-24, 31-34. The disciples argued with each other about who was the greatest among them all the while sitting in the presence of Jesus Christ, the greatest of all time! It was there Jesus shared that Peter would betray Him, not once, but three times. Jesus was not shocked, was not sur...

Vision - Drew Paulette | Peter's Story

In thin spaces, where the veil between heaven and earth is almost translucent, we’re able to see a vision of goodness + glory. Maybe it’s beholding an unending landscape of peaks and valleys or basking in the joy + warmth of laughter with your dearest friends. In God’s incredible kindness, He shows us these glimmers of glory. Yet, in all their beauty, they are not enough. They point to a vision more powerful and enduring. Jesus alone. As Peter stood atop the holy mountain witnessing Jesus’ face ...

Easter | Life Over Death | The Meaning of Miracles | Part 8

HOPE Church celebrates the joy of the resurrection with services from the Altria Theatre in Richmond, Virginia. Senior Pastor David Dwight reminds us that the truth of Easter changed the lives of his disciples in Jesus’ time and it is no less radical for us today. This is the conclusion of our sermon series on the meaning of miracles. The resurrection is the ultimate miracle which gives us confidence that death has truly been defeated! He is risen indeed! To listen to past sermons from this seri...

Call | Peter's Story | Part 1

Spring brings warmer air, brighter days, fresh blooms, and a new sermon series! Today, we began Peter’s Story — a series about the making of an apostle. Jesus calls us, like He called Peter on the shores of Galilee, to come and follow Him. He asks us not just to follow at a distance, but to walk with Him, leaving our preoccupations behind, taking up our cross, and becoming His disciples. We invite you to join us on as we study the life of Peter, a man transformed by the goodness and glory of God...

Yielded Will | The Meaning of Miracles | Part 7

This Palm Sunday morning, Senior Associate Pastor Pete Bowell, shared with us the story of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane in Luke 22:39-48. When we hear “miracle” many of us may think of physical healing, but have we considered the miracle of praying “not my will, but Yours be done” amid sorrow and anguish? Jesus uttered this prayer We are thankful for a savior who, in His own pain, yielded to the will of the Father so that there would be an empty grave on the other side of the cross. So that...

Righteous Restoration | The Meaning of Miracles | Part 6

Senior Pastor David Dwight continues the sermon series, “The Meaning of Miracles” by examining Jesus’ healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda. Our current culture tells us that we can experience self-managed conversions, in pursuit of health, fitness, and the lives that we want to have. However, true transformation and healing can only take place through the intervening work of God. This conversion of the human heart is the most common miracle, experienced by every believer. Jesus’ healing of...

For Her Dignity | The Meaning of Miracles | Part 5

This morning, Senior Pastor David Dwight continued our series on the meaning of miracles with a message on the bleeding woman in Luke 8:40-48. She had suffered from a deeply personal medical disorder for twelve years. She was outcast by her culture because she was deemed unclean. Then amongst the throngs of people, Jesus restored her. He healed her in public where she was not welcomed. Miracles demonstrate the kingdom of God and reveal His glory. Miracles are more about God, rather than they are...

Restoration in Gadara | The Meaning of Miracles | Part 4

This morning, Worship + Family Ministries Pastor Kyle Freedman shared with us the story of the demon-possessed man in Mark 5:1-20. This man was tormented by a legion of demons, cast out by the Gentile society, living among the dead, and roaming the hills + caves throughout the night like an animal. Upon seeing Jesus’ boat approach shore, he ran to Him. There Jesus cast out the demons, setting the man free. He was commanded to stay in the Gentile society to share the story of his restoration. He ...

Healing on the Sabbath | The Meaning of Miracles | Part 3

Senior Pastor David Dwight continued our sermon series, The Meaning of Miracles, with a reading from Matthew 12. In this passage of scripture, Jesus heals a man with a crippled hand on the day of the Sabbath. It is no coincidence that Jesus healed on this day and did so six other Sabbath days. This day was for God’s people to rest from their labor, but also to connect with God more than the rest of the week. The Sabbath was and is an invitation to wholeness and oneness with God Himself. Jesus, r...

Stilling the Storm | The Meaning of the Miracles | Part 2

But soon a fierce storm came up…Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” Senior Pastor David Dwight continues our sermon series about miracles, focused on the reality that when we are praying for miracles, we are often in the most challenging circumstances of our lives. Like the disciples in Mark 4, we ask God, “Don’t you care….?” We cannot predict or understand when God will i...

Wedding at Cana | The Meaning of the Miracles | Part 1

This morning, Executive Pastor Wes Peterson kicked off our new sermon series, The Meaning of Miracles, with the story of the wedding at Cana. In one of the most recognizable miracles in the Bible, Jesus turned water into wine. Why? Not to simply fill the cups of the wedding guests for a single event, but to reveal His own glory for the first time. This supernatural act was a sign pointing to something else. Pointing to Him, His love, and His glory. It was pointing to the spiritual redemption Jes...

Perspective | Wise & True

Senior Pastor David Dwight continues our series, Wise & True, with a reminder that the fear of the Lord, our reverent devotion to Him, is the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom is: To be carried and considered and wrestled with. Wisdom isn’t: A good luck charm, a fortune cookie, or superstition. Wisdom is: An important element of your relationship with God. Wisdom isn’t: Ever to become your God, or your heart’s focus and devotion. Wisdom is: Something that over time leads you to make better decisio...

Motives, Plans, and Steps | Wise & True

Senior Pastor David Dwight continues our series, Wise & True, with a reminder that the fear of the Lord, our reverent devotion to Him, is the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom is: To be carried and considered and wrestled with. Wisdom isn’t: A good luck charm, a fortune cookie, or superstition. Wisdom is: An important element of your relationship with God. Wisdom isn’t: Ever to become your God, or your heart’s focus and devotion. Wisdom is: Something that over time leads you to make better decisio...

True Discernment | Wise & True

We continued our sermon series this morning with Senior Pastor David Dwight. He painted a picture of the tree of life. Its roots, character; its trunk, wisdom; its four main branches, truth, trust, humility, and discipline. The book of Proverbs invites us to seek wisdom and to see ourselves in a true and accurate light. Acquiring the truth about who we are can be painful, but it is humbling, edifying, and it is wise. Proverbs tells us that the wise person seeks correction, insight, and shaping. ...

Above All Else | Wise & True

Senior Associate Pastor Pete Bowell continues our sermon series reminding us of these words in Proverbs 4:23. We guard our hearts because they are valuable to God, they are the source of our words and actions, and they are often under attack from the enemy. Pete reminds us that Christ is in us, and with us always. He will help us to guard our hearts and cultivate wisdom in us. Stay connected to HOPE! Find us online at: hopechurchrva.com Follow us on Facebook + Instagram: @hopechurchrva...

The Best Advice | Wise & True

There are thousands of voices telling us what to do to lead a better life. The Bible tells us that we need to get wisdom to live a better life. It tells us that if we are to pursue anything, we are to pursue wisdom. This morning, Senior Pastor David Dwight kicked off the new year + a new sermon series exploring the book of Proverbs. The invitation of this book is to trust God, yield to Him, and make Him the foundation of our life. We can do this with confidence because God has a pure and spotles...

New Year's Eve 2023

HOPE Church's 2023 NYE special Sunday Service. Stay connected to HOPE! Find us online at: hopechurchrva.com Follow us on Facebook + Instagram: @hopechurchrva

Christmas Eve | Behold

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. “Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with jo...

Behold the Lamb | Behold

God is inviting us to behold and to pay attention to Him. But His ways are not our own. While we may be looking for God to move in extravagant ways, His handiwork can often be found in the modest and small. The Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world, bringing justice, peace, and reconciliation, was born a baby in a humble dwelling. The birth of a baby, an everyday miracle, was how God chose to bring heaven to earth. Senior Pastor David Dwight continued our sermon series, Behold, s...

Behold the News | Behold

Executive Pastor Wes Peterson continues our sermon series, Behold, reminding us that the event of Jesus’ birth, the good news, is not just something that happened long ago. It is a personal invitation from God into His story. The good news is for ALL people, right where they are and in all the challenges they are facing. Behold the joy that this news brings the world and share that joy with someone this Christmas season. “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that ...

Behold God’s Glory | Behold

It can be hard to behold God in all His glory when we are consumed by ourselves and our circumstances as we live in the darkness of this world. Yet, we can find God’s glory all around us when we stop for a moment and behold His kindness, His mercy, His grace, His peace, and His love. Senior Associate Pastor Pete Bowell invites us to behold God’s glory throughout Advent, even if only for the amount of time it takes to sing the doxology below. Praise God from whom all blessings flow Praise Him, al...

Behold a Son | Behold

Our Advent sermon series, Behold, commences with a message from Senior Pastor David Dwight. God invites us to behold – not merely look, but to pay attention, to notice, and to take in the beauty + magnitude of the birth of Jesus Christ. Everything changed when He entered into the world fully man and fully God. Religion turned into a relationship with the person of Christ. Together, as a community of beholders, we can bring our distractions and our wounds to Jesus this Christmas, so that nothing ...

Love’s Win | Romans 8

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39 Senior Pastor David Dwight concludes our sermon series remindin...

No Means No | 8

How do we know God is for us? He gave us Christ! Christ who suffered for us and entered into our own suffering so that we may have a deeper union with God. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Since God is for Us | 8

As believers we know that God works for the good of those who love Him, but is “the good” the apostle Paul speaks of the same as what we define “good” to be? Is it only happy, victorious endings to the strife and hardships in our lives? Missional Pastor Matt Hartman reminds us that we may not see resolution to life’s interruptions, closed doors, and heartaches. But when the spirit of Christ lives in us, God is using those messy, difficult situations to draw us closer to Him, conform us to His im...

Hopeful Endurance | 8

This morning Worship + Family Ministries Pastor Kyle Freedman explores the relationship between suffering and glory as we continue our series on Romans 8. God’s Word tells us that we are called to wait patiently, eagerly, and with hope for the future glory promised to us through Christ Jesus. This hope builds in us an ability to endure the suffering we experience here on earth. We can be assured that our present sufferings, while painful, are temporary and small in comparison to the glory of ete...

Life in the Spirit | 8

Today, Senior Pastor David Dwight continues our sermon series and explores what Romans 8 says about the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a real person and the third member of the trinity. When we’ve accepted Jesus into our hearts, He is in us and with us always. He is the midwife of our birth, the companion in our growth, and the resurrector at our death. "To live in the Spirit is to have a heart yielded to God. Our hearts desire to love, serve, and honor Him because of the power of His spirit. T...