HOPECAST

Being Known (with Katie Nielsen)

As humans, we have a deep desire to know and be known, but sometimes we find it hard to be vulnerable. We are held back by fear of what others will think of us when we are fully honest. Hope Students Lead Pastor Katie Nielsen and Senior Pastor David Dwight reflect on interesting and vulnerable conversations they’ve found themselves in and what happens when we push past our hesitations. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I sha...

Being Human (with Dr. Anderson Spickard, M.D.)

What does it mean to be a human being? As Hope Church kicks off a new sermon series, “Being Human,” Senior Pastor David Dwight and Dr. Anderson Spickard, Dean of the Thomas J. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine at Belmont University explore this question from medical and faith perspectives. As humans, we bear the image of God and yet are bound by the limitations of our earthly bodies. The intersection between the two presents remarkable complexities that we will not stop pondering on this side of he...

Growing Up In Today's World

Have you ever felt out of touch with the world around you? Like you don't know how to communicate with the generation under you? Like you don't have the right thing to say/do? Listen to the conversation between Senior Pastor David Dwight and Hope Students Lead Pastor Katie Nielson as they discuss the challenges that comes with growing up in today's world. In this episode, they discuss the insecurities and challenges of living in a world of social media and texting, and how harmful it can be to o...

Life Influencers (with Students Lead Katie Neilsen)

When we hear the word "influencer" we probably think of social media "celebrities" trying to engage us to follow their advice or fashion. But when we talk about "life influencers" in the context of our faith, the concept means something very different. Life influencers are people who may have offered us perspectives and encouragement that helped us identify our calling or confirmed something about our gifting that pointed us in an important direction. Katie Nielsen, Hope Students Lead Pastor and...

Introducing Hope's Worship Lead - Charis Napier

Sermon on the Mount

Senior Pastor David Dwight reads Jesus's sermon on the mount in its entirety from The Message, by Eugene Peterson, to kick off Hope's next sermon series: The Sermon. This episode has been revised following a partial rerecording.

With God, All Things Are Possible

What does it mean when the Bible says that "all things are possible with God?" How are we supposed to understand that - as Christians and non-Christians? What does that mean for us? In today's episode, Senior Pastor David Dwight and Discipleship Pastor Dan Yoon discuss the power of God through the analogy of the "camel in the eye of a needle," which is a metaphor that Jesus used when he was teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven.

If You Love Me...

What comes to your mind when you think of the word "obedience?" Is it total submission? Or perhaps, is your first instinct rebellion when you hear that word? On today's episode, Senior Pastor David Dwight and Discipleship Pastor Dan Yoon discuss America's version of obedience and compare it with Scripture. They also explore the meaning of what Jesus said in 1 John 5:1-5 when he tells his disciples that if they love him, they will obey his commands. They also consider the relationship between obe...

Every Heart has a Kingdom

Have you ever wanted to have complete and total control over your life? To be your own boss and live by your own standards? One of the main challenges of living a Christian life is subjecting our life to the total control (or kingship) of Jesus Christ, which means surrendering our own agendas before the cross. In this episode, Senior Pastor David Dwight and guest host Leandra Parks discuss how every heart is a kingdom that can only have one king.

Identity

When you think of identity - what comes to your mind? Who you are as an individual? Your morals or values? What or who you believe in? Understanding our identity can be a complicated process that isn't always easy. As Christians, we are called to enter into our identify in Christ - but what does that really mean? In today's episode, Senior Pastor David Dwight and Discipleship Pastor Dan Yoon discuss what Scripture says about our identity, why our identity is significant and how we can step into ...

Forgiveness

Forgiveness - everybody needs it and we're all grateful to experience it, but it often seems hard to offer when we find ourselves in challenging interactions. When two people or groups experience a brokenness from wrongdoing or sin, forgiveness is needed to reconcile the relationship. As Christians, we have experienced forgiveness of the highest order that leads us to reconciliation with God. As we seek to understand the magnitude of this forgiveness, we learn how to extend the same to others. S...

Belief Anchors

When the storms of life come, we often wonder if what we believe is still true. Can I still trust what I knew? Will the anchor hold? HOPE Senior Pastor David Dwight, joined by HOPE High School Pastor Katie Nielsen, explore the latest sermon series, Belief Anchors , and how we can know what to put our faith in when we meet challenging circumstances in life. Just like the disciples in the early church questioned everything they had seen after the resurrection, so we are invited to question and cha...

What Happened on the Cross

As we navigate the complexities of Jesus' death and resurrection, we can somehow miss the intricacies of the crucifixion. Senior Pastor David Dwight and co-host Leandra Parks discuss Jesus' death on the cross, the customs and government of the Roman Empire, and how Jesus' death fulfilled God's plan to redeem us back to Himself. As we approach the end of Holy Week, take a moment to consider all that Jesus' death on the cross accomplished and what this means for each one of us.

Anxiety and worry

Many of us experience anxiety and worry as a routine part of life. From difficult circumstances around the world, to concerns about our own health, finances, work, and relationships, we have ample opportunity for worry. How do we think about these challenges without giving ourselves over to our anxieties? Senior Pastor David Dwight and Leandra Parks discuss their own experiences with anxiety and worry, examine some scriptural passages, and explore practical, actionable strategies to discipline o...

Entering into the Season of Lent

When you hear about Lent, what does it make you think about? In different faith traditions, the season of Lent can bring different practices and rhythms. It can be a season of contemplation and an opportunity for reflection on God's holiness and glory. Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent and invites us to a place of repentance. It gives us the opportunity to reflect on how far our human natures are from the character of God. By confessing where we fall short, we invite God's grace and increase of...

God's Vision

Many of us have a vision for our lives and work hard to create it. Eventually we may realize we have less control over achieving this vision than we once hoped. What is our role in this work versus God’s role in building out a vision for our lives? God made us and knows us. His vision for our lives may be more challenging than the one we would create for ourselves, but it will be more meaningful and ultimately more fulfilling. Join Senior Pastor David Dwight and guest host Leandra Parks as they ...

Who Are Your People and What Is Your Book?

If you were to be asked the question "Who are your people?" what comes to mind? Family? Friends? Ancestors? How does the answer impact your life? In this life, it is easy to feel alone without the community of others around us. Life can be isolating, confusing, and incredibly difficult to navigate on our own. We can also find foundation in our values and what we believe through that community as we discover our place as people of the book. Today, join Senior Pastor David Dwight and guest host Le...

Hope in Christ or Hope in Christmas

We hope for good weather, for that big promotion at work, to meet that special someone that will bring that sense of connection we've been longing for. Scripture tells us faith is the substance of the things we hope for but where do we place our hope? Today, Senior Pastor David Dwight and guest host Leandra Parks take a closer look at what it truly means to have hope.

The Surprise of Christmas

Christianity is full of surprises, and Christmas is no exception. Out of that idea, The Surprise of Christmas, our Advent sermon series was born. What's surprising about Christmas? Listen in to today's episode to hear David and Leandra share! Listen to all sermons from this series here . Mentioned in today's episode: Christianity's Surprise: A Sure and Certain Hope by C. Kavin Rowe...

The Problem with the Supremacy of the Individual

In today's episode, Senior Pastor David Dwight and guest host Leandra Parks discuss our personhood and our placement in life. We know we have responsibilities in life as individuals, but we also know we aren't entirely individualistic in our culture and society. What does the Bible say about individuals and their dignity, and what does our culture say about the rights of an individual? Listen to the culture podcast mentioned here . Philippians 2:3: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conc...

The Power of Culture

When is the last time you said "good morning" to a complete stranger? Maybe it's not a big part of your culture, or the mannerisms and norms of what you learned from your community alongside people who influenced you. Senior Pastor David Dwight and guest host Leandra Parks talk about how powerful the concept of culture is and how it impacts us in everyday life. For more information about HOPE Church, visit hopechurchrva.com . Listen to our latest sermon on Spotify....

Angels: Who are they? What do they do? What are they like?

Listen to all sermons in the Angels sermon series on YouTube here or on HOPE's website here . Books + verses mentioned in this episode: Angels: Who They Are and How They Help--What the Bible Reveals by David Jeremiah Angels: Ringing Assurance that We Are Not Alone by Billy Graham Hebrews 1:14: Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?...

How do we engage with spiritual rhythms this summer?

Take a next step with us and learn ways you can join community and grow your relationship with God this summer at hopechurchrva.com/nextsteps Subscribe to the HOPEcast in your favorite podcast app, rate this episode or leave a review, and share this episode with a friend! Learn more about HOPE Church at hopechurchrva.com

Grief (Part 2): How do we do it?

Scripture references: 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NIV) John 14:26 (AMP) Isaiah 53:3 (NLT) 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (ESV) Matthew 5:3-10 (NIV) Subscribe to the HOPEcast in your favorite podcast app, rate this episode or leave a review, and share this episode with a friend! Learn more about Hope Church at hopechurchrva.com...

Grief (Part 1): What is it?

Subscribe to the HOPEcast in your favorite podcast app, rate this episode or leave a review, and share this episode with a friend! Learn more about Hope Church at hopechurchrva.com

What is Missions?

Scripture references: Matthew 28:18-19 1 Timothy 2:3-4 Matthew 24:14 Acts 1:6-8 Visit hopechurchrva.com/outreach to learn more about outreach opportunities and join us in praying for our summer outreach trips. Subscribe to the HOPEcast in your favorite podcast app, rate this episode or leave a review, and share this episode with a friend! Learn more about Hope Church at hopechurchrva.com...

Is worship more than just music?

Scripture references: John 4:24 Exodus 3 Check out these other episodes on spiritual disciplines: Why is it important to read the entire Bible? (Season 3, Episode 2) Prayer: What is it, how do we do it, and why is it important? (Season 3, Episode 3) What does it mean to practice simplicity? (Season 3, Episode 4) What does it look like to bear good fruit? (Season 3, Episodes 5)...

What does it look like to bear good fruit?

Scripture references: Galatians 5:22-23 John 15:1-8 Luke 13:6-9 Romans 8:1 Subscribe to the HOPEcast in your favorite podcast app, rate this episode or leave a review, and share this episode with a friend! Learn more about Hope Church at hopechurchrva.com...

What does it mean to practice simplicity?

Practical tips mentioned: Consider function v. form // use v. status Be intentional in your choices Be mindful of what leads to addiction Be in the habit of being generous Lean into contentment in Christ

Prayer: What is it, how do we do it, and why is it important?

Scriptural resources + references for prayer: The Book of Lamentations 1 Corinthians 2:16 Matthew 6:9-13 Other resources: Book of Common Prayer A Diary of Private Prayer The Valley of Vision The Collect Prayer...