All Resources
How to Care for Hurting or Grieving People
At Hope, we value all people, regardless of their life or faith condition. As small group leaders, you have a unique role in that you will be on the “frontlines” with people who are experiencing varying life and faith situations. Specifically, you will find that...
How Do I Navigate the Tension of Being Compassionate & Having High Standards?
In this episode, the team discusses how an unhealthy relationship with perfection impacts the ability to navigate the tension between having high standards and accepting...
Cutting Into the Onion of Moralism
This article originally appeared on redtreegrace.com. Red Tree is a multi-church ministry effort started by Hope Community Church in order to connect the clarity of God's grace to our otherwise confusing lives and attempts at reading the Bible. When I was growing up,...
“Rules of the Sandbox” for Small Group
Remember when you used to play in sandboxes as a kid? There were some unwritten rules that everyone was expected to abide by: No Throwing Sand, No Eating the Sand, No Hitting, Play Kindly with Others, etc. The same goes for Small Groups. We thought it would be...
Killing Sin: Confession, Contrition, Community
“Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you.” ― John Owen, The Mortification of Sin Recently someone sent me a video of a leopard in India caught on camera...
The Jealousy of God
Many people do not have a problem with a soft “teddy bear” God. However, the moment the words “wrath,” “anger,” or “jealousy” are mentioned, the room grows quiet and hands start fidgeting. All too often, when something is challenging, people give themselves the...
Cancelling Good News
Cancel culture, a phrase now popular enough to make its way into the dictionary, is defined as the practice of withdrawing support (or cancelling) public figures after they have done or said something considered objectionable or offensive. In terms of ways to...
Good News Causes Heartburn
The end of Luke’s gospel tells the story of the first ever Easter Sunday. Before the springtime pastels, traditions, and egg-wars (not complaining, I’m very good at these). This is a big day. And where do we find the main character? The last time we see him, in the...
Practice Doesn’t Make Perfect
In the sixth grade, my basketball coach pulled me aside after the first week of practice for a substantial correction: “you need to learn to shoot the ball with a dominant arm.” This may seem obvious to anyone who has played or even watched the game of basketball but...
Writing a Good Welcome Email
When newcomers join a small group, a positive first impression is critical in helping them to feel welcome and included. One of the ways we can help this be a positive process is by sending a welcome email. While it is very important for you to clearly communicate...
Facilitating a Small Group Bible Discussion
Facilitating a Small Group Bible Discussion We believe in life-on-life ministry, meaning that people are truly and significantly changed only as others come alongside them in authentic community. Therefore, Hope values small groups as an opportunity to interact with...