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...
Should I Have a Side Hustle?
In this episode, the team discusses the art of navigating side hustles and the pressure culture places on us to or live up to its (or our own) unrealistic expectations....
What Do We Do With Toxic Relationships?
In this episode, the team discusses relationships and why they are worth having. While truly toxic relationships do exist, we now live in a culture quick to label...
The Importance of Friendships: Why Can’t We Be Friends?
Logically and biblically, we might know the call of friendship and community that the Bible has for us. We know all the metaphors for the Church. We have seen the realities that the Church IS a body. It has different functions and designs, but all working together as...
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...
Creating & Maintaining Community in Small Groups
Creating a comfortable and welcoming environment for a small group is vital to the success of the group in general. The reasoning is pretty simple - people return to environments where they feel welcome and accepted. People also feel freer to be themselves in a...
Common Misconceptions About Friendship & How Jesus Shows Us a Better Way
This is an article addressing what I've learned from 25 years of friendship...or, put differently, it breaks down common misconceptions concerning the nature of deep friendships. Misconception #1: It is someone else's responsibility to come and be my friend. We might...
What is the Immutability of God?
God, in all his wonder and glory, shows us his character through Scripture. Many of the attributes of his character are communicable, meaning we as humans can share in those attributes. God is love, and we are capable of love. God is wise, and we (on our better days)...
Omnipotence of God
In our culture we have a high interest in power. This is illustrated in our movie story lines through Marvel characters of Captain America, Iron man, Captain Marvel and the Eternals. We also see this in how we herald those who have demonstrated dominance in sports,...
Grieving Unmet Expectations
Expectations. We all have them. Whether they are known or not, whether they are met or not. They can be sneaky and can reveal a longing, a desiring or a hope we didn’t know we had until that expectation was not met. Expectation is defined as the state of expecting or...
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...
Theology of Stewardship and Money
Our Theology around Money, Giving, & Stewardship Here at Hope, we believe that giving is a worshipful response to God, as all of life is in response to how God has already given. We give not because we have to, but because we get to! We are also called to be...