All Resources
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...
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...
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...
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...
How Do We Worship on Easter?
In less than a month, we will be celebrating Good Friday and Easter Sunday. I didn’t grow up with a strong Christian foundation. I’d overhear comments at church about special days, services, terms, and theology and wonder about their significance. What is Lent? Or Ash...
Bible Reading for the Anxious Perfectionist
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. Picture this: while...
Rhythm
Rhythm. As a musician, I hear rhythm everywhere I go. Rhythm is found as I practice songs for Sunday services on my guitar, the oscillating sound of the blinker in my car when I turn left or right, the song of the birds returning to sing in spring time, and even in...
Gushers & Assimilation
You look at the table during snack time at the many different snacks all around you. Your mom of course packed you your favorite crustacean flavored chips. As each of the snacks are taken out, goldfish crackers, fruit by the foot, and a wide assortment of treats from...
Is it Okay to Sleep Together if We Really Love Each Other?
Is it okay to sleep together if we really love each other? To answer, there are several considerations. Do you have a relationship with Christ? If not, then I would encourage you to first respond to Christ. His life, death, and resurrection demand a response, either...
Virtual Choir: All Glory Be to Christ
Video Editing and Production: Scott Skaja Soloists: Andrea Johnson, Savannah Treleven, Sierra Diehl Choir: Noah & Ali Jackson, Brooke Noble, Collin Malaney, Coral & Andy Karsky, Dharma Amundsen, Haley Braaten, Jeffrey Fick, Julia Shaw, Julia Braaten, Kaelyn...
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
Psalm 103:1-12 https://resources.hopecc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Psalm-103.wav Of David. Praise the Lord, my soul, all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals...
Worship Series: Running
“You see me limpin', I know you see me limpin' You can't tell on these CD's, but, bro, I'm knee deep in it I'm wading in my weakness, He made me dependent I'd be lyin' through my teeth to say I don't resent it Even as I write these lines I'm close to tears My body...