The world tells us that our best life is "now." Therefore, we are told, we must seize the day. Tick off those items from our bucket list. Stand out. Promote yourself. Fulfill your destiny. Every day we are bombarded with a form of the message that says, "Today is all you've got, so love life and make the most of it." Enter Jesus. His way is different, and His message is o...

It's easy to question God when life goes sideways. You know this to be true if you've ever experienced the untimely death of someone you love. Amidst the crushing weight of grief and sorrow, you instinctively ask "Why now, Lord?" and wonder what He is doing. From your limited vantage point, you don't understand, and life doesn't seem to make sense. In such moments, we mus...

Have you ever wondered why some people hate Jesus? Why they are so offended by Him? Jesus offers insight in Sunday's preaching passage. In John 10:26, he says to the hostile religious leaders, "You do not believe because you are not among my sheep." Unbelievers are described in scripture as those whose minds have been blinded by the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:11). Elsewh...

There are times in life when pretending is okay, and even encouraged. A costume party would be a good example. Or an actress performing in a play. The nature of both events assumes (and expects) that pretending is happening. However, pretending in life and death situations is not funny nor is it appropriate. If you were experiencing a medical emergency, you would not appr...

Gratitude flows freely when you are given a desired gift that was not previously yours. Think of a thoughtful birthday gift, a new friendship, or even a glass of cold water on a hot summer day. It is easy to be thankful for such things. In contrast, the more we grow accustomed to God's blessings on a daily basis, the easier it is to take them for granted. For example, we'...

Light is a welcomed sight when you are lost in the dark. Light gives you clarity about where you are, and it helps you see where you need to go. In contrast, light can be disrupting and even blinding when you want to be in the dark.In Sunday's passage, John 8:12-50, Jesus identifies himself as the light of the world. For some (then and now) this is hopeful, life-giving new...

On a hot summer day, there's nothing like a cold glass of water to quench your thirst. But where do you go when you are dehydrated deep inside or when you're in a spiritual drought? In this week's passage, John 7:37-52, Jesus shares the only way to truly quench our spiritual thirst. Back then people debated Jesus' claim, and they were divided about Him. Some things never ...

The claims of Jesus have been debated ever since he walked this earth. Today is no different. People are generally fine with the "acceptable" parts of Jesus' message, such as his commands to: Love one another. Do unto others what you would want done to you. Turn the other cheek. Go the extra mile. You get the point. However, Jesus calls us to much more. He is not ...

As we continue through John's gospel this Sunday, we will be confronted about the danger of adopting a "weak" view of Jesus in John 5. Jesus has authority to give life to whom He will (v. 21), while also having the authority to execute judgment (v.22, 27). Therefore, honoring Jesus is a big deal to God the Father (v.23-24). Fellow believer, ponder today how you might honor...

This Sunday marks a significant moment in the life of our church. It will be the first time in Hope's 12-year history that our Sunday morning worship service will happen in an actual church building. We are thankful for God's abundant provision, and we hope to see you at our new summer location, which is at the Christian Assembly of Suburban Chicago (23W420 St. Charles Rd....