New Hope Church Messages

When our faith is tested, we are invited to draw closer to the God who draws near to us in our trials. In this study, we'll explore more of the ways God works good in our lives through trials.

One of the reasons God sends us trials is to reveal the genuineness (or lack thereof) of our faith. We'll talk about that in this study, as well as a profound perspective on trials that unfold in the aftermath of our failures.   For discussion questions and video for this message, visit jeffthompsonministries.com/intheword.

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God sends trials to get our attention and sometimes He sends trials to humble us. Learn why that's a good thing, and how the Lord uses trials to get us to the place where He can bless us.

James shares a shocking command, instructing believers to view their trials with joy. In this study, we’ll learn why God sends trials to His children, and why they’re so good for us.

Despite being a recognized apostle and the half-brother of Jesus, James identifies himself as, "a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ". In this study, we'll talk about what it means to be a slave to Christ, and why it's the most blessed and free way to live.

On the first Easter Sunday, we find the disciples hiding together for fear of the religious leaders. Their expectations of who Jesus was and what He came to do were dashed to pieces when He was brutally murdered at the hands of the Romans. But all their unmet expectations evaporated when the resurrected Messiah walked into the room. This same Jesus will still change anyone’s life today when He meets with them too.

Paul continues his journey to Rome being used by God mightily along the way and, according to Church tradition, planting churches everywhere he went. And as we wrap up the Book of Acts, we are reminded that most of the time, the glorious truth of the good God is doing in each of us will only be revealed over time.

The final scene in the book of Acts doesn’t appear to be all that inspiring. The Apostle Paul is under house arrest in Rome. He’s allowed visitors, but he isn’t allowed to travel anywhere. But that’s OK. Because placing an Apostle under house arrest cannot stop the Kingdom of God from advancing.

Jesus said that He came to give His followers abundant life. But none of us are magically transported into this blessing once we become a Christian. We need to follow Jesus by faith, through obstacles that stand in the way of us experiencing the quality of life that our Lord came to give us.

Paul finally begins his journey to Rome, only to run into a deadly storm on the Mediterranean Sea that threatens to kill him and the 267 other people on board. But amid the chaos and terror, Paul emerges as a leader filled with Christlike faith and an example for us to emulate.

As Felix, the governor of Judea, is recalled to Rome, a new governor, Festus, arrives. He examines Paul's case and puts on a special audience with Paul for King Agrippa II, allowing Paul to state his case by sharing his incredible testimony.

An imminent assassination plot necessitates Paul being rushed out of Jerusalem by night under military escort. He is taken to the governor's mansion in Caesarea Maritima, where he is placed on trial before Felix. As Paul is afforded an opportunity to share the Gospel with Felix and his wife, Drusilla, we are reminded of the seriousness and urgency of responding to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

The Roman commander Claudius Lysias continues trying to figure out why the Jews in Jerusalem are so agitated by Paul. And in the midst of Paul's discouragement, a visit from Jesus teaches us about the nature of His supernatural comfort.

Paul responds to being brutally attacked in Jerusalem by sharing his testimony with those who had just tried to take his life. His testimony serves as an example of how Christians can share their testimony when God provides opportunities to do so. 

Paul's attempts to appease the Jewish believers in Jerusalem backfire, as a riot breaks out on the Temple Mount and he has to be rescued by a Roman commander and over 200 soldiers. We'll also dig a little deeper into one of the central issues of the Christian life - our identity in Christ.

As Paul arrives in Jerusalem, he is greeted with the news that he has become a lightning rod of controversy as issues of culture, heritage, ethnicity, and traditions collide with the Gospel. We'll see Paul display incredible humility, as he pursues unity in the Church through the power of the love of Christ.

Paul and his team are making their way to Jerusalem, and they get a lot of help along the way. There was a mission to fulfill and everyone played a part in getting the job done. In this message, we consider what it would look like today for the Church to live on mission together, as we see in the Book of Acts. 

Paul leaves the Ephesian elders in Miletus and heads for Jerusalem, which requires a few stops along the way. In this message, we'll witness the special bond between genuine believers and delve into some issues related to the gift of prophecy.

Jesus says it is more blessed to give than to receive. In this message, we'll learn how to experience the blessing Jesus associates with giving, in our lives.