True Faith | Abundant | Part 1 In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Where do we find life? Is it in our financial security, popularity, the causes we support, passions, or personal happiness? Where can we find life that’s truly life? John 1:4 says, “I…

By Rachel Dawson

How important is listening in a restaurant? Lauren and Blake Schar, husband and wife restaurant owners, join us to discuss the importance of listening in the restaurant industry. We discuss the different aspects of listening in a restaurant, including the front of the house, the back of the house, and the customer experience. They also discuss how …

This podcast enters the world of conversation imbalance. Specifically, we discuss the "me monster”, where individuals dominate conversations by constantly talking about themselves and the “one-upper”, the tendency for people to one-up each other. We delve into the balance needed in conversations (and social media) and how creating a good conversati…

Crisis | Peter’s Story | Part 5 Peter’s story tells us that, like him, we will mess up and we will face failure. His story tells us that we have the choice to either live in the condemnation and shame of our mistakes or let them drive us back into the arms of Christ. Jesus sees our mess, knows all our past, present, and future mistakes, and loves u…

Passion | Peter’s Story | Part 4 As we read about Peter it becomes clear that a story of a man transforming from self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness is unfolding. He, like us, begins as rough rock under the chisel of Christ. He was brash and outspoken. He inserted himself into conversations + situations that did not necessarily need his input.…

What if the act of listening is actually very difficult or nearly impossible? In this episode of I’m Listening, we explore the possibility of not being able to do so. We interview Doug who woke up one day and realized he couldn't hear anything out of his left ear and was diagnosed with tinnitus, vertigo, and hearing loss. We listen to his year-long…

Ahhhh, Spring. In this podcast we discuss the arrival of Spring and the sounds associated with it. We discuss peepers (the frogs), rainstorms, birds, wind, and the sounds of baseball. When you listen to these sounds does it create a rejuvenating effect? We think so and we encourage our listeners to go outside and enjoy it… right now! Sounds by Zaps…

How often do we find ourselves amid something grand + important, but are unaware of it until we look in hindsight? This morning, Executive Pastor Wes Peterson shared with us the story of the Last Supper in Luke 22:21-24, 31-34. The disciples argued with each other about who was the greatest among them all the while sitting in the presence of Jesus …

This episode explores the importance of listening in parenting and interacting with children. Listening is definitely much more prevalent than it was before, but do we need to be doing more? We interview certified Positive Discipline Educator Beth Keller, who emphasizes the importance of mutual respect in listening to children. We also discuss the …

In thin spaces, where the veil between heaven and earth is almost translucent, we’re able to see a vision of goodness + glory. Maybe it’s beholding an unending landscape of peaks and valleys or basking in the joy + warmth of laughter with your dearest friends. In God’s incredible kindness, He shows us these glimmers of glory. Yet, in all their beau…

HOPE Church celebrates the joy of the resurrection with services from the Altria Theatre in Richmond, Virginia. Senior Pastor David Dwight reminds us that the truth of Easter changed the lives of his disciples in Jesus’ time and it is no less radical for us today. This is the conclusion of our sermon series on the meaning of miracles. The resurrect…

We discuss a study from the mid-90s by Arthur and Elaine Aaron, which involved asking and answering 36 questions to foster interpersonal closeness. The questions were used with various groups of people, including college students, individuals from different ethnic backgrounds, and police officers. Originally focused on creating interpersonal closen…

Spring brings warmer air, brighter days, fresh blooms, and a new sermon series! Today, we began Peter’s Story — a series about the making of an apostle. Jesus calls us, like He called Peter on the shores of Galilee, to come and follow Him. He asks us not just to follow at a distance, but to walk with Him, leaving our preoccupations behind, taking u…

From the moment you enter the airport to the moment you exit, travelers are inundated with noise. This episode brings to light that maybe we should listen just a bit more… we are after all, traveling in a tube at over 500mph. But we don’t listen, at all. And there are billions of dollars spent every year helping us do so. However, there is one plac…

This Palm Sunday morning, Senior Associate Pastor Pete Bowell, shared with us the story of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane in Luke 22:39-48. When we hear “miracle” many of us may think of physical healing, but have we considered the miracle of praying “not my will, but Yours be done” amid sorrow and anguish? Jesus uttered this prayer We are thank…

Is poetry meant to be written, read, or listened to? Poetry is everywhere and likely one of the first styles of writing that was read to you. This podcast welcomes guest Ty Phelps, a lifelong educator and writer. He discusses his background in teaching, writing, music, and his passion for poetry. Ty shares how he initially viewed poetry as a way to…

Senior Pastor David Dwight continues the sermon series, “The Meaning of Miracles” by examining Jesus’ healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda. Our current culture tells us that we can experience self-managed conversions, in pursuit of health, fitness, and the lives that we want to have. However, true transformation and healing can only take plac…

In this podcast we discuss why customers often feel unheard and unsatisfied with customer service. We explore different perspectives and frustrations, including limitations on what customer service representatives can offer and also the importance of listening and being prepared in customer service interactions. Our guest, Angie Wilson, shares her …

This is a podcast called I'm Listening, where the hosts, Brandt Christopherson and Drew Richmond, discuss the importance of listening. They believe that if everyone listened more, the world would be a better place. They share their own experiences and emphasize the value of being a good listener in various aspects of life. They want to explore diff…

This morning, Senior Pastor David Dwight continued our series on the meaning of miracles with a message on the bleeding woman in Luke 8:40-48. She had suffered from a deeply personal medical disorder for twelve years. She was outcast by her culture because she was deemed unclean. Then amongst the throngs of people, Jesus restored her. He healed her…

This morning, Worship + Family Ministries Pastor Kyle Freedman shared with us the story of the demon-possessed man in Mark 5:1-20. This man was tormented by a legion of demons, cast out by the Gentile society, living among the dead, and roaming the hills + caves throughout the night like an animal. Upon seeing Jesus’ boat approach shore, he ran to …

Senior Pastor David Dwight continued our sermon series, The Meaning of Miracles, with a reading from Matthew 12. In this passage of scripture, Jesus heals a man with a crippled hand on the day of the Sabbath. It is no coincidence that Jesus healed on this day and did so six other Sabbath days. This day was for God’s people to rest from their labor,…

But soon a fierce storm came up…Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” Senior Pastor David Dwight continues our sermon series about miracles, focused on the reality that when we are praying for miracles, we are often in the most…

This morning, Executive Pastor Wes Peterson kicked off our new sermon series, The Meaning of Miracles, with the story of the wedding at Cana. In one of the most recognizable miracles in the Bible, Jesus turned water into wine. Why? Not to simply fill the cups of the wedding guests for a single event, but to reveal His own glory for the first time. …

Senior Pastor David Dwight continues our series, Wise & True, with a reminder that the fear of the Lord, our reverent devotion to Him, is the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom is: To be carried and considered and wrestled with. Wisdom isn’t: A good luck charm, a fortune cookie, or superstition. Wisdom is: An important element of your relationship with Go…

Senior Pastor David Dwight continues our series, Wise & True, with a reminder that the fear of the Lord, our reverent devotion to Him, is the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom is: To be carried and considered and wrestled with. Wisdom isn’t: A good luck charm, a fortune cookie, or superstition. Wisdom is: An important element of your relationship with Go…

We continued our sermon series this morning with Senior Pastor David Dwight. He painted a picture of the tree of life. Its roots, character; its trunk, wisdom; its four main branches, truth, trust, humility, and discipline. The book of Proverbs invites us to seek wisdom and to see ourselves in a true and accurate light. Acquiring the truth about wh…

Senior Associate Pastor Pete Bowell continues our sermon series reminding us of these words in Proverbs 4:23. We guard our hearts because they are valuable to God, they are the source of our words and actions, and they are often under attack from the enemy. Pete reminds us that Christ is in us, and with us always. He will help us to guard our heart…

There are thousands of voices telling us what to do to lead a better life. The Bible tells us that we need to get wisdom to live a better life. It tells us that if we are to pursue anything, we are to pursue wisdom. This morning, Senior Pastor David Dwight kicked off the new year + a new sermon series exploring the book of Proverbs. The invitation …

HOPE Church's 2023 NYE special Sunday Service. Stay connected to HOPE! Find us online at: hopechurchrva.com Follow us on Facebook + Instagram: @hopechurchrvaBy Rachel Dawson

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. “Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come t…

God is inviting us to behold and to pay attention to Him. But His ways are not our own. While we may be looking for God to move in extravagant ways, His handiwork can often be found in the modest and small. The Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world, bringing justice, peace, and reconciliation, was born a baby in a humble dwelling. T…

Executive Pastor Wes Peterson continues our sermon series, Behold, reminding us that the event of Jesus’ birth, the good news, is not just something that happened long ago. It is a personal invitation from God into His story. The good news is for ALL people, right where they are and in all the challenges they are facing. Behold the joy that this ne…

It can be hard to behold God in all His glory when we are consumed by ourselves and our circumstances as we live in the darkness of this world. Yet, we can find God’s glory all around us when we stop for a moment and behold His kindness, His mercy, His grace, His peace, and His love. Senior Associate Pastor Pete Bowell invites us to behold God’s gl…

Our Advent sermon series, Behold, commences with a message from Senior Pastor David Dwight. God invites us to behold – not merely look, but to pay attention, to notice, and to take in the beauty + magnitude of the birth of Jesus Christ. Everything changed when He entered into the world fully man and fully God. Religion turned into a relationship wi…

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separat…

How do we know God is for us? He gave us Christ! Christ who suffered for us and entered into our own suffering so that we may have a deeper union with God. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will b…

As believers we know that God works for the good of those who love Him, but is “the good” the apostle Paul speaks of the same as what we define “good” to be? Is it only happy, victorious endings to the strife and hardships in our lives? Missional Pastor Matt Hartman reminds us that we may not see resolution to life’s interruptions, closed doors, an…

This morning Worship + Family Ministries Pastor Kyle Freedman explores the relationship between suffering and glory as we continue our series on Romans 8. God’s Word tells us that we are called to wait patiently, eagerly, and with hope for the future glory promised to us through Christ Jesus. This hope builds in us an ability to endure the sufferin…

Today, Senior Pastor David Dwight continues our sermon series and explores what Romans 8 says about the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a real person and the third member of the trinity. When we’ve accepted Jesus into our hearts, He is in us and with us always. He is the midwife of our birth, the companion in our growth, and the resurrector at our …

Our new sermon series, 8, kicks off with a message from Senior Pastor David Dwight. When we are in true relationship with Jesus, we will be judged “not guilty” before the throne of God. We did not earn this verdict, Jesus did. He paid it all, so we can live joyfully and in gratitude for this incredible gift. This is grace. "Therefore, there is now …

To be human is to be made in the image of God, for our identity to be found in Jesus alone, to be separated from God because of sin, but reconciled through the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and to have eternity planted in our hearts. Senior Associate Pastor Pete Bowell wraps up our sermon series, Being Human, with the poignant rem…

We all face problems and challenges in our lives. The secular view says that our problems are caused by external factors. A biblical view of our problems tells us that our problems are caused by our internal sin. Senior Pastor David Dwight reminds us that God is offering us redemption from our brokenness and he offers us another way. God invites us…

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it." Psalm 139:13-14 The human body is extraordinarily complex. We contain 35 trillion cells, each with its own specialized functions that contribute to keeping us…

We are made in the image of God. He calls us to display his characters and personhood. When we reveal the goodness of his nature, we are bringing him glory. Senior Pastor David Dwight begins our series "Being Human" reminding us that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.By Rachel Dawson

Senior Pastor David Dwight concludes our series "The Sermon." The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus Christ teaching us how to live a simple human life: how to focus on what matters; how to live with God and people; and how to arrange our priorities to yield a life of wholeness, meaning, and influence; and leave a legacy of love and grace. In the Sermon …

When we hear the word "sin," we may think of a list of bad behaviors. We'll compare our behavior to others and be left feeling puffed up or deflated. These "sins," wherever we rank them are really the symptom of a greater problem - separation from God. We've all fallen short and the good news is that Christ has closed the gap. The deep heart proble…

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’...But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Senior Associate Pastor Pete Bowe…

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Executive Pastor Wes Peterson conti…