New Hope Church | becomehope

New Hope Church

New Hope Church is located in Greenwood, IN on the south side of Indianapolis. This podcast explores the weekly teachings from Sundays along with related bonus teachings.

  1. Sep 24

    What Does It Look Like When Someone Chooses to Be Bold?

    Pastor Randy explores Ruth Chapter 3, where Ruth makes an unprecedented move, she proposes to Boaz. This "soap opera moment" reveals what true virtue looks like: boldness, breaking traditions, and pursuing what's right even when it's unconventional. Ruth risks everything by approaching Boaz at the threshing floor and asking him to "spread his wings" over her, an ancient marriage proposal from a woman who has no cultural right to do so. Yet Boaz recognizes her virtue and agrees, opening the door to redemption for both Ruth and Naomi. The lesson: Being virtuous sometimes means breaking traditions. It means being bold enough to step out, have difficult conversations, and pursue what's right regardless of what's culturally "normal." True virtue isn't passive, it's courageous. 🔔 Subscribe | 👍 Like | 💬 When have you had to be bold to do the right thing? becomehope.com 0:00 - Introduction: "Ruth Proposes" - A Soap Opera Moment2:00 - Naomi's Matchmaking Plan: The Cultural Setup4:00 - Ruth's Bold Move: An Unprecedented Marriage Proposal6:00 - "Spread Your Wings Over Me": The Marriage Idiom9:00 - Boaz Recognizes Ruth's Virtue: Living Above the Law12:00 - The Guardian Redeemer Problem: Another Relative's Rights15:00 - Boaz's Promise: "I Will Provide for You"18:00 - Breaking Tradition: The Cost of Boldness21:00 - Mutual Respect, Love, and Submission in Relationships24:00 - The Challenge: Find Your Naomi, Be Bold, Break Traditions27:00 - Closing Prayer: Living Virtuously Through Bold Love

  2. Aug 27

    Are You Willing to Give Up Control?

    Pastor Randy challenges believers to seek God's kingdom first, and reveals what that really means in a culture obsessed with control through hoarding, selfishness, and worry. THE PROBLEM WITH EARTHLY TREASURE: Matthew 6:19-20 - "Don't store up treasures here on Earth where moths eat them and rust destroys them and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven where moths and rust cannot destroy." Jesus' point is two-fold: (1) It's stupid to hoard because you can't take it with you when you die, and (2) When you store things up on earth, you become consumed with the desire for things. THE RICH FOOL STORY: Luke 12 - A rich man had a fertile farm producing fine crops. He said, "I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room to store all my wheat and say to myself, 'I have enough stored for years. Take it easy, eat, drink, be merry.'" God said to him: "You fool. You'll die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?" THE REALITY: One-third of Americans use storage facilities. There are 50,000 storage facilities in the US, MORE than the total number of McDonald's and Starbucks combined. That's 2.1 billion square feet of storage space. We're holding onto things we don't use, don't need, and will never use again, because they're OURS. THREE WAYS WE TRY TO CONTROL: Hoarding - Storing up treasures on earth; holding onto possessionsSelfishness/Tightfistedness - "What's mine is mine; I'm keeping it"Worrying - Thinking about and trying to maintain control over our worldAll three center around SELFISHNESS. We want more and more, and what we have, we want it to be ours. Then we worry we don't have enough. THE REAL ISSUE: Jesus says: "Seek God's kingdom first." But most people think of "kingdom" as territory, possessions, things. That's not what it means. King Herod was king over territory, but he didn't possess it, the Romans did. Herod just made the laws and collected tribute. Kingdom of God is not about earthly things. It's about God's kingly rule over your life. When Jesus says "Seek God's kingdom first," He's saying: "Seek first that God is in control of your life." NOT A PRIORITY LIST: If God is priority #1, there's a #2, #3, and #4. When you do those things, you forget about #1. Jesus is saying: Let God be the ONLY priority in your life. When you do that, everything else falls into place, running a distant second. THE CHALLENGE: Are you a hoarder? A tightwad? A worrier? Most of us are at least one of these. First, recognize it. Tell the Lord: "I worry. I know I shouldn't, but I do." Then, stop trying to retain control, whether through hoarding, selfishness, or worrying. Let God take control. He knows better anyway. 🔔 Subscribe | 👍 Like | 💬 Which control habit do you struggle with most? becomehope.com

  3. Aug 20

    What Is the Will of the Father?

    Pastor Zack explores Jesus' challenging command about the narrow and wide gates, false prophets, and what it truly means to do the will of the Father, revealing three essential steps every believer must understand. THE NARROW AND WIDE GATES: Matthew 7:13-14 - "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." This passage is heavy. It can either terrify us (questioning our salvation) or seduce us (making us think we're already fine). But Jesus wants us in the middle—wrestling with Him, not panicking or becoming complacent. FALSE PROPHETS AND FRUIT: Matthew 7:15-20 - "Watch out for false prophets. They come in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them." You can identify false teaching by examining the fruit it produces. An apple tree doesn't grow oranges. A false prophet's actions will be out of step with Scripture. THE HARD TRUTH: Matthew 7:21-23 - "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Many will point to their prophesying, demon-casting, and miracles—but Jesus says "I never knew you." They were relying on their works instead of Jesus' completed work on the cross. THE REAL GOSPEL: This isn't about earning heaven through goodness. This is about faith in Jesus leading to a transformed life. The gospel is: You don't deserve it, so Christ did it for you, and He gives it to you freely if you believe. THREE STEPS TO WALKING THE NARROW WAY: Step 1: Be SavedJohn 6:38-40 - Put your faith in Jesus Christ. Believe in His completed work on the cross. This isn't just head knowledge, faith like trusting a parachute leads to action. Step 2: Do Good, Abstain from Evil1 Thessalonians 4:3 + Galatians 5:19-26 - Stop living for yourself. Kill the old self and pick up your cross. Bear the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This isn't about perfection today, it's about direction and desire for change. Step 3: Make DisciplesMatthew 28:18-20 - Jesus has all authority. He commands you to go make disciples of all nations. Once you're saved and being sanctified, don't keep it to yourself. Tell others about the God who saved you. THE FOUNDATION: Matthew 7:24-29 - Build your house on the rock (Jesus and His ways) not on sand (worldly ways). A house built on rock stands firm against storms. A house on sand crumbles. THE WILL OF THE FATHER: When you hear that "still, small voice" calling you to something good, something that doesn't feel like you, that's often God. The flesh always wants what's easy and destructive. The Spirit invites us to what's difficult but life-giving. THE CHALLENGE: Live like a saved person. Lay down your way for His way. Teach others to do the same. Don't waste the short time you have on this earth. The stakes are high, and people are waiting to hear about Jesus. 🔔 Subscribe | 👍 Like | 💬 What step are you struggling with? becomehope.com 0:00 - Introduction: Baby Announcement & The Narrow Gate2:00 - False Prophets, Fruit, & The Hard Truth About Works6:00 - The Gospel: Jesus Did It For You, Not About Your Works10:00 - Step 1: Be Saved - Faith in Jesus & His Completed Work14:00 - Step 2: Do Good, Abstain from Evil - Identity in Christ18:00 - Step 3: Make Disciples - The Great Commission22:00 - Building Your House on Rock vs. Sand: Security in Jesus26:00 - Discerning God's Voice & Living as a Saved Person28:00 - Final Challenge: Live It Out, Teach Others, Don't Waste Time30:00 - Closing Prayer

  4. Aug 13

    What Does It Really Mean to Treat Others the Way You Want to Be Treated?

    Pastor Randy explores Jesus' most famous command, the Golden Rule, and reveals what it actually means to live it out in a self-centered world. THE GOLDEN RULE:Matthew 7:12 - "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. That's the essence of all that's taught in the law and the prophets." It's so famous it's known even outside Christian circles. But do we understand what Jesus really meant? WHERE IT'S ROOTED:The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) contains nine commands about how to treat others: Work for peace (5:9)Let your good deeds shine (5:16)Be reconciled to those who have something against you (5:24)Don't resist an evil person (5:29)Love your enemies (5:44)Give to those in need (6:2)Forgive those who sin against you (6:12)Don't judge others (7:1)Treat others like you want to be treated (7:12) WHAT IT DOESN'T SAY:The Golden Rule does NOT say: "Do to your friends whatever you'd like them to do to you""Do to others what you would like them to do to you so that they'll be nice to you later" There is no promise of reciprocity. Jesus doesn't say "if you treat them well, they'll treat you well." He says treat them well regardless. THE SOURCE:God started the blessing first. In the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12), God says: "I will bless you""You will be a blessing to others" The movement continues: God blessed Abraham → Abraham blessed the nationsGod blessed Jacob → Jacob blessed LabanGod blessed us through Christ → We bless others In Ezekiel, there's a beautiful pattern: God reveals Himself to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 6-7)Ezekiel reveals God to Israel (7:12-20)Israel reveals God to the nations (7:25-26) THE PRINCIPLE:Everything flows from God's blessing. We receive blessing, then we pass it on. THE ESSENCE OF CHRISTIANITY: The essence of sin: Self-centerednessThe essence of Christianity: Others-centeredness Jesus says: "Love each other as I have loved you" (John 14:34). Paul says: "Don't look to your own interests. Look to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:4). John says: "He laid down His life for us. We ought to lay down our lives for brothers and sisters" (1 John 3:16). THE QUESTION:Someone in your sphere of influence has been waiting for someone like you to come along. Someone who will serve them selflessly. Someone who will treat them the way they want to be treated. Are you that person? THE CHALLENGE:God is bringing someone to your mind right now. Someone who's not easy to love. Someone who's not easy to serve. Ask yourself: What one thing could I do this week that would really help them? A text?A meal?Just listening and helping them explore their options? Don't look to your own interests. Look to theirs. THE HEART:The Golden Rule isn't about keeping score. It's not about earning reciprocity. It's about becoming others-centered instead of self-centered. It's about recognizing that God has blessed you infinitely, and now you get to bless others. That's the essence of Christianity. 0:00 - Introduction: The Golden Rule2:00 - Matthew 7:12: Do to Others as You Want to Be Treated3:00 - Nine Commands About Treating Others6:00 - What the Golden Rule Does NOT Say8:00 - The Foundation: God's Judgment on How We Treat Others9:00 - God Started the Blessing First: Abraham's Covenant11:00 - Through Your Descendants, All Nations Will Be Blessed12:00 - Jacob and Laban: The Blessing Movement Continues13:00 - Laban Recognizes He's Blessed Because of Jacob14:00 - Ezekiel's Revelation Pattern: Ezekiel → Israel → Nations15:00 - Jesus Sums It Up: Love Each Other as I've Loved You16:00 - Paul's Version: Look to the Interests of Others17:00 - 1 John 3:16: We Ought to Lay Down Our Lives for Others18:00 - The Center of Christianity: Others-Centeredness20:00 - The Caricature vs. The Reality of Christians21:00 - The Challenge: Who Is God Calling You to Serve?23:00 - Practical Application: What Can You Do This Week?24:00 - Prayer and Closing: Help Us Live for Others 🔔 Subscribe | 👍 Like | 💬 Who is God calling you to serve this week? becomehope.com

About

New Hope Church is located in Greenwood, IN on the south side of Indianapolis. This podcast explores the weekly teachings from Sundays along with related bonus teachings.