Hope Church - Fort Worth, TX Hope Church

Join us for this insightful message on deepening friendships in surprising ways.  Antioch Project student Micah Englehart delves into the biblical foundations of true friendship, offering practical wisdom for cultivating deep, lasting connections.
Key topics include:
• The importance of scriptural correction in friendships
• Overcoming barriers to giving and receiving correction
• Biblical examples of correction from King Saul and King David
• How to give correction lovingly and effectively
• Receiving correction graciously and attentively
• The ultimate correction: responding to the Gospel
Whether you're looking to strengthen existing friendships or build new ones, this series provides valuable insights on how to be the friend God calls us to be. Learn how embracing biblical correction can lead to healthier, more authentic relationships that honor God and enrich our lives.

Here's a YouTube description for the content:
Friendship 101: Living an Open and Honest Life
In this powerful message, Jacob Johnson shares his personal journey of how friendship saved his marriage and life. He explores the importance of trust in relationships and provides practical tips on how to put off falsehood and speak truthfully to others.
Key points:
- The decline of friendships in modern society
- Why honesty matters in a Christian community 
- How to confess sin and avoid falsehood
- Balancing openness with discretion in relationships
- Developing accountability with trusted friends
Jacob vulnerably shares his own story of gambling addiction and how being honest with friends helped him find healing and restoration. This message will challenge you to examine your own friendships and pursue deeper authenticity with others.
Part of the "Friendship 101" series at Hope Church. 
#Friendship #Honesty #ChristianLiving #Accountability

Are you tired of surface-level connections and yearning for deeper, more meaningful friendships? You're not alone. In a world where loneliness has reached epidemic levels, many of us are searching for the secret to forming lasting bonds.
Today, we're delving into an intriguing approach to friendship that originates from the Bible. But don't worry if you're not religious or familiar with biblical texts. We're translating these timeless principles into practical, relatable insights that are applicable to our modern lives.
At the core of this approach is a concept called 'serving love.' It's a radical idea that suggests the key to stronger relationships lies in prioritizing others' needs over our own. It may sound counterintuitive, but what if this selfless approach could actually lead to more fulfilling connections? We'll show you how to put this into practice in your daily interactions.
In this message, we dive into:
1. The global loneliness crisis and why traditional approaches to friendship aren't cutting it anymore.
2. What does "serving love" mean, and how does it differ from our typical self-focused mindset?
3. Practical ways to practice selflessness in your daily interactions.
4. How trusting in a higher power (whether you call it God, the universe, or something else) can give you the confidence to take relational risks.
5. Real-life examples of how this approach has transformed people's social lives.
We'll also tackle some challenging questions:
- How do we balance self-care with caring for others?
- Can being "too selfless" backfire in relationships?
- How do we choose friends wisely while still being open and loving to all?
Whether you're spiritually curious, feeling isolated, or simply looking for a fresh perspective on relationships, this post offers food for thought and actionable steps to enhance your connections.
Ready to revolutionize your approach to friendship? Let's dive in!

In this thought-provoking message, we delve into the often-overlooked but profoundly important concept of lament in the Bible, particularly focusing on the Book of Psalms. Lead Pastor Matt Sturdevant guides us through a comprehensive exploration of what lament is, why it matters, and how it can be a powerful tool for processing pain and drawing closer to God in our modern lives.
Key Points Discussed:
1. Understanding Lament
   - Definition: Expressing deep distress, sorrow, grief, or regret
   - Lament as the historic prayer language of God's people
   - Over one-third of Psalms are laments
2. The Importance of Lament
   - Provides a vocabulary for loss and suffering
   - Offers a solution for silence in our relationship with God
   - Creates a category for appropriate complaints to God
   - Establishes a framework for processing difficult emotions
   - Serves as a form of worship, even in pain
3. Structure of Lament Psalms
   - Direct address to God
   - Complaint or lament
   - Petition for help
   - Expression of confidence in God
   - Vow of praise
   - Example: Detailed breakdown of Psalm 13
4. Practical Lessons from Lament
   - God's mercy never ends
   - Waiting is not a waste
   - The middle is not the end of the story
   - God is always good
5. Lament in Practice
   - How to complain to God appropriately
   - The journey from pain to trust
   - Lament as a bridge between suffering and hope
6. Penitential Laments
   - Focus on Psalm 51 as an example
   - David's response to his sins of adultery and murder
   - The power of confession and seeking forgiveness
7. Connecting Old Testament Lament to New Testament Hope
   - The forgiveness and restoration available through Christ
   - How lament can lead us to a deeper appreciation of God's grace
Throughout the message, Pastor Matt weaves together biblical insights, practical application, and contemporary relevance. He emphasizes that lament is not just an ancient practice but a vital tool for modern believers navigating a broken world.
You are encouraged to view lament as a constructive way to process pain, rather than suppressing emotions or falling into despair. The message highlights how lament can actually strengthen your faith by fostering honest communication with God and ultimately leading to a renewed trust in His character and promises.
Key Takeaways:
1. Lament is a biblical and healthy way to express pain to God.
2. The structure of lament provides a framework for moving from pain to praise.
3. Practicing lament can deepen our relationship with God and increase our trust in Him.
4. Even in the midst of suffering, we can hold onto the truth of God's goodness and mercy.
5. Lament is not just complaining; it's a journey towards hope and renewed faith.
The message encourages you to incorporate lament into your prayers. Pastor Matt suggests starting by reading through Psalms of lament and using their structure as a guide for personal prayers during difficult times.
You are also reminded that while lament is crucial, it's not the end of the story. The ultimate hope for believers is found in the Gospel - the good news of forgiveness, restoration, and eternal life offered through Jesus Christ.
Whether you're currently in a season of lament or seeking to better understand this important aspect of the Christian faith, this episode provides valuable insights and practical guidance. Don't miss this powerful exploration of how honest expression of pain can lead to deeper trust in God and renewed hope for the future.

This video features a sermon by Associate Pastor Brian Cropp on hymns and their significance in Christian worship. He begins by addressing common misconceptions about hymns, clarifying that they are not just old-fashioned songs but rather songs of praise to God that can be written in contemporary language and musical styles.
Pastor Brian explores Psalm 98 as an example of a hymn, discussing its structure and themes of God's salvation and judgment. He breaks down the psalm into three sections:
1. The Lord as Judge (verses 7-9)
2. The Lord as Savior (verses 1-3)
3. How we should respond to God (verses 4-6) 
Throughout the sermon, Brian addresses several key points: 
1. The importance of singing in the Bible and Christian worship
2. The power of music to convey emotions and make ideas memorable
3. God's judgment and its implications for believers and non-believers
4. The assurance of salvation for those who have accepted Christ
5. The call to praise God joyfully and loudly
Pastor Brian emphasizes that God's judgment should be a cause for rejoicing among believers, as it represents the ultimate establishment of righteousness and justice. He explains that while this judgment may seem harsh, it is necessary due to humanity's inherent sinfulness and failure to meet God's standards.
He discusses the concept of salvation through Jesus Christ, emphasizing that it is based on God's love and faithfulness rather than human efforts. He reassures believers that once they have accepted Christ, their salvation is secure and cannot be lost. 
Pastor Brian encourages Christians to respond to God's salvation with exuberant praise and worship. He interprets Psalm 98 as a call to make joyful noise, sing, and use various instruments in worship. The sermon challenges the notion that Christian worship should be somber, instead advocating for celebratory and energetic expressions of faith.
Towards the end of the sermon, Brian offers practical applications:
1. For non-believers: Consider turning to Christ for salvation
2. For believers: Share the gospel boldly, including both the reality of judgment and the hope of salvation
3. For all: Engage in worship through singing, songwriting, and making joyful noise
He concludes by emphasizing the importance of corporate worship, describing Sunday morning gatherings as joining a "holy choir before the king of all the universe." He encourages the congregation to leave as missionaries, proclaiming the good news of God's salvation in their daily lives.

In this powerful and insightful message, Pastor Luke explores the crucial theme of passing the baton of faith to the next generation, drawing profound lessons from Psalm 78. Using the analogy of a relay race, where the exchange between runners is the most critical aspect, Luke emphasizes the vital role that fathers and the entire church community play in ensuring a successful spiritual handoff.
Luke begins by acknowledging the complexities of Father's Day, recognizing that for some, it is a day of celebration, while for others, it may be marked by pain or absence. He encourages listeners to remember the good things their fathers taught them, to honor father figures who have positively impacted their lives, and most importantly, to look to God as the perfect Heavenly Father.
Diving into Psalm 78, Luke highlights the God-given role and responsibility of fathers to make known God's ways to their children. He emphasizes that this is not a task limited to classroom settings, but rather a way of life that should be modeled and taught in the everyday moments—when sitting at home, walking along the way, lying down, and rising up (Deuteronomy 6:4-7).
Luke then explores the God-given goals that fathers should have for their children: to set their hope in God, to remember His works, and to keep His commandments (Psalm 78:7). He warns of the consequences of missing these targets, including a generation that is oblivious to God and a breakdown in the spiritual legacy.
However, Luke also offers hope for imperfect fathers, reminding them that with Jesus Christ, they don't have to stay the way they are. He encourages fathers to clear up their past mistakes, confess their sins, and move forward in God's grace, emphasizing that the greatest legacy they can leave is one of character and faith.
Luke then provides practical resources and strategies for telling the next generation about God's faithfulness. He stresses the importance of knowing God's Word, spending intentional time with the next generation, setting a godly example, and sharing both personal stories and God's grand narrative of redemption.
While emphasizing the unique role of fathers, Luke makes it clear that the responsibility of passing on faith belongs to the entire church community. He challenges adults to invest in the lives of the next generation, encourages students to share their faith with their peers, and calls on parents to take advantage of the 3,000 hours they have each year to influence their children spiritually.
As the episode concludes, Luke leaves listeners with a thought-provoking question: "Who am I passing my faith to?" He invites them to prayerfully consider how they can participate in the sacred task of telling the next generation about the Lord's praiseworthy deeds, ensuring that the baton of faith is successfully passed on.
Whether you are a father, a mother, a grandparent, a student, or a member of the church community, this episode will inspire and equip you to play your part in raising up a generation that sets their hope in God and walks in His ways.