When our desire for control meets the unpredictability of life, we’re left with anxiety and frustration. What if real freedom comes not from tightening our grasp, but from responding to and resonating with the God who holds all things together? Join us this week as we discover the possibility of releasing our grip a bit through navigating the half …

We are accustomed to loving those who love us and agreeing with those who are agreeable. What about loving those who disagree with or even hate us? That’s far less common. But the story of God shows a love for enemy. This is outlandish when set beside one of our current cultural half-truths—To love me, you must agree with me. How does the love of C…

What are half-truths, and why do they hold such power over us? From the garden of Eden to everyday life, these subtle distortions of reality sneak in — often unnoticed — creating doubt and confusion toward our understanding of God, our relationship with others, and our place in the world around us. Join us as we kickoff this series unpacking the in…

Martin Luther in the 16th Century coined a latin phrase that has changed the way many people think of themselves. The phrase is Simul Justus et Peccator – “Simultaneously Saint and Sinner”. In other words, even though we are a sinful people, we are also deeply, deeply loved by God, so much so that he sent Jesus Christ to die for us. We see this eve…

The theory of social acceleration explains how the pace of modern life continues to speed up, often leaving us feeling overwhelmed, empty, and disconnected. Within the relentless rush and constant itch to keep up, we’re given a seemingly absurd command to be still and rest in God. What does it mean to be still in an accelerating world and how do we…

This psalm remembers God’s divine intervention in the wilderness so his people might live. The wilderness, or desert, cannot support human life. Similarly, this world in which we live cannot fulfill our deepest longings. So just like God’s people needed divine intervention, we too need divine intervention. It comes in the form of a struck rock (Chr…

Our suffering can be fertile ground for God to transform us, or it can also lead to incredible bitterness of soul, or something Dr. Larry Crabb has called a “demanding spirit”. This week we will talk about how Job developed a demanding spirit and how the gospel sets us free not to live a life of this dark bitterness. Gospel Mixtape | Wisdom & Songs…

The book of Ecclesiastes to see how we can trust in the stability and meaningfulness of the gospel in the midst of life’s difficulties. Gospel Mixtape | Wisdom & SongsJordan AndersonHope Community Church - Downtown Minneapolis For more resources or to learn more about Hope Community Church, visit hopecc.com.…

In the hit movie Inside Out 2, we follow the life of Riley, a teenager in the throes of puberty. As she navigates life, we observe her internal processing through personified emotions like Joy, Sadness, and Anger. One such emotion, Anxiety, floods Riley’s mind with all the scary stuff that could happen. In one scene, this results in Riley experiecn…

Have you ever wondered who are as humans? What does it mean to be the “perfect human” if there even is such a thing. This las week, we examine this questions. If you have never seen higher level mathematics be applied to Scripture before, you are in for a treat! Don’t worry, we also use Dr. Suess to help us too! Gospel Mixtape | Wisdom & SongsSteve…

Reading poetry can be difficult. When that poetry alludes to future events, it can be even more vexing. Yet the New Testament quotes the Psalms more than any other Old Testament book. So we seek to understand how these poetic songs foreshadow the coming of Christ and fill us with hope amidst our struggles. Questions: Do you see the limitations of v…

Questions Do you view God’s written word as a burden or as a gift that can be studied to better understand God and the love that he has for you? Have you surrendered your life to the only one who perfectly lived out the law and died on the cross so you could be saved? Gospel Mixtape | Wisdom LiteratureBen WacekHope Community Church - Downtown Minne…

What is Biblical Wisdom? In this message, we look at how the concept of wisdom is continually clarified, culminating in God declaring the pinnacle of all wisdom – Jesus Christ! Gospel Mixtape | Wisdom & ProverbsSteve TreichlerHope Community Church - Downtown Minneapolis Download Message Slides For more resources or to learn more about Hope Communit…

What gives inspiration to the Psalms? Is it David? Is it us? Now that the veil (2 Cor. 3:13–16) has been lifted, how might we read these texts with the clarity that Christ provides? In so doing, we see it’s not just David or we who at times feel forsaken, but Jesus who has been utterly forsaken for our sake. He has not hidden himself in times of tr…

This is our last sermon dedicated to the book of Romans. Rather than see this as a type of finish line, might we instead see how God is just getting started. May this gospel message be imprinted deeper upon our hearts. May our church live by faith in Jesus Christ. May we stand justified by his grace as a gift. May we believe that what God has done …

We’re nearing the end of our time in the book of Romans. Throughout it, there have been countless reminders of God’s faithfulness and goodness. We’ve pushed deeper into the gospel and life in his Spirit. But we’re not done. Even as Paul recounts his travel plans, we see afresh God’s heart to save and refresh and provide for his people. Questions: I…

Words of strong emotions are thrown around today like candy. Something that is likeable is “awesome”. A new job is “a perfect match”. Even our local weather station has a TOP TEN WEATHER day that they use about 1-2 x per month. One of these words is the word ambition. What does this word really mean, and how to we have Godly Ambition? RomansSteve T…

How in the world can we possibly live in community with others when there is such disagreement about so many things? This week, we examine how when we are awed by Jesus Christ that we are able to actually love, accept and welcome one another and not just live for our selves. RomansSteve TreichlerHope Community Church - Downtown Minneapolis Download…

Have you ever disagreed with another Christian? Have you ever disagreed with a church you’ve been a part of? If so, today’s passage is for you. It deals with that gray area of opinion, items that are neither commanded nor prohibited in Scripture. In other words, there is freedom to choose. This becomes fertile ground for disagreement amongst Christ…

Planning for retirement, dating apps, on-the-job performance reviews, gentle parenting, the list goes on — life itself often feels more like finals week on repeat rather than summer vacation. Rounding out Romans 13, we learn why life so often feels like a test and a specific way the gospel leads to a surprising form of exam-free living. RomansDavis…

How are followers of Jesus supposed to understand how to live in our crazy political climate? Does God’s word have anything to help us navigate this? Romans 13:1-7 offers some principles that drastically bring light to a very complex issue. RomansSteve TreichlerHope Community Church - Downtown Minneapolis Download Message Slides For more resources …

In our time, spirituality is portrayed as this unique, hidden puzzle to be solved by each individual. But what if it’s all much more straightforward than this? Wrapping up Romans 12, we discover how God traffics in the ordinary, everyday rhythms and relationships of our lives — and this is good news. RomansDavis JohnsonHope Community Church - Downt…

God gives gifts to his people for the blessing of others. When receiving our gift, we too often fall prey to comparisons or envy or rivalry rather than gratitude. This passage reminds us that these gifts are graces to us from God and that he has given us exceedingly more than we could ever repay. Questions:• Is it our desire for God to become great…

Taylor Swift and Drake both wrote songs at high moments in their careers about how God helps those who help themselves. This may sound like good news when things are going your way, but when the rest of life happens, we need something far stronger than our ability to make good choices. Fortunately for us (and them!), Romans 12:1-2 gives us access t…

When was the last time you had something that was so wonderful, so beautiful, so majestic it took your breath away? This week’s passage is a gift to us, to see God as glorious, merciful, wonderful, wise and worthy of our utmost worship and trust. In and through Jesus Christ, the mighty name of God is both worthy of praise and very accessible. Roman…

Mitch Chase writes, “The death of Jesus was not the end of Jesus. It was no defeat. His death was overcome on the third day. The cross was a victory, and the resurrection proved it.” Are you trusting in the cross and empty tomb for your victory over sin and death? Questions Have you been united to Christ in his death and resurrection through faith?…

If the very people who were supposed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah reject him, what will become of them? This week’s sermon addresses this question, with some real hope for the physical descendants of Israel for the future. RomansSteve TreichlerHope Community Church - Downtown Minneapolis Download Message Slides For more resources or to learn m…

God––after breaking us off from our cursed familiar tree––grafts us by faith into his tree of life and salvation. His plan has always been for his people to live by trusting in him and his promises. So has God’s Plan A failed? Absolutely not! He has the power to graft in anyone whose faith is in him. What great news! Question: Do you know of God’s …

Where do we turn if the greatest barrier to connecting with God is inside us? Our passage this week uses sensory images to describe the shape and cause of hardened hearts. These vivid pictures lead us to ask the most important question: how do you melt a frozen heart? RomansDavis JohnsonHope Community Church - Downtown Minneapolis Download Message …

Often in a mobster movie, we will hear the crime boss say to a person who has betrayed them, “You’re dead to me!” From that point on in the movie, they become persona non grata, which is Latin for “a person who is unacceptable or unwelcome”. Is that what God did to Israel after all her failures and rebellions? Is that what he does to us? RomansStev…

If anyone reads the Scripture carefully, they will find some word, some hidden treasure in the field, which is Christ.” These words are from the 2nd Century and they reflect God’s own idea that the whole Bible is about Jesus and discovering all that the cross accomplishes. This changes not only the way we read the Old Testament but the way we inter…

Paul’s ”twist” to the story Deuteronomy 30:14 (TiPCFGCTTGOGRTOTV)14But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it realize there is no possible way you can do it (Rom 1, 2). And yet, the law requires perfection (Rom 3:23). So we are in deep, deep doo-doo (Rom 3:19-20). But wait! Along comes someone who di…

What is underneath the universal longing to be enough? Be it our jobs, political beliefs, exercise regimes (or lack thereof), relationships — so much of life is covered by some unwritten code of standards to be kept. Where do these come from and more importantly how can we finally put all these measurements to rest? Romans 10:1-4Davis JohnsonHope C…

There is an ancient passage which predicted the arrival of a stone. This stone, for one group, would become a rock of offense and stumbling. But for another group, it would become the rock of their salvation. Why the difference in response? That is what today’s message is all about. Question Why is Jesus compared to a stone? How is it that Jesus, t…

Our natural impulses are often wrong. That includes when we read the Bible and consider the character of God. We look at our lives and incorrectly believe that He and his Word have failed. This passage shows us that God’s promises are sure and he orchestrates events to make clear his mercy! Questions Do we question our natural impulses recognizing …

Romans 9:1-5Steve TreichlerHope Community Church - Downtown Minneapolis Download Message Slides For more resources or to learn more about Hope Community Church, visit hopecc.com.

As we look forward to a new year, it’s beneficial to look back on where we’ve been. When we do, we see God’s faithfulness throughout the pages of our story. This church is a picture of God’s grace toward his people. And we get the chance in the new year to see more pages added to this book. We look forward to all that God has in store for us! Quest…

Why don’t New Year’s Resolutions work? See how Romans 6:1-4, 11-14 gives a pathway for real life change that is gospel centered, not just an act of willpower. Vision SeriesSteve TreichlerHope Community Church - Downtown Minneapolis Download Message Slides For more resources or to learn more about Hope Community Church, visit hopecc.com.…

This week we looked at the story of Hannah. We connect with her as she deals with life’s disappointments because we too deal with disappointment. In her case, the desperate prayers of a barren woman to have a son are answered. Is that the end of the story? No. For we are cued in on a future son to be born who will be called King and Savior, who wil…

What are we to do when God makes no sense? The account of the birth and sacrifice of Isaac brings us to this very question, as well as foreshadowing another very loved son the very point of sacrifice as well! Born Unto UsSteve TreichlerHope Community Church - Downtown Minneapolis Download Message Slides For more resources or to learn more about Hop…

Paul Tripp writes, “It’s easy to look around and keep score…focusing more on what others have than what God has graciously provided for you causing you to want what they have and to question the goodness of God.” We observe this in the story of Cain and, too often, in our own story. Yet, how wonderful this Christmas season to be reminded of the goo…

The and of Romans 8 is filled with a whole bunch of rhetorical questions that need to be answered out loud (and maybe even memorized). The first of which is siimply life -changing on a daily basis as we ponder “If God is for us, who can be against us?” NO ONE!!! RomansSteve TreichlerHope Community Church - Downtown Minneapolis Download Message Slid…

The Bible reads like a thrilling story with characters, settings, plot lines, problems, and solutions. One of the main themes from beginning to end is suffering giving way to glory. That is true of God’s story as he solves the problem of sin on our behalf and sets the stage for a glorious and forthcoming glory. We wait for that glory with eager exp…

Many of the Old Testament stories can be summarized in three words: “Know Your Enemy.” Like us, the people in the Old Testament were often guilty of mislocating the real problem in their lives, causing things to move from bad to worse. Here in Romans 8, we’re given unequivocal clarity about who our enemy is and a charge to bring this enemy to an en…

In the classic movie The Matrix, Neo says to Morpheus, “I don’t like the idea that I’m not in control of my life.” Perhaps you feel the same way. It’s easier to accept what we can see more than what we cannot. We feel better if we believe we’re in control. Yet God works in unseen and expected ways by his Spirit. Will you trust his Spirit to lead yo…

Romans 8:1-4 brings with it some remarkable statements that are actors for our souls when we are faced with a sense of failure, shame and condemnation. As the devil tries his best to discourage us, we can use these facts from Romans 8 to say, “Not Today, Satan!” "In fact, tomorrow’s not looking very good for you either!" RomansSteve TreichlerHope C…

Where do you turn when life lowers you to the end of your rope? In the second half of Romans 7, we discover a pathway to communing with God that looks less like climbing and more like seeing life as it actually is, and ourselves as those who struggle and stumble. This means Jesus isn’t away and unaware of the dark and scary places of your life that…

In The Greatest Showman the song Never Enough repeats how the world’s lights and stars and gold will never be enough. In this passage the law of God repeats how our best efforts will never be enough. To live by the law requires absolute perfection. Good news comes when we realize only Jesus has lived with absolute perfection and hushed the Law’s lo…

What is the mechanism of how we become right with God AND are given power for living? Our complete and perfect union with Jesus in His life, death and resurrection!! RomansSteve TreichlerHope Community Church - Downtown Minneapolis Download Message Slides For more resources or to learn more about Hope Community Church, visit hopecc.com.…

Should we just sin all the time because we’re not under law but under grace? The second half of Romans 6 addresses this question while, in a way, trolling our Western notion of freedom. Being free isn’t only about being out from under the wrong thing, but being bound to that which is truly good. And this goodness runs on a fuel more powerful than t…