Living Hope's Podcast

Our lives are noisy. We are filled with constant coming and going and every opportunity to consume. Even if we have a moment alone, our minds fill with the to-do lists, new ideas, concerns, and anxieties. In the hussle and rush, the practice of solitude has become a far-off-in-the-distance idea. As we continue in our sermon series, unCOMMON Together, Pastor Jess challenges us to think about solitude as a near and necessary practice. 

Freedom…what is it and what does it mean for you and me? In the second sermon of our unCOMMON Together series, The Way of Love, Pastor Jess explains how freedom in Christ may not look like we expect it to. In fact, it may have a lot less to do with “my” freedom and so much more to do with walking in the way of love together, with our hearts set on being the in-Jesus people we were created to be. 

Are you tired of the ordinary? Feeling over the usual?t’s time to be unCOMMON, to live as a church set apart for the purposes of God. Join us for the first sermon of our new series, unCOMMON Together, where Pastor Jess explains how the church of Thessalonians lived contrary to culture and expectations. 

What is the voice of God like? Is it a loud shout, a boisterous call, or something more…still? In the final installment of our Slow Your Soul sermon series, Reflect, Pastor Jess explains how the voice of God is like the wind, but is often drowned out by our constant busyness, notifications, alerts, and obligations. Only when we enter into silence do we begin to hear His voice, to capture it in our minds and delight in the very sound. Pastor Jess explains how Sabbath is where we learn how to linger, where we still ourselves enough to know His voice and to sharpen our listening skills. Sabbath is where we hear Him and we begin to hear what He has to say about others. 

“I have to get this done in time.” “I’ve got to catch up on…” “I need to get better at…” Sound familiar? You’re not alone if you find these statements ruling your days, turning even leisure into work. What would it look like to have time that doesn’t require filling? In the second sermon of our Slow Your Soul series, Refresh, Pastor Jess dives into the concept of the Sabbath Sacred Time Zone—where the week-end is the end of the work week and the beginning of time that is free from obligation and full of enjoyment. 

What time is it? When do we need to be there? What’s after this? … Ever feel like you’re in the time zone of crazy, busy, and rushed? Hear the invitation to enter an entire new zone—God’s Sabbath Standard Time Zone—where living depleted is replaced with restful purpose. In the first sermon of our new series, Slow Your Soul, Pastor Jess explains how Western life has become dominated by an obsession with building, mastering, and conquering to such a degree that it turns life dim. Enter Sabbath, God’s gift of holy rest. 

Chosen…what if it’s not just about me? What if, in the incredible scope of God’s plan, it’s about God putting His glory and mercy on display through us? When we think about the concept of election, our minds often go to individual selection, but in his sermon, The Universal King, Pr Dave Fields encourages us to think about how we, together, were created to be representatives of God’s story. Spoiler alert—there has always been a remnant and we’re a part of it! 

Ever feel like there are too many ups and downs? Like the highs and the lows of life are making it hard to slow down…to catch your breath? As we continue in our summer series, When In Rome, Pastor Jerushah Tanner explains how we live in constant tension—in one hand we hold the consequences of a fallen world and in the other, great hope in new creation glory. If you find yourself longing for a deep breath of hope renewed, this is exactly what you need to hear today!

Ever feel like there are too many ups and downs? Like the highs and the lows of life are making it hard to slow down…to catch your breath? As we continue in our summer series, When In Rome, Pastor Jerushah Tanner explains how we live in constant tension—in one hand we hold the consequences of a fallen world and in the other, great hope in new creation glory. Listen here and share it with a friend!

God created us to hunger; it’s in our very design. Yet, we crave and consume the things that curse and destroy. Why? This sermon, The Immortal King, is where Pastor Jess explains how sin created an entire sphere of hunger without the dominion of God—a reality that separated us from our original design to take, bless, break, and give back to the world. Don’t worry, this is just where the story gets started. Pr Jess goes on to share how Jesus gets His physical hands on us and we are sanctified, devoted to our original hunger—God. 

Listen up, families—this one is for the whole crew! In this special Family Service edition of our When in Rome summer sermon series, Pr Jess illustrates what it looks like to be made NEW in Christ. Baptism is a familiar term, but do we really understand what it means? Pr Jess gets down to the specifics, explaining for all ages to understand the purpose and power of baptism. Grab the family, get cozy on the couch, and get ready to understand baptism on a whole new level! 

Adam sinned and evil spread, killed, and multiplied, forming destructive patterns and cycles for societies and people. Then Christ obeyed, and His victory changed everything. In this sermon, The Grace King, Pastor Jess explains how the ultimate victory of Jesus means He has the grace to put His allegiance in us. This sermon will encourage you to see Who has the final word and what that means for us as those who seek to have His allegiance formed more deeply within. Listen today; you’ll be so glad you did!

Time for a heart check—do you resist it or receive it? Guest Pastor Jared Lyons from Texas shares a powerful sermon on the Parable of the Sower and the condition of our hearts. He challenges us to consider if our hearts are hard, shallow, crowded, or good. You’ll be encouraged to consider not only what influences your heart today, but what it means to live with a heart that has good soil, ready for exponential seed growth with a full hundred-fold harvest in the Kingdom of God!

We often think about faith as something we have, something we gain or grow. What happens when we read the word faithfulness in the Bible as not about our own faith but the faithfulness of Jesus? As we continue in our summer series with this sermon, The Disappointing King, Pastor Jess explains how Jesus was completely faithful to God, and it is this faith, this holy devotion, that He puts in us. It’s an episode you don’t want to miss!

It’s hard to know what to think or say when facing suffering. We wonder if we simply need to try harder, pray longer, fake-smile more….but what if suffering is not something to run from? What if, instead, suffering leads to the transformative work of God within us? In this sermon, The Changing, guest Pastor Jared Strickland challenges us to consider the purpose and place of suffering. Through the story of the transfiguration found in Mark 9, Pr Jared explains how we can embrace suffering and walk through it being transformed in our mindset, posture, and outlook. 

What’s in your inheritance? What if it’s the power of God for all who believe? Listen to this inspiring sermon by Pastor Eric Jaquith from Puebla, Mexico. Through honest testimony and the truth about the power of God found in the book of Ephesians, Pr Eric explains how the power of God frees us from anxiety and emotional turmoil and empowers us so that we can then lift others up. 

The debate has gone on for decades and still continues today—law or grace? In the third sermon of our When in Rome series, The Torah King, Pastor Jess challenges us with the idea of Jesus being not separate from, but instead the new and perfect Torah. You may find yourself asking who God wants to change us into as we live as His people serving in a different category of Kingdom, a Kingdom based not on legalism or policy, but genuine heart change and fidelity. Listen here today!

Let’s talk about the gospel! It might sound like a familiar word, but what is it, really? Is it a story, a letter, a theological idea, a moment on a cross? In the second installment of our summer sermon series, The Servant King, Pastor Marcus Soveral gives us a clear explanation of what the gospel actually is and why this matters today. Get ready, this sermon will help set the context for this When In Rome series and will encourage you to walk a bit differently this week. 

We begin our new When in Rome series with this first sermon, Live Like a Rebel, where Pastor Jess explains the context and purpose of the book of Romans. He describes how Jesus, our wounded King, took our sins through His wounds and poured out forgiveness and restoration. As you listen you will find yourself encouraged to be those who lay down power and privilege to do the same. This sermon sets us up for what is going to be a powerful summer sermon series! 

Pastor Donna Lasit is a long time friend of Living Hope and her life is a testimony of faithful legacy. As a pastor, leader, daughter, and mother, she is filled with wisdom that is relevant not just for moms on Mother’s Day, but for everyone desiring to live their lives as those who pass down truth with intention and purpose. In her sermon, Things I Learned From My Mom, she shares lessons passed on from generation to generation.