Speaking of Life 3005 | The Twist Ending This week we’re sharing a Speaking of Life message from our archive as a supplemental resource. We encourage you to use this for reflection and preparation, or small group discussion. For your worship gathering, consider how a call to worship from a local voice or contextualized introduction … Continue reading "Sermon for December 27, 2026 — First Sunday after Christmas Day" Read the article
Christmas: The Promise Fulfilled Watch Listen Download/Subscribe Download Audio Download Video Low Res Video Thumbnail Watch on YouTube Program Transcript + On that first Christmas night, God’s promise of salvation became a person — Jesus Christ. Born in humility, he brings the light of God’s love into the world and opens the way for all … Continue reading "Sermon Bumper for Christmas Eve or Day" Read the article
Advent 4: God Builds His Kingdom in Jesus Watch Listen Download/Subscribe Download Audio Download Video Low Res Video Thumbnail Watch on YouTube Program Transcript + Discussion Advent reminds us that God is the one who builds his kingdom. In Jesus, the promised King comes to dwell among us, revealing God’s love and inviting us to … Continue reading "Sermon for December 20, 2026 — Fourth Sunday of Advent" Read the article
Advent 3: The God Who Moves First Watch Listen Download/Subscribe Download Audio Download Video Low Res Video Thumbnail Watch on YouTube Program Transcript + Discussion On the third Sunday of Advent, we rejoice in the God who moves toward us first. Through Jesus, his grace is already at work, bringing hope, healing, and the promise … Continue reading "Sermon for December 13, 2026 — Third Sunday of Advent" Read the article
Advent 2: The God Who Comes to Comfort Watch Listen Download/Subscribe Download Audio Download Video Low Res Video Thumbnail Watch on YouTube Program Transcript + Discussion On the second Sunday of Advent, we remember that true peace comes from God’s presence. Through Jesus, God draws near to comfort us, restore what is broken, and lead … Continue reading "Sermon for December 6, 2026 — Second Sunday of Advent" Read the article
Last year, we introduced a new resource to help you prepare for the time of giving and taking communion in your Hope Avenue. These are meaningful formational practices that we can plan with care and intentionality. The Communion and Offering Starters are posted a month ahead, like the sermon resources. Below are the December starters. In … Continue reading "Offering and Communion Starters | December" Read the article
How can every generation participate together in the good news that God is with us? The story of Advent and Christmas is a story of God moving toward us. The Father sends the Son. The Son enters fully into our humanity. The Spirit opens our eyes to Christ, gathers us into his life, and sends … Continue reading "Celebrate an Intergenerational Advent and Christmas" Read the article
The Christmas season is a wonderful time to invite neighbors to church. We can hold a genuinely worshipful Christmas Eve or Day service without assuming that everyone present already knows how Christian worship works. The goal is not to make the service less Christian for neighbors; it is to make the meaning of what we … Continue reading "Sample Community Christmas Service" Read the article
Worship planning creates opportunities for the congregation to participate in the story of Jesus. This Church Hack helps Hope Avenue teams connect Scripture, worship, and ministry throughout each season. Explore it with your team as you prepare for the season ahead.See the full Church Hack here. Read the article
Christ transforms us within a mission God has already secured. Kingdom citizens live with hopeful expectancy that they are being transformed into the image of Christ by the Spirit. Below are some key ideas for your leadership to discuss. They are summarized from Dr. Walter Kim’s interview, Part 4. Listen to the full GC Podcast here. … Continue reading "Transformational Kingdom Living" Read the article
