Hope River Church

09/07/2026

"Taming the Tongue" is what this message was all about from James 3:1-12. Our tongue is small but it is steering something. Our words have weight and come with influence.

We also talked about how controlling the tongue in 2026 also means controlling our thumbs and what we decide to post on social media, send in texts and just what we do on our phones.

Christianity is about surrendering ourselves to Jesus and allowing His grace to transform us from the inside out.

Thought to ponder: How can the same mouth worship God and tear down somebody who was created in God's image that He died to save?

How can you makes steps this week into taming your tongue for His glory?

Listen to the full sermon today on Spotify or Youtube!

09/01/2026

This week we read from James 2: 14–26. James is talking about a faith that claims to believe, but literally refuses to live like it. Genuine faith produces works. If we have genuine faith, there should be corresponding evidence of Christ.
Sometimes we use spiritual words to avoid practical convenience. How many times have we said “I’ll pray for you“. Or have you ever caught yourself saying “somebody needs to…“ That somebody is you. God has already given you the assignment, He’s saying GO. Faith moves and faith goes.
Faith and works are not competitors, they are companions. Some may think that James and Paul were at conflict over this issue. Paul emphasizes that we are justified by faith not works. But James says work follows faith. Paul is attacking legalism. James is attacking empty faith. James is explaining that salvation is such a gift that works should be the result of our gratitude. Paul wasn’t saying have faith but live however you want. There’s a problem when our confession and our conduct live in two different worlds. Paul clarifies that we are His workmanship. We are not saved by works but for works.
James reveals a harsh truth. “You believe there is one God?” Even the demons believe this. So are we bound to heaven just because we believe He exists?
It’s about obedience. It’s making our confession and our conduct live in the same world.
James uses the story of Abraham and Isaac to further explain faith and works. Was Abraham righteous because of the work of what he did that day when he took Isaac up to be sacrificed? No, he had the opportunity to show his faith. God said go, trust, and obey. Abraham went, trusted, and obeyed. And God provided. But Abraham had a long history of obedience to God. So James goes further to explain the story of Rahab, the pr******te. Rahab didn’t have that relationship with God like Abraham did. Yet God used her. A living faith does not require a perfect background. It's about how we react when we believe God is at work. She became part of the story of redemption.
Your past does not define you. Your past does not intimidate God. He’s more interested in what is and what is to be. It’s not about working harder so that God will love us more.
Does your faith have a pulse? Is your faith alive? Is it visible to others?
Be rigorously honest with yourself. Every decision either leads us toward God or away from him. Direction, not intention, determines where we end up.

08/31/2026

In this message, Pastor Kelly draws our attention to James 2:14-26 where we learn that faith and works belong together.

Real faith doesn't just believe; Real faith behaves.

Faith and works are companions not competitors. Genuine faith moves from the head to the heart and from the heart to the hands.

Time to reflect: Does your faith have a pulse?
Is your faith alive today?

Listen to the full message today on Spotify or Youtube!

In this message, Pastor Kelly draws our attention to James 2:14-26 ...

08/17/2026

🎉Sunday For Your Monday is BACK!!!🎉

This week we read from James 1: 19 through 27. Are we merely hearers of the word, or are we doers of the word?
In verses 19 through 20 we learn to stop and LISTEN! We are to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
In verse 21 we learn that we can’t receive what God wants to put in us while stubbornly holding on to what God has told us to lay down. Get rid of all the moral filth and receive what God wants to plant in you.
In verse 22 we see that God‘s word was never given merely to make us smarter. It was given to make us different. How do we respond when the word of God speaks? We can know a lot about God‘s work, but not do anything about it. We are to be doers of the word, not just hearers, so that we don’t deceive ourselves. Self-deception is hard to recognize. We can hear the truth, know the truth, and even see the truth, but not be living in it. Information about Jesus is not the same as knowing him.
Truth, we don’t apply becomes truth we deceive ourselves with.
Verse 23
23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

So this is the mirror test. The Bible is a mirror. What do we do once we see what’s in the mirror? Listening to spiritual truth is useless without personal change and action.
In verse 26 we see that our blessing is connected to obedience. Obedience isn’t about convenience. It’s about trust.
Verse 26 and 27 James is explaining that if anyone thinks himself to be religious and yet does not control his tongue, but deceives his own heart this man’s religion is worthless.
You could look at our culture as a world with an illiteracy problem with the word of God. “That’s your truth, not mine“.
God doesn’t expose things in our life to shame us. He wants to change us, to keep us safe, in a spiritually dying world.
God gives us His will, but sometimes we keep looking for something else.
Trust His will! Seek spiritual maturity, so that what the mirror reveals to us on the inside starts to show on the outside.

08/17/2026

This week our focus was James 1:19-27- "Hearers or Doers."

We learned that we need to be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

Toolbelt Truth: Truth we don't apply becomes truth we deceive ourself with.

When is the last time you have truly looked in the mirror and asked God to speak and really sat and listened to what He has for you?

Real faith doesn't just talk. Real faith walks!

Listen today on Youtube or Spotify.

This week our focus was James 1:19-27- "Hearers or Doers."We lear...

08/12/2026

💦 HRC KIDS WATER NIGHT IS TONIGHT! 💦

Get ready to SPLASH into some end of summer fun at Hope River! ☀️💧
⏰ Tonight at 7:00 PM

Don’t forget to bring:
🩱 Swimsuit
🏖️ Towel
👕 Change of clothes

Come ready to get SOAKED, have a blast, and make some memories! 💦🙌
See you tonight, HRC Kids! 💙

08/12/2026

This message, Pastor Kelly focuses on James 1:12-18. We hear that temptation is an inside job.

What you feed internally will eventually show externally.
Sin develops and grows through deception and disobedience but God is not holding out on us!

Take some time to reflect on what you can do to focus more on Christ and walk closer to Him.

Listen today on Spotify or Youtube!

This message, Pastor Kelly focuses on James 1:12-18. We hear that t...

08/03/2026

"When our worth gets tested"

In this message, Pastor Kelly turns our attention to James 1:9-11.

Tool belt Truth: My value is determined by Christ, not by my circumstances.
The world says your worth is determined by your net worth. Jesus says your worth was settled at Calvary.

In these verses, James isn't attacking success; he's attacking misplaced confidence in anything other than Jesus Christ!

Listen to the whole message today on YouTube or Spotify!

"When our worth gets tested"In this message, Pastor Kelly turns o...

08/01/2026

It’s August 1… and we figured it was time for one last look back at an unforgettable week. 🌿💚

We asked one simple question:
“Describe VBS in one word.”

Most people had an answer right away…
Larry? Well… he needed a little more time. 😂

In the end, he reminded us that maybe one word isn’t enough.

That’s what VBS is really about. Every smile, every volunteer, every family, every child, every conversation… God was at work through it all.

To everyone who served, prayed, donated, invited, and attended—thank you for making this year’s VBS so special. The decorations are packed away, but we pray the seeds planted will continue to grow for years to come. 💙

🎉One word may not be enough… but one week can make an eternal difference.🎉

So many faces.
So many places.
All we can say is…
Wow, God. 🌿💚

Until next year!💙

07/28/2026

This week Pastor Kelly focused on James 1:5-8 in our series through the book of James.

A steady faith begins with a surrendered mind!
Wisdom requires trust.

Listen to more today on Spotify or Youtube!

This week Pastor Kelly focused on James 1:5-8 in our series through...