Hope River Church

06/02/2026

Sunday for your Monday👇

This week we read about the kind of church that God blesses. You see, the Holy Spirit came for more than a moment. Our scripture came from Acts 2:37–47. It details the immediate aftermath of Peter’s Pentecost sermon, marking the birth of the early church. The newly convicted crowd, of about 3,000, repented and was baptized, creating a deeply united community focused on teaching, communal sharing, prayer, and daily fellowship. They became aware of their need for God and there was revival! They became connected.
We remember from our message last week that disconnected people eventually lose power and conviction. The evidence of the Spirit is a transformed life “I was blind and now I see”.
Peter preached truth that day. Love without truth is hollow. God will convict people he still loves enough to rescue. Conviction is evidence that God has not given up on us. Conviction is more than feeling bad. It’s turning away from the sin. The Holy Spirit does not merely expose sin. He empowers transformation. When we are transformed, real faith eventually becomes visible.
If we are arrested for being a follower, be sure there is enough evidence to be charged for it.
When the spirit moves, the world notices. Spirit-filled people stay connected to truth. On the other hand, isolated believers become vulnerable believers. Self-centered Christianity is a contradiction. When we are transformed our priorities change. We stop defending ourselves and start to surrender.
We have to ask ourselves, “are we faking it?”Or are we living a convicted life? If we’re not living a convicted life, are we really walking with God? When we are transformed, we stop seeing conviction as punishment. That transformation brings peace, purpose, new priorities, and a new life.

06/01/2026

In this message, Pastor Kelly walks us through Acts 2:36-47, the church that God blesses. A healthy church is ultimately the work of God.

The first thing that the Spirit does in someone's life is not to make them comfortable- it's to make them aware of things that need to change.
Manipulation rises up from the outside= guilt
Conviction rises up from the inside= repentance.

When you fully surrender to God and listen to the Holy Spirit, your appetite changes from wanting the things of the world to wanting things of God.

A disconnected believer leads to eventually lose power or conviction from the spirit. The evidence of the Spirit is a completely transformed life.
That's when revival starts- when hearts become aware of their need for God.

Don't settle for just a disconnected faith.

Listen to the full message today on Spotify or YouTube!

In this message, Pastor Kelly walks us through Acts 2:36-47, the church that God blesses. A healthy church is ultimately the work of God. The first thing tha...

05/25/2026

Because He lives- Now What?

Pastor Kelly brought our attention to Acts 2:1-4 in yesterday's sermon...when power finally comes.
We learned about the power that Christ gives us and the way God empowers what He commands.

It's time we plug in to the Spirit and fully surrender to God and what He has planned for us.

Listen today on Spotify or Youtube!

Because He lives- Now What?Pastor Kelly brought our attention to ...

05/25/2026

🎉Bringing a piece of our Sunday into your Monday!🎉

“When power finally comes” Acts 2:1-4
In Acts 2 we read about the day of Pentecost.
The apostles were gathered in one place, and suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance.
At Pentecost, God was announcing the birth of the church.✨

👉So what do we do when the power finally comes?
If we’re not connected to the power, it’s difficult to use it. How many times have we known what the right thing to do is, but we feel like we don’t have the power to do it? We feel too ordinary. As if God wouldn’t use us.
Jesus came to empower ordinary people to live extraordinary lives.
God never calls His people to live out His will on a disconnected battery. ONE life was never intended to operate on human talent and effort alone.😇
We may go through seasons where we feel hidden or as if we are not producing the fruit that God wants us to bear. God often develops people in hidden seasons before he uses them publicly. The disciples were ordinary, flawed men. THIS is who God chose to spread the gospel to the world.
We must be ready to surrender to this when He calls.

God is getting us ready for more than we can possibly imagine.
So how do we plug-in?
-First we surrender and wait on God.
-We must be in prayer that is not just routine, but dependent.
-In obedience, even when it feels uncomfortable.
-In staying sensitive to conviction instead of ignoring it.
-In choosing to walk with God daily by spending time in his word.
There is a holy confidence when God fills us with the Holy Spirit. The spirit specializes in unlikely people. When we humble ourselves several things happen. Fear will start losing its grip. Obedience will feel possible. Conviction will be ongoing, not just on Sunday. Boldness will show up in your life.
God never intended for us to run in our own strength. Get connected to the power. Let God be your other man in the fire🔥🔥🔥

05/19/2026

Yesterday, Pastor Kelly preached about the Lord's Authority and our responsibility. We read from Matthew 28- the great commission.

Grace is all about Christ giving us purpose, not waiting for perfection in us to give it. The mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
A disciple is being refined and maturing spiritually.

Spiritual maturity is not measured by how much Bible we can quote, it is measured by how much Bible we obey.
Accountability is not punishment, it is protection!

Only the truth from God can transform people!

Yesterday, Pastor Kelly preached about the Lord's Authority and our responsibility. We read from Matthew 28- the great commission. Grace is all about Christ ...

05/18/2026

✨Sunday For Your Monday✨

This week we read from Matthew 28:16–20. “The great commission”. We learned that the resurrection came with responsibility. God did not intend for us to be spectators. He gave us an assignment.
We often feel that we are not cut out to disciple others. In verse 17, when the disciples arrived in Galilee on the mountain, which Jesus had designated, it states that “when they saw Him they worshiped him but some doubted”. You see, the Bible doesn’t edit out weakness. The disciples were not perfect. He gave the mission to imperfect people. The enemy loves to convince us that we’re not worthy of ministering to others. But while working on us, God works through us. The mission doesn’t stand on our confidence. He reminds us that he has ALL authority. The authority belongs to Jesus. The responsibility belongs to us. But we must remember that the mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Not just converts to our opinions. The foundation of discipleship is truth. Be in the word of God until the word of God is in you.
Disciple maker is defined as…. “One who intentionally equips believers with the word of God through accountable relationships, empowered by the Holy Spirit, in order to replicate faith–filled followers of Jesus Christ“
Discipleship is intentional investment. We live in a culture where it is trendy to be an “influencer“. Be an influencer of God!
But we have to be rooted in the word to share it. Spiritual maturity is not measured by how much Bible you can quote. It is measured by how much Bible you obey. Accountability is not punishment. It is protection.
Healthy disciples reproduce. Christianity is not just about getting people into heaven. It is about getting heaven into people so that they can impact the world.
Every person is called to somebody.
If no one is growing because of your influence, you could be consuming Christianity, not producing it.
And just remember that the same Jesus who gave the assignment says “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

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05/11/2026

This Mother's Day, Pastor Kelly encouraged us that Because He Lives....we have the power of waiting!

On a scale of 1-10, how patient are you?
Are you patient when God says to wait?

In Acts 1:1-14, we read about the disciples. They have been called but not yet sent...they were chosen but not yet empowered.

Often times, it is in the waiting that God is preparing us...this time that feels unknown or paused is not wasted time.
It is in this time that we need to slow down and listen for His voice.

Waiting is the time that things are forming and a way is being made.

Listen today on Spotify or Youtube!

This Mother's Day, Pastor Kelly encouraged us that Because He Lives....we have the power of waiting! On a scale of 1-10, how patient are you?Are you patient ...

05/10/2026

Last week it was an honor to have Pastor Larry back on the platform to bring us God's Word.
In Luke 13, Jesus deals with the who, the what and the why of eternity.
They knew Jesus but Jesus didn't know them- because they were far more religious than righteous. They had to deal with the sin in their life.

When we sin & fall short- we must come to the ourselves and then always go to the Father.

If you don't come to the Father- you'll never get to experience His love, mercy & grace!

This week it was an honor to have Pastor Larry back on the platform to bring us God's Word. In Luke 13, Jesus deals with the who, the what and the why of ete...

04/27/2026

Yesterday, Pastor Kelly took us on our journey through John 20:24-29, where we heard the conversation between Thomas & Jesus. Doubting Thomas is his nickname, although it sounds negative, Thomas wasn't the villain in the story...he was simply the mirror.

Thomas was real, raw & honest. He wasn't rejecting Jesus...with "what if" statements.
The cool part?
Jesus heard Thomas even when he thought no one was listening.
Jesus met Thomas in his doubt.

When we surrender our doubt to Jesus, we can open the doorway to deeper faith!

Listen to the whole sermon today on Youtube or Spotify!

Because He Lives 4/26/26

04/21/2026

👉SUNDAY FOR YOUR MONDAY!🥳

Why do we lock doors? For protection, peace of mind, privacy, past experiences? Sometimes we lock other things like our hearts, our minds, and our faith.
In John 20:19-23, we see the disciples gathered in a place where they locked the doors for protection from the Jews the night of the resurrection. They were fearful of what the Jews might do to them. Then Jesus enters the room. He reveals Himself showing His hands and feet. He reassures them saying, “Peace be with you” The disciples rejoiced! He then breathes over them leaving them with the Holy Spirit.
They had gathered in imperfect faith. But that’s ok, we don’t need perfect faith to serve a perfect savior.
The Risen Jesus steps into locked rooms and bound-up hearts and speaks peace over fearful people. We don’t have to wait until we have it all figured out. He’s not coming in wagging His finger at us. He comes in with love and mercy. The first words of the Risen Christ to the disciples were not words of correction, but words of comfort.
Satan will show up and bring fear into situations in life... In the waiting room, when given a diagnosis, with change. His peace is not based on circumstances.
First comes peace, then comes purpose. We are not saved to sit, we were saved to serve. With His peace comes courage, clarification, and confidence. The Holy Spirit provides a boldness to serve! We are called to be ambassadors of reconciliation. The same power that rose Jesus from the grave lives in us!