Living Hope's Podcast

Have you ever felt jealousy take root in your heart—envy and self-focus stealing the spotlight when you know they shouldn’t? In his sermon Rushed Upon, Pastor Jess Strickland unpacks the story of David to show how true victory comes when evil is driven out and Jesus takes His rightful place. He reminds us that it’s a call to take up our cross daily and trade building our own kingdom for living in His. Laying down the spear to not let evil reside in our heart, but rather pick up the harp and offer a sacrifice of praise. Press play now and step into the freedom only He can bring.

Have you ever felt the weight of trying to make things happen on your own? Maybe you’ve wondered if your efforts are enough to move things forward, or perhaps you’ve made decisions you thought God wanted– only to realize it was never yours to carry. This week Pastor Jess Strickland shares in his sermon The Reign of God how David’s life reveals the power of waiting on the Lord. We’re reminded that God’s kingdom is not built by our strength, but established and sustained by Him alone. Our calling is to carry the culture of Jesus and bring His presence wherever we go. Listen here!

What if the real story isn’t about what was lost—but where it was meant to be? In his sermon Find the Coin, Pastor Jess Strickland explores the parable of the lost coin, showing that repentance is less about recovery and more about restoration—being returned to where we truly belong: the church. Like the woman who searched for her coin, Jesus pursues the misplaced and lost with relentless love. And now, we’re called to do the same—to notice the overlooked, seek the out-of-place, and celebrate as they come home. Press play now!

What if joy isn’t something you chase, but rather something that chases you? This week Pastor Jess Strickland reminds us in his sermon Send Me to the One, that true lasting joy comes not from constant pursuit of new things, but from mastering the one thing God has set before us. When we give ourselves fully to this mission – when we do even the smallest things for His glory – joy will follow. Listen here as we continue to master the work, stay the course, and let His joy find us there. 

Listen here! 

Have you ever felt stuck between what God promised and what you’re currently experiencing? Even when the path feels unclear or painful, God’s promises remain true– before, during, and after the storm. This week, Todd Everett continues in our Workplace Wonders series by sharing how like Noah, you may be called to build something that doesn’t make sense to others, but your obedience in the unknown is part of God’s greater plan. Don’t waste your brokenness; God remembers you, He’s not done, and the blessing is already on its way. Press play now!

Do you ever wonder why we have spiritual practices? Perhaps you’ve wondered if your time in the Word is making an impact, or if the prayer you prayed holds any weight. Hear this—when we stay committed to our spiritual practices, we are staying committed to carrying the presence of God. This week in his sermon, Commandments for the Workplace, Pastor Jess shares the power of the Lord’s presence that resides within us. When we go into our places of work, we carry His presence which may be the only Jesus that anyone is ever going to see. Press play now as we pray for the Holy Spirit that is inside us and long for the same desires that Jesus longs for. 

What’s your scent? Maybe it's the smell of sheep, yet perhaps what we really need is the scent of the cross on us. In other words, how we interact with the world should look different– not because of us, but because of the work that the Lord is doing in and through us. This week, Pastor Jess Strickland emphasizes the importance of Palm Sunday and reminds us that we are here to worship and give our allegiance to one King– to Jesus. Listen here as we posture our hearts for this Easter week.

Have you been wondering how the words we’ve been hearing lately: trust, allegiance, trust, allegiance—walking out in faith and fidelity to the Lord—are encompassed in your place of employment? This week, Pastor Jess Strickland continues in our series, Workplace Wonders, by reminding us that God is building something in us so that He can do something through us. When we walk into our places of employment, we’re not walking in alone but rather with the hesed of God—with His hope, His love, and His faithfulness. Press play now!

How’s your pit? The pit being the season in which things may not be going as planned—maybe it’s in a job, in a relationship, or overall direction of life. What if instead of despising the pit season, we embraced it? What if we embraced the perspective that where God has us is in preparation for where only He can bring us—to the blessing. This week, Pastor Jerushah Tanner shares the story of Joseph with the emphasis on leaning into the pit season and walking out the trust and obedience to the Lord. Listen here as we continue in our series, Workplace Wonders.

Have you ever found yourself wondering, “If only I worked at this job, God could really use me,” or perhaps, “If only I made this amount of money, God could really use me” or even “If only I had this one thing, God could really use me”? Hear this—our great commission is to fill, subdue, and rule. What does that look like? Tune in here as Pr Jess continues in our series, Workplace Wonders, by taking a glance at Joseph’s life and seeing the fruitfulness that comes when we walk in the land of affliction. Remember, wherever God has you, He is using you with eternal significance in mind. Press play!

How’s your well? How’s your response when things aren’t going the way you planned? This week Pastor Jess continues in our sermon series, Workplace Wonders, by sharing in Genesis 26 the story of Isaac and the well. Remember this– the Lord wants you to dig, so He can do a deep work in you. He shares how our secret mission is to bear the Lord’s name and bring His presence with us everywhere we go— especially the workplace. Press play as we continue to pray for the discipline of fidelity and allegiance to the Lord so He can move supernaturally in us and our workplace.

When you think of the presence of the Lord, what comes to mind?  A feeling during worship, time in devotions, or perhaps praying while driving in the car?  What if we shifted our perspective of the Lord’s presence to the hard conversations, to grief, and to the places of struggle? This week Pastor Jess shares in our new sermon series, Workplace Wonders just how near the Lord is; how we bear His name, are made in His image, and bring His presence with us everywhere we go. A reminder that the  Lord is always with us—we do not create an atmosphere for Him to occupy but rather an atmosphere for us to focus on His presence.  Listen here as we pray for continued awareness and focus.

Have you ever felt disqualified to be used by God? Maybe you’ve thought that to be used by God you have to be awesome, amazing, the best, the smartest, the skinniest, but hear this—God looks for people who are looking to and for Him. This week Pastor Jerushah Tanner shares from the story of Gideon in her sermon, Look Again, where she reminds us how the days of feeling on hold or hesitant are the days God is using to refine and prepare us for His victory. Tune in this week for an encouraging word as we enter our Still Starving season together!

Where’s your identity? Maybe you’ve found yourself rooting yourself in work, your finances, your appearance or even in others. This week Pastor Jess shares in his sermon, Behold I Make how our one true identity relies on the Lord; that Jesus is the only satisfaction to our desires. As we enter our fasting season we are reminded that to be spiritually formed by the Lord is to just be with the Lord. Tune in here to listen!

Feel like you’ve strayed too far from the Lord? This week Pastor Jess continues in our series, Wrapped– The Incarnation by sharing about how the Lord has wrapped Himself in humanity while wrapping us in divinity. In humanity, the Lord understands and sees us not only because He can, but because He wants to. In divinity we are given direct access to Him when we cry out and He answers. Maybe you have felt that you’ve strayed off the path– hear this, the Lord chases you down with His goodness and mercy. Tune in here to listen!

“This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine ... let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.” Maybe you remember this melody from Sunday school or maybe this is the first time you’re reading it—regardless, let the Lord’s light shine. This week we kick off our new series, Wrapped–The Incarnation with three leaders of the house sharing about being wrapped in the Lord’s light. With different perspectives, working in tandem together, they deliver a message that may be exactly what you need to hear. Maybe you’ve found yourself trying to let your own light shine, soaking up artificial light, or shining without fully recharging. In other words, maybe you’ve found yourself seeking the things of this world to be your recharge, but remember the Lord is our one and only source. Press play and hear this encouraging word!

When you need rest, where do you turn? Do you turn to God or do you maybe find yourself turning to materialistic measures? This week Pastor Jess shares the importance of finding rest in the Lord; in His presence, at His table, and in knowing that He provides all our physical and spiritual needs, all we need to do is turn to the Lord. He describes how consecrating our hearts to the Lord leads to a life that is willing and full-heartedly aligned with Christ—that the Lord would receive how we give and receive, far greater than what we give. As we near the close of this series, our prayer would be that we would walk through life with a heart that is dedicated to Jesus and that is whole-heartedly willing and allegiant to Christ. Listen here!

What’s the difference between a tithe, an offering, and a first fruit? This week Pastor Ben shares how each of these forms of worship work in tandem with one another to birth fruitfulness in our lives. In his sermon, The First of Our Giving, he explains where and how we spend our money shows where we put our allegiance. Maybe you’re in a season of lack or a drought and the thought of giving feels heavy? Know that God may be priming you to enter a season of fruitfulness– it could be in the form of money, but what you’ll experience is the gracious hand of God in every area of your life; you’re in a good spot. Press play as we continue to pray that God would shift our allegiance to His and allow for His providence and financial provision as He sees fit. 

How’s your generosity? You might’ve heard the familiar verse, “God loves a cheerful giver,” but have you embodied the grace and the righteousness of the giver? You may find yourself eager to give or holding back reluctantly, but hear this: the grace of God is on your life to live generously. This week Pastor Jess continues our series, Sent: Until There is No More Need, by sharing how God wants to embody grace and righteousness in us in a spirit of generosity through relationship. He shares how when God is living in us deeply, He begins to restore all our relationships with Him and one another. Listen here as you go to prayer and ask God to embody grace and righteousness in and through your generosity.