This week we are treated to a special word from a dear friend and guest, Pastor Aaron Bull. Through the lesson of Mordecai we understand that this church as a whole and in our lives individually be established to determine what needs to happen in Seattle. God has put each us in areas of influence where we work, live, and and play. God is raising up those who are letting go of their own agendas in favor of a divine agenda bigger than themselves. As we follow God's lead in our lives we will be surprised at how He uses us to influence others. 10.21.07 (video iPod friendly)

In this second installment of Heroes of the Faith, we look at Nehemiah who was faced a crises of epic proportions. All that he had worked for looked close to being destroyed by his enemies. Rather than falling into frustration, he fell into the arms of His God! He took an intermission and then entered his mission with boldness and clarity: Panic vs. prayer, distraction vs direction, and relinquishing vs remembering. The direction we take with each of these will be determined by whether or not we take an intermission with God! 10.14.07 (video iPod friendly)

We kick off a new series looking at Heroes of the Faith. We have heard it said that heroes are made, not born. But how are they made? What is this process that causes a normal person to become a hero? Where can we find a good example of a hero these days? If you have been reading in our daily readings you will recognize our first Hero of Faith for this Sunday, everyone's favorite extremist disciple - Peter! A character study of his life reveals how Jesus brings us all from places of extremes to places of balance in our lives! It all starts with this simple illumination: My definition of balance and God's definition of balance are usually not the same! Prepare to have your boat rocked this Sunday! 10.07.07 (video iPod friendly)

This unique Sunday we celebrate 3 years of New Hope Seattle and look at not only where we have come from but also where we are going. This episode is jammed packed with a powerful message, live hip-hop performance, video/photo montage, testimonial table talk, and a moving live hula dance.  Tune in and be encouraged to find out what works God has for you and take a step in that direction. 09.30.07 (video iPod friendly)

This Sunday we conclude this incredible series on practical evangelism and drive the point home by putting people first. I think that is why this series has resonated so much with so many. It is not as much evangelistic program as it is reminder to love the people around us! This is learning to live with a Grander Vision and a higher purpose then what usually moves us through our days. The whole series will be capped by a powerful and dramatic performance from members of our worship and drama team performing a song that sums it all up - My Heart Goes Out! 09.23.07 (video iPod friendly)

The past few Sundays of this series we have enjoyed some powerful stories illustrating the importance of walking across the room when prompted by the Holy Spirit. This Sunday we will hear another story of how a young man's life was impacted by a complete stranger walking out of his circle of comfort into the zone of the unknown. Rather than a normal table talk, this testimony will be presented through the lyrics and rhymes of rap! This will lead us right into the power of story that each of us have. We will look at how to bring our story and God's story across to people in clear and relevant ways! This is gonna be fun! 09.16.07 (video iPod friendly)

Last week we kicked off the series with some powerful testimonies on just how important walking across the room can be... literally a matter of life and death in some cases. So, once you walk across the room, then what do you do? Well, that's what we're going to be looking at this Sunday! 09.09.07 (video iPod friendly)

This Labor Day Weekend kicks off what will be a real turning point at New Hope Seattle. We are finishing our third year with a strong focus on the reason this church was planted in the first place - to give hope to all those who do not yet know Him! The premise is as simple as it is profound:  "The single greatest gift Christ-followers can give to the people in their lives is an introduction to the God who created them, who loves them, and who has a purpose for each of their days."  We will experience some powerful testimonies of how many lives are impacted when one person leaves their circle of comfort and walks across the room to extend a hand of hope!  09.02.07 (video iPod friendly)

Many of us have had our dreams shattered in life and wondered what was supposed to happen next. In this episode we conclude our Hot Topics series by learning from Joseph and his response to a broken dream as well as the people of Israel. We also have the joy of hearing testimony of broken dreams that have been made whole by the hands of God in a way never imagined. Topping it all off the NHS hula team will bless us with another powerful dance to the Ginny Owens song, If You Want Me To. 08.26.07 (video iPod friendly)

When your Children Stray: One of the challenges every parent must face is when a child goes astray. What you do is as important as what they have done. We look at several Biblical examples to help us make the right decisions by leaving a light on and preparing a pathway home. 08.19.07 (video iPod friendly)

Yes this next Hot Topic is yet another tough one, Depression.  We kick off this episode with a powerful sign dance and finish with a revealing testimony.  Depression is a growing trend in our culture so we do some investigation and look at both the common causes and how you can Let It All Out and deal with our bouts of depression when they occur.  The truth is constant but our emotions change every 20 minutes.  You are not alone and there is no need to kill today with yesterday's problems.  08.12.07 (video iPod friendly)

What do you want on your tombstone?  From marriage to finances and now to dealing with death, you are probably thinking Hot Topics should be called tough topics.  We see that it is healthy to look at death and that the joys and experiences of now are what makes it even harder when it comes.  But on the flip side, when we think about death and meeting our maker, it makes the now that much more rich and adds to the natural cycle of the life and adjusts our perspective.  Why, is a good question and wisdom comes from looking to see what we can learn through this painful process by taking our honest feelings and questions to God.  08.05.07 (video iPod friendly)

From the first Hot Topic of marriage we move on to the next topic picked by the New Hope congregation... finances, money, the root of all evil, something we all struggle with and often dread dealing with.  We look at the KISS acronym and some tools to simplify such a hot topic.  Ask yourself who is the ultimate owner of everything, what can you take with you when you die and what is the distinction between your obligations, your needs and your wants?  Where does faith fit in?  Listen, watch through some great testimonies and a powerful drama.  07.29.07 (video iPod friendly)

In this episode, we kick off a new summer series called Hot Topics, a series designed by the New Hope Seattle congregation.  In this first episode, we look at our own personal views and directions on marriage.  Acknowledging that perfect marriages don't exist, we examine and share some great tools to have a successful marriage.  Comparing marriage to a vehicle, the checklist may look something like this; passenger list, luggage or baggage, a road map, and a final destination.   07.22.07 (video iPod friendly)

Closing out the Awakening Series, special guest Pastor Steve Ulmer touches on our only responsibility in the Lord's prayer, that is to forgive.  But we first have to get that we are forgiven.  We see that often it takes desperation for us to cry out for help.  But the question is where do we go for help?  Do we go to the Lord or do we go to the temporary band aides of sex, drugs, money, TV, or other self soothers?  We see that the greatest pit of despair is our sin and our greatest need is for forgiveness.  We dive into not only what it is to accept God's EPIC and eternal forgiveness but also how to experience it.  07.15.07 (video iPod friendly)

Special guest Pastor Albert Moore talks about something we all deal with, worry.  We all worry about something but the reality is that the accomplishments of our worry is usually nothing.  Statistics show that 92 percent of what we worry about has nothing to do with the problems we are facing right now.  The root of all worry is us trying to play god.  We see what it means to take the Lord as our shepherd and how He can take care of us through His provision, protection, and guidance.  07.08.07 (video iPod friendly)

In this episode, we look at 3 eternal truths that come to us through God's invitations.  God is inviting us into a relationship, into a friendship, with Him so that we can see that there is more here than meets the eye.  That we are at war and fighting for something greater than ourselves.  God invites us to stand our ground and dig in our heals.  God invites us to offer hope to those around us not through judgment but through participation in the process by playing our crucial role in His adventure.  07.01.07 (video iPod friendly)

As we wind down this series on the Awakening to an EPIC life, we look at the I and the C, Image-Rich and Connective.  We know were made in God's image but we only reveal that to the world by doing what He designed us to be and do, no matter how small we may think that is.  He made you to be the best at what you do.  But you can't be that alone.  It is others that encourage and help to bring that out in us.  Stepping into our own design in turn provides a space for others to shine as well.  What is it that God has called you to be good at?   06.23.07 (video iPod friendly)

This special Father's Day episode contains two beautiful sign performances as well as touching video montage in recognition of Dads.  In this 4th Act of the Awakening series, we look into two biblical examples of fathering and lessons we can learn, both as a son or daughter and as a father.  06.17.07 (video iPod friendly)

Did you know that the popular TV series American Idol has overwhelmingly out done both the Winter Olympics and the Grammy Awards in viewer ratings?  This episode explores what can happen when we recognize and accept our invitation to be an active participant that effects the outcome of God's EPIC story.  We see that sometimes the smallest thing can have the biggest impact.  More Cow Bell!  06.10.07 (video iPod friendly)

Where ever two or more are gathered in my name, there too shall I be.  This week Pastor Steve Ulmer looks at the church under a microscope and highlights the strength and unique characteristics of cells that make up the church, i.e. small groups.  Just as cells in our body are alive and always functioning, cells of a healthy church are also alive and living out their design throughout the week, not just on Sunday morning.  06.03.07 (video iPod friendly)

In our previous episodes, we have seen that drawing closer to God is not easy.  Not only have we ourselves put road blocks into place to keep us from Him, but we also unveil through our journey, that we have an enemy who is trying to keep us away from the one who created and loves us.  Join special guest Pastor Albert Moore in this episode as we look at where the battle for our heart began.  We see that the same tactics used to enslave our hearts are still as applicable today as they were when the battle first started.   05.27.07 (video iPod friendly)

"The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."  Are we aware of what is really going on?  We are the target of an ongoing invisible attack and it's time to wake up.  If we don't know we are under siege, we will accept it as status quo, business as usual.   Or worse, we will assume that what is happening to us is our lot in life and that we deserve it.  We look at how to respond to this unseen battle, this invisible war that we are born into, and that we are not alone in the fight.  05.20.07 (video iPod friendly)

One of the best ways to experience and come to know God is through children, especially our own.  On this extra special Mother's Day service we share baby dedications, a special Mother's Day video montage, and a moving hula experience as we explore the definition of beauty through both the world's eyes and God's eyes.  You are beautiful!  05.13.07 (video iPod friendly)

Is Christ simply a historical figure or a living force to be experienced in our daily lives?  We look at the impact of having an experiential relationship with Jesus and the transformation it brings.  How can you argue with experience and if it's not real, is it worth it?  We have the choice to play an active role in which experiences we fill our lives with.  We notice that those we hang out with rub off on us.  Who are you hanging out with?  05.06.07 (video iPod friendly)

When disasters reach epic proportions, we need epic prayer.  We look back through history at how we have responded, as a country, in prayer to disastrous events, ranging from Civil War times to current times with the war in Iraq and a massacre at Virginia Tech.  Then getting more intimate, we focus in on our personal disasters and how we can keep God in the formula of our lives through prayer.  Prayer, one of our primary methods of communication with God, can be as simple as a conversation while stuck in your daily commute.  04.29.07 (video iPod friendly)

What story has God written you into?  Instead of determining what story you are in by looking at what stories you're not in, why not start at the beginning?  Or better yet, talk with the author.  In this episode we look at the fact that God has never been alone and that you, being designed in his image, aren't designed to be alone either.  At your very core, you were created with a longing to be a part of a community.  We see that we were created out of the Trinity's joy, into an already existing family, to enjoy together the world that God created for us.  04.22.07 (video iPod friendly)

Have you ever thought of Christianity as an EPIC story in which you have a vital and leading role?  In this 3rd installation of The Awakening series, we look at God's EPIC story and our role in it, both at a Macro and Micro level.  An EPIC has been defined as a dramatic story on a grand scale.  By trying to wrestle the pen from God so that we can write our own story, we take ourselves out of the lead role in our own lives that God has for us.  We discover an all too familiar C.O.R.D. that must be cut if we are to assume our intended role; a heart of Cynicism, a lack of Ownership (procrastination), ashamed of Reputation (fear of what others will think), and an attitude of Defeat. 04.15.07 (video iPod friendly)

This Easter service attempts to bring God's message to you exactly as Christ brought it, extremely hot and not watered down.  Enjoy this touching and honest testimony of what it means to realize what Christ came here to do, save and restore us.  We see through a great metaphor of recycling, the process we go through to acknowledge and accept this gift of salvation.  God can take the worst thing about our lives and make it into something that is beautiful and powerful, and moving.  See first hand what it means to go through this recycling process.  04.08.07 (video iPod friendly)

This Palm Sunday message not only kicks off holy week but it also kicks off a new sermon series called The Awakening.  In this 1st entry, we look at how we can awaken to what God has called us to?  We find that we can't do this until we have responded to God's passionate love for us daily.  What does this look like?  Find out in this exploration of what happened before the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem and how it maps onto our own lives in the here and now.  04.01.07 (video iPod friendly)

Special guests Pastor John and Treesa Bangs share their secrets to a joyful marriage and we find out that there are no special secrets if we look to God's word and model in Christ. We see that following Christ's model is by no means easy and neither is marriage. John and Treesa take us through an exploration in God's word on marriage and definitions of submission, respect, love, reverence, and meeting needs. 03.25.07 (video iPod friendly)

Special guest Pastor Joe Allen share a message of his experiences of church planting and missionary work and God's call on his life to impact South Africa (see entrust-ministries.org). Hear first hand and straight from his mouth what it is like to live on the edge of your faith. We hear that God's love can be felt in something as simple as a hand shake. And we see that your mission doesn't have to involve overseas trips, but can start right at home with your family and friends. 03.18.07 (video iPod friendly)

In this exploration into the value of self sacrifice, we see that the pathway of true love is paved with the pain of letting go. God has something better for us around the corner that we can't see yet, but we have to let go of what we're too happy to control right now. We discover that letting go is a constant process that makes room for growth in our lives when we give it up to God and make a trade. We give up what we are holding on to in order to make room to receive what He has for us. Hear testimony of the growth process and what it took for a Foursquare church and a Baptist church to let go and come together as one in the Lord. 03.11.07 (video iPod friendly)

In this last installment of the Deeper In and Farther On series, we see that coming to Christ by grace is not the same thing as earning a ticket into heaven by jumping through hoops. Going farther on, we see that we are all victims of judging each other, whether Christian or not, but particularly over that distinction. We are posed with the question, where do we get off doing this? We all need God's grace and we see that this perspective starts with the heart and that the change comes from the Inside Out. 03.04.07 (video iPod friendly)

Everybody is heading somewhere.  Do you know where you are heading and how to get there?  If every little daily thought and action affects our path and end destination, who is our guide for each little step we take and each little choice we make?  We discover that our little daily decisions, when led by God, prepare us for the bigger, more difficult, decisions on the horizon.  02.25.07 (video iPod friendly)

What does it mean to be enveloped by the grace of God and released from our current day forms of slavery?  We explore the reciprocal relationship between our faith and what we do (our works) and discover that one without the other will diminish.  We pray for eyes to see the "God At Work" signs, join Him in what He is already doing, and walk with Him to finish what He has started.  02.18.07 (video iPod friendly)

We know how to act when our favorite team is winning or when the hero triumphs over the villain, but how do I act when I'm singing to and praising Jesus?  We understand our role in playing the 12th man when we cheer on the Seahawks but what is our role in worshiping God?  These are the questions explored in this Superbowl Sunday message.  02.04.07 (video iPod friendly)

Looking into the miracle of adoption, both by others and by our adoption in Christ, we see that we each have a special and specific role to play in history, His Story.  You, yes you, play a major role in this epic story. Explore the perspective of adventurously greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" in this message.  01.14.07 (video iPod friendly)

Going in circles or feeling broken under the weight of your responsibilities and daily trials? By looking at who or what is leading us, we learn that going farther in the works set out for us starts by going deeper in our relationship with God and results in transformation. 01.07.07 (video iPod friendly)

What does it mean to be deep and am I among the deep people? These are the questions explored in this New Year's Eve kick off of the Deeper In and Farther on series. If going deeper in your relationship with God is something you are interested in, these questions are a great place to start. 12.31.06 (video iPod friendly)

Observation: There is a working relationship that God invites His people into. We are to live a holy life and yet it is God who makes us holy. We see an active pursuit of holiness is expected on our part and a supernatural activity on Gods part to make us like Himself. There is nothing more frustrating then instruction without direction. God doesnt just tell us to live holy, He tells us how. With such utter detail does he direct us that we quickly come to understand the our God is not blind to anything. He sees and is aware of the ways of the human heart from the most pure to the most perverse. He calls us all to a new level of purity. Application: As I read through Leviticus its hard at points not to get a little sick to my stomach. The scenarios of sin depicted, the rules behind offerings described, all of it showing Gods attention from one end of the spectrum to the other. It all begins to make sense when seen through the lens of a Father caring for His children. There are things that come out of my mouth regarding what to do and not to do that I never would have thought Id ever say prior to having children. But, how else are my young boys supposed to know how to live unless I guide them. I realized my love for my sons when I no longer hesitated to wipe their bottoms, catch their vomit or hold their muddy soggy bodies to my clean clothes when they have fallen into a puddle. If someone would have described the level of care required to raise children in pure and holy way prior to having them I might have chosen to get a goldfish or something less demanding. But, just as natural as this care and instruction is for me to my sons, so too is it from my Heavenly Father to His children. From this perspective the need for the explicit detail and unending repetition then begins to make sense. I took my boys to Alki Beach yesterday to enjoy some brief glimpses of sun and blue sky. I explained carefully where to run and where not to run. Dont run near the cars on the road or near the water. Run like mad everywhere else. Pretty clear right? Nope! Splash! Daddy, my shoes are wet. But, I just got done telling you not run near the water! What I had failed to clarify however was how to respond when coming face to face with a mud puddle!. If theres a loop hole they will find it. We are the same way with our God. How many times have I told you not to grab your baby brothers head while hes sleepin? But I forgot! Thus, repetition and detail in direction become painfully necessary. Now, finally, Leviticus makes perfect sense. Prayer: Thank You Lord, for fathering me so well. Thank you for having patience with me. Thank you for both calling me to holiness and showing me how to get there from here. I love your direction. Im thankful for your discipline. You are so good to me!

Stacie and Clinton's hosting roles get outsourced to kick of this episode on Pride and Humility. This extra special Christmas service shows us that surrendering your Pride and putting on the clothing of Humility starts with a choice and results in transformation. 12.24.06 (video iPod friendly)

Pastor Jon Burgess dives into an all too common emotion that leaves a wake through our words and actions, Anger. He encourages the reality of our Anger and through God's word, shows how we can be responsible for our emotional wakes and follow our models for Meekness. 12.17.06 (video iPod friendly)

Scripture: "By an act of faith, Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain. It was what he believed, not what he brought, that made the difference. That's what God noticed and approved as righteous. After all these centuries, that belief continues to catch our notice." Hebrews 11:3-4 (MSG) Observation: The author of Hebrews brings out a solution to the mystery of Genesis 4 and in the process shows me what is most important to God. It wasn't clear in that early narrative why God accepted Abel's offering rather then Cain's. These verses reveal Abel's offering was brought by faith while Cain's was brought by obligation, tradition, or perhaps even competition. But, according to this scripture, it's not what you bring (crops or cattle) to God that matters as much as why and how you bring it. It's the age old struggle between style and substance. Application: In the coming together of two churches as different as New Hope Seattle and Richmond Highlands Baptist there are discussions to be expected regarding these differences: Hymns vs. Modern Choruses, Loud vs. Mellow, Traditional vs. Contemporary, Books vs. Overhead Projector, King James vs. The Message paraphrase. So much of this simply has to do with style and will be determined by the core focus of our outreach. If we lived in Texas worship would have country flavor. In urban LA hip-hop would be appropriate. In Seattle maybe indie-rock is preferred. All of this is style. Cain's crops vs. Abel's cattle. Remember, it wasn't what he brought, but what Abel believed would catch God's attention. The substance of my offering to God is determined by the faith focus. If I bring Him a song, regardless of the style, out of tradition, obligation, or a desire for position, God will not have it. If I bring what ever little and best I have to simply touch the heart of my King, then, regardless of the style, that's the substance He's looking for. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Prayer: May I lead this church in not getting bogged down in discussion of style, but rather bring You something of substance and worth. The style of music I enjoy now may soon be outdated, but let my heart bring You my best regardless! Show me how to lead Your people in this type of faith offering and faith living! In the midst of this Valentines season you aren't looking for Hallmark cards of empty words in moments of religious piety, but full hearts expressing their love to You. Let my love for You be proud and loud!

Scripture: “If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do.� 2 Corinthians 5:13-14 (MSG) Observation: Paul talks of what motivates and moves him through the highs and lows of life. What keeps him from becoming conservative in expressing the Gospel? He live an extreme faith and calls others to the same when he writes, “I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way.� (2 Cor. 6:11-13) Paul is not talking to the pre-Christian in this text, he is addressing the saved. They have grown careful in their faith, they have become conservative in their expression. This communicates that God is smaller then He really is. 2 Corinthians 5:5 reveals that an extreme Christianity is lived in the light of heaven – our true home. When we aren’t trying to find comfort here we take risks for our King and live large for His Kingdom. Application: Last night Elijah received his first trophy ever along with the rest of the soccer team. He was beaming as everyone cheered. His improvement towards the second half of the season (his first season) was amazing. He went from passive observer to aggressive goal maker. The transformation came the first time he made a goal. All of the parents erupted on the sidelines and shouted out his name. He realized we were all cheering for him. That’s all it took. From that point on his head was in the game. You can sense Paul cheering on the church in these passages. Shouting out my name he’s saying, “Come on Jon, don’t get quiet and careful, you’ll get run over. Get in there and give it your all. Up until last night, Aden hadn’t been sure he even wanted to play soccer next season when he will be old enough. He wasn’t sure he had what it takes or whether he wanted to expend the energy required. Last night Elijah let him hold his trophy. Aden’s eyes grew wide as he looked in awe at the plastic gold statuette of a soccer player in action. Seeing my moment for motivation I crouched down and looked Aden in the eyes. I said, “If you decide to play soccer next year you’ll get a trophy too!� A big smile came to his face as visions of trophies danced in his head. He told Cyndi later that he was going to get a trophy next year when he plays soccer. He was going to risk it for the prize ahead. This is what motivated Paul, the prize of heaven, and the promise of an eternal life with Christ. Paul did things he never would have done, said things he never would have said, expended energy he would never have given for he had tasted of heaven and would never settle for less. Prayer: Through Scripture and through my boys You continue to challenge me not to settle, not to fence in my faith, but to continue to live large for You. As I stand on the threshold of a brand new year let me be willing to take the faith risks required to go Deeper In & Farther Out for You my Lord!

A Charlie Brown meaning of Christmas.

Pastor Steve Ulmer brings a new perspective on a complete spiritual makeover. Laziness brings poverty, both physically and spiritually. Integrity on the other hand establishes righteouness in the eyes of God. (video iPod friendly)

We follow the continuing adventures of Stacey and Clinton in the What Not To Wear series. This time Stacey is having a hard time with envy and Clinton helps her see the light. We discover how envy divides us while thankfulness unites us! To top it off our third annual turkey toss during the brunch. Our third turkey toss (whoever throws it the farthest keeps it!) requires that it be three times bigger then before. (video iPod friendly)

What a kick-off we had last week of our new What Not To Wear series. Stacey and Clinton did a great job of getting us warmed up to the "soul wardrobe" idea. This week we will look at the competing styles of lust and purity with an honest eye and an open heart. The trend towards lust started in the garden and we have been clothing ourselves in it ever since. Through Christ we have the option of a much cleaner feel if we are willing to let Him come in and throw some of our old ways of thinking out! (video iPod friendly)

We determine our "spiritual wardrobe", either clothed in Christ, or clothed in sin, by our daily decisions. Over the next two months we will be looking at the seven deadly sins and the seven Godly virtues (Christ-like attributes) that we choose to take off or put on every day of our lives. This Sunday we will look at the three patterns of greed as opposed to the clothing of generosity. My prayer is that by the end of this series each of us will be more cognizant of the effect of our choices and more fully clothed in Christ. Join Stacey & Clinton as they showcase of "What Not to Wear" in our spiritual lives. (video iPod friendly)

Last week we looked through fresh eyes at the value of communication for our church and our own lives. This week we continue with the second of our four core values, contemplation. We will look at the culture of New Hope that welcomes the questions of a seeker, the varied views of the believer, and the importance of small groups in helping us process our faith and apply it the real world. (video iPod friendly)