New Hope Christian Chapel

Is your "elder value" low, average, or high? God values age and wisdom over youth and beauty, do you think American society does the same? What do you value? Are you looking forward to getting older, or feeling loss and disappointment over fleeting youth? 

Join Pastor Dave as he seeks to re-establish a biblical joy in age and experience! Don't let the culture around you rob you of the "crown of glory" bestowed on elders! (A sermon video by Pastor Dave Stratton, at New Hope Christian Chapel)

"The Elder Experiment"

Did you know that the Greek word in the Bible for hospitality, philoxenia, literally means, "loving the stranger"? The ancient Middle Eastern world of the Bible prized the generous welcoming in and providing for travelers and strangers, yet our modern concept of hospitality more often consists of us simply entertaining our friends and family.

When did hospitality stop being about welcoming the alienated and become more about comfortable gatherings of friends?

Would you put yourself out for a stranger? Would you give your best to a stranger? Would you welcome a stranger into your home  and life and treat them like royalty? This is the beautiful concept of biblical hospitality that Jesus invites His followers to practice!  (A sermon video by Pastor Dave Stratton, at New Hope Christian Chapel)

"The Hospitality Experiment"

Have you ever experienced "the joy of refraining or resisting, for God's glory and by His strength"? This is the definition of temperance, or self-control, that Pastor Dave offers in this workshop on the Christian life. If we could all just avoid the Myth of Temperance, set our eyes on the Goals of Temperance, and experience the Joy of Temperance..our lives and our world would be such an amazing place! What if we loved our souls more than our bodies, and if self-control was the tool that could make that happen?! (A sermon video by Pastor Dave Stratton, at New Hope Christian Chapel)

"The Temperance Experiment"

Do you practice sabbath keeping? Is your sabbath revolutionary? Is it delightful? Is it freeing and restorative? Does it revolutionize your week and priorities and relationships and faith and work? Jesus was crucified in large part because His approach to sabbath keeping was so counter-cultural and challenging! (John 5:18) His sabbath keeping changed His world! What if sabbath is THE critical change-agent our lives and world needs right now?

Join with Pastor Dave Stratton, Pastor Richard Griffin, and others in this workshop as they discuss and dig deeper into scripture and their own experiences to celebrate the powerful shaping influence of practicing the sabbath!

Spiritual Formation Through Sabbath

Is Christian forgiveness the same as regular, worldly, human forgiveness? What are God's steps to complete forgiveness? Are there any forgiveness opportunities you could experiment with this week?!  (A sermon video by Pastor Dave Stratton, at New Hope Christian Chapel)

"The Forgiveness Experiment"

God is a Maker, and He has a very specific creative process! He is constantly making new things! Then why do we so often feel stuck or hopeless as if things will never change? How can we become Co-Creators with God in our own lives? How can we receive His light, join Him in His plans, and live with meaning and purpose so that our lives don't end up "formless and void"? (A sermon video by Pastor Dave Stratton, at New Hope Christian Chapel)

"Plenty to Still Create!"

Money tests our faith constantly! Will there be enough?! Well God has established four "funds" for us through His limitless resources, and He is faithful to provide for us exactly what we need exactly when we need it! May the "Work Fund", the "Community Fund", the "World Fund", and the "Miracle Fund" inspire confidence in us and continual proofs of a God who always provides the resources for what He calls us to do! (A sermon video by Pastor Dave Stratton, at New Hope Christian Chapel)

"Plenty of Money!"

Do you wish life was simpler, less complicated, less overwhelming? Is there too much in your life to keep up with, maintain, protect, or support right now? And does it seem like all those things you are working so hard to keep up with are preventing you from having peace, feeling free, or enjoying peaceful time with friends, family and God?

There is an ancient and profound spiritual practice intended to help with this! Simplicity!

Simplicity could be defined as, "The tangible removal or reduction of our possessions in order to experience relief and peace and freedom of body, soul, and spirit." There is a direct correlation between the amount of things that we possess, and the amount of energy they demand from us! If you'd like to experience a lightening of emotions, your spiritual life, and much more...consider whether experimenting with the spiritual discipline of Simplicity might be just what you need!

Spiritual Formation Through Simplicity

Do you struggle with "people insecurity", thinking there will never be enough friends, help, or people in your life? Or maybe on the opposite end of the relational spectrum you struggle with "people pride", being overconfident that you have plenty of help, plenty of friends, plenty of family, and that those relationships will never fail?

With God, we need to avoid these extremes of fear and pride and seek "people sufficiency", knowing that God will ALWAYS provide enough people for us to accomplish all that He's calling us to do! He will bring in just the right amount, no more and no less, than we need...and just when we need it! 

(A sermon video by Pastor Dave Stratton, at New Hope Christian Chapel)

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