Hope Church - Fort Worth, TX cover art

Hope Church - Fort Worth, TX

Hope Church - Fort Worth, TX

By: Hope Church
Listen for free

About this listen

Since 1978, helping people get traction on their journey with Jesus Christ. For more information go to hopechurch.com. Christianity Spirituality
Episodes
  • SUNDAY EXTRA: The Chart That Didn't Make the Sermon but Made the Podcast
    Mar 18 2026

    In this Sunday Extra podcast, Pastor Matt walks through John chapters 7-12, covering Jesus's final six months of public ministry before the cross. During this intensifying period, Jesus became increasingly direct about his divine identity through seven miraculous signs and "I am" statements - claims that clearly identified him as God to the Jewish leaders. These Revelations divided people into three groups that still exist today: the curious (interested but undecided), the convinced (those who believe), and the combative (those moving toward open hostility).

    The sermon particularly focused on spiritual blindness, drawing from the healing of the man born blind in John 9. Pastor Matt offered a "you might be spiritually blind if" framework, identifying warning signs like resisting correction, explaining away clear Biblical commands, being confident in your righteousness while cold toward Jesus, and dismissing consistent feedback from godly people. The discussion emphasized that evidence alone doesn't produce faith, and that every person must decide how to respond to Jesus - the same choice people faced two millennia ago.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 13 mins
  • SUNDAY EXTRA EP. 10.2 - Watch Out for Progressive Theology
    Mar 17 2026

    Pastor Matt delivers a comprehensive warning about progressive Christianity and its political manifestations, using Texas State Senator James Talarico as a primary example. Talarico, who is pursuing theological training and frequently uses Christian language in politics, promotes positions that directly contradict Biblical Christianity including support for same-sex marriage, LGBTQ inclusion, and expanded abortion access. Pastor Matt explains that progressive Christianity differs fundamentally from Biblical Christianity in five key areas: Biblical authority, sexual ethics, abortion, government's role, and the mission of Jesus.

    The core theological disagreement centers on interpretive authority - progressive Christians interpret Scripture through modern moral understanding, while Biblical Christians believe modern moral thinking must be corrected by Scripture. Pastor Matt outlines eight warning signs that progressive theology might be influencing churches, including Scripture being quoted but its authority quietly redefined, sermons focusing more on cultural issues than Biblical texts, and the gospel becoming about social transformation rather than salvation from sin. He provides diagnostic questions to help listeners assess their own beliefs and identifies common progressive talking points that twist Biblical passages out of context.

    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 2 mins
  • Final Months of Jesus' Public Ministry
    Mar 16 2026

    Pastor Matt explores John chapters 7-12, which chronicle the dramatic final six months of Jesus' public ministry leading up to the crucifixion. During this period, Jesus travels between Galilee, Jerusalem, and other regions, making increasingly bold declarations about his identity. At the Feast of Booths, Jesus openly proclaims "I am the light of the world" and declares that spiritual thirst can only be satisfied in him, even claiming "before Abraham was, I am"—using God's sacred name and asserting his divinity.

    Jesus backs up these claims with unprecedented miracles that demonstrate his authority. He heals a man born blind, creating a powerful contrast between physical and spiritual sight as the Pharisees who could see physically became spiritually blind due to their pride and rejection of Jesus. Even more dramatically, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead after four days—proving his authority over death itself. Yet these same miraculous events produce completely opposite responses in people.

    Pastor Matt identifies three groups that emerge: the curious crowd who are intrigued but undecided, convinced followers like the healed blind man who declare "I was blind, now I see," and combative religious leaders whose hostility progresses from skepticism to plotting murder. The sermon concludes that Jesus' clear Revelation of his identity forces everyone to make a decision, and neutrality is impossible when confronted with who Jesus claims to be.

    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.