Hope Alliance Bethlehem

The people of God have always been meant to be a people of prayer.  So it is no surprise when we read the book of Acts that we find the church continually being described by a devotion to prayer.  As…

The Bible is critical to our identity as the people of God.  It speaks his word to us with authority by relaying the gospel and its implications on our lives.  When we embrace it with an open heart a…

Being the people of God means that we are committed to regularly gather for worship.  This is so significant because it recanters our hearts on Jesus and realigns our lives to the gospel.  From its i…

The New Testament picture of the church is near universally in the first person plural - "we" rather than "me."  In a decidedly isolated and individualistic culture, why and how can we lean into bibl…

The church is like an orchestra playing the symphony of gospel music composed by Jesus and conducted by the Spirit.  And each person plays an incredibly significant and unique part.  Our giftedness i…

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul makes it clear that we ARE one in the Gospel, and can maintain that same oneness through the Gospel rather than our own efforts or legalism.  And when we are one,…

Jesus is the head of the church.  He is the one who brings about and sustains the church through his good and gracious rule and direction.  And if Jesus is the head, that means no on else is.  There …

To a scattered church in turmoil, Peter reminds them of their God-given identity through four powerful statements.  They are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and God's special posse…

In Hebrews 10 the author encourages us that in the midst of struggle and turmoil to not turn back to religion, but instead rely on our relationship with Jesus to draw near to God, hold on to hope, an…

After Jesus ascends to heaven, Peter assumes the role of being the rock of the early church that fishes for people.  And rather than trying to gain power to control a physical empire, Peter tells a n…

Peter's stunning and dramatic fall is met by the even more stunning and dramatic forgiveness of Jesus.  In this story we see the incredible reversals that happen in Peter through the reconciling and …

Peter's self-confidence led him to follow Jesus at a distance as he was led away to trial.  But it also set him up for a dramatic and stunning fall.  He would deny Jesus not once, but three times and…

As he toils in the garden, Jesus asks Peter to keep watch with him.  In so doing, he's redirecting a self-confident Peter away from self effort and toward dependence upon God. It the presence of God …

In John 13, Peter learns what it means to be cleansed by Jesus and to join him in serving others.  We learn that when our identity is rooted in the Gospel, we can join Jesus in serving others, too.

Jesus' cursing of a fig tree is meant to show his disciples the danger of external religion.  This story, married with the cleansing of the temple, points out that while everything might look good fr…

Contrary to Peter's inquiry, forgiveness is not a religious action to be counted.  Instead it's the natural overflow of the gospel in our lives.  The King has infused his kingdom with a culture of fo…

In a strange story that seems to center on a fish with a coin in its mouth, we actually find that Jesus is revealing to Peter that "the family of the King is free."  In Peter's context and ours, this…

When Peter and two other disciples witness the transfiguration of Jesus, they are overwhelmed and want the experience to continue.  But Peter's offer of building three tabernacles for Jesus, Moses an…

When Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God, he believes Jesus is the rightful king.  And he's exactly correct.  What he misses is just how Jesus is going to establish his…

Jesus miraculously walking on water was an act of power, but even more so an act of love.  It demonstrates God's willingness to come from the security of the mountaintop into the storm to rescue huma…