Sun, 14 Jun 2026 11:46:13 -0400WeeblyFri, 12 Jun 2026 22:04:14 GMThttps://www.mthopeloudoun.org/blog/my-favorite-storyHey everybody… What’s your favorite Bible story? Would we be surprised? Maybe one of the super encouraging miracles? Or a character who did mighty exploits for God? Or one of Jesus’s compassionate encounters with a struggling sinner? I bet you my favorite Bible story will in fact shock you. It’s one of the worst stories in there. But it makes me fall in love with God. Curious? Let’s talk in Deeper Thoughts below… 
 
But first… a few quick notes… 
 

• We will have youth group this Sunday from 11:30-1!  Let Jess know if your youth needs a ride home. 

 

• Ladies: Mark your calendars for our annual Women’s Retreat, September 11-12, 2026!  

 

• We have a new Facebook page to support relational connections and promote events for the Women’s Ministry!  Ladies can click here to join!

 

• Women’s Trauma Support Group: We are launching a new and private small group to work together to support and heal personal trauma of all kinds that women have experienced. Date, time, and location will not be publicly published to honor women’s privacy and security. Click here to email Keysha Miller who is facilitating this group for more information and to RSVP. 

 

• Two weeks ago, we had a very special field trip to Landover, MD for a unique experience of multi-cultural unity in worship with the Body of Christ. It was recorded; If you are interested, click here to view the full service (~ 1 hour, 40 minutes), or click here to view the host Pastor John Jenkin’s introduction and the six-pastor panel discussion which I was part of leading (~ 1 hour, 14 minutes). 

 

• LAST TWO WEEKS of The Daily Six!! Join us for six minutes each day, Monday through Friday, as we dig into the Psalms to learn how to pray scripture. At the end of June, we will conclude our current season of The Daily Six, taking at least a three-month production break to support Chris and Sherri’s sabbatical. Click here for our Daily Six webpage to find new content on Monday morning, OR… click here to sign up for our daily email reminders (if you’ve not already done so!).  

 
OK… that’s it for you email skimmers and those who hate long emails…  
 
BUT… 
 
 
Some Deeper Thoughts… 
 
So, we can all agree that God is into morality, correct? 
 
Would God ever lead us to do something really bad? Something immoral? The Bible is pretty clear on this one: “God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone” (James 1:13).  
 
But what about God leading us to love someone who is caught in deep immorality? Would He ever do that? 
 
Check this one out: One time, God told a pastor to marry a prostitute.  
 
Yep… you read this right. God led a man of God—a prophet—to marry a woman who openly and publicly sold herself. The preacher was told to build his life with a woman of tremendous unfaithfulness, brokenness, and pain. 
 
“When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, ‘Go, take to yourself an adulterous woman and children of unfaithfulness…’” (Hosea 1:2). 
 
So, Hosea married Gomer. (A rather unfortunate name, don’t you think?) And then they had kids. And they weren’t all Hosea’s. And they got unfortunate names too: “Not-Loved” was their second kid’s name—the one who likely came about… well… um… through her day-job. Talk about needing therapy when you grow up… “yeah, my mom and dad named me ‘Not-Loved.’” 
 
Are you mortified right now? First that I am telling this sordid story in the first place, but then secondly that I am telling you this is my favorite Bible story?  
 
“This is all kinds of messed up, Pastor.” 
 
Indeed. But it has a purpose. 
 
God is not into immorality. God is not into ruining preacher’s lives. God is not into affirming self-destructive behavior. 
 
But God is into love. Way into love. 
 
God had a personal problem. He wanted to expose the problem to the people He was having the problem with. So, the Lord asked a preacher to live out a lifelong illustration of both God’s problem and God’s solution. 
 
God’s problem was that He was in love with a very unfaithful people. “When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, ‘Go, take to yourself an adulterous woman and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord.’” (That’s the rest of Hosea 1:2). 
 
You see, God’s beloved people were selling themselves into great unfaithfulness, chasing after other gods, other ideologies, other pleasures and pursuits, abandoning their one true God in favor of the shallow lovers of worldly idolatry. And yet, God loved these people as His only wife—His beloved for whom He would do absolutely anything. 
 
And before you decide this story is just too gross and click on out of our email, you gotta hear what God… um… I mean what Hosea… I mean what God modeled through Hosea.  
 
When Gomer had thoroughly destroyed the heart of her godly preacher-husband, Hosea relentlessly pursued her to return to him, to stay with him, and to love him. He just would not give up.  
 
And neither will God. 
 
Standing in line at an auction block of slavery where Gomer was being sold by her evil human traffickers, Hosea clung to his thirty pieces of silver and waited patiently for his chance to buy her back [**insert the word “redeem her” here] from her slaveholders so she could be his bride once again. 
 
Oh friends… do you see it? “God demonstrates His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). While Gomer was destroying herself and being ravaged by wickedness, Hosea gave up everything he had for her. While we ravage and destroy our hearts by loving worldliness and sin, God gives us everything He has to redeem us back to Him. 
 
God called a preacher to marry a prostitute not because He thought that this would be the model for a healthy marriage. Hosea and Gomer did not go on to lead Old Testament marriage conferences. No, God called a preacher to demonstrate through his undying love for a crooked, wayward woman just how much God loves us—we who are also wayward in our own manner. 
 
This is going to be an amazing Bible study on the limitless love of God and His scandalous grace towards every single human being. Read Hosea chapters 1-3 beforehand and then let’s meet. 10:00 a.m. Sunday! Don’t be late… bring your Bible and a pen!! 
 
Much love to you all…  
 
Chris Eads 
Mt. Hope Pastor 
Friend 
ChrisEads@mthopeloudoun.org ​]]>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.mthopeloudoun.org/blog/god-restores-our-yearsHey friends… Do you know the great and joyful promise that God will work out everything in your life for the better? (Hint: check out Romans 8:28.) This may not square well with our perceived reality. Sometimes hardships last for years and might even get worse as we age. But God is not going to leave us to our suffering without also blessing us greatly. Let’s talk in Deeper Thoughts below… 
 
But first… a few big things happening… 
 

• Our super-fun annual “Summer Kick-Off” is THIS Sunday, June 7, right after service! Come to church hungry and join us in the pavilion for FREE hot dogs from the grill, chips and veggies, fresh squeezed lemonade, Kona Ice, games, fun and fellowship. It’s a great annual tradition to gather the whole church—young and old—as we launch into summer! 
  
  • There are many opportunities to volunteer… if you’ve not already signed up, click here to ping Chris Bowen and let him know you are available to help!   
• 
  
• Mt. Hope T-shirts… THIS Sunday is your last chance to order! We’ll have order forms at church or click here to order online. Cost is $18/adult $15 kids. 

 

• Ladies: We are creating a new Facebook page to support relational connection and promote events. More details to come! 

 

• Women’s Trauma Support Group: We are launching a new and private small group to work together to support and heal personal trauma of all kinds that women have experienced. Date, time, and location will not be publicly published to honor women’s privacy and security. Click here to email Keysha Miller who is facilitating this group for more information and to RSVP. 

 

• Last Sunday morning our Elders shared plans for Pastor Chris and Sherri taking an eight-week Sabbatical starting the first of July. During this time of rest, refocus, and seeking God for fresh vision for their ministry at Mt. Hope Church, an awesome line-up of teaching pastors has been secured. Click here to view the conversation from last Sunday (forward to the 45:40 mark to see this), which includes also sharing a four-month leave of absence for Chris Bowen to be with his wife during her profound medical crisis.  

 

• LAST Sunday night, we had a very special field trip to Landover, MD for a unique experience of racial and ethnic unity in worship. The spirit of worship was strong, the relational experiences incredibly rich, and the honest and raw conversations from a panel of pastors (which I was privileged to serve on) were convicting. Everyone I spoke with who attended was very encouraged. Several folks have asked if it was recorded. It was, and we have a copy of the video. We have received permission to post this on our YouTube channel and will do so sometime next week. Standby for the private link to this recording. 

 

• LAST THREE WEEKS of The Daily Six!! Join us for six minutes each day, Monday through Friday, as we dig into the Psalms to learn how to pray scripture. At the end of June, we will conclude our current season of The Daily Six, taking at least a three-month production break to support Chris and Sherri’s sabbatical. Click here for our Daily Six webpage to find new content on Monday morning, OR… click here to sign up for our daily email reminders (if you’ve not already done so!).  

 
OK… that’s it for you email skimmers and those who hate long emails…  
 
BUT… 
 
 
Some Deeper Thoughts… 
 
Sometimes pain just happens and God has nothing to do with it.  
 
We live in a “fallen world,” a reality where good and evil, sin and righteousness, free will and all manner of stupidity dwells unabated. In many cases, the sufferings we encounter in life are simply the result of living in this unideal, sinful, broken world.  
 
Illness is most often just our turn with the failing bodies guaranteed to come upon us all. The death rate among humanity is running right at 100% these days, so an illness that captures our end is simply inevitable. When it happens, God is not surprised, as “all the days ordained for me were written in His book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16). But this does not mean He arbitrarily “took” us or our loved one in cruelty. 
 
Unemployment or financial hardship is usually just the result of world or local economies. Greed, fear, and politics that manipulate business decisions and market values flow unchecked from the sinful nature of man. God is nowhere in our politics, fear, or greed. 
 
Betrayal from others, interpersonal wounds that sting, and all manner of abuse and atrocity are 100% the free will choice of people who select evil as their course of action. God has nothing to do with these terrible choices. 
 
Tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires, and house fires are most often simply corrupt nature doing its thing—a brokenness that beset all of creation when good and evil was introduced outside the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 3). While God has control over the forces of nature (see Psalm 135:6-7), in most cases it seems clear that He is letting the broken forces of nature run as they are. God may not be in the storms whatsoever (see 1 Kings 19:11-13). 
 
BUT… sometimes, hardship is indeed a direct intervention of God.  
 
Read Hebrews 12:7-12. The scripture is clear. Sometimes discipline is necessary to lead us to the right relational space with God: living in abundant love as sons and daughters of our loving heavenly Father.  
 
Sometimes our hardships are God’s created reality to lead us to repentance.  
 
When they are, we should repent, not get fussy with God. 
 
I’ve met many a person who acts as if God is to blame—somehow unloving and uncompassionate—for the hardships we encounter. But this simply is not true, and it dishonors everything God has revealed to us in scripture. 
 
In the cases where our troubles are the simple outcomes of our fallen physical bodies, the corrupt choices of evil people, or the autopilot throbbing of a broken planet, God is not to blame. You can thank Adam and Eve for introducing evil into our experience, and you can be deeply angry at the evil choices of your sinful neighbor. 
 
In the cases where God’s discipline is the cause, we can thank ourselves—not blame God—for having an unrepentant heart that leads a loving and merciful God to place some pain upon us to catch our attention and return us to Him. 
 
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate” (Joel 2:12-13). 
 
Did you read that last phrase? “He is gracious and compassionate.” Period. Always. Every time.  
 
The prophet Joel wrote during a season of God’s discipline. A horrific infestation of locusts had beset the land of Israel as a judgment designed to lead a wayward people back to God.  
 
But this was not the end of the story. God promised boldly, “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten” (Joel 2:25). This is a clear and present promise. God will restore us from the years of pain involved in bringing us back to Him. Every. Single. Time. 
 
Let’s meet… Sunday, 10:00 a.m. sharp… and study the wondrously gracious promise of God to leverage His discipline and restore us to something so much better. Take a little time in advance to read the prophet Joel.   
 
This will be encouraging. And then we’ll party outside for our summer kick-off celebration. Don’t be late… bring your Bible and a pen!! 
 
Much love to you all…  
 
Chris Eads 
Mt. Hope Pastor 
Friend 
ChrisEads@mthopeloudoun.org ​]]>Fri, 15 May 2026 23:18:32 GMThttps://www.mthopeloudoun.org/blog/a-really-big-sundaydont-be-lateHey friends… Oh wow… you DON’T want to miss this and you don’t want to be late this Sunday! Church starts at 10:00 a.m. (um… ahem… tap, tap… not 10:05… not 10:10…) and you really want to be in your seats by 9:58. “Why,” you ask? This is going to be exciting: We are building our entire worship experience around ten powerful testimonies of transformed lives, sharing with them in the holy sacrament of baptism and celebrating who Jesus is to each of us. 
 
 A couple things to know about this… 
 

• TEN baptisms and TEN testimonies: Mixed all throughout the service in between worship songs, we will not just baptize people in one large group. One or two will tell us how they have been transformed by Jesus. We’ll worship a bit more, then celebrate the sacrament of baptism with them. Then repeat again and again throughout the morning. Our “teaching” this week will be these personal testimonies of who Jesus is to them and how God’s Word has impacted them! 

 

• We will start right away: This means very early into the service, our first testimonies will occur. This is why we want you here early… so as to not miss these first stories and baptisms. 

• Important Note: We are always SUPER casual at Mt. Hope, come and go, no awkward, no worries… and we always say, “better late than never.” I don’t want anyone to feel like they should stay away if they are running late. So, if you are late, c’mon in! But if you are able to focus on time, this is the week to succeed! 

 

• SPECIAL: The Kids Connect kids will hang with us down front: As long as they are having fun, we plan to have the kids gather with us right down in front by the stage along with our Kids Connect leaders. They can have a “front row seat” to all the action. Whenever their attention span runs out, we’ll take them upstairs for their own activities. 

• Nursery is open all service long as usual. 

 
AND… A few other important things to know: 
 

• Ladies: Join us TOMORROW Saturday, May 16, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. for a women’s Self-Defense and Wellness Seminar led by Pastor Samuel Sierra and others to equip women with practical tools for safety, physical confidence, and whole-body wellness. Click here for details and to RSVP! 

 

• TEENS: Youth Group this Sunday 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Connection, snacks, Bible discussion, and a game. Let Jess know if your student needs a ride home. 

 

• Churchwide workday!! Saturday, May 30, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Come join us to help spruce up the campus for the spring and summer… lots of fellowship, fun, and tasks for all skill level, ages, and energy! Contact Kristie Zoller for more info. 

 

• High School and College Graduates will be honored in our Sunday service on May 31. We look forward to celebrating this amazing milestone in your life! 

 

• AND… Join us for a very special field trip to Landover, MD for a unique experience of racial and ethnic unity in worship… Sunday night, May 31. Mt. Hope has been invited to a special dinner and worship night with Pastor John Jenkins of Glenarden, MD (a giant in the faith and “bishop” to scores of phenomenal churches in Maryland) and 19 other churches as we seek to experience the culture and stories of our different heritages. Let’s carpool over… click here for details and to RSVP! 

 

• NEW Daily Six content THIS WEEK!! Join us for six minutes each day, Monday through Friday, as we continue our character-by-character study of how to find the heart of God… click here for our Daily Six webpage to find new content on Monday morning, OR… click here to sign up for our daily email reminders (if you’ve not already done so!).  

 
OK… we’re already way too long for you email skimmers and those who hate long emails…  
 
So, with that… C’mon out on Sunday, 10:00 a.m. sharp… This will be one of our most powerful services all year long! Don’t be late… bring your Bible and a pen!! 
 
Much love to you all…  
 
Chris Eads 
Mt. Hope Pastor 
Friend 
ChrisEads@mthopeloudoun.org ​]]>Fri, 08 May 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.mthopeloudoun.org/blog/something-to-tell-you-this-sundayHey beloved… I want to tell you about something I recently experienced, and a special invitation to the people of Mt. Hope Church. I’ll give you a quick heads up in Deeper Thoughts below and then share a little more detail on Sunday morning. Also, as you know Sunday is Mother’s Day, and we do plan to honor all of our ladies—whom I think most of us would agree are the “better half” of humanity. And, to cap it all off, we’ll continue to dig into God’s Word in our series “Knowing God.” 
 
 BUT first… a bunch of things happening… 
 

• TEENS: TOMORROW, Saturday, May 9, is FIRE Worship night, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. We’re going deep into what it looks like to have hope in Christ, with Mason Duckworth and Chris Cravens. Dinner, connection, music and discussion. Friends are welcome! 

 

• NO Youth Group this Sunday! 

 

• Ladies: Join us NEXT Saturday, May 16, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. for a women’s Self-Defense and Wellness Seminar led by Pastor Samuel Sierra and others to equip women with practical tools for safety, physical confidence, and whole-body wellness. Click here for details and to RSVP! 

 

• Really big deal BAPTISM Sunday, May 17… join us for an amazing Sunday morning worship service where we will be baptizing possibly 10 new believers at Mt. Hope! This is going to be a phenomenal experience of celebration and worship! 

 

• Churchwide workday!! Saturday, May 30, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Come join us to help spruce up the campus for the spring and summer… lots of fellowship, fun, and tasks for all skill level, ages, and energy! Contact Kristie Zoller for more info. 

 

• High School and College Graduates will be honored in our Sunday service on May 31. We look forward to celebrating this amazing milestone in your life! 

 

• AND… mark your calendar for a very special field trip to Landover, MD for a unique experience of racial reconciliation in worship… Sunday night, May 31. More on this in Deeper Thoughts below. Pastor Chris will share specific details with us THIS Sunday morning! 

 

• NEW Daily Six content THIS WEEK!! Join us for six minutes each day, Monday through Friday, as we continue our character-by-character study of how to find the heart of God… click here for our Daily Six webpage to find new content on Monday morning, OR… click here to sign up for our daily email reminders (if you’ve not already done so!).  

 
 
OK… that’s it for today for you email skimmers and those who hate long emails… 
 
BUT… 
 
 
Some Deeper Thoughts… 
 
It doesn’t take much effort watching the news to recognize that our nation is profoundly and sharply divided along many important cultural, political, and ideological lines. Some of these divisions are systemic to humanity; some are more immediate conflicts that flow out of short-term political or sociological situations. 
 
Some systemic divisions that are commonplace to all of fallen humanity’s history—a result of the nature of sin inbred within each of us—also find pockets of intensity rising up in the more immediate conflagration of current cultural issues. 
 
One of these matters that bridges both the systemic and the short-term is the often-troubled relationships between various people groups, races, and ethnicities.  
 
Systemic fear, bigotry, racism, and prejudice find its roots in the earliest echoes of Adam and Eve’s knowledge of evil in the Garden of Eden. Read almost any page of the Old Testament with the smallest measure of historical context and you’ll see hatred, fear, discrimination, and prejudice between just about every tribe and people. Spend a little time contemplating the outcomes of the Tower of Babel incident in Genesis 11 and we can see where fear and division got its start as a global human problem. 
 
In Genesis 11, God confused the languages of humanity so that we could no longer unite in horrific humanism and godlessness. But this isn’t where He wants the story to end.  
 
God had a plan all along to reunite us—not in godless humanism, but in the redeemed, healed, and God-empowered baptism of the Holy Spirit. Genesis 11:1-9 tells of our division’s beginning; Acts 2:1-11 tells of the Day of Pentecost’s reuniting of diverse people under the power of the Holy Spirit.  
 
Fast forward to the relatively more “short-term” experiment of the American people. We represent just a handful of centuries among millennia upon millennia of divided, sinful, hate-filled humanity. In our short story, division and oppression between races and ethnicities has been a tremendous theme, as you know. 
 
Great strides were made in the elimination of slavery in the 1800s and the pursuit of Civil Rights in the 1900s. We have much to be thankful for and to celebrate—not the least of which is to recognize that almost all of those advances were led by people who were filled with the same Holy Spirit who poured out on the Day of Pentecost. But any honest glance at our present culture must admit there is a long way to go for every tribe, tongue, race, and ethnicity to be truly honored and united as the Holy Spirit desires. 
 
Enter this unique opportunity I was recently invited into, and another unique invitation that has been extended specifically to the people of Mt. Hope Church. 
 
Six weeks ago, I was invited by the Northstar Church Network—with whom Mt. Hope is deeply connected and I serve on their Board of Directors—to be one of ten white pastors to join ten Black pastors for a two-day intensive retreat exploring what needs to be done to bring greater unity and reconciliation between believers and churches of both races. It was a sacred and special conversation as these 20 shepherds poured out their hearts and experiences as it relates to their story with race and division.  
 
I have much to tell you about what I am learning from these beloved new friends of mine. More on that in the weeks and months to come. 
 
But for now, let me tell you three quick things, and then we’ll talk more.  
 
First, we were each paired one-to-one to build an intentional relationship—one white pastor, one Black pastor. I’ve begun building a wonderful new friendship with Pastor Charles Whitaker who shepherds the River of Life Church in Temple Hills, MD. What a beautiful and godly man. 
 
Secondly, the larger group of 20 pastors have continued to meet. We have planned two joint worship evenings to begin the dialogue—to not only experience each other’s cultures with as many of our people who could attend, but to also share publicly the discussions and learnings we have begun. The first of these nights will be held in Landover, MD, Sunday night, May 31 at 6:00 p.m. More on this to come… but mark your calendar… because… 
 
Finally, Mt. Hope Church has received a personal and specific invitation from Pastor John Jenkins, who is considered by many in the Black community to be the most profound shepherd of our generation—a “bishop” to all of the ten Black pastors who participated in our conversation last month. His church is hosting the first worship night on May 31. 
 
On Wednesday this week, Pastor Jenkins extended a personal invitation to you Mt. Hopers—that for any of our congregation who would make the Sunday night trek to Landover for the worship night, he wants to host us for dinner before the meeting in appreciation that Mt. Hope is the farthest church from the event.  
 
I’ll share more personally with you on Sunday about all this; I have a sense in my spirit that we have a special opportunity to have a seat at an important table of healing in our Nation’s Capital.  
 
So, with that… thanks for reading. C’mon out on Sunday, 10:00 a.m. sharp… We’ll continue digging into the Old Testament, honor our ladies, and seek the face of God for what He is doing among us! Don’t be late… bring your Bible and a pen!! 
 
Much love to you all…  
 
Chris Eads 
Mt. Hope Pastor 
Friend 
ChrisEads@mthopeloudoun.org ​]]>Fri, 01 May 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.mthopeloudoun.org/blog/look-back-then-look-forwardHey friends… We have been working our way through the Old Testament for an entire year at Mt. Hope! Can you believe it?? Are you tired of it yet? Has it inspired you? Empowered you? Scared you? Discouraged you? Encouraged you? Let’s take a quick look back and then let’s see what is coming. More on this in Deeper Thoughts below.  
 
 BUT first… a bunch of things happening… 
 

• Please pray for our Elder Team: The six couples of our Elder Team are gathered this weekend for our annual intensive retreat, praying specifically for you, seeking God for the next chapter of our ministry, and mapping out the Holy Spirit’s guidance for the next 12 months at Mt. Hope. We will be home Saturday evening and with you on Sunday; we cherish your prayers for God’s wisdom, revelation, encouragement, and peace.  

• In case you don’t know, our Elder Team is comprised of: 

• Chris and Sherri Eads 

• Ryan and Jessica Sauder 

• Samuel and Evelyn Sierra 

• Randy and Debbie Richardson (exploring eldership; not yet appointed) 

• Al and Leigh Villaflor 

• Jameson and Kristie Zoller 

 

• TEENS: NO Youth Group this Sunday BUT… NEXT Saturday, May 9, is a FIRE Worship night, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Our theme is HOPE and we’ll be exploring what it means to put our hope in Christ. Pizza, connection, music and sharing. Friends are welcome! 

 

• Ladies: Join us Saturday, May 16, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. for a women’s Self-Defense and Wellness Seminar led by Pastor Samuel Sierra and others to equip women with practical tools for safety, physical confidence, and whole-body wellness. Click here for details and to RSVP! 

 

• Really big deal BAPTISM Sunday, May 17… join us for an amazing Sunday morning worship service where we will be baptizing seven new believers at Mt. Hope! This is going to be a phenomenal experience of celebration and worship! 

 

• Churchwide workday!! Saturday, May 30, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Come join us to help spruce up the campus for the spring and summer… lots of fellowship, fun, and tasks for all skill level, ages, and energy! Contact Kristie Zoller for more info. 

 

• High School and College Graduates will be honored in our Sunday service on May 31. We look forward to celebrating this amazing milestone in your life! 

 

• NEW Daily Six content THIS WEEK!! Join us for six minutes each day, Monday through Friday, as we continue our character-by-character study of how to find the heart of God… click here for our Daily Six webpage to find new content on Monday morning, OR… click here to sign up for our daily email reminders (if you’ve not already done so!).  

 
 
OK… that’s it for today for you email skimmers and those who hate long emails… 
 
BUT… 
 
 
Some Deeper Thoughts… 
 
Many believers shy away from the Old Testament for a lot of very understandable reasons: 
 

• It is long. Really long. Thirty-nine books long. 

• It is old. Really old. Twenty-five hundred years old. 

• It is hard to understand. Really hard. Like, sometimes I don’t get it at all hard. 

• It is depressing. Often. Lots of people screwing up and God being mad. 

 
Add to these facts that we no longer live under the Old Covenant, and it becomes really easy to assume that it is frankly irrelevant to us. Why spend all the effort to dig through thousands of stories, complicated poetry, cultural history that is lost to us, names that we cannot pronounce or keep track of, and all of God’s yelling if we don’t live with the same God from way back then? 
 
Wait… did you catch it? Is He a different God from then until now? 
 
Because Jesus Christ revealed God in the flesh—a God of absolute grace and mercy that seems so unlike the (seemingly) angry God of the Old Testament—we think that we live with a different God.  
 
But are we sure that’s true? 
 
There is indeed a different relational dynamic with God that we experience in the New Testament. It is awesome. It is SO full of grace, love, intimacy, and power… IF we will live up to the New Covenant’s call to us and opportunity for us.** 
 
** Side note: Something the Elders are significantly praying through this weekend is that for many modern American Christians (and we imagine many in our congregation), we have never been exposed to the “whole counsel of God” that the New Testament reveals. There is so much power revealed for us than many of us have never heard of or seen. Therefore, many modern believers unwittingly live their Christianity more similar to the Old Testament’s call to moral conformity than knowing or living from the power of the Holy Spirit available to us. We are working this weekend to hear from God a blueprint for how to boldly impart to each of you this whole counsel of the New Testament… standby for more news!! 
 
But Jesus was super-clear about the place of the Old Testament in our lives: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets [the Old Testament]. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). The life of Jesus Christ was to accomplish and reveal the end game, the purpose, and the goal of the Old Testament—to restore our lives to God’s fullest desires for us by the power of the Holy Spirit. 
 
The Apostle Paul explained its value for us to understand who God is and how He relates to us: “These things [the Old Testament stories] happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come” (1 Corinthians 10:11). The patterns, struggles, temptations, and failures of the people of Israel are merely a visual snapshot into our own personal struggles, failures, and impulses. How God responds to them is a revelation of how He feels about all of us. 
 
BUT… as we read the Old Testament carefully and through the lens of God’s ultimate revelation of grace, mercy, and healing that come to us in Jesus Christ, we cannot miss that in every story of failure in the Old Testament, and in every place where God pleads with His people with stark and intense words, He is doing so with their full redemption and healing in mind.  
 
The God of the Old Testament is the same God as the New Testament: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus is all over the Old Testament, from the very first verse to the very last. Though he’s not mentioned by name as his physical birth as a human had not yet occurred, his presence and activity among God’s people as a member of the Trinity is unmistakable. 
 
This Sunday, let’s review everywhere we’ve been so far, and look forward to where we are going next. We’re getting to the best part, where God begins to reveal all the details of His end game—the life and ministry, the death and resurrection of Jesus, and the outpouring of His Holy Spirit into our hearts.  
 
Do a little advance reading before Sunday if you can: Genesis 2, Deuteronomy 6, and Ezekiel 36. I think these are the most important parts we’ve read thus far. And then let’s dig into what’s next!! 
 
Can’t wait to see you Sunday, 10:00 a.m. sharp… Don’t be late… bring your your Bible and a pen!! 
 
Much love to you all…  
 
Chris Eads 
Mt. Hope Pastor 
Friend 
ChrisEads@mthopeloudoun.org ​]]>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.mthopeloudoun.org/blog/how-is-your-spirit​Hey friends… Did you know that you have a spirit? Most of us have heard of the “Holy Spirit” (hint: He’s the good guy in the story). Most people have a vague awareness that some “evil spirits” are messing around out there (the bad guys). But what do you know about your spirit? We all have one. Some are dead within us; some are brilliantly alive. But how steadfast and willing is your spirit? Let’s talk in Deeper Thoughts below… 
 
 BUT first… just a couple of notes to know… 
 

• TEENS: Youth Group this Sunday 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Snacks, connection and the Word. Plus, snacks, of course! Let Jess know if your student needs a ride home. 

 

• Ladies: Join us NEXT Saturday, April 25 at 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. for breakfast and a prayer walk at Morven Park in Leesburg. Click here for more info and to RSVP!  

 

• Save the date for Saturday, May 16, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. for a women’s self-defense training led by Pastor Samuel Sierra. More details and RSVP to come!! 

 

• Really big deal BAPTISM Sunday, May 17… join us for an amazing Sunday morning worship service where we will be baptizing seven new believers at Mt. Hope! This is going to be a phenomenal experience of celebration and worship! 

 

• Churchwide workday!! Saturday, May 30, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Come join us to help spruce up the campus for the spring and summer… lots of fellowship, fun, and tasks for all skill level, ages, and energy! Contact Kristie Zoller for questions! 

 

• NEW Daily Six content THIS WEEK!! Join us for six minutes each day, Monday through Friday, as we continue our character-by-character study of how to find the heart of God… click here for our Daily Six webpage to find new content on Monday morning, OR… click here to sign up for our daily email reminders (if you’ve not already done so!).  

 
 
OK… that’s it for today for you email skimmers and those who hate long emails… 
 
BUT…  
 
 
Some Deeper Thoughts 
 
The concept of a “spirit” is a bit vague and mysterious. That’s sort of the point, since a “spirit” is something that operates in dimensions mostly unfamiliar to us. 
 
I just asked Mr. Google “what is the definition of a spirit?” He came back with two things. One matched our topic today; the other was a picture of several bottles of booze. 
 
Human beings have been talking about spirits for as long as history has been recorded. Ancient religions all addressed the presence of spirits, typically with much fear and anxiety. Superstitions abound in various primeval rituals to ward off “evil spirits.” Other religious practices sought to connect us with good spirits who would aid us with the basic necessities of life such as food, water, and warmth. Almost every religion in history has also acknowledged that we all have our own personal spirit within us—a part of us, not something distinctly separate from us. 
 
Here’s how the great Google A.I. Overlord defines it: “A force within a human being thought to give the body life, energy, and power.” 
 
And from the more academically tested Oxford Dictionary: “The non-physical part of a person which is the seat of emotions and character.” 
 
The Bible speaks of three different kinds of spirits: The Holy Spirit; evil or “unclean” spirits; and our spirit. I know you’ve heard of the first two, but have you considered lately both the existence and the condition of your spirit?  
 
When King David was in serious trouble, he was keenly aware that the problem might be rooted somewhere deep within his spirit. Even though he was known as “a man after God’s own heart,” (1 Samuel 13:14), David had crossed just about every conceivable moral boundary known to man. He abused his power, took advantage of a married woman, impregnated her, tried to cover it up through complex deception, and finally murdered her husband so he could marry her and dodge political scandal. It all miserably failed.  
 
When confronted by the prophet Nathan about this great evil, the man who had such love for God broke in weeping repentance. He wrote Psalm 51 right in the middle of his crisis.  
 
(Side note: When God uses an adulterous, lying, murderous thug to write the Holy Word of God right smack in the middle of a moral collapse, this should inspire us that His mercy and love can meet us in the middle of whatever problems or sins we are dealing with. No matter how far gone we might think we are, we are never beyond the reach of our holy and loving God to do amazing things within us.) 
 
David instantly knew what he needed God to do for him. He knew where the problem was and therefore knew exactly what needed to be fixed.  
 
“Create in me a pure heart, O God,” he cried out, “and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). 
 
Did you see it? He needed a changed heart and a renewed spirit. His heart needed to be clean; his spirit needed to be steadfast. Oh… and there was one more thing: “grant me a willing spirit to sustain me” (Psalm 51:12).  
 
Checklist: 1) Pure heart; 2) renewed spirit; 3) steadfast spirit; 4) willing spirit.  
 
How are those things going in your spirit?  
 
Jesus promised radical help with all four. God Almighty promised the same thing centuries before Jesus. 
 
585 B.C. – God speaking: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you… I will put my Spirit within you and move you to follow my decrees…” (Ezekiel 36:26-27). 
 
Pure heart. Renewed spirit. Willing spirit. Check. 
 
33 A.D. – Jesus speaking: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth… [He will] teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you… [and] guide you into all truth” (John 14:17, 26; 16:13).  
 
With us forever = steadfast spirit. Check. 
 
The whole point and the entire promise of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to place within us a new heart, a new spirit, and the Holy Spirit to be our guide, Counselor, Comforter, Advocate, and friend. David instinctively knew he needed this gift even 1,000 years before Jesus promised and fulfilled this. 
 
So, how is your spirit doing? Is the promise of Jesus being radically fulfilled in you? Or does your spirit need some maintenance?  
 
Let’s talk more about this as we meet for this week’s Resurrection Sunday, 10:00 a.m. sharp… Don’t be late… bring your your Bible and a pen!! 
 
Much love to you all…  
 
Chris Eads 
Mt. Hope Pastor 
Friend 
ChrisEads@mthopeloudoun.org 
]]>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.mthopeloudoun.org/blog/whats-next-after-easter​Hey friends… We asked last week on Easter, “So what?” Why is the resurrection of Jesus relevant to you? This Sunday, let’s go a layer deeper. Not only “so what?” but now, “what’s next?” Let’s check in quickly about it in Deeper Thoughts below…  
 BUT first… just a couple of notes to know… 
 

• TEENS: TOMORROW… Saturday, April 11 for FIRE Worship Night, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Dinner, worship, connection, and conversation about God’s GRACE! Friends are welcome!! 

 

• Youth Group this Sunday 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Snacks, connection and the Word. Joanne Conover will be joining us to share about her faith journey. Let Jess know if your student needs a ride home! 

 

• Ladies: Join us Saturday, April 25 at 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. for breakfast and a prayer walk at Morven Park in Leesburg. Click here for more info and to RSVP!  

 

• Save the date for Saturday, May 16 for a women’s self-defense training led by Pastor Samuel Sierra. More details to come!! 

 

• NEW Daily Six content THIS WEEK!! Join us for six minutes each day, Monday through Friday, as we continue our character-by-character study of how to find the heart of God… click here for our Daily Six webpage to find new content on Monday morning, OR… click here to sign up for our daily email reminders (if you’ve not already done so!).  

 

• We are taking orders for Mt Hope t-shirts!  These are a great way to be unified when we participate in outreach opportunities, have fun, and the proceeds will go to the building fund!  Keysha and Sarah Jane will be passing out order forms tomorrow for the t-shirt they designed! 

 
 
OK… that’s it for today for you email skimmers and those who hate long emails… 
 
BUT…  
 
 
Some Deeper Thoughts 
 
I have a scavenger hunt for you to do before Sunday. Jesus said something very relevant, and I wonder if you know about it. Or could find it. 
 
“It’s good for you that I go away,” he said.  
 
Jesus bailing out on us seems like the opposite of what we want. I don’t know about you, but my whole goal of faith is to get closer to Jesus, not farther away. I want Jesus active in my life, helping me, being present with me, relating with me. 
 
You? 
 
So, when he said it’s better that he take off, wha…??? 
 
Scavenger hunt: Can you find where he said this? Google might point you in the right direction if you have no idea. Seriously… can you go look it up?  
 
Scavenger hunt part two: Don’t just read it and be proud you found it (though, great job in getting there!). Now… figure out the context. What is the point and the goal of why he wanted to bail out? What good will it do you? What do you get in return? Why is that relevant to you? 
 
Finally, scavenger hunt part three: Look inside yourself. Do you have what Jesus promised and what Jesus wanted to accomplish thriving within you? Are you uncertain of what it all means? Do you need help figuring it out (which is totally OK, BTW)? 
 
I know I’m leaving you hanging. I’m doing it on purpose. (“Thanks, Chris. You’re my bud.”) 
 
I am SO excited for you to discover what Jesus was up to after the resurrection. As I have been telling you the last couple of Sundays, Holy Week really wasn’t about all that happened on Holy Week. Yes, the cross was important (understatement of the year!), but it wasn’t the end goal. It was just the beginning. The resurrection was monumental. We learned last Sunday it was so that you and I, too, could be resurrected (see Romans 6:4-6 and Colossians 3:1-3). 
 
But wait! There’s even more!! Jesus is bailing out on us in just about 40 days. He will spend some quality time with his disciples for forty days after the resurrection, but then he is out. And he said this is really good. 
 
Let’s do this: You do some digging into when and why Jesus said this. Search out the whole context. Ask the Lord to reveal some stuff to you. Pray for God’s revelation to you. Listen carefully in your spirit. Write down your questions and doubts. Then, we’ll talk more about it as we meet for this week’s Resurrection Sunday, 10:00 a.m. sharp… Don’t be late… bring your your Bible and a pen!! 
 
Much love to you all…  
 
Chris Eads 
Mt. Hope Pastor 
Friend 
ChrisEads@mthopeloudoun.org 
]]>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 19:25:13 GMThttps://www.mthopeloudoun.org/blog/dont-miss-your-resurrectionA blessed Good Friday to you, dear friends. Notice I did not say “do not miss HIS resurrection.” You know we celebrate that this Sunday, right? The most important day in all of Christianity is when we contemplate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. I know you won’t miss it… Easter Morning at 9:00 or 10:30 a.m.  I’m not worried about that. I am concerned, however, about YOUR resurrection. *That* one could get missed if we’re not careful. Let’s talk in Deeper Thoughts below…
 
 BUT first…
 

• EASTER is THIS Sunday, April 5!!! Bring some family or friends with you to one of our TWO identical 65-minute worship services Easter Morning at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. The Gospel will be clearly and sensitively presented for your unchurched loved ones, and we will all be challenged to experience the resurrected life that Jesus has for us!

 

• Kids Connect will be offered at 10:30 a.m. ONLY, but kids are welcome with us in the main service either hour. Nursery is available at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m.

 

• AND… join us for an Easter Egg hunt at 11:45 a.m.… age-appropriate hunts for toddlers, kids, and teens! Everyone come watch the fun!

 

• NOTE: Our plan for the egg hunt is rain or shine… the forecast has some light drizzle in store for us Sunday; please have your kids dressed for some damp. (But if it’s a hard rain, we’ll have a backup plan for under the pavilion or indoors.)

 

• TEENS: NO youth group this week… BUT… join us NEXT Saturday, April 11 for FIRE Worship Night, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Dinner, worship, connection, and conversation about God’s GRACE! Friends are welcome!!

 

• Ladies: Join us Saturday, April 25 at 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. for breakfast and a prayer walk at Morven Park in Leesburg.  Click here for more info and to RSVP!

 

• Save the date for Saturday, May 16 for a women’s self-defense training led by Pastor Samuel Sierra. More details to come!!

 

• NEW Daily Six content THIS WEEK!! Join us for six minutes each day, Monday through Friday, as we continue our character-by-character study of how to find the heart of God… click here for our Daily Six webpage to find new content on Monday morning, OR… click here to sign up for our daily email reminders (if you’ve not already done so!).

 
 
OK… that’s it for today for you email skimmers and those who hate long emails…
 
BUT…
 
 
Some Deeper Thoughts
 
Roughly one-thousand, nine-hundred and ninety-six years ago there was a violent earthquake in Jerusalem. A massive angel shook the earth as he rolled back a 3,500-pound, five foot tall and one-foot-thick stone, plopped down on it and sat.
 
Gosh… wouldn’t that have been so cool to see? Bam, the angle takes a seat. The Roman guards who were filled with hate and sin “were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men” (Matthew 28:4).
 
“Greetings,” Jesus said to the ladies who had come to the tomb with spices for his embalming. Translate that to modern English: “Hey there, ladies. What’s up?”
 
So cool.
 
But so what?
 
Is this merely a story in the Bible meant to encourage and inspire us? Is this to just create in us a fairy tale image of Jesus’s memory being alive in our hearts? Or did this really, literally occur? And what do I DO with this?
 
This story is not meant to stand alone. This is because it is not just a story. It is a reality.
 
This event was the most transformative experience that humankind has ever known. Not because it happened to one man—Jesus—but because of what has happened to hundreds of millions of believers who have embraced not only HIS resurrection, but also THEIRS.
 
When Jesus died on the cross (remembered today on Good Friday), a grand transaction occurred in the spiritual realm: “When you were dead in your transgressions and sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sin, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross… and triumphing… by the cross” (Colossians 2:13-15).
 
Did you miss it?
 
Your sins were forgiven. Check. The letter of God’s Law that stood opposed to our wickedness was nailed to the cross. Every detail, every code, every regulation we have violated before God was cancelled.
 
But wait! There’s more!! Did you miss it?
 
“God made you alive” (Colossians 2:13).
 
You and I were dead. Spiritual doornail. Done. Failed. Six feet under. Kaput.
 
But then there was a resurrection. HIS resurrection, yes. But that wasn’t all. YOUR resurrection occurred, too. “We were therefore buried with him…into death [our sins were nailed to that cross, and our sinful bodies were spiritual buried with him in that tomb] in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:4).
 
“If we were united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection” (Romans 6:5).
 
This has tremendous implications for our lives… *IF* we will not miss it.
 
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:1-2).
 
Beloved, if this physical resurrection really took place; if that big and tall angel sat so hard on a 5-foot boulder that an earthquake rocked the city; if the God of the Universe embodied in Jesus could not be held down by the grave… then you and I need to respond. There is a setting of our hearts and minds that we are called to do. There is a change of focus that will change our reality.
 
In short: We need to show up for our own resurrection because Jesus showed up for his.
 
Let’s talk more about this as we meet for a mighty Resurrection Sunday, 9:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. sharp… Don’t be late… bring your friends and your Bible!!
 
Much love to you all…
 
Chris Eads
Mt. Hope Pastor
Friend

]]>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.mthopeloudoun.org/blog/march-27th-2026 Hey there, friends… Building on our thoughts from last week, what is the goal of our Christianity? Good Friday is one week from today; Easter just 9 days away. So what? What does this really—practically—do for us? Might the whole goal be something different than we think? Let’s talk in Deeper Thoughts below…

BUT first…

• EASTER is NEXT Sunday, April 5!!! Plan to join us and bring some family or friends to the most important celebration of the year… the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! We will have TWO identical 65-minute worship services Easter Morning at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. The Gospel will be clearly and sensitively presented for your unchurched loved ones, and we will all be challenged to experience the resurrected life that Jesus has for us!
  
  
  
  • Kids Connect will be offered at 10:30 a.m. ONLY, but kids are welcome with us in the main service either hour. Nursery is available at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m.
    
  • AND… join us for an Easter Egg hunt at 11:45 a.m.… age-appropriate hunts for toddlers, kids, and teens! Everyone come watch the fun!
    
    
    
• Are you interested in being baptized? Join us for an orientation to baptism THIS Sunday, March 29, right after church. For those who decide they would like to be baptized, we will schedule their specific baptism for a Sunday in the days ahead!
  
  
  
• Teens: Youth group THIS Sunday, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Snacks, connection, and digging deeper in the Bible! Let us know if your student needs a ride home.
  
  
  
  • AND… Youth Girls: We’re reading Esther over spring break! If you’d like to read along, let Jess know. We’ll read through portions each day, consider questions, and meet at the end of the week for discussion.
    
  
  
  
• Ladies: Mark your calendars for, Saturday, April 25 at 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. for breakfast and a prayer walk at Morven Park in Leesburg. Click here for more info and to RSVP!
  
  
  
• Help us support students in Sterling! We are collecting food, clothing, and personal supplies for under-resourced students at Park View High School and Sterling Middle School. Click here to download the list of needs and bring to church on Sunday!
  
  
  
• NEW Daily Six content THIS WEEK!! Join us for six minutes each day, Monday through Friday, as we continue our character-by-character study of how to find the heart of God… click here for our Daily Six webpage to find new content on Monday morning, OR… click here to sign up for our daily email reminders (if you’ve not already done so!).
  

OK… that’s it for today for you email skimmers and those who hate long emails…


BUT…


Some Deeper Thoughts


I asked you a direct and somewhat poignant question last week.


Here it is in case you missed it: Have you matured past your faith only being about confirming a ticket to heaven and having God answer prayers for your wants and needs? And, as I emphasized last week, this question is not to shame you at all. It is to offer you something amazingly better.


This Sunday, I want to go a layer deeper on something I think we can all relate with. It’s in the lane of forgiveness.


I believe that many of us—maybe most (*I know this is true of me)—began our faith journey with Jesus focused on the forgiveness of sins. When I was first introduced to Jesus, that was what I needed him for. I didn’t want to go to hell when I died. I knew I was sinning a bunch and didn’t want God to be mad. Someone told me Jesus died to forgive my sins, and I’d better ask him into my life so those sins would indeed be forgiven. Awesome deal. Count me in. I’m saved, praise God!!


As I got older, sin became less frequent. Maturity does a thing or two for us. But also as I got older, the less-frequent sins sometimes became more consequential.


Enter the story of David and Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11. If you’ve been with us on The Daily Six this week, we have explored this tragic story of the “man after God’s heart” spiraling into tremendous, gut-wrenching, life-destroying sin. Adultery, cover-up, murder. It was a BIG deal.


On one front, I hope David’s story encourages you that even the most godly among us can still blow it—meaning that you are not a freak when sin trips you up. You haven’t lost your place with God. But it still matters. Sin is still a BIG deal.


And this is where we enter the goal of the story. Over the course of this week, we’ll move through the holiest cycles of the Christian calendar—from Palm Sunday through Good Friday into Easter. The meaning of these sacred days is unmistakable. Messiah has come as King of the Jews to die on a cross so our sins can be forgiven. Death could not hold him down; three days later he rose victorious over death and hell, and we have been set free!


But do we misunderstand the goal?

David knew that he needed forgiveness of sins. Check. So do I.


But wait… there’s more!


Forgiveness of sins is only the beginning. This Holy Week, let’s look at the life of David and how God met him in the most horrific cycles of his life. Read Psalm 32 and Psalm 51 in advance—two beautiful chapters of the Bible he wrote while tumbling through this worst of moments. We will see something sure to broaden the goal for us… and it will be far, far more abundant than just the forgiveness of our sins.


Curious? Then, let’s meet! Sunday, 10:00 a.m. sharp… Don’t be late… bring your Bible and a pen!!


Much love to you all…


Chris Eads
Mt. Hope Pastor
Friend
]]>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.mthopeloudoun.org/blog/the-tangible-presence-of-godHey there, beloved… Question for you: Why are you a Christian? What good does it do you? What do you hope to get out of having a relationship with God? These are critical questions. And while there may not be right or wrong answers, what we feel and believe about these things determines everything about how and why we live out our life with God. More on this in Deeper Thoughts below…


BUT first…a few quick updates…

• EASTER is coming!!! Plan to join us and bring some family or friends to the most important celebration of the year… the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! We will have TWO identical 65-minute worship services Easter Morning, April 5, at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. The Gospel will be clearly and sensitively presented for your unchurched loved ones, and we will all be challenged to experience the resurrected life that Jesus has for us!
  • Kids Connect will be offered at 10:30 a.m. ONLY, but kids are welcome with us in the main service either hour. Nursery is available at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m.
    
    
    
  • AND… join us for an Easter Egg hunt at 11:45 a.m.… age-appropriate hunts for toddlers, kids, and teens! Everyone come watch the fun!
  
  
  
• Teens: No youth group this Sunday. It is our privilege and joy as the Youth Team to pray for our students. Please let us know any specific prayer needs!
  
  
  
• Ladies: Mark your calendars for our next event, Saturday, April 25 at 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. for breakfast and a prayer walk at Morven Park in Leesburg. Click here for more info and to RSVP!
  
  
  
• Are you interested in being baptized? Join us for an orientation to baptism NEXT Sunday, March 29, right after church. For those who decide they would like to be baptized, we will schedule their specific baptism for a Sunday in the days ahead!
  
  
  
• Help us support students in Sterling! We are collecting food, clothing, and personal supplies for under-resourced students at Park View High School and Sterling Middle School. Click here to download the list of needs and bring to church on Sunday!
  
  
  
• NEW Daily Six content THIS WEEK!! Join us for six minutes each day, Monday through Friday, as we continue our character-by-character study of how to find the heart of God… click here for our Daily Six webpage to find new content on Monday morning, OR… click here to sign up for our daily email reminders (if you’ve not already done so!).
  
  
  

OK… that’s it for today for you email skimmers and those who hate long emails…


BUT…


Some Deeper Thoughts


My little 12-year-old self was terrified of our house burning down in the middle of the night.


We had a neighbor’s home catch fire down the street, and you can image how that effected my immature little brain.


I had just recently been introduced to the idea that God exists by my buddy Chris Foley who lived across the street. In between wintertime sledding down his steep backyard hill and summertime playing soldiers in the woods, Chris explained to me who Jesus was and how to be born again.


I saw an excellent deal in what he offered. First, I could be sure to not go to hell when I died, which held an eerily similar fear to my housefire phobia. And secondly, I could ask God every night before I went to sleep that He’d prevent our home from burning down.


That’s all kind of cute, isn’t it?


As I matured a bit, my newfound pivot from atheist to Christian broadened only slightly. When I finally gave into accepting Jesus and truly being born again at the age of 14, the assurance of heaven became more real, and the prayer requests evolved to things 14-year-old boys are concerned with—namely God’s favor with the young ladies I was growing fond of. It would be another couple of years before I realized Christianity was far bigger and much more meaningful that just a ticket out of hell and a God to whom I could appeal for a few key things I wanted.


May I ask you a poignant question?


While I trust that most of our readers have a greater natural maturity than pre-teen little Chris, have you matured past your faith only being about your eternal security and your hope in God’s blessings and provisions for your wants and needs?


This question is not to shame you at all. It is to offer you something amazingly better.


I think a great number of Christians haven’t been told that God offers something SO much more meaningful and life-transforming than access to heaven and an audience to our prayer requests. Certainly, many believers have never experienced anything more.


How do I know this?


I listen to how we pray.


Again… please… feel no scorn in this. But stop and consider: When you pray, do you simply and only ask God for things? They may indeed be quite important things. We pray for a loved one to get over their physical ailments (this is our most common prayer request, and almost exclusively what we pray for in group settings). We might pray for an unemployed friend to get a job. Or we might ask God to comfort someone we know who just lost a loved one. These are good things to pray for, and the Bible tells us to do so.


But I almost never hear someone pray out loud for an internal, spiritual transformation. It’s super-rare to be in a small group where somebody boldly and persistently asks God for His tangible presence to fill their hearts. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been with a brother or sister who fell on their faces before God in a group setting to plead with the Lord for His healing of their souls rather than the healing of their bodies. It’s almost unheard of to see someone crying out to God in deep, heartfelt repentance. People kneeling at the altar at church on a Sunday just about never happens.


It didn’t used to be this way.


Wind the clock back just 30 years ago or so. At least in the Fairfax County church I grew up in, there was a deep and passionate appeal to God at the altar every Sunday where I would see dozens of adults kneeling around prayer benches at the front of our sanctuary. Loud voices could be heard as they cried out to God for His mercy over the hardness of their hearts. Believers would weep for the presence of the Lord to wash over them. The response to a sermon from God’s Word was bold and hungry as believers came forward to offer God their whole hearts in prayer that He would help them align with this biblical truth.


In short, these believers were believers for much more than receiving heaven and help. They hungered for the tangible presence of God, where an abundant life of joy and a clean and holy conscience was the outcome of their faith. They wanted to see God in their spirit. They wanted to hear God’s voice in the inner quietness of their soul. They cared far more to find God’s heart than to get God’s help.


King David longed for this same thing. And as He broke through his own hardness of heart, he found the tangible presence of God which was filled with crazy levels of joy.


Would you like this kind of breakthrough? Do you know how to get it? This Sunday, I want to explore this from a rather unlikely text of scripture. Dig around 2 Samuel 6 and 1 Chronicles 15 for a bit before Sunday… it’s where we were all week on The Daily Six.


Then, let’s meet! Sunday, 10:00 a.m. sharp… Don’t be late… bring your Bible and a pen!!


Much love to you all…


Chris Eads
Mt. Hope Pastor
Friend
ChrisEads@mthopeloudoun.org]]>