South Beach Hope Ministries –
An online "church" for those who are called to be pastors, but need
to work full time, care for their families and draw their family, friends, neighbors and
coworkers into the fold. Where would these godly leaders find the time to even learn to write sermons and training materials, as well as accomplish the years
of theological study it takes to be a "well equipped" leader? The answer is South Beach Hope Ministries –
this web site.
But after a while.
What of Living Hope Church of
Westport? Besides transforming into South
Beach Hope Ministries?
The folks of LHC have merged into Coastal Community Church – also on the South Beach. All of these children of God will meet together at 10:30 at the CCC location, where Pastor Bill Troxel will competently and compassionately teach them.
Pastor Scott Worth will continue to lead the wonderful Wednesday evening bible study at the old Living Hope Church location. The South Beach Christian Outreach now owns the building and offers a great service to the community – “Neighbors helping neighbors to the glory of God”.
Please visit the CCC or SBCO web sites for further information. We will leave the balance of this web site up for your benefit until the new ministry focus is ready for its on-line reveal. Pastor Rick Henderson’s sermons will remain available on Sermon.net.
The words of the Bible tell the story of Jesus and why he came. Everything we teach at Living Hope Church is based on the Bible. If you’d like to know more about the one and only Son of God please join us!
Oh, and if you don’t have a Bible, let us know. We’ll do our best to get one into your hands. Once you have one, download our Bible Reading Checklist (on the “good stuff” page) and then start reading! You can start anywhere, but the Gospel (good news of Jesus) that John wrote is a wonderful way to listen to the voice of Jesus for the first time.
If you are pretty sure you have heard the voice of Jesus and you are ready to open the doorof your life to Him, here is a simple way to think about it. As simple as ABC.
A – Admit you are a sinner.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23 ESV)
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. (Romans 3:23 NLT)
Let’s face it – none of us is getting it right. And somehow we all know that God is perfect. There’s a big gap here! And the first step in correcting any problem is to admit the problem is there.
B – Believe that Jesus can and will save you
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 ESV)
"For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NLT)
Do we really believe that Jesus is the eternal Son of God? Then we can believe that He is able to do what he says he can do.
Last step?
C – Commit your life to Jesus
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 ESV)
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 NLT)
No matter how we say it in English the point is clear – if Jesus really is the God who created all things then we owe him everything. But He is more than that too. He is the one who “wrote himself into the story” – he became a man and suffered and died in our place. So, twice over, we own Jesus everything!
Are you listening to him?