Unfinished Hope
Conversation 14: Our Ruins, His Restoration
July 22, 2018 • Rev. Monty C. Wright
Our Runs, His Restoration is the conclusion of the Unfinished Hope series. In this conversation, Pastor Monty speaks to the better covenant God has provided for us. Ultimately, it is the hope that God readily makes available to us in Jesus that we desperately need to endure the trials we have in this life. To hear more, listen to conversation 14, Our Ruins, His Restoration.
Conversation 13: Remember Me
July 15, 2018 • Rev Marty Benedict
Remember Me is conversation 13 in the Unfinished Hope series. In this message, Pastor Marty mentions this section of Nehemiah reminds him of launching SVA. The key is relying on God in true dependence in times of success as well as when strategies fail us. To hear more, listen to conversation 13, Remember Me.
Conversation 12: Hope
July 8, 2018 • Rev. Monty C. Wright
Conversation 12 is about hope and how the children of Israel were desiring to be realigned with God. Part of this realignment is a heart change that they were yearning for, and Pastor Monty leads us through their prayer of confession from Nehemiah chapter 9, then concludes with what they were called to do follow the Lord so they could break free from what was holding them back in their culture. This message is a timely one for today, and to hear more, listen to conversation 12 Hope.
Conversation 11: Hope to Flourish
July 1, 2018 • Rev. Monty C. Wright
Hope to Flourish is conversation 11 in our study of Ezra and Nehemiah in the Old Testament. Nehemiah chapter 8 speaks to the Israelites desiring to hear the Word of God. They had a deep longing for Scriptures and in this passage, you can see how they responded to it. Pastor Monty similarly gives us five ways for “breathing with the Scriptures” that are based on this passage. To hear more, please listen to conversation 11, Hope to Flourish.
Conversation 10: Hope in Opposition
June 17, 2018 • Rev. Monty C. Wright
How do you respond when you are in the midst of opposition? Conversation 10 in the Unfinished Hope series addresses this question from Nehemiah chapters 4-7. In this passage, Nehemiah encounters opposition from the surrounding enemies of Israel and responded in a counter cultural way that can give us hope. To hear more, listen to conversation 10, Hope in Opposition.
Conversation 9: Hope for a Better City
June 10, 2018 • Rev. Monty C. Wright
Conversation 9, Hope for a Better City is taken from Nehemiah chapters two and three. Pastor Monty said, “Prayer, planning, and perseverance produce powerful outcomes” and we see this in these two chapters. There were five takeaways from God’s stirring of Nehemiah that are applicable for us today. Is God stirring you? To hear more, listen to conversation 9, Hope for a Better City.
Conversation 8: The Making of a Leader
May 27, 2018 • Rev. Monty C. Wright
Conversation eight in the Unfinished Hope series now moves to the book of Nehemiah. This book Pastor Marty described as Nehemiah’s personal journal, and chapter 1 describes Nehemiah’s reaction to the news he hears about the city of Jerusalem. In his response, we learn about three things God is looking for in a leader. To hear more, listen to conversation eight, The Making of a Leader.
Conversation 7: Hope for Holiness
May 20, 2018 • Rev. Monty C. Wright
Conversation seven in the Unfinished Hope series is the last in the book of Ezra, entitled Hope for Holiness. Historically, this particular passage is a difficult one that has often been misused to focus on intermarriage. Pastor Monty said the real problem here was the sin of idolatry. It is God's hope, especially in marriage, that we lead lives that honor Him and when we are aware of sin, having the courage to seek God's forgiveness. To hear more, listen to conversation seven, Hope for Holiness.
Week 6: Hope for Community
May 13, 2018 • Rev. Monty C. Wright
The sixth conversation in the Unfinished Hope series is titled Hope for Community which follows key points about community and God’s provision from Ezra 7 & 8. Pastor Monty said, “If we want God’s blessing, we need to do it God’s http://way....and if you do, His hand will be with you.” With this in mind, there two questions each person must answer about our pursuit of God’s blessing. To hear more about these questions, listen to conversation 6, Hope for Community.
Conversation 5: Hope In Our True Shepard
May 6, 2018 • Paul Dean
Hope in Our True Shepherd is the fifth Sunday conversation in the Unfinished Hope series. Guest Speaker Paul Dean from Soma Eastside Church in Issaquah asked the question, “What are you building your life on?” This was the same question the Israelites were considering in Ezra chapter 7. So often the floods come in our lives that pound against our life’s foundation. To hear how we can endure the floods in life, listen to conversation 5 Hope in Our True Shepherd.
Conversation 4: It’s Always Too Soon To Quit.
April 29, 2018 • Rev. Monty C. Wright
It’s Always Too Soon To Quit is the fourth Sunday conversation on the Ezra/Nehemiah series called Unfinished Hope. Pastor Monty asked the question at the beginning of this message, “How does God use defeats and tough times to help us grow up?” Ezra chapter 4-6 speaks to conflict the Israelites encountered as they were rebuilding the temple and there are four points to consider when we hit valleys in life. To hear more, listen to conversation four, It’s Always Too Soon To Quit.
Conversation 3: Worship Remakes Us
April 22, 2018 • Rev. Monty C. Wright
Worship Remakes Us is the third Sunday Conversation in the Unfinished Hope series. In Ezra 3, Israel was stirred into worship as a community as they move back to the promised land from captivity. Pastor Monty said, “worship is an inside job” that transforms our hearts when we worship God. To hear about the six things worship does in our hearts, listen to conversation 3, Worship Remakes Us.
Conversation 2: Returning to a Home You’ve Never Known
April 15, 2018 • Rev. Monty C. Wright
Can you imagine returning to a home you’ve never known? That is what the children of Israel did in the books for Ezra and Nehemiah. Unfinished Hope is the second message in this series and Pastor Monty speaks to the divine relationship that God has planned for us and how He continues to call us back to provide a way home. To hear more, listen to conversation two, Returning to a Home You’ve Never Known.
Conversation 1: God Is Always Up To Something
April 8, 2018 • Rev. Monty C. Wright
God Is Always Up To Something is the first Sunday conversation in the Unfinished Hope series. This message is an introduction and overview for this new series on the Old Testament books Ezra and Nehemiah. These two books point out the need for a holistic change of the hearts of Israel and the story within the story about God’s hope that is foreseen in Jesus. To hear more, listen to conversation 1, God Is Always Up To Something.