January 2025: The Five Questions
“(God, our Savior) wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)
“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2)
2025 has started and I have a practice I would like to encourage into our church’s life. It is obvious that the Lord desires people to come to repentance and be saved. We are also to disciple reliable people so that they can go and disciple reliable people. Evangelism and Discipleship are to be a constant two-sided coin in our life.
How do we keep evangelism and discipleship on our mind as servants of Christ this entire year? We are all prone to distraction and the cares of this world, but this practice might help us stay the course in Evangelism and Discipleship.
Take a note card and write down these five questions. Put the card in your Bible and every morning when you read, pray over your five answers to the five questions.
1. Who are you praying for to accept Jesus and what are you actively doing to build relationship with these individuals?
2. Who are you currently discipling and what are you actively doing to guide them in the fundamentals of the faith?
3.Who are you prayerfully considering as other future prospects for potential discipleship?
4. Who is currently mentoring you?
5. Who are you pursuing as potential additional "Mentors" in your life and what are you actively doing to consider them?
~Pastor Randy
Christian Kah
Worship Pastor
ckah@hopetucson.com
What is Worship?
As a worship pastor, I have understandably on many occasions been asked how I would define worship. Many may tend to immediately think of worship music and picture a Sunday morning music set. Each time this comes up, I do my best to give a succinct and “easy to remember” response. However, I believe that worship is so much grander, so much bigger, and so much deeper than a short response can communicate!
First, worship is much more than just singing songs to God. When we look to scripture, we see worship displayed in a myriad of ways in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, many of the instances of worship are related to the sacrificial system, when someone would bring an offering of worship, such as Abraham does when he thought he would be sacrificing his son Isaac in Genesis 22. In these instances, the word used for worship can range anywhere from “bowing down” to “bringing an offering, sacrifice, or gift”. We also see in David’s Psalms all the ways in which he offered up worship to God. We see him singing, dancing, playing instruments, and offering sacrifices to the one and only true God.
Then in the New Testament we see similar instances of worship in that it often meant “bowing down in reverence” and “giving offerings”. One such example is found in Matthew 2 when the wise men tell Herod that they had come to worship the new King, who was Jesus. We also read about the disciples worshiping Jesus. In Matthew 14:33, after Jesus had calmed a storm on the Sea of Galilee, it says, “And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” In this instance, they spoke words of worship that recognized Jesus as divine and therefore worthy of their worship.
But what does Jesus say about worship? Does he say anything in particular about it? He does! In John 4, Jesus is talking with the Samaritan woman at the well. In this conversation, He is explaining to her that one day soon, she nor the Jews would need to worship in a specific location, whether it be on the mountain or in Jerusalem at the temple. Instead, he says in John 4:24, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Wow! How powerful is that?! Worship is not just an outward expression but an internal spiritual realization and adoration of who God is. And the “truth” of which He speaks is that which all truth comes from, that is — God’s perfect Word, the Bible.
Now, given all these instances of worship found in Scripture, it becomes apparent that worship is multifaceted and involves every area of life. This truth is clearly displayed in 1 Corinthians 10:31 when Paul says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” In other words, in every action, in every word, and in every thought, we ought to display worship by glorifying the Lord. We bow down and sacrifice our own sinful way of doing life and offer worship by following His commands and glorifying His name. Worship is the response of our whole being to God’s glory, which is enabled by the Holy Spirit and guided by the truth of Scripture. It is elevating God above oneself by humbly coming before Him with praise and adoration.
This means that worship can be and ought to be a daily and continual occurrence. When we are led by the Spirit and follow the truth of Scripture, we are worshiping our God. Let this worship of our Lord manifest itself in your life in whatever circumstances you find yourself. Whether you are doing the “obvious” method of worship by singing praises to His name, praying, and reading scripture (which are all amazing gifts from the Lord). Or if you are doing the “subtle” acts of worship which may be working with integrity in the workplace or displaying the fruit of the Spirit to those around you in how you respond to frustrating situations. Whatever the environment in which you find yourself, there is always space for worshiping our Lord.
In Christ,
Pastor Christian
Mark your calendars for our Hope 14th Birthday Celebration. Watch your emails for more information!
This is the last opportunity (before the directory is updated) to sign up to be in the 2025 directory. Also, if you are presently in the directory and any of your listing has changed, please make your changes on the link below.
Women's Ministry
Suzi King, Director
sking@hopetucson.com
Ladies, mark your calendars to come hear Peg Forrest speak!
Saturday, January 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
In the Community Room
The Topic is: Wild in All His Ways!
Summon your spirit of adventure and come join us as we explore what it looks like to walk the journey of life with the one who is "not always safe", but is always "GOOD." The Lord may just be inviting you into a pilgrimage unlike anything you've ever experienced alongside the Holy One, who is wild in all His ways.
Register below!
Thank you women of Hope for blessing the residents and walk-in clients at the Casa Paloma Shelter with gift bags, Christmas stockings and cookie trays.
Lynne Hooge, HopeKids Director
lhooge@hopetucson.com
Happy New Year, Hope Families!
HopeKids’ Volunteers Appreciation Dinner
January 31st, 6:00-8:00 pm. Hope Community Room
We want to honor and appreciate all of our HopeKids volunteers who serve on Sundays, at AWANA or at VBS! Please join us as we honor you and lay out some of our plans for the New Year!
Please RSVP by January 26.
We can’t wait to honor you!
A BIG thank you to Karen Tvrdy who directed our HopeKids Christmas program!
Big Picture Question:
1/5 & 1/19: What is God like? God is holy, good and loving.
1/26: What is the Bible? The Bible is God’s Word that tells us what is true about God and ourselves.
Our Key Passages This Month:
1/5 - 1/19: Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? ( Exodus 15:11)
1/26: Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105)
What We’re Learning:
January 5 (Family Sunday): Moses Disobeyed God; Numbers 20
January 12: God Healed the People; Numbers 21
January 19: No One is Like God; 1 Peter 1
January 26: God Encouraged Joshua; Joshua 1
January Birthdays
Emersyn Mason 1/8
John Carter 1/8
Enzo Fleming 1/14
Sadie Foss 1/27
Tanner Hunt 1/28
Fun Times at HopeKids Winter WonderLand!
Awana begins again in 2025! Come with some of your amazing friends who are in Awana! We have fun and grow to know God better. We meet Wednesdays from 5:45 - 7:45 p.m. Need more information? Contact TimTolson at timtolson@comcast.net. Hope to see you there!
Brian & Rina Ruark and family.
Gary Jones, Discipleship Pastor
gjones@hopetucson.com
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42)
Do you desire to be in a Home Group? Home Groups are a great way for us to grow in community and in our walk with Jesus. We desire to see everyone connected to a Home Group, so if you are interested in getting plugged in, please contact me at gjones@hopetucson.com.
Men’s Breakfast: Join us Saturday, January 18th from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. in the Community Room for some great food, fellowship, and encouragement from God’s Word. The breakfast is for men of all ages.
Men's Bible Study: Fridays on January 10th and 24th from 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. in the Community Room. This Bible Study is a great time to dive into God’s Word, pray, and build relationships with other men. This study is for men of all ages.
We had a great time on the men's hike this past December. Join us next time!
Happy New Year Hope Life! The new year gives you an opportunity to begin new habits. Spending time with God each and every day is the best habit you can begin (and continue). Resolutions are easy to break. This year we want to challenge you to find an accountability partner to can hold you to your newly established habits and encourage you to keep going with those daily quiet times (or to start again when things have not gone to plan). Go find someone to hold you accountable. And go be that accountability person for someone else. Dig into God’s Word each and every day!
Saturdays, January 11, 18 & 25: Bible Study @ 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room
Save the Date!
You are invited to an informational meeting for the 2025 Hope Community Church summer mission's trip to Rock Nest Ranch Bible Camp on Sunday, February 2nd in the teacher’s lounge right after church.
Please contact team leaders Frank & Beth Bumb at 520-349-3438 if you have any questions.
Kevin Mason, Family Pastor
kmason@hopetucson.com
January Calendar for Youth Group:
Sundays, January 5, 12 & 19: Youth Group from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Community Room.
No Youth Group on Sunday, January 26 - Come to Camp!!!
Winter Camp is around the corner... Please sign up ASAP! Don't miss out!
Location: Emmanuel Pines Camp in Prescott, AZ
Cost: $175.00 per student
Register below.
Bob & Merrillee Whren, Directors
The Hope Seniors celebrated the birth of Jesus with an Italian lunch. Some great Christmas memories were shared by the seniors.
In February, the Young Adults and Hope Seniors will be having a game night together. More information to come!
Interested in our Seniors' Ministry? Contact Bob Whren at bwhren@gmail.com.
Hope Short Term Mission's Trip
Philippines – October 2-13, 2025
Information Meeting on Sunday, January 26, 2025 at Noon
In the Community Room
PURPOSE
To encourage our partners in the ministry at the AETA Children’s Home and the “To God Be The Glory” church planting network among the Aeta marginalized people group.
Hope Community Church has been supporting this ministry for about 10 years and this will be our 6th missions trip to visit and encourage our ministry partners.
OUR MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
This is not yet firm, but in general, we will lead a children’s VBS program and may teach in a few classrooms. We will possibly have an opportunity to travel to Aeta villages to encourage local pastors, deliver rice and serve in a medical mission (depending on the skill-set of our team members).
EXPECTATIONS
The HCC team members must have a servant’s heart with a love for elementary children. Requires a good work ethic to sustain long days in the heat and humidity of a tropical climate. Some of the team may serve in remote villages distributing food, providing medical care, and sharing with pastors in leadership development and Biblical expositional encouragement.
KEY DATES
Information meeting after church on January 26, 2025.
Application deadline on March 31, 2025.
Commitment deposit of $200.00 on April 30, 2025.
Team trainings in July, August and September on Sundays – dates TBD.
Departure on October 3, 2025.
COST AND SUPPORT
$2,500
Date to raise ½ of this cost due by July 31, 2025.
Complete cost support raised by September 30, 2025.
QUESTIONS?
Contact the church office at info@hopetucson.com.
PRAY with us for the LORD to provide the team, funds, and humble hearts to serve the global church.
Our goal is to grow a community of support and encouragement for all families at Hope Community Church who wish to educate their students at home. All are welcome to participate in the activities regardless of what type of school they attend. Children that are not school age are also welcome.
For more details and information on this group, please contact Bre McCabe at bmambros@gmail.com or Tina Edgin at tsedgin@gmail.com.
Your last opportunity to sign up to volunteer for Night to Shine is January 17. Please don't wait!
I will be in the lobby before and after church on Sundays January 5 & 12 to answer any questions you might have regarding NTS.
To God Be the Glory!
HCC Night to Shine Rep., Jill Manzo
