New Hope Bend

What is most important to you? In the first message of our series, “Jesus Over Everything,” we explore Colossians 1:1–23 and what it means to put Jesus first. Our decisions, time, attention, and fears reveal what truly drives our lives—but how do those priorities change when we recognize Jesus as Creator, Sustainer, and Savior? Discover how following Jesus reshapes our identity, redirects our ambitions, and brings peace as we surrender control and trust Him with our future. Join New Hope Church in Bend, Oregon, as we consider whether we’re simply fans of Jesus or followers who let Him lead. When Jesus comes first, everything else falls into place.

What do you do when the life you’re living looks different from the life you imagined? Disappointment can leave us wondering whether we missed God’s plan—or whether He has let us down. Through James 4 and Proverbs 3, we explore why a changed plan doesn’t mean a broken promise, how to trust God when we don’t understand, and what it means to be faithful with today. God can be trusted with the life you didn’t plan.

In the wake of the tragedy at Silver Rail Elementary, we grieve alongside our community and hold the families, students, teachers, and first responders in prayer. In this message from When Life Doesn’t Make Sense, we bring the question “Where is God when things go bad?” to Scripture. Without trying to explain away the pain, we reflect on God’s presence in our grief, His love revealed through the cross, and our calling to care for one another. There is room to mourn, to ask hard questions, and to lean on others as we walk through this together.

Why did God let this happen? When tragedy or hardship turns your life upside down, it’s natural to wonder where God is—and whether He still loves you.

Romans 8 reminds us that our suffering is real, but it isn’t the end of our story. God can work through our pain for good, shaping us to become more like Jesus. And nothing we experience can separate us from His love.

You don’t have to have all the answers to trust that God is with you. Your pain matters, your pain doesn’t define you, and you don’t have to carry it alone.

Watch “Why Did God Let This Happen?” from our series, When Life Doesn’t Make Sense.

Do I have a purpose? What if I missed God’s plan for my life? Your purpose isn’t something you have to earn through success, find in the perfect career, or wait for in a future season. It begins with who you are: God’s handiwork, saved by grace and created in Christ Jesus to do good works. In this message from our series, “When Life Doesn’t Make Sense,” we explore Ephesians 2:8–10 and Romans 12 to discover how purpose is lived through everyday faithfulness. Loving the people around you, using the gifts you already have, and doing the next good thing all matter. Your purpose is not to prove your value. It is to live from the value God has already given you. You don’t need a better life. You need a faithful one.

Why can’t I change? If you’ve promised yourself you’d stop doing something and then found yourself doing it again, you know how discouraging that question can feel. In Romans 7–8, Paul describes that struggle and points to hope beyond trying harder. Jesus meets us with grace, and the Spirit helps us change, even when that change is slow. You don’t change by trying harder. You change by depending more on Jesus. This week, Pastor Brandon shares how to look beneath a behavior, bring the struggle into the open, and remember that failure does not mean condemnation for those in Christ.

Psalm 139 reminds us that God knows us completely and is present with us in every season. But His presence isn’t an excuse to remain isolated. God also created us to be known through honest, healthy relationships. Loneliness grows in hiding, while connection grows through honesty. You may feel alone, but you are not abandoned—and you were never meant to stay lonely

Anxiety can leave us feeling responsible for things we were never in control of. In this message from Matthew 6:25–34, we explore Jesus’ teaching on worry and discover why peace doesn’t come from gaining more control, but from trusting God. Learn the difference between healthy concern and obsessive worry, how remembering the character of your heavenly Father can calm anxiety, and how to trade tomorrow’s worries for today’s faithful obedience. You can’t control tomorrow, but you can trust God today.

What you build your life on matters—especially when the storms come. In this message from Matthew 7:24–27, we look at Jesus’ parable of the wise and foolish builders and learn why hearing His words is not the same as following them. Discover how obedience builds a strong foundation, why faith must be formed before difficult seasons arrive, and how to build a life on Jesus that will last for eternity.

What does it mean to be faithful with what God has given you? In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the talents—a story about three servants who were each entrusted with something valuable. They didn’t receive the same amount, but they were each responsible for what had been placed in their hands. Comparison can make us overlook what God has already given us. Fear can convince us to bury our gifts, opportunities, resources, and influence while we wait for something bigger or better. But faithfulness doesn’t begin someday. It begins with what is already in front of you. In this message, we look at what Jesus teaches about comparison, fear, stewardship, and living with eternity in mind. Stop waiting for more and be faithful with what God has already given you.

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins to warn us about the danger of looking spiritually ready without actually being ready. All ten were waiting for the bridegroom. All ten had lamps. All ten expected him to come. But when the moment arrived, only five were prepared. In this message, we look at what it means to have a faith that is more than an appearance, why spiritual preparation has to happen before the unexpected moments of life, and why we cannot keep postponing obedience to Jesus. You cannot borrow tomorrow the faith you refuse to build today. The question is not simply, “When is Jesus coming?” The question is, “If He came today, would I be ready?” Get ready for Jesus before the moment to get ready is gone.

In Luke 18:9–14, Jesus tells the story of two men who went to the temple to pray: a Pharisee who trusted in his own righteousness and a tax collector who knew he desperately needed mercy. In “God Changes the Humble,” we see how spiritual pride can hide behind good behavior, religious activity, and comparison with others. Jesus reminds us that we don’t become right with God by proving how good we are—we come to Him humbly, depending completely on His grace. God does not fill a heart that is already full of itself. In this message, we’ll look at how to stop measuring ourselves against other people, depend on God’s mercy instead of our spiritual résumé, and develop a life marked by humility, teachability, and quick repentance.

In Matthew 18, Jesus tells the parable of the unforgiving servant to show us how deeply God’s forgiveness should change the way we respond to those who hurt us. Forgiveness does not mean pretending the pain did not happen, removing healthy boundaries, or automatically restoring trust. It means remembering the immeasurable mercy we have received through Jesus and releasing our right to revenge by entrusting justice to God. When we truly understand the grace of the cross, mercy begins to reshape our hearts—because forgiven people become forgiving people.

In Luke 15, Jesus tells three stories—the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost sons—to reveal God’s heart for people who are far from Him. Whether we wander through carelessness, feel completely helpless, run through open rebellion, or hide our distance from God behind religious behavior, Jesus shows us that God pursues the lost, celebrates every return, and invites us back into relationship with Him. No matter how you’ve been lost, God’s greatest joy is bringing you home.

In this message from the When Jesus Told Stories series, “Stop Making Excuses,” we look at Jesus’ parable of the great banquet in Luke 14:15–24 and the danger of allowing good things to take the place of God. Our excuses often sound reasonable, but they reveal what our hearts truly value, protect, and worship. Jesus reminds us that grace welcomes those who know they need it, that no one earns a place at God’s table, and that everything has already been prepared through His death and resurrection. The invitation to repent, trust Christ, reorder our priorities, and take the next step of obedience is open today—but it should not be mistaken for endless opportunity. The banquet is ready, the invitation is open, and no excuse is worth missing what only Jesus can give.

In the parable of the rich fool, Jesus warns us that it is possible to build a successful life and still waste it. Greed often hides behind responsibility, planning, and the desire for security, but life is not found in an abundance of possessions. In this message, we are challenged to stop thinking like owners and begin living as stewards—recognizing that everything we have belongs to God and should be used for His purposes. The life that lasts is not the one with the fullest barns, but the one surrendered to God and rich toward Him.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus shows us that love is more than a feeling or knowing the right answers. Loving God means loving the people He places in front of us through mercy, sacrifice, commitment, and action. In this message, we are challenged to notice the needs around us, respond with compassion, and live out what God’s Word says—because knowing the truth means nothing if we do not obey it.

What are you building your life around? In Matthew 13:44–46, Jesus tells two short parables about a hidden treasure and a pearl of great value. These parables reveal the worth of the kingdom of heaven and confront the deeper question of what our hearts truly treasure. In this sermon from New Hope Bend, we look at what it means to treasure Jesus above comfort, control, approval, success, money, relationships, and even the life we imagined for ourselves. Jesus is not teaching that we can buy salvation. Salvation is by grace alone through Christ. But when we truly see the worth of Jesus and His kingdom, everything else in our lives gets revalued. If you have ever wrestled with surrender, obedience, control, compromise, or divided loyalty, this message will help you consider what Jesus may be asking you to release so you can receive the joy of knowing Him more fully. Jesus cannot be your treasure if He is only your add-on. Join us at New Hope Bend as we continue learning from the parables of Jesus and discovering what it means to follow Him with our whole lives.

In Week 3 of our series, we explore what Jesus teaches through the Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast in Matthew 13:31–33. God’s Kingdom often begins in ways that look small, ordinary, or even insignificant—but He is always doing something far greater beneath the surface. In this message, we’re reminded that small acts of faithfulness matter: small prayers, small steps of obedience, and small daily decisions can lead to lasting transformation in our lives. If you’ve ever wondered whether your faithfulness is making a difference, this message is for you.

Why does evil seem to prosper while God remains silent? In this message from Matthew 13:24-43, we explore Jesus’ Parable of the Weeds and His answer to one of the hardest questions believers face: If God is good, why does He allow evil to continue growing in the world? Jesus teaches that God is not confused, powerless, or indifferent to evil. While the enemy continues to sow weeds among the wheat, God remains patient, giving people time to repent before the final harvest. This message challenges us to stop blaming God for what the enemy planted, refuse to become destructive in our pursuit of truth, respond to God’s mercy while it is available, and remain faithful as we wait for Christ’s return. No matter how chaotic the field may seem, the Farmer has not lost control. Evil may grow for a season, but it will not escape the judgment of God. Our calling is not to control the entire field, but to remain faithful within it.