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Send us Fan Mail Have you ever been so distracted that you missed something incredible happening right in front of you? In this message, “Don't Miss It,” we explore Luke 9:28–36 and the moment Jesus revealed His glory to Peter, John, and James on the mountain. It's possible to be close to Jesus and still miss what He wants to do in your life. Between the noise of everyday responsibilities, distractions, and the voices competing for our attention, we can easily lose sight of what matters most. In this message, discover three important truths about following Jesus: transformation begins with spending time in His presence, distractions can cause us to miss what God is doing, and truly following Jesus means listening to His voice above all others. In this message, you'll discover: Why spending time with Jesus is essential to spiritual growth.How distractions can keep us from recognizing God's work in our lives.Why following Jesus means more than having a Sunday experience.What it means to make Jesus the authority in your everyday decisions.How small, intentional steps of obedience can lead to lasting transformation.The question is: Are you so caught up in the noise of life that you're missing what God wants you to see, hear, and do? Don't let your relationship with Jesus become just another part of your routine. Make room for His presence, refocus on His purpose, and choose to listen when He speaks. Join us as we discover what it truly means to follow Jesus and why we can't afford to miss it. Scripture: Luke 9:28–36 Hope Church Cleburne | Love God. Love People. Make Disciples. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered if Ouija boards are really dangerous, or if they’re just harmless fun? In this episode of Ask A Pastor, Pastor Todd Barham tackles a question that many people have asked and explores what the Bible says about Ouija boards, tarot cards, psychics, horoscopes, and other practices that promise supernatural insight. Together, we’ll look at why Scripture warns against seeking spiritual guidance apart from God, the difference between cultural acceptance and biblical truth, and what to do if you’ve participated in these practices in the past. Most importantly, discover why Christians don’t have to live in fear of the supernatural, but can find confidence, peace, and direction in Jesus Christ. In this episode, we discuss: What the Bible says about Ouija boards and communicating with the spirit world.Why seemingly harmless entertainment can raise important spiritual questions.How to recognize the difference between seeking God’s guidance and looking elsewhere for spiritual answers.What Scripture says about repentance, forgiveness, and freedom from fear.How to find direction and peace through prayer, God’s Word, and the Holy Spirit.The big question isn’t how close we can get to something God warns us about, but how close we can get to Him. When we have access to the living God, why would we look anywhere else for answers? Join us for this episode of Ask A Pastor as Pastor Todd brings biblical perspective to a topic surrounded by curiosity, questions, and misconceptions. Have a question you’d like Pastor Todd to answer? Send it our way for a future episode of Ask A Pastor! #AskAPastor #HopeChurchCleburne #PastorToddBarham #BiblicalTruth #ChristianLiving Support the show

Send us Fan Mail What does it really mean to follow Jesus? In Luke 9:23–27, Jesus challenges us to count the cost of discipleship and consider what it means to surrender our lives to Him. In this message, Pastor Todd explores the importance of daily surrender, the freedom that comes from letting go, and the danger of chasing worldly success at the expense of what matters most. Through Jesus’ words and a glimpse of His coming glory, we’re reminded that following Him may cost us something, but His Kingdom is worth far more than anything we could leave behind. In this message, we’ll discover: What it means to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily.Why surrendering to Jesus can lead to a life of greater purpose.How to recognize when the things we’re chasing are costing us too much.Why we can trust God’s plan even when the road of obedience is difficult.Following Jesus is more than a one-time decision—it’s a daily choice to trust Him, surrender control, and live for what matters eternally. The question is, are we willing to follow Him no matter the cost? Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Everyone has an opinion about Jesus. We can easily spend so much time listening to what everyone else says about Him that we never stop to answer the question for ourselves: Who do YOU say that He is? In Luke 9, Jesus asks His disciples this very question. They had watched Him heal the sick, cast out demons, calm storms, raise the dead, and feed thousands. They had seen enough to know that Jesus was more than a teacher, prophet, or miracle worker. Peter finally declares, “You are the Christ of God.” But recognizing Jesus as the Christ means more than knowing about Him—it means knowing Him and allowing Him to define what it means for Him to be Lord of our lives. Jesus then reveals that the Messiah must suffer, be rejected, and die. The disciples expected power, victory, and a throne. Jesus showed them a cross. What looked like defeat was actually God's plan unfolding—and Friday's apparent defeat became Sunday's victory. This message challenges us to stop letting culture, other people, or even our own expectations define Jesus and instead encounter Him for ourselves. Do you know Jesus, or do you just know about Jesus? Who do YOU say He is—and does your life reflect your answer? And can you still trust Jesus when His plan doesn't look like you expected? Sometimes a hard chapter isn't the end of the story. God still has resurrection in the plan. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail We can know about Jesus without truly knowing who Jesus is. In Luke 9, Herod asks the question, “Who is this about whom I hear such things?” That same question confronts each of us today: Who is Jesus to you? In this message, we discover three ways Jesus reveals Himself in Luke 9: Jesus is our Healer. He welcomes people, teaches them, and cares for their physical needs. Jesus does not stand at a distance from our suffering. He meets us in the middle of it. We are reminded that sickness is not a punishment from God, and that while we believe Jesus still heals, our ultimate hope is not simply in receiving the answer we want—it is in knowing that Jesus is with us through every circumstance. Jesus is our Provider. When thousands of hungry people gathered around Jesus, the disciples saw an impossible problem. Jesus saw an opportunity. With five loaves and two fish, He demonstrated that what is insufficient in our hands can become more than enough in His. Faith doesn't mean pretending we have enough; it means trusting Jesus with what we do have and taking the next step He asks us to take. Jesus is more than someone we know about—He is someone we can know. Whether you're facing sickness, uncertainty, financial pressure, a difficult situation, or simply wondering what God is doing in your life, the invitation is the same: Give Jesus what you have and trust Him with what you need. Maybe today you need Jesus to be your Healer. Maybe you need Him to be your Provider. Wherever you find yourself, remember: God has provided, Jesus is with you, and you don't have to carry it alone. Listen now to this message from Luke 9 and ask yourself: Who is Jesus to you? Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Every year when we raise money for Guatemala, God seems to stretch Hope a little further. The goal gets bigger. The opportunity gets bigger. And every year, we watch God provide. But God has also been teaching us something: we aren’t called to just watch what God is doing—we’re called to be part of it. In Luke 9, Jesus makes a major shift with His disciples. After spending chapter after chapter watching Jesus teach, heal, and perform miracles, the disciples are now sent out to participate in His mission. Jesus calls them, equips them, teaches them to depend on God, and sends them to go. In this message, “Just Go!”, we discover three truths about what it means to follow Jesus: If He sends you, He’ll equip you. You don't have to feel qualified or have everything figured out before God can use you. Your job is to go; His job is to provide the power.You don't have to have all the provision yet. Jesus taught His disciples to depend on God rather than their own plans, resources, or security. Sometimes faith means going before you know exactly how God will provide.You can't control the response. We are responsible for being faithful and sharing what God has given us—not for controlling how people respond. We bring the witness; God brings the results.The mission may be bigger than you, but the One who sent you is bigger than the mission. Where is God calling you to go? What are you trying to control that you need to surrender to Him? And who has God already placed in front of you that needs to hear about Jesus? Jesus told them to go, and they went. Maybe it’s time for us to do the same. Just go! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Why should we care about people on the other side of the world when there are needs right in our own neighborhoods? In this episode of Ask A Pastor, Pastor Todd Barham tackles the question, “Why should I care about foreign missions?” From Guatemala and Kenya to our own communities, we explore what the Bible says about the Church’s responsibility to reach the nations with the Gospel. Missions isn’t simply an extracurricular activity for especially passionate Christians—it’s part of the identity of every follower of Jesus. Jesus told His disciples to be His witnesses “to the end of the earth,” and Scripture reminds us that people cannot believe in a Gospel they have never heard. Pastor Todd discusses why missions begins in the heart of God, why local ministry and global missions should go hand in hand, and how God has entrusted ordinary people with the message of reconciliation. We’ll also look at what it means to pray, give, go, and live sent wherever God has placed us. Whether you ever travel overseas or never leave your hometown, you are part of God’s mission. Following Jesus isn’t just about where we’re going when we die. It’s about who we’re taking Jesus to while we’re here. Tune in and discover why the mission of God is bigger than our church, our community, and our corner of the world—and how each of us can play a part. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever reached a place where you’ve done everything you know to do? You’ve prayed. You’ve waited. You’ve tried to fix it. And still, nothing is changing. In Luke 8, we meet two people who have reached that place of desperation. Jairus is a respected synagogue leader whose twelve-year-old daughter is dying. An unnamed woman has been suffering for twelve years and has exhausted every option she knows. Their stories are different, but they come to the same conclusion: “I need Jesus.” As Jesus encounters both of them, we see His authority over sickness, suffering, and even death. Jairus is told that his daughter has died, but Jesus responds with a powerful command: “Do not fear; only believe.” This message reminds us that faith doesn’t deny bad news—it refuses to let bad news have the final word. Faith doesn’t mean knowing exactly what Jesus will do; it means knowing who Jesus is and trusting Him even when circumstances get worse. In this sermon, we’ll discover that: Desperation can drive us to Jesus.Faith pushes through, even when the answer seems impossible.Faith doesn’t quit when bad news arrives.When Jesus speaks, even death listens.Jesus is Lord over every category of brokenness. Sickness, suffering, grief, and even death do not get the final word—Jesus does. If you’ve reached the end of yourself, this message is a reminder that you’ve found the perfect place to reach for Jesus. Do not fear. Only believe. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail We all have moments we wish we could erase—mistakes, failures, broken places, and seasons we’d rather leave in the past. But what if your mess isn’t the end of your story? What if Jesus wants to use what you’ve been through as part of your testimony? In Luke 8, Jesus crosses the lake to meet a man everyone else had given up on. While others saw a problem, Jesus saw a person. He went where others wouldn’t go, restored what was broken, and then sent the man back to his community with a story to tell. Jesus still does the same today. He isn’t afraid of messy people or messy places. He can restore what feels too broken, redeem what seems wasted, and take the very things we thought disqualified us and use them to point others toward Him. Your testimony isn’t about how perfect you are—it’s about how faithful He is. The question isn’t just, “What has Jesus brought me through?” The question is, “Who can I help because Jesus brought me through it?” Listen as we discover how Jesus can turn your mess into a message. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Some storms you can see coming. Others arrive without warning—a phone call, a diagnosis, a financial burden, or a difficult conversation—and suddenly everything changes. In Luke 8, the disciples discover that being exactly where Jesus told them to be didn’t keep them from encountering a storm. Jesus told them to cross the lake, and yet the wind and waves came. Their story reminds us that following Jesus does not make us storm-proof, but it does mean we never face the storm alone. In this message, we explore what it looks like to keep our faith when life feels out of control: Obedience doesn’t guarantee calm waters. A storm doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve missed God.Faith knows where to run when fear hits. We don’t have to pretend we aren’t afraid—we can bring our fear directly to Jesus.The storm can reveal and strengthen our faith. Sometimes God uses the storm not only to change our circumstances, but to show us more clearly who Jesus is.The storm may be bigger than you, but it is never bigger than Jesus. Your boat may be shaking, but your Savior isn’t. Peace isn’t found in knowing what happens next; peace is found in knowing who is with you next. Maybe today you don’t need Jesus to explain the storm. Maybe you simply need to trust the One who is in the boat with you. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Divorce is one of those topics that’s easy to talk about—until it becomes personal. Behind the word are real marriages, families, children, betrayal, disappointment, abuse, regret, and pain. So what does the Bible actually say about divorce? In this episode of Ask A Pastor, we take an honest and compassionate look at what Scripture teaches about marriage, divorce, sexual immorality, abandonment, abuse, and remarriage. We explore God’s design for marriage as a lifelong covenant, why Scripture acknowledges divorce in a broken world, and the biblical grounds for divorce that Christians have historically recognized. We also tackle some of the harder questions: What about abuse? Does having biblical grounds for divorce mean you should get divorced? Can trust be rebuilt after betrayal? What if you’re already divorced or remarried? And how should the church walk alongside people whose marriages have experienced deep brokenness? This conversation is about holding truth and grace together. We don’t want to lower God’s standard for marriage, but we also don’t want to use Scripture as a weapon against people who have experienced painful circumstances. Marriage matters. Covenant matters. Obedience matters. And grace matters too. Whether you’re married, struggling, separated, divorced, or remarried, the gospel still applies to you. Wherever your story has taken you, Jesus is still able to redeem what’s broken and lead you forward. Don’t just ask what culture says. Don’t just ask what you feel. Ask what Scripture says—and then have the courage to follow Jesus. Have a question about faith, the Bible, Christianity, relationships, or something you’ve always wondered but never knew who to ask? Send it in for a future episode of Ask A Pastor. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever heard what someone said but completely missed the point because you weren’t ready to respond? Jesus reminds us in Luke 8 that the real question isn’t simply whether we hear God’s Word—it’s how we hear it and what we do with it. God’s Word was never meant to stay hidden. It exposes what’s happening inside us, reveals what needs to change, and calls us to respond with obedience. Sometimes we don’t need a new word from God—we need to obey the last one He already gave us. In this message, we’ll discover four truths from Luke 8: God’s Word is meant to shine through our lives, God’s light reveals what needs transformation, the way we hear determines the way we grow, and hearing God’s Word without doing God’s Word isn’t discipleship. So the question is simple: Are you really listening? What has God already spoken to you that you’ve been negotiating instead of simply saying, “Yes, Lord”? And what needs to change in your life because of what you’ve heard? Join us for this powerful message from Luke 8 and discover what it means to not just hear the Word of God, but to hear it, receive it, and live it out. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Can I love someone without agreeing with their beliefs? Absolutely. In fact, Jesus calls us to love our neighbors even when they don’t share our faith, convictions, or worldview. In Episode 20 of Ask A Pastor, we talk about what it looks like for Christians to love people of other religions and beliefs without compromising biblical truth. From the Good Samaritan to Jesus’ command to love our enemies, Scripture shows us that conviction and compassion don’t have to be opposites. We’ll explore how to listen before we assume, respect without pretending to agree, serve without treating people like projects, and share the Gospel with both truth and gentleness. Because our commitment to Jesus should make us better neighbors—not more combative ones. Love them. Listen to them. Respect them. Serve them. Tell the truth. Share Jesus. Trust the Holy Spirit. You don’t have to compromise your convictions to love your neighbor, and you don’t have to stop loving your neighbor in order to hold onto your convictions. The stronger our commitment to Jesus becomes, the better neighbors we ought to become. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail What kind of soil is your heart? Two people can sit through the same sermon, hear the same Scripture, and walk away completely different. Why? In Luke 8, Jesus uses the Parable of the Sower to reveal that the power of God’s Word is not the problem—the condition of our hearts is. In this message, we examine four responses to God’s Word: the hardened heart that refuses to receive it, the shallow heart that lacks roots, the crowded heart that allows distractions to choke out spiritual growth, and the good heart that hears, holds onto, and perseveres in God’s Word until it produces fruit. The question isn’t simply, “Did I hear God’s Word?” The deeper question is, “What am I doing with what I heard?” Discover how to cultivate a heart that is receptive to God, develop deep spiritual roots, remove the distractions that compete for your attention, and patiently persevere as God produces lasting fruit in your life. What is the condition of your heart when you hear God’s Word? And when you walk away, what will you do differently because you heard it? Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Can Christians set boundaries and still love people well? Absolutely. In this episode of Ask A Pastor, we talk about why healthy boundaries are not the opposite of love—they can actually help us love others in a healthier, wiser, and more Christlike way. Jesus Himself modeled healthy boundaries. He withdrew to pray, knew His priorities, and didn’t allow the expectations or needs of others to determine His every decision. We’ll explore the difference between helping and enabling, why saying “no” doesn’t make you unloving, and how you can forgive someone without immediately restoring trust. We’ll also talk about the importance of knowing what you are—and aren’t—responsible for, setting clear and consistent boundaries, dealing with guilt, and releasing people to God when you realize you can’t change or fix them. But boundaries can also be misused. They should never become an excuse for bitterness, revenge, avoidance, or refusing to love difficult people. Christian boundaries should protect our ability to love—not become a reason to stop loving. Maybe the question isn’t, “Am I a bad Christian because I need boundaries?” Maybe the better question is, “What boundaries will help me love God, love people, and faithfully steward the life God has given me?” Sometimes faithfulness looks like yes. Sometimes it looks like I forgive you. Sometimes it looks like I’ll help you. And sometimes, the most faithful answer is simply no. Listen to Episode 19 of Ask A Pastor and discover how biblical boundaries can help you love others without allowing unhealthy relationships to control your life. Support the show