New Hope Bend

When Life Doesn't Make Sense :: What If My Life Doesn’t Turn Out the Way I Planned?

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 ha

When Life Doesn't Make Sense :: Where Is God When Things Go Bad?

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

When Life Doesn't Make Sense :: Why Did God Let This Happen?

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 u

When Life Doesn't Make Sense :: Do I Have Purpose?

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

When Life Doesn't Make Sense :: Why Can't I Change?

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 Ro

When Life Doesn't Make Sense :: Why Do I Feel Alone?

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 k

When Life Doesn't Make Sense :: Why Am I So Anxious?

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 wh

When Jesus Told Stories :: Build a Life That Lasts

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

When Jesus Told Stories :: Faithfulness Is the Assignment

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 w

When Jesus Told Stories :: Be Ready, Not Oblivious

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

When Jesus Told Stories :: God Changes the Humble

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 desperat

When Jesus Told Stories :: Forgiven People Forgive People

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. Forgivene

When Jesus Told Stories :: God Wants You to Be with Him

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 ca

When Jesus Told Stories :: Stop Making Excuses

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

When Jesus Told Stories :: Don’t Waste Your Life

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

When Jesus Told Stories :: Love Does More Than Feel

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

When Jesus Told Stories :: What Is Jesus Really Worth to You

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

When Jesus Told Stories :: Don’t Discount Small Beginnings

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

When Jesus Told Stories :: Why Evil Still Grows in the World

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

When Jesus Told Stories :: Why Some People Change and Some People Don't

Why do some people hear God's Word and change, while others remain the same? In this message from Matthew 13, we explore Jesus' Parable of the Sower and the four types of