Over the past few weeks, our Hope St. Pete community journeyed through the powerful series God & Culture, where we explored how God’s ways intersect with and challenge the norms of our society. It was a deep dive into how our desires, speech, sense of justice, and purpose need to be surrendered and tamed by Christ to live a life that reflects His love and truth.
Week 1: Taming Our Desires We kicked off the series by tackling our desires—those things that often control us more than we’d like to admit. We examined how our culture tends to elevate personal wants and passions, sometimes at the expense of what God desires for us. We learned that taming our desires isn’t about denying joy but finding our true joy in Christ, who fulfills us in ways the world never can.
Week 2: The Power of Speech Next, we turned our focus to the words we speak. In a world filled with noise, it’s easy to get caught up in the culture of criticism, gossip, and negativity. We discussed the biblical mandate to use our words to build up, not tear down, and how taming our speech can bring healing and hope to those around us.
Week 3: Justice Through God’s Eyes The third week brought us to the topic of justice. Our culture has its own ideas about what justice looks like, but we dug into Scripture to understand true, God-centered justice. We talked about the importance of standing up for what’s right, while also embodying the grace and mercy that Jesus shows us.
Week 4: Discovering Our Purpose We closed out the series by examining our purpose in life. In a world obsessed with self-promotion and success, it’s easy to lose sight of why we’re really here. We were reminded that our ultimate purpose is to glorify God, and that by surrendering our own ambitions, we can discover a deeper, more fulfilling purpose in Him.
Missed a Message? Catch Up Now!
Each week of the God & Culture series was packed with biblical insights and practical applications, and we don’t want you to miss any of it. Whether you’re looking to revisit a specific message or you couldn’t make it in person, you can catch up on all the teachings from this series here.
Our hope is that as you listen, you’ll be encouraged to continue taming the aspects of your life that the world pulls at, and instead, surrender them to Christ, allowing His transformative power to shape you more into His image.
Let’s keep the conversation going! What part of the God & Culture series spoke to you the most? Share your thoughts with us in the comments or on social media. And don’t forget to invite a friend to listen along with you!
Looking Ahead: Our Next Series – Fellowship
As we wrap up the God & Culture series, we’re excited to announce our upcoming sermon series, Fellowship. In this series, we’ll dive into the profound lessons on community and friendship from one of the most pivotal moments in Scripture—the Last Supper.
Get ready to be inspired and equipped to deepen your connections with others in our Hope St. Pete community. We can’t wait to embark on this journey of Fellowship with you!