Sunday Service: May 11, 2025 • Pastor Q Kim at HOPE Church in Clarksville, MD ---

Sunday Service: April 27, 2025 • Pastor Q Kim at HOPE Church in Clarksville, MD ---

Pastor Q reflects on Luke 24:13-35, the story of Jesus meeting two disciples on the road to Emmaus on the day of His resurrection. PQ highlights the disciples' deep sorrow and confusion after Jesus' death, explaining that their misplaced hopes for a political Messiah blinded them from understanding God's true plan. Jesus, though unrecognized, walks with them and patiently teaches them how all Scripture points to Him—His suffering, death, and resurrection were necessary to bring salvation. PQ emphasizes that the Bible is not merely a book of rules or heroes but a grand story centered on Jesus. As Jesus broke bread with the disciples, their eyes were opened, and they realized who He was, illustrating how understanding Scripture leads to recognizing Christ personally.

Sunday Service: April 20, 2025 • Pastor Q Kim at HOPE Church in Clarksville, MD ---

In PQ’s sermon titled "He's Not Here, But He Has Risen," he walks through the emotional and spiritual journey from Jesus’ crucifixion to the resurrection, highlighting the significance of the “in-between” day—Saturday—as a time of deep despair, confusion, and waiting. He emphasizes the faithfulness of the women who followed Jesus, their role as the first witnesses to the resurrection, and the powerful moment when the angel declared, “He is not here, but has risen,” reminding them of Jesus’ earlier words. PQ underscores how the resurrection confirmed Jesus’ identity and fulfilled God’s promises, turning what seemed like a hopeless end into the beginning of new life. The resurrection is the game-changer of Christianity—proof that Jesus is who He claimed to be, and that His followers are called not just to remember, but to believe, proclaim, and live in the truth of the risen Christ.

Sunday Service: April 13, 2025 • Pastor Mimi Kim at HOPE Church in Clarksville, MD ---

Pastor Mimi's Palm Sunday sermon connected Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem with the beginning of his ministry, specifically focusing on the temptation in the wilderness after his baptism. She highlighted that Jesus' 40-day fast prepared him for his mission and that the three temptations he faced – physical (turning stones to bread), mental (testing God's protection), and spiritual (worshipping Satan for worldly power) – represent the core challenges all humans encounter. Pastor Mimi emphasized that Satan, not God, is the tempter, and that Jesus resisted by using scripture. She concluded by stressing that overcoming temptation requires first submitting to God, and encouraged reflection on Jesus' final week leading to his resurrection, the ultimate victory over temptation and death.

Sunday Service: April 6, 2025 • Pastor Q Kim at HOPE Church in Clarksville, MD ---

PQ's sermon centered on the profound scene of Jesus' crucifixion alongside two criminals, emphasizing the suffering and humiliation inherent in Roman crucifixion. He highlighted the mocking Jesus endured, drawing parallels to the temptations in the wilderness, and contrasted the reactions of the two criminals. One criminal joined the crowd in blaspheming Jesus, while the other, experiencing a transformative moment, recognized his own sinfulness, affirmed Jesus's innocence and kingship, and asked for remembrance in Jesus' kingdom. Jesus responded with a promise of immediate paradise, underscoring the theme of salvation by grace alone, exemplified by the criminal's last-minute conversion. PQ stressed that it's never too late to turn to Christ, but also warned against presuming on a last-minute conversion. He urged us to personal faith in Jesus, independent of familial or external influences, and encouraged prayer for the salvation of loved ones.

Sunday Service: March 30, 2025 • Pastor Jason Choi at HOPE Church in Clarksville, MD ---

Pastor Jason's sermon centered on the idea of feeling "poor in spirit" amidst instability and finding refuge in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3). He challenged us to shift our focus from worldly concerns to kingdom priorities, believing that doing so would alleviate feelings of lack. He used the analogy of allergy treatments to explain that God doesn't inflict hardship to build faith, but rather invites us into a place of belonging and heavenly perspective. Drawing from 1 Peter, he discussed suffering, distinguishing between suffering for righteousness and suffering due to sin. He then explored the concept of judgment, emphasizing that while there's a future judgment, judgment also occurs on earth, starting with the house of God. God's judgment is ultimately for our good, revealing truth and offering mercy through Jesus. He concluded by urging us to embrace vulnerability, confess sins, and long for Jesus' righteous judgment in a world where everyone does what is right in their own eyes.

Sunday Service: March 16, 2025 • Pastor Q Kim at HOPE Church in Clarksville, MD ---

PQ's sermon, "The Substitute," focused on Luke 23:1-25, detailing Jesus' trials before Pilate and Herod. He emphasized Pilate's repeated declarations of Jesus's innocence and the unjust pressure from Jewish leaders and the crowd that led to Jesus's crucifixion. The central theme was the concept of substitutionary atonement, highlighting how Jesus, the innocent Son of God, took the place of Barabbas, a murderer, and ultimately, the place of all sinners. PQ emphasized that Jesus' death was a fulfillment of God's plan, a sacrifice to pay the penalty for humanity's sins, and invited those who had not yet accepted Christ to trust in Him as their Savior.

Sunday Service: March 9, 2025 • Pastor Mimi Kim at HOPE Church in Clarksville, MD ---

Pastor Mimi's sermon focused on the Lenten season, moving beyond the common question of "What are you giving up?" to a deeper understanding of its purpose. She explained Lent's origins, its connection to Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness, and its purpose as a time for prayer, fasting, and acts of love and mercy. She emphasized that fasting should not be an empty ritual, but a way to draw closer to God and serve others, particularly the vulnerable. She highlighted God's heart for widows, orphans, and foreigners, urging us to seek justice and show compassion. Pastor Mimi challenged us to consider what we could give up to deepen our relationship with Jesus and our neighbors, especially during times of trouble, and to actively engage in acts of love and mercy in our communities.