9:30 AM Service
Summary:
In the concluding sermon of the "Blueprint for a Godly Life" series, Pastor Vicki Harrison addressed the pressing topic of spiritual warfare, emphasizing the reality and proximity of spiritual battles. Reflecting on Ephesians Chapter 6, Pastor Harrison reinforced the necessity of recognizing our spiritual conflicts, not as abstract or distant, but as intimate and pervasive influences in our daily lives.
She explored the theme of The Reality of Spiritual Warfare, querying our understanding of spiritual forces and challenging the Western dismissal of such notions due to rationalism. The sermon pressed on the importance of discerning spiritual influences beyond our own flawed actions, anchored in scriptural teachings.
Moving into Fighting the Battle, Pastor Harrison detailed the armor of God as our divine provision for spiritual defense, stressing the power of prayer and scripture as our primary offensive tools against satanic forces. She shared personal testimonies within the church community that resonated with the struggle against unseen spiritual pressures, illustrating the practical application of biblical truths in resisting spiritual attacks.
In an empowering conclusion, Pastor Harrison called for vigilance and spiritual readiness, advocating for a proactive stance against the devil’s schemes through prayer, scriptural engagement, and communal support. She reminded us that while the ultimate victory in Christ is certain, the daily battles require our active participation in faith, clad in the full armor of God.
Call to Action:
Join a community group to deepen your understanding of spiritual warfare and support each other in wearing the full armor of God daily. Engage in regular scriptural study and prayer to fortify your spiritual resilience.
For a deeper exploration of our spiritual defenses and to connect with our mission, visit New Hope's beliefs page and our mission page.
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More Sermons in this Series
Pastor Betty Bricker's sermon, "United By His Spirit," dives deep into family dynamics both in the biological and spiritual sense. Drawing on Ephesians 4:1-16, she encourages us to live lives worthy of our calling by embodying humility, gentleness, and patience. She explores how these virtues help maintain unity in the church, reflecting our identity as members of God's family. Pastor Bricker challenges us to use our diverse gifts in harmony, promoting peace and spiritual growth within our community. Join us at New Hope as we strive to be Rooted in God’s Word, Renewed by the Holy Spirit, and committed to Reaching the World for Jesus Christ.
Other Sermons from Pastor Vicki
Hebrews 10 says perseverance in worship is a class project, not an individual one. Pastor Roberto Chaple names the three half-truths that keep us worshipping alone.
Vicki Harrison opens What's My Next Step, God? with prayer — the early church, released from custody and warned to stop preaching, asking God not for safety but for boldness. Three questions to locate where your own prayer life actually is, and a next step from wherever that turns out to be.
Vicki Harrison closes Learning from Jesus with the end of the Sermon on the Mount — false prophets known by their fruit, the warning that words alone are not enough, and two houses built by the same builder on different ground.
Vicki Harrison opens Matthew 6:19-24 and makes the case that this passage is not really about money — it is about treasure, the thing we have the hardest time letting go of, and the direction our hearts travel once we have chosen one.
Pastor Vicki Harrison opens Matthew 5:13-16 and shows us that being salt and light isn't something we do — it's who we already are as followers of Jesus.
Jesus opens the most famous sermon in history by calling the poorest people in the room blessed. Pastor Vicki Harrison launches New Hope Church's fall series in Matthew 5, and the Beatitudes turn every rule about who counts upside down.
Rev. Vicki Harrison opened Matthew 12 with a question that would have stunned the room in Jesus' day: "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" Jesus points to the people around him and redefines family for good. "The church is not like a family," Vicki said. "The church is a family." On Promotion Sunday and the day before school started back, she showed what that means at New Hope Church — a household of households, led by Jesus, where the mask comes off and we actually learn to love each other. Then the whole church gathered for a family photo and prayed over its teachers.
On Communion Sunday, Rev. Vicki Harrison opens Matthew 26 — the night before the cross, where Jesus takes the oldest meal of God's people and fills it with new meaning. "This is my body… this is my blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." The message walks through what actually happens when we come to the Lord's Table: we experience the grace of Jesus, we come together as one body, all people are welcome, and we return to it again and again. It is not a ritual to observe from a distance — it is grace we receive with open hands.
The water was at the front of the room, and one by one people stepped in to say it out loud: I belong to Jesus. Here's what Pastor Vicki Harrison taught about baptism on Sunday — and why the old really is gone.
James 1:19 is one of those verses that's easy to memorize and hard to live: "Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." In this message from the Words Matter series, Rev. Vicki Harrison pairs that command with James 3:13-18 — where James contrasts earthly wisdom (bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, disorder) with wisdom from above (pure, peaceable, gentle, full of mercy). The result is a conviction not just about the tongue, but about the heart posture underneath it.
Explore the power of God's armor in our daily battles against spiritual forces in the "Protected Against the Devil’s Schemes" sermon, concluding the "Blueprint for a Godly Life" series at New Hope.