Our Blog

Filter By:
Showing items filed under “David Hopkins”

2026-02-08 AWAKEN MY CHURCH

Awaken Your Worship: Rediscovering Your First Love for Jesus

Ever notice how easy it is to stay busy for God while slowly drifting away from Him?

In the late 1990s, Mars Hill Church in Seattle exploded onto the scene. Thousands attended. Sermons went viral. Books flew off shelves. From the outside, it looked like a movement of God—and in many ways, it was. But underneath the growth, something was quietly unraveling. Relationships fractured. Trust eroded. Leaders clashed. And eventually, the church dissolved entirely. Not because they lacked resources or theology, but because they lost something far more fundamental: love practiced over time.

Churches don't usually lose their love for God overnight. It's a drift—slow, quiet, and often respectable.

The Church That Had Everything (Except What Mattered Most)

In Revelation 2, Jesus writes to the church in Ephesus—a congregation that would make any pastor envious. They worked tirelessly. They guarded sound doctrine. They exposed false teachers. They refused to tolerate evil. If Ephesus existed today, we'd invite them to speak at conferences and ask, "How did you do it?"

Yet Jesus delivers a devastating diagnosis: "You have abandoned the love you had at first" (Revelation 2:4).

They didn't stop believing truth. They didn't stop doing good works. They stopped loving Jesus. Somewhere along the way, defending the faith replaced delighting in the Savior. Service replaced intimacy. Activity replaced affection.

Think about marriage for a moment. You can tell your spouse "I love you" daily. You can check every box on the household to-do list. But you know what they really want? To be with you. Not just words. Not just tasks. Presence.

That's what Jesus wants from us too.

Remember, Repent, Return

Jesus doesn't abandon His church—He invites her back. His prescription is simple but profound:

Remember where you've fallen. Recall the joy you felt when Jesus first saved you. Remember the cross—God's greatest declaration of love, where Jesus took your punishment and gave you life.

Repent—not just feeling sorry, but turning your face back toward Jesus. Maybe your gaze has drifted to opinions, activities, or even good things that have replaced the best thing.

Return to the works you did at first. Not new programs or busier schedules, but simple obedience fueled by love.

Church history tells us Ephesus listened. Early records describe a church that returned to joyful devotion, united in love for Christ. They didn't end in failure—they came home.

Your Invitation to Return

Highland Baptist Church isn't just talking about ancient Ephesus or a Seattle megachurch. We're talking about us. About you.

Are we busy but cold toward Jesus? Faithful to show up but distracted from loving Him? Orthodox in belief but uninspired to love difficult people because of Him?

Jesus walks among His church today—in our hallways, classrooms, and conversations. Nothing escapes His gaze. And He's inviting us deeper.

Here's your challenge: For the rest of this month, pray this simple prayer daily: "Father, grow my worship of You by growing my love for You."

A church awakened isn't one that does more—it's one that loves Christ first. Let's be great at making Jesus famous by how deeply we love Him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we remember when You were our greatest joy. Forgive us where duty has replaced delight, where busyness has crowded out intimacy. We return to You not with promises, but with surrendered hearts. Grow our worship by growing our love. In Your name, Amen.

Posted by David Hopkins with

2026-01-18 AWAKEN MY PRAISE

Awaken Your Praise: Discovering Wholehearted Worship in Psalm 150

Ever notice how we can scream ourselves hoarse at a football game but whisper our way through worship? We'll paint our faces for our favorite team, belt out every lyric at a concert, and gush over a great meal—yet when it comes to praising God, we suddenly become reserved, polite, even silent.

What if the problem isn't our capacity for passion, but where we're directing it?

The Call to Unrestrained Worship

Psalm 150 doesn't tiptoe around the topic of praise. In just six verses, the word "praise" appears thirteen times, bookended by "Hallelujah"—which simply means "Praise the Lord!" This isn't a suggestion or a nice idea for those who feel like it. It's a command that echoes from heaven to earth: Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

The psalmist paints a picture of worship that's anything but quiet. Trumpets blast. Cymbals clash. Dancers move. Every instrument joins the symphony, and every voice adds to the chorus. Biblical praise isn't about maintaining decorum—it's about responding wholeheartedly to a God who deserves our everything.

Why We Hold Back

Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that reverence means restraint. We absorbed unspoken rules: sit still, stay quiet, don't make a scene. But reverence isn't the absence of passion—it's passion rightly directed.

The truth is, we don't praise what we don't value, and we don't value what we don't notice. When we lose sight of God's greatness—His mighty acts, His unchanging character, His abundant grace—our praise fades. We forget that the same God who parted the Red Sea walks with us through impossible situations. The same God who raised Lazarus from the dead is processing us through our grief.

Memory fuels praise. When we remember who God is and what He's done, worship becomes the natural overflow.

Practical Steps to Awaken Your Praise

1. Remember God's faithfulness. Before you worship, take a moment to recall specific ways God has shown up in your life. Write them down. Speak them aloud. Let gratitude build.

2. Engage your whole self. Praise isn't just a mental exercise. Sing, even if you think you can't. Lift your hands. Stand. Move. God created your body for worship—use it.

3. Take praise beyond Sunday. Let worship overflow from the sanctuary into your home, your workplace, your car. Every space you enter as a believer is a space where God reigns and deserves your praise.

4. Don't compare. Your praise may look different from someone else's, and that's okay. What matters isn't style—it's sincerity. Give God the authentic response He deserves.

Your Breath, His Glory

Here's a sobering reality: every breath you take is borrowed. You didn't create it. You don't sustain it. And one day, it will return to God. The question is, what will you do with the breath God has given you today?

If you're breathing, Psalm 150 is talking to you. God isn't asking whether praise fits your personality or your mood. He's asking whether He is worthy. And the answer is always yes.

Take the next step: This week, commit to one specific act of praise each day. Whether it's singing in your car, thanking God aloud for His provision, or simply pausing to acknowledge His presence—let your life become a living hallelujah.

Prayer: Father, forgive us for the times we've given our loudest cheers to things that don't matter and our quietest whispers to You. Reignite our passion for Your glory. Help us remember who You are and what You've done. May our praise overflow from our hearts into every corner of our lives. We offer You our breath, our voices, our whole selves. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Posted by David Hopkins with

12345678910 ... 4041