I Got You - Pastor James Hooper

May 03, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Jumper Cables for Weary Souls

Jesus told His followers the Holy Spirit would be their Parakletos—one called alongside to help. Just as a dead battery needs another car’s charge, believers need others to “parakaleo” them. The early church practiced this: coaches urged runners, Paul strengthened churches, and the Spirit empowered faltering hearts. This isn’t cheerleading from the stands—it’s climbing into the dirt of someone’s struggle. [05:11]

Encouragement isn’t optional. Without it, hearts harden like engines left in the cold. The Spirit fuels us not just for personal joy, but to spark life in others. When Jesus promised the Comforter, He designed His family to function the same way—hands linking, burdens lifting.

Who around you feels stranded today? Don’t assume they’ll ask. Walk over. Listen. Speak courage into their weariness. What heavy heart have you avoided because helping feels inconvenient?

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
(Hebrews 3:13, NKJV)

Prayer: Ask God to show you one person needing a “jump start” of hope this week.
Challenge: Text or call that person today. Name one specific strength you see in them.

Day 2: Bricks of Blessing

Paul told the Ephesians to speak only what builds others up. Workers reconstructing Jerusalem’s walls carried swords and trowels (Nehemiah 4:17). Likewise, our words either fortify hearts or pick at cracks. Gossip dresses as concern, but true oikodome—edification—requires laying bricks of truth with mortar of grace. [09:08]

Every sentence is a choice: construct or demolish. Jesus didn’t ignore sin, but He led with mercy. Zacchaeus changed not because crowds shamed him, but because Christ honored him. The Holy Spirit convicts gently; so must we.

What habit of speech needs demolishing? Complaining? Sarcasm? Start rebuilding: affirm a coworker’s patience, a child’s effort, a spouse’s faithfulness. Which relationship suffers from your careless words?

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
(Ephesians 4:29, NKJV)

Prayer: Confess one critical word you’ve spoken recently. Ask for grace to replace it with life.
Challenge: Write a sticky note with three encouraging phrases. Use one before sunset.

Day 3: The Purse Full of Poison

A bitter grandmother carried medications in her saddlebag, but unforgiveness sickened her most. Paul warned the Colossians: unresolved grievances rot souls. Jesus forgave from the cross before anyone repented. Holding offense is drinking poison, hoping the other person dies. [21:01]

Forgiveness isn’t excusing harm—it’s entrusting justice to God. The disciples fled, but Jesus served them fish. Peter denied Him, yet received keys to the Kingdom. Unforgiveness blocks the Spirit’s flow; release it to breathe again.

Who owes you an apology you’ll never receive? Write their name. Pray: “I release them to You.” What weight might lift if you stopped demanding repayment?

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
(Colossians 3:13, NKJV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for a specific sin He forgave you. Ask for strength to mirror it.
Challenge: Tear up a symbolic “debt list” after writing it. Burn or bury the pieces.

Day 4: The Coach in Your Corner

Jesus called the Spirit “Parakletos”—the ultimate Encourager. He doesn’t shout from heaven’s bleachers but kneels in the batter’s box with us. At the tomb, He wept with Mary. On the stormy sea, He stretched out His hand. His presence is the promise. [09:32]

The Spirit’s job isn’t just comfort but activation. He reminded Peter of Christ’s words after denial. He propelled timid disciples into bold witnesses. His power isn’t theoretical—it’s fuel for daily obedience.

Where do you feel alone in your struggle? Picture the Spirit beside you, whispering strategy. What step could you take today if you believed He’s closer than your breath?

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
(John 14:26, NKJV)

Prayer: Invite the Holy Spirit to highlight one area He wants to empower you today.
Challenge: Set a phone reminder: “Parakletos is here.” Pause and pray when it alerts.

Day 5: Rewriting the Code

Paul said transformed living requires renewed thinking (Romans 12:2). Like outdated software, old thought patterns crash under new Kingdom demands. Jesus rewired Peter from “I’m not His disciple” to Pentecost preacher. Renovation starts by replacing lies with God’s code. [34:24]

The mind isn’t neutral—it’s a battlefield. Every “I’ll never change” or “God’s mad at me” must be dragged into the light. The Spirit doesn’t erase your story; He redeems its plotlines.

What toxic thought plays on loop? Write it. Then write God’s counter-truth from Scripture. Which lie has overstayed its welcome in your mental house?

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
(Romans 12:2, NKJV)

Prayer: Ask God to expose one lie you’ve believed. Claim His truth over it aloud.
Challenge: Memorize one Bible verse that contradicts your most frequent negative thought.

Sermon Summary

The passage opens with a call to be present with one another, rooted in the Greek verb parakaleo. Parakaleo means to call someone alongside, to urge ethical action, to enable courage in hard moments. Concrete images clarify the term: a running car lending its charge with jumper cables, a coach on first base giving tactical prompts. These images show encouragement as practical, energetic help that moves people forward rather than vague praise.

The text connects parakaleo to parakletos, the noun used for the Holy Spirit, and insists that the Spirit both indwells believers and equips them to come alongside others. The congregation receives a theological framework that blends individual renewal and communal responsibility. Scripture words like oikodome are used to describe edification as intentional building up, a spiritual architecture that supports growth and resilience.

Practical virtues receive attention as garments to be deliberately worn: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Forgiveness becomes a volitional act that benefits the forgiver as much as the forgiven, with warning that unforgiveness blocks anointing and hinders gifts. The narrative uses family stories to illustrate how bitterness corrodes health and relationships, and how reconciliation restores life.

Community life appears as a chosen family, where worship creates synergy and everyday acts of service demonstrate love. Simple examples of care underscore belonging: bringing water bottles, clearing limbs from yards, shared meals and spontaneous help. The congregation’s acceptance is portrayed as a space where people can come even when they feel like failures, and where love cushions missteps without condoning harmful behavior.

A substantial practical resource receives an introduction: a forthcoming book titled Rewired by God, described as a mental renovation that replaces outdated thought patterns with Spirit-empowered thinking. The book frames transformation as deep software change rather than surface adjustments, urging awareness, cooperation with the Spirit, and concrete first steps to notice and replace default thoughts. Financial stewardship of the book is pledged in part to support the church. The passage closes with thanksgiving, a blessing over the meal, and encouragement to continue building one another up in love and thanksgiving.

Key Takeaways

1. Encourage one another every day Encouragement functions as intentional, concrete aid that summons people to act courageously in trials. It goes beyond cheerleading to supply strength, direction and confidence so inner batteries can restart. Habitual daily encouragement prevents sin from hardening hearts and cultivates ethical motion toward God. [02:21]
2. Build others up with purpose Edification means architectural care for souls, not casual flattery or passive presence. Building requires identifying needs, offering wisdom and creating structures of spiritual support that sustain growth over time. Intentional edification reshapes community culture so faith matures instead of stagnating. [07:41]
3. Forgiveness frees the soul Forgiveness stands as a deliberate choice that releases the forgiver from bitterness and restores spiritual flow. Holding grievances corrodes health, blocks gifting and narrows the capacity to receive God’s anointing. Choosing forgiveness preserves community and keeps ministry channels open while still allowing for wisdom and consequences. [16:51]
4. Renovate the mind by Spirit True change replaces underlying thought software instead of merely altering outward circumstances. The Holy Spirit renews inner code so patterns that once felt like wisdom become transformed into life-giving truth. Awareness and cooperation with the Spirit start the renovation that then reshapes responses to fear, conflict and hope. [34:54]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:21] - Defining Parakaleo encourage one another
[04:49] - Practical examples of coming alongside
[05:29] - Jumper cable illustration explained
[07:41] - Oikodome building up the church
[09:32] - Holy Spirit as Parakletos
[10:21] - Speech that edifies others
[15:41] - Clothe yourself with virtues
[16:51] - Forgiveness as a choice
[22:50] - Church as chosen family
[31:13] - Book release announcement
[34:54] - Mental renovation explained
[41:54] - Gratitude blessing and closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Hebrews 3:13 (NKJV)
“But exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

Colossians 3:12-14 (NKJV)
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another... But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”

Observation questions

What two practical illustrations (e.g., jumper cables, a coach) were used to explain the meaning of parakaleo (encouragement) in Hebrews 3:13? [05:29]
According to Colossians 3:12-14, what five virtues are listed as “clothing” believers must deliberately “put on”?
How does the sermon describe the consequences of holding onto unforgiveness, using the example of the pastor’s grandmother? [17:43]
What metaphor does the sermon use to describe the Holy Spirit’s work in renewing the mind (e.g., outdated software vs. renovation)? [34:54]

Interpretation questions

Why might the author of Hebrews emphasize encouraging one another daily rather than occasionally? How does this connect to avoiding a “hardened heart”?
The sermon states that forgiveness “frees the soul” even if the offender never apologizes. How does this align with Colossians 3:13’s command to forgive “as the Lord forgave you”?
The pastor compares the church to a “chosen family.” What biblical principles support the idea that community is both a gift and a responsibility, not just a convenience? [14:04]
How does unforgiveness act as a “block” to spiritual gifts and anointing, according to the sermon’s teaching? [21:01]

Application questions

Identify one person in your life who feels “stuck” (like a car with a dead battery). What specific, practical act of encouragement (parakaleo) could you do for them this week?
Reflect on the “virtues” in Colossians 3:12-14. Which one (e.g., patience, humility) feels hardest to “put on” in your current relationships? What small step could you take to practice it?
Is there a recurring thought or mindset you’ve accepted as “normal” (e.g., “I’ll never overcome this”) that contradicts God’s truth about you? How could you begin replacing it with a Spirit-renewed perspective? [39:13]
The sermon warns that bitterness harms the holder more than the offender. Is there a grievance you’ve held onto that you need to release, even if reconciliation isn’t possible? What would surrender look like?
The church is described as a place where “love cushions missteps without condoning harm.” How can you create that kind of safe, grace-filled space for someone who feels like a failure?
What “everyday act of service” (e.g., helping with chores, sharing a meal) could you intentionally do this month to strengthen your “chosen family” in Christ? [45:54]

Sermon Clips

53s

#UnderRenovation

“``God doesn't throw you away, He renovates you. And that word renovation is worth sitting with for a moment. When a house gets renovated, it doesn't get demolished, the structure is kept, the good bones stay but the old wallpaper comes down, the broken pipes get replaced, the rooms get reconfigured to actually work for the people living in them. That's what the Holy Spirit does in a mind that's willing. He doesn't erase who you are, He restores you to who you were always meant to be. Titus three five describes this as God renewing us by the Holy Spirit. Not us renewing ourselves, not us gritting our teeth and thinking better thoughts than through sheer force. The spirit does the deep work. Your role is to stop resisting it, start cooperating with it. You are not stuck, you are under renovation.”

54s

#MentalRenovation

“``Welcome to the mental renovation. Your mind has been running on the same software for years. The programs were written by painful moments, by people who spoke carelessly over you, by a culture that told you what to want and what to fear. And here's what nobody's warned you about. You didn't choose most of those programs. They just installed themselves quietly, one experience at a time and now they run automatically shaping every decision, every reaction, every expectation you carry into each new day. This is what this book is about. Not a surface level tune up, not a list of positive affirmations to tape on your bathroom mirror, this is a complete mental renovation, the kind that goes all the way down to the foundation and replaces what was built on sand with something that actually holds.”

48s

#RenewYourMind

“``Think about what a computer does when it's running outdated software. It slows down, it freezes at the wrong moments, it can't handle new information properly, it keeps crashing in the same spots over and over because the code underneath was never updated. That's exactly what happens when you try to live a new life with an old mindset. You can change your job, your city, your relationships and still find yourself stuck in the exact same patterns Because the problem was never the circumstances, the problem was the operating system running underneath it all. I'm getting emotional, sorry. Romans twelve two plainly says it plainly, Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”

54s

#MindMetamorphosis

“``The word transformed comes from the Greek word metamorphoo, the same root as metamorphosis. It's not a small adjustment, it's a complete change of form, the kind that makes you unrecognizable from what you used to be. And the mechanism for that change isn't willpower, it isn't discipline alone, it's the renewal of the mind through the Holy Spirit. This matters because the way you think isn't just a personal quirk, it's the lens through which you interpret everything. It determines whether you see a challenge as a threat or an opportunity. It determines whether you read silence as a rejection or peace. It determines whether you believe God is for you or merely tolerating you. Your thoughts are not neutral. They are constantly interpreting, filtering and constructing the reality you experience every single day.”

51s

#NewOperatingSystem

“``This renovation changes how you process conflict, how you handle fear, how you relate to other people and how you see yourself. It changes what you expect from God and what you believe you're capable of. When Paul was knocked off his horse on the road to Damascus, he didn't get a new personality, he got a new operating system. The same intensity that made him a persecutor became the fire that made him one of the greatest common communicators of the gospel the world had ever seen. The hardware stayed the same, the software got completely rewritten. You have the same capacity, not because of anything you've done but because of who lives inside of you. Ephesians three twenty says, God is able to do more, far more abundantly than all we ask or think according to the power at work within us.”

61s

#ChangeYourDefault

“``That power is already in you. The question is whether your current thinking is positioned to receive it or block it. Before you go any further, take a moment to honestly answer this. What thought do you think most often about yourself, about your future, about whether things will work out? Whatever came to mind just now, that's your current default setting. By the time you finish this book, that default is going to change. Here's a practical first step. This week, pick one recurring thought that feels completely normal to you but doesn't line up with what you know God says about you. Write it down, then write next to it what God actually does say. Don't try to force yourself to believe the new thought yet, just notice the gap. Awareness is the first move in every renovation, you can't fix what you haven't named. I won't finish the rest of it but because of you guys, I've been able to do this.”

39s

#BuildEachOtherUp

“``We are to come alongside someone and we are to encourage them. So when we come together in the house of the Lord and we come together as a body of believers, then we come together and we love one another. Verse Hebrews chapter four verse 29, Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

51s

#ChooseCompassion

“``In other words, you have to choose to be compassionate. Clothe yourself with kindness, with humility, with gentleness and patience. Oh, that's the hardest coat to put on. Don't ever pray, God, give me patience, because you know how you get patience? You get tried, you have trouble. In this world, you will have trouble but be of good cheer, Jesus said, I've overcome the world. So, but put that on yourself. Bear with each other and forgive one another. If any of you has a grievance against someone, forgive as the Lord forgave you. I'm gonna pause right there just for a second. Forgiveness is your choice.”

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I Got You - Pastor James Hooper

Devotional

Day 1: Jumper Cables for Weary Souls

Day 2: Bricks of Blessing

Day 3: The Purse Full of Poison

Day 4: The Coach in Your Corner

Day 5: Rewriting the Code

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

I Got You - Pastor James Hooper

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