9/16/2023

How to Be a Healthy Church-Part 1 : The Church at Ephesus:
We have a Great Physician named Jesus. He is the head of the Church, His body. He knows what is best for His body and has given us a “prescription”, a program that He Himself has designed, for the ultimate health of His Church. But we must heed His diagnosis and treatment if the Church is to be whole and healthy.
I believe the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 give us exactly what we need to be a healthy body.
And so, over the next several weeks we will look at each church and see what the Great Physician recommends. And, today, we begin with the letter to the church in Ephesus.

8/20/2023

The Importance of the Church-Part 2:
Imagine that you were to ask the average person in the street, “Why is the church important?” you would probably get a wide range of answers. Some would laugh at the question, because for them the church isn’t important at all. Others might see the church in the same category as museums: they both preserve things from the past. They’re a nice place to visit on rainy days, where you can observe how people used to live, but they’re out of touch with our modern world.
Others might couch their answer in political terms: they view the church as a powerful voting block to oppose the erosion of morality and to preserve the family. Or some might respond to your question by saying that they see the church’s importance as a social institution. It helps meet the physical needs of the poor and the emotional needs of the lonely and distraught. It ministers to people at the pivotal times of life: birth, marriage, death, and times of crisis.
For many American churchgoers, the church is important because it meets a lot of their personal needs. They shop around for a church that makes them feel good. They get their weekly high that enables them to cope with life.
As we continue our man-on-the-street interviews, we come to a short, balding man with a beard, who looks decidedly Jewish. Somewhat hesitantly, we ask him.
“Sir, we’re asking people the question, ‘Why is the church important?’ Would you care to comment?” We’re hardly prepared for his answer.
He says, “I believe the church of Jesus Christ is the most important force in the world today. Its task is more important than all the governments and universities of the world combined. There is nothing to compare with it!”
We reply, “That’s a pretty strong statement, sir! Why do you say that?” He responds, “Because the most significant event in human history was when the living God took on human flesh and lived among us as the Lord Jesus Christ to bear our sins. And since He ascended into heaven, His church now reveals Him on earth, even as He revealed God when He was on earth.” So, the church is important because it reveals Christ, even as Christ reveals God in human flesh.
"It (the Church) reveals Christ"! We are Jesus to the world around us. Let's look deeper into this mystery!

8/6/2023

The Importance of the Church Part 1:
Imagine that you were to ask the average person in the street, “Why is the church important?” you would probably get a wide range of answers. Some would laugh at the question, because for them the church isn’t important at all. Others might see the church in the same category as museums: they both preserve things from the past. They’re a nice place to visit on rainy days, where you can observe how people used to live, but they’re out of touch with our modern world.
Others might couch their answer in political terms: they view the church as a powerful voting block to oppose the erosion of morality and to preserve the family. Or some might respond to your question by saying that they see the church’s importance as a social institution. It helps meet the physical needs of the poor and the emotional needs of the lonely and distraught. It ministers to people at the pivotal times of life: birth, marriage, death, and times of crisis.
For many American churchgoers, the church is important because it meets a lot of their personal needs. They shop around for a church that makes them feel good. They get their weekly high that enables them to cope with life.
As we continue our man-on-the-street interviews, we come to a short, balding man with a beard, who looks decidedly Jewish. Somewhat hesitantly, we ask him.
“Sir, we’re asking people the question, ‘Why is the church important?’ Would you care to comment?” We’re hardly prepared for his answer.
He says, “I believe the church of Jesus Christ is the most important force in the world today. Its task is more important than all the governments and universities of the world combined. There is nothing to compare with it!”
We reply, “That’s a pretty strong statement, sir! Why do you say that?” He responds, “Because the most significant event in human history was when the living God took on human flesh and lived among us as the Lord Jesus Christ to bear our sins. And since He ascended into heaven, His church now reveals Him on earth, even as He revealed God when He was on earth.” So, the church is important because it reveals Christ, even as Christ reveals God in human flesh.
"It (the Church) reveals Christ"! We are Jesus to the world around us. Let's look deeper into this mystery!

7/30/2023

A Glorious Church:
This is a sermon that I preached to our congregation when we were going through an extremely difficult time. There was a real shaking, an upheaval, if you will, and I wanted to remind our church of what God is doing in His church and what that meant for us in the midst of this turmoil.

7/23/2023

A Biblical Response to Transgenderism:
There is a gender identity crisis sweeping across our nation and culture. This is a serious issue facing not only our society at large, but also the church specifically. Friends, if we get this wrong, it will impact generations to come. Why? Because this is ultimately a Gospel issue. We’ll get into that in a bit. As I prepared this message I realized that in this debate there are some people against whom we should have a righteous indignation (politicians, school/ college administrators and teachers, health care professionals, Hollywood, Disney, corporations, anyone who is in a place of authority and influence who is using this ideology to make money or gain power/ control/ influence), but there are others that we should treat with compassion and sympathy (children, teens, those who have been indoctrinated and are now young adults, any who have been pushed into this because they were confused and then deceived, lied to, and manipulated, and those with mental illness). And so, I want to address the biblical response to both sides of this: the perpetrators and pushers of this unbiblical and ungodly ideology, as well as those who are being impacted as a result.

7/16/2023

Pursuing Gospel Clarity-part 7: Speaking Clearly About Eternity:
If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next.” - C.S. Lewis
Here’s a question you probably don’t hear very often, “How often do you think about eternity”? As we finish up our series through Isaiah 53, we end with the subject of eternity. Let’s read Isaiah 53 and notice, in particular, verse 12, “Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
Verse 12 is speaking specifically of the eternal results of what Jesus Christ accomplished through His death. Verses 1-11, as well as the latter part of verse 12, speak of that death. But squeezed right here at the beginning of verse 12 is the eternal result of His time bound, flesh and blood, victory securing crucifixion! Let’s flesh this out.

7/9/2023

Pursuing Gospel Clarity: part 6: Speaking Clearly About Justification:
This morning I’m going to jump right into the message because of its significance for our lives as Christians. But also because, as with some of the other truths we’ve looked at, its lack of clarity and understanding in the minds of many believers.
As a matter of fact, John Calvin says “Justification is the main hinge on which salvation turns”. And another Reformer boldly stated, “Justification is the article by which the Church stands and falls.”
Why is this important for us to understand and defend as the church? Because every other religion says that you must earn your salvation yourself; no one else can do it for you. Even within so called “Christianity”.
So, let's look a bit deeper into the biblical truth of justification and what it means for you and me today.

7/2/2023

Pursuing Gospel Clarity-Part 5: Speak Clearly About Union With Christ:
As we continue working through “Pursuing Gospel Clarity”, we come to a truth that, in my estimation, is the least understood, yet may be the most essential, truth that we will look at.
I honestly believe that many Christians are weak and unsure in their walk with Christ because they don’t understand the reality of our union with Him. So, let’s zero in on this profound truth.
Isaiah 53:10, “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.”
You might think, “Where do we see our union with Christ in this verse”? Notice the little phrase, “He shall see His seed”. When we think of the seed of a husband and wife, we think of the children that have come from that “union”. And out of that relationship comes a child, a “seed”, that is bound in union to them because of their union. We have the same picture here.
We are bound to Christ, in “union” with Him because of what He has done for us and when it occurred. Let's take a closer look.

6/25/2023

Biblical Manhood:
Our society today is doing everything it can to destroy what it means to be a man. And they have unashamedly and aggressively gone after what it means to be a man as God intended. The most important question for us today, as men, is not just, “What does it mean to be a man in the 21st century?”, but “What does it mean to be a godly man and how do I become that man?”
I want to try to answer that question this morning by giving us a standard that will actually serve 2 purposes:
1. It will show us where we are at the moment as we measure ourselves against it;
2. It will give us a picture to look at as we strive to become a more godly man.

6/18/2023

Pursuing Gospel Clarity-Part 4:Speaking Clearly About Atonement:
Isaiah 53:4-6, “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
This classic passage on the crucifixion shows that it was a penal substitution- Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross takes the place of the punishment we should have suffered for our sins. As a result, God’s justice is satisfied, and those who accept Christ can be forgiven and reconciled to God.
Yet people sitting in some churches have a problem with hymn lyrics like,
“'Til on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied. For every sin on Him was laid, here in the death of Christ I live.”
Why do we not understand the truth of substitution? Why is it rejected by so many in so called "Christianity"? And, more importantly, why isn't this foundational doctrine taught in our churches today? Let's answer thee questions, and more, as we look at pursuing Gospel clarity.

6/11/2023

Pursuing Gospel Clarity-Part 3 Speaking Clearly About Sin:
As we continue to look at Isaiah 53 and the issue of gospel clarity, we’ve looked at 2 very important, and essential truths of the gospel: Jesus Christ and holiness. We know that salvation would not be possible if it weren’t for Jesus willingly coming to this earth to die in our place. We also understand, I hope, that God’s holiness demands an appropriate response to the condition of man. And what is that condition? That is the focus of today’s message.
Genesis 2:8, 9 “The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” And then 15, 16, “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’”
This passage is foundational to the understanding of man’s condition. God created man and put him in this special garden He had created. Adam had been given a special calling by God to steward what He had created. But he was also given one command that he was to keep, “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat”. That’s it. One command. Not 1,000 or 100; not even 10 commandments; just one. And we know what happened.
Genesis 3:1-7-Adam and Eve disobeyed. They believed the Devil and did the one thing God told them not to. They sinned.

6/4/2023

Pursuing Gospel Clarity-Part 2: Speaking Clearly About Holiness:
Holiness is the next truth we must understand if we want to have gospel clarity. Last week we focused on the absolute central and preeminent truth of the gospel, Jesus Christ Himself. But to really grasp why Jesus had to die for our sins, we must get ahold of two other significant realities: God’s holiness and our sin. So, let’s look at holiness.

5/28/2023

Pursuing Gospel Clarity-Part 1: Speaking Clearly About Jesus:
The one over-arching theme of the Bible is God’s scarlet thread of redemption displayed, not through a system of religion, nor a series of principles through which to reach God, but a Person: the Person of Jesus Christ. He is its focus, its main point, its pinnacle and climax from Genesis 1 to revelation 22.
The first verse of the Bible says, “In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1). And who is this God but Jesus Christ Himself; “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16).
I want to begin a sermon series on the chapter of the Bible that gives us the clearest portrait of Jesus as our Savior, our Substitute, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, Isaiah 53. Of course, the context in which we share the gospel, and first heard it, was in the context of unbelief. Maybe that’s you, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
I want us to look at this chapter and really get a sense of what Jesus did for our salvation and all that means. I think most Christians see the gospel message as “Jesus died for my sins, was buried, and rose from the dead. I can be forgiven by asking for and receiving that gift for myself. Now I know that I’m going to heaven.” But is that really all there is to the gospel? I don’t think so. And I believe Isaiah 53 gives us a very clear understanding of exactly what this great salvation we have is.
So, let’s begin with the most important truth there is about our salvation-Jesus Himself. We must have absolute clarity on who Jesus is and what He did.

5/21/2023

Biblical Womanhood:
There are only a few times a year I preach to the calendar (Easter, Independence Day, and Christmas). However, on this Mother's Day, in light of our culture’s continually increasing attack on God’s ordained plan for men and women, I thought it appropriate to do a message honoring womanhood. God created you, as a woman, as a very unique and special part of His creation. Your value lies, not in being a mother, but in being a person created in the image of God for His purposes. So, this message is a reminder of God’s desire for what a godly woman should be.
As I contemplated what text to use, I thought, maybe Proverbs 21:19. “Better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman” or Proverbs 27:15, “A continual dripping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike”, but then, I thought, we don’t have any women like that in our church. All kidding aside, I chose 1 Peter 3:1-6 because it gives God's definition of what a godly woman is and what she looks like. And, by the way,  verse 4 says, "let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." What an amazing thought!

5/14/2023

Jesus is Precious:
Precious- (Miriam Webster)- “Of great value or high price; highly esteemed or cherished”.
When we think of the word precious, we think of those things most valuable to us: Our spouse (yes, I started here!), our children and grandchildren, family heirlooms, and our very lives would be a few things that might come to mind.
Scripture here points us to something that is extremely precious and what our attitude toward it should be. And we are remembering it this morning as we remember the death of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

5/7/2023

Building Christ's Kingdom, Not Mine:
Many times throughout the Scriptures, before God built something great in the Spirit, He first tore down the efforts of the flesh.
We are enamored in the church today with programs and events-something catchy to grab people’s attention with the hope that we can sneak Jesus into the conversation. And we do it all in the name of “church growth”. Church life in many places has become about nickels & noses, butts & bucks or the ABC of church growth: attendance, buildings, and cash. But is that really what Jesus is after.
I want to submit to you that Jesus’ greatest desire in building His church was none of these things. Why? Because you can have all of these things and be useless- Revelation 3:14-22 (READ).
I’ve come to the conclusion that we should no longer focus on growing the church, instead we should seek to reach and bless our city. As we do that, Jesus will build His church with those that He would have here. Isn’t that what He said? “I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18. Let's build on that thought.

4/30/2023

Understanding Discipleship:
I honestly believe that one of the greatest hindrance s to making disciples is a lack of knowing what a disciple is and how to make them. A disciple is someone who is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and is committed to the mission of Jesus. A pretty simple, yet profound definition if we grasp exactly what it is we are called to produce. However, the other big part of this is that we can't do this on our own. We can give knowledge and equip people with skills, but it is the Spirit of God who has to transform the heart of an individual to live out that knowledge and use the skills with the right motive. So let's dig into this whole deal of making disciples.

4/23/2023

How Great a Debtor/ Living "Sent"   Romans 1:8-16:
“HillCity Church will, by God's grace, love the unlovable, touch the   untouchable, and do the impossible as we grow up in Christ and go out in love.”   This is the vision that God has given to us. The question is, "How do we fulfill this vision"? We do it by obeying the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”) and by having a heart like the apostle Paul , found in our text, "Romans 1:14-16, “I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” So, let's talk about what that means.

4/16/2023

Oh, What a Morning!:
I would like for us to spend some time today looking at that great morning when our Lord, Jesus Christ, conquered death, Hell and the grave forever. There has never been a morning like that before, nor shall there ever be one like it hereafter.
Now, please understand that the resurrection of the Lord Jesus has effects that reach beyond that morning to this very day. You see: HE IS ALIVE this morning! So, let’s walk together through these verses and look at that morning!

4/9/2023

The Reality of Palm Sunday:
As we celebrate Palm Sunday, we remember the worship and praise that was given to the Lord Jesus. As He rode into Jerusalem on that donkey, thus fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zechariah 9:9), He was being heralded as the coming Liberator for the nation of Israel. Yet, as we know, that wasn't His plan. And if we focus only on this part of the Triumphal Entry, we miss so much. Luke alone records for us another part of this scenario that we so often miss, yet is central to Jesus understanding of this day. Let's learn together.

4/2/2023

Having a Jesus Attitude:
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus'" What does that mean? How does it apply to us today? Are there things (idols) in our lives that are getting in the way of us having this mind? Is it something I have to ask God for or is it already mine? These questions, and more, will be addressed in this message. But do more than just learn; accept the challenge that comes out of this message.

3/12/2023

Have the Mind of Christ:
The most important aspects of the Christian life is to become more like Jesus. This starts with our minds, our thoughts, our attitudes. Only as our minds are transformed can we begin to walk as Jesus walked and live life to glorify Him. That is the subject of this message.

3/5/2023

An Exhortation to Unity:
The apostle Paul laid out for us in verse 1 of this text the tools, the resources that are ours in Christ, as a body of believers, for unity. He now goes on in verses 2-4 to tell us what the church should look like when these resources are properly used. It should be a church of selfless humility; of putting others before ourselves. A church that looks like Jesus Christ! Let's take a few moments to work through the evidences of unity in Christ.

2/26/2023

Revival: Some Thoughts on The Asbury Revival:
A  phenomenon is taking place at a small Christian University in Kentucky named Asbury University. It's being called "a move of God" or "an awakening"; some are even calling it a revival. As with anything that goes on, especially under the umbrella of "Christian", we must test it against the teachings of the Word of God. So, what is going on in Asbury? And, more importantly, is it biblical? Let's take a look.

2/19/2023

Let This Mind Be in You:
We are going to do a brief series on Philippians 2:1-11. This passage speaks of the "humiliation" of Jesus as He humbles Himself to become a man, a bondservant, to fulfill the will of the Father and purchase our salvation. We will look at what it meant for Jesus and what it means for us. And we will begin with one simple verse, verse 1. There is much for us to learn from this first verse.

2/12/2023

May Your Garments Be Always White:
Solomon gave us these words as a form of blessing. But what would this have meant to the people of his time? How would they have understood these words? Let's take a few moments to dig in and see what we can find out and, more importantly, what it means for us today!

2/5/2023

Too High a Cost?:
We live in a day of soft Christianity. You can become a "Christian" and live any way you want to with no expectation of growth in Christ or surrender to Him. Is this the message of the New Testament? Is this the message that the Apostle Paul preached? As we finish up the book of Colossians, let's take a look at Paul's commitment and his outlook on this. And as we do, let's "remember my (his) chains". And, more importantly, let's ask ourselves the question, "Are the things I'm living for worth Christ dying for?".

1/29/2023

Sanctity of Life in a Culture of Death:
As we celebrate sanctity of Life Sunday, we must realize that we live in a culture of death. Suicide, abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia are all realities n our nation that we must face and stand against. Video games, social media, movies and TV all glorify  death as they make billions of dollars sensationalizing and normalizing it. The church must stand up and stand against this obsession with death! God is the giver of life and He loves the life He gives us. Psalm 139 speaks to this and we'll learn from it today.

1/22/2023

Open:
As Paul nears the end of his letter to the church in Colossae, he asks for prayer and gives some instruction in how we are to live. The one word that would best describe his heart in this is the word "open". He asks for prayer, thus speaking of an open throne room of grace. He specifically would like them to pray for "open: doors for the gospel and the right words as he "opens" his mouth. He then reminds them of how their lives are to be "open" to both believers and unbelievers in the way they act and speak.

1/15/2023

The Christian Life Is a Race:
The Apostle Paul reminds us that the Christian life is a race, a marathon, that we must run to the end if we are to finish well. Let's see what we need to learn to run well and to finish strong.

1/8/2023

In It For the Long Haul:
Too many people place way too much emphasis on New Year’s resolutions. As Christians, we should not be looking to the calendar and looking at our commitment to Christ for the next year. We need to be Christians that will stop looking at the Christian life by the week or the month or the year and, right now, make a lifetime commitment. We need to be Christians that are in it for the long haul.
Christianity is not an experiment. It’s not a hobby or a fad. It’s not just a phase that you grow out of. It’s a life-long commitment. I’m in it for the long haul! I want to be here until the end! I want to finish what I started!
G. K. Chesterton said, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.”
Let's determine to be in it for the long haul.

1/1/2023

Because of Christmas, God Has a Face:
As the Shepherds stood there with Joseph and Mary, the face of that newborn baby, so gentle and sweet, had already blazed with the light of the incredible brightness of the Sun.
Baby Jesus, as God the Son, was the Creator and had already been the focus of the adoring gaze of Heaven’s countless hosts. His face caused the cherubim, closest to His Throne: to cover their faces, for He was God. His radiance of Glory made them bow in humility.
And now, the face of God was able to be looked upon as He entered this world, as one of us!
Let's worship Him together as we open His Word!

12/25/2022

The Wonder of Christmas:
Human history has been gradually unfolding according to God’s sovereign,   ordained plan.
The coming of Jesus was prophesied thousands of years before it actually happened.
Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
There had been 400 years of silence Israel. God had not spoken a word through His prophets to the nation, and the people were in despair under Roman oppression.
And then...He came! And it was an event surrounded by joy, difficulty, and...wonder! Let's look, together,  at the wonder of Christmas.

12/18/2022

Mary's Example: A Christmas Sermon:
The story of Christmas begins with an angel's visit to a young Jewish woman. The angel tells her that she has been chosen by God to be the one to carry and mother the Savior of the world. This will involve sacrifice and loss for her; she will be misunderstood and maligned. How does she respond. Let's learn together what trust and faith look like as we consider the example of Mary.

12/11/2022

And They Were Amazed:
The shepherds were a ragtag bunch, considered outcasts by the average folks. And yet, God sent His angels, proclaiming the message of a newborn Savior, to them first! And how appropriate that they should be the first audience to the babe lying in a manger. Why? Because they are the perfect picture of each one of us: outcasts to God because of our sin, dirty and lowly and of no real importance to anyone. But God...but God thought differently! And so the message went to the shepherds, and the message comes to us! Will we be amazed by Jesus? Will we come to Him as they did and then go and proclaim the message, just like the shepherds did?

12/4/2022

God's Design for the Sexes:
I’m sure you would agree that our society today is confused about men and women and what their roles and responsibilities are in every facet of life. As a matter of fact, this was clearly brought out in Matt Walsh’s documentary, “What is a Woman?” He had medical professionals, college professors, politicians, and average people on the street who could not, or would not, answer the question, “What is a woman”?
And the confusion and controversy about men and women doesn’t stop at the church door. A survey done by Ligonier Ministries found that 37% of professing evangelicals believe that gender is a matter of choice. These are people who say that, “The Bible is the highest authority for what they believe”.
But we are letting the world dictate what marriage should look like. God demands order, the world wants balance.
The Bible, however, is crystal clear on the issues of gender and the roles and responsibilities of men and women, especially in marriage. If we want to have God’s blessing on our marriages, we would do well to follow His prescribed directions. And, let me tell you, you will be challenged, and maybe even ticked off, by this message! But that’s ok if it gets you to dig in and really find out what the Word of God says! Because, you see, the created order will always, eventually, spin out of control when it is not centered on the glory of God. The church MUST get this right.

11/27/2022

A Thanksgiving Message From Habakkuk:
As Thanksgiving rolls around again, we must ask ourselves the question, "What do I have to be thankful for?". We can reflect back over the past 11 months of the year and decide how we will respond to what has happened in our lives. Habakkuk was in the midst of some devastating circumstances. Israel was about to be invaded by a ruthless nation. They would leave destruction and death in their wake. Many of them would be taken to Babylon. And yet...Habakkuk has a choice to make. As this little book unfolds, we see the prophet going from doubt and despair; questioning God and what He's doing, to prayer and praise as he learns more of who God is and rests in that truth. We can learn much from Habakkuk. So, let's travel together through each chapter and glean lessons for a lifetime! Happy Thanksgiving!

11/20/2022

God's Presence is Essential:
This world we live in is brutal! Sin has ravaged everything and it affects our lives! But what are we to do? Where are we to turn? Unfortunately, many have turned Christianity  into a system of works or a program to be followed. It has become about rules and performance. Is this what God intended when He sent Jesus to die in our place? Is this really all there is? The Bible says, "NO", there is much more! Jesus did not come to give us a system or program, He came to give us Himself! And that is all we need is Him! And when we have Him we have everything! He is our peace, oour joy, our holiness, and our everything! And so, we simply need Him! And He is always with us as Hid followers! His presence is essential to our walk with Him! "I will never leave you, nor forsake you" is still in the Book, but are we aware of the reality of this promise? Let's journey there together!

11/13/2022

From Death to Life-Following Jesus and Dying to Self:
Why should we focus on the fact that the disciples just couldn’t grasp the significance of Jesus’ impending death?
Because I believe we make the same mistake! If we really understood the significance of the death of Jesus we would live differently; we would view our sin as the heinous thing that it is; we would look at the lost world around us with eyes of compassion; and we would share the gospel with a passion.
Let’s go  to Luke 9 for a moment. Look at verses 23-25, “Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?’”
This is the way to life; dying to self.

11/6/2022

Good Citizens of Two Kingdoms:
As Christians, we live in two worlds. We are citizens of two kingdoms. And we are to be good citizens of both. Philippians 2:20 tells us, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”.
Because of this, every aspect of our lives should be ruled by the laws of the heavenly kingdom. Read the Sermon on the Mount, look at the Fruit of the Spirit, consider the love chapter (1 Corinthians 13), meditate on Ephesians 6 and you see how we are to wage war for God’s kingdom, and revel in the book of Revelation as it unfolds, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:5) as you learn what it means to be a citizen of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ!
But then we see the other side. Because we are to be, first and foremost, citizens of this heavenly kingdom, we are called to be good citizens of whatever earthly kingdom God has placed us in. How do we do that? Let's learn together.

10/30/2022

Blessed-The Beatitudes:
The Greek word for blessed means, possessing the favor of God, experiencing ‘spiritual prosperity’. It describes a state of being marked by fullness from God. And it comes from being in right relationship with God. Notice that the word “blessed” is used in Psalm 32:1, 2 and what the source of that blessing is: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”
This is where Jesus begins in the Beatitudes; "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". And He goes on from there. Let's learn what Jesus has for us as we reflect on just a few of the Beatitudes, maybe in a way you haven't seen them before.

10/23/2022

The Feast of Tabernacles:
The Feast of Tabernacles (also called Feast of Booths or Sukkot in Hebrew) was the seventh and final feast commanded in the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament). In addition, it served as the third of three yearly occasions when all Jewish men were to appear before the Lord to worship (Deuteronomy 16:16). It was mentioned frequently in Scripture and is also significant due to the Jewish temple being dedicated during this time (1 Kings 8:2).
Interestingly, the Feast of Tabernacles was also described as a key time of revival when the returning Israelites came to rebuild the temple during the time of Ezra. In the New Testament, Jesus preached during this same feast in Jerusalem, giving His famous teaching, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" (John 7:37-38).
Pastor Mike shares with us about the feast and what it means for us today.

10/16/2022

A Harmonious Body:
As we continue through our study of Colossians, we find Paul, in this passage, encouraging us to unity. His desire is that the body of Christ would show forth itself as a "harmonious" body. And he tells us how we can do this and what it should look like. Just as it was his desire for the church in Colassae, it is the Father's desire for His people today.

10/9/2022

Yom Kippur and Communion:
This year Yom Kippur begins on the evening of Tuesday, October 4th. Jewish people around the world will fast and pray, hoping their sins have been forgiven and their names sealed in the Book of Life for one more year. There is no longer a priest to cast lots, no scapegoats to send into the wilderness, and no blood to be poured on the mercy seat. For those who know Him, Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Israel, has finished it all.
And today, we celebrate the fact that we have been washed in the blood, made as white as snow, our debt is paid! The elements on the Communion Table represent the broken body and shed blood of the precious Lamb of God. We can be free from the penalty and power of sin simply by realizing and accepting for ourselves that Jesus Christ did this for me!
Thank God for the Blood!

10/2/2022

Putting on the Character of Christ:
As Christians, we need to be dressed appropriately! The great thing is that God has chosen our “wardrobe” for us and all we have to do is put it on! . Believers will never enjoy mutual fellowship through compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, or patience; they will not bear with each other or forgive each other unless they put on Christ and love one another. To try to practice the virtues of Paul has listed above apart from love is legalism. They must flow from love, which in turn is a fruit of the Spirit-filled life

9/25/2022

Pastor Mike Berger-Lessons From Ruth:
There is much that we can learn from the story of Ruth. Join Pastor Mike Berger as he walks us through some of those lessons.

9/18/2022

Not Carnality, But Christ:
The Cross, the focus of history, redemption and the godly life, has two sides: it involves a death, and it was followed by a resurrection. Both of these aspects are related to the believer. The one serves his connection with the past life, the other introduces him to a new life in union with Christ. Not only are we, by God’s grace, to abandon the pre-death life, but we are to aspire to the post-resurrection life. This is the reality for those who name the Name of Jesus Christ; we are meant for something more than just a ticket to "the sweet by-and-by", we are meant to be made like Jesus Christ!

9/11/2022

Message for Broken People:
Jesus came for broken people, which means that Jesus came for every one of us. This message brings home that truuth. Are we willing to admit our brokenness, even as believers? Will we come to Him for what we need or will we continue to hide behind our religious veneer? Jesus wants to make us holy and "whole"

9/4/2022

Jesus Christ, Not Religion:
One of the most serious problems facing the orthodox Christian church today is the problem of legalism. One of the most serious problems facing the church in Paul’s day was the problem of legalism. In every day it is the same. Legalism wrenches the joy of the Lord from the Christian believer, and with the joy of the Lord goes His power for vital worship and vibrant service.
It’s also been put, more succinctly, this way, “With legalism, nothing is left but cramped, somber, dull and listless profession.”

8/28/2022

The Power of the Cross:
Before we came to Christ we had three major problems that kept us from God:  our sinful nature, the law and Satan. Our sinful nature made us desire sin and to choose that sin over God. The law showed us our sin and brought us condemnation. And Satan was our tempter and accuser – both tempting us to sin and then accusing us before God when we gave in to temptation to sin. We were under the power of our sinful nature, the power of the law and the power of Satan, and we needed deliverance.
Fortunately, there is a greater power than the power of our sinful nature, the law or Satan. And that greater power is the power of the cross. That’s what our passage in Colossians is all about this morning: the power of the cross to free us from the power of sin, the law and Satan

8/21/2022

Beware-Don't Be Cheated- Part 2:
The conclusion of last week's message.

8/14/2022

Beware-Don't Be Cheated-Part 1:
Anyone who has read the New Testament letters written by Paul and the others knows that false teaching and bad doctrine came into the church very quickly. The Apostle Paul, here in our text, is warning believers to be on their guard! There are those out there who would come into the church and try to pervert the simple gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wants the Colossian believers to receive and enjoy the full benefits and blessings of their relationship with Jesus. Therefore, he warns them to be diligent in the truth. What an admonition for us in our day!

8/7/2022

Paul's Heart for the Church:
“For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh...” These words come from the Apostle Paul and show his great love for all believers in churches everywhere! His desire was to be a blessing and a help to whomever he could in the body of Christ. Do we share that same heart, that same desire to see fellow believers enriched and encouraged as they grow in their understanding of and love for the Lord Jesus? We should, and we can!

7/31/2022

Paul as a Minister and an Example:
The Apostle Paul, as he writes this letter to the Colossians, is more than willing to defend his call to the ministry and to set himself as an example to follow as he follows Christ. Could we say the same thing about our lives? We should be willing to have others look at our lives and know that it is about Jesus. We should be able to say with Paul, "Follow me as I follow Christ"!

7/24/2022

Reconciled in Christ:
Last week wqe looked at the preeminence of Jesus Christ; one of the reasons He is the Preeminent One is because He fulfilled the Father's will and, through His death, brought about reconciliation. We'll lay that out a bit more  in this message to grasp, just a bit more, what it is that Jesus accomplished on our behalf.

7/17/2022

The Preeminence of Christ Colossians 1:9-14
Whether it's the book of Colossians or any of the others of Paul's letters, Jesus Christ is always  the central focus.  Our text this morning zeroes in on that very truth and lays out for us just why Jesus Christ is worthy of our praise and service.

7/10/2022

A Declaration of War: 1776 and Today-An Independence Day Message:
As we remember and celebrate the freedoms we have as Americans, let's never forget those who paid a very high price for those freedoms; the final eight words of the Declaration being a covenant that the 56 signers made with one another to give, "Our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor". We must especially remember those Patriot Pastors who led the way! And yet, many years before that, Another gave His all, by Himself, for the freedom of humanity from the bondage of sin; Jesus Christ. As great as the sacrifices were of the colonial Americans to secure our freedoms, none can compare to the sacrifice, nor the freedom gained, of the Lord Jesus!

7/3/2022

Five Benefits We Have in Christ:
Jesus death did a whole lot more than just give us a way to get our ticket to Heaven punched. As a matter of fact, that's only a fringe benefit. His death and resurrection accomplished far more than that. Let's take a look together at what Paul lays out as five benefits we have in Jesus Christ.

6/26/2022

Needed: Godly Men (Or, Boys Will Be Boys Unless You Don't Let Them, Then They'll Be Girls) -A Father's Day Message:
We live in a day of the fatherless child. Many homes have a mom and children, but no dads. Some of these homes may have a man in the house, but he is missing when it comes to being a husband and a father. And it's not just in the world! The church suffers from the same malady! Why is this? And, why is it so important to see this change? What can we do? Let's see what Scripture has to say about all of this.

6/19/2022

Strength For the Journey:
As we continue to look at Paul's letter to the church in Colosse, we will notice that his heart fro them is that they might be "strengthened with all might" as they walk worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ and fulfill the Father's will for them as a church. Let's learn together about this "strength for the journey" that the Apostle Paul prays for believers in Christ.

6/12/2022

Four Encouragements to Hope:
As believers in Jesus Christ we have hope! Even though we are living in this fallen world, we have hope! Though trials and troubles will come our way, we have hope! Pastor Mike Berger encourages us to have hope in Jesus Christ!

6/5/2022

A Memorial Day Sermon: Remember!!:
On this Memorial Day we want to properly honor those who gave their all that we might keep and enjoy the freedoms that we have as Americans. Yet, as much as we are grateful for those freedoms, there is a greater freedom that is found in the sacrifice of One, the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who takes away the sins of the world. So, let us remember!!

5/29/2022

Paul's Prayer for the Colossians-The Knowledge of the Will of God:
As we move into our study of the book Of Colossians, we see that right away Paul prays for these believers. A key part of this prayer is that that would, "be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God". Sounds great! How do we do that? Let's find out together!

5/22/2022

Colossians for 21st Century Christians:
As we begin a study through the book of Colossians, a great question to ask is, "What does Colossians have to say to me in the 21st Century?" This message lays the foundation for our study by answering that question. And the answer is, "A lot!!"

5/15/2022

Preaching in the Last Days: As we see this world becoming more and more lawless and the return of Christ fast approaching, the faithful minister of the Gospel must do one thing, and he must do it with urgency and unapologetically-preach the Word! In this day of itching ears and a sugar-coated gospel we must proclaim the truth of God's Word!

5/1/2022

Jesus Taught Revelation 6 and the Seals:
As we continue our study of end times prophecy, we must notice the correlation between Jesus' teaching in Matthew 24 about the last days and the writing of John in Revelation 6 about the seven seals. If we compare them side by side, we will see that they are both about the same thing! And so, by putting the two together there is much that we can learn and understand.

4/24/2022

Easter Sermon-While It Was Still Dark:
As dawn was approaching, Mary found herself going to the tomb of Jesus "while it was still dark". But the greatest darkness was not that of the early morning hours, it was the darkness of that horrific day just a short time before when Jesus was crucified on a Roman cross. It was the darkness of emotional turmoil at the loss of a dearly loved friend and the confusion of dashed dreams; it was the spiritual darkness of promises unfulfilled and hopes shattered; it was the darkness of physical exhaustion; everything seemed dark now. And yet...! And the same is true for us today. My prayer is that you will find encouragement and hope as you see your darkness torn asunder by the glorious light of the resurrected Christ!

4/17/2022

Here Comes the King! A Palm Sunday message:
On this Palm Sunday we're going to compare two different times when Jesus arrived on the scene. The first will be that day He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as the promised King of Israel. The second arrival we will look at is in the throne room of Heaven as the Father holds out a scroll and, for the moment, John wonders if there is anyone worthy to take and open its seals. This is when Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb, arrives on the scene! We will see many similarities and one significant difference!

4/10/2022

The Day of the Lord:
The Day of the Lord is a topic that is very rarely preached or taught in our day, yet it is of extreme importance to a biblical understanding of the last days! What is the Day of the Lord? Why is it so significant? When does the Day of the Lord occur? How can I know when the Day of the Lord is near? Today's message will hopefully answer some of those questions and more. We must get a grasp of this incredible prophetic event!

3/27/2022

Laying the Groundwork from the Book of Revelation:
As we begin to dig into the study of the last days, I have chosen to use the book of Revelation as the framework upon which we will build. We will not cover every point or verse in Revelation, instead we will use it as the skeleton upon which the body of end times teaching will be developed. This message covers a few points in chapters 1-4 of Revelation with our main focus settling on chapter 5.

3/20/2022

The Mystery of Lawlessness and the Lawless One:
As we look at the world around us, it's pretty obvious that things are beginning to really spin out of control (man's control, not God's). One area in particular seems to have just gone off the rails, and that's the level of lawlessness we see. And what is most alarming is that it's not just in the world that we see it, but in the church, as well. Is this a sign of the times? Is the return of Christ near? How should we as Christians respond to both the world and the Church?

3/13/2022

The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy:
The prophecies of Scripture are some of the greatest proofs to the veracity of Scripture. Yet, many Christians ignore prophecy because they can't understand it or it's too controversial. In this introductory message to end times prophecy we will see that if Jesus Christ is the central focus of the study of prophecy, then we can learn much and be strengthened in our faith.

2/27/2022

A Challenge to the Church in America:
The Church in America has fallen asleep and the society around us considers us irrelevant. The country is now trying to silence the Church completely. The issues of gender equity, racism and BLM, immigration, Critical Race Theory, and many more are not ultimately about bringing down the American government or economic systems of this country, they're about erasing our Judeo-Christian foundation and removing the God of the Bible from public life! The Church MUST wake up and advance the cause of the Gospel in our nation!

2/20/2022

Praying the Heart of God:
As believers, we know that we are to pray according to God's will. But what does that mean? John gives us some very practical advice, with a general principle and then a very specific illustration of what it means. We can know how to pray exactly as God would have us to as we apply John's instruction to our prayer lives.

1/30/2022

Witnesses For Jesus Christ:
John provides us with a very clear picture of the witnesses for the truth of who Jesus Christ is. As he continues to refute the arguments of the Gnostics, he points again and again to the humanity and deity of Jesus.

1/23/2022

Marks of an Overcomer:
Jesus Christ came into this world to do the will of the Father, which was to die for the sins of the world. Once we come to faith in Jesus Christ, we need to realize that He didn't come just to save us from sin and to get us into Heaven. He came that we might live a life of righteousness that overcomes the world, the flesh, and the devil. John gives us the marks of the person who is living that kind of life-a life that honors the Lord Jesus Christ!

1/16/2022

The Importance of Brotherly Love:
John has been very specific and persistent on the topic of love in his eprstle. In today's passage he makes it very clear what it means to love God AND how important it is to love our brothers and sisters in Christ, an important lesson for all of us!

1/2/2022

Looking Back-Looking Ahead:
Even though we live in the present, it's always a good idea to look back at where we came from and to look ahead to where we are going. In this message we will look back at 2021 and ahead to 2022 with an eye on 3 different areas: the church in America, HillCity Church, and the nation. What can we learn from 2021 that we can apply to 2022 in each of these areas and, more importantly, how does Scripture speak to this?

12/26/2021

He Came Once, He's Coming Again!
Jesus Christ came to this earth as a baby. This is a truth that was both prophesied and literally fulfilled. Just as surely, He's coming back again! Let's look at the similarities of these two events and then the striking differences!

12/19/2021

The Scandals of Christmas:
When we look at the lineage of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 1, we notice that grace runs through the whole thing! However, of particular interest is the names of 5 women (women were not normally listed in Jewish genealogies). What can we learn from their stories? Let's find out!

12/12/2021

Christmas: A World at War:
Today we will begin a short series of messages related to the Christmas season. We begin with the fact that Jesus was born into a world that was at war-spiritually. We'll begin in Matthew 1 and then parallel it with Revelation 12 to see this. Then we'll ask the question, "What does this mean for me today?"

12/5/2021

The True Meaning of Hanukkah:
As Hanukkah is being celebrated by Jewish people around the world, as Christian,s what should we think? Pastor Mike Berger shares a Messianic Jewish message on what Hanukkah is and why Christians should rejoice in it!

11/28/2021

When God Can't Be Explained:
Sometimes life seems to make no sense at all! Everything we've depended on has failed and God seems silent. What are we to do? Well, Habakkuk has a great lesson for us in this hymn that is found at the end of his little book. This is a message of hope and encouragement for all who are asking, "Why"?

11/21/2021

Test the Spirits!:
Throughout this whole book John has been warning us of a false gospel and a false profession of faith. He now comes to the revealing of false teachers and prophets. His warning is very direct and dire: false teachers are among you and will deceive people! Therefore, we must test the spirits to see where the teaching is coming from. Is it from God or is it from the spirit of antichrist? and how can we be sure? KNOW THE WORD!!

11/14/2021

The Definition & Value of Brotherly Love:
In our last message we noticed John laying out for us the absolute necessity of brotherly love. In today's text he will give us a definition for this kind of love and he will also display its tremendous value in our lives.

11/7/2021

The Necessity of Brotherly Love:
As John continues to teach us, he constantly takes us to the importance of brotherly love. Here, John points out some very important and necessary truths that we must understand if we are to walk with God.

10/31/2021

The Christian and Sin:
John has been laying out very clearly for us the difference between the child of God and the children of this world. He does this again for us here in our text today. If you were to compare your life towhat John is saying here, what would your life display?

10/24/2021

Living In the Light of Christ's Return:
Someday Jesus Christ will return. Are you ready? John gives us some very clear and necessary instruction on how to live in the shadow of the return of Christ and in preparation of the Judgment Seat, a time of rewards for the believer.

10/10/2021

The Doctrine and Deception of the Antichrist Spirit:
We have been spending some time looking at the antichrist spirit and what it's all about. We end that discussion today with some insight into the doctrine of antichrist and how this spirit is so deceptive. A much needed warning for our day!

10/3/2021

We The People: Special service in Hancock, NY July 24, 2021
"We The People" was a gathering meant to challenge people, especially Christians and pastors, to stand up for truth and liberty. We are seeing a determined effort in our nation to uproot and erase everything that America was built upon and stands for. If we truly value liberty and freedom we must do something! This is the call to that end!

10/2/2021

The Antichrist Spirit:
The Bible clearly teaches that a person will come on the world scene who is called the Antichrist. However, John tells us that the antichrist spirit is already at work in the world and in the church today. John's words are extremely important for us today if we desire tobe true to our Savior and not be deceived by this antichrist spirit!

9/26/2021

The Love That God Hates:
Their is a kind of love that God hates and it'sthe love of the world. As Christians we are to doe to the world and the world to us. This is that system that is under the control of the Evil One. Do you love the things of the world? We need to examine our hearts to see if we love what God hates.

9/19/2021

The Christian and Government:
How are we as citizens of America to repond to our government? What are our responsibilities? Do we have to submit to a government that dishonors God in so many of its laws and actions? Important questions that we will answer as we see what the Bible has to  say to the believer about these issues.

9/12/2021

A Biblical View of Obedience
John has been following a pattern here as we move through his defense of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He now comes to the subject of obedience. The Gnostics believed the flesh was wicked, so obedience didn't matter. John says obedience is the evidence of true bibllical faith. He again shuts down the false teachers.

8/29/2021

A Biblical View of Sin
As John continues his defense of the gospel against the false teachings of the Gnostics, we see him move from the issue of who Jesus Christ is to the need that we all have as sinners. He confronts the topic of sin head on along with the remedy: the Advocate, Jesus Christ Himself!

8/22/2021

A Biblical View of Jesus Christ
As we begin to work throug 1 John, we see that the apostle goes right to the heart of the issue: who is Jesus Christ? Everything hinges on how you answer this question! Jesus said to His disciples, "Who do you say I am?". I would ask you the same question!

8/15/2021

Introduction to 1 John
As we begin a study through the book of 1 John we will start with some introductory material that will help us to understand why John is writing this letter.

8/8/2021

When Troubled Hearts Meet Difficult Circumstances: Part 2
The Bible gives speaks often about our hearts; what does it have to say and how should we respond? If we are going to walk with the Lord in the way He intends, we must have sound, biblical answewrs to these questions. And those answers are given to us in the Word of God.

8/1/2021

When Troubled Hearts Meet Difficult Circumstances: Part 1

7/25/2021

Overcoming Fear
We live in a world of fear! It's all around us and it brings us to a place of despair and ineffectiveness. What if I could tell you that God has given us the answer to fear? Would you be interested? Well, He does! Let's learn together!

7/18/2021

Value Life
What is a life worth? In Psalm 139 we see exactly what a life is worth from God's perspective. You, friend, are fearfully and wonderfully made! God knows everything about you from the moment of you conception because He is the one doing the handiwork! He is creating a masterpiece! (This message was preached to prepare us for a presentation later in the day grom The Haven Crisis Pregnancy Center).

7/11/2021

Is There Not a Cause
The enemy had defied the living God! The troops of the Israeli army trembled in their sandals! Goliath cursed them and their God, not once, but twice a day! And here comes David. He hears the taunts and sees the fear in the eyes of his brothers and their fellow soldiers! Then David boldly asks, "Is there not a cause?". That same question must be asked today! And the answer is a resounding, "YES"! How will you and I respond?

7/4/2021

What's Your Identity?
We live in a day where we are identified by our skin color, gender, or sexuality. It might be our job or our family that we are identified by. But what if I were to ask, "Really, who are you?", how would you answer that question? From God's perspective there are only two identities: "out of Christ" or "in Christ". Now how would you identify yourself and what can you do about it? Let's find out what the Apostle Paul had to say about this in Ephesians chapter 2.

6/27/2021

Remembering the Vision
When I first came to HillCity Church God laid a vision upon my heart for what He had us to do. The statement that sums it up is this, "By God's grace, we will love the unloveable, touch the untouchable, and do the impossible as we grow up in Christ and go out in love". Since I became pastor a full year ago we have seen many new faces come in and so I thought that it was time to revisit the vision.

6/20/2021

The Gospel of NO
Israel was in a bad place. According to verse three of 2 Chronicles 15 they had no idea who the true God was, no one to teach them who God was, and no influence of the Word of God upon them. This last one was the root of the problem and the reason they were facing judgment. The same is true for the church in America today. Many "Bible believing" churches in America today have the same issues. Why? Because thery have forsaken the Word of God for gimmicks and entertainment. The church needs to get back to the centrality of God's Word!

6/13/2021

The Cross is Our Security
As believers in Jesus Christ, our only hope for salvation and sanctification is the cross of Christ. And as believers, the only message we have is Jesus Christ and Him crcified for the sins of the world. Where does your hope lie today?

6/6/2021

What's in a Worldview
How we view the world around us affects every thought, decision, and action we have. Our world today hammers us with its' fleshly, sensuous, anti-God worldview. Are we doing all we can to make sure that our worldview is biblical and honoring to God? Here's the challenge and some answers to make that happen!

5/30/2021

Worship and Our World
Our world needs to see churches that are living out and proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to see being a witness as an act of worship. Will we be that church?

5/23/2021

Worship for a Healthy Church
This week we will continue our thoughts from last week's message on how worship helps to make a church healthy.

5/16/2021

Worship is a Way of Life
As we continue to look at worship, we need to see it as more than just an hour on Sunday morning or simply the time we spend in church. Worship, Scripture bears out very clearly, should be a way of life!

5/9/2021

Worship: Our Highest Priority
We were created for one ultimate purpose-to worship God!

5/2/2021

Defending the Faith Part 2
This is the conclusion to last weeks message on what the faith is that has been given to us and why we must  defend it.

4/25/2021

Defending the Faith Part 1
We live in a day where false teachers and cultists are constantly twisting, redefining, or flat out denying "the faith once delivered to the saints". Jude earnestly challenges us to contend for that faith. He has much to teach us as we defend the faith in our day!

4/18/2021

For Those Who Are His
Our Father has many blessings for those who are His children. Paul puts on display for us, in Romans 8, just a few of those blessings.

4/11/2021

There Is Hope For Failures
We can all relate to Peter. In some way we can see ourselves in so many of his decisions and words. The one we don't like to see ourselves in is his denial of Jesus as He was being tried and eventually crucified. Yet, we fail, we falter, and we deny. But there is hope! And forgiveness! And restoration!

4/4/2021

Grace To Be Like Jesus
We know that we are saved by grace, but what about becoming like Jesus? Isn't that done through our own efforts? I think you might be surprised to find that the grace that saves us is the same grace that sanctifies us!

3/28/2021

Truth Under Attack
We live in a day where truth is considered relative. Your truth is for you and mine is for me. At the trial of Jesus Christ in the First Century A. D., Pontius Pilate asked the question, "What is truth?". Do we dare answer that question and then stand up for the truth?

3/21/2021

Communion and God's Holiness
As we approach the Communion Table we must do so in a way that is worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ. We can be assured of doing this as we consider the holiness of our God. The grace that saves us is the same grace that sanctifies us!

3/14/2021

A Sinner's Hope
The party was going along just fine until "she" showed up. You know, "the sinful woman". And yet her presence brought forth a great truth from the lips of Jesus, "her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Yes, friend, there is hope for sinners like you and me.

3/7/2021

Will You Be A Praying Harvester?
Jesus viewed the crowds with compassion and saw them as "sheep without a shepherd". He has called us to pray that harvesters would be sent into the harvest. The real question is, "Will we be the answer to that prayer?" Will you and I be, "praying harvesters"?

2/28/2021

A Biblical View of Suffering: Part 2
We will continue to look at suffering and what the believers attitude should be when it comes. God has much to say.

2/21/2021

A Biblical View of Suffering Part 1
We don't like to think about suffering, yet it comes to all of us sooner or later. Some of us have suffered much throughout our lives. What does the Bible have to say about suffering and our response to it? Why does God allow suffering when He is more than capable of ending it? Is suffering meant to simply be endured or does God want to do something through it? Hopefully these questions and more will be answered as we work through this 2 part message.

2/14/2021

Jesus' Prayer for Believers
Just before His anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane and agony on the cross we see one of the most intimate moments that Jesus spent with His disciples as He prayed for them and those who would believe through their testimony. There is so much for us to learn as we look at this prayer: the centrality of the cross, the significance of truth, and the seriousness of unity. As we work through this passage we will see exactly what this prayer means for us.

2/7/2021

You Are God's Plan
The message of the cross is not very well accepted in our day. As a matter of fact, by many, it is considered absolute foolishness! And yet it is the message that God has given us to share with the world. And you are His plan to accomplish that! Do you feel weak? Foolish? Unworthy? Then you are just the person God is looking to use! Why? Because then He receives all the glory! Let's look at this passage from 1 Corinthians 1 together and see what God has in store for those He wants to use.

1/31/2021

The Way of Righteousness
Psalm 1 gives us a very straight forward picture of what the life of a blessed person looks like. It reveals to us two people, two paths, and two destinies. Do we want to have a life blessed by God? Look at these two paths and choose the one that leads to life!

1/24/2021

Fear Not...Be Ready!
There is a lot of confusion and misinformation today about the mark of the beast. Is it possible it's out there now? Can I accidentally take the mark? Will God's elect be deceived into taking the mark? Scripture answers these questions, but, more importantly, it answers the ultimate question: how can I be ready? The Bible gives us the answers so that we don't have to be afraid!

1/17/2021

So Great a Salvation
The foundation of our faith is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself! Chapter 1 of Hebrews tells us God has spoken through His Son in these last days. He then follows up with the great salvation that is ours and a challenge to not "drift away" or "neglect" this salvation. That is what this message is about.

1/10/2021

The Old Paths
Leonard Ravenhill once said, "The greatest tragedy in the world today is a sick church in a dying world". And the reason the church is sick is because she has lost her way. God has given us all we need to know to walk with Him and it begins by walking on the correct path. Jeremiah points us in that direction. Let's follow the signposts and get back on the right track!

1/3/2021

God Incarnate
To fully appreciate the significance of Christmas we must understand the truth that Jesus Christ, fully man, was also fully God. John bears this out very clearly, simply, and yet, profoundly in the prologue to his gospel; "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us..."

12/20/2020

Keep On Being Filled With the Spirit
The filling of the Holy Spirit is one of those areas where we might not be real sure of what we mean. And yet I believe it is the most important truth a believer needs to know and understand if we want to live a life worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's look at what the filling of the Spirit is not, what it is, and what it means for you and me today.

12/13/2020

Christmas and Communion
We don't often put Communion and Christmas together, but neither one means anything without the other. The death and resurrection of Christ would have no meaning or significance if the sinless Son of God had not been born, and without the death and resurrection of Christ the manger would have no meaning. The two must go together, hand in hand, for the birth, death, and resurrection to any eternal impact on our lives.

12/6/2020

Look Up, Look In, Look Out
Isaiah had an experience with God that we would all do well to meditate upon! He saw the Lord high and lifted up and it transformed his life! But it began with an upward look to the awesome holiness of God. Will we look up and be changed?

11/29/2020

Understanding a True Thanksgiving
What do you do when Thanksgiving rolls around and it has been one of the most difficult years of your life? Well, according to Habakkuk, you give thanks! Habakkuk knew what it meant for life to be hard, but he chose to rejoice. What can we learn from Habakkuk about true thanksgiving?

11/22/2020

Surviving Perilous Times and Perilous Men
Paul told Timothy that the last days would be perilous and one of the main reasons why would be false teachers. The good news is that Paul not only gave the warning, but the means to overcome: godly teachers and a godly life!

11/15/2020

Don't Lose Heart
We live in a lost and crazy world! We wonder if hope has forsaken our world. I want to remind you, it has not! Jesus is our hope and the apostle Paul tells us how to not lose heart.

11/8/2020

Chasing Sheep
Jesus, our Great Shepherd, has called us to have a heart just like His. When one sheep is lost He goes after it. What is our heart toward the lost and wandering? We need to be about the business of chasing sheep!

11/1/2020

Why Do We Exist Church?
Why is the church on earth today? What is God's ultimate purpose in leaving the church here in the 21st century? If we get this wrong we get everything wrong, so it's of vital importance to understand why the church exists!

10/25/2020

Unanswered Prayer
We pray, we plead, and we promise, yet the answer doesn't come. The heavens are as brass and God's ear seems to be turned from us. Have I sinned? Maybe I'm not even saved! OR...maybe God has something far greater in  mind that what I am asking for. Sometimes unanswered prayer is the greatest answer to prayer God could give us!

10/18/2020

Towel Bearers
Just hours before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion Jesus gave us one of the greatest displays of His love and mission: He washed the feet of His disciples. This was more than just a nice gesture. It was an extravagant teaching moment; a moment for us to embrace. Will we, like Jesus, humble ourselves and serve one another and a lost and dying world?

10/4/2020

Yom Kippur-The Day of Atonement
The holiest day on the Jewish calendar is Yom Kippur-The Day of Atonement. If we, as Christians, looked at it from a New Testament perspective we would be amazed at how Christ fulfilled so much of what happened on that day!

9/27/2020

Rosh Hashannah
Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the Jewish New Year. And yet it has significance for us as Christians as we look back to the Jewish roots of our faith

9/20/2020

Waiting Upon the Lord
God has called us to seek His face. The only possible way to do this is by waiting in His presence. We must be willing to simply rest in Him.

9/13/2020

The Father's Heart
Pastor Mike shares his heart with us as he goes to the story of the prodigal son. Here we see the heart of the Father, as well as the heart that we should have for one another.

9/6/2020

A Call to Return
In Joel chapter 2, God is calling Israel back to Himself. He gives the call, what the return looks like, and the result that can be expected if they obey. He is giving the same call to believers today. And while this promise was made to Israel there are principles for us. Simple question: will we return?

8/30/2020

Baptismal Service
In Romans 6 we are told about our identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. We publicly display this union when we follow Christ in water baptism. Paul also exhorts us to a life of righteousness and submission to Christ

8/23/2020

Characterized By Unity
Jesus has called the church to unity. In verses 1-6 of Ephesians chapter 4 we see how this is possible as He works out His character in us.

8/16/2020

The Mystery Displayed and Prayed
In Ephesians chapter 3 the Apostle Paul explains the giving of and purpose behind the mystery of the church. This mystery was laid out in chapter 2, the uniting of Jew and Gentile into one body. Paul climaxes this chapter by praying that the church would live out this mystery revealed to the glory of God.

7/19/2020

Tear Those Walls Down!
In Ephesians 2 the apostle Paul addresses the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile. He also gives us God's solution to the problem through Jesus Christ. In a day of a deeply divided nation our only hope for reconciliation is found in that same solution, Jesus Christ.

7/12/2020

Casting a Vision
This is a time of new beginnings for HillCity Church. A lot has changed over the few months that our country has been shut down. One of the most significant for HillCity Church is that we have a new pastor! What does God want to do in us and through us? That is the heart of this message.

6/7/2020

What Does Pentecost Mean For Us Today?

5/24/2020

Strength in Weakness
God is able to do His most powerful work through us when we turn to Him in our weakness.

5/17/2020

Victory Through Jesus!
Life is hard. How are we supposed to handle it? Understanding what Jesus has done for us makes the difference!

1/1/2020

No Man Cared For My Soul
There is a lost, broken, and dying world out there. We, as followers of Jesus Christ, need to have compassion for our world even as Jesus did. Will we choose to be those who care for their souls?

1/1/2020

Faith Is the Key
Jesus wants to work In our lives. Will we have the faith to let Him?

1/1/2020

Why Me, God?
When suffering and trials come into our lives, we often ask, "Why, God?"  Maybe we are asking the wrong question.  Maybe we need to look at God's dealings with us through His eyes.  Maybe we need to be asking "What are You doing through this, God?"

1/1/2020

But God!
God is able to step into any situation and change it!

1/1/2020

The Hope of the Resurrection
Our hope as Christians is found in the truth that Jesus has risen from the dead!  Find that hope again today!

1/1/2020

Lawlessness and Revival
We live in a day of lawlessness and the only hope for America is a God ordained revival!

1/1/2020

And They Overcame Him
For centuries Christians have been willing to die for their Savior. In Revelation 12:11 we are given some principles that will guide us to live, and die, as they have.

1/1/2020

Getting Out of Lo-Debar
Are you in a place where it seems that God is not there? Do you feel alone and abandoned? God has not forgotten you! He wants you to come out of Lo Debar to sit at His table!

1/1/2020

Jerusalem: A Cup of Trembling
Jerusalem plays a key role in end times prophecy. This is a sermon that I preached on December 10, 2017, just days after Pres. Trump announced U.S recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. What significance, if any, does this announcement have?

1/1/2020