Orchard Hill Church

It was a gathering! Jesus and his disciples had arrived at the home of his friend, Martha, and she was getting things ready for her guests. What hostess wouldn’t want to have things in order? Instead of experiencing the joy of having friends in her home, Martha was “distracted” by everything going on around her (Luke 10:40). Literally, the word for distracted means “pulled apart.” At the same time Martha’s sister, Mary, had a different response. Jesus said of the moment, “few things are needed… indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Martha was pulled apart by the many things, but Mary chose the one thing - the better way. Leighton Ford says that distraction can “split us down the middle” and even “divide us against ourselves!” Distraction pulls us away from ourselves, our friends, our families and away from God. The distracted life is marked by anxiety, hurry and frantic activity. In this series we want to explore the temptation of distraction, an

It was a gathering! Jesus and his disciples had arrived at the home of his friend, Martha, and she was getting things ready for her guests. What hostess wouldn’t want to have things in order? Instead of experiencing the joy of having friends in her home, Martha was “distracted” by everything going on around her (Luke 10:40). Literally, the word for distracted means “pulled apart.” At the same time Martha’s sister, Mary, had a different response. Jesus said of the moment, “few things are needed… indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Martha was pulled apart by the many things, but Mary chose the one thing - the better way. Leighton Ford says that distraction can “split us down the middle” and even “divide us against ourselves!” Distraction pulls us away from ourselves, our friends, our families and away from God. The distracted life is marked by anxiety, hurry and frantic activity. In this series we want to explore the temptation of distraction, an

It was a gathering! Jesus and his disciples had arrived at the home of his friend, Martha, and she was getting things ready for her guests. What hostess wouldn’t want to have things in order? Instead of experiencing the joy of having friends in her home, Martha was “distracted” by everything going on around her (Luke 10:40). Literally, the word for distracted means “pulled apart.” At the same time Martha’s sister, Mary, had a different response. Jesus said of the moment, “few things are needed… indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Martha was pulled apart by the many things, but Mary chose the one thing - the better way. Leighton Ford says that distraction can “split us down the middle” and even “divide us against ourselves!” Distraction pulls us away from ourselves, our friends, our families and away from God. The distracted life is marked by anxiety, hurry and frantic activity. In this series we want to explore the temptation of distraction, an

As a church on a mission together – how do we know when our mission is succeeding? Is it when attendance grows? Or when our general offering meets the budget? How about when we add another campus? As someone trying to following Jesus - how do you know you’re actually following him? How do you know it’s working? If we’re going to accomplish a mission together, it’s really important that we know in advance how we’ll determine when it’s being accomplished. We need to understand the “marks” of success. To answer this question we’ve developed a set of Missional Marks. Missional marks represent the outcomes we expect to be experienced by anyone who joins the mission God has given to Orchard Hill Church. What’s more – we think these marks are the measure for the life we all really want to live. For us – success is marked by the following 5 marks present and growing in individual’s lives and the life of our church as a whole: 1. We are receiving God’s love and identifying as His beloved children 2. We are Loving

As a church on a mission together – how do we know when our mission is succeeding? Is it when attendance grows? Or when our general offering meets the budget? How about when we add another campus? As someone trying to following Jesus - how do you know you’re actually following him? How do you know it’s working? If we’re going to accomplish a mission together, it’s really important that we know in advance how we’ll determine when it’s being accomplished. We need to understand the “marks” of success. To answer this question we’ve developed a set of Missional Marks. Missional marks represent the outcomes we expect to be experienced by anyone who joins the mission God has given to Orchard Hill Church. What’s more – we think these marks are the measure for the life we all really want to live. For us – success is marked by the following 5 marks present and growing in individual’s lives and the life of our church as a whole: 1. We are receiving God’s love and identifying as His beloved children 2. We are Loving

As a church on a mission together – how do we know when our mission is succeeding? Is it when attendance grows? Or when our general offering meets the budget? How about when we add another campus? As someone trying to following Jesus - how do you know you’re actually following him? How do you know it’s working? If we’re going to accomplish a mission together, it’s really important that we know in advance how we’ll determine when it’s being accomplished. We need to understand the “marks” of success. To answer this question we’ve developed a set of Missional Marks. Missional marks represent the outcomes we expect to be experienced by anyone who joins the mission God has given to Orchard Hill Church. What’s more – we think these marks are the measure for the life we all really want to live. For us – success is marked by the following 5 marks present and growing in individual’s lives and the life of our church as a whole: 1. We are receiving God’s love and identifying as His beloved children 2. We are Loving

As a church on a mission together – how do we know when our mission is succeeding? Is it when attendance grows? Or when our general offering meets the budget? How about when we add another campus? As someone trying to following Jesus - how do you know you’re actually following him? How do you know it’s working? If we’re going to accomplish a mission together, it’s really important that we know in advance how we’ll determine when it’s being accomplished. We need to understand the “marks” of success. To answer this question we’ve developed a set of Missional Marks. Missional marks represent the outcomes we expect to be experienced by anyone who joins the mission God has given to Orchard Hill Church. What’s more – we think these marks are the measure for the life we all really want to live. For us – success is marked by the following 5 marks present and growing in individual’s lives and the life of our church as a whole: 1. We are receiving God’s love and identifying as His beloved children 2. We are Loving

Once a year in the fall, we join all of our campus locations and worship together at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center on the UNI campus. Join us as we kick off a great year of ministry!

Jesus was the wisest man who ever lived. Parables - stories Jesus’ told to provoke new thought and new ways of living - were one of the primary ways he imparted truth to the world around him. He often taught in parables to people who already thought they knew the truth; who already believed they were living “God’s way;” who believed they knew God’s heart and character. It is difficult to teach those who already think they know. Thus, Jesus used arresting stories about everyday life to shock his listeners into seeing God, reality and life in a new way. The brilliant thing about Jesus’ parables is that though the truths they contain are timeless and deep, most could be understood by the ordinary men and women of his day. At the same time, we can never plumb their depths. However, the purpose of parables was never mere head-knowledge, but always action; always a new way of living in light of who God is and who we are. Parables were (and still are) invitations into life in the Kingdom of God. We are excited t

Jesus was the wisest man who ever lived. Parables - stories Jesus’ told to provoke new thought and new ways of living - were one of the primary ways he imparted truth to the world around him. He often taught in parables to people who already thought they knew the truth; who already believed they were living “God’s way;” who believed they knew God’s heart and character. It is difficult to teach those who already think they know. Thus, Jesus used arresting stories about everyday life to shock his listeners into seeing God, reality and life in a new way. The brilliant thing about Jesus’ parables is that though the truths they contain are timeless and deep, most could be understood by the ordinary men and women of his day. At the same time, we can never plumb their depths. However, the purpose of parables was never mere head-knowledge, but always action; always a new way of living in light of who God is and who we are. Parables were (and still are) invitations into life in the Kingdom of God. We are excited

Jesus was the wisest man who ever lived. Parables - stories Jesus’ told to provoke new thought and new ways of living - were one of the primary ways he imparted truth to the world around him. He often taught in parables to people who already thought they knew the truth; who already believed they were living “God’s way;” who believed they knew God’s heart and character. It is difficult to teach those who already think they know. Thus, Jesus used arresting stories about everyday life to shock his listeners into seeing God, reality and life in a new way. The brilliant thing about Jesus’ parables is that though the truths they contain are timeless and deep, most could be understood by the ordinary men and women of his day. At the same time, we can never plumb their depths. However, the purpose of parables was never mere head-knowledge, but always action; always a new way of living in light of who God is and who we are. Parables were (and still are) invitations into life in the Kingdom of God. We are excited to

Jesus was the wisest man who ever lived. Parables - stories Jesus’ told to provoke new thought and new ways of living - were one of the primary ways he imparted truth to the world around him. He often taught in parables to people who already thought they knew the truth; who already believed they were living “God’s way;” who believed they knew God’s heart and character. It is difficult to teach those who already think they know. Thus, Jesus used arresting stories about everyday life to shock his listeners into seeing God, reality and life in a new way. The brilliant thing about Jesus’ parables is that though the truths they contain are timeless and deep, most could be understood by the ordinary men and women of his day. At the same time, we can never plumb their depths. However, the purpose of parables was never mere head-knowledge, but always action; always a new way of living in light of who God is and who we are. Parables were (and still are) invitations into life in the Kingdom of God. We are excited to

Jesus was the wisest man who ever lived. Parables - stories Jesus’ told to provoke new thought and new ways of living - were one of the primary ways he imparted truth to the world around him. He often taught in parables to people who already thought they knew the truth; who already believed they were living “God’s way;” who believed they knew God’s heart and character. It is difficult to teach those who already think they know. Thus, Jesus used arresting stories about everyday life to shock his listeners into seeing God, reality and life in a new way. The brilliant thing about Jesus’ parables is that though the truths they contain are timeless and deep, most could be understood by the ordinary men and women of his day. At the same time, we can never plumb their depths. However, the purpose of parables was never mere head-knowledge, but always action; always a new way of living in light of who God is and who we are. Parables were (and still are) invitations into life in the Kingdom of God. We are excited to

Jesus was the wisest man who ever lived. Parables - stories Jesus’ told to provoke new thought and new ways of living - were one of the primary ways he imparted truth to the world around him. He often taught in parables to people who already thought they knew the truth; who already believed they were living “God’s way;” who believed they knew God’s heart and character. It is difficult to teach those who already think they know. Thus, Jesus used arresting stories about everyday life to shock his listeners into seeing God, reality and life in a new way. The brilliant thing about Jesus’ parables is that though the truths they contain are timeless and deep, most could be understood by the ordinary men and women of his day. At the same time, we can never plumb their depths. However, the purpose of parables was never mere head-knowledge, but always action; always a new way of living in light of who God is and who we are. Parables were (and still are) invitations into life in the Kingdom of God. We are excited to

Jesus was the wisest man who ever lived. Parables - stories Jesus’ told to provoke new thought and new ways of living - were one of the primary ways he imparted truth to the world around him. He often taught in parables to people who already thought they knew the truth; who already believed they were living “God’s way;” who believed they knew God’s heart and character. It is difficult to teach those who already think they know. Thus, Jesus used arresting stories about everyday life to shock his listeners into seeing God, reality and life in a new way. The brilliant thing about Jesus’ parables is that though the truths they contain are timeless and deep, most could be understood by the ordinary men and women of his day. At the same time, we can never plumb their depths. However, the purpose of parables was never mere head-knowledge, but always action; always a new way of living in light of who God is and who we are. Parables were (and still are) invitations into life in the Kingdom of God. We are excited to

Jesus was the wisest man who ever lived. Parables - stories Jesus’ told to provoke new thought and new ways of living - were one of the primary ways he imparted truth to the world around him. He often taught in parables to people who already thought they knew the truth; who already believed they were living “God’s way;” who believed they knew God’s heart and character. It is difficult to teach those who already think they know. Thus, Jesus used arresting stories about everyday life to shock his listeners into seeing God, reality and life in a new way. The brilliant thing about Jesus’ parables is that though the truths they contain are timeless and deep, most could be understood by the ordinary men and women of his day. At the same time, we can never plumb their depths. However, the purpose of parables was never mere head-knowledge, but always action; always a new way of living in light of who God is and who we are. Parables were (and still are) invitations into life in the Kingdom of God. We are excited to

Jesus was the wisest man who ever lived. Parables - stories Jesus’ told to provoke new thought and new ways of living - were one of the primary ways he imparted truth to the world around him. He often taught in parables to people who already thought they knew the truth; who already believed they were living “God’s way;” who believed they knew God’s heart and character. It is difficult to teach those who already think they know. Thus, Jesus used arresting stories about everyday life to shock his listeners into seeing God, reality and life in a new way. The brilliant thing about Jesus’ parables is that though the truths they contain are timeless and deep, most could be understood by the ordinary men and women of his day. At the same time, we can never plumb their depths. However, the purpose of parables was never mere head-knowledge, but always action; always a new way of living in light of who God is and who we are. Parables were (and still are) invitations into life in the Kingdom of God. We are excited to

Jesus was the wisest man who ever lived. Parables - stories Jesus’ told to provoke new thought and new ways of living - were one of the primary ways he imparted truth to the world around him. He often taught in parables to people who already thought they knew the truth; who already believed they were living “God’s way;” who believed they knew God’s heart and character. It is difficult to teach those who already think they know. Thus, Jesus used arresting stories about everyday life to shock his listeners into seeing God, reality and life in a new way. The brilliant thing about Jesus’ parables is that though the truths they contain are timeless and deep, most could be understood by the ordinary men and women of his day. At the same time, we can never plumb their depths. However, the purpose of parables was never mere head-knowledge, but always action; always a new way of living in light of who God is and who we are. Parables were (and still are) invitations into life in the Kingdom of God. We are exc

Jesus was the wisest man who ever lived. Parables - stories Jesus’ told to provoke new thought and new ways of living - were one of the primary ways he imparted truth to the world around him. He often taught in parables to people who already thought they knew the truth; who already believed they were living “God’s way;” who believed they knew God’s heart and character. It is difficult to teach those who already think they know. Thus, Jesus used arresting stories about everyday life to shock his listeners into seeing God, reality and life in a new way. The brilliant thing about Jesus’ parables is that though the truths they contain are timeless and deep, most could be understood by the ordinary men and women of his day. At the same time, we can never plumb their depths. However, the purpose of parables was never mere head-knowledge, but always action; always a new way of living in light of who God is and who we are. Parables were (and still are) invitations into life in the Kingdom of God. We are exc

God is present and active in our lives and the world around us always. He wants us to know Him intimately and to know what He’s up to in this world. But He never intended for our relationship with Him to be one-sided. He’s also given us some great ways to RESPOND to Him so that our relationship can grow. God invites us to: Just “get to God” and sit with Him “Trust” Him when life catches us by surprise or disappoints us “Serve” Him by knowing and using the strengths, talents and spiritual gifts He’s given to us “Worship” Him as our hearts and minds are filled with knowledge and understanding of God Have good conversations with Him through “Prayer” This series is being led by teachers from our student ministry team. Not only will it challenge, encourage and inspire you to consider how to “respond” to God, but it also will give you a glimpse into the high caliber, relevant Biblical teaching our students are hearing on a weekly basis at CHAOS, Big House, and BASIC.