Hillside Church's Podcast

The most difficult circumstances and seasons to have hope in are the ones where nothing seems to go right. We look at the world around us and it feels like everything is falling apart and certain evils, injustices, and suffering don’t seem to have an end in sight. But Isaiah prophecies of one who can put an end to it all, the one that we can put our hope in, the tender plant. - Pastor Arek O'ConnellSupport the show

This morning we begin getting ready for the arrival (advent) of Jesus on Christmas day.  To help us get our hearts ready to welcome Jesus, we’re going to look at four images from the Bible that help us understand who Jesus is. We start with an image from 1,400 years before Jesus was born—He is the bright Morning Star. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

If someone didn’t know much about Christianity and they asked you to tell them about Jesus, what would you say?  What words would you use to describe Him?  What would you focus on? This morning we’ll listen in to what Paul said about Jesus to people who didn’t know who Jesus was or what Jesus did. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

On this Thanksgiving Day, most of us know we should be grateful. And most of us genuinely want to be grateful. But how do we grow in gratitude? This morning we’ll look at three necessities for growing gratitude. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

Paul and his companions are about to meet some new friends and enemies as they bring the gospel into new territories with new rules. However, God and the gospel message never change. As the gospel begins to challenge and change these new places Paul shows us that even when things get tough, our central commitment is to Christ and the Gospel because the Gospel is central and above everything. - Pastor Arek O'ConnellSupport the show

If we’re disciples of Jesus, we want to be where God wants us to be.  But how do we know where God wants us to be?  How do we know if God wants us to stay where we are or move on to some other place?  This morning we’ll see Paul, Silas, and Timothy struggle with those questions. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

It’s one thing when we disagree.  It happens. But it’s another thing when those disagreements become personal, when we are not talking about an issue or a problem but we are attacking a person.  We might wish we could say that such a thing would never happen among Christians, but this morning we’ll see it happen between two amazing Christian leaders. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

How do we as Christians get along?  We’re not all the same and sometimes, if we’re honest, other Christians can bug us a little (or a lot).  Sometimes they don’t just bug us.  Sometimes we think they’re wrong on some things.  How do we get along when we don’t always see eye to eye?  It’s not always easy, but it is always important that we work at it. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

Paul and Barnabas were extremely excited about what God had done on their mission trip. It seemed like God was clearly at work.  But then some of the believers began to ask questions. Is this really from God? Are the changes that are happening the right ones? Luke tells us that a “sharp dispute and debate” broke out.  Who was right? What was the real issue? And how will the church decide? This morning we’ll think about these questions. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

Paul and his companions are coming to the end of their missionary journey. Paul has traveled far and wide and witnessed the numerous ‘doors of Faith’ God opened to the Gentiles. At the end of his journey, we’re told the church gathers to hear about all the doors of Faith being opened. This morning we’re going to hear similar testimony from our mission partners around the world. - Pastor Arek O'ConnellSupport the show

Paul and Barnabas may have gotten whiplash.  One moment the crowds want to worship them.  The next the crowds are trying to kill them.  This morning we’ll look at the amazing story of how Paul and Barnabas went from heroes to villains in just a few minutes. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

One of the hardest things to do is to try to explain something to someone who already thinks they know everything. They don’t tend to listen very well—after all, they already know everything they need to know. This morning we’ll take a look at a sermon Paul preached to people who thought they knew it all. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

We live in a world where we are taught to be tolerant of everyone. There’s something good about that.  But there are times when “speaking the truth in love” means that we will confront people in the name of Jesus.  This morning we’ll see Saul face one of those times. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

As we kick off a new year of activities and programs, we’ll take some time this morning to listen to what Peter had to say at the end of his second letter. He closes with one final command for all those in the church—Grow!  As followers of Jesus, we are not called to simply hang around until we die and go to heaven. We are called to grow and become more and more like Jesus. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

We’ve been talking about the power of hope.  We’ve seen that hope in Jesus Christ can be an anchor for our souls and the reason we encourage each other. This morning we’ll see how hope can help us to stay faithful as we follow Jesus. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

As we hold onto our anchor of hope, especially during the stormy seasons of life, we all need encouragement at some point or another. We need encouragement from God, but we also need it from one another. Encouragement fuels hope when we need it most, but encouragement doesn’t happen in isolation or in a vacuum. We can only encourage one another how God desires us to when we’ve drawn near to Him while never losing hope. - Pastor Arek O'ConnellSupport the show

For the next three weeks we’re going to look at three different passages in the Letter to the Hebrews, all of them dealing with hope.  This morning we’ll take a look at what the writer of this letter says about how our hope is guaranteed—it is firm and secure—an anchor that will hold during the storms of life. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

Why does God choose to bless me and others? What am I supposed to do with His blessings? How am I supposed to steward them faithfully? The Apostle Paul tells us that the amount, the time, or the recipient ultimately isn’t what matters most when it comes to giving. Our primary objective is to channel the same blessings we’ve received from God unto others. We’re blessed to be a blessing. - Pastor Arek O'ConnellSupport the show

Once we’ve committed to giving to the church on a regular basis, naturally one of the first questions we always ask… “How much?” If I want to follow Christ faithfully, does it mean that I can only do that if I give God 10% of my money? The good news is absolutely not! God doesn’t require you to give 10% of your money, that’s too easy… He wants 100% of your heart first and foremost. - Pastor Arek O'ConnellSupport the show

This Sunday we begin a three-part sermon series on the subject of giving and stewardship. One of the first questions we or others may ask when it comes to this subject is “what right does anyone, God included, have to tell me how to spend my money, time, and resources?” As we look through the Creation account of Genesis, we’ll see that God has the right because God who owns everything, generously provides so that we can flourish and bless others. - Pastor Arek O'ConnellSupport the show