PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH: Recent Episodes
PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH
Beginning in 1 John 3:11 we are looking at the true definition of love. Love is displayed first by the work of Jesus on the cross and is lived out in our lives by loving others.The post Love Matters (1 John 3:11-24) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In this passage John is reminding his readers and those of us today, that we are to reflect the characteristics of our Heavenly Father, to whose family we belong. These traits include righteousness, and love.The post Family Traits (1 John 2:28-3:10) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Guest speaker and former PHCC Youth Director, Pastor Joel Sisson reminds us from 1 John that we are to continue faithfully living the gospel despite challenges.The post Words of Enouragement and Warning (1 John 1:12-27) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
John minces no words to remind his audience that if we claim to have a relationship with Jesus, we need to live a life that reflects that relationship, beginning with how we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ.The post Safe People, Safe Community (1 John 2:3-11) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In this section of 1 John, we are reminded that we all need the atoning work of Jesus Christ for our salvation and the forgiveness of God when we mess up and sin.The post No Perfect People (1 John 1:5-2:2) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In these opening verses of 1 John, we are introduced to the reality of Jesus and the importance of living our shared life in Jesus.The post It’s Always About Jesus (1 John 1:1-4) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Sometimes it is in the very familiar Bible stories that we learn new lessons. This story gives us some lessons on faith as we approach a new year.The post Check the back of the boat (Mark 4:35-41) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
On the fourth Sunday of Advent we focus on Love. Pastor Scott opens the Word of God to focus on the fact that God is the one who initiated Love to us.The post Love That Lasts (1 John 4:9-12) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
The Angels announced good news of great joy. Jesus promised to give complete joy. Today we consider what real joy is and how to find it.The post Real Joy (Luke 2:8-11; John 15:9-13) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
This sermon examines several key passages that reveal the depth of peace we have in Jesus Christ. We discover that Peace on Earth is not just a wish for the Christ follower; it is a reality.The post Peace on Earth (Isa 9:6; Luke 2:14; John 14:27) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Hope for the one who trusts God is more than a wish or a dream. It is a certain expectation that God will do what God has promised. On this first Sunday of Advent we rest in the hope we have as promised in the birth of Jesus Christ, who came to die that we might live.The post Hope for All (Isaiah 40) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Nehemiah discovers that all the reforms instituted after the completion of the project were not followed. Sometimes all we can do as leaders is our best, and then we trust God with the results.The post Leading when others don’t (Nehemiah 13) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Using Jeremiah’s words from Lamentations 3:19-26 Pastor Scott leads us to lament the sudden passing of one of our Elders and a dear brother in Christ.The post Our Lament – God’s Faithfulness (Lamentations 3:19-26) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Nehemiah quietly leads the people of Israel to commit to rebuilding their spiritual character as they promise to follow God’s Law. We learn that God is concerned about our character more than any accomplishment.The post Committing to Spiritual Character (Nehemiah10) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
From the example of the people in Jerusalem in Nehemiah 9, we discover that the best response to God’s character as seen in the Bible is to be humbly contrite as we adjust to His Holy standard.The post Responding to the Character of God (Nehemiah 9) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Listening to the Word of God read at length laid the foundation for the people of Israel to look deeply and consider the changes needed to align with God’s truth.The post God’s Word and Change (Nehemiah 7 & 8) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Nehemiah reveals the foundational realities in his life as his reliance on God in complete faith, also provides him with a strength of character.The post Foundations of Godly Leadership (Nehemiah 6:1-7:3) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Nehemiah shows us how a godly leader leads through crisis and maintains unity when faced with an internal crisis that could de-rail the whole project.The post Crisis Management appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Facing an imminent threat of opposition from outside forces surrounding Jerusalem, Nehemiah gives us an example of leading through difficult times.The post Leading through difficult times (Nehemiah 4) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
From goldsmiths, to perfumers, to priests and many others, we can learn some important leadership lessons as we survey the builders of the wall in Jerusalem.The post Lessons from a Construction Site (Nehemiah 3) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
As Nehemiah implements the plan that God has laid on his heart, he realizes that any success he has as a leader is due only to the gracious hand of God. We each need to look through this lens as we evaluate our lives.The post The Gracious Hand of God (Nehemiah 2) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In the opening chapter of Nehemiah, we discover four characteristics that help us understand the heart of a leader and how God is at the center of it all.The post The Heart of a Leader (Nehemiah 1) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In his final teaching in Matthew before going to the cross. Jesus points to the fact that faith is both a heart reality and an action reality as we care for the “least of these” in real and practical ways.The post Compassionate Kingdom Living (Mt 25:31-46) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
The final parable Jesus speaks in Matthew uses first-century business practices to teach us how to live responsibly for the Kingdom of Heaven now.The post Kingdom Living in Responsible Readiness appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Using the backdrop of a Jewish wedding celebration, Jesus teaches about the importance of being ready for his some day return.The post Kingdom Living in Relational Readiness (Matthew 25:1-13; 1 Peter 4 & 5) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In a parable that is unique to Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus shows us the heart of God who does not let human priority structures govern how he operates.The post “Gratitude, Service & Commitment in the Kingdom (Mt. 20.1-28) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In a very familiar account, we find Jesus, calling us to a life of dependency on Him, and in the process changing our value systems. There can be no obstacles to our commitment to following Jesus.The post An Obstacle to Living the Kingdom (Mt 19:16-30) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Through a stunning parable, Jesus answers Peter’s question about forgiveness, and in so doing leaves all of us with many things to think about in our own lives.The post A Kingdom Community – part 3 (Matthew 18:21-35) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Jesus reminds us by a brief story and then some instructions, that a restoring community in which each one is valued best reflects the heart of God for his called out people, the Church.The post A Kingdom Community – part 2 (Matthew 18:12-20) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In Part 1 of a three part mini-series we discover some key characteristics that should be part of any gathering of Christ followers.The post A Kingdom Community Part 1 (Mt 18:1-14) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In response to Peter’s answer to a most important question by Jesus, we discover who the King is, what his mission is, and what our role in the mission is.The post Living the Kingdom; Knowing the King (Mt 16:13-27) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
As we consider a very familiar account in the Gospel of Matthew, we discover a very practical lesson regarding daily consistent faith as we follow Jesus.”.The post Living the Kingdom of Heaven in Consistent Faith (Mt. 14:22-36) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In two very brief parables Jesus turns our value system upside down.The post The Value of the Kingdom (Mt 13:44-52) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In one longer parable and two brief parables Jesus provides for us word pictures for living the Kingdom now in a less than friendly environment.The post Living the Kingdom in a less than Friendly World (Mt 13:24-43) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In the first parable recorded in Matthew, Jesus uses a familiar word picture to challenge his listeners to consider carefully the condition of their hearts.The post It’s About the Heart (Mt 13:1-23) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We can learn a great deal about living the Kingdom of Heaven now as we see the interaction between Jesus and the religious leaders. What traditions may have gotten in your way as you strive to follow Jesus? What will you do to change them?The post The Priority of Compassion (Matthew 12:1-14) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In a rebuke, a prayer, and an invitation, Jesus gives us a frame work for what it looks like to live responsibly in the Kingdom of Heaven, now.The post Responsibility and Rest (Matthew 11:20-30) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We begin a new sermon series entitled “Living the Kingdom of Heaven…Now.” In this sermon we define the Kingdom of Heaven as used in Matthew’s gospel and we look at some characteristics that should define each of us who claim to follow Jesus.The post Kingdom Apprentices appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In the final two word pictures of the Sermon on the Mount we are reminded that we need to do the right things with the right heart.The post Divine Roadmap (part 2 Mt.7:21-27) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In what may be called the epilogue of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus challenges his listeners and us with choices.The post Divine Road Map (part 1 Matthew 5:13-20) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We all know what it is like to deal with difficult people. As representatives of our Heavenly Father, we need discernment to know how to live in a godly way. It is not easy. We also have a God who knows what we need and implores us to ask him for our needs and learn to wait on his provision. Discernment is part of daily living in God’s Kingdom as we build relationships.The post Kingdom Living in Relationship (Mt 7:6-12) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
The old saying goes, “We don’t like in others, what we don’t like in ourselves.” Jesus reminds us in a very clear and even humorous way that when we judge others unfairly, we end up looking foolish, and we take over what God has reserved for himself. We need wisdom to know when to critique another, when to be quiet, and when to focus on our own issues.The post Watch Out For Sawdust (Mt. 7:1-6) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We all want to live our best life now. In this very familiar passage we discover that it is when we trust fully that God is willing and able to meet our needs that we can live a life that is focused, unhurried, and satisfying. It truly can be our best life now.The post Kingdom Investment Strategy pt. 2 (Mt. 6:25-34) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Someone has said, “What you own eventually owns you.” There is some truth to that statement. Consider carefully that which you think is valuable. How does it help you now? What difference will it make in your quality of life next month? We have a human tendency to hold on to our stuff. God has a better plan but it requires a change of heart.The post Kingdom Investment Strategy (pt 1 Mt 6:19-24) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Second chances. We have all needed them at some time or another. In the story of Peter, we discover that the risen, living Jesus Christ is a forgiving, Lord and Savior. His mercy is wide, his grace has no boundaries; his forgiveness is complete. On this Resurrection Sunday we celebrate our God who gives us second chances, and more.The post “Second Chances” (Mark 16:7) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
There are times in our lives when our focus just seems to be sharper. We are more aware of our surroundings, more aware of what is important, more aware of our closest relationships. It seems this was the case with Jesus from his triumphal ride into Jerusalem until his death on calvary. As we look at the focus of Jesus, may we consider how we can sharpen our focus in our daily lives.The post A Sharper Focus: Word Pictures from Palm Sunday appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Followers of Jesus exercise various disciplines as an expression of their inner relationship with Jesus. They don’t always parade their efforts on a proverbial stage for the world because God is their audience. Jesus challenges us to check our motives for why we do what we do.The post Check your motives (Matthew 6:1-18) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We all have people who do not care for us. In fact some may actively oppose us. Jesus reminds us, that as people who are characterized as Christ Followers, we are to not attack or just tolerate our enemies, we are to love them and pray for them. Just as God’s grace is evident in their lives whether they recognize it our not, our grace and proactive love should also be on display as we interact with them.The post Loving our Enemies (Matthew 5:43-48) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Conventional wisdom says: “If they hit you; hit them back harder.” On the one hand we can understand the desire to protect ourselves. But on the other hand, Jesus gives us a completely different way of living in the world. When we are confident in who we are in Jesus, there is a grace that stirs curiosity in others and gives us a strength to manage difficult times. (We apologize for the poor audio quality for the first 10 minutes.)The post Persons of Peace (Matthew 5:38-42) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
This part of the Sermon on the Mount deals with the issue of integrity. God expects us, as followers of Jesus to say what we mean and mean what we say and work through the challenges. When we are people of integrity, we can set an example for others in our sphere of influence.The post The Necessity of Integrity (Matthew 5:33-37) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We seem to bombarded from all sides with images, lyrics, and entertainment that challenges any standard of purity. Godly purity is reflected in the mindset that holds that each person is a person of dignity and not an object. In a very stunning way we are reminded in this passage that any godly standard of purity begins in the heart and we are each responsible to pursue it. Godly purity impacts our most important human relationships.The post Godly Purity: Authentic Relationships (Mt 5:27-32) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
It seems that we live in an increasingly angry society. With instances mass shootings, road rage, and retaliation, on the rise, many people seem deeply frustrated. Sometimes people will use the excuse that they have never killed anyone as a way to justify their anger. Jesus holds those of us who follow him to a higher standard. Since we are to be peacemakers, who exude meekness, it seems that we need to make sure we are dealing with our inner person in a way that helps us reflect outwardly the truth of a God who is love.The post Anger Management God’s Way (Matthew 5:21-26) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We all have standards or values by which we live. We all have a desire that others see us as being real, or genuine or authentic. No one really likes a hypocrite. Jesus challenged his listeners to have a standard that was so high that it was greater than that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law. How can this be? How can one be better than perceived perfection? Keep in mind outward perfection is not always a reflection of inward realities.The post Extreme Righteousness (Matthew 5:17-20) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
The old adage is, “You may be the first Bible another person reads.” The idea is that our actions do speak and they speak loudly. Among the many qualities of salt and light, one is that they both make a difference. But they both must be used properly. Every day we each should take stock of what people think about God as a result of watching our lives.The post Make a Difference (Matt. 5:13-16) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
One of the unique realities about following Jesus is that we discover that who we are on the inside, should drive what we do on the outside. The core values of the Beatitudes are truly internal characteristics but we cannot separate them from behavior. These core values even dictate how we respond when we face challenges from others as we follow Jesus.The post Core Values of A Christ Follower – Matt 5:7-12 (Part 2) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Every person has a set of values. Every person has a standard or a code by which they live. The question that we each have to ask is what is the source of my values? For some the culture or sub-culture in which they live defines the standards. For those who claim to follow Jesus, he must be the one who establishes our values. The eight characteristics listed in Matthew 5:1-12 are the values that we each should make as part of our daily lives. They are internal characteristics that have external impact.The post Core Values of a Christ Follower Mt. 5:1-6 (part 1) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
It seems that unity is in short supply this Christmas season. We see disunity taken to its extreme in the armed conflicts around our world. We see disunity in our government. We sadly can sometimes see disunity in our families and even our churches. What did Jesus mean when he prayed for all who believe to be one as he and the Father are one? How can we take the faux unity that happens at Christmas and be examples of true unity after the manger?The post Life After the Manger: Living in Unity appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Abundance. Having enough. Being satisfied. These are the sentiments of a full life. It seems that when we think in terms of abundance we think in terms of that which is tangible. Is it possible to have a full life and yet not have any of the trappings of a consumerist culture. We will explore what Jesus meant by giving life to the full or in abundance.The post Life after the Manger: Living to the Full (John 10) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
This is the season of light. We decorate with lights. Our Jewish friends are celebrating Hannukah which is a time that commemorates a miracle of light. What does it mean to live a life that is illuminated by the reality of Jesus? How do we live in the light and as a light long after we have put all the decorations and the lights away for another year? Living in the light is truly a life lived by faith.The post Living Life as a Light (John 8:12; 12:44-50) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
This season is so often called a time of love and kindness and giving. And yet all too often our acts of love are tainted by conditions. How often do we feel that we need to give someone a gift to “repay” them for the gift they gave us? Life after the manger is a life best lived in true selfless love as we love others the way our God loves us.The post Living Out True Love (1 John 4:7-12) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
God has a plan. God has always had a plan. Throughout the Old Testament we see God preserving His Covenant promises and preparing the nation for the Messiah. Ruth and Boaz are the great-grand parents of David. Matthew chapter 1 reveals to us that Jesus is from the line of David which ran through Ruth and Boaz. God always has a plan. And in the grand plan of God, He still sees you.The post Act 4 – A Bigger Plan (Ruth 4) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Cultures change. Customs change. In what is arguably the most unique “proposal” in the Bible, we find several realities in play. Trust, vulnerability, grace, compassion, and kindness all display themselves in this most strange proposal and the response.The post Act 3 – A Strange Proposal (Ruth 3) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
God is always at work. Sometimes we are very much aware of his work. Yet other times we discover after the fact that God was working behind the scenes. Some have called this God’s Divine Orchestration. As we continue the four part drama of the book of Ruth we discover God’s Divine Orchestration, in the routine of life.The post Act 2 – Divine Orchestration (Ruth 2) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
As we begin a four-part series today we are introduced to our main characters in this story. In the midst of what was a tragic and impossible situation, we find Ruth willing to forsake everything she knew in order to care for her mother-in-law, Naomi. We don’t know what Ruth knew about the God of Israel, but we see in her character and her choices a person of faithful commitment.The post Act 1 – Faithful Commitment (Ruth 1) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
How do we live in a way that reflects the 9 characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit? That is the real question. What does it mean to crucify the flesh? The answer to this is not as hard or as complex as some may make it. We need to walk stride for stride in life with the Holy Spirit. But we have to make that choice and we have to determine to do so daily. Keeping in step with the Spirit will change your life and it is a daily choice.The post Keep In Step (Galatians 5:24-26) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
A person who is out of control is a dangerous person. And person who shows little self-restraint is a danger to themselves and others. The final aspect of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control. The ability to control one’s passion, to keep in check one’s desires is an ability that requires super-natural power. When we show self-control we are putting the Spirit of God in our lives on display. We are leaving room for God to work in us and through us.The post Keep it in check (Galatians 5:23) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Gentleness, mildness, humility. These descriptors are not the stuff of cultural
heroes. These descriptors will not get one a starting position on an athletic
team and may not help one climb the corporate ladder. But they are the stuff of
our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. When we understand the power we have
and the character strength it takes to control that power we are
aware of the need to be under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit in our
lives..The post The Power of Gentle Humility (Galatians 5:23) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Who do you trust? Who do you know that will tell you the truth and stick with you when the truth is hard? Who do you know who has been faithful to you? Each of us should desire to be that person. When we are faithful we help others to have confidence and assurance. Faithfulness points others to a God who has promised to never leave or forsake us.The post Faithful to the End (Galatians 5:22) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Coupled with kindness is the characteristic of being good. To be good in this passage, not only means to be nice, polite, and helpful; but it is a character trait that reflects a heart of generosity. One thing about our God is that he is generous. Out of his love, he gave his Son so that by believing in his Son we might have life. We will consider what it means to exercise godly goodness and generosity.The post Goodness is for Everyone (Galatians 5:22) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Some say that social media has opened the door for a growing lack of civility in our culture. But the reality is that the lack of civility was already there and social media just gave it a broader platform. God’s people are to be kind, which includes being honest, doing the right thing, having a heart of benevolence. When kindness is present in our lives and in our interactions we do make a difference.The post Kindness: Reflecting God’s Character (Gal. 5:22) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We live in an impatient world. We want our Amazon delivery to come in 24 hours, but it’s even better if it arrives in a matter of hours. The lottery promotions tell us we can have it all now…if we win. There is a maturity to being patient. There is a healthy perspective in knowing what is worth waiting for. It is interesting that this characteristic follows that of peace. Maybe there is a connection.The post Patience…Now! (Galatians 5:22) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Peace is the third aspect of the fruit of the Spirit. It is a characteristic that comes directly from God. It is a characteristic that gives us strength and hope. Jesus told us that the peacemakers are blessed. We will discover the true nature of peace and how it reflects the Holy Spirit who indwells us.The post The Blessing of Peace (Galatians 5:22-23) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Joy is one of those words that we tend to either ignore or some over do it. What is joy? How do I get it? How do I keep it? How can I be joyful when I am hurt, or grieving, or struggling to figure life out. Since joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit, then it will help all of us to have a greater understanding of how to discover and grow in this area and discover why the joy of the Lord is our strength.The post The Strength of Joy (Galatians 5:22) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
There are nine aspects or characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit. The foundational characteristic is love. We will define love as used in the Bible and look at several characteristics of love that reflect the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We will discover that love is more than an emotion
The post Love is the Key (Galatians 5:22) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
As we open this series we will begin with defining freedom as Paul does in Galatians and get some background of the letter. We will also look briefly at the characteristics that are the complete opposite of the Fruit of The Spirit. We need to understand where not to go so we can more fully […]
The post Freedom within Boundaries (Galatians 5) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
What is your dream? If you could do anything you wanted for God what would it be? Believe it or not God has created and equipped you and placed you exactly where He wants you at this time. In God’s grace we can think about what we would want to do for God. It is […]
The post Grace is the Key part 2 (Romans 15:22-33) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Rarely do any of us really feel we are “good enough?” We have too much experience and too many voices in our past and our present that remind us how far we fall short of some elusive level of perfection. We all need God’s grace. We need to know that God makes us enough for […]
The post Grace is the Key (part 1 – Romans 15:14-21) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
If I could only see a picture. If there were only a video. It seems when we have an example to follow it is easier to achieve the goal. In this section we have the prime example of unselfishness. As we look at Jesus and at how he accepts us as we are with all […]
The post Others-centeredness Personified (Romans 15.1-13) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
It almost seems unfair at times to feel like we have to think of others. In our humanness, we wonder why no one thinks about us first. In a faith community that is characterized by loving one’s neighbor as themselves, we ought to be concerned about others. On the one hand, it is wrong to […]
The post Putting Others First (Romans 14:13-23) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
There were divisions in the Roman house churches. Often they fell along ethnic lines between the Jewish believers and the non-Jewish believers. Sometimes just like us, the first century Roman believers made issues of faith out of things that were issues of preference. If we are to truly love one another we need to learn […]
The post Focus on the Essentials (Romans 14:1-12) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
As we have stated in the past this section of Romans is bookended by love. If God’s love is the most powerful force in our lives (Romans 8:37-39) then love should be the core motivating factor of our lives. Love is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s law and the one characteristic that we all take […]
The post What Love Looks Like (Romans 13:8-14) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
As a “living sacrifice” whose mind is to be renewed so that I live transformed in my world, I must carry that reality over to my life as a citizen. The aspects of harmony and peace with others are key to our life as citizens. While we cannot and should not try to make a […]
The post Living Lovingly and Wisely as Citizens (Romans 13:1-7) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
These verses consist of a list of behaviors that reflect the outworking of a renewed mind. Imagine our own faith community in which we each sought to live in the ways outlined in this passage. Imagine our families, neighborhoods, workplaces, and local communities. Maybe this is what Jesus meant when he instructed us to be […]
The post A Lived Theology of Love (Romans 12:9-21) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
When you look in the mirror who do you really see? Do you see a person who is created in the image of God? A person of immeasurable worth and value? A person who has been given a unique set of skills and abilities to serve God and others? A person who is humbled by […]
The post A God Centered Self Concept (Romans 12:3-8) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
How we respond practically to God’s Mercy and Grace and Love is the theme of Romans 12-16. Today we begin to answer the fifth and final question in the book of Romans: “How should a follower of Jesus conduct themselves in this world?” We will learn in today’s passage that it begins with a choice […]
The post Living Sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In a survey of a lengthy chapter that deals with the interplay between God’s people Israel and all who are not of Israel but still follow God we find the theme of mercy woven throughout the chapter. God’s mercy accepts, and comes without conditions. It is available to all and a reason for great praise.The post A Sovereign God Who is Merciful (Romans 11) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Sometimes we can think that God is aloof, or at least inaccessible. When we talk about God being holy, righteous, and sovereign, it makes us feel that he is out of reach. What we will learn today is that throughout history God has actually made himself readily accessible to those who pursue him. And he still is.The post A Sovereign God who is Accessible (Romans 10) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
When it comes to God’s work in our world we need to guard against thinking that since God is in control what we do does not matter. The fact is that God does hold us each accountable for our choices, especially regarding our relationship with Him. However, God does have a plan and He will carry it out. We are each invited to be part of His plan, and he is pleased when we accept the
invitation.The post God’s Sovereignty and My Choices (Romans 9) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We often think of a mother’s love as one of the most powerful forces. In one of the most familiar passages in the book of Romans, Paul reminds us that there is nothing on earth, heaven, or all the universe that can separate us from God’s love. We each need this assurance each day and especially when life gets hard.The post The Power of God’s Love (Romans 8:31-39) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
When we look at our world strictly from a human perspective it is very easy to lose hope. Even the human interest stories that seem to wrap up the evening news, make us feel good for a moment but don’t make a permanent difference in our mixed-up world. However, in the constant abiding presence of our God, we are assured that He has a plan that works in spite of all we wrestle with. God’s goal is that we each be conformed to the likeness of Jesus.The post The Best Is Yet To Come (Romans 8:18-30) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
The Apostle Paul leads us from the struggles with sin to the amazing fact that in Christ we are forgiven and no longer condemned. In this new and improved reality we have all we need through the power of the Holy Spirit to be better; to be transformed. But we discover that we still need to cooperate with the Holy Spirit by tapping into the power He provides to overcome our human nature that is always there.The post New and Improved (Romans 8:1-17) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Paul reveals to his readers and to us that he understands how we each struggle to do what is right and we each feel guilty when we seem to wrestle with temptation. Sometimes we do give in and fail. How do we manage the battle in our hearts to be obedient to Christ? How do we reconcile our own failures?The post “The Great Struggle” (Romans 7:7-25) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Paul uses imagery to reveal to his readers the freedom we have in Christ. We are free from the slave market of sin and free from the law and able to belong to Jesus. Sometimes we become complacent and think we can simply live life on our own terms and fix things with God later. This passage reminds us that we have amazing freedom to be all that God wants us to be in Jesus Christ.The post Extreme Spiritual Makeover (part 2 Romans 6:15-7:6) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
What you and I believe about Jesus and resurrection is vital to our faith. Jesus makes a powerful statement in John 11:26. He claims exclusivity. He is the resurrection and he is the life. Do you believe this? In this passage we will see power under control, and a willingness to step into the mess of our lives. That is our Jesus. Do you believe him?The post Do You Believe This? (John 11) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Jesus has unique encounters with many during his last week before crucifixion. In this sermon we will look at three people in Luke’s gospel. The widow, Barabbas, and the thief on the cross next to Jesus. From these three people we will discover lessons of faith and grace and mercy. We will be reminded that we serve a God who has not treated us our sins deserved.The post One Week, Three People, Three Lessons appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
There is a misconception that since God is a God of grace it is ok to sin because God loves to forgive. The truth is that God’s grace should be a motivating factor for each person that follows Jesus to change their lives. God is obviously not excited about our choosing sin, but he is excited about our desire to learn to be like Jesus. It takes a spiritual makeover to begin the journey of being like Jesus.The post Extreme Spiritual Makeover (Part 1 – Romans 6:1-14) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Paul takes his readers through a compare and contrast scenario. He looks back at Genesis 3 and reveals that in Adam we were all subject to the ravages of sin that mars and destroys everything, and leads to death. But in contrast to Adam is Christ whose righteous act of dying on the cross has opened the door for all to receive God’s grace and be declared righteous in God’s sight.The post A Tale of Two Men (Romans 5:12-21) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We all have different ideas when we think of the concept of peace. Often it accompanies the ideas of contentment or having all our material and relational needs met. In this passage, Paul outlines what it means to have peace with God. As we examine this passage may we each desire to have peace with God. We will discover it is the foundation of a purposeful daily life.The post True Peace (Romans 5:1-11) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Bridging the gap between Jew and Gentile, the Apostle Paul shows us that we cannot somehow earn our way into God’s favor. He uses Abraham as his example who was put in an impossible situation and saw God come through in ways he could not have imagined. We have no earning power with God. We only have our faith.The post No Earning Power (Romans 4:9-25) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Proverbs 3:5-6 are some of the most widely known verses in the Christian world, but it is possible, that in its familiarity we’ve misunderstood the difference between trust as belief and trust as faith. This sermon explores a biblical approach to trusting God with an eternal perspective in a complicated world.The post Trust In The Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Proverbs 3:5-6 are some of the most widely known verses in the Christian world, but it is possible, that in its familiarity we’ve misunderstood the difference between trust as belief and trust as faith. This sermon explores a biblical approach to trusting God with an eternal perspective in a complicated world.The post Trust In The Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
When God levels the playing field no one has the greater advantage. God is the God of all. He is not a God who plays favorites. We are introduced to the fact that the path to a relationship with God is found in believing God as he has revealed himself to us. There is power in simple belief.The post The Power of Siimple Belief (Romans 3:27-4:8) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Paul reveals to his friends in Rome that in and of ourselves all of us, regardless of our heritage, backgound, good deeds, or religious rituals are not enough to earn God’s righteousness. So God makes it possible for us.The post Only One Place To Turn (Romans 3.9-26) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In this section, Paul continues his critique of the Jewish believers; the “spiritually privileged.” He reveals to them, and to us, the fact that religious knowledge, rituals, and practices are empty if they are not turning our hearts to Christ. If my behaviors are not the result of deep heart change, then they are just empty actions.The post The Folly of Being Religious appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
It is easy to point out the faults and failures of others. We see those very clearly. But it is more beneficial to consider our own faults. God is a God who holds us all to a high standard and he will call us all to a divine review of our lives. We are reminded that it is best to self evaluate and change as opposed to just pointing out the faults of those around us.The post Fault Lines (Romans 2:1-16) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
The problem with sin is that it infects and destroys everyone and everything. In a very hard and disturbing section, Paul points out that humanity has constantly been moving away from God and his righteousness. While some may want to highlight specific verses, the fact is all are guilty of sin and there are no levels of importance to sin. Sin is sin, and God must deal with it. One way he chooses to deal with it is to sometimes allow humans to have what they think they want.The post No One Gets A Pass (Romans 1:18-32) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Paul loved the Roman church and wanted to spend time with them. He wanted them to know how much we all need “gospel.” Needing gospel is more than just the basic news of Jesus dying for our sins, it is the life after that initial belief. We all need to discover, daily, how to live out the faith that we claim to have as a result of the good news of Jesus.The post We all need gospel all the time (Romans 1:1-17) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
It seems odd to begin at the end. It is the stuff of “spoilers.” Ancient letters listed their greetings at the end of the letter. Following the advice of one New Testament scholar, we begin our study of Romans by looking at the people to whom the letter was written. Having descriptions of real people in mind will help us think about this letter in terms of a practical theology. So, in this sermon, we begin at the endThe post Beginning at the End (Romans 16) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Why do we give gifts? Hopefully, it is one way to express our love for one another. In fact, a gift given for any other motivation is not really a gift at all. Home is supposed to be that place of acceptance and love. We discover at this time of year that God loved us and gave to us before we even asked. God initiated his love for us. When we come home to Jesus we come home to perfect love and we have nothing to fear.The post Come Home to Love (1 John 4:7-21) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
There are certain people who have a unique quality of making others feel welcome and accepted. They are rare, but they exist. In a hymn of praise, David describes God as one who has freely bestowed his benefits. This is a psalm that reminds the reader that when we come into a relationship with God, we come home to acceptance and we discover that God is active and we are merely the recipients of his grace and mercy.The post Come Home to Acceptance (Psalm 103) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We look at hope as an expectation or even a wish. I hope I get that present I really want. I hope we all get along at Christmas dinner. I hope Aunt Susie will make it this year. But God offers us so much more. Hope in our God is a confidence. When we put our faith in the Christ of Christmas, we have a confidence and a trust that is a sure thing. All God’s promises are certain and we see them in the birth of Christ. When our hope is in our God there is a comfort and a confidence that is undeniable and incomparable.The post Come Home to Hope (Isaiah 40) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Coming home. We come home from work and we just want to take a break and put our feet up. We come home from school and we just want to have a snack and unwind. Home is a place where we should be able to rest. Home is a place where we should get a […]
The post Come Home to Rest (Matthew 11:28-30) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
The temple is complete. The walls are built. The people are secure. And God for some reason is not as important. That seems to be the human condition. We tend to want God when we are in trouble, but when things are good we tend to drift. In Malachi’s prophecy, God calls His people out […]
The post Leftovers…Again (Malachi) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
One of the difficult realities that people who have a sense of what may be coming in the future is that they are not always believed. As humans, we tend to focus on what we think we know, and what we think is a sure thing. From a survey of biblical history, we can tell […]
The post Ancient Words…Future Focus (Zechariah 12-14) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Dr. John Maxwell said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” There is much truth to that statement. Whether we are currently in a leadership position or are in a place where we are being led, we have a sense of what good leadership is about. In this section of Zechariah, we are introduced to one […]
The post The Leader You Have Always Longed For (Zechariah 9-11) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
God does His work through His people. The enemy of God, Satan does all he can to discourage and discredit God’s people. But God in his grace, cleans and empowers us to be all we can be for Him. We see God at work in the process in Zechariah 3-4 for Joshua and Zerubbabel. As […]
The post Clean and Empowered (Zechariah 3-4) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
God is passionate. God is passionate about one thing. He is passionate about His relationship with His creation. God is passionate about you. He is passionate about you and your relationship to Him and your relationship to the faith community. When we individually and collectively are fully invested in our relationship with God we find […]
The post A Passionate God (Zech. 1-2) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
What would cause you to reprioritize your life, or your habits? What makes you rethink your circumstances? It seems that it often takes some sort of close call, or some kind of disaster to often make us evaluate what is really important. The challenges from Haggai, to God’s people who had returned to the land […]
The post Recheck Your Priorities (The Prophecy of Haggai) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Tornado warnings. Hurricane warnings. Flood warnings. People respond differently. Some head for shelter, evacuate, or find the high ground. Others determine that they will “ride it out.” Natural disasters are no respecters of people, and the results of not heeding the warnings are tragic. God repeatedly warns his people that he will deal with their […]
The post Responding to God’s Warning (The prophecy of Zephaniah) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
If you have ever wondered if God knows what he is doing this prophet is for you. If you have ever questioned God, this prophet is for you. Habakkuk, has trouble with God’s plan but in the end, he trusts God more than he trusts his circumstances. It is a lesson for us all..
The post When Nothing Seems To Make Sense (Habakkuk) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
God does not play games. God does not just give suggestions. When we last saw the Ninevites they had repented from their sin. God relented from his judgement of them. Unfortunately for the Ninevites, their revival did not last. Roughly, 100 years later they were as sinful and warmongering as ever. Nahum is God’s prophet […]
The post “No Middle Ground” (Nahum) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Even though he is fully aware of our faults and failures, God still offers us hope. Our hope is in the God who knows the beginning from the end. We can’t even know what this afternoon holds. Our hope is in a God who promises to forgive as we come to him in humility.
The post There is Hope (Micah 6:9-7:20) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
The culture in which we live celebrates those who are confident. We celebrate those who dream and dream and then achieve it. But there is another quality that is to be celebrated but is often overlooked. There is a unique power to humility. When we are humble we rely on God for success. We depend […]
The post The Power of Humility (Micah 5:1-6:8) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
As the leaders go, so goes the group, be it a nation, or a community, or a church, or a family. Micah calls the leaders from the political, spiritual, and judicial realm to account. They were supposed to point people to God and lead by following God. But instead they had determined that personal power […]
The post It’s About Leadership (Micah 3:1-4:5) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Accountability is a two way street. We work together to hold one another accountable for following Jesus. However, we need to also take care of our own soul and see to it that we hold ourselves accountable for following Jesus as well. Philippians 3 reminds us of our responsibility for individual accountability. Galatians 6 points […]
The post Hold the Rope (Galatians; Philippians 3) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
The Prophet Micah had seen a great deal throughout his life. He had seen his nation, Judah go from a power house to a vassal of Assyria to a nation that successfully rebelled against the Assyrians. And yet in their relative freedom they had yet to come fully around to following God. Freedom for those […]
The post Freedom to Change (Micah 1-2) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
It is one thing to obey. It is another thing to obey with a right heart. Jonah reveals his true heart. He really wanted God to zap the Ninevites. They were a war mongering enemy who deserved punishment not compassion. In a living word picture God reveals to Jonah the depth of divine compassion, grace, […]
The post Human Anger v. Divine Compassion (Jonah 3-4) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Sometimes we think we have gone too far astray and that we are not useful to God any longer. Jonah had to be thinking that all along. But he does the one thing we all can do, he prays. And the lesson he learns is that God is always there and always willing to give […]
The post In the brine but not yet pickled (Jonah 1:17-3:3) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Jonah is the one minor prophet most know about. That is because of the story of the great fish. But there is more to Jonah than a Fish Story. We will learn about God and his relentless pursuit of us, his grace to save us from ourselves, and his willingness to let us think we […]
The post You can run but you can’t hide (Jonah 1) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In this shortest book of the Old Testament, God uses the prophet Obadiah to reveal his heart regarding pride. The nation of Edom is object of this prophecy. Although this nation traced its ancestry to Esau, the brother of Jacob that is where their kinship seemed to end. Their pride and animosity toward the descendants […]
The post The Foolishness of Pride (Obadiah) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In a survey of the final two chapter of the prophecy of Amos we will discover four misconceptions about God that seemed to be circulating 2800 years ago. What we will discover is that in 2022, these same misconceptions are still out there. But what we can learn for our own lives is the true […]
The post Misconceptions About God (Amos 7-9) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Sometimes we think we have come to the point where we can handle whatever comes our way. Amos continually warns the people to beware of their external worship and complacent hearts. God deals with pride, privilege, and injustice severely. We also need a reminder to not think that because things are going well in our […]
The post Words of Caution (Amos 5:18-6:14) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
On this Independence Day Sunday many of our thoughts are centered on our nation and the freedom we have. But all too often we put our dependency on human institutions, including romanticizing our own nation’s past. Israel had done the same thing. In this section they are called to repentance. We as God’s people need […]
The post A Simple Path (Amos 5:1-17) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Are you really ready to stand before God? What about your life right now do you think God would be pleased with? What about your life is getting in the way of your relationship with God? What do you think God would ask you to change? All questions we really should be asking now. The […]
The post Prepare to Meet Your God (Amos 4) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
On this Father’s Day we will consider the fact that the best Dads help their children see reality and prepare for living responsibly. Amos outlines several “fortresses” that the people had built up. He reveals to them that they are simply living for themselves and ignoring God and others. Our only real guarantee in life […]
The post Breaking Down Fortresses (Amos 3:1-15) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Sometimes the most profound truths come from the least expected people. We expect soundbites from politicians or celebrities. But often it is the regular person with whom we have a relationship who speaks truth into our lives, or truth into a situation that has the greater impact. Amos was a regular guy, a farmer, but […]
The post A Regular Guy with a Powerful Message (Amos 1-2) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We don’t have to look to far in the past to recount some bad things that havehappened in our world. Natural disasters, a global pandemic, tragedies ofviolence, and war are splashed in front of us daily. What are we to do? Howare we to respond? Where is God? Today we will discover a question that […]
The post When Bad Things Happen: Survey of the Prophecy of Joel appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In a unique approach we are going to view the final chapters of Hosea as letters written from a loving, yet hurting Father to a wayward child. One of the things that we will discover is that God’s heart is not a heart of angry punishment. He longs for all to see the error of […]
The post Letters from a Loving Father (Hosea 11-14) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In a brief parable in which we see the different approaches of two men who come to God in prayer we are reminded of a very important reality. We must always approach God from a heart of humility. Pride will always move us away from God and deeper into ourselves. God is never drawn to […]
The post The Flimsy Defense: Trusting One’s Own righteousness (Luke 18:9-14) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Following God may be hard in regards to challenges we face and ways God asks us to express our obedience. And yet it is also quite simple. Just keep one’s focus on God and strive to love him and others. As God passes down his sentence on the nation of Israel, we will find glimpses […]
The post God as a Presiding Judge (Hosea 8-10) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
God does not ignore our sin. God does not gloss over our sin. He calls out his people for their actions and their attitudes. And yet in the middle of his pointing out their failures, he continues to appeal for them to change their heart and their actions and to return to Him. God continually […]
The post God as a Prosecuting Attorney (Hosea 4-7) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Sometimes we need to remember that the God who created our emotions, is a God of emotions. God rejoices and celebrates. God also is wounded by our actions and deeply saddened by our sin. Nowhere do we see this more dramatically portrayed than in the first three chapters of Hosea. In this section we will […]
The post Response of a Wounded Lover (Hosea 1-3) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
With this sermon we begin a new sermon series entitled, “God’s Heart…Our Heart.” We will be going through the last 12 books of the Old Testament, often known as “The Minor Prophets.” These books will reveal to us God’s heart for his people. We will also learn of God’s heart for justice, compassion, mercy, and […]
The post God is Serious (Intro to Minor Prophets) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is arguably the foundation of all we believe. To paraphrase the Apostle Paul: If Christ has not been raise our faith is pointless. (1 Cor. 15:17). In Matthew’s account of the resurrection we find discover three general responses joyful wonder, denial, and doubt. And yet as we will see, in […]
The post The “Yes” of Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-20) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
The week following Palm Sunday was full of confrontation. The religious leaders worked hard to find a way to trip Jesus up so they could have an excuse for arresting him. In this interchange we find Jesus not only answering their question but posing a question to them for which they have no answer. We […]
The post Tough Questions Matthew 22:34-45 appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We have seen what it means to follow Jesus. Now we will see what it means to lead in the manner of Jesus. There is much written about leadership. Jesus not only gives us a very simple, yet complex principle, but then in Matthew’s Gospel he shows in real time what it looks like.
The post Leadership Jesus’ Way appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In every endeavor there are leaders. Even if a leader is not designated for a particular situation, one will eventually emerge. The question each person must answer is “Do I know the leader I am choosing to follow?” In our passage we discover that while the disciples had a raw understanding of who Jesus was, […]
The post For all those who follow (Matthew 16:13-27) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
In order to launch a mission that would alter the course of human history, Jesus first assembled a team. They were not considered “all-stars” but were hand picked by Jesus after spending a night in prayerful communion with the Heavenly Father. We will see the balance between grace and truth as we look at the […]
The post Jesus Assembles the Team (Matthew 9:34-10:4) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
What can we learn from a concluding chapter? What is there for us several thousand years later? We will consider Job’s repentance, his intercession for this friends and their misinformation, and what it may mean for us to be full of years. What we will discover is the power of God’s grace in uncertain times. […]
The post What Job learned…What we can learn (Job 42) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Finally, God steps is. Finally, we may be able to make sense of all this. Finally, Job will be vindicated. That is our hope. But God’s ways are not our ways. God reminds Job clearly as to who is really in charge. When all is said and done, Job will know one thing. God is […]
The post And Then God Spoke (Job 38-42:6) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
The youngest of Job’s friends, who is not mentioned at the beginning or at theend of the book speaks for 6 chapters. What we learn is that one can speak truthabout God but do so in a way that comes across as arrogant. We will look atwhat is right about his speech from which we […]
The post It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Job makes his final defense of himself before his friends and before God. We see a man reflecting on his life, on his motives, and on his struggles. It is important to note that God gives Job all the space and time he needs to get it all out of his system. As we examine […]
The post Closing Argument: Job 29-31 appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
The person, chosen by God, to pen the words of Job inserts a special chapter. It is a poetic description of the great lengths to which humanity will go to find rare treasure. But it ends by reminding the reader of the simplicity and value of the greatest treasure of all. This pause in all […]
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Sprinkled throughout the speeches of Job are statements that should cause each of us to stop and take note. Millenia before Jesus was on the scene Job was confident that there was an advocate, a redeemer, and that they would one day see each other. These amazing statements should give each of us hope in […]
The post Amazing Statements from a Hurting Man appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Sometimes our faith is bold and we feel we can handle anything. But all too often we feel like we are just hanging on. It is in the times of darkness that we tend to cry out and demand God to come through. We will discover that God is patient with us and that the […]
The post Clinging to Faith: Faith and Demandingness in Job appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
How we think about God matters. It matters a great deal. In fact how we think about God impacts our daily lives, our daily decisions, and even our relationships, whether we know it or not. Job’s friends, and even Job himself had some notions about God. Their preformed opinions dictated how they “comforted” and confronted […]
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Job’s lament which begins the poetic section of the book resonates with so many of us. At our lowest points some of us wonder why we are here on this earth. We have many questions and few if any answers. And yet one positive note in all this is that Job allows his pain to […]
The post Sometimes You Just Can’t – Job 3 appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
After experiencing a physical trial that leaves him longing to depart this life, Job is visited by three friends. Other than his wife who is agonizing over her husbands pain, these three are the only ones to come to his side. We discover much about pain, suffering, and the ministry of presence in this passage. […]
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We begin our new year with a sermon series in the book of Job. This book recounts the trials of a godly man who clung to his faith in the face of tremendous odds, and pain, and loss, and heartache. As we enter a new year with hopes, dreams, plans, and many uncertainties, we need […]
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This is the time between. The time between the old and new year. The time between Christmas and New Year’s Day. The time to reflect and evaluate. The time to plan and dream and set new goals. We need perspective for the time between. Long before God’s people went into captivity, he prompted Isaiah to […]
The post The Time Between Isaiah 43:14-21 appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We hear a great deal about peace during this time of year. However, peace seems allusive. It has to be more than feeling good or having lots of stuff. Peace is truly a matter of the heart. In our passage we will consider the fourth description of the one to come, Prince of Peace. We […]
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Think for a minute of all the qualities one considers when Then take your portrait of the perfect father and multiply it by 100. Now you are beginning to understand the greatness of our God. When you add to it, that he is beyond the boundaries of time, you start to get a glimpse of […]
The post Everlasting Father appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
If there is one thing that is certain about life, it is that there is nothing certain. Life is full of variables and unknowns. We have been faced with uncertainty in the past two years in ways we never imagined. To whom do we turn when things are unstable? As we look at this second […]
The post Mighty God Isaiah 9:6 appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Names are important. Our name becomes our identity. As we grow and develop our name can be associated with our reputation. We can think of the name of someone we knew in the past and we still feel emotions from that relationship. In a very familiar “Christmas” passage we discover four names or characteristics of […]
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There are some couples who just stand out. Sometimes we call them power couples and other times dynamic duos. But the point is they work together, they have influence, and their marriage is a true partnership. We will look at what we can glean from such a couple beginning in the book of Acts. One […]
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Think of a time in which someone said or did something for you that was deeply encouraging. Many of us can recall the time, the circumstances, and the exact words that were spoken or deed that was done. Often we find ourselves welling up with emotion. As followers of Jesus we are all called to […]
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What can we learn from the principles we have seen in Acts? How can we apply them? As we come to the conclusion of this brief study we will look at a summary of our eight principles condensed into four purpose statements. All which may give us a better picture of what a healthy local […]
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Persecution is real. Persecution is painful. Persecution transforms us. We don’t like to think about persecution but it is something that we may all face. We each need one another in community to endure any level of persecution that may come our way. We learn to trust God more through persecutions. Bear in mind that […]
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Leadership is important. Jesus, reminded his disciples that the best leaders were servants first, and he modeled that. In the book of Acts we see the apostles exercising servant leadership and choosing those who also showed that they were servant leaders. Even those who do not consider themselves leaders should still exercise the qualities of […]
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Generous people are not necessarily wealthy. Generous people tend to understand the temporary nature of things. Generous people understand that generosity extends beyond stuff. Generous people see others through the eyes of Christ. Generous people are most often, gracious, humble, and empathetic. There is a unifying power in generosity.
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Community. In community we can feel safe. In community we feel we belong. In community we feel we have a support network. From the very beginning, the Church has realized the strength of community. As followers of Jesus we have been invited to join and embrace the strength of the faith community.
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So often we hear of organizations working on their branding and messaging. One of the realities of the early movement of the followers of Jesus, that became the church, is that they all knew and were deeply committed to the core message of Jesus. One could say their branding was as clear as it was […]
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From the beginning of the book of Acts we discover that Jesus did not leave his followers alone. He promised to send the Holy Spirit and he did. The Holy Spirit guides us, empowers us, and helps us to do God’s work right now. The key is that we need to pay attention and wait […]
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We continue our focus on prayer this week. We will look at several different aspects of what it looks like to make prayer a core reality in our lives both individually and as a corporate entity. Our prayer for this part of our Acts series is that each one would seek to make a small […]
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It is easy to say that prayer is important. However, we each need to think long and hard and determine if our prayer activity, matches our prayer declarations. Prayer is a vital necessity for the life of any church. It is not just an individual necessity, it is a corporate necessity. We need to be […]
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Joe reflects on his journey through the dark valley of clinical depression. Psalm 23 and John 16:33 are key passages in this deeply personal reflection.
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No matter how much instruction you receive there comes a point in which you have to step up and do what you have learned. There comes a time when you have to act on what you have learned. That time came for the first followers of Jesus in what is recorded in Acts 1:1-11. We […]
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We all face times of transition. We all face times when we know we need to leave something behind as we move forward in life. But what we leave behind is not forgotten, it becomes the foundation for our next step. The two volume set of Luke and Acts provide that transition for us. As […]
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Imagine what it must have been like for the disciples to process the events leading up to the resurrection. Two of the disciples are privy to what had to be the most amazing sermon mentioned in the Bible. The risen Jesus explaining to them the flow of prophetic history and how it pointed to him. […]
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To read again one of the crucifixion accounts should cause anyone to pause. Repeatedly, Jesus is declared innocent. Repeatedly, we see him caring for others in the middle of his own suffering. Repeatedly, we see the anger and vitriol that led to his death. One wonders how things would have been different had Jesus been […]
The post The Righteous for the unrighteous (Luke 22:63-23:49) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Sometimes we fall into a trap of thinking we have heard all the stories of the Bible and there is nothing new. But as we examine the prayer of Jesus, his subsequent arrest, and Peter’s denial more closely, we can learn a great deal that will help us when we go through times that are […]
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What does it mean to be “called” by God? What does that look like? Is being “called” by God only a term we use for people like missionaries and pastors? What we will see in this passage is that no matter what the circumstances in our lives or our culture, God is still calling each […]
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What does it mean to be “called” by God? What does that look like? Is being “called” by God only a term we use for people like missionaries and pastors? What we will see in this passage is that no matter what the circumstances in our lives or our culture, God is still calling each […]
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Following a service of baptism, Pastor Scott shares with us from Luke 22 and gives us some lessons we can take away from the Last Supper.
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In a very brief but familiar story we discover one person who in humility, gave what she had to God. Others gave as well but made sure to keep plenty for themselves. A question for each of us is, do I give from my abundance, or from my heart? Do I know the difference?
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If we have learned anything from the history of our nation it is that freedom is best exercised within clear boundaries and it comes at a great cost. In our spiritual lives we also discover that the freedom we have in Jesus Christ, came at a great cost to him and is best exercised in […]
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In three uniquely connected instances we learn something very valuable from Jesus. When we approach God in true childlike humility and faith we find that he is there. When we are willing to realize that nothing we have in this life is a substitute for depending on God we find he is enough. It is […]
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We are met with the concept of “already…not yet” in many situations in life. We just completed the graduation season. A student already has their degree but their full potential has not yet been realized. The same is true in Scripture. When we put our faith in Christ we are already acceptable in God’s eyes, […]
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Choices we make in life matter. Consequences are real. How we live our lives day in and day out reflect what we really believe about God and His Word. We will all one day give an account. Our passage today is more about attitudes and priorities than it is about rich v. poor. God is […]
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We have all had that sinking feeling when we have lost something. We look everywhere. The intensity of the search is related to the value of what was lost. In three familiar parables we find Jesus showing his hearers how valuable they are to the Father. And we learn that no matter how good we […]
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God wants us to grow in relationship with Him, no matter what we are facing. As followers of Jesus we can mature through times of peace and through times of persecution. It is important for us to be fully aware of what persecution looks like so we do not manufacture hard times. As we mature […]
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God wants us to grow in relationship with Him, no matter what we are facing. As followers of Jesus we can mature through times of peace and through times of persecution. It is important for us to be fully aware of what persecutioin looks like so we do not manufacture hard times. As we mature […]
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After another Sabbath healing Jesus uses the opportunity to teach through two parables. The first will focus on the value of humility and serving to serve not to be repaid. The second will point to a God who accepts no excuses. This chapter ends with a reminder that true followers of Jesus are willing to […]
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Have you ever determined what you think about another person strictly by the way they looked? If you then got to know that person, what changed in your judgement? In a very striking passage we discover Jesus seeing the person and the need that moves him to act compassionately. However, his actions violate tradition. We […]
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What if there were an investment strategy that not only promised, but also delivered a 100% return that would never run out? Everyone would be clamoring to get in. But what if the buy in were to first liquidate everything you currently had? Then there would be fewer, if any, who would want to take […]
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In many walks of life we hear the term “optics” being used. It refers to how something will look or be perceived by the public. Optics may work as a principle in business and politics, but an expression of faith that is optics or image based is shallow. Jesus reserved his harshest rebukes for religious […]
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Today we will examine Luke’s account of what is often called the Lord’s Prayer. However, these words are not what Jesus actually prayed, but provide a model for prayer. As we consider prayer we need to think about the one we are addressing. We need to think about what we are saying and we need […]
The post “Teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1-13) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the most familiar stories in all the Bible. The concept of a Good Samaritan has endured throughout the years and has even been in current Chicagoland headlines. The story is a response to the question: Who is my neighbor? It is a question we need to […]
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What does it mean to follow Jesus? What does it take? What is the trueessence of faith? In a stunning statement and an awesome event some of Jesus closest disciples will learn the core of consistent faith. It is far more than we can imagine. It is a greater challenge than we can envision. And […]
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Sometimes we find that we need the reality of resurrection more than others. This past year with so much uncertainty, so much death, so much unrest, it seems that we all need something that gives us hope for the future. As we will see in our passage today the resurrection of Jesus Christ is that […]
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Jesus allowed one true public celebration of who he was on that first day of the week before his crucifixion. In a moment in which many were celebrating, Jesus weeps. These were not tears of joy. They were not tears of fear. They were tears of sadness because he knew this city that God had […]
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One thing we discover repeatedly about Jesus is that while on God’s timetable, he was not in a hurry. He made time for each person. In our passage we find him in the presence of a very important man who needs help. Yet along the way, Jesus stops to pay special attention to an unnamed, […]
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Each person is responsible before God as to how they respond to the truth of His Word. How one responds is directly related to the “soil condition” of his or her heart. The reality is that we can do the work to prepare our hearts to be receptive to God’s truth. What is the condition […]
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If you have ever wondered if Jesus truly accepts outcasts, this sermon is for you. If you have pondered the depth of God’s love that could lead him to forgive you, despite anything you may have done this sermon is for you. We see Jesus forgiving one who had the reputation as a sinner, when […]
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In Luke’s account of the “Sermon on the level place,” we find four key themes that should be standards for following Jesus. Choose to love our enemies. Look at our own faults before pointing out the faults of others. Let the our words and our works reflect the presence of Jesus in our lives. Live […]
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The methods of Jesus, the teaching of Jesus and the call to commitment from Jesus are all different from what was conventional. In Luke’s sermon on the plain that we have here, we find a familiar ring to Matthew’s sermon on the mount and yet also some unique challenges. The bottom line is that the […]
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The methods of Jesus, the teaching of Jesus and the call to commitment from Jesus are all different from what was conventional. In these three familiar stories we discover that Jesus calls us to a new way of thinking. His teaching will not fit conventional ways of thinking. Listen to Pastor Scott’s sermon, “A New […]
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A composite sketch is the result of several eye witnesses describing features of a person. Luke’s description of the early ministry of Jesus comes from a variety of sources and ultimately guided by the Holy Spirit. The result is somewhat of a composite sketch. But it is more than a portrait. In seeing how Jesus […]
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Jesus went “home” to Nazareth. He was initially accepted as a leader and teacher. But his message did not fit the narrative that they had all believed. They did not want a Messiah for all, just for them and when all was said and done, they ran him out of town. We have no indication […]
The post Sometimes You Can’t Go Home (Luke 4:14-30) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Jesus begins his public ministry at the age of 30. He is baptized not because of his sins, but in a step of showing that he is orienting his life in obedience to the Father. Luke shows how Jesus is truly the son of God in his lineage. Following this is the temptation in which […]
The post Jesus Understands (Luke 3:21-23; 4:1-13) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
What does it look like to live a godly life? What are practical ways to show people that I have reoriented my life and my thinking to put God first. One of the most enigmatic characters in the Bible is John the Baptist. There was something about him that drew people to him. His message […]
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We have very little knowledge of what Jesus was like as a child. Some have tried to come up with descriptions, but they are speculative at best. Luke gives us one story and several descriptions of the young Jesus. We also discover that in many ways he was just like us in his growth and […]
The post Like Us…But Different (Luke 2:39-52) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
What would be the first words out of your mouth if you had been rendered speechless for almost a year? We encounter just such a person in Luke 1. Zechariah the priest was rendered speechless until his son John would be born. When his ability to speak returned it was a shock to everyone. But […]
The post God’s Faithful Plan (Luke 1:57-80) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
After a year of canceled plans, dashed hopes, and diminished dreams, upon whom can werely? We know we can rely on God. And yet we sometimes wonder; does Godreally know who I am or even where I am? The story of Zechariah and Elizabethgive us some answers
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Love that is truly love is a unifying force. When we really love someone we are able to see their best qualities and we are able to accept their differences. When we truly love someone we initiate acts of kindness, we don’t count the cost in helping them, we are safe in the relationship, and […]
The post Finding Love in Our Differences – 1 John 4:7-21 appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Joy is not a word that we have heard uttered much over the past year. And yet in the midst of difficulties and struggles those who follow Jesus can have a sense of joy. In our passages today we meet two very familiar women. Each with much to be concerned about, but each aware that […]
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We see it all around. The word peace appears on cards, in Christmas displays, and even in store displays during this season. We all want peace. We desire peace. The angels declared God’s peace to those who were favored by God. But what does that mean? How can one have peace with God? We will […]
The post Peace in the Middle of Our Struggles (Luke 2:8-20) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Hope. It is often a word we use as a synonym for “wish.” But hope in the Bible is not used as a wish, it is a certainty that is yet to be fully realized. Hope in the Bible is based on God’s promises. We will see two individuals today who lived in hope day […]
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A cave is typically dark, damp, and lonely. For most people caves are intriguing from a distance. People also face “caves” in life. We at times find ourselves in dark, lonely places in our soul. David did. We find a poignant cry to God in Psalm 142 that apparently was uttered when David was in […]
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God is a God of justice. God expects his people to be people of justice. In this community lament the psalmist cries out to God for the way the rich and powerful are treating the powerless in the community. What is most disturbing is that the tone of the psalm points to the fact that […]
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Sometimes we exercise the prayer language of lament when we have suffered a personal loss. But what about when we have caused the pain and the loss due to our own sin. Psalm 51 is David’s prayer of lament due to his own sinful acts. When sin empties us, God in his grace still hears […]
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No matter who you are, or how strong you believe your faith to be, you have no doubt asked God questions like: “Where are you?” “How can you not see what I am going through?” “Why do you not act more quickly?” These are the questions of Lament. God has given us Lament as a […]
The post Lament – Crying out to God: Psalm 13 appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Often times we emphasize the content of one’s teaching and we will warn against false teaching or a false narrative. The book of Jude is also a warning to folks to beware of false teachers. But his approach does not delve into the specific nature of the teaching. Instead he focuses on the character and […]
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God expects us to not just claim to follow him, but that we actually do so. Our actions should support our claims. Another word for it is to be authentic. In this brief letter we are introduced to three men. Two are authentic, they walk the walk and the description of them is refreshing. The […]
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How do you know? How can you tell if what someone believes “squares” with what you understand the Bible to teach? In this brief letter, we discover a core reality of our faith that will help us make wise decisions regarding what others teach. One thing that we see in all of John’s writings in […]
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Philemon is the most personal letter of the entire New Testament. It is also a very difficult letter in that it deals with a run away slave and for us in the 21st century that brings up a host of emotions. As we look at this letter we will see the compassion of the Apostle […]
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We know the truth: Pride does come before a fall. We each have, at one time or another, been the unfortunate recipient of the pain caused by the pride of another. And yet we tend to struggle with this most tenacious temptation. If we are honest we all struggle with pride. It rears its ugly […]
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We have a specific purpose for meeting weekly. Yes it is about expressing our heart to God. Yes it is about learning from God’s Word. But it is also about coming alongside one another. It is about using the brief time we have to make each other better. God expects us each to stir up […]
The post Making One Another Better (Heb. 10:19-25) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We all have idiosyncrasies that others have to put up with. It stands to reason that we would understand that we should put up with others as they put up with us. We all have hurt or offended someone and longed for their forgiveness. It stands to reason that we would want to grant forgiveness […]
The post Forbear with and Forgive One Another (Col 3.12-14) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
This is one of the “one another” passages that elicits some of the strongest reactions from people. Submission in our world is sometimes equated with weakness and defeat. What we will discover in this passage and the explanatory verses that follow is that when we follow God’s Word and submit to one another, the result […]
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It is easy to “serve” someone who can return the favor. It is easy to “serve” when there is recognition for the service. But what about serving those who cannot repay you? What about serving when no one else sees? As we look at this one another command we will need to get a broader […]
The post Serve One Another in Love (Galatians 5:13-16) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
This is one of those “one another” passages that causes those of us who have grown up in conservative churches to snicker. That would never happen in our church. Too often we focus on the cultural phrase and miss the importance of the command. What does it mean to greet one another? Why would that […]
The post “Greet one another with a holy kiss” (Romans 16:16) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
This command has more to do with how Christ has received us than it does to just adopt a “live and let live, everything goes lifestyle.” As those who follow Christ we need to be very careful that we do not allow personal preferences to be elevated to the level of divine commands. We will […]
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When one thinks of harmony from a musical standpoint, one discovers that it gives depth and richness to the musical number. Consider that reality in our personal and community relationships. When we understand and appreciate our differences and learn to work together there is a richness and a depth. This morning we will consider how […]
The post Living in Harmony With One Another (Romans 12:14-16) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Numerous times throughout the Bible we find the people of God setting aside a specific time for fasting and prayer. While the occasions may be different and the presenting purpose unique, the underlying reality is that the people want God to be the focus. As we prepare for a day of fasting and prayer on […]
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Throughout the Bible we find the concept of hospitality being held in high regard. It seems that in the ancient world showing hospitality to all, especially strangers and travelers was very important. It stands to reason that if God places a premium on hospitality then we should as well. We will look at the biblical […]
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Family. For some of us that word brings warm memories. For others it serves to provide difficult memories. But for all of us there is an ideal in our minds about what a family is supposed to be. God wants us to live out that ideal in our relationships with one another in the local […]
The post Be Loyal to and Value One Another (Romans 12:9-10) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Love is not just an emotion. It is action for the benefit of another. As we see in Jesus’ words and in the passages we will consider that give us a fuller definition of love, it is much deeper than what we may have ever considered.
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Take a minute and think very carefully about what your needs are. If you can survive without something it is not a need. When we boil it all down our basic needs are very simple. God calls for those of us to trust him to be generous and in so doing to trust him to […]
The post Will God Really Meet Our Needs? (Philippians 4:14-20) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
It does not even take an astute observer to realize that our 21st Century American culture is based on consumerism. We are told we need the latest, greatest, newest, fastest, if we are going to be satisfied. And then if we get it, we are quickly reminded that a newer more improved model is on […]
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A common theme from many sources is the desire for peace. Peace seems to be elusive and yet still sought. In this sermon from Philippians 4:1-9 Pastor Scott looks at 5 building blocks for true peace. The post 5 Building Blocks of Peace appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
A very common current phrase is “stay true to yourself.” It is a phrase that leans toward an individualistic approach to life in which one does not let someone else’s standards define who they are. In one sense there is health there. In another sense it is very self focused. We need balance. The post Staying True to… (Philippians 3:17-4:1) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Time and again we have been challenged or inspired by those who have completed a race or some other task against all odds. We celebrate the one who gives that final push to the end regardless the obstacle. Do we have that same drive, that same push in our spiritual lives? Are we tempted to ease up at times? Paul reminds us in this passage that it is always too soon to quit in the pursuit of excellence in our relationship with Jesus.
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Many of us have this desire to know our ancestry. Part of that is a curiosity to know our background and part of that is sometimes a desire to be related to someone famous. As interesting as it is to know where we come from or what our DNA test tells us about our background, we need to be careful to not make our pedigree some kind of idol. We will learn today that in light of Christ we all need to rethink our priorities.
The post Evaluating Our Priorities (Philippians 3:1-11) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We each have people who have been and may even continue to be role models for us. Role models don’t go out and apply for the job. They just become, due to their faithfulness, their integrity, their grit, and their positive influence in the lives of those who follow them. In our passage today we learn about two guys that Paul put forth as role models for living in a manner worthy of the gospel. The post Two Really Good Guys (Philippians 2:19-30) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We are very good about making life about us. There is an old adage that there is no “I” in Team. To which someone quipped, but there is a “me.” When we follow Jesus, it is about him. When we look at all we have in Christ, that we did not earn, we begin to understand that when life is not about me, but about us that there is unity that both encourages and strengthens us all as followers of Jesus.
The post Making A Difference (Philippians 2:12-18) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We are very good about making life about us. There is an old adage that there is no “I” in Team. To which someone quipped, but there is a “me.” When we follow Jesus, it is about him. When we look at all we have in Christ, that we did not earn, we begin to understand that when life is not about me, but about us that there is unity that both encourages and strengthens us all as followers of Jesus.
The post It’s Not About Me (Philippians 2:1-11) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
What does it mean to live a life worthy of the Gospel? To answer that question we will need to understand the concept of Gospel as more than just the good news of Jesus, but as that news which empowers us for daily living. We will need to understand the fact that Gospel is not always a life of ease and comfort and blessing…it is sometimes trials. The post Worthy of the Gospel (Philippians 1:19-30) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
It is easy at times to simply focus on our circumstances and miss the fact that God, who is always at work, typically has something bigger in mind. It is when we can take a step back from what we are facing that we may get a glimpse of what God is doing. The Apostle Paul does this in our passage today and as a result can remind the Philippian church that when our unfortunate circumstances serve to advance the Gospel of Jesus, it is a far greater thing than we often realize. The post Something Bigger in Mind (Philippians 1:12-19) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
Philippians is a letter written to a young church from an imprisoned Apostle Paul. He knows what it is like to be bound up inside, as he was in prison in his own house for about two years. We will discover in this book, that while he views his imprisonment from the standpoint of reality, he also has the long view in mind. It is in the long view of our struggles that we can discover the power of real joy. It is about God, not me. The post Partners in God’s Work (Philippians 1:1-11) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
It may be hard to think about on a day like today, but take time to recall when you have failed someone. To this day it hurts. To this day it stirs emotions you thought had long since been dealt with. But if that person was a true friend, if they really loved you, you can also recall the relief when they offered forgiveness. And if that relationship has been restored, you know the depth of that joy. Today we look at one who failed and was forgiven and restored. A risen Lord Jesus forgives and restores and we are all beneficiaries. The post Journey to Resurrection: Jesus Restores (John 21) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We get a unique glimpse into the heart of Jesus as we read and consider his prayer in John 17. It is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus. We will examine this “stop” on our Journey to Resurrection and learn from our Lord. How can you and I have a similar focus, especially in times that are uncertain? The post Jesus Prays (John 17) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.
We get a unique glimpse into the heart of Jesus as we read and consider his prayer in John 17. It is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus. We will examine this “stop” on our Journey to Resurrection and learn from our Lord. How can you and I have a similar focus, especially in times that are uncertain? The post Jesus Prays (John 17) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.