Mendham Hills: Recent Episodes
Sunday Podcast
Mendham Hills is a community of people committed to Jesus and His mission to remake and restore relationships between God, self, others, and our world.
God's Invitation: Relationship // Hello, My Name Is ________ // Kevin DiFelice by Sunday Podcast
I Am Not But I Know I Am // Hello, My Name Is ________ // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
When You Can't Find The Words // If I Could Be Like Mike // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
'Twas The Night When Grace Met Truth // 'Twas The Night // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
'Twas The Night The Truth Was Revealed // 'Twas The Night // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
'Twas The Night Our Silence Was Broken // 'Twas The Night // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Falling Into The Hands Of The Lord // Crown Of Contradictions // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
You Don't Know Who You're Dealing With // Crown Of Contradictions // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
The Power, The Purpose, and The Point Of Us // Septemberfest 2025 // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Everyone Wants The Party But No One Wants The Bill // You Lost Me At Leviticus // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Guts, Guilt, & Dinner With God // You Lost Me At Leviticus // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Christmas At Mendham Hills 2024 // It's A Wonderful Life // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
The Wonderful Life That Is Truly Life // It's A Wonderful Life // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
What To Do When Your Dreams Don't Come True // Plot Twist // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
The Woman At The Well // Children's Stories, Adult Issues // Pete Amerman by Sunday Podcast
Daniel & The Lion's Den // Children's Stories, Adult Issues // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Jonah & The Whale // Children's Stories, Adult Issues // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
David & Goliath: A Story Of True Courage // Children's Stories, Adult Issues // Terrell Davis by Sunday Podcast
A Murder After Church // Children's Stories, Adult Issues // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
The "Teaching Them Right From Wrong" Trap // The Parent Trap // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Why My Friends Aren't Interested In Church // Cradle To Grave // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Jesus Might Not Have Come For You? // Cradle To Grave // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Peace Comes Through The Sword // A Ver Mary Christmas // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
The Two Secret "C's" Of Effective Boundaries // Boundaries // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
You're Not The Boss Of Me; I'm The Boss Of Me (& Only Me) // Boundaries // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
The Universal Functional/ Crazy Relationship Matrix // Boundaries // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
The Recipe For Straight Paths // Modern Problems, Ancient Answers // Isaac Davis by Sunday Podcast
Above All Else... // Modern Problems, Ancient Answers // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Fools (Part II)- Critics, Scoffers, & Mockers // Modern Problems, Ancient Answers // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Live Your Truth, Right? // Modern Problems, Ancient Answers // Mike DeLuca by Sunday Podcast
What A Bunch Of Fools // Modern Problems, Ancient Answers // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
I'll Give You Something To Cry About // Modern Problems, Ancient Answers // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Two Ladies Invited You To A Party // Modern Problems Ancient Answers // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Thou Shalt Not Judge (umm... seriously?) // What If Jesus Was Serious? // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Anxiety, Generosity, & Bird Watching // What If Jesus Was Serious? // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Will Smith, Chris Rock, & The Slap Heard Round The World // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
What Is A "Good Person" Anyway? // What If Jesus Was Serious? // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
What If Jesus Was Serious About Being Happy? // What If Jesus Was Serious? // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Wanting To Be Great // The Life & Death of Jesus The King // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Strange Bedfellows // The Life & Death of Jesus the King // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Follow The Thread // The Life & Death of Jesus The King // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
The Expanding Kingdom // The Life & Death of Jesus The King // Tim Meier by Sunday Podcast
Fixing Broken Relationships // Remodeling Relationships // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
The Power Of Relationships // Remodeling Relationships // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Why Would Anybody Believe The Bible? // Eye to Eye // Dr. David Emanuel by Sunday Podcast
We Need More Heroes & Fewer Celebrities // And Then What Happened? // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Humans of Jerusalem: Judas Iscariot // Humans of Jerusalem // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Caiaphas, a Human of Jerusalem // Humans of Jerusalem // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
The "How-To's" of Leaving a Legacy of Faith // Legacy // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
A Sword For Christmas // Peace On Earth Goodwill Toward Men? // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Peace Fakers, Peace Breakers, & Peace Makers // Peace On Earth Goodwill Toward Men? // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Be True to the Who in You // Peace On Earth Goodwill Toward Men? // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Peace With God // Peace On Earth Goodwill Toward Men? // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
My Thoughts As I Walk My Daughter Down The Aisle // From A Father's Heart // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Don't Be An "If I Only Had" Dad // From A Father's Heart // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Bedrooms & Battlefields // Love, Marriage, Sex, & Lies // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
The Questions Jesus Answered // Questions Jesus Asked... We Oughta Answer // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Why Don't We Do What We're Told? // Questions Jesus Asked... We Oughta Answer // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
It's A Big Deal! // Questions Jesus Asked... We Oughta Answer // Dave Janssen by Sunday Podcast
Approval Addiction // Questions Jesus Asked... We Oughta Answer // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Why Do I Judge People? // Questions Jesus Asked... We Oughta Answer // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
What's The Profit? // Questions Jesus Asked... We Oughta Answer // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Why Do You Worry? // Questions Jesus Asked... We Oughta Answer // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Do You Want To Be Made Whole? // Questions Jesus Asked... We Oughta Answer // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Christmas Is All About The Presents // Worst Christmas Ever? // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
The One Another No One Wants & Every Other Needs // Faces Of Another // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Jesus' Take On Washing Your Hands // Opening Up Me Again // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
We'll Have What They're Having // Stronger Than, Stronger Then // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
The Most Asked Question // Stronger Than, Stronger Then // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Stronger Than the Storm // Stronger Than, Stronger Then // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
God Helps Those Who Help Themselves // God Never Said That // David Janssen by Sunday Podcast
Everything Happens For A Reason // God Never Said That // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
The Relentless Pursuit Of Greatness // From What Is To What If // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
They Meant Well - They Were Wrong // From What Is To What If // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
Christmas Eve - And The Darkness Could Not Overcome It // John Isemann by Sunday Podcast
It's pretty simple - I like people who like me. I like people who are like me. I like people who think like me and act like me and look like me. I don't like people who hurt me, betray me, disappoint me or disagree with me. In my efforts to be with people like me, it often leads me away from (creates some space between) people who are not like me. This Sunday, we discover the key to two giant relational struggles: accepting and forgiving.
Jesus held a worldview that you and I don't share. It was the kind of worldview that would allow Him to say things like "do not worry about what you will eat or wear" or "sell all you have and give it to the poor." These kinds of things seem radical at best, and irresponsible at worst. Yet Jesus didn't seem to think so. He lived His life (and encouraged us to live ours) with an abundance mindset and not one focused on scarcity. It was ultimately what allowed Him to say over and over "do not fear" and "why are you so afraid?" Want to see the world in a new way? Tired of holding on instead of stepping out? Escaping scarcity this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
Do you ever feel like you can see exactly what is wrong with the world and with those who lead it? In this time of crisis, as many herald the end of Western culture and civilization as we know it, how should we respond? Closer to home, the things that are broken in our communities, families, spouses, and children are easily perceived. Most of us respond in one of two basic ways: apathy or activism. Neither is necessarily wrong, but the apostle Paul shows a much more powerful way to respond to the crisis of our time - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
This fall, we focus on "The Space Between Us." As Americans, there are few things we value more than our independence. Yet, there is something deep within us that craves companionship and community. I am rarely asked to pray for "more autonomy," and most frequently asked to pray for broken relationships. How do we grow closer and heal relational wounds? And why is it that we fight so much anyway? Join us starting this Sunday on a self-awareness and healing journey, as together we try to reduce the space between us.
There is a well-worn path towards isolation. It's not paved with responsibility and ownership, but instead by blame and shame. Something happens, something hurts, something's broken - but it's not my fault. Shame is always looking for someplace to land. For may of us, it's on others. Painfully, for too many of us, it's on ourselves. Few things cause more relational breakdown than the cycle of pain and shame. How do we break free? What do I need to own and what needs to be let go? Healing the cycle of shame and blame, this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
This summer, we heard Jesus say some pretty challenging and counter-cultural things. This Sunday, we hear him say something downright offensive. "They" seem to say all roads of religion lead to the same place. Jesus begs to differ and makes a pretty exclusive claim. Are all religions really the same? How small is the gate, how narrow is the road that leads to life? And how do I find it? Gates and roads - this September Sunday at Mendham Hills.
James, the brother of Jesus, asked what I think he believed to be a rhetorical question: "What causes fights and quarrels among you?" The problem is that I'm not so sure his first century audience knew the answer. I'm pretty sure that his twenty-first century audience doesn't know either. Do you? Why do we fight and how do we stop? A method for relational reset - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
This summer, we heard Jesus say some pretty challenging and counter-cultural things. This Sunday, we hear him say something downright offensive. "They" seem to say all roads of religion lead to the same place. Jesus begs to differ and makes a pretty exclusive claim. Are all religions really the same? How small is the gate, how narrow is the road that leads to life? And how do I find it? Gates and roads - this September Sunday at Mendham Hills.
We were never meant to do this alone. Maybe a few of us could manage to build a hut on a mountain and live alone. Sometimes we like to think we can, but we were never meant to live life alone. We were built for community at some level. Yet, while living in the most densely populated state in America, we can be very lonely. This week, we will explore narrowing the distance between us and unpacking what God says about this particular topic. Let's gather up on Sunday.
Who is right, who is wrong? What is right, what is wrong? Is it my way or the highway? In an increasingly divided society, we have learned to fight and argue over just about anything. How can we actually reduce the space between us? Do we just give in? Do we fight for our rights? This Sunday, I will show you the most excellent way!
Yes we are. Well, at least Jesus is. Some of you may be familiar with basketball great Allen Iverson's aversion to practice. Spoiler alert - he didn't see much value in it. Truth is that not many of us do, either. Have you ever had to try and convince your kids to practice less? Yet, Jesus sums up his famous Sermon on the Mount with one final counter-cultural teaching: It's not what you know, it's how you practice.
Sunday services at 9 & 10:30am
A THIRD WAY
You and I have been conditioned to believe a lie. At very deep levels, we have come to believe that in the face of opposition, oppression or persecution, we have only two choices: fight or flight. When someone comes hard against us, at work or school or even at home, we either get even or get out. The truth is, and you know this if you have lived long enough, both options leave casualties in their wake. What if there was a third option - a third way of dealing with your "enemies?"
Few words in the Bible have provoked as much anger and debate as these: an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. The Lex Talionis. The Law of Retribution. Atheists claim it proves the Bible contains internal contradictions. Gandhi said it would leave the whole world blind. For the Pharisees, it was a loophole allowing them to serve up cold-hearted revenge. Jesus acknowledges that many have weighed in on these much-debated words. And once again, as his sermon crescendos, he repeats, "but I say to you," this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
In a world that is sometimes upside down, people say rewards are based on impressing people that you can see in real-time and in real space. In our summer series, Jesus goes the other way: focusing on the reality of the unseen. Lots of things are unseen, but we know they exist. Air. Internet. Wind. Gravity. In the land of mirages, what isn't seen turns out to be real; what seems to be real can be a mirage. Open your eyes...this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
Rewards are powerful things. Lose your wedding ring...I feel bad. Lose your wedding ring and post a reward...I start looking! Our ability to overcome even the most difficult of circumstances is often directly related to our perception of the reward to come. Rewards matter. The Scriptures teach that the "ancients" understood this and it fueled faith and transformation. Have we "moderns" forgotten that a reward has been posted?
I had a friend last week who, while in Guatemala, went to visit a ministry that serves children who are born both blind and deaf. All of us can certainly understand the desperate nature of their conditions. Yet, my friend told me his understanding paled in comparison to their reality - a reality that became his for a morning as they blindfolded him and placed earplugs in his ears. That reality changed his perspective. His eyes became dark and he could not see. Jesus warns us of such a condition, one He insisted was common: eyes that do not see. This Sunday, all of our teams are home from Guatemala but the question each of us must answer is...what are you looking at?
...but money talks and actions speak louder than words. So, as good cynics, when someone tells us they'll do something, we wait to see if they follow through. And, we love to lay the blame for this particular transgression at the feet of lawyers and politicians. But the truth is that the human race as a whole has a tenuous relationship with the truth. Jesus has a new challenge: Say what you mean and mean what you say - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
Living life seems like a mad dash. Racing the clock, looking over your shoulder, and trying to make time-sensitive turns can leave us gasping for air. We jump into the fray Sunday morning in our talk, unpacking what "they" say and what Jesus says. How do I keep my soul from being shattered in the process of just doing life? They say, but I say - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
John, one of the disciples of Jesus, declared that Jesus dwelt among us full of "grace and truth." It's a good thing He was full of grace because often times we can't handle the truth. This Sunday, as we continue our series on conventional wisdom vs. Jesus' teachings, we come upon a pretty controversial one: marriage. In fact, it's so controversial that after Jesus spoke on it, He got all "Jack Nicholson-like" and essentially said, "You can't handle the truth." The truth about two becoming one - this Summer Sunday at Mendham Hills.
A new summer series starts this Sunday! Jesus just switches things up. He tells crowds, "You have heard that it was said, but I say..." Not small things, but colossal things! The world says this, but I say that. The paths diverge and lead to different outcomes. This week, we drill down on how to extinguish the sources of anger in our lives. We are tackling a huge human condition and showing the path forward for all of us. Come on out and let's get this series started - together.
"And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."
Taking a turn on our Jersey roads can be exhilarating, sometimes frightening, or just an adventure. Leaning into the turn with hands on the wheel usually keeps us on the road, despite the potholes. Whether driving, running, surfing, cycling, or even being a dad, we learn to lean into the turn. This Sunday, we are talking dad stuff. Leaning into the turn stuff. Join us for a great day and some surprises!
Have you ever lost something really, really valuable? I was at a football game once, not long after I was married, and I was playing with my wedding ring. I was still not used to wearing jewelry, so I was constantly twisting and turning it and - you guessed it - off it went. I heard the "ding" of the metal hitting the concrete below, and then it was gone, never to be seen again. I was able to get another wedding ring, though. This Sunday, as we continue on in our decision month of June, what happens when the irreplaceable gets lost...and then found?
It's probably not possible to look at the forty most influential chapters in the Bible and not land in the third chapter of John's gospel. Within just a couple of lines, John records probably two of the most famous sayings of Jesus: "For God so loved the world..." and, "Lest a man be born again..." Sound familiar? Yet, the story of the man Jesus spoke those words to is so unknown. In many ways, his story is our story, his questions are our questions, and his journey to faith could be yours, too.
Unfortunately, the followers of Jesus have become known for one character trait more than any other...and it isn't love. You have probably heard the old preacher's joke in response to this unfortunately common charge. When challenged by someone in the community with, "I would never go church, it's full of hypocrites," he smiled and warmly replied, "Yes! And there is always room for one more! Why not join us this Sunday?" Witty response, but what if it's really not all that funny? Overcoming our hypocrisy this Memorial Day Sunday at Mendham Hills Community Church.
Sometimes we wonder where God is. We face issues in life and it all seems puzzling. There are times we can point to His striking awareness of our circumstances, but then there are times when He just seems aloof. Is He too busy for us? Are we just numbers on a list? This next segment in our "40 For 40" series will revolutionize our view of God and challenge us with an awareness we need to ponder deeply. Let's dig in to Psalm 139 together - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
This Sunday, bring your mom to church as we celebrate and honor a mother's love. Samuel Coleridge wrote, "The love of a mother is the veil of a softer light between the heart and the heavenly Father." I think he was on to something. There is just something different about the heart of a mom. The photo booth will be open for family pics this Mother's Day, as we reflect on what has to be the strangest Mother's Day story ever told - this Sunday at MHCC.
In a world of few moral absolutes, uncertainty seems to reign. Truths that once seemed foundational now seem optional. What about for you...personally? What are your core convictions? Do you have any? How far is too far? Where do you draw the line (if there is one)? Discovering the power of personal convictions in your life before it's too late, this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
The last words of Jesus were, "It is finished." Unfortunately, most of us live like the war still rages, like nothing is really finished at all. We live lives of caution, fear and regret, hoping to not become a casualty in a war that ended long ago. Jesus won the war over sin and death...but have you? Living in the light of victory - put another way - walking like the winner you really are, this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
The greatest prison people live in is the fear of what other people think. If the greatest battle we engage in is the battle within, then perhaps our greatest enemy is the need for approval. What would it be like to wake up one morning and realize the whole thing never really was a competition? Tired of a life striving for a constantly moving finish line? Imagine the freedom of living as if you had already won. Victory over our approval addiction - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
It seems we live in a world bent on war and filled with rumors of war. Nation against nation and brother against brother, hate seems to be the order of the day and civility is a long-dead casualty. The Bible's chock full of wars, too, leading many to wonder if God is a God of war. It is not God, though, who created humanity to live in violence, but humanity who chooses violence. It is our history, not God's. He winds up tainted by being part of our story, but the story of God is a story of peace. And that peace begins within. Winning the battle within - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
Join us this Sunday as we hear David Janssen, Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Mendham Hills, share his story of faith and the pieces that so clearly made him a believer in God. He adds to his story the Psalm that so deeply explores the heart of this amazing journey. Come and hear how our David's story and reflections on God's love tie into Psalm 103, written by another David, who knew so well the grace and love of God.
Miriam-Webster just added the term "dumpster fire" to it's renowned dictionary of the English language. That's how common the term is and how frequent the train wrecks are. Pick any synonym you want, when I messed up as a kid, my dad would ask me, "Do you have rocks in your head?" There are so many sayings because we are so good at making bad decisions and messing up our lives. Why are we often so good at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory? Heck, often times I know the right decision and still make the wrong one. This Sunday, before you toss another match in the dumpster, discover the "expulsive power of a new affection.
What is it that you depend on? I guess it "depends" on the situation. On a staircase, it's the railing. On a plane, it's the captain. In a marriage, it's my spouse. Have you ever noticed that your courage, faith and willingness to risk is directly related to what it is you depend on? Ever get in a plane with a captain you don't trust? Would you marry someone with wandering affections? This Sunday at MHCC, we discover a foundational truth in all of the Scriptures - how to be bold in a world full of fear and anxiety.
This Sunday, we continue 40 For 40 - our journey through the 40 most influential chapters in all of the Scriptures. Name a religion and there's a set of rules. Judaism has ten commandments, Islam has the five pillars, Hinduism has the four principles, Buddhists have five moral precepts. What's with all the rules? Do you know of anyone who has walked away from faith because they got confused or tired of trying to keep them all? Have you? This Sunday - Jesus, religion and the role of rules.
This Sunday, we launch into our new series, "40 For 40" as together we explore the forty most essential themes in the Scriptures. Let's be honest - approaching the Bible can often times be intimidating (where do you start?), confusing (what does this even mean?), or defeating (have you tried and given up?). This Sunday, with the help of a forty day devotional guide, we begin an eight week journey through the biggest eight ideas in all of the Bible, in pursuit of not just knowledge, but truth and transformation. These stories are too good to be true, but they are. Commit to these forty days with us and let's see if you don't come out the other side seeing God, and maybe yourself, in a way you never imagined.
If you're old enough for this to sound familiar, you just began to sway. Who knew Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock had such wisdom? This simple rhyme taps into a pretty deep - but often-hidden - spiritual truth. A truth that Paul, an early follower of Christ, said he had to learn. A secret truth he said he had to "be initiated into," a truth about finding joy and purpose, even in the pain. This Sunday, discover the secret purpose of the "stuff."
The playwright and novelist, James Baldwin, once remarked, "Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." The apostle Paul also acknowledged this truth when we said, "Follow me as I follow Christ." When stuff happens, we may forget everything we think we know about handling crisis, but we will inevitably gravitate towards the actions of those we have watched walk through it before us. A model to imitate - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
Sometimes when the "stuff" in my life is really spinning out of control, I start looking around. You would think my first thought would be to look for help, a way out. Nope. Do I look for a lesson to be learned from all of this? Not on your life - I'm in no mood for a lesson. When the stuff really hits hard, I have a couple of more primal concerns - wrong ones - and so do you. This Sunday at Mendham Hills, we learn the wrong questions to ask in our stuff, and the right one to help us make some sense of it all.
I had a new friend meet me at the front of the church last week with a pretty profound question: "If God is so powerful and He loves us so much, why doesn't He keep stuff from happening in our lives?" Great question. I mean, we play by the rules, we work hard, we pray and pray and pray...and yet the stuff just doesn't seem to change or go away. Why God? What is all this stuff happening to me? Why won't you just take it away or fix it? The unwanted gift of our stuff - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
God, where are you? It's a pretty common question. Live long enough and you'll find yourself asking it. Heck, even Jesus came to the point of saying, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Have you? I mean, if God is in control, why does my life so often seem out of control? Looking for what God is up to in your life? You may be only one moment away because it just so happens...
George Thorogood sang it, Jesus answered it. If love is a verb, if love is a command, then who do we love? Maybe you or a skeptical friend have had trouble rationalizing a God of love with a world full of hate. How am I supposed to love my enemies when I have trouble loving my spouse? Learning to love everybody, always - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things." So said the apostle Paul. He grew up, he matured...but in regards to what? He was not speaking generally, but specifically. He grew up. He changed the way he spoke, understood, and thought about love. Most of us never do, though. When it comes to love, we still think and speak like children and wonder why our Barbie Dream House images wind up more like an Adam's Family haunted house. This week, we conclude our "Love Does" series, and here's a hint - Love Wins!
"...to love somebody." Great song, but an even deeper truth. Jesus said as much when he said, "A new command I give you: Love one another as I have loved you." Why is it that we spend so much time and effort on every other command, and so little on what would become known as the "great one?" Who taught you how to love? If you think it's just natural, think again. This weekend we launch our new series, "Love Does." You and I really don't know how to love somebody, and it's time we learn. A series that could transform and save every relationship you have begins this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
Always, not sometimes. Always, not once-in-a-while. Always, not occasionally. Always, not some day. Seems kind of repetitive, right? That's the point. For most of us, love is kind of like a dance - there's a back and forth to it. You give, I give. You take, I take. That is not the kind of love that is the singular command of Jesus. Nor is it the kind of love He has for you. What does love always, always, always, always do? Find out this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
I'm kind of an old school guy. Sure, I pay my bills online now, but I refuse to check the box asking me to "go paperless." I still want the bill to come in the mail. I want to hold it in my hand, review it, and then file it away. This way, at a moment's notice, I can simply go to my filing cabinet and be reminded of who I paid for what and when. My memory might fade, but my filing cabinet is there forever. Oh, yeah...I also want to do that with things that people have done or said that hurt, disappointed or angered me. I have filed them away and I can bring them back at a moment's notice. How about you? We have a singular command - to love. This is NOT what love does. Destroying the record of wrongs, this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
Jesus summed up all the Old Testament Laws and Prophets with two new commands: Love God and love others. One of His early followers, the Apostle Paul, went even further when he wrote, "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." For them, the command to love had nothing to do with a feeling. Jesus commanded an action, and then Jesus showed us how to love. This Sunday at Mendham Hills, we look at the dirty little word behind real love. Warning: You might not like it, but if you really want to know what love is, Jesus will show you.
Kickoff 2018 is here! Are you old enough to remember the classic and oft-repeated line that came over the public address system after every Elvis concert? That's right! "Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building." Elvis stole that line. It was God's first. He used it a long time ago. Yet, we keep forgetting that God is not in a box - God has left the building. Try as we might, He just won't stay put. This Kickoff Sunday, invite a friend along for the fun, food and message - church re-explained!
"Time rolls by the clock don't stop / I wish I had a few more drops of the good stuff, the good times / Oh, but they just keep on flying right on by like it ain't nothing / Wish I had me a pause button / Moments like those, Lord knows I'd hit it and give myself five more minutes."
Found myself singing this song a lot this week as summer faded into fall and the kids went back to school. Time is going by so fast - I wish I could just pause it or at least slow it down. How about you? One day, my kids were young - and now, they are almost grown and gone! This week at Mendham Hills - how to buy yourself five more minutes (and how to spend them!).
This Sunday we wrap up our summer-long look at Jesus' directive to "pray this way." What if I told you the ending you know and love and sing of "The Lord's Prayer" isn't really the ending? Would it matter? Should it matter? The truth is Jesus actually ends His model prayer with a story about unlocking the power of prayer. Ever feel like you pray so much and see so little? The often-untold story of the Lord's Prayer...the story that doesn't end the way you think it does...this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
Life is complex. There are things that happen to us that can shatter our world. In the midst of our hurts and hurried lives, how can we stay focused and follow where Jesus leads? In our series on The Lord's Prayer, we reach a place where it is asked, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." So we are asking God to help us avoid some things, but where do we GO? The disciples followed Jesus up on a mountain where he told them the places that they are truly led. Join us Sunday at Mendham Hills to find out where Jesus wants to lead you and me.
As Blondie sings on their 1978 single, “One way, or another / I'm gonna find ya' / I'm gonna get ya', get ya', get ya'." What do you do when someone gets you? You get even. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. We sing about it and watch movies about it. We love the taste of revenge. But Jesus teaches something quite different - almost unthinkable. Find out why prayer is at the heart of one of Jesus' most upside-down teachings, this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
Growing up, many of the arguments between my siblings and I were ended with one of my parents yelling out, "Enough is enough already!" Turns out that was some of the best advice I was ever given. In fact, in His model prayer, Jesus encourages us to pray for simply that - enough. There are real dangers attached to believing in a world of scarcity and praying for more. What happens when we believe in a world of abundance and begin to pray for just enough? "Give us this day our daily bread," Sunday at Mendham Hills.
If you have taken an international flight, you've seen the sign that says something like, "U.S. Border," and an immigration agent will ask to see your passport. If you're a citizen, they let you through with very little trouble. But if you are a foreigner, they might have a few questions about the nature of your visit. Airports are one of the places where the divisions between the various geographical areas that make up our world are the most visible. Jesus himself talked about a kingdom over which He is the King. Come out this Sunday to find out how His Kingdom looks different than what you might think, and how it affects the way you pray.
How would you rate your sense of direction? When you're driving, do you always seem to know where to go? Or do you get lost going one town over? Remember the days of before GPS, when you would have to stop and ask for directions? Those were the worst. Now, thanks to my iPhone, I'm never lost. I might not know where I am, but with a few words ("Siri get directions for...") I'll be all set and back on course. For many of us, we wish we had a GPS for life. At times, we find our lives heading in a completely different direction then what we thought. We find ourselves asking the question, "How did I get here and where I am going?" Join us this Sunday at MHCC as we look to a God who is always directing and guiding, even when we are lost and unsure of the path to take.
As Shakespeare's Juliet once posed, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." And that might be true, but make no mistake about it, names matter. Some recent research suggests that names can influence choice of profession, where we live, who we marry, the grades we earn, the stocks we invest in, whether we’re accepted to a school or are hired for a particular job, and the quality of our work. Maybe that's why Jesus prioritized a prayer about God's name. Have you lived your life wanting and hoping to make something of your name? Here's your chance - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
At the beach this week with my five year old nephew, I noticed something he has said just about every day. When his older cousins were riding the waves, he would watch how they did it, how far they rode them, and then ask, "Can you teach me?" We were flying kites, making them dive towards the ground and soar back up, and again came the question, "Can you teach me?" He wanted to have the same fun and the same results we were having, and he knew doing it his way just wouldn't cut it. So, with child-like humility, he simply asked, "Can you teach me?" It was the same desire and humility that had an early follower of Jesus questioning Him about prayer. They saw how powerfully He did it, and the incredible results, and simply asked, "Can you teach me?" And He did. This summer, in very real and practical ways, along with some child-like humility, we will learn to pray like Jesus prayed. Pray This Way - a summer-long look at The Lord's Prayer.
What impact am I making with my life? Am I making any difference in this world? What is my legacy? Legacy is not something we look at too often. But if we did, would it make a difference in the way we live our lives? Building our legacy means to live intentionally, seeking to make the most of every opportunity. This Sunday, we look at the life of Esther and take away some powerful and practical lessons of how we can make the most of every opportunity in our world.
As we conclude our series on Jesus's invitation to follow, we look at the power of godly leaders. Who is the leader of your pack...the one who sets the direction, pace, and destination? With a nod towards fathers, we examine the power of parents - specifically dads when it comes to the direction of future generations. In many ways, the direction Dad takes is the directions kids follow. If you follow often, so will they, and potentially generations to come. This Sunday, it's Fathers' Day and decision day at Mendham Hills. Who will you follow and who will you lead?
One of the followers of Jesus, a disciple named Thomas, asked Him a pretty big question - one that anyone following someone would want to know. "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" It's a pretty common question, maybe humanity's most asked: "How do you get to heaven?" And when it comes to questions like this, they inevitably lead to more questions like, "Have I been good enough? Have I done enough? Have I given enough to get there? Are there many paths and ways to heaven? Do all roads lead to the same place?" This Sunday, as we look at the call of Jesus to follow, we discover how to get there from here.
This Memorial Day weekend, we wrap up our Attitude Adjustment series with a look at what happens when our attitudes go unchecked and unchanged. Narcissism is the place where all bad attitudes eventually lead. Paul, an apostle of Jesus, told his "son in the faith," Timothy, "There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves." In a culture hyper-focused on ME, how do we take our eyes - our thoughts - off of ourselves long enough to really love another? This Sunday at Mendham Hills, it turns out it really is not all about you.
As the great philosopher Taylor Swift sang, "Haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate." That's just what they do. Unfortunately, there is just a little bit of "hater" in all of us. We have a propensity towards critical spirits and judgmental attitudes. Why do we judge so quickly and harshly? We are commanded to have the attitude of Jesus and He has a pretty famous saying about judging. Does that mean we don't judge anything or anyone...ever? This Sunday, we take the logs out of our own eyes and the splinters out of others', as we adjust our judgmental attitudes.
This Mothers' Day Sunday, we take a pause from our attitude adjusting to focus on the women in our lives. Jesus, in His earthly ministry, championed the cause and value of women like no other. In fact, I would argue that in many ways, our culture is now just catching up. Yet, is it possible that in correcting one societal ill, we have created another? Jesus said, "Come ...all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you...and you will find rest for your souls." Wouldn't it be wonderful if we fully applied this truth to the women in our lives amidst what has become a culture replete with unrealistic expectations, allowing them some rest for their souls? Destroying the myth of "Superwoman," this Mothers' Day at Mendham Hills.
Have you ever tried to use a fancy word and have it backfire? I have. It was pretty embarrassing. I thought I knew what it meant, but I was awkwardly and painfully wrong. In fact, I hurt someone's feelings and left some "carnage in my wake" all because I though I knew something I didn't. Turns out, the older I get, the more aware I am of my propensity to think I know things that I really don't, and carnage results. I just thought I knew how to love God, love my wife, or parent my kids. Turns out, I didn't know as much as I thought. My attitude was, "I knew it all." Turns out, I didn't and I don't. So, how do I learn...change? This week at Mendham Hills, we embrace a bit of ignorance and learn what it means to be imitators. Oh, and a surprise guests helps me. You don't want to miss this!
Christianity remains the dominant religion in our country with about 75% of people polled identifying themselves as adherents. I would counter that there appears to be a more dominant faith amongst us. The religion of our day, which almost all of us seem to be following at one level or another, is cynicism. Cynicism is, in many ways, the complete opposite of faith or belief. It crushes hope and fuels apathy, distrust, depression and disdain. If everyone has an agenda or an ulterior motive, who can I trust? Is there anything or anyone I can actually believe in? Why am I so cynical? Conquering the sin of cynicism – this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
All of us, in one way or another, are in need of an attitude adjustment - but where do we begin? How about with the worst kind of attitude? The one attitude that all of us share, the one we hate in others but refuse to see in ourselves. There is no attitude that makes one more unpopular, and the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others. It is, as C.S. Lewis wrote, "the chief cause of misery in every nation and every family since the world began and leads to every other vice." Yeah, lets start with changing that one - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
Christmas mornings last a lot longer now that my kids are older. When they were young, it seemed like a month's worth of preparation was over in half a minute. They tore into the presents, barely looking at what they had unwrapped before casting it aside and picking up the next. No reflection, no appreciation, just pure consumption. It was like they felt entitled to all those things and when the last package was opened, it was not done with an "attitude of gratitude," but through tears because there wasn't more. Can you imagine? Blessing after blessing, gift after gift, and yet, they were miserable. Good thing we grow out of that...or do we? Maybe we need a change in attitude.
I really want to take control of my life. If I had my way, every step on the journey would fall exactly into proper place. Few of them do, though. The reason so many of us feel like our lives are out of control is...they are. Time has taught us a painful truth: there is very little in our lives we can actually command. What if there was one thing we could control that impacted everything we couldn't? Imagine controlling the one thing that impacts everything? Controlling my one thing this Sunday at Mendham Hills - it's time for an attitude adjustment.
One of the things I loved about being a dad was introducing my kids to new experiences - their first ball game, first amusement park, first ride on a plane. Of course, not every first was fun. There were also first shots, first stitches, first funerals. One common question they had that put every fear to rest and built up hope for what was coming was, "Dad, what will it be like?" Jesus proclaimed our great hope was not merely what was in heaven, but the "renewal of all things." And so, in order to have our fears flee and our hope grow, the question rings out from our childlike hearts, "What will it be like?" Fight fear and build hope, this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
We've spent the winter looking at our Origins; it's time to look at our Destination. Where does our story end? What happens at my end? Our fear of death is supercharged by the fear of the unknown. What if it could be known? What if you knew what it will be already? Despite what you have been told, you are not getting wings, a harp, and going to an eternal church service in the sky. It is so, so much better than that and when you understand what will happen there, it will change forever how you live here. Come find out why you won't wind up in heaven and discover a hope that can conquer any fear.
Some of us spend our lives trying to be like someone else. Others of us spend our lives trying to be what someone else told us we should be. Still others wrestle years away trying to "find themselves." Most of us fade into our golden years with regret and wonder - who is the me I was meant to be? Discovering ourselves, this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
Influence - all of us have some and most of us want more. As adults, we fight for it, and as parents, we worry about it. Who are you intentionally influencing? Maybe a more interesting question is who are you unintentionally influencing and how? As we look back at our history, our shared nature, the question arises as to the impact of nurture and influence in our lives. Do I do what I do because they did what they did? The power of influence in our lives and over our lives this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew When I bit off more than I could chew But through it all, when there was doubt I ate it up and spit it out I faced it all and I stood tall And did it my way
Frank Sinatra's iconic ballad roars, and our independent, 21st Century hearts soar as we join in the chorus. Yet, if we are honest, doing it "my way" sometimes leads to "my mess." Is there another way? A better way? This Sunday, a look at "Father Abraham," the mess of his ways, the mess of our ways, and the better way.
This Super Bowl Sunday, the question begs answering again: Does defense really win championships, or is it all about offense? For many of us, life mimics football, offering us the same two choices regarding how we live. Some of us are hard-chargers, modern day warriors grabbing life by the horns. Others of us have been so beat up that it's much more about caution, safety and protection. Should life be lived on offense, defense, or is there another way? Life lessons from a Nimrod, this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
I can remember one of my first toys being a Noah's Ark play set. Thousands of years post-flood, and Noah and his animals are as ubiquitous as ever. Most of us think we know the story; most of us don't. If we did, if we understood it, it's about the last story we would read at bedtime. The real story of Noah is one replete with death, destruction, family dysfunction, sexual innuendo, generational curses, sexism, racism, and lots of ancient (and not-so-ancient) lessons about life for people like you and me. A look at what happened when God started over - Noah, the "grown-up" version, this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
The word "genesis" and the word "gene" or "genetic" are the same word. Everything in you is determined by your genetic code. So, too, is everything in history - it is merely a playing out of our shared genes, which are exposed so clearly in this book of origins. Ever feel like most of your life, you are just waiting for "the other shoe to drop," or that there is trouble lurking, waiting to pounce on you, your family, or your dreams? Yeah, Genesis explains that, too. The enemy is crouching at your door - learn how to escape this Sunday at Mendham Hills!
It's time to tackle the big questions - "Who am I? Why am I here?" In moments of personal reflection, have you ever wondered, "Why do I do what I do?" In moments of relational frustration, have you ever wondered, "Why does he/she do what they do?" During Origins, we will explore our shared beginnings, our humanistic tendencies, our familial issues, and our one communal great hope. It's a lot easier to get where you want to go when you know where it is you began.
Almost everyone makes New Year's resolutions. As resolution, as commonly defined, is a firm decision to stop or start doing something. The problem is, for most of us, that decision turns out to not be all that firm. What if this year, we replace resolutions with a revolution - a literal overthrow and replacement of the "old you." Is that even possible? This New Year's Sunday at Mendham Hills, we will present to you the tools and an incredible new free gift to prepare you for the battle. Too much is at stake for all of us to simply roll into 2018 without a plan for change - come this Sunday and discover yours.
The prophet Isaiah foresaw the completed promise of God: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father..." This newborn king would not merely be a reflection of your earthly father, but the revelation of a perfect father. This prophecy carries with it the promise of adoption, sonship and inheritance. If you have ever had your breath taken away by a Christmas gift, just wait until you glimpse the inheritance coming for the heirs of God.
He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God...how mighty? One of the reasons Christmas hope has gone the way of tinsel is that we have lost our sense of awe and wonder! The Bible teaches that in response to what God was up to at Christmas, "even the angels stood amazed as they watched these events unfold." Has the story of Christmas lost its amazement factor for you? Perhaps it's time to stand in awe again. This Sunday at Mendham Hills, join us as we discover just how great, just how awesome, just how mighty this infant lying in a manger really is and why His promise can still change your world.
Remember Christmas the way it used to be? The lights, the garland, the hope? It seems that hope has gone the way of tinsel...something that used to be a part of Christmas, but today seems kind of outdated. Is it still possible for the reality of Christmas morning to meet the expectations of Christmas Eve? Join us as we launch a Christmas trip through the decades, exploring the promise of Christmas. His name is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Nothing competes with God for our hearts like money. And perhaps no one thing breaks up families and shipwrecks lives more than money. The love of it really is the root of all kinds of evil. This Sunday, we conclude our series, "In God We Trust," with a look at ten biblical principles related to our stuff - five "thou shall" and five "thou shall not" commands related to our finances. Lessons on maintaining balance in life, achieving financial freedom, living on purpose, and the use of money as a tool instead of an end-goal, as we learn to live like it really is, "In God We Trust."
How do you measure your life? How do you define it's success? Is life to be measured on a happiness scale? Is it all about relationships or legacies? Jesus literally yelled out to people just like you and me, "Watch out! Be on your guard!" For what? Well, something that we get confused about regarding the purpose of our lives - something for which Jesus saved another exclamation, "You fools!" This Sunday at Mendham Hills, a lesson on what life must not consist of.
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Our hearts follow our treasure, and Jesus wants your heart. So, it's incredibly important what we do with our treasure. In light of this foundational truth, the question needs to be asked: What's the plan for your treasure? Do you have one? How can you be sure you are serving God and not money? This Sunday at Mendham Hills, an incredibly practical discussion and guide to serving the right master. Having your financial house in order has more implications to this life - and the next - than you would think.
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Our hearts follow our treasure, and Jesus wants your heart. So, it's incredibly important what we do with our treasure. In light of this foundational truth, the question needs to be asked: What's the plan for your treasure? Do you have one? How can you be sure you are serving God and not money? This Sunday at Mendham Hills, an incredibly practical discussion and guide to serving the right master. Having your financial house in order has more implications to this life - and the next - than you would think.
“In God We Trust.” Really? For most of us, it’s more like, “In God We Wish,” or, “In God We Have a Backup Plan.” Have you ever noticed how easy it is to trust God with things you can’t control (where, really, you have no choice anyway…) or with the things that cost you little? Perhaps there is no greater irony than printing “In God We Trust” on our money because the truth is that our money is so often where we place our greatest trust. The Bible speaks of prayer approximately 500 times. There are less than 500 verses on faith. Money, however, is referenced over 2,000 times. In fact, 15% of the recorded words of Jesus are about money. Why? Because there is no greater suitor for your heart or threat to your soul than money. So, in whom or in what do you trust? Time to discover where our treasure really is (and our hearts) as we take a very practical look at what Jesus would not ignore - our money.
This Sunday, as we wrap up our series on God's great self-revelation statement, we get to the question you have all been asking: "What's up with the ending?" "He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation." (Exodus 34:7) Yahweh is compassionate, gracious, and maintains love to thousands, but he punishes innocent children? Well, not exactly. Yet, He is serious about the plague of generational sin. A message every parent needs to hear about Yahweh, the baggage we pass down to our kids, and finally being set free from generations of brokenness - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
We leave. Things get tough, touchy, boring, dry, or someone does something or says something that offends us and we bolt. We are outta here! We leave jobs, cities, churches, friendships and marriages. We just cut ties and move on. Yahweh, He is different. Yahweh, He stays. You see, Yahweh has a deal with you - a covenant, a promise. It's probably not what you think, but there is one thing you should know: He will suffer any hardship and pay any price to keep it. This Sunday at Mendham Hills, we discover a God "abounding in love and faithfulness," a God who keeps His promises, a God who never leaves.
God is love (at least according to the Bible). We love this attribute of God - we lean into it, we celebrate it, we highlight it to our friends. Yet, what do we do with all those stories and scriptures about His anger or His wrath? Is an angry God compatible with a loving God? If God is angry, what does that mean for me? What makes Him angry? Do I? This God - who insists we call Him Yahweh, the One who is compassionate, gracious, and abounding in love - also reveals Himself as one who, although slow to it, gets angry. Understanding a God slow to anger - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
We all know someone like this - no matter how good the situation is, how well things have worked out, or how many blessings they have, they still feel cheated. Their baseline or default emotion is anger and they are always upset about something. Yet, most of us also know someone who, no matter the challenge, the hardship or the curse, remain happy and optimistic. Their default emotion is joy. Have you ever paused in life to reflect on your own baseline emotion? How you ever wondered about God's? What is God's default feeling and position towards you, and if you really understood that and believed it, what could that change in your life? Your destiny? Yahweh, the compassionate and gracious God, this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
So, God has a name and it is not God, it is Yahweh. That's what He wanted to be called. Why? Practically, what does it mean for how we relate to Him? For example, when I pray, does it really matter? Is God's mind made up already, or can it be changed? Is God unchanging or not? If He is unchanging, why would it matter if I pray? If He can be changed, well then, how should I pray? Once we begin to realize that God has a name and a person-hood, it sure does raise a lot of questions. Come get some answers - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
Yahweh makes some pretty stunning claims. He refers to Himself as The Creator God, The Everlasting God and The All-Knowing God. Yet, perhaps the boldest and most startling claim is the He is "El Elyon" - The God Most High. He is The God above all the other gods. Other gods? Are there other, lesser gods? Yahweh says He is jealous over you, so are there others vying for your affections? What would that mean? How much could that explain? Starting to wonder if everything you see is not all that there is? There is an eternal battle raging, and your heart is the prize. Yahweh amongst the gods - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
So, God has a name and it is not God, it is Yahweh. That's what He wanted to be called. Why? Practically, what does it mean for how we relate to Him? For example, when I pray, does it really matter? Is God's mind made up already, or can it be changed? Is God unchanging or not? If He is unchanging, why would it matter if I pray? If He can be changed, well then, how should I pray? Once we begin to realize that God has a name and a person-hood, it sure does raise a lot of questions. Come get some answers - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
Did you know God has a name - and it's not God? Does it matter that God has a name and why should anyone care? What if in revealing His name, He also revealed who He is, who is God? While the vast majority of people still believe in God, this "God" is often just a projection of their own values, morals, and ideas. The current state and history of our world attests to that danger. Together, let's discover what God has said about himself - who He says He is. His true identity and character are both far different and far better than we could ever imagine.
What a "Welcome Back" we have on tap at Mendham Hills this Sunday - it's Kickoff 2017! Come hungry for food, friends and fun, with all kinds of new surprises in store for the coming church year. This is truly a Sunday you can't afford to miss! We launch into a new season of ministry together with an introspective and inspirational look at ourselves. Who are we as a people, a community, and why do we do what we do? What's our point, our purpose, our plan? It's the perfect week to invite a friend as each and every ministry will be on display, and together we focus on squad goals for a new church year. Come and find your place!
It seems that there is an ever-increasing amount of violence in our world. Watching the news, you see the consequences of hate, bigotry and greed. So what do we do when presented with unspeakable evil and violence? Are we always called to "turn the other cheek?" Is there ever a time to stand up? To stand against? Are we allowed to express our frustration and anger? Are we allowed to ask God to eradicate evil and those propagating violence? We wrap up our summer series, David & Bono, with a look at a Psalm that is so honest and raw, it leaves us wondering - "Am I allowed to say that?"
The data is in and it is indisputable: we are a people under stress like never before. According to a recent Bloomberg article, we just broke the American Psychological Association’s all-time stress record. Money, work, the economy, and now a political environment like no other have all conspired to put us on edge. You couple these factors with the natural fears of man, including the greatest fears of all – sickness and death – and we become a people in search of some relief. Yet, the places we seek to find it often lead to dead ends, addictions, disappointments, or worse. This Sunday, David, Bono, and the Psalms teach on fear…and its relief.
"Bad company corrupts good character." How many times have you said this to your children? How many times was this said to you when you were young? It might be one of our favorite verses to quote to kids and teens alike. And while most of us believe this to be true when it comes to our kids, do we believe it's true for us? Maybe it doesn't apply because, "I'm a mature adult - I can handle it." If we want to be able to stand firm and solid in faith, the very first Psalm gives us direction on the kind of people we should surround ourselves with. Join us as we continue our summer series on the Psalms - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
"Bad company corrupts good character." How many times have you said this to your children? How many times was this said to you when you were young? It might be one of our favorite verses to quote to kids and teens alike. And while most of us believe this to be true when it comes to our kids, do we believe it's true for us? Maybe it doesn't apply because, "I'm a mature adult - I can handle it." If we want to be able to stand firm and solid in faith, the very first Psalm gives us direction on the kind of people we should surround ourselves with. Join us as we continue our summer series on the Psalms - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
The brutal honesty of the Psalms continues this week with a sincere inward reflection. We have, as followers of Jesus, been adopted by God, forgiven, restored and renewed. We are "joint heirs" of an unspeakably glorious Kingdom, blessed with an unfathomable inheritance. Many of us know these truths - we can memorize and recite them, right down to the biblical passage from which they are drawn. Yet, and here comes the honesty of the Psalms, why am I still so unfulfilled? The Psalmists, much like each of us, cries out to God, "Why is there so much turmoil in me and why does the mourning just go on and on?" This Sunday at Mendham Hills, come wrestle with God and allow your heart to discover and feel what your head already knows.
As a culture, we've been educated about things like proper diet and effective exercise, and as a result, we've gotten much better about taking care of ourselves. Many of us have made lifestyle changes with regard to what we eat, and some of us have even joined a gym...all in an attempt to feel better and enjoy a better quality of life. Now, let me ask you a question - how have you educated yourself and what have you done to take care of the most important part of your being? I'm talking about your soul - that intangible and mystical part of each of us that represents the very core of our personhood. Did you know that your soul can get tired? Is yours? This Sunday at Mendham Hills as Bono sings Psalm 23 we'll diagnose the problem and look for answers for an epidemic among us: soul fatigue. Are you weary? Come and find rest.
Inspired by the conflict in Northern Ireland, U2 released one of their iconic recordings - Sunday Bloody Sunday - in 1983. The song lyrically poses a question common to the writers of the Scriptures, "How long, how long must we sing this song?" While spending this week walking in some of the poorest places on earth - dry, hot and broken places - I found myself asking the same question: how long Lord, how much longer must we sing this same song? This week as we kick off our new series, "David & Bono | When the Word Sings," we'll take an honest look at the pain in the world, and try to figure out together how to sing a new song.
When I was a kid, I attended a lot of weddings, participated in a lot of weddings, and loved it all - the food, the music, and the dancing. But until I got married, I didn't realize just how much planning and work it takes to make a wedding happen. Choosing the venue, the caterer, the photographer, the florist, the dress, the tuxes or suits (and on and on it goes) requires a lot of research and investigation. A lot of TIME. It's exhausting. Can you imagine doing all that work, investing all that energy into planning the perfect day and then forgetting to invite anyone? All your effort would be wasted. In the Bible, Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven as a "great banquet" - a perfectly prepared celebration like nothing we've attended before. And guess what? He sent out invitations! "The pleasure of your company is requested" at the celebration at MHCC this Sunday as we look at the power held in a simple invitation - the power to change a life for eternity.
The concept of a God for many people, maybe for you, is somewhat abstract. We love the idea of "a God." We certainly hope for a benevolent deity, but in the day-to-day, it sure would be nice to have a more tangible presence. When life gets tough, I would really love to have a "God with skin on" to go to. In the final days of the life of Jesus, we see that God saw fit to provide just what His children were looking for - a very real and present Father. This Father's Day, we will ask the dads among us to take a note. Our kids need the same thing... "a Father with skin on."
In what I believe will be one of our more powerful gatherings of the year, this Sunday we take a hard look at what we are ashamed of. Perhaps nothing impacts our own identities more than who it is we "hang out" with. We want to be seen as cool and popular, so we strive to be seen with, well, the cool and popular. Maybe we even have some public friends (the ones we want to be seen with) and some private friends (the ones we invite to our homes, but not out for dinner). Who do you want to be identified with? Or identified as? And does it matter? As we prepare for our annual baptism gathering in a couple of weeks, a question echoes across the centuries that each of us must answer: Who do you want to be identified with and who are you ashamed of? It matters...it really matters.
I lose things - lots of things - all the time. I lose keys and coats, phones and cards. It is so bad that for Christmas, my daughter got me Bluetooth-enabled discs to attach to my keys and wallet. Heck, as I write this, I can't find my new winter jacket. Most of the time I find my stuff, and when I don't. it can be replaced. Have you ever lost something irreplaceable - something you can't simply go to the store and buy new? Maybe a parent, a friend, a child? That's a profound level of loss and one worthy of not only mourning, but a search to end all searches. This week, in perhaps the most revealing chapter in his book, Luke proposes that we take a look at things valued and things lost. Search parties and homecoming celebrations - this Sunday at MHCC.
"I'm bored." Has that thought ever crossed your mind during a conversation with someone? It has for me. And, it has happened during my conversations with God as much as with another person. Does that surprise you? Now, I have listened to preachers tell me all about the benefits of prayer. I have read books that sing of the joys of prayer. And still, as I am praying, that thought can pop into my head..."I'm bored." But, prayer isn't boring. So why does it so often seem that way? Come to Mendham Hills this Memorial Day weekend and together, let's find out why.
In 2013, Forbes published an article entitled, "The 35 Questions That Will Change Your Life." There are some pretty good questions on that list: What is your WHY? If you weren't scared, what would you do? Are your "shoulds" getting in the way of your happiness? These are good, deep questions, worthy of reflection. Jesus, as recorded in detail by the physician, Luke, asks THE most profound question of all time. How we answer that question has greater temporal and eternal impact than any question ever asked. How you answer that question has the ability to usher you into the life you have been looking for here on this earth and into the life to come. We all have to answer this one simple question, and the truth is that we have all answered Jesus. So, what's your answer? Are you sure?
My wife loves to garden. To me, it seems like hard and dirty work, but she finds it relaxing. To me, the couch is relaxing. To my wife, crawling around in the dirt and breaking up the soil restores her soul. This Mother's Day, after you hit the Mother's Day Photo Booth, listen as Luke relates the story of a gardener, soil, seeds, and souls. Has your heart grown hard? Has your soul grown weary? Was there a time in your life when passion for today and vision for tomorrow was the norm, and now you are just trying to make it through the day? This Sunday, with a special nod to moms interested in sowing a heart for God in their kids, we take a second look at our soul and the seeds of life that need to be sown and grown.
I'm not sure how it developed, but there is an age-old question that all of us have been asked, or pondered ourselves: "Would you rather be deaf or blind?" In fact, if you "google it," there are nearly 700,000 responses. This Sunday, we wrestle with the same question. Luke recounts a story of Jesus and offers up a second opinion on what it is we think we see. At one point, Jesus asks a haunting question: "Do you see this woman?" I think He is still asking you and me that same question. How well do we see each other? Who do we see when we look in the mirror? This Sunday, we get a second opinion on our eyesight. Maybe, just maybe, you have been looking at things and seeing people - even yourself - incorrectly. May you have eyes to see.
Luke, the physician and author of the most detailed account of Jesus, continues to offer us a second opinion on life and faith. Ever feel like you have been sold "a bill of goods?" The product you sacrificed to save for and purchased, in retrospect, turned out to be so much less than promised. I have had vacations like this and cars like this - heck, I just got a pair of Groupon shoes like this! The product did not live up to the promise. This can be disappointing when it comes to cars, but debilitating when it comes to faith. Has your experience with Christianity not lived up to the promises you felt were made? Were you lied to? Want to know what happened? This Sunday, come and get a second opinion.
Oscar Wilde once quipped, "I can resist anything except temptation." We all know it, we have all felt it, and at one time or another we have given in to it - temptation. This Sunday, we kick off a new series with a focus on lessons we can learn from the book of Luke. Jesus no sooner starts his ministry and He is immediately led into temptation. Can you relate? Wilde would go on to say, "The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it." Is that true? What do all of our temptations have in common? How did Jesus overcome? How can you? It's time to stand up to temptation before it's too late - let's start together this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
In Part Two of our series, "Who Is This Man?" we take a look at a side of Jesus rarely discussed. Was He loving? Of course. Was He kind? Absolutely. Did He ever get angry? He sure did! The centuries have softened our Savior into what some would perceive to be a quiche-eating, sheep-petting lightweight. But, the truth is, being a pushover rarely gets people crucified. This Sunday, we take a look at what makes this man angry and how His justifiable anger changed the world. Will it change you?
An old saying postulates that "familiarity breeds contempt," the thought being that the more you know someone, the more you see their flaws and imperfections. There is some truth to that with regards to human relationships, but what about familiarity with regards to Jesus? In a culture where Christ saturates our history, is it possible that His ubiquity has bred a loss of reverence? Have we lost our appreciation for who He was, what He did, and what He is doing? This Sunday, we begin to take a fresh look at the inescapable Jesus and His millennials-long impact on our world. The real question is - has He impacted yours?
God is calling us into a place of uncertainty with this end in mind - it's for the sake of Jesus. It's not for the sake of accomplishing goals or of mission, it's for Him. What do our priorities look like when we filter them through this lens? In Luke 10, we are challenged to go into the world as "sheep among wolves," knowing that God's Kingdom looks upside down many people, and our very lives could be threatened. But if it's for the sake of Jesus, there is fulfillment and motivation for the mission, even in an uncertain world. This Sunday, come and hear about how we are a part of a bigger picture and how God is calling leaders here and around the world - for the sake of Jesus.
I recently went to a friends' house to see their new baby. When I arrived, the first thing we talked about was who the baby looked like. We said things like, "He has his nose," and, "He has her eyes." Have you had a similar experience? Parents will even be quick to say, "He got that from me!" But, as babies grow into kids, and then into teenagers, we sometimes quit claiming responsibility. Some of the things we have passed on are not what we intended. This concept stretches beyond parent/child relationships and into just about every aspect of our lives. What am I passing on to my spouse, friends, and co-workers? This week at Mendham Hills, we look at the questions - Am I passing on my faith? Or am I passing on my fear?
Fear is paralyzing. It keeps us in bad jobs, dysfunctional relationships, and firmly affixed to our couches. Trust, on the other hand, is incredibly liberating. Trust is what allows the little girl to jump off the pool ledge and into her daddy's arms. Trust is what undergirds strong marriages. Trust is what allows us to "walk on water." How can we move from fear to trust? Tired of fear keeping you stuck? This week at Mendham Hills, it's time to get out of the boat - it's water-walking time.
It's one thing to be afraid. Heck, some fear is good and for our protection. It's good to fear a pot of boiling water falling from the stove. It's good to fear the bees nest next to the swing set. Anxiety, however, is something quite different. It's like fear on steroids and it's exploding all around us. You may not have tasted it yet, but likely someone you love has. Deep anxiety and paralyzing worry are quickly becoming the plague of our day, robbing our children of their dreams and crippling the lives of many of our friends. What turns a healthy alarm into immobilizing anxiety? What is at anxiety's root? Is there something that can be done to put our minds at ease? Taming the beast of worry and anxiety - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
Philosopher George Santayana penned one of academia's favorite quotes: "Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it." I know I have used it often when my kids are complaining about why they need to learn about the Whig Party or the Magna Carta. Could this same truth be applied to fear? What if we understood our history with it, where it came from, and what it has done? Could understanding the history of fear perhaps free us from the doom of its despair? A history lesson in fear, its source, its solution, and a ticket out of its vicious cycle - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
The news is that North Korea is close to being nuclear. It looks like the Russian "bear" might be on the prowl again. The stock bubble seems ready to burst, and technology seems poised to steal all of our jobs. The planet is warming, the economy is cooling. The plague of our day - terrorism - begins with the word terror. It seems that anxiety and fear have taken out a hundred-year lease in our hearts and minds. Now, imagine your life wholly untouched by angst. What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to the roller coaster of life? Jesus made it pretty clear: "Fear not." So, why am I so afraid? Join us, as together we discover the key to a life without fear.
We fear a lot of things. We fear bad guys with bombs, shootings in our cities, and terrorism in our towns. We fear finishing last, going broke, and being sued. We fear the mole on our back, the new kid on the block, and the new boss in the corner office. To the list of human fears, there is no end. Yet, there is this ONE - the BIG ONE - the Greatest Fear of Them All. We don't talk about it often. Most of the time, we just pretend it's not there. We have become a people well-trained in "whistling past the grave yard." Still, it lingers and it lies and it holds so many of us captive. If we could just be sure - if we could just be certain - then maybe we could really live. This Sunday at Mendham Hills, we learn to overcome the cornerstone of fear...the fear that comes from our final breath.
Promises to one another undergird most families. Husbands and wives have promised "to love and to cherish, to have and to hold, until death do us part." As we honor these underlying promises, they hold our families together. They serve to unify two individuals into one, they comfort children, and they ward off division. Promises spoken and promises kept are at the heart of every family. What about the family of God? What about the local church family? What promises should undergird our unity, comfort our children, witness to our community, and ward off division? This Sunday, in the final chapter of our New Year's series, we look at promises that we should make to one another - promises that we should not just make, but keep.
Ever been in one of those relationships where you just can't figure out what the other party wants from you? You bought flowers...they wanted candy. You thought Broadway tickets...they wanted a cozy night at home. At some point, perhaps in a moment of frustration, you might ask, "What is it you want from me?" Great question when it comes to our human relationships - profound question when applied to our relationship with God. This week, we discover what it is that God really wants from us.
You were created with great intent and purpose by God to be agents of His Kingdom - created to do good works in our families, homes, workplaces, and the world, which so desperately need hope and healing. Yet, so many of us wind up on the couch, kept on the sideline by fear, fatigue, and busyness. And while we suffer from feeling like people without purpose, those who need "Christ in us" the most suffer as we are taken out by the enemy. Join us this Sunday as we kick off our New Year's series on promises we should make...and keep. This week, we look at three very practical promises that are worthy of making to ourselves - promises that will help get us back in the fight for 2017.
The Mystery Of Your Inheritance | 10 - 30 - 16 | The Book Of Ephesians by Sunday Podcast
The Elephant In The Family Room | 05 - 22 - 16 | First Comes Love, Then Comes Money... by Sunday Podcast
The Elephant In The Family Room | 05 - 29 - 16 | Leave A Legacy, Not An Elephant by Sunday Podcast
The Elephant In The Family Room | 05 - 15 - 16 | Fathers, Mothers, Daughters, Sons & Elephants by Sunday Podcast
The Elephant In The Family Room | 05 - 01 - 16 | It's Time To Talk - But How? by Sunday Podcast
The Elephant In The Family Room | 05 - 01 - 16 | It's Time To Talk - But How? by Sunday Podcast
The Elephant In The Family Room | 04 - 24 - 16 | The Elephant In The Middle by Sunday Podcast
A Thrill Of Hope | 12 - 27 - 15 | At The Intersection Of Hope & Truth by Sunday Podcast
A Thrill Of Hope | 01 - 03 - 16 | Not All Mountains Were Meant To Be Moved by Sunday Podcast
This Sunday, we have our final "DTR" talk as we continue our discussion on what kind of relationship God calls us to. Is it exclusive? Are we just friends? And where is this whole thing going? In our conclusion, we look at how correctly understanding that relationship practically impacts our lives. Think about it for a moment - our culture is so focused on safety and security. We eat right, play safe, invest for the long term, all in an effort to allay our fears about tomorrow. Do you ever wonder how much of life you are missing out on by playing it safe all the time? What if you could live boldly and fearlessly? What is the key to confident living? It's all in how you relate to God. A life with no fear really is possible.
Take a moment, if you will, and ask yourself a very profound question: What is it that you value the most in your life? Is it your kids? That seems to be the preeminent value in our culture. How about your spouse? We know we should, but sometimes we struggle there. Could it be your reputation or your legacy? I mean, we all want to be loved and respected. So, what is it? This week in our "DTR" talks, we focus on the one true relational posture we are called to have with God. If we are not called to live under/over/from/for Him - what then? This week, we discover the one true treasure, the one and only way you were created to live and function and finally find every bit of purpose and pleasure you have been looking for. This week we look at Life WITH God.
All religions may not lead to the same place, but they are all born out of the same emotions. Over the millennia, man - because he is subject to forces over which he has no power (including his own mortality) - has invented postures for relating to an invented God which would provide him control. If we can control the seemingly random forces of life, then we can allay our deep-seated fears. Yet, these invented and counterfeit postures, or relationships with God, only lead us down paths fo greater fear and, ultimately, great disappointment. This Sunday, we look at how we have incorrectly defined our relationship with God and the damage it has done to us, and we look ahead to what a "With God" life looks like. Are you or a friend tired of the same old religious platitudes that promise life, but only deliver disappointment? Then this is the series for you both. Why not bring them along?
On November 28, 2010, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Steve Johnson dropped five passes in a game against the powerhouse Pittsburgh Steelers. The final pass, one he dropped while wide open in the end zone during overtime, wound up costing his team the game. Afterward, Johnson tweeted, "I praise you 24/7!!! And this is how you do me!!! You expect me to learn from this??? How??? I'll never forget this!! Ever!!" For him, and often for us, this is a common experience and disappointment when we relate to God from a "Life Under God" posture. We play by the rules, we go to church, and He comes through for us. Simple, right? Felt the discouragement of God not coming through for you after all you have done? This Sunday, we find out why "Life Under God" never fulfills the promise, which is only experienced by "Life With God!"
There is nothing worse than being in a relationship with someone, maybe even for a long time, and then suddenly finding out that you define the relationship differently. Is it exclusive? Are you just friends? What if you've wasted the best years of your life on a relationship that turned out not to be what you thought? Heartbreaking if it involves a person. Life altering if it involves God! If you've grown weary of Christianity, maybe the problem lies not in your faith, but in your heart. Is it possible you got the whole relationship wrong? Join us as we kick off our new fall series, "Define the Relationship," where we will unmask the typical Christian cliches that often masquerade as genuine communion with Christ, and understand, perhaps for the first time, how we relate to God. Don't waste the best years of your life in the wrong relationship!
2015 Summer Sermon Series looking at different conversations Jesus had with those He encountered during His earthly ministry.
2015 Summer Sermon Series looking at different conversations Jesus had with those He encountered during His earthly ministry.
This Sunday, we begin our new series, The Reason For God. What a great series to invite a curious friend to, because in the coming weeks we will be studying material from Tim Keller's critically acclaimed book of the same title. Specifically, we will be addressing some of the most common objections to Christianity. This week, we look at the claim that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. Isn't it arrogant and intolerant of Christians to claim this when most of the world is not Christian? Don't all paths really lead to God? What about all of the wisdom, character, and happiness coming from adherents to other faiths? Can there really be only one way?
In or Out. Us or Them. Haves or Have nots. You know the categories. They have existed for all of time. Winner or Loser. Cool or Uncool. Sometimes they're hidden, but most of the time, it's pretty obvious. From the caste system in India, to the table situation in your kid's high school - the world has, oftentimes painfully, been segregating people one from another. Historically though, perhaps nothing has done it better than religion. Yet, in a sea of segregation, one voice calls across time, beckoning that "all" would come. This Sunday at Mendham Hills, we look at the inclusiveness of the call to cross the line of faith and be baptized.
The claim to be "a little bit pregnant" has always stood as the height of absurdity. Well, the truth is, it's the same with being a follower of Jesus - either you are or you're not. The Bible is pretty clear; at some point, you need to make a decision about what to do with Jesus. This week, as we begin to look towards our end-of-the-year baptism party, we look at "fence sitters and line crossers:" stories of people who hung around the edges of Jesus but never committed, and those who crossed the line of faith and were baptized. Have you crossed the line or are you still sitting on the fence? This Sunday, it's time to make a decision!
You know our reputation, don't you? Not ours at Mendham Hills necessarily, but Christians in general. If I went to the Green in Morristown and asked folks to give me one word to describe Christians, what do you think it would be? Well, as the saying goes - as much as things change, they stay the same. The early church was powerful and beautiful. It was taking Jerusalem by storm and shaking the gates of hell. But then came its first real threat. It did not come from Roman rulers or Temple leaders; it came from within. To this day, there is no force more powerful than the church, yet there is one thing that always threatens its purpose: hypocrites! This Sunday at Mendham Hills - how to handle hypocrisy and actually be who we say we are!
The science seems to have coalesced at this point regarding the key to happiness: Lower your expectations! Sure, there is some truth there that many of us do carry around some unrealistic expectations. Yet, if all we ever do is lower our expectations, then greatness, wonder, healing, achievement, and beauty wind up sacrificed on the altar of "ordinary." You, we, the people of God were created for anything but. We were made extra-ordinary, and maybe, just maybe, it's time to dream big dreams again! This Sunday, we look at the question: If we set our sights too low, do we get only what we expect?
Our whole "Groundwork" series has been based on the Bible's command to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind." The scripture is clear that in the battle for joy and purpose, the battle is won or lost in our minds. Science and the bible agree; as a man thinketh in his heart, so shall he be. It turns out that your thoughts matter more to your life thank you circumstances. Yet, we spend most of our lives trying to change our circumstances and not our minds. This Sunday, a practical look at how to change - how to renew your mind!
Contemporary studies agree with biblical accounts; there are few things we think about, worry about, and dream about more than money. It is both the leading cause of divorce in our country and the principal focus of most of the teachings of Jesus. Money itself is neither good nor evil, but it has boundless potential for both. There is no way we can work through a series on transforming our lives without looking at our finances. We need a new way to look at our money, and new strategies for preventing it from dominating our lives and impacting our souls. This Sunday at Mendham Hills - a fresh take on financial health!
This week in Groundwork, we try and bring some transformation to an area many of us overlook. "It is not good for man to be alone," is one of the best known lines in scripture, but the truth is that it is also one of the most important. Our culture has sent us two messages: Celebrate the self-made man, and never allow yourself to rely on anyone. Thus, we have moved from being a people deeply entwined in community to a people surrounded by fences, and at deep levels, alone. And that is not good. This week, we look at a key component to the happiness you are pursuing - relationships!
"I just lost it!" or, "I couldn't take it anymore!" Ever begin a story like that? They usually end with, "So I told her to go…" or, "I let him have it!" Now, in hindsight we often wish our "cooler head" had prevailed, but man, when our emotions kick in, there is just no telling where they might lead. As the classic question goes - do you control your emotions or do your emotions control you? This week, we look at how to make advances, how to bring transformation to our emotional lives. Emotions are not the problem, it is losing control over them which has wrecked life after life. This Sunday, how to regain control of the monster of our emotions!
This Sunday we begin our much-anticipated series, "Groundwork." You don't want to miss even one of the next eight weeks if you can help it, as we commit together to making 2015 different in seven vital areas of our lives. This week we hand out the notebooks (yes, notebooks!) and class is in session as we start to put the key structures for change in place. It's January and everyone hopes the new year will bring growth and transformation, but there is one secret that unlocks the key. Paul put it this way - "I run, not being in any doubt as to my goal. I am a boxer who does not inflict blows on the air." Tired of swinging and missing? Time for us to set some goals.
Hopefully after last week, you are convinced of the spiritual necessity of goals. If we are going to start setting them, though, there is no better or more important place to start than with our spiritual health. The Bible instructs us not to take our spiritual lives for granted, but implores us to "test yourselves and see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!" So, this week we do just that. There is no neutral in the Christian life; we are either moving towards God or away from Him. This week, we walk the path of a son back to the Father, and focus on key habits for spiritual health. The year 2015 still holds the promise of change. Come and get started with your spiritual life, this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
This Sunday we begin our much-anticipated series, "Groundwork." You don't want to miss even one of the next eight weeks if you can help it, as we commit together to making 2015 different in seven vital areas of our lives. This week we hand out the notebooks (yes, notebooks!) and class is in session as we start to put the key structures for change in place. It's January and everyone hopes the new year will bring growth and transformation, but there is one secret that unlocks the key. Paul put it this way - "I run, not being in any doubt as to my goal. I am a boxer who does not inflict blows on the air." Tired of swinging and missing? Time for us to set some goals.
Are You Haunted By What is to Come? Well, it's the final Sunday before Christmas Eve and as we all begin to look forward to that most special of nights, it is also time to turn our attention to the fourth ghost of Christmas - The Ghost of Christmases Yet to Come. Scrooge asks that ghost a particularly poignant question: "Are these the shadows of the things that will be, or are they the shadows of things that may be, only? Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead. But if the courses be departed from, can the ends change?" And there you have it - the reason for Christmas, the point of the incarnation! All men are on a certain course. Our lives have a trajectory - can it be changed? Christmas reminds us that the answer is still YES!
The message of Christmas, embodied in the helpless Christ child born in a manger, was subversive and unnerving to the powers of the day. So much so that King Herod, fearing for his own kingdom, considered infanticide a right response. Charles Dickens, in A Christmas Carol, retells the same subversive message - Christmas still has the power to upend the kingdoms of man. This Sunday, we look at our present, this Christmas, and we ask the question, "Has anything really changed?" Jesus is still threatening kingdoms two thousand years later - sometimes even our own. Opening our eyes to the Ghost of Christmas Present, this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
Ebeneezer wasn't always a scrooge. Sure, that was his last name, but it wasn't always his personality. He wasn't born greedy, selfish, and miserable. Yet, the circumstances he was born into and the choices he made in is life, the ghosts of his past, haunted him. The truth is that all of us have this in common with Scrooge; we all wrestle with the ghosts of our past. Regrets - we've all had a few, none of which we want to mention. The story of Christmas is not only about the birth of the One who would change our future, it is the truth of the One who can heal our past. Regrets turned to Redemption - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
Jacob Marley had it all: wealth, fame, renown, and respect. All the things that make for a life well-lived, and then he died. He was gone and so was everything he had lived for. As we kick off our new Christmas series, "The Four Ghosts of Christmas," based on Charles Dickens' famous "A Christmas Carol," we look at business warnings from Marley's ghost. He told Scrooge, "Business! Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance and benevolence were all my business." This Christmas, the question is, what's yours?
This Sunday, we finish up our "The Reason for God" series with maybe the most difficult question of all: "How could a loving God send people to an eternal Hell?" Even within Christian circles, this topic has been much debated over the last few years. If this is a tough question for those of us who are committed to Jesus, imagine how hard it is for folks outside of the church to fathom. Yet, the question is important, and even more so is getting the answer right. So this week, we take a look at the question, the answer, and what it means for us as a church.
Ready for the next tough question about Christianity? "What gives you the right to tell me how to live my life?" It's a great question. After all, shouldn't each of us get to decide for ourselves how to live, and what is right and wrong? You have heard it said, "Just because it is right for you, doesn't mean it is right for me." In a culture founded on individual freedoms, how can Christianity and all of its rules make any sense? This Sunday, a new understanding of the basics as we try to comprehend - "What's with all the rules, anyway?"
As we kick-off a new church year at Mendham Hills, we will study Paul's letter to the church in Philippi. This brand new study together is called "Thrive" - you were not meant to merely exist, you were meant to Thrive!
"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?" -Epicrus
Have you ever struggled with this question? Why does an all-powerful, good God allow evil, pain, and suffering to exist? You're not the only one. Join us this week as we continue our series, The Reason for God.
We've almost all done it. At some time or another, we've all sat down and put together a resume'. You know the drill…highlight your successes, accentuate your strengths, and disguise your weaknesses. In the corporate world of our day, much of our lives are given over to building up our resumes. Yet, the Scriptures seem to indicate that it is just this kind of resume building that leads us away from lives of meaning and passion, and into false confidences and fear. To THRIVE in a world gone mad, one needs to be building the right resume. Come find out what your should look like this Sunday at Mendham Hills.
Perhaps nothing keeps us from living the kind of abundant life Jesus desires for us more than fear. Anxiety and worry are like cancers to our soul, they literally paralyze us and often lead us down very wrong paths. Jesus was aware of this - that is why the one statement He made more than any other was "do not be afraid". So how about you, what are you afraid of and just importantly what is it holding you back from? This week in our series Thrive together we look at how to overcome one of our greatest adversaries and live a life without fear.
In week 3 of our series, THRIVE, we continue to reflect on how to find joy in a world gone mad. Our country is founded on three principles: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We often hear parents say, "I just want him/her to be happy." Yet, happiness always seems to elude us. Every time we get what we think will bring us happiness, somehow it always escapes us. What if the pursuit of happiness is really the problem after all? What if there was something more meaningful than happiness, and in its pursuit, you actually wound up with joy? This Sunday, the beauty of a life poured out - a meaningful life!
Does your experience in following Jesus not match up with what you felt like was promised and preached? The church over the last years has turned the promises of the Bible into something akin to a Christmas wish list. What happens when your experiences don't seem to match the promises? Sure, you were probably told you would share in the victory of Jesus in this life, but did anyone bring up sharing in his pain? The Bible not only talks about suffering; the truth is, it promises suffering. Have you felt it? This Sunday, in Week 2 of our "Thrive" series, we look at thriving through suffering.
As we kick-off a new church year at Mendham Hills, we will study Paul's letter to the church in Philippi. This brand new study together is called "Thrive" - you were not meant to merely exist, you were meant to Thrive!
Have you ever noticed how skeptical and suspicious people are? Can you blame them? It seems like every day there is a new scandal about a politician's abuse of power, an actor hiding a secret life, or someone in authority breaking a promise. It's hard to have faith and trust someone who is consistently untrustworthy. But does that same cynical attitude ever affect your faith? This week, we look at the "One" who is always faithful and who will take away our suspicions and skepticism and replace it with faith.
If you're not - if you struggle with the idea that goodness is the essence of His nature - you will also struggle with manifesting the spiritual fruit of "goodness". This Sunday, we'll explore what the Scripture teaches about goodness and why we get tripped up so often.
"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." In a world and nation where people seem to be ever-increasingly consumed with themselves, is kindness and idea and characteristic of the past? This week, we continue our series, "Seeds of Change." Join us as we look at the little known (and hard to pronounce) Mephibosheth, and what the story of his life can teach us about the kindness of God.
"Patience is power. Patience is not an absence of action; rather it is 'timing.' It waits on the right time to act, for the right principles, and in the right way." -Fulton J. Sheen
In a society that demands speed, we want everything fast, including justice. We want others to get what they deserve quickly, especially if we are the ones who have been wronged. Thankfully, God isn't like you and me. This week, we look at God's patience, long-suffering and long nose, as we continue our series, "Seeds of Change."
In John 14:27, Jesus tells us, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you." Anybody know where that gift is? When you read the headlines, it sure seems hard to find. But peace IS a fruit of the Spirit and millions of believers ARE finding this dynamic fruit of the Spirit is growing in their lives. Christ-followers are finding deep, life-changing peace even in the worst of times, the saddest of occasions, the most dangerous of places, and the most stressful of situations. So where can you find this fruit of the Spirit this summer? It's closer than you think.
This Fourth of July weekend, as we celebrate our freedom, here is a thought for you: "Everybody wants a revolution, but nobody is willing to die." In order for revolution to come, in order for there to be change on a grand scale, it usually requires the death of something else. This holiday weekend, as we seek change for ourselves and our lives and our destinies, what needs to die and what needs to be born? Did you know that one seed of change underpins an entire heart revolution? This Sunday we fire the first shot of our revolution!
This Sunday we launch our Summer series "Seeds of Change." With that in mind, it might be time for some pre-service self-examination. What is it that you would like to change? Which areas of your life need some growth or transformation? Maybe you have become cynical about your ability to change, or worse, given up hope. Tired of trying to be different and failing? This Sunday we kickoff our summer of change right in the middle of our changing sanctuary. Don't miss your summer take-home assignment, available this Sunday at MHCC!