Hilltop Church Messages: Recent Episodes
Hilltop Church of the Nazarene
Welcome to Hilltop Church of the Nazarene's Message series of podcasts! Here you will find a collection of our messages that are delivered each and every Sunday. Keep checking with us for new and insightful content. Feel free to also check out our app on the major app stores by browsing to https://hilltopnaz.church/app
The image from Proverbs is the invitation from Wisdom: Come and eat my bread and drink my wine.
Jesus says HE is the living bread from heaven. Eat his flesh; drink his blood.
What?!
The Israelites in the wilderness and the recently fed crowd following Jesus couldn’t see past the "rumbly in their tumbly". They failed to see the larger reality. Are our eyes bigger than our stomachs? Can we see past our need to God’s presence and the new reality being offered?
Jesus is leading the way of pressing into the Kingdom of God. In God’s kingdom there’s plenty to go around, but not in the kingdoms of this world. Jesus is inviting us to position ourselves as people who trust in God’s plenty for our lives.
Glenn Anderson shares his battle on the urge to commit suicide as well as how taking off his mask of pretending to be "just fine" has allowed him to confront his battle head-on with his family, his Christian brothers, and God right there by his side. We invite anyone else looking for a safe place to open up about any struggles they have to reach out to us here at Hilltop Church. We also would like to share the National Suicide Prevention Hotline for anyone looking for an avenue for help - 800-273-8255.
How does the woman healed of hemorrhages help us see our restored relationship to God and have God’s image renewed in us? What does it mean for us to have God’s image restored in us?
We’ll be hearing the story of David and Goliath—it’s one of the most well-known stories of all the Bible. But the way we’ll hear it applied might be the most unique. How do we, in our own lives, connect with this story? How does the good news of having God’s image restored in us shape the view of ourselves?
What does it mean and what does it look like to be restored in right relationship with creation? Sin has affected the whole created order, not just humans. God intends us to join him and use us in the ministry of reconciliation that was begun in Christ. Together we’ll explore what that means for creation.
We are pleased to have Curtis deliver today's message! We hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
Ascension – We are called to hope, called us to power (transformation) because Christ is Savior to all—Lord of heaven and earth. How is the ascended Christ ruling and reigning in our hearts and lives? Is he? Wesley said Christ is Lord of all or not at all.
Love leads us to communion, presence, the holiness of Christ in us - perfect love casts out all fear! There’s a lot going on in this passage and to do it justice would deserve its own series. v20 really stands out: “Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.”
“How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?” (v17) Action, rooted in faith (lived-out belief) is fulfilling Christ’s command to love one another because we abide in him.
God's love, we're God's children, called to abide, not sin. The author’s language is so strong here that a plain reading could heap great shame on us. The deep issue that he’s working with is this Hebraic notion of “knowing.”
Testimony, Christ is light, walk in the light. The author isn’t saying that those who sin are no longer Christian. And he’s not trying to say that Christians don’t sin. He’s saying that when we choose to give in to temptation, we choose to step out of fellowship with God.
Paul's opening section on the resurrection. There’s “A New Way to be Human,” because of God’s grace given to us to enable and empower us to stand in the good news of Christ’s resurrection. Where are we standing?
“Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
“But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”
“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Our baptism, which unites us to Christ’s death and resurrection, is the pattern for our life in Christ.
Wilderness temptation. Was Elsa the first to say, “Let it go”? We see something particular about what it means to choose the way of Jesus as we follow him into the desert.
We love you, Dave! Words cannot begin to express how much you have meant to the Hilltop family! You truly are more than just a pastor but instead are a true friend to so many of us! We love you and wish you well in all you do!
Today we got to hear from our pastoral candidate - Michael Scarlett. Give this a view if you'd like to see his message to Hilltop Church.
Cory and Matt are the hosts of Garage Talk and recently hosted the Unlikely Heroes Car Show here at church. Today they share with us their "drive" and passion behind what they do.
We are proud to have Jimmy deliver today's message. Jimmy is one of the many folks here at Hilltop who recently received their local minister's license and today he gets to share what's been on his heart. We hope you enjoy his message today and continue to join us in supporting him in his ministry!
When God calls you, what do you do? Do you pick up and follow Him, or send Him to voicemail? Dave discusses how God's people have both picked up the calling and have also sent Him to voicemail.
This is an important update on how we will begin to physically gather once again as the body of Christ. For questions, please email us at INFO@HILLTOPNAZ.CHURCH
Join us this Palm Sunday by worshiping online! Be sure to hang around until the end to hear some special announcements from Dave about Easter Sunday and how you can help be the hands and feet of Jesus!
Today we dive into Samuel as well as discuss what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus during the current COVID-19 pandemic that has hit our communities so hard.
This is a great opportunity to worship more intimately with our families while still coming together (online) as the body of Christ. We hope you enjoy today's service!
These are trying times not only in Tyler/East Texas but around the world. We know many were unable to make it to our service this morning due to the concerns of the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). We have published the service in its entirety for all those who could not make it so you would be able to worship with us wherever you might be.
God calls us to be His people. Not to be up there watching over us, but to be right here in our midst. God isn't in a building but is dwelling with us right now! Continue the journey through the Bible by finding out what that truly means today.
Abandonment. Adoption. Rejection. Conviction. SALVATION. Jimmy Middendorf opens up about his life journey, his encounter with Jesus, and what it means to show God's love to others. This is definitely one worth listening to!
Robert Ludlum, John Grisham, and Tom Clancy could not have devised a more intriguing storyline. It would appear at first glance, as you read the first chapter of Genesis, that the vision of God is the creation of the heavens and the earth. When you think about how vast and far-reaching the earth is and the galaxies are, it is easy to assume that the main point of all God’s Story is God’s creation of the universe. But the creation is not the core passion of God. God’s deepest passion and ultimate desire is the creation of mankind and to live in a relationship moment by moment with mankind. The point of God’s entire story is YOU!!
Life is very brief, and we live in a world and a culture where there’s so much competing for our time and our attention, then we must ask her selves… How do we live? What do we say yes to? And what do we say no to? Ask yourself with a rain rotation, every opportunity, and every choice… What would you say yes to and what would you say no to if you only had the next 365 days to live?
What is the most important part of the Christmas story to you? Is it the wise men coming? Is it when the shepherds were visited by angels? The star in the sky? Or is it when The Word truly became flesh? Today we listen to what the true meaning of Christmas is.
After coming to faith in Christ through grace, why do we cling so tightly to our list of rules and laws to try and walk in Christ? When Christ died on the cross, he broke the chains that bound us to living by the law, so we could simply live intimacy with Him. A new ID for a new life!!
Everyone knows someone who is tormented. You see their bondage; you know their pain. They are overwhelmed with guilt, anger, and bitterness, living in defeat, depression, and hopelessness.
You can help them!
Forgiving Forward is unleashing a revolution where people are helping liberate others through the protocols of Forgiveness that Jesus laid out for us. God is looking to set people free through these transformational truths! You can join Him and see people rescued from the pain of torment, once and for all, guaranteed! Because the blood of Jesus covers all sin, including the ones committed against us! Join us in experiencing the joy of spreading the Forgiveness Revolution!
God desires greatness, but greatness comes from unity and faith in Christ. This week, Curtis delivers God's word and discusses how to become truly great.
God loves you too much to allow your past or where you are today to limit where He wants to take you tomorrow.
Today, we hear from Courtney Kennington and Whitney Johnson and the ministry that God has laid on their hearts. Their story is a true example of what it means to follow God's call for your life. We hope this message challenges you to listen and follow where God is leading your life.
Jeremy shares a message recently put on his heart about what it means to have expectations.
If there is one message you listen to from Hilltop, please pick this one. Dave share's his experience from our Men's Boot Camp weekend and how God spoke to him. He also recounts what God has laid on his heart for our church.
We are all part of the body of Christ. Today's message is a very important one: EVERYONE MATTERS HERE! We are all fearfully and wonderfully made and God loves each one of us wholeheartedly. Hilltop Church exists to welcome and love others and to make sure everyone feels that love, regardless of where they are in their spiritual journey.
A little over a year ago, Lakeview Church of the Nazarene & Tyler First Church of the Nazarene merged into Hilltop Church. We did this because we knew we could not continue to go on the way we were and be successful and fulfilling what we are called to do. Today, we ask ourselves, why do we exist? What is our purpose? And what do we do to fulfill that purpose? Over the next few weeks, Dave will be spending some time sharing with us what our mission will be. We hope this message speaks to you and challenges you to step up and step into a closer relationship with Christ.
On this session of His Story, Our Story, Tim shares his journey of faith with us. He recounts all the highs, the lows, and what God has done to bring him to where he is today in his Christian walk. Check out his story here!
An old chapter is ending and a new one beginning for a number of our students here at Hilltop. What does that mean for their future and what does it hold for each of us? This week, Cory shares his experiences and imparts some wisdom about life and what happens to us while making plans.
What’s it like to live in a country that opposes any sort of faith? What happens when God calls you to something greater in the face of that opposition? Volodymyr shares his stories of life and faith in Kiev under communist rule.
What if mothers are God's main idea for showing us glimpses of Himself? What if our most significant calling is showing our children how to live and love like Jesus? Join us as we celebrate one of God's greatest gifts: our mothers.
This is our special outdoor service commemorating our one-year anniversary of becoming Hilltop Church. Dr. Keven Wentworth delivers the message today.
Jesus was a revolutionary. He challenged common thinking of the day, but even today He is just as much a revolutionary as He was then. Join us in absorbing what these dangerous words brought to Israel and to us by Jesus actually mean.
The last few weeks have lead up to this moment! Jesus Christ not only died, but He rose back to life proving He has conquered sin and death! The best part of all of this? He did it for you! Listen in as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
What the followers of Jesus expected to happen on the days following Palm Sunday and what actually happened couldn't have been further away from one another. What happened that week changed the course of history in amazing and life-giving ways. God is wanting to do that in our lives right now! In this message, Dave Walker dives into how God is resurrecting our hearts in the here-and-now.
This month we get to hear Matt Thorson share his story. We get to discover what brought him to lead worship here at Hilltop, how has God been speaking to him through his past experiences, and what is God doing in him today.
God is all around us. We do not have to work at or achieve anything to be able to come into His presence, just accept Jesus. Today, Curtis will be discussing "The Promise of the Presence" and how God's promise was pursued, offered, given, and brought to us.
Is Jesus bigger than you and I or are we trying to fit Him into a little box that meets all of our notions of who He is and how He should work? Dr. Middendorf digs into this concept in today’s message.
You are the church! Christ has given you all of his power and authority, but what does that really look like and what does that really mean? Today we take a look at what it means to have the fullness and power of Christ in each of us.
Imagine what would happen if each of us lived every day speaking the truth in love and displaying the greatness and goodness of Jesus. We would see the kingdom of heaven come to earth in our own community. We continue our journey through the book of Ephesians and discover what it means to be God's Church in the 21st century.
Dave will be talking with Mark Ledyard today. Mark has been one of the men helping to lead our Men's SPAR group here at Hilltop. Mark has an interesting story about how God has transformed his life and now uses his weaknesses as strengths to help bring other men into a closer relationship with Christ.
We dive in deeper this week to our series “Made For More” and learn what the fullness of Christ really is and what it means (along with Dave’s love of chocolate lava cake).
After meeting two homeless women without a place to go, Pastor Alice Piggee-Wallack felt God leading her to start a ministry for the homeless population in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. The center meet needs by providing a clothes closet, food pantry, a day shelter, and more.
In the coastal city of Recife, Brazil, fishing is a way of life. Pastor Rubens Rodrigues decided to combine the fishing industry with Jesus’ call to be “fishers of men” in a new ministry: television.
District Superintendent Leonel Jesús López Ortiz shares how God is moving in the island nation as churches are planted, students are trained for ministry, and people are hearing the gospel.
Jim shares some more stories as well as the dangers from his mission in Kiev and then answers some questions from the audience.
Three volunteers from the Eurasia Region share their experiences serving in missions through the M-Power program. Hear stories from Anderson in England, Monica in India, and Nirmala in Nepal about how they are living out the Great Commission.
As a child, Christine Dialing read a story about a girl who wanted to be a missionary. While reading, she felt called to devote her life to missions. This calling led her to Thailand, where she teaches English to at-risk children.
Please forgive us for some of the minor audio distortions in this message. We apologize for any inconvenience
Prayer is not about what we can get, prayer is about what we can become. We have learned to use prayer in ways that probably were never intended to be a part of prayer. We hope this message will challenge not only your prayer life but how you live out every aspect of your life.
Guess what? You are a masterpiece! God has made you the person you are for a reason. There is nothing you need to do to make yourself better than you already are because you are the best you that God has made! This week we invite you to take stock of the fact that you are a perfect creation in God's eyes, and because of that, God has a perfect plan for you.
From chance meetings with high-up officials to Russian mob bosses, hear some of the collection of tales Jim Welchly has to share with us during his time as a missionary over in Kiev in the early 90's.
What did Christ's coming mean? We have all heard the nativity story, but who is Jesus and why did he come to us? Today Dave Walker will discuss why this was such a game-changer.
There is a big difference between serving and becoming a servant. To show true love to one another, we cannot serve others on our own terms (who we want to serve and when we want to serve), but instead need to become a servant who lives a life committed to doing nothing else but serving those around us.
We take a break from the #Jesus series this week. This morning we stop to reflect on what it means to be thankful.
Are you living a life of gratitude or do you live one of entitlement? Do you place conditions on serving God? What about when God shows up? Do you recognize Him for what He has done, or not? This week, we take a little time to go over what it means to be grateful.
Do we TRULY love others or are we quick to judge? Do we live behind masks such as "being right" or do we live out of a genuine heart of grace? Reflect on this week's message and ask yourself how can you be Love to those around you - especially those that don't agree or align with your world view.
Does Jesus have your permission to change how you view Him?
Does Jesus have your permission to change what you believe about Jesus? Who do we call our neighbor? What does it mean to be a neighbor? This week Dave dives deeper into the #Jesus series to discuss what it means to be a true neighbor.
What an amazing interview with Nicole Walker over her recent trip to Honduras. If you haven't seen it already, watch the video Nicole put together while listening to her discuss the trip in an interview with her father.
"How much value will you as an individual Christ-follower place on a human soul?"
This week we tackle the topic of compassion and how we are called to live it out.
"Does Jesus have your permission to change what you believe about Jesus?"
Have you had some stress-filled moments this past week? Are there areas of life where anxiety and tension continually rears its ugly head? The World Health Organization has declared stress to be the health epidemic of the 21st century. Is it possible that our misunderstandings and wrong expectations about who Christ is are the catalyst for much of the stress in our lives? Jesus Christ never calls us to a life of stress, but He invites us to a relaxed walk with Him. Join us as we gather to celebrate Jesus in worship, seek Him in prayer, discover Him in the Word, and encounter Him at His table.
Who is the Jesus of your journey, and how would you in your own thoughts and words describe this Christ?
God gives us enabling commands and great promises. Read your Bible and hear from God as He speaks healing into your life.
Common sense is not faith, yet every time we venture out into faith our common sense stands in the way. Can we trust Jesus where our common sense cannot trust Him? The scripture tells us to sacrifice praise in the midst of commonsense. Why? Discover the value of praise in building up faith in a commonsense world.
God has no junk heap. God refuses to give up on us. When we allow Him to pickup the broken pieces of our lives, He will make something beautiful out of it.