Indian Hills Community Church: Recent Episodes
Indian Hills Community Church
Indian Hills Community Church is a non-denominational, Bible-teaching church in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Scriptures are taught systematically, which means Pastor Jesse Randolph teaches the Bible verse-by-verse each week. As the inspired and inerrant Word of God, the Bible is taught as the final authority in faith and practice. Every program, class and activity we do is designed to reach the lost and encourage spiritual growth through the teaching of the Word. Learn more at https://ihcc.org.
In this final section of chapter 1 of his letter, James instructs his audience that the faithful follower of Christ is not only a “mere hearer” of the Word, he’s also not a “mere doer.” In this sermon, “Religion Reexamined,” an exposition of James 1:26-27, Pastor Jesse Randolph explains that the Christian’s doing is not to be done for doing’s sake, but instead must be marked by certain traits, including: purity of heart (which is marked by the ability to bridle one’s tongue), practical concerns (which is marked by a concern for the least in our midst, namely, “widows and orphans”) and personal piety (which is marked by a commitment to “keep oneself unstained by the world”).
In this exposition of Psalm 13, one of David’s psalms of lament, Pastor Jesse Randolph walks his listeners through a Psalm that is best understood in terms of its three couplets. In the first couplet (vv. 1-2), David laments. In the second couplet (vv. 3-4) — which is the turning point of the Psalm — David prays. And in the third couplet (vv. 5-6), David praises. David’s griefs turn to remembrance and joy. His blues song turns into a praise song. His shadows turn into sunshine. Psalm 13 is a wonderful encouragement to believers of all generations—particular in seasons of difficulty, pain, and sadness—when God may feel more distant than He actually is.
In this section of his letter, James instructs his audience to be “doers of the Word.” James’ command immediately follows his earlier commands (in James 1:19-21) that Christians are to be "quick to hear,” "slow to speak," and "slow to anger” in response to God's Word. In this sermon, “Not Mere Hearers," Pastor Jesse Randolph highlights, through his verse-by-verse exposition of James, how it is not enough for the follower of Christ to be a listener (or hearer) of the Word. Listening to sermons, attending church, and studying the Bible is not enough. Rather, as James instructs Christians in James 1:22-25, the true follower of Jesus Christ will live in total obedience to the Word. “Obedience to God’s Word is not an elective in the school of saving faith."
In Chapter 4 of his prophetic work, Hosea shifts his focus entirely from the unhappy marriage between Hosea and Gomer, to zeroing in on the relationship between God and Israel. Beginning in Chapter 4, the scene shifts from Hosea’s home, to God’s courts of justice, with the language becoming unmistakably judicial, as the Lord lays out (as though in a court of law) his many charges against His faithless people, Israel. In this sermon, “The Lord States His Case,” Pastor Jesse Randolph provides a verse-by-verse exposition of the legal charges God levels against Israel in Hosea 4:1-19—which includes charges related to a careless people, corrupt priests, and compromised priorities.
In this latest account in the saga involving the prophet Hosea and his faithless wife (Gomer), the scene changes yet again. This time, Hosea’s bride, a proven prostitute, is caught in adultery, and the command given by God to Hosea is to bring her back, to buy her back, and to love her. As he did so when he first took Gomer to be his wife, Hosea immediately complies with God’s command, and brings his unchaste and unfaithful wife home. This scene, while describing a literal event in the marriage of Hosea and Gomer, ultimately paints a picture of how God will bring his unchaste and unfaithful bride—Israel—back to Himself “in the last days” (Hosea 3:5). In this sermon, “The Hard Way Home,” Pastor Jesse Randolph addresses these and other matters in his verse-by-verse exposition of Hosea 3:1-5.
In this section of his letter, James instructs his listeners to be "quick to hear,” "slow to speak," and "slow to anger." These are familiar commands—commands which are quoted regularly by Christians of varying degrees of maturity. But do we truly understand the context of James’ commands? In this sermon (“Taking in the Truth”), through his verse-by-verse exposition of James 1:19-21, Pastor Jesse Randolph brings these commands back to their original context—receiving the Word of God. Followers of Christ are to be quick to hear the Word of God, slow to speak in response to the Word of God, and slow to anger upon receiving the Word of God.
The book of Hosea shifts back and forth between the portrayal of God and His faithless people (Israel) and Hosea and His faithless bride (Gomer), with the various players involved relating seamlessly and the scenes shifting suddenly. In this section of Hosea’s prophecy, the scene shifts again, this time to a scene in which the Lord makes clear that, though Israel had forgotten Him, He Himself had not forgotten Israel. Though He had every right to be done with Israel in light of its ongoing apostasy and spiritual adultery, the Lord promises a coming day of spiritual renewal and blessing. This day of favor will come not because Israel deserves it, but instead because God is faithful to the promises He made to His chosen nation. In this sermon, “A Reclaimed Bride,” Pastor Jesse Randolph addresses these and other matters in his verse-by-verse exposition of Hosea 2:14-23.
In this section of his letter, in which he addresses the inevitable trials that will come to followers of Jesus Christ, James draws an important distinction between trials (which come from without) and temptation (which arises from within). As Christians, we must not blame God for our temptations (for He tempts no one). Nor can we blame Satan when we are tempted. Rather, “each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust” (James 1:14). In this sermon, “Check the Source,” Pastor Jesse Randolph challenges us to remember who is ultimately responsible for temptation (and responding to temptation), as he addresses these and other topics in his verse-by-verse exposition of James 1:13-18.
As the Bible’s account of his ministry indicates, the Apostle Paul was fearless in his pursuit of and witness for Jesus Christ. In 2 Corinthians 11:3, however, Paul reveals that there was something he feared. He feared that the early Christians at Corinth had started to drift away from their “simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” In this sermon, titled “A Simple and Pure Devotion to Christ," Pastor Jesse Randolph exposits 2 Corinthians 11:3, and in doing so extracts three principles to help the Christian fight the drift away from a simple and pure devotion to Christ: (1) honor the bride of Christ; (2) uphold the word of Christ; and (3) behold the person of Christ.
The book of Hosea goes back and forth between the portrayal of God and His faithless people (Israel) and Hosea and His faithless bride (Gomer), with the various players involved relating seamlessly and the scenes shifting suddenly. In this section of Hosea’s prophecy, the scene shifts again, back to the household of Hosea, and his plea with Gomer to turn from her adulterous ways and to return to him. At the same time, the God of Israel is making a similar plea—through Hosea--to the people of Israel, as He urges this apostate nation to return to Him, or else face dire consequences for their wickedness and idolatry. In this sermon, “A Passionate Plea,” Pastor Jesse Randolph addresses these and other matters in his verse-by-verse exposition of Hosea 2:2-13.
In this section of his letter addressing the inevitable trials that will come to followers of Jesus Christ, James addresses the unique trials (and other circumstances) that come to both the poor and rich of this world. According to James, the poor of this world (the “brother of humble circumstances”) is to boast in his exaltation, while the rich of this world is to glory in his humiliation. What does this mean? How are we, as Christians, to think about riches and poverty, and how do these concepts fit in with James’ broader theme of the believer and the trials he or she will face? In this sermon, “Highs and Lows,” Pastor Jesse Randolph covers these and other topics in his verse-by-verse exposition of James 1:9-12.
In Hosea’s day, the nation of Israel had turned its back on God, and turned to the wicked practice of worshiping the false gods of the surrounding nations. Though Israel would soon face judgment (by way of defeat by, and deportation through, the neighboring people of Assyria), God was — and still is — faithful to the original covenant promises He made to Israel, through Abraham. Israel, who had been called “No Mercy,” would again be shown mercy, and Israel, who had been called “Not My People,” had not lost its status as God’s people. This section of Hosea contains important truths not only for the Israel of Hosea’s day, but for the people of Israel both today and in the future. In this sermon, “A Turning Point,” Pastor Jesse Randolph addresses these and other matters in his verse-by-verse exposition of Hosea 1:10-2:1.
As Christians, we know we are to “count it all joy” when we encounter various trials, and as we walk in faith, we strive to heed that command. But does knowing this command, and desiring to heed this command, necessarily mean that we will know exactly how to navigate each aspect of each trial that the Lord allows in our lives? The answer is “no.” We need wisdom to navigate our trials. And we need not the world’s “wisdom," but instead that pure form of wisdom that comes only from God. In this sermon, “The Way of Wisdom,” Pastor Jesse Randolph covers the subject of asking God for wisdom in the midst of our trials, in his verse-by-verse exposition of James 1:5-8.
Hosea, God’s prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel, was asked not only to marry a prostitute (Gomer), but to assign names to the children Gomer bore—name which signaled God’s coming judgment on Israel. What do these names signify? What eternal truths about God’s holy hatred toward idolatry can we glean from these names? In this sermon, “Family Matters,” Pastor Jesse Randolph addresses these and other matters in his verse-by-verse exposition of Hosea 1:3-9.
“Count it all joy.” These are familiar words to most Christians. But what do they mean? In what context were they written? And how do we, as Christians, apply them to our lives? In this sermon, “Tested and Tried,” Pastor Jesse Randolph addresses these and other matters in his verse-by-verse exposition of James 1:2-4.
Hosea, God’s prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel, was called and commissioned by God, and then immediately commanded by God to marry a prostitute. But why? And for what purpose? In this sermon, “Marriage Material,” Pastor Jesse Randolph answers these and other questions as he introduces this verse-by-verse series through the Book of Hosea.
Who was James? To whom was he writing? What is the main purpose and idea of this fast-moving book? In this sermon, “Dear Diaspora,” Pastor Jesse Randolph answers these and other questions as he introduces this verse-by-verse series through the Book of James.
In this sermon, Pastor Jesse Randolph talks about what it means to be a living sacrifice for Jesus Christ according to Romans 12:1-2.
Indian Hills Community Church is a non-denominational church in Lincoln, NE. Our mission is to help Christians grow in their faith through verse-by-verse teaching of God's Word.
Learn more at https://ihcc.org.