HillsidePA Sermons: Recent Episodes
Shelley Lee
We have begin a new sermon series called "Restoration". Just as every snowflake and star is different, so God's work in each of us produces a unique individual with a distinctive purpose and story. Today we are going to hear one of those stories. Tom Eaton will share what God has done and continues to do in his life through a lot of adversity.
"'Didn't I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?' Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed." -John 21:15-19 We know what failure looks like. It's easy to relate to Peter's denial of Jesus. We've all failed. It seemed like a final failure, too--Jesus died without a chance for Peter to even ask for forgiveness. After the resurrection, Jesus invited Peter to breakfast. Peter might have expected to hear "I told you that you would fail." Instead, listen this morning to what Jesus really said.
"Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?" When we are offended, we fell just in being angry, righteous in resentment and entitled to revenge. It is an empowering and energizing experience that is the heartbeat of half the movies made in Hollywood and many daydreams of ordinary people. Surrendering such an attractive and natural dream is the last thing we want to do. Yet, Jesus insists on it. He requires it. He commands it. But how can we let it go?
"Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her" This passage is not an endorsement of adultery--It is rather a condemnation of prejudice. Prejudice is "pre-judging" people because we have decided already that they are guilty and need not be treated according to the Golden Rule. Jesus does not argue that she is innocent, but he treats her as a human being whose worth is not limited to her behavior. Listen again to the words of James MacDonald on the cover of the bulletin. "If you are wrong in the way you are right, you are wrong even if you are right."
Revelations 20:11 -14; Daniel 7:9-14 The book of Revelations is filled with judgment. Each of the repeating cycles (seals, trumpets, signs, and bowls) expand on the consequences of rebellion against God and the practice of evil. In this chapter we come to the end of the age and the final judgment. "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life" (Revelations 20:11-12)
Revelations 12:1-14:5 The seven "signs" found in these chapters form a unit that gives us a vision of God's sweeping plan of salvation. The key verse in this section is "They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death" (12:11 NIV). Follow along as we explore this passage together.
Matthew 6:5-8, "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." Last week, we talked about the simple fact that prayer has power because the one listening to the prayers has the power to answer, to reward, and to bless. So does it even make any difference how we pray? After all, God knows what we need before we even ask.
Jesus says, "...pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." The secret of prayer is not the words we use or the place where we pray or even the sincerity of our prayer. The secret has to be the on to who we pray. Otherwise, prayer is just an exercise in meditation or self-delusion. But if God is listening...then prayer has the potential to change everything.
The Lord's Prayer is the best known and most loved prayer in the world. The passage in the Sermon on the Mount where it is found actually begins with this paragraph. We'll begin our exploration of prayer in 2016 with this introduction today.
"Unexpected" is our Christmas Sermon Series. Last week, we talked about Mary and opportunities that are thrust upon us. Today we will be looking at Joseph and what you do when a bomb falls on your life. It may devastate a day or it may change the rest of your life. How do you get through it?
"Unexpected!" is our Christmas Sermon Series. Despite a 1,000 years of prophecies about a coming messiah, Mary certainly did not expect to be the messiah's mother! Yet, what an opportunity. What unexpected opportunities have you had? How can you be open to God's unexpected call in the future.
We are wrapping up a verse-by-verse sermon series through a "Super" chapter of the Bible__Romans 8. We've talked about living in grace, in the Spirit, in hope and in faith. In today's message, Shelley will be talking about walking in victory in stead of defeat. The message of verses 31-39 can be summed up in these words: "we are more than conquerors"
We are going verse-by-verse through a "Super" chapter of the Bible--Romans 8. We've talked about living in grace, in the Spirit and in hope. In today's message, Shelley will be talking about walking in faith instead of fear. In the heart of the passage for today is Romans 8:28. How can we live that out?
We are going verse-by-verse through a "Super" chapter of the Bible-- Romans 8. We've talked about living in freedom from guild and living in the power of the Holy Spirit. in today's message, Shelley will be looking at the Christian's hope of "glory". In our instant gratification culture, this may sound dubious. However, this is not an optional value for a believer--we need this!
We are going verse-by-verse through a "super" chapter of the Bible--Romans 8. We started three weeks ago by laying the foundation truth: we are saved by grace through the death Christ on the cross so that there is now no condemnation for us. Now we move ahead to see how we can live, since we are "set free in the Spirit from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2) "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God." What changes in us when we start to live by the Spirit?
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8 is a "Super" chapter, in that it is a high point in Paul's explanation of salvation. In the first few verses, he announces the good news that there is no condemnation for those in Jesus and he tells us 1. What happened (8:2) 2. How it happened (8:3) 3. And Why it happened (8:4)
Matthew 26:35 Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!" And all the disciples said the same. Today is the fourth and last in a series on core values in parenting, in life, and in the church. Today's message is about loyalty. What does the Bible have to say? How do you live it? How do you teach it?
Humility, often this virtue is unnoticed, but it's opposite vice, pride, nearly always catches our attention in a bad way. It's always difficult to teach a quality that is essentially self-emptying. What does the Bible have to say? How do you live it? How do you teach it?
Colossians 3:9-10 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. We are looking at four core values in parenting, in life and in the church. Today's message is about honesty. What does the Bible have to say? How do you live it? How do you teach it?
Values are valuable! If you have children, you are trying to impart the values that matter to you. We've selected four qualities that we believe are a vital component of any believer's character. They are essential in a church, too. And, of course, they are core values in parenting. Today we start with Respect. What does the Bible have to say? How do you live it? How do you teach it?
It's easy to get discouraged when we look at the challenges around us and then take inventory of the resources we can bring to face them. a found himself in a moment of both celebration and despair. It was hard not to be disappointed. Then came the Word of God: "Who dares despise the day of small things!" God went on to remind him that faith sees beyond the resources we have in our hands. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord."
The most personal of Paul's letters is a brief note to a named Philemon about a Christian named Onesimus. Try to put yourself in Paul's shoes today as we weigh the costly decision he feels he must make. Why would he send a runaway slave back to his master? Why would Onesimus voluntarily return? What purpose could this serve?
Shelley is wrapping up our survey of how to read the Bible for all it's worth today. We've been talking about how to read the Bible so that we gain knowledge guidance and encouragement, all built on a solid, clear understanding of what the text actually means. But perhaps this seems academic and cold to you. After all, we read to know God and to love him, right? So how do we use the three questions to read devotionally.
Pastor Tim speaks on what it means to be the light of the world, as Jesus is the light of the world.
Pastor Shelley speaks on what the Bible has to say about gay and lesbian relationships as well as transgender issues.
Pastor Shelley opens our Mind Your Own Business series by talking about the business we have.
Pastor Tim closes our Community series with the idea of joining in with your small group
Pastor Shelley speaks on our second reason to be in a small groups: improve our relationship with God.
Pastor Tim speaks of the first reason why we believe in small groups - to create relationships with others.
Pastor Tim plays the role of Moses as he shares what the kids learned this week at VBS.
Rod Vaughn from Diamond Willow Ministries shares a message about his work in South Dakota.
Pastor Shelley's sermon answering if one should be baptized if they're not perfect.
Please note: There is a 30 second gap in the audio due to technical problems. We're sorry for the inconvenience.
Pastor Shelley's sermon answering this question for those who were baptized as infants.
Pastor Tim's sermon on how the Holy Spirit transforms us. Also, Brenda Desko's testimony on how God has been working in her life.