Saints‘ Hill Church Podcast

This last Sunday we began a new series in which we intend to lay out a theological foundation for what baptism is, what it means, and what it accomplishes.

In order to understand what baptism is, we first need a thorough examination of the gospel. 

God made a world that needed human partnership in order to expand his kingdom physically and spiritually throughout the earth. The humans that were designed to rule by trusting God used their agency to make decisions apart from Him, defining good and evil for themselves. This sin caused evil to enter the world and severed the connection of trust between God and man.

When Jesus came he did what no human before Him was able to do - trust and obey Yahweh completely. By His death, He got what we deserved, so we could get what He deserved. In doing so, we receive a new identity and a new experience of life. We are no longer enslaved to our sin, but are free to trust God. Once alienated from God, we now experience the peace with Him that we were designed for. This reconnection with God brings about a life of power that continually crushes the head of the serpent.

Baptism is an invitation to join Him in a death like His, so that we might also join Him in a resurrection like his. (Rom 6v5)

 

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All Christians believe that Jesus will return to remake the world someday, but how should we live as a result of this?

In Luke 12v35-48, Jesus paints a picture of what it means to be ready for His return. We are called to live with a readiness that says no to greed, gluttony, and the pursuit of luxury. We are called to be obedient to God’s voice, stewarding our God-given earthly blessings well by showing care and generosity to those around us. This type of life reflects our hope in the goodness of God and His ultimate return.

May the continual filling of the Holy Spirit keep your lamp burning, in Jesus’ name. 

 

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This last Sunday, Laura Sharp taught us through Luke 12v22-34 and Jesus’ famous words on worry.

If pride says I have enough, I don’t need to trust God; worry says, will I have enough? I’m afraid to trust God.

No matter which way you spin it, worry is a trap. It lies to you about who God is and how He wants to care for you. In this passage we are invited into a lifestyle that kills worry - to consider Father’s great love and provision for us, and to place all of our hope and treasure in knowing Jesus. 

It will cost us everything, but what could we possibly sacrifice that would amount to the value of knowing Him? We long for that precious day when we will get to be with the Treasure of our hearts.

 

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What does it mean to be rich toward God?

On Sunday, Jake Vigil taught us through Jesus’ words in Luke 12v13-21. 

In this passage, Jesus tells a parable and warns against building up earthly treasure without being rich toward God. Some of the ways we get rich toward God are by crucifying the flesh, daily Bible reading, a lifestyle of prayer, fasting, generosity, and gratitude that leads to contentment.

Praying that this message leads us to repentance and deeper contentment in Jesus, that we might be able to sow into eternity now by being rich towards God with our lives.

 

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This last Sunday Alex taught us through Luke 11v33-12v12, emphasizing the wisdom of prioritizing your inner world.

In these passages, Jesus is giving a warning to anyone who chooses to build their life around the perception of others. He warns that this way of living will not produce the kingdom of God in you, but the fear of man.

The fear of man says that God doesn’t see you, only people do. But if you choose to build your life on His love in the secret place, you will become the love you receive from Him - a light to the world.

 

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We have placed a focus on this year in our church as a year of connection with God. Our desire is to become a consecrated place for the Lord to dwell, individually and as a family. 

As Bria taught us further through Luke 11 on Sunday, we saw that this consecration does not happen by accident. If we are the house that God intends to dwell in, our love cannot be divided. We are for Him or against Him. If we are the house that God intends to dwell in, we must give Him ownership and authority over the house. This is a blessed way to live because it’s what we were made for - dependence on and complete surrender to Him.

When we live this way, we will see heaven come to earth in us and through us. May it be so in Jesus’ name.

 

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At the beginning of every calendar year we take time to ask God how He wants to lead us in the coming months. On Sunday, Alex shared with us that 2024 will be the year of connection for Saints’ Hill.

When we say connection what we mean is communication with God in reality, or what Jesus in Luke 11v1-13 calls prayer.

Where there is connection in reality (prayer), trust is developed.
Where trust is developed surrender is possible.
When surrender happens, God acts in power. 

This is how you become the gift God designed you to be on earth. We each get to play our role and discover His purpose for our life that we might become fruit that remains.

 

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This last Sunday we closed out 2023 with a teaching from Ephesians 2 - what it means to have individual purpose and walk in the fear of the Lord.

God made you and has a specific purpose for your life. Your gifts, interests, personality, limitations, and weaknesses, when they are channeled through and redeemed by submission to Christ, are designed to leave a mark. Receiving your identity in Christ and walking in the fear of the Lord is what sets you up to do the good works He prepared in advance for you. You were designed to depend on Him, and to give away what you receive.

 

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In John chapter 1 we discover that Jesus came into the world re-create humans with light.

According to the Scriptures, the problem with the world is spiritual blindness. There is no way to know God other than through the face of Christ. If you don’t look him in the face, you will live without light. To live without light is to live without hope, direction, and identity. 

When we expose ourselves to the light in the face of Christ, when we look into His eyes, we begin to see ourselves and the world around us, correctly. He came to be generous with all that He is, so that you could see the world with the same generosity. 

 

Link to Sermon Guide & Activation:

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In our third Sunday of Advent we examined the famous prophecy about Jesus in Isaiah 9v2-7. 

Jesus came to get the principles and policies of heaven to become the standard of life you exist in. When you let Him set up His government in your heart, you get access to a Wonderful Counselor, a Mighty God, an Everlasting Father, and a Prince of Peace. 

We rely on this internal government to produce God’s will in us and around us. Freedom no matter the circumstance. 

May this Advent season awaken again our need for and our dependence on Jesus. 

 

Link to Sermon Guide & Activation:

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