Saints‘ Hill Church Podcast

2024: The Year of Connection

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.

 

Link to Sermon Guide & Activation:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61ef10edc9dc6800ac27e640/t/659f0206b37d5d657f8df51a/1704919558960/01.07.24+Sermon+Guide.pdf

Life of the Church: Your Life Has An Aim

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.

 

Link to Sermon Guide & Activation:

 

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61ef10edc9dc6800ac27e640/t/65959ec51dd11058dd05d526/1704304325420/12.31.23+Sermon+Guide.pdf

Advent 2023: The Light of Mankind

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:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61ef10edc9dc6800ac27e640/t/658db1581be3130dc85dad56/1703784792570/12.24.23+Sermon+Guide.pdf

 

Advent 2023: His Government

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:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61ef10edc9dc6800ac27e640/t/6584c0e7f0f1a2064ed5b415/1703198951589/12.17.23+Sermon+Guide.pdf

Advent 2023: Liberation From The Gods

Jesus’ incarnation liberated us from the gods. 

According to the Scriptures, humans cohabit this world with gods who are lesser than Yahweh. The aim of these lesser gods is to un-do what God wants to do. Their goal is to un-create us by getting us to agree with demonic ways of seeing ourselves and God. 

This is why Jesus’ advent is so meaningful. He comes to re-create humans. He gave us an example of what it looks like to say no to the gods and yes to the Father, and he gave us the power and authority to do it. 

 

Link to Sermon Guide & Activation: 

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61ef10edc9dc6800ac27e640/t/657b4df2fb9d8f4eb467be05/1702579699055/12.10.23+Sermon+Guide.pdf

Advent 2023: The Incarnation Heals Creation

As we enter the season of Advent we ask ourselves the question, why did God become human?

Alex proposed on Sunday that one of the reasons for the Incarnation was to teach us how to be human in this physical world. All the way back in Genesis 3 we see that humans have a problem with material. They desire to worship what they think it can offer them, outside of relationship with God. There was pride in Adam & Eve’s hearts, and it was revealed through their interaction with the physical world. Now creation groans under the weight of our idolatry, because it was never meant to bear it. 

The purpose of creation is to act as an access point to the love, purpose, and peace in God’s heart. This is the example that Jesus set forth through His incarnation and the example that we want to follow!

 

Link to Sermon Guide & Activation:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61ef10edc9dc6800ac27e640/t/656f80651365a73864ec37ad/1701806181121/12.3.23+Sermon+Guide.pdf

 

The King is Here: One Thing Is Needed

In Luke 10v38-42 we find a strikingly significant story in the life of Jesus. 

In the story, Jesus explains that there is one thing that matters most - to sit at His feet. Mary’s actions teach us that success in life is a heart full of adoration, with eyes that stay gazing on Jesus. 

There will indeed be many God-given things to get done in your life, but your chief purpose is to stay connected to Jesus. This lifestyle not only pleases Him, but will lead to flourishing in everything that you put your hands to. 

We pray that you would once again, or for the first time, be captivated by the beauty of Jesus and decide to put your connection with Him before everything else. 

The King is Here: The Good Samaritan

In Luke 10v25-37 the good Samaritan demonstrates what God had been trying to do through the people of Israel for centuries. 

How is it that this non-Jewish person in this story had more of a Jewish heart than the Jews themselves?

God’s solution to what happened in the garden and the chaos that followed, was Abraham. A man who would be loyal to God alone, trust God when it didn’t make sense, obey God by doing righteousness and justice, and look for provision in Christ. 

What God began with Abraham was intended to be continued through the Jews, and ultimately all who believe in Jesus. The key is that it can only be continued through trust and surrender, not by remaining in control of the cost. 

We pray that you would receive a fresh revelation of the Father’s love that would empower you trust and obey Him. 

The King is Here: How To Be A Christian

This last Sunday Alex continued our Luke Series in chapter 10v1-24. In this passage, Jesus teaches us a few really fundamental points of how to be a Christian.

To be a Christian is to expect that there’s a harvest of people who desire to be united with their Creator. To be a Christian is to bless, fellowship, minister and proclaim. As a Christian, your metric of success is found in the joy of living life connected to Jesus, not in the fruit of your ministry, or lack thereof. And the goal of our Sunday gatherings is to facilitate an encounter with God that will equip you to go out and be the church in your everyday life.

The King is Here: Greatness

This last Sunday one of our elders, Austin Smith, taught on what it means to be great in the Kingdom. 

In Luke 9v43-62 we get a glimpse into the hearts of Jesus’ disciples. While they have seen many miracles and walked with Jesus, they are still operating out of insecurity and pride. It’s a Genesis 3 problem - choosing to define greatness apart from God. And it’s why we still try to find significance from our externals: job, relationships, ministry.  

Jesus is our ultimate example of what greatness looks like in the Kingdom. Because He knew His identity, He was able to serve others without needing recognition.  

God calls us to love Him by serving others in this way, and we can only do it when we get all our value from the Cross.