Hillside Church's Podcast

Trusting in God’s way of doing things is not easy.  When we’re not sure God is going to do something, sometimes we feel like we need to take matters into our own hands.  This morning we’ll look at how several of our faith-ancestors made a mess of things by taking matters into their own hands.  Genesis 27Support the show

Genesis 25:21-34We all have family stories – stories about grandpas and grandmas or about uncles and aunts. Some of them are funny. Some of them are sad. But they help us know more about ourselves – where we came and who we are. This morning we’ll begin to take a look at some of our Faith Family stories. We’ll learn about us but, more importantly, we’ll learn about God. Support the show

Some of us are surrounded by critics. We have people around us who seem to have the gift of criticism—they are able to see everything we do wrong and they know what we should have done. This can be extremely difficult. This week we’ll take a loo at what the Apostle Paul did with the critics in his life.Text: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5Message by Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

Luke 2:25-38What would you like to see before dying? At the end of the Christmas story, Luke - the historian - introduces us to two intriguing characters, Anna and Simeon. One of them had a dying wish that was fulfilled when Jesus' parents arrived at the temple. We leave Bethlehem behind but we are still in the Christmas story, and we witness how the Holy Spirit is pushing forward the story of our salvation.Support the show

II Samuel 23:13-17Most of us have people in our lives who have helped us in great ways and made a huge impact on us.  When people do that for us, we commit ourselves to them.  we want to honor them and make them proud of us.  We are devoted to them.  That’s okay, but this morning we’ll look at a story from King David’s life that reminds us that there is only One who deserves our deeper devotion. Support the show

Jeremiah 18:1-10When we're honest we don't always like what we see when we look at ourselves. We see that we're cracked and broken and not all that useful. The good news this morning is that God has a special way with broken stuff - He doesn't throw it, or us, away.Support the show

Ever feel you are grasping for peace but you aren't sure why you can't get it? Jesus comes to us as God's best gift to the world, the Prince of Peace! In a divisive culture we are going to wrap up our Advent season unpacking God's path for joy and PEACE. Support the show

Isaiah 9:6When we think of earthly fathers, some of us have great thoughts - our dads were good dads.  Others of us don’t have those thoughts - our dads were not the kind of dads they should have been.  This morning Isaiah tells us that Jesus will be the kind of father all of us need - He will be called Everlasting Father.Support the show

Isaiah 9:6Last week we talked about how great it is that Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor – that He is smart enough to know what’s wrong and to know what to do about it. This week Isaiah wants us to know something else about Jesus – He is strong enough to save us. He is the Mighty God. Support the show

What Child is This? The Wonderful CounselorLife is confusing and complex. We are often faced with choices and decisions that seem overwhelming. We don’t know what to do. Isaiah promises us that in this world of confusion and darkness, God is sending us a gift—His Son—the Wonderful Counselor who can guide us in the ways we should go.Text: Isaiah 9:1-7Message by Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

How do we as Christians learn to see God moving in our lives? In times of distress and confusion, often times we feel like God is absent and we are all alone. Where is God in times of trouble? Elisha's servant asked a similar question in a moment of panic. We'll see this morning how Elisha enabled his servant to have Christian double vision and how we can also learn to see God moving.Support the show

It is good for us to give thanks.Support the show

Judges 6 & 7One of the questions that we often ask ourselves is this:  Do I have enough?  Do I have enough food to feed everyone?  Do I have enough money to pay the bills?  Do I have enough patience to deal with all the people in my life?  We do the math and we try to figure it out.  But this morning we're going to be reminded that, when we add God into our equations, everything changes.  When we have faith, we learn to count a little differently.  Support the show

Samuel 3:1-10What do you do when someone shares that God told them to do something? Do you cringe? Celebrate? Wonder why God didn’t tell you to do something? This morning we’ll talk about what it means to listen for God’s leadings as we live by faith. Support the show

Galatians 6:11-18As Paul closes out his letter to the Galatians, he wants us to know where he gets his confidence, his strength, and his identity.  He ends up where he began - at the cross. Support the show

Even though we are saved by grace alone, we know that we are supposed to be good and do good. But why? If we don't have to be good to earn God's favor, why should we even try to be good? This morning we'll look at one of the ways Paul answers that question.Support the show

Galatians 6:1-6Ever feel like a tattle-tale? What do you do when your best friend is living dangerously? The Spirit Teaches us something radical. While you must rescue your friend, you better watch out so you don’t end up in the same sin. What??? This Sunday you’re invited to explore with us this issue. Support the show

Most of recognize that there is a battle going on inside of us. There are things we don’t want to do that we do, and things we down to do that we don’t do. We get frustrated because we aren’t the people we know we should be. This morning we’ll take a look at why we are in this situation and what Paul tells us to do about it.Text: Galatians 5:16-26Message by Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

Galatians 5: 13-15 What does it mean that you are “called to freedom?” Are Christians expected to live without regard to precepts and laws? This Sunday we’ll explore what the Bible says authoritatively about Christian freedom in relation to ourselves, to others, and to God. Support the show

Galatians 5:5The Bible teaches that we are saved (brought into Graceland) by Jesus and Jesus alone – not by what we do. But how do we live in Graceland? Can we do whatever we want? Paul gives us some guidelines about how we live in God’s grace and the first one is this: Refuse to return to Slaveland! Paul wants us to protect our freedom. This morning we’ll continue to think about how we can resist the pressure from people who tell us we’re not good enough for Graceland.Support the show