Hillside Church's Podcast

For the next three weeks we’re going to be looking at stories from the Gospel of John for some much needed good news in a world that has plenty bad to offer. The best news usually comes when we think there’s only bad news or no hope. But there is good news in all seasons, even in the times when we fall short and blow it. - Pastor Arek O'ConnellSupport the Show.

Did your parents always want to know who you were hanging out with? Were they constantly asking about your friends? If they were, then it’s probably because they were wise and they loved you.  The people we hang around with matter—a lot—and this morning we’ll look at what the Proverbs have to say about our friends. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the Show.

Our tongues are relatively small—they only weigh about three ounces.  But they are powerful.  They can cause great damage in our lives and the lives of others.  They can also be the source of great blessing.  This morning we’ll look at what the Proverbs have to say about our tongues. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the Show.

At times we can all be fools. We make foolish choices. We say foolish things. We go foolish places. At times we can all be fools. And we need help. That’s where the book of Proverbs comes in. Proverbs is a book of God’s wisdom that can help us navigate life well.  This morning we’ll start a series on the book of Proverbs. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the Show.

As we come to the end of the book of Acts, we have several questions yet to be answered.  What will Paul do in Rome? What is going to happen when Paul appears before Caesar?  Will Paul ever get to Spain?  This morning we’ll see how Luke finishes the story he’s been telling us. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the Show.

It’s interesting to think about how we should think about ourselves. Should we look at ourselves as bad people? As good people? Should we be proud of ourselves or ashamed about who we are? This morning we’ll look at what Luke tells us about Paul and about how we should look at ourselves. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the Show.

This week at Hillside, our kids have been learning what it means to be a hero. We’ve been following the life of David and learned that hero’s have a pure heart, they face their fears, they trust in God and offer forgiveness. There’s one more story we’ll look at together as a church and see that what ultimately makes someone a hero in God’s eyes is devoting your whole heart to God and God alone. - Pastor Arek O'ConnellSupport the Show.

One of the lessons new drivers need to learn is what it means to yield.  It’s not the same as stopping—but you may have to stop.  It’s not the same as going—though you may get to go.  Yielding can be hard to learn when driving.  But it can also be hard to learn when we’re following God.  This morning Pastor Jul Medenblik will teach us about being yielded to God.Support the Show.

Sometimes you know that there’s a crash of some sort coming.  Even with God’s help, sometimes we hit the rocks. Paul and his companions on the ship know that they are going to “run aground” (crash) on an island during a terrible storm. This morning, we’ll look at what they did to prepare for the rocks and what we can do. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the Show.

God has promised us some pretty amazing things—His presence and strength, a new earth where everything will be the way it is supposed to be, new bodies that will never get cancer or die.  Some days it’s easy to believe in God’s promises.  We just know they’re going to happen. But some days we wonder—is it really true?  Will God keep His promises? This morning we’ll look at a story that shows us that our God will not be stopped. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the Show.

In his last recorded speech in the Bible, Paul stands and gives a defense before King Agrippa in preparation for his arrival to Rome and ultimately Caesar.  Paul makes a lengthy speech in his defense, and what is significant to notice about his speech is that Paul can’t talk about himself without talking about Jesus at the same time. For Paul, every day was an an opportunity to testify about Christ in word and deed, do we believe the same? - Pastor Arek O'ConnellSupport the Show.

Sometimes we’re in situations where we’re not sure what we ought to do.  Does God want us to stay where we are and wait for Him to do something? Or does God want us to take matters into our own hands and do something ourselves?  This morning we’ll look at a situation in which Paul has to figure out whether he waits or whether he takes matters into his own hands. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the Show.

Paul’s missionary journeys have placed him in stressful situations repeatedly. Wherever Paul seemed to tell people about Jesus, trouble followed. Living with a clear conscience when things are good is hard enough. How do we live with a clear conscience before God and man under pressure? We see in the example of Paul before Felix we can live with a clear conscience in any situation when we seek the Lord with honesty, humility, and patience, living for an audience of one: Jesus. - Pastor Arek O'ConnellSupport the Show.

As we’ve gone through the books of Acts, we’ve seen God do a number of miracles—healings and earthquakes and blindness and bright lights.  This morning we’re going to look at a passage in which God doesn’t do any of these kinds of miracles.  He’s behind the scenes, working through “natural” means and circumstances.  We’ll think about how God might be at work behind the scenes in our own lives. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the Show.

We live in a politically charged environment. Some of us have experienced broken relationships over political divisions.  In an election year, things might well get worse. How do we live in this?  How do we handle politically charged environments?  This morning we’ll take a look at Paul in a politically charged environment and see what we can learn about how to handle it.  - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the Show.

One of the opportunities we sometimes have is the opportunity to tell others about Jesus.  It can be an exciting thing to do, but it can also be scary.  This morning we’re going to take a look at one of the most effective ways we can share our faith—we’ll see how Paul simply tells the story of when he met Jesus.  As we look at Paul, we’ll all be challenged to think about our story and how we might share it. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the Show.

Paul has been on his way to Jerusalem for quite a while and he’s finally arrived. He’s been looking forward to being in Jerusalem but he also knows that troubles are ahead of him.  This morning we’ll see what happens when Paul goes into the city. As too often happens, the first trouble comes from other Christians. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the Show.

Sometimes Christians disagree.  One of the things Christians disagree about is the strategy we ought to pursue.  We might have the same goal, but we might have different ways of getting there.  What do we do then?  How do we decide? This morning we’ll look at a situation in which Paul and a lot of his friends disagree and we’ll watch as they figure out what to do. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

The site of an empty tomb on Easter morning is a symbol of victory. Death has been defeated, the bondage of sin has been overpowered by God’s power and love. But the first time people saw an empty tomb on Easter, they became so scared and confused that they ran off in a silent panic. What could possibly be scary and confusing about Easter + the empty tomb? Well, if Christ is risen and He is Lord, what does that mean about my failures and future plans for life? If Christ is risen am I living the life that is seeking to follow Him or am I in control? - Pastor Arek O'ConnellSupport the show

As we gather together this evening for worship, we’ll take time to follow Jesus from His arrest to when He died. It is a sad, painful journey. But it also is a journey that leads to life for us. In our meditation, we’ll take a look at the person at the cross who sees most clearly—a Roman Centurion. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show