Hillside Church's Podcast

Kirk Kingsley continues our Wednesdays at Hillside series on the Intro to Spiritual Disciplines. He shares examples of prayer in Scripture and discusses reasons why we do not pray sometimes. He also teaches different ways to pray more often and effectively and grow in greater intimacy with God through prayer.Support the show

James has been offering us wisdom when it comes to doubts during trials, wisdom when we face temptation. What does James have to say in general about wise faith in action? How do we know our faith is real and we’re living it out wisely? James might encourage us to take a deep breath, listen to God’s Word, and take care of the little people. - Pastor Arek O'ConnellSupport the show

We talked last week about the fact that storms come into all of our lives. People we love get sick and die. Someone hurts us deeply with their actions or their words. We lose a job. This week we’ll continue to look at what James has to say to us about what we should do in the midst of the storms that come our way. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

This morning we’re beginning a sermon series on the book of James.  James is one of the most practical letters in the New Testament and he jumps right in by talking about what we should do when the trials and difficulties come our way.  We’ll take a look at what it means to trust in God when our world feels like it’s falling apart. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

Bibles. For most of us, they are something that we have multiple copies of around our house. And if that's not the case, we have access right at our fingertips to download an app and have multiple translations.What are we doing with the Bible? How are we engaging in God's Word? What is the value of being rooted in God's Word? What are some of the roadblocks that get in our way and keep us from doing that? What should our heart posture look like when we engage in God's word?Kristin Hileman looks at some practical methods for Scripture Reading - it's not just reading, but listening, meditating, memorizing, and praying God's Word. We hope you are inspired, but also let the Bible, God's living and active Word, transform your life.Support the show

As we finish up our series on judging others this morning, we’ll see one more area where we are called to judge others—if they are someone who is spreading false teaching.  If a Christian is teaching or believing something significant that isn’t true to Scripture, we owe it to them to challenge their teachings/beliefs. This morning we’ll think about when and how we might do that. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

Wednesdays at Hillside: Our faith walk is a life-long journey in which we are called to become more and more like Jesus. Each week, we will focus on different spiritual disciplines such as prayer, scripture reading, serving, and more. Some disciplines will be taught lecture-style, while others may include discussion time, small group interactions, or a time of personal reflection.Support the show

Do I have the right to judge the sin of other Christians? There are plenty of areas we might feel comfortable offering judgment, but to look into someone’s personal life and call their action a sin against God? Can’t we just let God take care of that? As uncomfortable as it may make us, Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians 5 that it’s necessary for the health of the church and for us to see restoration take place. - Pastor Arek O'ConnellSupport the show

The Bible says that some of our Christian beliefs and behaviors are expected to be followed by every Christian. They are necessary to being a Christian.  But some of our Christian beliefs and behaviors are left up to the individual Christian—we can disagree on these matters and still call each other Christians.  But what beliefs and behaviors are in which group? This morning we’ll look at what Paul meant when he said that we shouldn’t judge each other about “disputable matters.” - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

“You Christians are so judgmental!”  “Only God can judge me!”  “Why aren’t Christians speaking up more? We should be calling sin what it is—an abomination before God!”  Should we judge other people? Or should we be quiet? This morning we’re beginning a series in which we’ll look at what the Bible has to say about judging other people. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

Where do you look for role models? Who do you want to learn from? Most of us want to learn from those who are great—the successful businessperson, the best football player, the smartest scientist. This morning the Proverbs will tell us to look in a different place for life advice—to four “little guys” who know some things we should know. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

We’ve been talking about wisdom—the ability for broken people living in a broken world to navigate life as well as possible. Wisdom is knowing what to do and having the strength to do it. This morning we’re going to look at what the Proverbs have to say about the biggest barrier that gets in the way of our becoming wise. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

We don’t always realize it, but the Bible actually says quite a bit about work. Work was created by God and was intended to be a source of dignity and appropriate pride for all of us. But now we’re working in a broken world (and we are broken people) and work doesn’t work like it’s supposed to.  So how do we navigate work well?  What do the Proverbs have to say about work? - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

We all have to deal with anger. For some of us it’s our own anger—we too often blow up and damage the people around us or we clam up and simmer with anger. For some of us it’s the anger of others—our spouse gets mad and yells at us or calls us names.  Anger is a reality in our world and the writers of the Proverbs tell us that we need to learn to deal with our anger wisely.- Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

Doubts are a tricky thing when it comes to faith. Because unlike sin and grief, some doubts are good to have. Some doubts don’t cause us any trouble because they’re grounded in truth and some can even be useful and constructive. But what about doubts concerning the nature and faithfulness of God? How does Jesus give us good news in the midst of THOSE doubts? Jesus keeps revealing His love for us until we can believe.- Pastor Arek O'ConnellSupport the show

Perhaps the most difficult seasons of faith that we endure are seasons when we experience pain, suffering, and loss. Deep down we know that suffering is part of the deal when it comes to being a Christian, but when grief hits hardest, it can feel as if God has forgotten about us and our pain altogether. But there’s good news, even in my grief. The good news in my grief is the good news of the Gospel: God loves you and is bringing dead things back to life in Christ!- Pastor Arek O'ConnellSupport the show

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