Hillside Evangelical Free Church

Jesus came for "the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Mat 15:23), but what happened when a gentile woman came to Him in faith asking that He heal her daughter? What followed at first may seem confusing but later shows the hope that we can have because of Jesus. Finally, how should this passage from Matthew 15:21-39 instruct our lives and the way we think about others coming to faith in Jesus?

Good intentions can sometimes have disastrous consequences. For the Pharisees of Jesus' day, the traditions that once were instituted to help people follow God, turned out to be the very thing that kept them from recognizing their Messiah. Unfortunately this sort of thing isn't isolated to the past, we are in danger of doing the exact same thing with our good intentions. Listen as we explore this important passage and learn that we must be on guard against our own sinful hearts.

When we hear of hardship, evil, and disaster in our own nation and around the world, it can be easy to fear. In Habakkuk's day the threat of Babylonian invasion was high and he accused God of sitting back and idly doing nothing. He was afraid and living in fear. What about you? When you see threats coming against the church or culture shifting in a way that is unsettling, what is your response? Fear or faith? What began as an accusation of God being idle finished with an exclamation of joy. Habakkuk's fear was replaced with faith and he could see that God was at work after all.

Sometimes with familiar Bible stories we overlook the mundane but important details. When Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on water towards Jesus we see in a matter of moments great faith and also crippling doubt. Perhaps you can relate that your life is a mixture of triumph and failing. So how do you trust Jesus in each moment? How do you keep your eyes fixed on Him and not on the overwhelming circumstances of your life? Listen and be encouraged to keep going and trusting in Jesus throughout each moment of your day.

While God works in miraculous ways like in the story of the feeding of the 5,000, sometimes we miss recognizing that God regularly works in small ways. In fact, sometimes the smallness of something more clearly shows the greatness of God. Just because things in your life may seem small, don't give up on faithfully following the Lord in your daily life. Sometimes the smallest acts of obedience turn out to be used by God in the most miraculous ways.

What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? This week we take a look at Ephesians 5:18-21 and the outworking of being filled with the Holy Spirit in the life of the church.

It can be easy to want to speak the truth to those in authority but do so in a selfish way. In this sermon on Matthew 14:1-12 we look at the story of John the Baptist speaking the truth to King Herod. Contrary to many things we see in our world today, John was a good example of speaking boldly from Scripture with Herod's good in mind. He also wasn't afraid to speak up even though it meant he may face unjust consequences. Not only was the truth John the baptist spoke important, but also the manner in which he lived his life, which testified to the truth he spoke. How can we speak the truth well in this world? How can we be bold and loving? How can we walk in a manner worthy of the Lord even in difficult circumstances? Join us as we explore these questions.

If you're wondering where to find hope, you can find it in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This historical event testified by eyewitness accounts shares a glimpse of the hope that we are waiting for when all things are made new. Jesus rising from the dead is the first fruits of the resurrection and we eagerly await His return when He will wipe away every tear and death will be no more. Praise be to God as we celebrate the resurrection this Easter Sunday!

Why do we celebrate Palm Sunday each year? What is it about Jesus' entry into Jerusalem that is so special that we remember it with such detail? It may seem inconsequential at first but the small details of Jesus riding on a donkey and the actions of the crowd point to a very deliberate plan of God. On this side of the cross we celebrate the intentionality of our great God who had planned to save us from eternity past!

"A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.", these words rang true for Jesus when He came back and taught in his hometown. But like the people of Nazareth, we too have a propensity to shut our ears to those who are much younger than us or those we have known for some time. While the reasons these people give for not listening to Jesus are obviously shallow to us today, what excuses might we be giving that lead us to not listen to people speaking the truth today?

This week we look at the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price. They are simple parables that Jesus told his disciples to illustrate the vast worth of the kingdom of Heaven. Even though there is a cost to following Jesus, we can find encouragement that it is well worth it in the end!

In our world justice delayed is considered justice denied. But does that apply when it comes to Jesus and His promise to return and judge the world? Is there a good reason for Jesus taking a long time to return? What hope do people have who have placed their trust in Jesus? Explore these questions with us as we look at this passage from Matthew 13:24-43. The kingdom of Heaven may have small beginnings and require patience to see it come to fruition, but in the end it is well for those who have placed their faith in Christ. 

When the word of God is preached there can be a variety of responses; some reject the truth right away, others show early zeal but fade quickly, still more follow for a time but are eventually led astray, and finally some endure, grow, and yield fruit. So how many soils are there? How can you follow Jesus faithfully without your faith being choked out by other things? In this life there are many things that can take our focus away from Christ, but may we be a people who hear His word and respond wholeheartedly. 

What if people meet you before they hear the good news of the Gospel? By knowing you, would they recognize a resemblance between you and the person of Christ that you claim to follow? Just as people may see a resemblance between family members, so we too are to resemble the character of the Father in our lives. 

"I will believe in Jesus if He gives me a sign that He is real"... this week we look at the temptation to ask for signs from God before putting our faith in Christ. As we will see in the passage from Matthew 12:38-40, there was plenty of evidence that Jesus was/is the Messiah, but the people of his day continually wanted more "signs" before they would follow Him. It can be tempting to do the same in our generation, we can ask for more and more "proof" that Jesus is who He said He is and fail to account for all the reasons we have to believe His claims. Let us not remain in unbelief but rather turn to Christ in repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 

Does your life and words prove that you are a Christian or do they prove otherwise? In this week's sermon from Matthew 12:33-37, we look at the reality that your life and words demonstrate what kind of person you are. Just as an apple tree produces apples and a grape vine produces grapes, so our lives reflect what is in our hearts. This is a good message to help you examine your heart and life and to run to the source of life, Jesus Christ if you have yet to place your hope in Him. 

Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? As humans we have an incredible capacity to not believe. We may see evidence with our own eyes, hear logical arguments, even sense agreement within our own spirit, yet still refuse to believe. In today's passage we see the hardness of the human heart on display and discuss the one thing that can never be forgiven: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. What is it, have I done that, and what hope is there? Join us for this important look into God's word from Matthew 12:22-32.

Unfortunately just as in Jesus' day we struggle with misappropriating the idea of good works. We very easily turn good things into legalistic things or create a different excuse to get out of doing good. Although this issue has going on for centuries, there is hope. Listen in as we learn from Matthew 12:9-21 about how we can be doing good to others. 

It is easy to over or under emphasize something and as a result end up with an incorrect conclusion. In this passage from Matthew 12:1-8 Jesus addresses the issue of the Pharisees adding rules to the Sabbath day. While we often can recognize the danger of minimizing sin, this sermon is a good reminder that adding additional requirements to the Bible can have just as damaging an effect. 

Are you weary? Do you need rest? These are questions some of us may only dream of hearing as we carry on in our busy lives. But what if you could find rest? What if there was someone who could help you in your weariness? In this week's sermon from Matthew 11:25-30 we look at a welcoming invitation from Jesus and what that means to our lives, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Whoever you are, whatever your burdens, come to Jesus and find rest today. 

How will you respond to Jesus? At the heart of this passage from Matthew 11 Jesus rebukes the people for their unbelief. The people had rejected John and said "he has a demon", and then rejected Jesus calling Him, "A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!". Those who had interacted with Jesus had their reasons for not following Him, but as we will see, those reasons will not hold up on the day of Judgment. While there is breath in your lungs you have the opportunity to respond in repentance and turn to Jesus, but as is warned here, woe to those who do not repent. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." - Matthew 11:15

What are you doing here? That is basically the question Jesus asks in these verses from Matthew 11:1-15. Jesus pokes at the crowd's motivation for coming through some rather direct questions. But we could ask the same question today, why are you here? Why do you come to church? Listen in this week as we explore these questions and their implications for our lives.

Drawing on lines from the Christmas hymn, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", we look at three reasons why Jesus was born. At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. This is a sermon to help us worship more fully this Christmas as we contemplate the wonders of Jesus being born as a baby in Bethlehem!

Continuing with a Christmas hymn theme, we take a look at Colossians 1:15-20 to learn more about what it meant for Jesus to take on flesh and dwell among us. 

If you're familiar with the classic Christmas hymn, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", you may think there is a typo in the line, "hail the sun of righteousness". In fact though, the hymn writer Charles Wesley was very intentional with this phrase as it comes from Micah 4:2. In this sermon discover more depth to the much loved hymn, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and may we look expectantly to the return of Christ!

Are you known as a thankful person? It might sound like an unusual question but thankfulness is meant to be a big part of a believers life. So what does being thankful look like? How can we be thankful people? Join us as we look at Colossians 3:15-17 to help answer those questions.

What is the purpose of communion? In his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul sternly warns the Corinthian church about how they were practicing communion. But what were they doing that was wrong? Is it that big of a deal? Join us as we look at 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 to learn more about this needed correction around the Lord's supper. 

If you were to make priorities for your life based on passages from the Bible, where would you start? In this sermon Pastor Steve Morgan walks us through 1 Peter 4:7-11 and encourages us to live in light of God's word in our day to day lives. 

In celebration of reformation Sunday and the work God did through Martin Luther, we look at church history and the significant event of The Diet of Worms. 

Is Jesus the only way to Heaven? Some would say yes, some no, and others would argue it doesn't matter. But with so many views on who Jesus is and how to have eternal life, how should Christians interact with those with differing beliefs? Today's passage deals with an important tension that all believers must hold as they live their lives. How to live fully for Jesus without compromise, while also living in a loving manner towards those who disagree with Christianity. 

Who do you fear? It may sound like an odd question at first but Jesus basically asked that exact question. Will you fear God or will you fear other people? When thinking about sharing the gospel or being bold in your faith it is easy to become fearful, but Jesus reminds us that we ought rather to fear God instead of people. Listen in as we dive into this passage from Matthew 10:26-33 and discover the importance of fearing God rather than man.

Jesus told His followers that they were being sent out as "sheep among wolves". It is quite a statement and can be shocking that Jesus expected such hostility to the good news of the Gospel. But what can we learn from this and how can it help guide us in our daily lives as we seek to share the gospel?

Looking at the first disciples there was very little that held them together outside of their common faith in Jesus. Yet Jesus gathered this diverse group of men, taught them, and sent them out to proclaim the good news of the gospel. But that mission didn't end with the disciples, the proclamation of the gospel is one that believers in Christ are still called to today. We may have very little in common outside of Christ, but our mutual love for our Savior compels us to share the good news around the world. 

Do you ever look at other people and wonder if you are missing out on something that you could experience if you weren't a Christian? Does it sometimes feel like your faith is a weight to your soul and that you have more troubles than non-believers? The writer of Psalm 73 seemed to struggle with similar feelings and wrestled with tough questions like these. But if it stopped with those questions it would be incomplete, for Psalm 73 ends in a much different place than it begins. Join us as we explore this important topic of where we find our greatest good. 

We live in a world where injustice and evil are visible all around us. In such a world, how do we go about our lives? In this personal Psalm, King David confronts the reality of evil, betrayal, and how the godly are to live. What hope do we have when it seems that the darkness is pressing in around us? Join us as we explore these ideas. 

Do you ever fear what God thinks of your deepest darkest sin? In light of God's holiness we can often feel ashamed or paralyzed at the thought of our sin being exposed. In Psalm 51 we see King David faced with the reality that he has committed adultery and murdered a man. The depths of his sin are great, but the mercy of God proves greater. King David shows us a pattern of humility and repentance when confronted with our sin. This Psalm also gives us great hope that we can trust God when we come to Him with our darkest secrets. 

What does God think of people who do external acts of piety but whose heart is not in the right place? In surprisingly clear language Psalm 50 describes God's sentiment towards those who do the workings of religion but disregard the true heart of worshiping God. This is a sobering message that calls all professing believers to worship the Lord with sacrifices of thanksgiving, and not be caught unaware of the dangers of an external religious facade. 

What does the Bible say about money? What does the Bible say about death? These are both big questions that are brought up in Psalm 49. When reflecting on death and wealth, it is plain to see that all people die regardless of their income or possessions. The psalmist in Psalm 49 uses this great equalizer to exhort his listeners not to fear the powerful or the wealthy. Instead he turns towards a future redemption, "But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me." (psalm 49:15) When you think about your life, where do you put your hope?

Drawn on throughout the Bible are physical representations of spiritual truths. In Psalm 48 the Psalmist uses the imagery and physical presence of Jerusalem to show God's power and protection for His people. In one sense it calls us to slow down and consider the works of God in the past, and in another it enables us to be ready to  "tell the next generation" about who God is. 

How does the idea that God is sovereignly involved in the world impact our daily lives? Drawing on the story from Ruth chapter two and sharing from personal experience, guest speaker John Quay teaches about the providence of God.

Differing worship styles and song choices have unfortunately been a dividing point for churches throughout history. But have you ever wondered what the bible actually says about worship? In Psalm 47 we see the clear call to praise the Lord, to sing loud songs of joy! Join us as Pastor Jim Schultz helps us navigate this tricky area of church life and how the expressions of worship are secondary to the call to worship.

"A Mighty Fortress is Our God" is considered Martin Luther's most famous hymn. While many may see it as a battle hymn, it actually seems that Luther wrote it as a hymn of comfort during one of the darkest periods of his life. Some of the text from Psalm 46 was used in writing this hymn, join us as we look at how God is a fortress of help, presence and peace.

Psalm 45 describes a royal wedding, a wedding that isn't just pointing to a king, but ultimately leading us to the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. But is Psalm 45 really pointing to Jesus? Join us as Pastor Jim Schultz explains how the Old Testament points us to Christ in so many ways!

Psalm 44 has a different tone than many other Psalms. Instead of a personal lament and cry to God, the psalmist speaks on behalf of the nation and utters a lament to the Lord. As Christians in the West have we lost sight of the corporate nature of our faith? Are there things we should be mourning or bringing before God in a more corporate way? Join us as we explore these ideas in Psalm 44.

Have you ever felt conflicted inside? Where on one hand you know that God is your refuge but on the other it feels like He has abandoned you to these painful circumstances? In Psalm 43 we see this tension by the psalmist, he wants to be near to God but currently is feeling distant from God. If you're going through difficulty, don't run from the God who is your refuge, express that difficulty to Him and allow God to bring you hope. 

Where do you turn when you are flooded with grief? How do you lament pain and hardship? In Psalm 42 we look at the practical process of moving forward through grief using the instrument of lament. We discover that you can simultaneously feel great pain and put your hope in God through the difficulty. 

What you build your house on and what you build your life upon matter. When the difficulties of life hit where will you find yourself? Will the floods of hardship reveal a house built on the solid rock of Christ or will it erode the foundations and leave you in despair. Join us as we learn about the importance of not only hearing the teachings of Jesus but also following His example and obeying them. 

Just because a person speaks as if they know the truth and are confident in their assertions doesn't mean they are a true prophet or true believer. In this week's sermon we explore the sobering reality that Jesus warns us about; the problem of false prophets and false believers. 

As children we learn that if we want something we need to ask for it, if we're not sure where something is we look for it, and if we're standing outside of somebody's door we knock. In all of those things we expect something very specific: when we ask, we prepare to receive, if we search we anticipate finding what we're looking for, and if we knock we expect the person inside will open the door. These are all very obvious things in our daily lives, but have you applied this same logic in relating to God? Jesus did. He said, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)

Has anyone ever told you, "Judge not lest you be judged!"? While it is a very real and true verse from the Bible, it must be held in tension with the rest of the passage. Just as "Love your enemies" and "Bad company ruins good morals" must be held in tension, so too does "Judge not lest you be judged". In this sermon Pastor Jim Schultz looks at the important question of when to call out sin in other's lives, and reminding us that we cannot ignore the potentially weightier sin in ours.  

Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful" and called his disciples to "pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." As you go about your days are you approaching life as if there is a plentiful harvest for the Lord? If not, be encouraged that there is a plentiful harvest for the Lord that Christians get to be a part of!

Jesus performed many miracles during his earthly ministry; turning water into wine, walking on water, healing the blind, and the list goes on. While all of these miracles of Jesus are amazing, it can be easy to miss the reason these miracles were performed. Join us this week as we look beyond the miracles themselves and explore their purpose.

Join us this week with Pastor Dave Stevenson as we explore the following big idea: We are to ACT by praising God for He is the great creator and redeemer, infinitely superior to all competing “gods”.

What does it look like to approach Jesus for healing? How do we think about seemingly hopeless situations in our lives? Join us this week as we look at Matthew 9:18-26 and explore these questions.

Sometimes it seems that people are impossible to please. Whether it is fault finding, impossibly high standards, shifting expectations or something entirely different; people can be hard to please. When people weren't happy with Jesus' behavior they called Him "a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners" (Matt 11:19). While you may not struggle with saying those words to Jesus, what if the same heart problem is present? Could it be that you are measuring Jesus against your standards instead of measure yourself against Jesus' standards?

When a paralytic man is brought to Jesus you may expect Jesus to immediately heal his infirmities. Instead of physically healing the man, Jesus chose to forgive his sins. To the religious leaders this seemed like a sign of blasphemy against God, but Jesus then used this as an opportunity to verify His divinity. 

The resurrection of Jesus was both glorious, joyous, and fearful for the first witnesses of the event. Join us as we look at the resurrection story from Matthew's gospel.

"Go"... a small yet impactful word that when spoken by someone of authority, carries a lot of weight. Here in our passage today we not only look at the disciple making commission itself, but also recognize that it is spoken by Jesus, who has authority over Heaven and earth. So what does it mean to follow Jesus in His command to go and make disciples? 

Who is Jesus? It is a question the disciples had to face and it is a question we must face as well. Was Jesus a mere man or is He truly the Son of God? In the text today we look at the miracle of Jesus calming the waves and the sea as well as Him commanding demons to go into a herd of pigs. Both are unusual and significant events and lead us again to our question; who is Jesus?

When you purchase something you probably weigh many factors including how much the item will cost. But when it comes to following Jesus have you counted the cost? It's easy to make bold declarations or promises for Jesus without thinking through the ramifications of such a commitment. In this sermon we look at multiple times where Jesus made His followers consider the cost of following Him. 

Jesus performed many miracles during His time on earth, but what was the purpose? Why were these miracles recorded in the Bible for us to know about? In this sermon Pastor Jim Schultz looks at several miracles of Jesus and explains their significance to us today. 

There's no getting around the reality that genuine authentic faith in Jesus leads to real depth of fellowship and community among believers. But oftentimes the church is messy, there is division and strife, and under the surface there is sin. Listen this week as Steve Morgan shares about the necessity of repentance among believers and the importance of the church being a safe place to grow in Christ-likeness together.

"Do not be anxious about your life." sounds like a great ideal but seems difficult to live out. With all of the stresses and worries that life throws our way, how are we to live a life free of anxiety? Thankfully there is hope in the good provision and care of God and we're reminded of those things in this sermon. 

What do you treasure? It's a simple question with profound implications. In Matthew 6:21 Jesus says, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." In this sermon we explore that question and what it means for our lives.

Drawing on the Old Testament story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal as both a good and bad example of prayer, we look at Matthew 6:5-15 where Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. While the Lord's prayer is very familiar and often recited in churches, it can be easy to overlook the significant lessons Jesus teaches in this passage. 

God calls people to live out their faith by doing things like giving to the poor and praying and fasting. However, what happens when the very things that are meant to glorify God are used to trumpet our own virtue? In this sermon we look at the susceptibility we have towards hypocritical good works done to receive praise from others. 

What does it mean to follow the ministry of Jesus? Is it something only pastors or missionaries do or is it something for every churchgoer? And if it is for each follower of Christ, how do we live out daily ministry? In this week's sermon, Pastor Jim Schultz challenges each of us to consider how we are to follow Jesus in our daily lives that we often don't think of as ministry.

When you are tempted to sin, do you ever consider the faithfulness of Jesus in those moments? It can be easy to feel alone or isolated when experiencing temptations, but in today's passage we learn that Jesus is sympathetic to our struggle against sin since He also was tempted; yet without sin. Join us as we look at the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness and how that can be an encouragement to us today in our struggle against sin.

The early church faced growing opposition from the religious leaders of it's day. However, despite the pressures of that time they boldly obeyed God. In this sermon, Pastor Dave Stevenson takes a look at the context of conflicts between early Christians and the religious leaders of that time and how the early believers professed boldly the salvation that is found only in Jesus.

John the baptist came to prepare the way of the Lord, he called people to repent of their sins and be baptized. It's an uncomfortable topic to be called to repent, but without repentance there can be no righteousness. In this sermon Pastor Jim Schultz challenges us to think about the central role repentance plays in the life of a believer.  

In the story of Mary and Joseph fleeing to Egypt with Jesus, we not only recognize a dangerous situation but can see God's sovereignty over it. Although in life we encounter many scenarios that are much larger than us, we can take comfort that God is in control. In both looking at Matthew 2:13-23 and pulling on many passages from the Old Testament, Pastor Jim Schultz gives many examples of God looking after His people and proving Himself a sovereign promise keeper amidst some dark situations.

The familiar Christmas story of the Magi seeking him "who has been born king of the Jews?" provides a beautiful picture of worship but also the potential for apathy. While the Magi travelled a great distance to bow down and worship Jesus, King Herod remained comfortable in his palace and absent from showing homage to the promised Savior. It's easy to say we will follow Jesus and worship Him with our lives, but when it comes to the actual pursuit of knowing and worshiping Him, do we resemble more the Magi or Herod? 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Heb 13:8) He is unchanging, yet in coming to earth he took the form of a man. In this unique Advent message, Pastor Dave Stevenson teaches about the "change" of the changeless one. 

"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." (1 Tim 1:17) In this sermon guest speaker Steve Morgan helps us understand who Jesus is and truly how far he came down to be born as a baby in order to later save the world.

"For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?" (Mt 5:46). It is easy to love those who love you in return, but the love Jesus calls us to show is much deeper, difficult, and self-sacrificial. In this sermon we dive into the challenging call that Jesus gave to His followers to not only love those who love us but also to "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Mt 5:44).

A rich but easily overlooked passage in the Christmas season is Matthew 1:1-17 where we read about the genealogy of Jesus. When examined closely this passage of Scripture is not only important but also very practical to our everyday lives. In this sermon we dive into Old and New testament passages that point to the savior of the world, Jesus Christ. 

Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:38-42 challenged his hearers to respond to circumstances in counter-cultural and counter-intuitive ways. He taught His hearers to not just default to what was permissible by law, but rather to seek righteousness in every circumstance. But these teachings were shocking, why would you 'turn the other cheek', 'offer your cloak' or go two miles when you were only required to go one? In this challenging and important message, Pastor Jim Schultz teaches through some often quoted but easily misunderstood verses. 

Guest speaker and missionary David Belz shares about the foundation of church growth across the world. As a trainer of pastors David has seen first hand the need for the church to be built on God's word and the person of Jesus. 

When a rule that is designed to protect is twisted instead to hurt, someone must speak up. In today's passage Jesus exposes two laws that had been misused to hurt the very people they were meant to protect. It is easy to do and we must be on guard against the same behavior today. Honoring marriage and speaking the truth are just as important today as they were two thousand years ago. What might we learn from Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:31-37?

Church history is full of both good examples to follow and bad examples to learn from. On this reformation Sunday, Pastor Jim Schultz looks at the five solas of the reformation and how they are seen in Romans 3:21-26.

How did Peter go from being a Christ denier to a Christ proclaimer? The transformation is miraculous and easy to under appreciate. What might we learn about our own lives through looking at the transformation of Peter?

One thing that we can learn from the life of Jesus is that He took sin very seriously. In this particular passage from Matthew 5:21-30 Jesus teaches about the seriousness of Murder and Adultery. But instead of staying on the surface he pursues holiness of heart on these issues and not just action. Learn the seriousness of sin but also the hope in Christ through this sermon today. 

What does it look like for Christians to be salt and light in this world? How can we engage in our communities so that people witness the life of Christ in us? These are some of the questions Pastor Jim Schultz addresses in his sermon on Matthew 5:13-20. 

It's easy to forget how paradigm shifting Jesus' sermon on the mount is. Over and over again Jesus says, "Blessed are"... and then goes onto make a statement that is very counter-intuitive. In this sermon on Matthew 5:1-12, Pastor Jim Schultz contrasts the teaching of Jesus here with many examples of how we often think. It is both a challenging and refreshing look at this very famous portion of the Bible.

Have you ever wondered what it looks like to be blessed? Perhaps you have only considered blessing from God as material increase and missed seeing His blessing in other areas of life. Psalm 41 begins "Blessed is the one...", join us as we learn about what this looks like in the life of a believer.

What God has saved us out of; as well as our response to that saving work are both important. In his sermon on Psalm 40, Pastor Jim Schultz walks through David's experience of God's salvation and how that impacted his life.  

When you're caught in the overwhelming waves of life, when circumstances are out of your control, and when you're experiencing the discipline of the Lord, Psalm 39 brings some needed perspective. Not only do we need to learn how fleeting life is, but in the midst of that truth, we must also remember how faithful God is. May this sermon turn your heart to the Lord as you reflect on the brevity of life.

What is your response when you experience suffering, especially if you know that you are suffering because of your own sin? In Psalm 38 David cries out "O Lord" many times as he expresses the depth of his pain to God, as he experiences the discipline of the Lord for sin in his own life. While we are prone to run away from discipline for our sin, this Psalm is an excellent example of the importance of crying out to God in our pain, even when it comes as a result of our own sin.

Psalm 37 is a checklist of sorts for applying wisdom to your life. It contrasts the righteous and the wicked, those who will perish and those who will gain an inheritance from God. But just like a good story, this Psalm has some unexpected turns and applications that are surprising at first glance. At the end of the day though, will you walk in the wisdom that this Psalm teaches?

In front of the black backdrop of man’s sin, God’s love “extends to the heavens” (Ps 36:5). His righteousness is like the mountains and His judgements are deep like the depths of the ocean. Psalm 36 uses many different images to help us understand just how incredible God’s love is. Yet the depths of His love are not truly understood until we come to understand the sinfulness of our own hearts. It is with this backdrop of our sin that Pastor Jim Schultz preaches through Psalm 36 and explains the beauty and magnificence of God’s love toward His people. 

When you are mistreated and falsely accused, how can you respond in such a difficult situation? Psalm 35 is a lament Psalm written by David when he was in such a circumstance. We see a cry for God to act on His behalf and bring justice to an unjust circumstance. In a world full of slander, bickering, and false accusations, we see in this Psalm a picture of how to put our trust in God to defend His people. 

The Bible doesn't shy away from the fact that this life is difficult; in fact it says, "many are the afflictions of the righteous" (Psalm 34:19a). But in that difficulty, through those trials and afflictions there is hope. In his sermon on Psalm 34, Pastor Jim Schultz walks through the trials that David was experiencing when he wrote this Psalm and how in the midst of it, he still found hope. In this life we will face many trials; may we walk through them with our hope set on the Lord. 

Psalm 33 calls people to shout to the Lord in praise and worship. While pagan gods at the time were very limited in scope and geographical location, this Psalm highlights God's righteousness, faithfulness, justice, and love being without bound or limit. It paints the picture that the earth and the nations are all under God's authority and nothing falls outside of His control. In response to such a magnificent God, people are called to fear and trust in His holy name, resulting in gladness of heart and eternal hope. 

The Bible uses a lot of battle language to describe the Christian life. In Ephesians 6:10-24 we learn about the "Armor of God" and our responsibility to put it on so that we are prepared for the battle at hand. But unlike battles in this world, the Bible describes a battle that is not against "flesh and blood" but against the "spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places". So what is this armor and what is the battle? In this sermon, Pastor Jim Schultz helps us understand these truths and how they relate to our daily lives. 

In the first nine verses of Ephesians chapter six, Paul covers a surprising amount of ground as he addresses children, parents, slaves, and masters. One could easily conclude after reading these verses that God is interested in "Every Square Inch" of our lives; that there is nothing that falls outside of God's command. In this sermon Pastor Jim Schultz touches on family life and work responsibilities, the commands to children and the commands to parents, and the radical nature of addressing slaves and masters alike. 

In his sermon on Ephesians 5:22-33 Pastor Jim Schultz expounds on this simple yet profound passage on marriage. Contained in these 12 verses is a high calling for husbands and wives to display the beauty of Christ and the church through their marriage. 

When someone is under the influence of something or someone it changes their behavior. In this sermon on Ephesians 5:15-21, Pastor Jim Schultz teaches about being under the influence of the Holy Spirit and how that is to impact the life of every believer. 

It can be easy to downplay our daily decisions and compare ourselves to people around us, but when Ephesians 5:1 calls us to "be imitators of God", the standard for right living dramatically increases, and the weight of our decisions is felt. In his sermon from Ephesians 5:1-14, Pastor Jim Schultz brings to life how Christians can grow in being "imitators of God". 

There are many contrasts in Scripture; in Ephesians 4:17-32 we see the contrast of our old self and new self, old clothing and new clothing, old behaviors and new behaviors. At the center of it all is a life transformed by the person and work of Jesus. But it's easy to default back into our old behaviors and ways of thinking without realizing it. Because of that, we often need reminders of what the Christian life is to look like. In this intensely practical sermon, Pastor Jim Schultz contrasts the new life believers have in Christ to the old life apart from Christ and the implications for our day to day behavior. 

Just as a growth chart can give helpful markers into the health of a child, so Paul in Ephesians chapter four gives indicators of what healthy growth in a believer's life should look like. As it would be alarming for a child not to grow into an adult, so we too should be alarmed if we are not growing in maturity as believers in Christ. In this sermon from Ephesians 4:7-16, Pastor Jim Schultz walks through the gifts God has given the church to grow in maturity and be equipped for ministry in this world. 

In Ephesians 4, Paul exhorts the church in Ephesus to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called". In a list of virtues he includes an eagerness to "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." In an age of increasing polarity, how can believers maintain this unity? What is necessary to live this command out in the church? Through this sermon on Ephesians 4:1-6, Pastor Jim Schultz dives into the practical steps believers can take to maintain unity in the body of Christ.

Have you ever wanted to grow in your prayer life? Perhaps you've had the thought that you should pray longer prayers or even more eloquently. While many of us desire to grow in our prayer lives, it's also common that we don't know exactly how to grow. In this sermon from Ephesians 3:14-21, Pastor Jim Schultz teaches about one of Paul's prayers for the believers in Ephesus and how it can expand our categories of what we can be praying for. 

The church is like a mosaic. Believers across the world and throughout history are the tiny cubes that together make a beautiful picture of the grace of God. As Paul continues to speak about the glorious news that the Gospel is for both Jew and Gentile, he also speaks of his missionary call to the Gentiles. The goodness of the Gospel, the grace of his missionary calling, and how all of this fits in the sovereign plan of God also gives hope to us when we experience hardship and suffer. 

In an age of division and disagreements, how can believers live in unity before God and each other? Ephesians 2 paints a beautiful picture of Jesus breaking down the walls of hostility between the Jews and Gentiles and uniting them by the blood of Christ. Through this sermon you will see how profound and extraordinary unity in Christ is, and why it's only through Jesus that we can be united as one body. 

To be saved from death by Grace and not works is both an encouraging and humbling thing for a believer in Christ. In his sermon on Ephesians 2:1-10, Pastor Jim Schultz dives into our predicament of being dead in our sin and how God has made us alive in Christ.

What comes to mind when you think about praying for others? Your first thought was probably not praying that they would grow in knowledge. However, that's one of the things Paul specifically prayed for the believers in Ephesus. In this sermon from Ephesians 1:15-23, Pastor Jim Schultz seeks to expand our understanding of how we can pray for one another to grow in the knowledge of God. 

Giving... an often dreaded topic for any pastor to bring up. Giving is clear in Scripture but can very easily be abused if handled incorrectly. In this guest sermon by retired pastor Steve Morgan, we dive into the important topic and spiritual discipline of giving. What does it mean? How has it been miss-handled? And how can we seek to grow in this area?

Thomas; out of all the disciples could he be the most misunderstood? He is often referred to as "doubting Thomas", but is that how we ought to remember him? What can we learn from Thomas' response to Jesus' resurrection? In this sermon, guest speaker Pastor Highland Goodman tackles these questions and offers some thought provoking insights into the man and disciple known as Thomas.

Around the world people celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. But what if the resurrection never happened? Would it change anything? On the flip side, if the resurrection did happen, what impact does it have? In this Easter Sunday sermon, Pastor Jim Schultz preaches from 1 Corinthians chapter 15 on the importance of the resurrection and the impact it has on our lives.

When God promises an inheritance, what does that mean? Who is it for? How is it obtained? In this sermon on Ephesians 1:11-14, Pastor Jim Schultz explores the amazing realities of the inheritance that is promised in Christ. 

What does it mean to receive redemption in Christ? The mystery of God's plan for salvation was hidden for ages and generations, but now has been made known. It isn't through being "good enough" that salvation is found, but rather through the riches of God's grace that was demonstrated and fulfilled in Jesus. Explore this amazing and profound passage of Scripture as Pastor Jim Schultz preaches from Ephesians 1:7-10.

In this opening sermon on the book of Ephesians, Pastor Jim Schultz tackles what can sometimes be a divisive topic; the idea of being "chosen" by God. In a thoughtful way he unpacks and seeks to bring clarity to this important but complicated theme. 

An ending of a story greatly impacts what you take away from it. As the book of Acts ends in an unexpected way, Pastor Jim Schultz gives some takeaways we can have from this abrupt conclusion to the book. After following one of Paul's missionary journeys for several chapters, why does it abruptly end? What can we learn from this last chapter of Acts and how does it impact our lives today? 

How do you respond when you face the 'storms of life'? In this sermon on Acts 27, Pastor Jim Schultz walks through the Apostle Paul's tumultuous seafaring journey that nearly left the entire ship and crew underwater. What did Paul do? What was his response, and how can we learn from his experience? 

In his sermon on Acts 25-26, Pastor Jim Schultz teaches on the Apostle Paul's decision to appeal to Caesar. Although he could have been set free, Paul didn't see his freedom as the top priority. Listen to this story of a man fully trusting God through all the twists and turns of his life. 

Pastor Jim Schultz preaches from Acts 23:12-35 on the unexpected events that continued to unfold for the Apostle Paul. Though faced with conspiracies against his life, we see in Paul's story an example of God sovereignly leading and caring for his people.

Pastor Jim Schultz preaches from Acts 22:1-30 on the conversion of the Apostle Paul.  given at Hillside Evangelical Free Church on Whidbey Island. For more information, visit: http://hillside-efc.com/

Pastor Jim Schultz preaches on the sanctity of human life. Message texts; Genesis 1:26-27, 2 Samuel 9:1-13, Luke 1:39-45. Message given at Hillside Evangelical Free Church on Whidbey Island.

Pastor Jim Schultz preaches from Acts 21:17-40. Message given at Hillside Evangelical Free Church on Whidbey Island.

Speaker: Pastor Jim Schultz; Text: Acts 21:1-16