Hillside Community Church Podcast
550 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsHillside Community Church will live out Jesus’ life-changing message, seek to love our neighbors well, and develop authentic community where all people are welcome, worthy, and have a place.
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Episodes
Paul's Last Altar Call | Acts 25:23 - Acts 26
May 26, 2024 04:00 - 35 minutes - 24.5 MBIn 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'Connell Support the Show.
Do I Wait or Do I Go? | Acts 25
May 19, 2024 04:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MBSometimes 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 Kool Support the Show.
Living With a Clear Conscience | Acts 24
May 12, 2024 04:00 - 34 minutes - 23.8 MBPaul’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 ...
God Behind the Scenes | Acts 23:11-35
May 05, 2024 04:00 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MBAs 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 Kool Support the Show.
Paul in a Politically Charged Environment | Acts 22:22-23:11
April 28, 2024 04:00 - 36 minutes - 25.3 MBWe 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 Kool Support the Show.
Paul Tells His Story | Acts 21:37-22:21
April 21, 2024 04:00 - 36 minutes - 25 MBOne 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 Kool Support the Show.
Paul in Jerusalem | Acts 21:17-36
April 14, 2024 04:00 - 34 minutes - 24 MBPaul 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 Kool Support the Show.
Conviction and Community | Acts 21:1-16
April 07, 2024 04:00 - 34 minutes - 23.6 MBSometimes 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 Kool Support the Show.
Easter - The Beginning | Mark 16:1-8
March 31, 2024 04:00 - 36 minutes - 25 MBThe 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 End - Good Friday | Mark 15:39
March 29, 2024 04:00 - 22 minutes - 15.4 MBAs 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 Kool Support the Show.
The Mocking | Mark 14:43-15:32
March 24, 2024 04:00 - 31 minutes - 22 MBSticks and stones may break my bones, but…Most of us know the rest—words will never hurt me. It would be nice if it were true, but it’s not. Words and gestures do hurt us and Mark wants us to know that Jesus faced a tremendous amount of mockery, scorn and humiliation on His way to and while He was on the cross. We'll look at what this has to teach us this morning. Support the Show.
The Cup | Mark 14:32-42
March 17, 2024 04:00 - 35 minutes - 24.1 MBWe move ahead to the day that Jesus was crucified. In the early hours of the morning, we see Him at prayer, but this is a different kind of prayer than we have seen before. Jesus is in anguish. He is struggling like never before. And as we realize why Jesus is overwhelmed, we begin to see the pain and suffering He will endure for us. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
The Ransom | Mark 10:35-45
March 10, 2024 05:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBOne of the things that was most difficult for the disciples to understand was why Jesus came. They got that He came to save but they didn’t get HOW He would save and what the Kingdom of God would be like. They just didn’t get it. This morning we’ll watch as once again Jesus tries to help them (and us) “get it.” - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
The Trap | Mark 10:17-31
March 03, 2024 05:00 - 40 minutes - 27.7 MBSummary: We want to follow Jesus because at the end of the day we know that the best life, eternal life, can only be found in following Jesus! So if following Jesus offers us the best eternal destiny, why do we find it to be so difficult to follow Jesus as God’s Word tells us? Usually, it’s because we’re still holding onto something. However, new life in Christ and God’s love can only be found when we let go. - Pastor Arek O'Connell Support the Show.
The Call | Mark 1:14-20
February 25, 2024 05:00 - 35 minutes - 24.1 MBIt was only two words. Two fairly simple words. But they changed the lives of these fishermen forever. Nothing was the same after Jesus came to them and said these two words. This morning Jesus says the same words to us: Follow Me. The disciples followed. Will we? - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
Be Shepherds | Acts 20:18-38
February 18, 2024 05:00 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MBMany of us don’t like to think of ourselves as leaders. We’re just followers. But for almost all of us we will be, at least for a time, leaders. If we are parents, we are leaders. If we lead a small group, we are leaders. If we are elders or deacons, we are leaders. This morning we’ll take a look at what Paul said to the leaders of the Church in Ephesus and see what it has to say to us as we lead today. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
Getting Ready for Trouble | Acts 20:1-17
February 11, 2024 05:00 - 35 minutes - 24.5 MBThe Apostle Paul’s missionary trips are going to come to an end. He’s heading to Jerusalem, and he knows he’s heading for trouble. As Paul begins his trip to Jerusalem, we see him busy with a number of details, putting things in place while he still can. In doing this, Paul teaches us some important lessons about what it means to be in the church. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
Not Enough Room for the Both of Us | Acts 19:23-41
February 04, 2024 05:00 - 36 minutes - 24.8 MBPaul’s time in Ephesus ended with a bang! A large number of people are converted, God’s power is on display, and the people in Ephesus show a radical devotion to God upon their conversion. Time and time throughout Acts we keep seeing that the Gospel always transforms, it often divides, and is never compromised. Is our faith in action a walking testimony or rejection of those truths? - Pastor Arek O'Connell Support the Show.
Three Marks of a Dynamic Church | Acts 19:1-21
January 28, 2024 05:00 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MBPaul is going to spend three years in Ephesus planting and growing the church there. The church becomes an important church and plants other churches. What made this church so effective, so dynamic? This morning we’ll look at three marks of this dynamic church. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
Growing Pains | Acts 18:18-19:7
January 21, 2024 05:00 - 34 minutes - 23.7 MBWe’ve been following the growth of the early church. It’s been exciting to see the movement grow from a small group in an upper room to a large body of believers spread across a good portion of the world. But wherever there is growth, there are also growing pains—there are challenges that come up. This morning we’ll look at some of these challenges and how the Spirit led the church through these challenges. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
Help for the Weary | I Corinthians 18:1-17
January 14, 2024 05:00 - 34 minutes - 24 MBSometimes we just get tired. We’ve been going along and doing okay, but things start to catch up with us. We want to keep going, but it’s not easy. We’re worn out. At times like this, we need help from God—help like God gave the Apostle Paul in Corinth. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
This is Who You've Been Looking For | Acts 17:16-34
January 07, 2024 05:00 - 36 minutes - 24.8 MBWhen Paul preaches to the people of Athens, he is dealing with people who do not accept the authority of the Bible. He must find a different point of connection with these folks. As we see what Paul does, we learn important lessons about how we talk about Jesus to our family members, friends and others who do not know Jesus and who do not believe the Bible has authority. Paul ties in to a sense of longing he senses in them and proclaims that Jesus is the One they’ve been looking for. - Pasto...
Remember the Rekabites | Jeremiah 35
December 30, 2023 05:00 - 37 minutes - 25.5 MBAs we approach a new year, we tend to do two things. First, we reflect on the past year, and we resolve what to do the following year. As you consider what type of year you want 2024 to look like, our text in Jeremiah will encourage us to remember a faithful group of nomads called the Rekabites. Perhaps they will help us all resolve to be faithful! Support the Show.
The Gift | John 3:16
December 24, 2023 05:00 - 25 minutes - 17.7 MBFor many of us, we would rather be on the giving end of gifts than on the receiving end. We like to give to others, and if someone gives us something, we want to be able to give them a gift back. It’s not always easy simply to receive a gift. But at the heart of the Christmas story is a gift from God that we can only receive and never repay—the gift of His Son. The question for us today is this: will we receive the gift of Jesus? - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
The Refining Fire | Malachi 2:17-3:5
December 17, 2023 05:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MBAt this time of the year, we sing songs that talk about God coming near to us. We sing, “O Come, O Come, Immanuel,” or “Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus.” We look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus. But before we get too excited, we need to hear the prophet Malachi. He reminds us that when Jesus comes, it’s not just angels and stars and happy thoughts. Jesus also comes as a Refining Fire. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
The Tender Plant | Isaiah 11:1-9
December 10, 2023 05:00 - 33 minutes - 23.2 MBThe most difficult circumstances and seasons to have hope in are the ones where nothing seems to go right. We look at the world around us and it feels like everything is falling apart and certain evils, injustices, and suffering don’t seem to have an end in sight. But Isaiah prophecies of one who can put an end to it all, the one that we can put our hope in, the tender plant. - Pastor Arek O'Connell Support the Show.
The Bright Morning Star | Numbers 24:17 & Revelation 22:16
December 03, 2023 05:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBThis morning we begin getting ready for the arrival (advent) of Jesus on Christmas day. To help us get our hearts ready to welcome Jesus, we’re going to look at four images from the Bible that help us understand who Jesus is. We start with an image from 1,400 years before Jesus was born—He is the bright Morning Star. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
Talking About Jesus | Acts 17:1-15
November 26, 2023 05:00 - 36 minutes - 25.3 MBIf someone didn’t know much about Christianity and they asked you to tell them about Jesus, what would you say? What words would you use to describe Him? What would you focus on? This morning we’ll listen in to what Paul said about Jesus to people who didn’t know who Jesus was or what Jesus did. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
Growing in Gratitude | Psalm 103
November 23, 2023 05:00 - 27 minutes - 18.9 MBOn this Thanksgiving Day, most of us know we should be grateful. And most of us genuinely want to be grateful. But how do we grow in gratitude? This morning we’ll look at three necessities for growing gratitude. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
Singing in the Dark | Acts 16:16-40
November 19, 2023 05:00 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MBPaul and his companions are about to meet some new friends and enemies as they bring the gospel into new territories with new rules. However, God and the gospel message never change. As the gospel begins to challenge and change these new places Paul shows us that even when things get tough, our central commitment is to Christ and the Gospel because the Gospel is central and above everything. - Pastor Arek O'Connell Support the Show.
Getting to Where God Wants Us | Acts 16:6-5
November 12, 2023 05:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBIf we’re disciples of Jesus, we want to be where God wants us to be. But how do we know where God wants us to be? How do we know if God wants us to stay where we are or move on to some other place? This morning we’ll see Paul, Silas, and Timothy struggle with those questions. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
This Time it's Personal | Acts 15:36-16:5
November 05, 2023 04:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MBIt’s one thing when we disagree. It happens. But it’s another thing when those disagreements become personal, when we are not talking about an issue or a problem but we are attacking a person. We might wish we could say that such a thing would never happen among Christians, but this morning we’ll see it happen between two amazing Christian leaders. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
Grace with Each Other | Acts 15:12-35
October 29, 2023 04:00 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MBHow do we as Christians get along? We’re not all the same and sometimes, if we’re honest, other Christians can bug us a little (or a lot). Sometimes they don’t just bug us. Sometimes we think they’re wrong on some things. How do we get along when we don’t always see eye to eye? It’s not always easy, but it is always important that we work at it. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
Family Fights | Acts 15:1-12
October 22, 2023 04:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBPaul and Barnabas were extremely excited about what God had done on their mission trip. It seemed like God was clearly at work. But then some of the believers began to ask questions. Is this really from God? Are the changes that are happening the right ones? Luke tells us that a “sharp dispute and debate” broke out. Who was right? What was the real issue? And how will the church decide? This morning we’ll think about these questions. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
Ending the Journey Well | Acts 14:21-28
October 15, 2023 04:00 - 37 minutes - 26 MBPaul and his companions are coming to the end of their missionary journey. Paul has traveled far and wide and witnessed the numerous ‘doors of Faith’ God opened to the Gentiles. At the end of his journey, we’re told the church gathers to hear about all the doors of Faith being opened. This morning we’re going to hear similar testimony from our mission partners around the world. - Pastor Arek O'Connell Support the Show.
Crazy Crowds | Acts 13:42-14:20
October 08, 2023 04:00 - 35 minutes - 24.1 MBPaul and Barnabas may have gotten whiplash. One moment the crowds want to worship them. The next the crowds are trying to kill them. This morning we’ll look at the amazing story of how Paul and Barnabas went from heroes to villains in just a few minutes. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
A Message for Those Who Know It All | Acts 13:13-41
October 01, 2023 04:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBOne of the hardest things to do is to try to explain something to someone who already thinks they know everything. They don’t tend to listen very well—after all, they already know everything they need to know. This morning we’ll take a look at a sermon Paul preached to people who thought they knew it all. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
Confrontation | Acts 13:1-12
September 24, 2023 04:00 - 33 minutes - 22.8 MBWe live in a world where we are taught to be tolerant of everyone. There’s something good about that. But there are times when “speaking the truth in love” means that we will confront people in the name of Jesus. This morning we’ll see Saul face one of those times. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
Grow! | II Peter 3:18
September 17, 2023 04:00 - 34 minutes - 23.6 MBAs we kick off a new year of activities and programs, we’ll take some time this morning to listen to what Peter had to say at the end of his second letter. He closes with one final command for all those in the church—Grow! As followers of Jesus, we are not called to simply hang around until we die and go to heaven. We are called to grow and become more and more like Jesus. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
Faithful for the Long Haul | Hebrews 12:1-3
September 10, 2023 04:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBWe’ve been talking about the power of hope. We’ve seen that hope in Jesus Christ can be an anchor for our souls and the reason we encourage each other. This morning we’ll see how hope can help us to stay faithful as we follow Jesus. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
Encouraging One Another | Hebrews 10:16-25
September 03, 2023 04:00 - 34 minutes - 23.4 MBAs we hold onto our anchor of hope, especially during the stormy seasons of life, we all need encouragement at some point or another. We need encouragement from God, but we also need it from one another. Encouragement fuels hope when we need it most, but encouragement doesn’t happen in isolation or in a vacuum. We can only encourage one another how God desires us to when we’ve drawn near to Him while never losing hope. - Pastor Arek O'Connell Support the Show.
An Anchor for the Soul | Hebrews 6:13-20
August 27, 2023 04:00 - 32 minutes - 22.7 MBFor the next three weeks we’re going to look at three different passages in the Letter to the Hebrews, all of them dealing with hope. This morning we’ll take a look at what the writer of this letter says about how our hope is guaranteed—it is firm and secure—an anchor that will hold during the storms of life. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
Blessed to be a Blessing | 2 Corinthians 8-9
August 20, 2023 04:00 - 37 minutes - 25.8 MBWhy does God choose to bless me and others? What am I supposed to do with His blessings? How am I supposed to steward them faithfully? The Apostle Paul tells us that the amount, the time, or the recipient ultimately isn’t what matters most when it comes to giving. Our primary objective is to channel the same blessings we’ve received from God unto others. We’re blessed to be a blessing. - Pastor Arek O'Connell Support the Show.
Give Your Heart First | Matthew 6 & 19
August 13, 2023 04:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBOnce we’ve committed to giving to the church on a regular basis, naturally one of the first questions we always ask… “How much?” If I want to follow Christ faithfully, does it mean that I can only do that if I give God 10% of my money? The good news is absolutely not! God doesn’t require you to give 10% of your money, that’s too easy… He wants 100% of your heart first and foremost. - Pastor Arek O'Connell Support the Show.
Our Generous God | Genesis 1-2
August 06, 2023 04:00 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBThis Sunday we begin a three-part sermon series on the subject of giving and stewardship. One of the first questions we or others may ask when it comes to this subject is “what right does anyone, God included, have to tell me how to spend my money, time, and resources?” As we look through the Creation account of Genesis, we’ll see that God has the right because God who owns everything, generously provides so that we can flourish and bless others. - Pastor Arek O'Connell Support the Show.
The King's Threat | Acts 12
July 30, 2023 04:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBThe early Christians had some great successes. They also faced some very serious threats. This morning we’ll look at one of those threats and see that from a human standpoint, the threat can do serious damage and seems overwhelming. But when we put God into the equation, we see that He and His church will not be stopped. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
Putting the Pieces in Place | Acts 11:19-30
July 23, 2023 04:00 - 28 minutes - 19.9 MBWe’ve seen God at work throughout the book of Acts. This morning we’ll watch as God does some “set-up” work—bringing the right people to the right place so something really good can happen down the line. Like a chess grandmaster, God is always thinking many moves ahead. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
An Essential Question | Acts 11:1-18
July 16, 2023 04:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBWe’ve been talking about the story where Cornelius and those closest to him become Christians. It’s great news and something to be celebrated. But it’s also something that raises a question—one that the church is going to struggle with for some time. The question is this: What expectations should be made of Gentiles who are becoming Christians? How much of the Jewish faith do they need to adopt as followers of Jesus? - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
The Spirit Lights Up the Gentiles | Acts 10:24-48
July 09, 2023 04:00 - 33 minutes - 22.8 MBI don’t know if Peter ever got over it. What an amazing day. Gentiles—Pagans—filled with the Spirit. Praising God. Speaking in tongues. Who would have guessed this could happen? This morning we’ll be reminded of just how far the love of God goes. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.
Breaking Barriers | Acts 10:1-23
July 02, 2023 04:00 - 36 minutes - 24.8 MBWe’ve all had that experience of feeling like we’ve been “accepted” into a group but we still feel a bit like an outsider. Maybe we don’t wear the right clothes or have the right political opinions, but we don’t quite feel like we really belong. This morning we’ll start looking at a story that would force the early church to think deeply about who really belongs. - Pastor Ron Kool Support the Show.