Individual Studies
Thoughts on stewardship.
Howard Hendricks translates that by saying, "when we read the pages of the New Testament and try to relate what we hear to the contemporary church, we are compelled to conclude that the relationship is sometimes more one of contrast, rather than of comparison." In other words, today's church is not living up to its potential.
Part of a series in Matthew 8 & 9
Let's look at Matthew 7:28 together:
"When Jesus had finished saying these things the crowds were amazed at His teaching because He taught as one who had authority not as the teachers of the law."
How can our lives become more fruitful?
Bob Stone's First Sermon at Hillcrest Chapel, September 1977
Reprised for 25th anniversary, September 1, 2002
Our mission statement captures in two sentences Hillcrest's long-held values and philosophy of ministry. "Hillcrest Chapel is to be a dynamic force of people (body of believers) filled with God's Spirit, meeting people's needs in Jesus' name. This will be accomplished by enjoying God's presence through a lifestyle of worship; by being equipped for service; by encouraging healing fellowship through love, acceptance, forgiveness, and belonging; and by being enlisted and sent out as salt and light to the Bellingham area and to the world."
The following is an acrostic which helps to summarize our strategy and calling. Fourteen things make Hillcrest different/unique. Presenting our Hillcrest Force Acrostic:
by Pastor Jim Murphy
November 4, 2001
As Hillcrest Chapel "does all things to win some, and to leave a legacy for the next generation," some who we hope to win live on the other side of the world. This includes the Uygur ("we-gur") people group of Northwest China and Central Asia, in which we have had a special interest since 1990. This sermon is written in the form of a first person narrative, and is a fictional account of how a Uygur man became a follower of Jesus Christ. For security purposes, the names in the sermon are false, but all the events and statements are true representations of what this man's experience could be like.
All of us in this church, this community, this nation and on this earth have witnessed this week, clarity. Evil (Satan’s vocation and hobby) is so often masked in our lives and in our world. This week evil boldly and brazenly unmasked itself from its many disguises and killed.
We are shaken. Our future seems uncertain, our daily tasks trivial in comparison to the death, destruction and heroics of the past week. The personal griefs we bear (too often alone) are weighing in on us and are overwhelmed by the attacks in New York and in Washington, D.C. We are powerless, it seems, to help. Our anger is red hot (but we know we must not be consumed by it); we demand justice (and certainly that will come, but we know not without further sacrifice and—for the church—not without mercy). We search for reasons for this monumental loss, and know explanations are elusive but that God enters fully into human suffering and we the church are called to follow.
I want to thank Matt, Dale and Wayne for the way they handled the service last week and for their words and perspective. (A summary of their statements is on this site. I encourage you to read it.)
As we think again today about the horrific tragedy in New York, I want to encourage you to continue to pray for our country. We should be praying:
- for all of those who are in authority in government—1 Timothy 2:1-4
- particularly for our President
- for the victims’ families
- for Congress
- for the Cabinet
- for our law enforcement officials and officers everywhere in our nation
- for our military forces
- for those who fly and manage our airplanes—all of our transportation systems
- for the firemen and policemen of New York City
- and for all the children and adults everywhere who are still traumatized, fearful and in a great quandary because of the events of September 11th (How ironic it was a 911 call for America.)
Matt. 5:31-32; 19:9-12; 1 Cor. 7:10-16
The crisis of divorce is a highly emotional, yet significant matter we must consider as thoughtfully and lovingly as we can. Most of us approach this subject with mixed feelings, because it is almost impossible to address without inflicting further hurt on some or arousing the wrath of others. The subject is too important, however, for such risks to keep us from sensitively giving attention to a biblical perspective on divorce and remarriage.One extreme says water baptism is no longer significant.
Another extreme says we are saved by the right of baptism or baptismal regeneration.
Easter 2001
Pastor Bob Stone
Christianity is supposed to speak to the deepest issues of our lives and to answer life’s most profound questions: "Why am I here?" Because some streams of modern Christianity have almost totally capitulated to our culture, however, what we have left is not the gospel or a true expression of Christianity. What we have left in many Christian churches today might be dubbed a "Christianity of tips and techniques," "feel good Christianity," or a Christianity with exterior trappings, but no heart!
As Hillcrest Chapel "does all things to win some, and to leave a legacy for the next generation," some who we hope to win live on the other side of the world. This includes the Uygur ("we-gur") people group of Northwest China and Central Asia, in which we have had a special interest since 1990. This sermon is written in the form of a first person narrative, and is a fictional account of how a Uygur man became a follower of Jesus Christ. For security purposes, the names in the sermon are false, but all the events and statements are true representations of what this man's experience could be like.
We believe that all true worship starts in the heart of a person and will only be deep and meaningful when the heart is adequately prepared. If the heart has become a garden of praise, a storehouse of good things, we need to find biblical expression of that praise in our words and actions. Specifically, we need to consider the use of our body. Notice this is not our starting point, but the byproduct of adequate preparation.
Fred grew up in a Christian home where it was common for his parents to spontaneously say, "Praise God!" or "Praise the Lord, isn't God good?" Fred is now grown up and married and has a job in a local factory. Interestingly, even today Fred will mimic his parents and express his faith in God by saying, "Praise God, isn't the Lord good?" On the job site, in the home and especially in church when something goes his way, or when he is feeling good, he will give God the credit and praise Him for His blessing.
[span class=download]Click here to download the complete PPT presentation.[/span]
One weekend, a family invited the preacher and his family to dinner. The family's little daughter was invited to say grace over the meal, but she hesitated and expressed that she was not sure what to say. Her mother spoke up and suggested that she just repeat what she had heard her parents say. The little girl grabbed onto that idea and said, "Oh Lord, why did I ever invite the preacher and his family over for dinner on this weekend!"
Today I watched Jesus weeping. It was the second time I watched him weeping, and I won’t forget either time.
Let me take a few minutes to tell you what I’m talking about. My name is James. My wife Margaret and I live in a small village on the outskirts of Jerusalem, called Bethphage. We’ve lived there since we were married, nearly 28 years ago. Our village has usually been a sleepy little place, with its quiet periodically interrupted by bands of pilgrims making their way to Jerusalem for our religious feasts.
[span class=download]Click here to download the complete PPT presentation.[/span]
Much of my life has been devoted to creative activity. As far back as I can remember I have had this desire to make things; to create, to express myself artistically. As I was growing up, my parents were in a constant state of alert; never knowing where or when this son of theirs would decide that the moment had come for a performance. My main routine, I am told, was "Current TV Commercial Theme Songs." No potential audience was safe.
Matthew 9:35-10:4
Consider with me a couple of questions.What should we see when we daily observe the people surrounding us?
What do we see in people coming to this church?
What do we see in people around us?
I want to examine with you A Father's Race and what that means in the context of Hebrews 12:1-11.
Some time ago when I was in Wenatchee, I stopped in at one of the places I remember from growing up—Dusty's In and Out. When I got there I looked on the wall, and saw this picture of the 1957 Dusty's In and Out team, and the guy in the top row in the middle was me!
Philippians 4; 1 Timothy 6; 2 Corinthians 8, 9
Let me tell you the story of Jacob and Lisa. They have two children (one a pre-schooler, and the other a young teenager), and are in their mid-30s. This is really a story about Jacob, who is currently in a great deal of debt. He has a good job, but like many of his peers, his expenses and lifestyle are beyond what he earns. He is a Christian believer, but he hasn't been doing very well spiritually lately. He is discontent with his life.
Hebrews 10:25a ...let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Encouragement—catching someone doing something right and telling them so.When I was in Little League baseball, I had a coach by the name of Roy Snodgrass. I really thought Roy was a great coach at the time, but as I look back on the experience I remember little else than that he yelled at the team during practices and at games. Oh, there were those rare moments when he showed heart and genuine concern for the guys, but for the most part, Roy's standard tactic was intimidation by volume and loudness of speech. One rare moment was the time the bases were loaded, we were in the bottom of the ninth, and I was at bat. I can still remember the unusual words of the coach that day. They were complimentary and encouraging. Above the yell of the crowd, so everyone could hear it, he said: "Bobby, if anyone can do it, you can—just get a hit." Wow! My moment had come, but more than that, the coach had confidence in me.
Water baptism brings to people's minds many different images, and presents for some people high hurdles that are difficult to get over. I can still remember that special but scary day when I was baptized. I was 12 years old and very shy; so frightened by the event, the prospects of saying my name and giving a short testimony, I thought I was going to die. I remember standing in front of my mirror and practicing over and over: "I love the Lord and I want to go all the way with Him," definitely a testimony that lacks any depth and today could certainly be misinterpreted. But on the day of my baptism that testimony seemed perfectly appropriate because it was short. Thankfully, I made it through and can still remember the great joy I felt on the other side of the baptism. It was a frightening moment, but it will always be a hallmark memory for me.
I want to tell you a story about the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers. In one of his last games, Vince Lombardi's team had suffered a humiliating defeat. Standing before his team, Lombardi didn't need to say much, because these men were all great men and professionals. They recognized they weren't playing up to their potential, and that their lack of practice in certain areas had caused their defeat. They hadn't stayed with the game plan and, as a result, they lost.