Hills Church is located in Everton Hills just north of Brisbane, QLD. Hills Church is a modern, contemporary church with the goal of reaching the community for Christ. Each week we will make available a downloadable audio version on the message preached at Hills Church, as well as a video version that can be watched on our website. We believe the Bible is the word of God and value Prayer, Teaching, Worship and Fellowship. For past sermons and video, please visit our website at hillschurch.org.au
19 July 2026In this message, Pastor Nathan continues our Ephesians series by exploring how Jesus breaks down barriers and brings outsiders into the family of God. Ephesians 2 reminds us that the Church is called to be a place of peace, unity, grace, and welcome, where people from every background can draw near to God through Christ.Notes:In this message, Pastor Nathan continues our Ephesians series by looking at Ephesians 2:11-18 and God's vision for a united Church.Paul reminds the Gentile believers that they were once outsiders. They lived apart from Christ, separated from God's promises and without hope. But through the blood of Jesus, those who were once far away have been brought near.Jesus brings outsiders in.Pastor Nathan explains that the early Church faced deep divisions between Jewish and Gentile believers. Some Jewish Christians placed barriers in front of Gentiles by expecting them to follow Jewish laws, customs, and traditions before they could fully belong.Paul strongly rejects this idea. Our way to God is through Christ alone.There is no hierarchy of believers under Jesus. It does not matter whether someone is male or female, rich or poor, Jewish or Gentile. We are brought together through one cross, one Spirit, and one body.Christ brings peace to our differences.Through His death on the cross, Jesus broke down the wall of hostility between people. He did not simply bring two divided groups into the same room. He created one new people from them.The Church should therefore be a place where people with significant differences can find peace and unity under Christ.Pastor Nathan challenges the Church to consider the barriers we may unintentionally place in front of others. These barriers may relate to:• Social or economic background• Culture or ethnicity• Political views• Age or generation• Disability or ability• Lifestyle, addiction, or past mistakes• Harsh attitudes, judgement, shame, or unhealthy leadershipThe Church must never become a place where people feel they need to clean themselves up before they are welcome.Pastor Nathan uses the image of a shower outside a swimming pool. Sometimes Christians can unintentionally communicate that people must become clean before entering the Church. But the Church is where people come to encounter Jesus, and it is Jesus who cleans, saves, and transforms.We do not clean people. The blood of Jesus does.This does not mean watering down the truth of Scripture or ignoring holiness. The Holy Spirit transforms people and calls us into a new life. But people must first be welcomed close enough to experience the love, grace, truth, and transforming power of Christ.Pastor Nathan also distinguishes between healthy boundaries and harmful barriers. Healthy churches need boundaries, but we should never create barriers that Jesus would not create.The challenge is to look honestly at our own attitudes and actions.Do people experience the love of Jesus when they encounter us?Do our words and behaviour draw people towards Christ, or make it harder for them to come near?The Church is precious to God. As His body, we are called to reflect His heart, welcome outsiders, embrace people who are different from us, and become a place where hostility is replaced by peace.Key Scriptures:Ephesians 2:11-18Galatians 2Galatians 3:28John 2:13-17Key Thought:Jesus breaks down barriers and brings outsiders in. The Church should be a place where people from every background can draw near to God through Christ.#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
In this message, Pastor Nathan continues our Ephesians series by moving into Ephesians chapter 2.Paul begins with a clear description of humanity's spiritual condition. Without Christ, we were spiritually dead because of sin, shaped by the world, influenced by the enemy, and driven by our sinful desires.This is not written to condemn us. It reminds us where we have come from and helps us understand the depth of what God has done.Then Paul introduces two of the most important words in Scripture:“But God.”God intervened.He did not act because we earned it or achieved something that forced Him to respond. He acted because He is rich in mercy and because He loved us so deeply.Pastor Nathan highlights several things God has done for us:1. He gave us lifeThough we were spiritually dead, God made us alive with Christ.A dead person cannot bring themselves back to life. Our rescue is entirely God's work.2. He raised us with ChristThrough our union with Jesus, we have been brought into a new spiritual reality.We are no longer defined by death, sin, or our past. We are alive in Christ.3. He made us examples of His graceFollowers of Jesus are living examples of God's mercy, kindness, and grace.Our transformed lives show others what God can do.4. He created us as His masterpieceEphesians 2:10 describes us as God's workmanship or masterpiece.We are not finished products. God is still shaping, refining, restoring, and transforming us into something beautiful.5. He gave us a purposeSalvation is not the end of the journey. It is the beginning.God has prepared good works for us to do. There is a person He is forming us to become and a purpose He has prepared for us to fulfil.Pastor Nathan uses the illustration of hiking the Larapinta Trail to describe life with Jesus.The trail can be steep, difficult, tiring, and uncertain. There are mountains, valleys, dry stretches, and moments when giving up feels tempting.But the trail has been prepared.There are markers that keep us moving in the right direction. There are moments of rest, refreshment, growth, and breathtaking beauty. Over time, we build wisdom, endurance, trust, and resilience.Walking with Jesus is similar.There are mountains to climb, including addiction, anger, controlling behaviour, unhealthy patterns, or the difficult work of forgiveness.There are also valleys of grief, trauma, mental health struggles, broken relationships, and health concerns.Even through those valleys, Jesus has prepared a path. He walks with us, strengthens us, guides us, carries us, and reminds us not to give up.The Christian life is not always easy or comfortable. Being alive in Christ does not mean everything suddenly becomes simple.It means we no longer walk alone.Pastor Nathan closes with this challenge:Are you fully embracing the new life Christ has given you?It is time to stop creating our own path and trust the trail Jesus has prepared.Key Scriptures:Ephesians 2:1-10Romans 6:12-13Galatians 5:16John 10:10Key Thought:You were spiritually dead, but God made you alive in Christ. You are His masterpiece, created with purpose and called to follow the path He has prepared for you.
5 July 2026In this message, Pastor Nathan continues our Ephesians series by looking at Paul's prayer for the church in Ephesians 1. This passage reminds us that the Church is the body of Christ, called to know God deeply, have hearts filled with His light, and live through the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.Notes:In this message, Pastor Nathan continues our series in Ephesians by looking at the second half of chapter 1.Paul writes this part of the letter as a prayer for the church. His prayer shows what matters deeply to him and what he longs to see formed in God's people.Pastor Nathan begins by reminding us that Paul describes the Church as the body of Christ. Christ is the head, and the Church is His living presence in the world. We are not a monument, museum, club, or society. We are the people through whom Christ acts, speaks, serves, and loves.As the body of Christ, the Church is called to bring the presence of Jesus into the world, share the gospel, care for those in need, show sacrificial love, and reflect His transformed character.Pastor Nathan highlights three key parts of Paul's prayer:1. Know God through spiritual wisdomPaul prays that the church would receive spiritual wisdom and insight so they may grow in their knowledge of God.This is not just about knowing information about Jesus. It is about knowing Him personally. Like any relationship, knowing Jesus grows through time, attention, love, prayer, worship, Scripture, silence, and listening.As we know Jesus more deeply, we grow in wisdom, insight, character, and obedience.2. Have hearts flooded with lightPaul prays that their hearts would be filled with light so they can understand the confident hope God has given them.Pastor Nathan explains that the heart is where our character, desires, hopes, and attitudes are formed. We need the light of Christ to shine there, even into the places we may prefer to keep hidden.As Jesus shines His light in our hearts, He brings truth, grace, freedom, peace, and hope.3. Know God's power for usPaul prays that believers would understand the incredible greatness of God's power for those who believe.This is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. It is not a small leftover power. It is resurrection power.Pastor Nathan reminds us that this power is not only for signs and wonders. It is also the power to live a transformed life. It is the power to defeat sinful patterns, overcome addictions, move from pride to humility, grow in patience, love sacrificially, and become more like Jesus.The message closes with the challenge to not only know about God's power, but to experience it personally.Paul's prayer is still a prayer for the Church today: that we would be spiritually wise, truly know Jesus, have enlightened hearts, and live through the power of the Holy Spirit.Key Scriptures:Ephesians 1:15-23John 17:3Romans 6:5-6Key Thought:The Church is the body of Christ, called to know Jesus deeply, live with hearts full of His light, and be changed by His resurrection power.Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #thegospelofjohn #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
28 June 2026In this message, Pastor Nathan begins our new series in Ephesians by introducing Paul's letter and the big themes that will shape the weeks ahead. Ephesians points us to God's grace, our unity in Christ, the assurance of our salvation, and the new life we are called to live through the power of the Holy Spirit.Notes:In this message, Pastor Nathan begins our new series in Ephesians by helping us understand where this letter fits within the bigger story of the Bible.Pastor Nathan explains that the Bible is a collection of books, written in different genres, but all beautifully woven together into one grand story. From creation, to humanity's fall, to God's plan of redemption, the whole Bible points us to Jesus Christ.Ephesians sits within the New Testament letters. It was written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus, a mostly Gentile church in a major city of the Roman Empire. Paul had spent significant time with this church, and this letter was written to encourage believers in their faith.Pastor Nathan highlights three major themes in Ephesians:1. Understanding God's grace and the assurance of our salvation.2. Embracing our unity and oneness in Christ.3. Learning how Christians live differently because of what Christ has done.Looking at Ephesians 1:1-14, Pastor Nathan reminds us of the incredible blessings God has given us in Christ. We are loved, chosen, adopted into God's family, forgiven, set free, and given an inheritance. The Holy Spirit is God's guarantee that we belong to Him.All of this flows from God's glorious grace. Grace means receiving God's free and undeserved favour and kindness. We did not earn it, and we do not deserve it, but God gives it freely through Jesus.Pastor Nathan also reminds us that grace does not stop at salvation. God's grace draws us, convicts us, pardons us, keeps us, strengthens us, and changes us. Grace is not just a holding place. It is God's power at work in us.The message closes with an invitation to receive God's grace again, whether for the first time or as a fresh reminder. Pastor Nathan points to the assurance we can have in Christ, even in the face of death, because Jesus has saved us, loves us, and has made us His own.Key Scriptures:Ephesians 1:1-14Romans 10:9-10Key Thought:God's grace saves us, keeps us, strengthens us, and changes us. In Christ, we are loved, chosen, forgiven, free, and secure in God's family.Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
21 June 2026In this message, Kate takes a look at Paul's letter to the Galatians and the simple but powerful truth of the gospel: salvation comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus alone. This message challenges us to recognise the ways we may add human effort, religious performance, or feelings of unworthiness to the finished work of Christ.Notes: In this message, we look at Galatians and the danger of drifting from the gospel of grace into a faith built on performance.The message begins with the story of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. Luther lived in a time when many people believed they had to work throughout their lives to remain acceptable to God. Through his study of Scripture, especially Galatians, he rediscovered the central truth of the Christian faith: we are made right with God by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus alone.Paul wrote Galatians to churches that were facing a similar problem. They had received the gospel of grace, but new teachers were telling them they needed to add obedience to the Old Testament law, including circumcision, to truly belong to God's family.Paul responds strongly because this was not a small issue. A gospel of “Jesus plus” is not the gospel at all. If we add anything to the finished work of Jesus, we strip the cross of its power.The message reminds us that good works matter, but they do not save us. Baptism, prayer, Bible reading, generosity, serving, and spiritual growth are good responses to God's grace. They are not ways to earn His grace.The danger comes when we start to believe, even quietly, that we need to perform for God to be accepted by Him. This can show up as legalism, self-righteousness, religious activity, judging others, or a transactional faith where we think, “If I do this, God will do that.”It can also show up in a more hidden way: feeling unworthy, never good enough, exhausted from striving, or unable to truly believe we are forgiven and loved by God.The message invites us to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the shadows we may have brought into our faith journey. These hidden beliefs and experiences can shape how we see God, ourselves, and grace.The good news is that Jesus has already done everything needed for our salvation. We do not need to strive for a place in God's family. In Christ, we are already loved, accepted, forgiven, and free.The challenge is not only to receive the gospel of Jesus alone for ourselves, but to make sure our words, actions, and attitudes do not communicate “Jesus plus” to others.When people encounter us, do they experience the burden of religious performance or the freedom of Jesus alone?Key Scriptures:Galatians 1:6-10Galatians 2:16Galatians 2:21Galatians 3:21-26Galatians 5:1Ephesians 2:8-9James 2Matthew 11:28-30Key Thought:Jesus plus anything else ruins everything. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus alone.______________________________Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #katesouthward #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
14 June 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/giveSermon Notes: What happens when the storms of life hit?In this message, Simon Ward from Compassion Australia challenges us to consider whether we live “outside in” or “inside out”. Looking at Jesus calming the storm in Luke 8, Simon suggests that perhaps the greatest miracle was not that Jesus calmed the storm, but that He could sleep through it.Jesus carried such peace within Him that the chaos around Him did not control Him.As followers of Christ, we have the Holy Spirit living within us. The question is not what is happening around us, but what is coming out of us. Are we allowing the pressures, fears, and struggles of life to shape us from the outside in? Or are we allowing God's peace, joy, and presence to flow from the inside out?Drawing on his work with Compassion Australia, Simon reminds us that poverty, hardship, and suffering do not have to define a person's identity. His powerful challenge is this:“You may be in poverty, but poverty doesn't have to be in you.”No matter what storm you are facing today, Jesus promises not a trouble-free life, but His presence in the midst of it. In Him we find an unknowable love, an inexpressible joy, and a peace that surpasses understanding.Key Scriptures:Luke 8:22-25Ephesians 1-3Acts 27Key Thought:Don't let the storm around you determine what happens within you. Let the peace of Christ flow from the inside out.#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon #compassion #compassionaustralia #simonward
7 June 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
31 May 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/jesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
24th May 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/jesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #thegospelofjohn #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
17th May 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #thegospelofjohn #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
10 May 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
3 May 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
by Steve Swenson from Open Doors Australia on the 26th April 2026
19 April 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/jesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
12 April 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/jesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
5 April 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
29th March 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
22 March 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
15th March 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
8 March 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
1 March 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
22nd February 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
15th February 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
8 February 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
1 February 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
25 January 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
18 January 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/jesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
11th January 2026Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/jesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #thegospelofjohn #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
21 December 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #thegospelofjohn #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
14 December 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
7 December 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
30th November 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #thegospelofjohn #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
23 November 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #thegospelofjohn #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
16th November 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
9th November 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
2 November 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
26 October 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #thegospelofjohn #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
by Ps. Nathan Bell on the 23 October 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
12 October 2025Find out more about Jesus. https://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha. https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer. https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link below https://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
5 October 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
28th September 2025______________________Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
21st September 2025______________________Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
14th September 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/jesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
7 September 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/giveOverviewWeek 3 of “Sight That Leads to Surrender” (John 9). The man once blind is cast out by people—but sought out by Jesus. His journey lands where all true sight must: faith that bows in worship.PassageJohn 9:35–41 (supporting: Rev 3:20; Luke 19:10; John 4; James 4:6; Heb 13:8).Big IdeaJesus pursues the rejected; humility opens the door; true sight surrenders in worship.Flow / Movements 1. Jesus finds the cast-out (v.35) • “When Jesus heard… he found the man.” • Gospel heartbeat: the Shepherd moves toward the overlooked, excluded, humbled (cf. Samaritan woman, Zacchaeus). • Takeaway: You are not an afterthought to Jesus; he is the Initiator. 2. Humility opens; pride closes (vv.35–37) • “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” / “Who is he, sir? I want to believe.” • Posture matters: pride shuts the door, humility opens it (Rev 3:20; James 4:6). • “Son of Man” (Dan 7): the divine-human King with authority to save and judge. 3. Faith responds with worship (v.38) • “Yes, Lord, I believe”—and he worshiped. • He doesn't get a five-year plan; he gets a Person. Worship shifts eyes from what is unknown to Who is unchanging (Heb 13:8). 4. Sight & judgment clarified (vv.39–41) • “I came… to give sight to the blind and show those who think they see that they are blind.” • Judgment here = revelation/sifting: humble seekers receive light; self-assured “seers” harden into blindness. • Culpable blindness isn't lack of data; it's resistance to Jesus' light.Key Truths • Jesus pursues before we perform. Grace is first-mover. • Availability beats ability. The man's simple, honest need is the doorway to sight. • Worship is faith's first action. Bowing precedes explaining. • Blindness can be religious. Knowing Scripture yet missing its Author is the Pharisaic tragedy.Applications • Trade self-sufficiency for humble dependence. Name a place you've been “holding it together.” Pray, “Jesus, I need You here.” • Practice worship in uncertainty. This week, sing/pray before solving. Let praise precede plans. • Listen to learn, not to win. Shift from criticism to compassion—in family, team, and church conversations. • Welcome the cast-out. Who's on the margins you can actively seek, include, and seat near you? • Keep testimony simple. Before—Jesus—After. Share it with one person; give Jesus the credit.#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
31 August 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/giveOverviewWeek 2 of “Sight That Leads to Surrender” (John 9). After the man born blind is healed, he's hauled before the Pharisees. Grace collides with rigid legalism. Neighbours waffle, leaders divide, parents fear expulsion, and the healed man gives a brave, simple witness: “I was blind, but now I see.”Big IdeaLegalism blinds; relationship with Jesus gives sight. When rules or traditions outrank people, we miss what God is doing. A life truly touched by Jesus speaks with humble courage—even when it costs.PassageJohn 9:13–34 (supporting: Matt 15:8; 2 Tim 3:5; Ezek 36:26; Phil 4:8; Rom 10:9–11).Flow / Movements 1. Sabbath scandal & split (vv.13–16) • “This man is not from God… he works on the Sabbath.” Others: “How could a sinner do this?” - Deep division. Legalism makes us miss mercy. 2. Interrogations & fear (v.17–23) • He says, “He's a prophet.” Leaders summon parents, who dodge from fear of synagogue expulsion. Religion-as-control breeds fear, not faith. 3. Round two: pressure to recant (v.24–29) • “Give glory to God; we know this Jesus is a sinner.” • The man's core testimony: “I don't know… but I know this: I was blind, now I see.” 4. Courage under fire (v.30–34) • He reasons from Scripture/God's character: opening eyes of one born blind is unprecedented—“If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” • They insult him and throw him out. Costly witness; clear glory to God.Key Truths • Legalism blinds. When preferences, methods, or structures outrank people, we can't see the work of God (v.16). • Religion without relationship hardens. Checklists without communion produce pride, hypocrisy, and fear (2 Tim 3:5; Ezek 36:26). • Testimony born of encounter is powerful. You don't need all the answers to witness; you need a real encounter and honest words (v.25). • Courage is contagious. Faithfulness in public can stiffen the spines of others.Applications • Audit the soil, not just the rules. Are we making it easier for people to encounter Jesus—or putting obstacles in the way? (Hospitality gatekeeping.) • Prioritize presence over performance. Time with Jesus before work for Jesus. A full heart overflows; an empty heart resents. • Check motives often. When you serve, ask: Am I seeking recognition, ticking a box, or loving God/people? (Col 3:23) • Keep testimony simple and true. Practice a 60-second version: Before—Jesus—After. Stay humble; don't back down. • Stand graciously when it costs. If truth brings pushback, choose courage with gentleness. Let God handle outcomes. • Guard the community from drift. Celebrate people over policies; keep methods as servants, not masters.#hillschurch #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
24 August 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/giveOverviewWeek 1 of a 3-week mini-series in John 9 (“Sight That Leads to Surrender”). The whole chapter follows a man born blind who receives sight—the first recorded case of congenital blindness healed. Today (John 9:1–12): Jesus sees him, reframes suffering, acts with a strange sign (mud + Siloam), the man obeys, and his changed life becomes a public witness—even when neighbours doubt.Big IdeaJesus doesn't start with blame; He starts with grace. He reframes suffering from “who sinned?” to “how will God's work be revealed?” He initiates, we respond. Obedient faith doesn't earn grace—it activates our participation in it. A transformed life is a compelling (though not always accepted) witness.PassageJohn 9:1–12 (supporting: Matt 5:38–41; Phil 4:8; Rom 6:23; John 9:5; Gen 3/Rom 8 theme—creation groans).Flow / Movements 1. Jesus sees (v.1) “As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man blind from birth.” Grace initiates (prevenient grace). Our stories begin with His seeing, not our striving. 2. Reframing suffering (vv.2–3) Disciples: “Who sinned—this man or his parents?” Jesus: “Neither… this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” Moves us from fault-finding to grace-seeking; from punitive math to redemptive purpose. 3. Urgency & Identity (v.4–5) “Night is coming… While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”In our shadowed places, the Light aims to reveal God's work—not simply explain causes. 4. Strange means, simple obedience (v.6–7) Spit + mud + command: “Go, wash in Siloam (‘Sent').” He went, washed, came back seeing. Principle: Obedient faith doesn't earn grace; it steps into what grace has initiated. 5. Public fallout (vv.8–12)Neighbours debate identity: “Is this the same man?”The man's clear testimony: “The man called Jesus… I went and washed, and now I see.”Not everyone will accept your change. Live the change anyway.Key TruthsNot blame but glory: Jesus redirects from “why me?” to “watch Him.” (v.3)Law fulfilled by love: From “eye for eye” to mercy (Matt 5:38–41).Grace initiates; faith participates: Jesus saw… then the man went. (vv.1,7)Methods may be odd; the Messiah is sure: Don't stumble over the mud.Witness is visible: A changed life will be noticed—and contested.Applications Trade fault-finding for grace-seeking. Catch yourself when assigning blame (to self or others). Ask: “How might God display His work here?”Name your ‘Siloam' step. What simple, practical obedience is Jesus asking this week? (Apology, generosity, reconciliation, serving, confession.) Do it.Practice your 60-second story.Before: “Here's where I was blind.”Jesus: “Here's what He said/did.”After: “Here's what's changed.”Confront prejudice. Where are pride or assumptions limiting your love? Repent; choose mercy. (Phil 4:8—renew your mind.)Stay faithful when fruit is slow. Not all healings are immediate; not all neighbours believe. Keep witnessing through consistent transformation.#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
17 August 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/giveOverviewFinishing John 8 (vv. 48–59), the tension peaks as Jesus answers insults (“Samaritan,” “demon-possessed”) with breathtaking claims: the Father will glorify Him, anyone who keeps His word “will never see death,” Abraham rejoiced to see His day, and—climax—“Before Abraham was, I AM.” The crowd understands: He's claiming the divine name from Exodus 3. They reach for stones. John wants us to grapple with the truth that sets us free: Jesus is not merely a teacher; He is God the Son, the giver of eternal life.Scripture Passage (John 8:48–59, NLT) • vv. 48–51: Accusations fly; Jesus honours the Father and promises: “Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die.” • vv. 52–56: Greater than Abraham—who “rejoiced to see my day.” • vv. 57–59: “You aren't fifty!” → “Before Abraham was born, I AM.” They attempt stoning; His hour has not yet come.Main Points 1. Freedom hinges on the truth about Jesus • Not “good man vs. bad man,” but God or blasphemer. Jesus adopts the divine name (“I AM”)—the self-existent, eternal LORD (Exod 3:14). No safe middle. 2. Life stronger than death • “Never see death” = rescued from ultimate, spiritual death now and bodily death's finality later (resurrection hope). Those who keep His word pass from death to life. 3. Family resemblance over family tree • Ancestry (Abraham) can't save; alignment with Abraham's faith does. Abraham rejoiced at Christ's day; true children rejoice and obey the Son. 4. Glory and judgment belong to the Father • Jesus doesn't self-promote; the Father testifies and glorifies the Son. Rejecting Jesus isn't a neutral stance; it's refusing the Father's witness. 5. Hearing → Obeying → Freedom • Keeping (“obeying”) His word is the pathway where truth becomes lived reality and freedom becomes ongoing, not one-off.Illustrations & Threads • Burning Bush to Temple Courts: The same “I AM” who spoke to Moses now stands in the temple. Light has stepped into our darkness. • Stones vs. Open Hands: The crowd clutches stones; the disciple opens hands to receive truth—and freedom.Application • Decide about Jesus: If He is “I AM,” He has total claim on your worship, trust, and obedience. No halfway. • Keep His Word Daily: Move from hearing to doing—read, meditate, obey one concrete command each day (John 8:31–32). • Freedom Inventory: Where am I resisting His voice (defensiveness, control, hidden sin)? Confess, renounce, invite the Spirit's power. • Rejoice with Abraham: Practice gratitude for Christ's day—name ways the gospel has brought freedom this week and share a brief testimony with someone. • Live Resurrection Now: Face fear, grief, or suffering with John 8:51 in view; pray it over situations that feel “final.”#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
10 August 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/jesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/giveOverviewIn John 8:31–47, Jesus tells a group of believing Jews that true discipleship is measured by abiding in His teaching. Only then do we “know the truth,” and only then does the truth set us free. He exposes the slavery of sin, warns how religious pride can deafen us to God's voice, and insists that family resemblance—not ancestry—reveals our true father. Freedom comes through the Son.Sermon NotesIntroductionRecent context: Festival of Shelters → mercy to the woman caught in adultery → “I am the Light of the World.”Today: Jesus presses beyond inspiration to transformation—truth that actually frees.Scripture PassageJohn 8:31–36: Abide in Jesus' word → know the truth → the truth sets you free. Everyone who sins is a slave of sin; the Son sets you free to become family.John 8:37–47: Heritage vs. resemblance—claiming Abraham isn't enough. Refusal to hear truth reveals a different father; those who belong to God gladly hear God's words.Main PointsFreedom has a path: Abide → Know → Be FreeDiscipleship isn't a label; it's remaining in Jesus' teaching until it re-forms our thinking, desires, and habits.Sin enslaves—often while we look religious“Everyone who sins is a slave of sin.” We can sit under sermons and still miss Jesus if we protect cherished sins or prefer comforting lies.The Son makes sons and daughtersLineage can't liberate; only the Son can. Freedom is family language—adoption, not performance.Hearing reveals belonging“Why can't you understand? … you can't even hear me.” Pride, defensiveness, and love of sin harden our hearing. Those who belong to God welcome correction.Illustrations & StoriesCondemnation's dopamine: Like the accusers in John 8, we can get a quiet “hit” from judging others—proof we're still listening to the father of lies.Pastoral confession: A moment of stressed defensiveness led to apologies and restored relationship—an example of truth → confession → freedom.ApplicationAbide in His word: Daily Scripture that you meditate, pray, and obey—not just read.Practice confession: To God (1 John 1:9) and to people you've wronged. Freedom accelerates when truth is spoken aloud.Trade lies for truth: Identify the specific lie you've been believing (about God, yourself, others). Replace it with Jesus' words.Invite examination: Pray, “Jesus, show me the truth about me.” Notice where you're most defensive—that's often where He's freeing you.Walk as family: Receive your identity as a son/daughter; live like the Father you resemble—mercy over judgment, light over darkness.#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
3 August 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/giveOverviewIn John 8:12–30, Jesus declares Himself “the light of the world,” offering to guide us out of spiritual darkness into life. Speaking in the temple courts after showing mercy to the adulterous woman, He affirms His divine identity (“I am who I am”) and contrasts His heavenly origin with the crowd's earthly blindness. Those who follow Him will never walk in darkness, because His truth and the Father's witness illumine the path to eternal life.Sermon Notes • We're now in the last third of Jesus' Galilean ministry, with mounting opposition from religious leaders. • Last week's episode (John 8:1–11) saw Jesus expose hypocrisy, extend mercy to a condemned woman, and call her to “go and sin no more.”Scripture Passage • John 8:12–20• Jesus stands in the temple treasury and announces, “I am the light of the world.”• He defends His divine testimony: the Father Himself bears witness (vv. 14–18). • John 8:21–30• Jesus warns that those who reject Him “will die in their sins” and cannot follow Him to the Father (vv. 21–24).• He reaffirms, “I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me” (vv. 28–29).• Many who heard Him believed.Main Points1. Christ's Provision: The Light of Life • In a festival marked by fading lampstands and pouring water, Jesus claims to be the perpetual, world-wide light that guides us out of darkness (v. 12).2. Divine Identity & Authority • By invoking the Father's testimony, Jesus appeals beyond human standards to the Law's own rule that two witnesses establish truth (vv. 14–18).3. Necessity of Faith & Obedience • Those who refuse to believe remain in darkness and face spiritual death (vv. 21–24). Belief and following Him (“walking in the light”) open the way to life (vv. 12, 30).Illustrations & Stories • Feast of Tabernacles Context: The temple's seven-branched menorah is extinguished at festival's end, but Jesus offers an eternal flame that never goes out. • Burning Bush Connection: Just as God named Himself “I AM” at Sinai, Jesus uses that divine name to assert His deity and to provoke belief or stone-worthy offence.Application • Confess Your Darkness: Identify areas where you've “walked in darkness”—pride, fear, hidden sin—and bring them into Christ's light through confession (1 John 1:7–9). • Walk in His Light Daily: Cultivate rhythms—Scripture meditation, prayer, community—that keep you plugged into Jesus, the source of spiritual illumination. • Bear Witness to His Light: As recipients of Christ's light, reflect it to others by living transparently, extending grace, and pointing people to Jesus.#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
27 July 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/giveOverviewIn John 8:1–11, Jesus confronts a self-righteous trap set by the religious leaders and, through a powerful act of mercy, transforms a public moment of shame into an invitation to new life. By stooping to write in the dust, He exposes hypocrisy, refuses to condemn the guilty woman, and then calls her—and us—into holiness: “Go and sin no more.”Sermon Notes • We're now past two-thirds of Jesus' Galilean ministry, with mounting opposition and multiple failed arrest attempts. Despite threats on His life, Jesus continues to center His mission on mercy and transformation rather than self-defense. Today we see that pattern in John 8. • Scripture Passage • John 8:1–11 (NLT)• Jesus returns early to the temple, where scribes and Pharisees drag in a woman caught in adultery.• They demand He apply Mosaic law—stoning her—but intend to use His answer against Him.• Jesus writes in the dust, then declares, “Let the one who has never sinned cast the first stone.”• Accusers depart one by one. Jesus asks the woman, “Where are your accusers?” She replies, “No one, sir.”• He responds, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”Main Points 1. Hypocrisy Exposed • The religious leaders cunningly weaponize the Law while ignoring their own failures. Jesus' challenge—“Who among you is without sin?”—pulls the beam from their own eye. 2. Mercy Extended • Rather than condemn, Jesus offers grace to the guilty. Mercy doesn't excuse sin; it refuses the death sentence while opening the way to new life. 3. Holiness Pursued • True mercy leads to a transformed life. Jesus' parting words, “Go and sin no more,” call the woman (and us) into ongoing repentance and freedom from the sins that harm us and others.Illustrations & Stories • The Trap of Legalism: Imagine orchestrating someone's public shame to prove you're right—Jesus dismantles that trap with startling authority. • Writing in the Dust: While scholars debate what He wrote, the act itself buys time and disarms His accusers—an example of wisdom under pressure.Application • Check Your Rocks: Before we judge others, we must first examine our own hearts. What stones are we ready to throw? • Offer Radical Mercy: Like Jesus, choose forgiveness instead of condemnation, even when someone's sin offends you deeply. • Walk in Grace-Fueled Holiness: Allow mercy to lead you into genuine change. Identify one area where you need to “sin no more” and rely on the Spirit to empower you.#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
20 July 2025Find out more about Jesushttps://hillschurch.org.au/JesusFind the answers to life's biggest questions. Try Alpha.https://hillschurch.org.au/alphaCan we pray for you? Request prayer.https://hillschurch.org.au/ and click 'Prayer Request' Button.To give/tithe to the work of Hills Church, follow the link belowhttps://hillschurch.org.au/give#hillschurch #beencouraged #nathanbell #evertonhills #brisbanechurch #brisbane #wesleyanmethodistchurch #hillschurchsermon
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