Hillslife Church

As we celebrate a unique Easter, Hillslife Church presents our video message via Facebook, which has been converted to MP3 for this platform. Scripture focuses on the story of the two criminals in Luke 23:32-43.

In a world of chaos what can we learn from the Gospels? This week we turn to Mark 4:35-41, where Jesus calms the storm and seek to learn from the lessons Jesus shared with the disciples.

With a global change occurring around the world, this week is the first of the online video messages available on our Facebook page. The C Word ... if you were to try to sum up the culture for the last 50 years throughout the West what would that word be? That's what we try and look at this week as we dive into the Word.

Continuing the One Encounter series, Pete Sumskas dives deeper in to the opening message ... when you are invited to be part of something extraordinary, something special. Listen in as Pete shares the Parable of the Restaurant and an encounter with Jesus.

John 4 records the story of an incredible encounter, one that rocked the disciples more than turning water into wine. Jesus not only embraces the Samaritans, but welcomes them into worship. He even discloses his true self, to a Samaritan ... WOMAN! A woman. The scandal. Join us this week as we explore the encounter with the woman at the well.

In Matthew 4 we read of Simon Peter's encounter with Jesus ... as he walked along the shore, he saw two brothers and said, "Come, follow me" and they immediately did. But is this the whole story? There is a risk reducing the Gospel to short snippets and sound bites. This week we explore the harmony of the Gospels and the broader account of Peter's encounters with Jesus.

The game of Chinese Whispers is humourous when the message that starts travels along the line and is often completely different by the end. Though while humourous if a game, what if the Gospel was at risk of a similar fate? That what was first said, over centuries, has been mistranslated, or miscommunicated. The book of Galatians contains evidence of this happening within the first century. How about now? Have we misinterpreted some of the Gospel? Have we diluted some of its meaning? Join us this week as we explore akoloutheo.

God is all in, He sent His only Son to redeem us ... we can be under that covering, that sacrifice, but it's our choice. Your Move Chief is a challenge, an encouragement, a question ... if it's our move, how will we play it? Are we all in? Or all out? There's no lukewarm, sitting on the fence.

From the beginning, an encounter with Jesus was polarising; you either actively sought or actively avoided. This week we explore the early account from the Gospel of Matthew. The wise men, King Herod and the teachers of the law ... their reactions to the "good news" that Israel's redemption was nigh.

A Muslim, a Hindu, A Buddhist, an atheist, an agnostic and a Christian walk into a bar ... no scratch that, a restaurant. In fact to be politically correct a vegetarian restaurant. Sounds like a joke, but rather a reflection. What are our stereotypes? Our character traits? What conversations would occur? Would they be hostile or cordial? Who are the characters? Are they male or female? Old or young? Ethnicity? This week we explore the "script", Meeting in Manhattan.

As we finish 2019 and enter into 2020 I want to offer a challenge, the Thoughts, Prayers, Actions Challenge. That as Christians we step into the new year seeking opportunities to serve, not to be served.

You are the light of the world, a city on a hill cannot be hidden. Who is the light of the world? You are! I am! We are. We are the hope bringers, the light savers, the carriers of the good news and it should shine through our lives like a bright blazing candle. People should be drawn to us wondering why we are joyful. We should stand out in the dark. We should be the one people look to for hope.

This week we bounce around faith, look at our hope, our confidence and our questions and doubts. As captured in Mark 9, the father who says to Jesus, I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief. So too I share my hopes, my faith, and Lord, help me overcome my unbelief.

Can these dry bones live? Son of man? Can they? Ezekiel is asked whether he has the faith to witness the transformation of a nation, the turning of hopelessness into hope - can it be done? Church ... can it be done? Can we be the light bearers? The hope bringers?

Tomorrow my wife and I celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary. While this is super exciting to me, what relevance is that to you? Join us this week as we talk about the groom awaits ... Jesus who stands with arm outstretched at the end of the aisle awaiting our commitment.

Getting into the right orbit is essential if we seek to live in God's promises. If you desire a life filled with peace, with joy, love, patience ... then ensuring your orbit is aligned is key.

This week we explore ministry and calling by visiting the scene of an accident. Where are you in the picture?

We can sit and receive, listen, hear, absorb and take in as much information as we like ... but unless we process it and then convert that to an output then all the inputs are irrelevant. Knowing God's Word, His promises, how to pray and how to worship are great inputs, but unless they result in something then they are meaningless.

The Israel community were largely an agricultural society throughout the Old and New Testament, which is why there are so many verses relating to farming; sowing, pruning, harvesting. This week we apply this thinking to our own Christian walk - which season are we in?

Ok, I suffer from Baby-itis ... the inability to act like an adult when I'm around small children. I feel compelled to pull a funny face, make funny noises, seek to elicit a laugh, a moment of joy. This is ok while dealing with a young child - but it wouldn't translate well if it were continued in a shopping queue with adults. Just as we age physically, so too are we called to mature spiritually. Join us this week for our chat on Spiritual maturity.

This week Hillslife Church welcome Pete Sumskas to bring the Word. Many churches talk about outreach, evangelism, growth programs, but are we missing the point? Is it about growing churches? Growing congregations? Or are we called to something more? Something deeper? Listen in as Pete explores loving others.

There is a language in the world, an undertone, that resonates constantly in our mind ... you are not enough, not good enough, not smart enough, not pretty enough, not rich enough. This barrage is the language of the world. But walk in the world or walk in the Word? The Word has a different promise, a different language, the Word offers Good News! Listen in to this week's podcast from Hillslife Church.

Facing a challenge? A trial? A storm? It is during this time we best witness our foundations ... whether they are built on rock or on sand. Like the wise and foolish builders - are we preparing daily for the storms of life? For they will come. This week, we talk about solid rock ... the faith built on the foundations of rock.

Are you walking in the world? Or walking in the Word? That is the challenge today. Paying attention to our infrastructure more than our facade. We spend way too much time worrying about appearance, but not about the spiritual poverty we and those around us endure.

This week we dive deeper into our questions of faith, whether God exists, why is there good and bad, and where are we headed? To defend the faith requires equipping, and this week we seek to equip with a helicopter view at some of the major arguments that affirm the existence of God, of moral law and of our destiny. Join us as we uncover the Faith Wall.

We all have questions, questions of faith, of purpose, meaning, about prayer. Is the bible true? Factual? Do dogs go to heaven? Is there a heaven? A hell? So many questions. This week we start exploring these and begin our discovery to God's answers to these and more. Join us on the journey to truth.

When it comes to love there is a giant chasm between the way the world portrays and the way God portrays. Hollywood offers the best glimpse into love from a worldly view, it's fast, frantic and ever changing. But that's not God - He is constant and committed. Join us for the series launch on relationships.

Our walk in faith is a little like walking a tightrope; it requires focus and balance. How do we know where we are going if we don't have a target? A focus? Which is up or down? Left of right? Right or wrong? If we have no target to guide us?

As we wrap up the series, Boot Camp, we seek to tie it all in a bow! These eight elements are key to a relationship with God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Join us as we wrap up the series in Hillslife fashion!

Peace, it changes everything. To get biblical peace, the fruit of the Spirit, peace, it will change everything. Join us this week as we close off the final pillar of our faith, or belief leading to our deepening relationship with God.

As we continue to unpack the pillars or foundation stones of our relationship with God, it has to start with grace. Grace leads to hope, to faith, to love, to justice, to joy and this week to serving. The radical teaching of Jesus, to serve others!

As we move into the 6th pillar of unlocking our relationship with God, we move to joy. Not just a joyful moment, but a life of joy! Join us for this weeks podcast as we dive into knowing joy.

As we continue to work through our Boot Camp series, we dive deeper into our belief and what underpins it. This week we talk about justice ... from two views, first is accepting God's justice, second is whether it is "just us".

As we continue on revelation of the pillars of our faith, this week we speak about love ... a revelation of love! The Father's love.

When it comes to hope is it just optimism? Just wishful thinking? Or is biblical hope more? What does scripture tell us about hope? Join us for this week's second installment of our boot camp as we explore hope.

As we explore some of the foundations of our faith, we look at the pillar of grace - it's relevance!

Is Church relevant? That is the question we begin to explore today. Kicking off a series, Boot Camp - we are diving into some of the pillars of our faith, our Christianity ... and ensuring we understand the question of relevance.

Welcome to Resurrection Sunday, to Easter and it is finished. The word Tetelestai had much deeper meaning to those assembled at the foot of the cross. Come with us as we explore the traditions of the Old Testament and the depth of the meaning to Jesus' final words.

Whose eyes are you going to look through? Those that have defined your past? The baggage? The anxieties? The fears? The history? Or with God's eyes, the promise of a future filled with hope. Filled with a promise! Whose eyes will you look through?

As a Christian sometimes it can feel like we are an imposter - doing all the right things on the outside, and yet, internally feel unworthy of that tag. Join us as Pete dives into what matters most.

On the road to Emmaus, two disciples walked solemnly, when joined by Jesus - who they did not recognise. Journeying through the Old Testament, Jesus showed how it all came together to be perfect for the outworking of what was now happening. Today we explore the journey of the nation, through to the new church, new covenant and new way.

This week we unpack Matthew 5:14, that we are the light of the world. Though have I interpreted this scripture correctly? Is the focus on my light, my actions, my deeds, my fruit? Or is my focus on how God can shine through me? Join us as we dive into light of the world.

Continuing our use of the Command Post analogy, this week we look at one of our enemy's tactics. The tactic of time ... the attempt to force us into the finite rather than the infinite, a focus on the present rather than eternity. Join us as we explore tactics of time.

This week we explore the testimony of two Tom's ... both born in Mobile, Alabama in 1946, one moved to Washington, one to Mississippi. Both attended a bible based church, yet went on to walk two remarkably different paths.

One claim on the Internet says we make up to 35,000 choices per day. From simple choices like which shoe to put on first, to more complex one's. Today we explore what it is to live with intent. To be intentional in our decision making, our choices, our actions and words. Can you step up to the challenge? Live with intent.

As we step into a new series we explore the concept of a command post. The Command Post is the hub of strategy, of setting tactics, of recuperating, of debriefing ... so too, in many ways, is a church. The outpost of the global church within a given region.

We are made for a purpose. Rick Vincenti brings the word this week and poses the question of What Would You Do if ... are we prepared for if? Does our preparation make us ready for the change? Will we walk in God's purpose for our lives and occupy the land given to us?

In this wrap up of the mini series, God Prompts, we seek to understand how to discern. What is discernment? Why do we need to discern? How do we apply our learning? Join us as we lean in closer to God and learn how to hear His voice.

In this second part on hearing God speak. we move onto the "heavenly communication spectrum"! From Wow factor to Doubt factor ... discerning God's presence and calling in your life. Join us as we continue to lean in and listen to God's still small voice.

Have you ever wondered what is meant by "it's on my heart" or "God said to me"? Do some of us have the ability to speak directly to God while others don't? This week is Part 1 of the message God Prompts, hearing from God. We can all hear from God, in fact, God desires our attention and wants to commune personally with all of us. Listen in to this weeks message to practice the presence.

This week we wrap up our initial framework of Fostering Our Relationship by looking at the final line in Matthew's version of the Lord's Prayer. Lead us not into temptation ... does God tempt? Does God lead us into temptation? Does God allow temptation? This is some of what we looked to explore today. Please excuse any audio issues due to distortion of recording.