Anderson Hills

Jesus invites three of His closest disciples—Peter, James, and John—to go up with Him up a high mountain to pray. Suddenly His face and clothing become dazzling white, and the great prophets Elijah and Moses appear beside him. While this was an amazing encounter, the trouble with mountaintop experiences is that they are a very small part of life in this broken and sinful world. These moments are g...

Near the end of their three years together, Jesus asked His men, “Who do people say that I am?” After they shared the crowd’s views, Jesus asked His disciples the same question. Peter quickly declared that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus affirms Peter’s correct response and states that He will build His church upon the rock (Peter) and nothing will destroy it. But shortly a...

Near the end of their three years together, Jesus asked His men, “Who do people say that I am?” After they shared the crowd’s views, Jesus asked His disciples the same question. Peter quickly declared that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus affirms Peter’s correct response and states that He will build His church upon the rock (Peter) and nothing will destroy it. But shortly a...

When the disciples witness Jesus walking on water in the midst of the storm, it is Peter who shouts, “Lord, if it’s You, tell me to come to You on the water.” Jesus affirms his request with one simple word, “Come.” We learn several things from Peter’s stormy encounter with Jesus. Peter didn’t impulsively and recklessly jump out of the boat. Likewise, before we act, we should first ask God about Hi...

When the disciples witness Jesus walking on water in the midst of the storm, it is Peter who shouts, “Lord, if it’s You, tell me to come to You on the water.” Jesus affirms his request with one simple word, “Come.” We learn several things from Peter’s stormy encounter with Jesus. Peter didn’t impulsively and recklessly jump out of the boat. Likewise, before we act, we should first ask God about Hi...

Simon made his living netting fish in Lake Galilee to sell in the market where he lived. When his brother Andrew introduced him to Jesus, Jesus gave Simon a significant nickname. It’s the one by which we know him today, the “Rock,” promising stability and strength. Jesus later climbed into Peter’s fishing boat to preach. Afterward, He told Peter to set out his nets, which Peter reluctantly, but ob...

Simon made his living netting fish in Lake Galilee to sell in the market where he lived. When his brother Andrew introduced him to Jesus, Jesus gave Simon a significant nickname. It’s the one by which we know him today, the “Rock,” promising stability and strength. Jesus later climbed into Peter’s fishing boat to preach. Afterward, He told Peter to set out his nets, which Peter reluctantly, but ob...

Malachi’s book closes with five areas where we are forced to make monumental decisions. (1) Will you render service to others? Malachi showed that service distinguishes the righteous from the wicked. (2) Will you revere God? God is not to be trifled with. He is a consuming fire, and we should tremble in His presence. (3) Will you remember God’s law? Obedience to God’s will brings the greatest fulf...

Malachi’s book closes with five areas where we are forced to make monumental decisions. (1) Will you render service to others? Malachi showed that service distinguishes the righteous from the wicked. (2) Will you revere God? God is not to be trifled with. He is a consuming fire, and we should tremble in His presence. (3) Will you remember God’s law? Obedience to God’s will brings the greatest fulf...

In Malachi’s day, the people had become bored with God. Their worship had turned from relational to ritual. As a result, they offered blemished sacrifices; the priests had become unfaithful; divorce was commonplace and easy; their words wearied God; businessmen were defrauding their workers, cheating their customers and taking advantage of widows, orphans and aliens. The people were also robbing G...

In Malachi’s day, the people had become bored with God. Their worship had turned from relational to ritual. As a result, they offered blemished sacrifices; the priests had become unfaithful; divorce was commonplace and easy; their words wearied God; businessmen were defrauding their workers, cheating their customers and taking advantage of widows, orphans and aliens. The people were also robbing G...

Honoring commitments impacts all dimensions of life. The people of Judah, with the priests leading the way, had failed to keep their covenant agreement with God. They treated God with disrespect, dishonoring His name. They treated sacred things as common. They turned away from God’s Law, disobeying His commandments. Malachi provides a stern rebuke. He reminds his hearers that if they fail to keep...

Honoring commitments impacts all dimensions of life. The people of Judah, with the priests leading the way, had failed to keep their covenant agreement with God. They treated God with disrespect, dishonoring His name. They treated sacred things as common. They turned away from God’s Law, disobeying His commandments. Malachi provides a stern rebuke. He reminds his hearers that if they fail to keep...

Malachi wrote this book to Jews who thought they were following God. And yet God was displeased with them. The priests were corrupt—they were not teaching God’s Word and were presenting polluted offerings to God. The people had ceased giving their tithes to God and their marriages were in shambles. And yet, they all would have claimed to be faithfully following God. Because of their circumstances,...

Malachi wrote this book to Jews who thought they were following God. And yet God was displeased with them. The priests were corrupt—they were not teaching God’s Word and were presenting polluted offerings to God. The people had ceased giving their tithes to God and their marriages were in shambles. And yet, they all would have claimed to be faithfully following God. Because of their circumstances,...

One of today’s most challenging issues is trying to balance grace and truth. Whether on issues of sexuality, race, politics, or a host of other “hot button” issues, Jesus followers struggle to relationally navigate how to love people in our polarized world. What makes this so difficult is that some Christian beliefs or truths are considered hateful and harmful in themselves. And regardless of how...

One of today’s most challenging issues is trying to balance grace and truth. Whether on issues of sexuality, race, politics, or a host of other “hot button” issues, Jesus followers struggle to relationally navigate how to love people in our polarized world. What makes this so difficult is that some Christian beliefs or truths are considered hateful and harmful in themselves. And regardless of how...

We desperately need truth in our lives. Truth refers to the legal demands on humanity that God’s character requires and the absolute law He established in His Word. At some point in our lives, we all need someone as gracious as Jesus to tell us this truth—you are not okay. You do not need to push away those feelings of guilt that weigh you down. You are guilty. And anyone who tells you otherwise,...

We desperately need truth in our lives. Truth refers to the legal demands on humanity that God’s character requires and the absolute law He established in His Word. At some point in our lives, we all need someone as gracious as Jesus to tell us this truth—you are not okay. You do not need to push away those feelings of guilt that weigh you down. You are guilty. And anyone who tells you otherwise,...

We desperately need grace in our lives. We learn about grace and love in Scripture through Jesus’ actions with the sinful people He encountered, and in our personal encounters with Him. Grace is a gift from God, a gift that is not earned or deserved. Grace is the love of God that comes to us through His Son. God’s grace is an expression of His unconditional love, and we need to believe and receive...

We desperately need grace in our lives. We learn about grace and love in Scripture through Jesus’ actions with the sinful people He encountered, and in our personal encounters with Him. Grace is a gift from God, a gift that is not earned or deserved. Grace is the love of God that comes to us through His Son. God’s grace is an expression of His unconditional love, and we need to believe and receive...

This OR that? This AND that? What is the difference? When it’s “or”, it’s one or the other. But when it’s “and”, you have them both. Grace AND truth. As Christians, we often err on one side or the other, being all of one and none of the other. You’re all about compassion or all about conviction. What we need is both at the same time, all the time. Only Jesus demonstrated a perfect balance of grace...

This OR that? This AND that? What is the difference? When it’s “or”, it’s one or the other. But when it’s “and”, you have them both. Grace AND truth. As Christians, we often err on one side or the other, being all of one and none of the other. You’re all about compassion or all about conviction. What we need is both at the same time, all the time. Only Jesus demonstrated a perfect balance of grace...

“What goes around comes around.” “Your past will come back to haunt you.” “You made your bed, now lie in it.” “It’s all karma.” These are common messages we hear from people that all point to this one—”You get what you deserve.” Our culture has always taught that if we work hard, we deserve to be rewarded. And if we mess up, we deserve to be punished. And this gets transferred to the false belief...

“What goes around comes around.” “Your past will come back to haunt you.” “You made your bed, now lie in it.” “It’s all karma.” These are common messages we hear from people that all point to this one—”You get what you deserve.” Our culture has always taught that if we work hard, we deserve to be rewarded. And if we mess up, we deserve to be punished. And this gets transferred to the false belief...