Anderson Hills

Jacob’s name means deceiver or schemer, and we see that his name rang true by the choices he made. But God, the Redeemer, interceded through a wrestling match and showed Jacob a whole new way to live, under God’s blessing. At the end of the match, God not only gave Jacob a new name, He also gave him a visible sign of who Jacob now was and how he would live—God wrenched Jacob’s hip out of place. Ja...

A Samaritan woman goes to the well in the heat of the day to avoid running into others who will look on her as a tainted woman. Jesus willingly meets with her, and filled with His acceptance, she runs to others to spread the good news. It must have taken boldness and courage for her to stand in her town as an outcast, ashamed and despised, to share the Gospel. But she was a changed woman, Her woun...

A Samaritan woman goes to the well in the heat of the day to avoid running into others who will look on her as a tainted woman. Jesus willingly meets with her, and filled with His acceptance, she runs to others to spread the good news. It must have taken boldness and courage for her to stand in her town as an outcast, ashamed and despised, to share the Gospel. But she was a changed woman, Her woun...

After His resurrection, Jesus showed his scars to His disciples as evidence that it was truly Him. Initially, scars seem like a surprising feature of Jesus’ perfected risen body; scars seem like a defect. But God did not choose to remove the scars from his Son’s eternal glorified flesh—the scars were God’s idea to begin with. For Thomas, the scars were a tangible way of truly knowing who Jesus is—...

After His resurrection, Jesus showed his scars to His disciples as evidence that it was truly Him. Initially, scars seem like a surprising feature of Jesus’ perfected risen body; scars seem like a defect. But God did not choose to remove the scars from his Son’s eternal glorified flesh—the scars were God’s idea to begin with. For Thomas, the scars were a tangible way of truly knowing who Jesus is—...

Peter’s denial and restoration is a vibrant picture of the power of Christ’s death and resurrection in one person’s life. We can see ourselves in Peter’s self-protective denial, his grief over his sin, and the pain and joy of Christ’s redeeming work in his life. Peter’s story is a powerful one, because it shows us something very important about the Resurrection. It shows us that the Resurrection o...

Peter’s denial and restoration is a vibrant picture of the power of Christ’s death and resurrection in one person’s life. We can see ourselves in Peter’s self-protective denial, his grief over his sin, and the pain and joy of Christ’s redeeming work in his life. Peter’s story is a powerful one, because it shows us something very important about the Resurrection. It shows us that the Resurrection o...

As we come closer to the narrative of Jesus’ death, we are introduced to two criminals, one who bears the name Jesus Barabbas, and one we simply know as the criminal on the cross. Both of these men experienced the redemption that comes through Jesus. These two criminals represent all of us. Barabbas is freed because Jesus is punished. The repentance of the thief on the cross believed Jesus’ promis...

As we come closer to the narrative of Jesus’ death, we are introduced to two criminals, one who bears the name Jesus Barabbas, and one we simply know as the criminal on the cross. Both of these men experienced the redemption that comes through Jesus. These two criminals represent all of us. Barabbas is freed because Jesus is punished. The repentance of the thief on the cross believed Jesus’ promis...

When the religious crowd of Jesus’ day complained that He was spending too much time with the sinners of society, Jesus told a few redemption stories. He started with the story of a lost sheep, then of a lost coin, and ended with the story of a lost son—all of which were redeemed. Jesus’ application to the religious crowd was that when precious things (sinners) are lost, they need to be found. The...

When the religious crowd of Jesus’ day complained that He was spending too much time with the sinners of society, Jesus told a few redemption stories. He started with the story of a lost sheep, then of a lost coin, and ended with the story of a lost son—all of which were redeemed. Jesus’ application to the religious crowd was that when precious things (sinners) are lost, they need to be found. The...

In the city of Decapolis in Gerasenes, there lived a man who was filled with unclean spirits. He no longer lived at home but in the graveyard. Nothing—no chains or shackles—was strong enough to restrain him or to keep him locked up for his own safety and the safety of others. He would cut himself with stones and day and night, he would cry and scream in the graveyard and on the mountainside. He wo...

In the city of Decapolis in Gerasenes, there lived a man who was filled with unclean spirits. He no longer lived at home but in the graveyard. Nothing—no chains or shackles—was strong enough to restrain him or to keep him locked up for his own safety and the safety of others. He would cut himself with stones and day and night, he would cry and scream in the graveyard and on the mountainside. He wo...

Ruth is the story of a young Moabite woman who comes to the love of God and the joy of belonging to His people through her Jewish mother-in-law, Naomi. As these two women navigate the battles of life, there is unmistakable evidence of God’s good purposes. God is at work to redeem Ruth and His people to Himself with the help from a man named Boaz. Through this story we see that we also need a Kinsm...

Ruth is the story of a young Moabite woman who comes to the love of God and the joy of belonging to His people through her Jewish mother-in-law, Naomi. As these two women navigate the battles of life, there is unmistakable evidence of God’s good purposes. God is at work to redeem Ruth and His people to Himself with the help from a man named Boaz. Through this story we see that we also need a Kinsm...

The Old Testament book of Hosea talks about a prophet whose life no one would want to imitate. He was called to marry Gomer, a prostitute, whom even after they were married, was unfaithful and deceptive. Each time she was unfaithful, Hosea welcomed her back, and even went to purchase and redeem her. While acknowledging that we wouldn’t want to be Hosea, we are likely embarrassed to admit that we a...

The Old Testament book of Hosea talks about a prophet whose life no one would want to imitate. He was called to marry Gomer, a prostitute, whom even after they were married, was unfaithful and deceptive. Each time she was unfaithful, Hosea welcomed her back, and even went to purchase and redeem her. While acknowledging that we wouldn’t want to be Hosea, we are likely embarrassed to admit that we a...

Clay is a cheap material that remains worthless until it is in the hands of a skillful potter who can make it into something valuable. Like the potter, God lovingly molds His people into a vessel that He is proud to display. We do not begin as useful and worthwhile vessels; we begin as misshapen, unusable lumps of clay. Sin soaks into the very dust of our being; nothing we do can makes us clean. B...

Clay is a cheap material that remains worthless until it is in the hands of a skillful potter who can make it into something valuable. Like the potter, God lovingly molds His people into a vessel that He is proud to display. We do not begin as useful and worthwhile vessels; we begin as misshapen, unusable lumps of clay. Sin soaks into the very dust of our being; nothing we do can makes us clean. B...

Some of the most potent gods within us are not as easy to spot and harder to point to. This is true of the gods of power and success. These gods, which subtly overtake us, almost always manifest themselves in the sin of pride. As we climb this ladder of power and success, we do not realize we are setting ourselves up for a higher fall. Also, these idols almost always demand sacrifices. Sometimes i...

Some of the most potent gods within us are not as easy to spot and harder to point to. This is true of the gods of power and success. These gods, which subtly overtake us, almost always manifest themselves in the sin of pride. As we climb this ladder of power and success, we do not realize we are setting ourselves up for a higher fall. Also, these idols almost always demand sacrifices. Sometimes i...

We have many beliefs about what money can do for us. We say, “Money will satisfy me.” “Money can make me significant.” “Money will bring me security.” When we say these things, we are giving money divine attributes and in so doing, we make it a god in our lives. We are saying that money has the power to do for us what only God can do. Our life purpose is not to pursue wealth, but to pursue God. An...

We have many beliefs about what money can do for us. We say, “Money will satisfy me.” “Money can make me significant.” “Money will bring me security.” When we say these things, we are giving money divine attributes and in so doing, we make it a god in our lives. We are saying that money has the power to do for us what only God can do. Our life purpose is not to pursue wealth, but to pursue God. An...

This week we will look at an idol that may be the most deceptive of all—the god of love. Sometimes we allow our love for other people to be the central driving force in our life. God indeed calls us to love others, however, that love is supposed to flow from our love for God. Romantic love and relationships within our immediate family are legitimate loves that have the tendency to get out of order...

This week we will look at an idol that may be the most deceptive of all—the god of love. Sometimes we allow our love for other people to be the central driving force in our life. God indeed calls us to love others, however, that love is supposed to flow from our love for God. Romantic love and relationships within our immediate family are legitimate loves that have the tendency to get out of order...