Anderson Hills

The concept of giving up our lives isn’t foreign to us. It happens most often when we embark upon new relationships. When we exchange vows with our spouse, we give up our old lives for a new one. When parents welcome a child into the home, they give up their old lives for a new one. A faithful response to our call to live a life rooted in the Gospel requires us to give up our old lives to embrace...

Loving our enemies can sometimes feel as idealistic as instantaneous world peace. Still, Jesus showed that caring even for those who persecute us is a real, actionable mandate we can carry out by following His example. The paradoxical kingdom truth is that the way to deal with an enemy is to do him good, which in turn does us good. By loving our enemies, we witness Christ to them.

Loving our enemies can sometimes feel as idealistic as instantaneous world peace. Still, Jesus showed that caring even for those who persecute us is a real, actionable mandate we can carry out by following His example. The paradoxical kingdom truth is that the way to deal with an enemy is to do him good, which in turn does us good. By loving our enemies, we witness Christ to them.

God doesn’t care about the artificial lines we draw to make ourselves feel superior to others. In God’s eyes, we are all equal. God’s Word and His message of salvation are far more important than and superior to any lines we draw in the sand, any distinctions we make among us. We need to give up on our superiority and our desire to be” better than.

God doesn’t care about the artificial lines we draw to make ourselves feel superior to others. In God’s eyes, we are all equal. God’s Word and His message of salvation are far more important than and superior to any lines we draw in the sand, any distinctions we make among us. We need to give up on our superiority and our desire to be” better than.

Not a day goes by that something isn’t expected of you, or you expect something of someone else. We have expectations of ourselves and God, too, and they are not always healthy. When our expectations are based on God’s Word, they will never fail to be met. Cast aside your expectations, trust in God, and count the blessings He’s already given you. We can expect God to do exactly what He says He wil...

Not a day goes by that something isn’t expected of you, or you expect something of someone else. We have expectations of ourselves and God, too, and they are not always healthy. When our expectations are based on God’s Word, they will never fail to be met. Cast aside your expectations, trust in God, and count the blessings He’s already given you. We can expect God to do exactly what He says He wil...

We are used to having control over so many things that we often fail to seek God’s will for our lives, and we try to call all the shots ourselves. Everything in culture teaches us to take control. You must take charge, make it happen, and control your destiny. But the truth behind our need to control might show us one of our biggest areas of spiritual vulnerability. What you most attempt to contro...

We are used to having control over so many things that we often fail to seek God’s will for our lives, and we try to call all the shots ourselves. Everything in culture teaches us to take control. You must take charge, make it happen, and control your destiny. But the truth behind our need to control might show us one of our biggest areas of spiritual vulnerability. What you most attempt to contro...

Once you claim to be a Christian and know what it means to follow Jesus, how do you maintain that identity? How do we prevent deconstructing our faith to the point that we walk away from Christ, as others have? When we cease to believe what we once believed and are trying to figure out where we stand, it is part of the current issue of identity. Paul and others give us a series of commands and exh...

Once you claim to be a Christian and know what it means to follow Jesus, how do you maintain that identity? How do we prevent deconstructing our faith to the point that we walk away from Christ, as others have? When we cease to believe what we once believed and are trying to figure out where we stand, it is part of the current issue of identity. Paul and others give us a series of commands and exh...

Jesus Christ alone holds the right and authority to define our identity. We are His children, made in His image, and His divine presence is actively at work within us. Discovering our true identity begins with developing an intimate relationship with Him. Our identity in Christ is rooted in God’s grace, not our achievements or failures. Our identity is meant to glorify God, not to promote ourselve...

Jesus Christ alone holds the right and authority to define our identity. We are His children, made in His image, and His divine presence is actively at work within us. Discovering our true identity begins with developing an intimate relationship with Him. Our identity in Christ is rooted in God’s grace, not our achievements or failures. Our identity is meant to glorify God, not to promote ourselve...

The biblical story of Saul’s encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus demonstrates the transformative power of conversion. Before Paul’s encounter with Jesus, he over-identified with his Jewish heritage, his education, and his zealous but misguided religious fervor, positioning himself in opposition to Christ. This reflects a common human tendency to over-identify with certain aspects of life...

The biblical story of Saul’s encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus demonstrates the transformative power of conversion. Before Paul’s encounter with Jesus, he over-identified with his Jewish heritage, his education, and his zealous but misguided religious fervor, positioning himself in opposition to Christ. This reflects a common human tendency to over-identify with certain aspects of life...

Idolatry significantly shapes and impacts identity; causing individuals to become like what they worship. Worshiping created things over the Creator distorts our sense of self. Scripture tells many stories that illustrate how idolatry leads to spiritual blindness and the loss of true identity as imagebearers of God. What is essential? Return to God, seek identity and purpose in Him, and submit to...

Idolatry significantly shapes and impacts identity; causing individuals to become like what they worship. Worshiping created things over the Creator distorts our sense of self. Scripture tells many stories that illustrate how idolatry leads to spiritual blindness and the loss of true identity as imagebearers of God. What is essential? Return to God, seek identity and purpose in Him, and submit to...

There is a profound relationship between our identity and God’s intimate knowledge of us. God is omniscient; He knows every detail of our lives, from mundane actions to our innermost thoughts. We must be reassured that God loves us with an immeasurable, covenantal, saving love. We should place our identity in God’s understanding and love, finding security in our relationship with Him through Jesus...

There is a profound relationship between our identity and God’s intimate knowledge of us. God is omniscient; He knows every detail of our lives, from mundane actions to our innermost thoughts. We must be reassured that God loves us with an immeasurable, covenantal, saving love. We should place our identity in God’s understanding and love, finding security in our relationship with Him through Jesus...

There is much confusion around identity in modern culture. Human beings are created by God in His image. Our identity is embodied, meaning our physical bodies are integral to our identity. We are created with purpose and are morally accountable to God, not autonomous beings. Sin has marred our understanding of identity, but through Jesus Christ, we can be restored to our true identity as image-bea...

There is much confusion around identity in modern culture. Human beings are created by God in His image. Our identity is embodied, meaning our physical bodies are integral to our identity. We are created with purpose and are morally accountable to God, not autonomous beings. Sin has marred our understanding of identity, but through Jesus Christ, we can be restored to our true identity as image-bea...

There are things we cannot control, like our past, our genetics, other people’s actions and our external circumstances. While we may not have control over the circumstances life throws at us, we always have the ability to choose our responses and attitudes. This week, we will see how important it is to refuse a victim mentality, which blames others or your circumstances for your state of mind and...

There are things we cannot control, like our past, our genetics, other people’s actions and our external circumstances. While we may not have control over the circumstances life throws at us, we always have the ability to choose our responses and attitudes. This week, we will see how important it is to refuse a victim mentality, which blames others or your circumstances for your state of mind and...

God’s calls and commands can often feel murky and unclear, yet they are designed to strengthen our faith in ways we can’t anticipate. God’s call often comes without clarity, and we must trust and obey despite uncertainties. We need to make up our minds to follow God’s commands, even when we don’t fully understand the “why” behind His requests. His wisdom is beyond our own!

God’s calls and commands can often feel murky and unclear, yet they are designed to strengthen our faith in ways we can’t anticipate. God’s call often comes without clarity, and we must trust and obey despite uncertainties. We need to make up our minds to follow God’s commands, even when we don’t fully understand the “why” behind His requests. His wisdom is beyond our own!