Calvary: the Hill Sermons

Jacob's fourteen years owed to Laban are up and he's finally ready to head off on his own along with his two wives, two concubines and (at least) twelve children. After much divine provision, Jacob still insists upon living life his own way. In this week's study through Genesis, we see the stark contrast between the fruit of Jacob's provision and that of God's.

Proceeding further in the discussion over spiritual gifts, Paul compares the gift of tongues against the gift of prophecy. He contends that the gift of prophecy is more useful for the church because it is a gift which, when manifested in a gathering of the Church, all can understand. 1 Corinthians 14:13-25

Thus far unique to Jacob, his testimony is one of reluctant surrender to God's will. Jacob (along with the rest of the figures in this passage) is always seeking to provide for himself whenever opportunity arises. In turn, what Jacob finds is that God's promises exceed the yielding of any posed opportunity. Genesis 27:1-29:26

Whether Prophecy, Healing, or Tongues, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are meant to build up the body of believers toward the unified goal of spreading the Gospel. 1 Corinthians 14:1-12

Isaac inherits the covenant God made to Abraham. We see that along with the faith of his father, Isaac also shares in some of Abraham's faults. We learn through this passage how God successfully accomplishes His will in the midst of our faithlessness. Genesis 24:1-26:35

Paul encourages the Corinthian church to desire the best gifts from the Holy Spirit, yet he spurs them further to purse that which he refers to as a more excellent way. Paul shares that love is eternally relevant and will never pass away. Among Faith, Hope, and Love, the greatest is Love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

As we begin to close the book of Abraham's life, we see Abraham falling into the same erroneous sins of his path, but we also see him pass God's final test of faith. Isaac upon Moriah inherently looks forward to a greater Son to come.

Paul seems to contradict his claim that there is no greater gift amongst those the Holy Spirit has given. Now, Paul ranks a small group of the gifts only to say that there still remains a better way. We see in this passage a reenforcement that the diversity of the church body is God's intended plan. 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

Glen and Susie are founders of Greentwig Conciliators (greentwig.org). They joined us for this evening's dinner to share with us the importance of listening in our marriages.

Twenty-Four years have passed since God has promised to make Abram into a great nation. In that time, the barren Sarai has now passed into a postmenopausal age and the promise no longer seems attainable. Despite Sarai's and Abram's attempt to realize God's word by their own attempts, heavenly messengers visit Abram with other plans. Meanwhile, Lot is also visited by heavenly messengers. These two...

Paul compares the church to a human body to show the need for diversity in the gifts of the church. Not having your favorite gift doesn't remove your importance from the body in fact, there is no one in the church that you can say is unnecessary. God has designed the church just the way he wants it; lovingly working together. WE APOLOGIZE, THIS RECORDING WAS INTERRUPTED BY TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES....

God's redemptive plan hones in on one man, Abram of Mesopotamia. Abram (soon to be Abraham) is often hailed as a perfect man, but we begin to see that his faith, much like ours, develops progressively after failures as well as successes. Serious failures notwithstanding, the faithfulness of the Abrahamic Covenant is contingent upon God's work; not Abram's. Genesis 12:1-15:20

There's something about the human perspective that makes us want to categorize and prioritize every existing group. We bring this same tendency in our consideration of spiritual gifts. We fail to understand that the very confession of Jesus' lordship is a spiritual gift, the diversity of gifts is consistent with even the triune nature of God. This diversity is not meant to be prioritized, but to b...

As Noah's family repopulates the world, we find that sin has not been washed away in the flood. Man's pride increases on a global scale uniting mankind toward a self-exalting pride, the correction of which will not come until the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is the host of the communion table; this is why we call it the Lord's Supper. As such, there are Christlike characteristics that the Church should bear when practicing communion. Malpractice of communion puts us on the wrong side of the Cross. 1 Corinthians 11:17-33

A long-debated and controversial portion of 1st Corinthians, Chapter 11:2-16 deals with gender roles in a first century, culturally-diverse demographic. What of this exhortation are we expected to uphold?

This week, we navigate the flood narrative. Genesis 6:9 through 9:17 bear the motif of rest, remembering, and covenant. Knowing the justice of God's wrath, what manner of person ought we to be?

Amanda is the founder and executive director of Real Escape from the Sex Trade (REST), a faith-based, non profit organization providing rescue and support for sexually exploited young women. Amanda uses case examples to tell of the existing presence of the human trafficking here in the northwest. How can the church aide the offenders and victims of this abusive industry?

Amanda Hightower, Trevor "This'l" Tyler, Judah Ivy, and Justin Thomas answer the congregation's questions regarding the topics discussed at the seminar.

Guest Speaker, Judah Ivy is one of the founding members of the Seattle Abolitionist Society. Judah shares the statistical presence of aborted pregnancies in the greater Seattle Area and what the Church is currently doing to help at-risk mothers.

Guest Speaker, Trevor "This'l Tyler is a Christian Hip Hop artist living in Missouri. His word for us is that basic presuppositions and disassociation blinds this generation of our own racial barriers and discrimination. Each of us as individual believers is a representation of the Church Body, our Savior, and Mankind. We must have a standard that transcends racism and all prejudice.

This introductory message lays the foundation for our seminar, reminding the church that injustice, though not the main drive for the Church, cannot be something that the Church ignores. As recipients of the gracious love of God, we have a role engaging in the correction of the many evil's of the world.

It could seem that a radical encounter with Jesus would most certainly send a new believer to distant lands proclaiming the good news. Indeed it might, however, in the case of the woman at the well, we see that the same sort of encounter can create revival within a very close proximity. The mission field doesn't begin in some distant lands; the mission field is right here. John 4:26-38

As Adam's legacy of sin prevails, the same defect is shown inherent in his children. Depravity deepens and death does not relent. With the curse of sin and death upon mankind, we're left to wonder: "if sin is crouching at our doors, can we master it? Can we resist the temptation?"

Too frequently does it seem like the Christian mission happens somewhere "out there". In truth, the command upon which hangs all of the law and the prophets--to love God and our neighbor happens here and now. Luke 10:25-37