Hill Country Bible Church Dripping Springs Sermons

Jesus spoke challenging words to His closest disciples, including Peter. Like Peter, we should not fall away or resist because we are being challenged. Instead, we lean into the offense with the understanding that Jesus is exposing idolatry and leading us to grow in faith. We persist because offense is where God can do some of His deepest work in us.

If we only think of Jesus as gentle and merciful, we will miss how He uses offense to draw attention to our blind spots. How we react to Jesus’ confrontation will either lead to spiritual growth or spiritual atrophy. His intention is to show us the idols in our hearts that keep us from truly knowing Him. Reflection instead of rejection leads to our transformation.

We sometimes react to being offended by seeking affirmation. However, affirmation for the sake of self-appeasement can be devoid of truth. Instead of seeking counsel from someone who tells us what we think we want to hear, we need to be confronted. Confrontation grounded in the Gospel’s declaration of who we are (sinners in need of a Savior) leads to transformation. Then, we do not become just a b...

Join us as we learn more about Brandi Cox, our Director of Children's Ministries

Rivalry and jealousy can cause us to take joy at another’s misfortune, especially when we view the other person as standing in the way of getting something we desire. Rather than examine the validity of our desires, we shift the blame to others. Jesus does not allow that. He exposes the fallacy of our desire, leading to reflection and repentance. The outcome is our spiritual transformation.

Culture tells us we should fulfill our hearts’ desires. Yet we rarely explore whether these are valid desires. Satan deceived Eve and Adam by getting them to think that gaining knowledge was something they wanted. Today our worldly desires are shaped by what we observe. Only by focusing on Jesus and grounding our desires in Him do we get a God-centered and authentic perspective of what our desires...

The Bible has many stories of deep personal insecurity leading to vulnerability. We see that in Adam and Eve. God had placed them in a garden that satisfied their every need. Yet they were vulnerable to Satan’s insinuation that God’s provision was incomplete. God’s greatness was eclipsed by their insecurity. As disciples of Jesus, we find freedom from insecurity by finding all-sufficient security...

“Being offended” is a prolific cultural sentiment. With all the effort made to avoid offensiveness, we ignore the fundamental question, “why is this happening?”. This is especially challenging for us as Jesus’ disciples. How do we share the Gospel which Scripture itself describes as fundamentally offensive. In this series, we will explore how understanding “why” can show us how to preach the Gospe...

These final verses in Matthew are intended to awaken a desire in us to make disciples for Jesus. Matthew is telling the original Jewish audience, and us, that King Jesus is Lord over all people groups.  This commissioning of His ambassadors has efficacy because Jesus has all authority.

Today, religion has become a matter of personal preference, it is driven by feelings not absolute truth. This is dangerous and irresponsible. Christianity is based on the truth that Jesus was resurrected from death and now reigns over His Kingdom. Therefore, we are compelled to repent of sin and submit to His authority.

Jason is our Senior Pastor. He and his wife, Mandi, with a small group of folks planted the church in Dripping Springs in September, 2009. We chat with Jason about coming to faith, his early ministry work and thoughts on HCBC-Dripping Springs today.

The climax of the Biblical story takes place at the crucifixion. The cross is the key to understanding how a sovereign, righteous and just God can forgive rebellious people without abandoning His character. King Jesus bore the consequences of our sin. In doing so our sin is forgiven without being excused.

When Jesus condemned scribes and Pharisees, He was speaking to people who were highly respected religious leaders. They sincerely believed they were doing the right things. Jesus tells them they are outside His kingdom because they have an earthly focus on image, not a desire to serve God.

People exercise authority selfishly, so we struggle accepting it. However, disciples of Jesus are called to unconditionally place our full trust in Jesus’ authority and submit to it. We can do that because we are confident, knowing He uses His authority for the good of His people to His glory.  

While remaining humble, with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, He s anything but modest. We now see Him publicly acknowledging the messianic title of “Son of David”. From this point forward, Matthew is showing us Jesus’ claim to Kingship over all humanity, beginning with the Jews.

Human measures of success, such as status and wealth, can keep us from following Jesus’ true calling. In God’s kingdom, humility, generosity and grace reign supreme. We are called to surrender and depend on God’s gift of divine mercy, given totally devoid of any merit we might think we have.

God's created marriage, only He has the right to define it. Marriage's purpose is to reflect the relationship between Christ and His church. Therefore, divorce is at odds with God's plan. It is permitted, in some circumstances, due to hardness of heart. Yet even then, He redeems it.

Culturally, we are motivated to outdo each other, driven by individual pride. Not so in the kingdom of Heaven. To become a citizen of God’s Kingdom we must become His children, living with a recognition we are dependent on Him. That fosters a life of humility, love, and a wiliness to lavish forgiveness of others.  

To behold something or someone is more than a casual glance. It implies intense observation.  Over time we will become what we behold, whether good or bad. As Jesus’ disciples our desire is to behold Him so that our character, our love and our lives becomes like His. This is sanctification.

Opposition to Jesus grows. The Pharisees, together with their rivals ,the Sadducees. ask for "one more sign" from Jesus to prove He is who He says He is. Rather than comply, He challenges their inclination. Once alone with His disciples, He asks "who am I?" Peter, responds "The Christ". Peter responses as he does, because God revealed that to him. We declare Jesus as Christ because the Lord is at...

Isaiah warned of a people who honor God in words and deeds but worship in vain because their hearts are not in the right place. Jesus is interested in our hearts. He is teaching us that God’s word should never be nullified by human traditions and commandments.

People see Jesus’ miracles, hear his teaching and are offended. However, there are two different types of responses to this offense. One group outright rejects Him. Others, like the disciples, respond in repentance and worship Him because they see in Him, Someone greater than themselves. Who do you see when you are confronted by Jesus?

Jesus was a powerful storyteller. Using parables to describe the Kingdom of Heaven, He confronts us with the necessity of a heart change to be His follower. Only then do His parables show us His Kingdom as it is and as it will be. Otherwise, we only hear without understanding and see without perceiving.  

Jesus never leaves room to accept Him only as a good moral teacher. When the Pharisees challenge His disciples’ rule-breaking, He questions their willingness to make rules that reject Scripture. Theirs is a self-righteous, self-driven moralism. Instead, Jesus shows us that accepting Him means we join in an intimate relationship inspired by inner transformation of our hearts. That is a work of the...

Doubts arise when unmet expectations collide with current circumstances. John was in prison in the most difficult conditions, giving rise to his question whether Jesus was the Messiah. Rather than scold him, Jesus shares what He is doing that fulfills Messianic prophecies. Jesus invites us to come to Him for rest from our doubts.