Hill Country Bible Church Dripping Springs Sermons

2 Peter 1:1-8 We talk a lot about grace but tend to stop short of where grace is taking us. Grace is not meant to make us comfortable where we are but grow us in great knowledge and relationship with our Father. 1. Real grace will bring relationship 2. Real grace will bring repentance 3. Real grace will bring revelation 4. Real grace will bring reward

The world would have us believe that improving “just one thing” would make life perfect. That is an illusion. Rather than being controlled by our circumstances Jesus’ disciples can find true joy by resting in God’s grace.

We experience God’s power in our weakness. To do that we must put aside our pride and reliance on earthly credentials. Then our approach to ministry can be like Paul’s; to elevate Christ and a dependence on the Gospel in our lives.

Grace is fully understood when it is experienced. It involves more than receiving God’s grace. A fuller understanding comes when we give grace to others. When that seems impossible, we’re reminded God’s grace is greater than any grace we’re asked to show to others.

Authentic confession begins with a foundation of faith based on grace. In turn, we can be vulnerable before God and others without fear from the guilt of our sin.

To live a life of confession is to live in affirmation of the truth in Scripture. It is a declaration that life is centered on Jesus. Anything else is at odds with reality.

All week the culture stresses the importance of self. Our gathering on Sunday dispels that lie and replaces it with a right perspective for the week ahead. Grounded in the Gospel, we gather to celebrate access to our Creator.

God's Word is the foundation for our ethics, morals and view of salvation. We can submit to God by learning, with others, from His Word, the Bible.

We participate in Biblical community for the well-being of others. In turn, we are blessed by others doing the same. This is God's design and shows how He works through His people

We do not like to wait, especially in our instant gratification culture. We can be tempted to avoid circumstances by working detours or just avoid problems altogether. Despite our impatience, God waits for us. Once we turn and trust Him, He shows us a better way.

In the midst of waiting, we may lack perspective on what God is doing. However, Scripture can remind us that we do know the ultimate outcome. God will accomplish what He intends. We can wait with confidence.

We long for the Christmas promise of “peace on earth”. However, the realities and turmoil of life make this seem elusive. God’s word reminds us that we have the option to wait confidently, trusting in His promises and power.

The Christmas story began 400 years after the last of God’s Old Testament prophets, Malachi, warned Israel about turning away from God. During that time, God was silent. However, He never stopped carrying out His plan.

When we view God through a human perspective, we get a flawed view. That flawed view impacts how we relate to Him, particularly when we consider His forgiveness. We struggle because we think He forgives like we do.

An unchanging theme throughout all Scripture is that God is drawn tot eh vulnerable and marginalized. God chooses to use His power to defend the weak. The heart of God is for the vulnerable. (Psalm 68:5-6). God calls us to minister to the vulnerable (James 1:27)

Without fully appreciating how much God loves us, our understanding of His love is too shallow. Hence, we do not realize the impact His love should have on our lives.

God's nature is to be slow to anger (long suffering). However, in this and other things we can mistake the silence that comes with His patience as an indication He is like us (Psalm 50:21). That is not the case. God's anger is nuanced and His patience has limits.

Due to a recording problem, we're missing a short part of the sermon which set context. We're in Exodus where the Lord is responding to Moses right after Israel had abandoned God to worship the golden calf. (Exodus 32). We pick up where Jason is teaching on the Lord's response (Exodus 33) which is most remarkable, given this context. Understanding how God describes Himself is fundamental to unders...

God's plan for the church is to create a supernatural community that makes the glory of the invisible God visible. That happens by depending on God

Baptism and communion are both ordained by Jesus. Baptism is the event that marks our entrance into Christ's church. Communion is the ongoing covenant of renewal that Jesus provides for His people. Both show us God's promises, in physical form, that we use to affirm one another.

In worship, the church proclaims the Gospel. Worship prepares us, collectively, for the individual challenges we will face during the week ahead. Done deeply, worship is multifaceted and God-focused.

When people gather, they are noticed; making a collective and powerful statement. When the church gathers, we proclaim God's Kingdom.

Christians are people who follow Jesus. Jesus teaches that we must be made new to be His followers. He makes the difference in our lives in ways that He desires.

Our understanding of the church can get tainted. We need to return to Jesus' definition of His church; an assembly gathered around the confession that Jesus is Messiah.

Access to information does not make us wiser. We need Godly wisdom to guide our lives. Written when he was older (v.25a), David shows us how that looks based on wisdom he gathered throughout his life.