Hills Church

Our Apologies, we don't have audio recorded from the start of the sermon so it will begin part way through. We hope you can still grasp the heart of the message. We've all ignored God's gentle warnings at times—a prompting from the Holy Spirit, a challenging verse, or wise advice from someone who cares. The danger isn't that God stops speaking, but that our hearts become less willing to listen. Ho...

Life can get busy, and it's easy to forget who we really are. We can carry old hurts, believe lies about ourselves, or feel weighed down by our mistakes. But God lovingly invites us to stop, come close, and remember one simple truth:  you belong to Him. The story of Hosea reminds us that even when God's people wandered away, His desire was always to restore them. Through Jesus, that invita...

The book of Hosea reminds us of God's unwavering love and His desire for a close relationship with His people. Israel didn't turn away from God overnight. Small compromises, divided loyalties, and neglected priorities slowly led them away from Him. Yet even in their wandering, God continued to pursue them with grace and compassion. A key lesson from Hosea is the principle of sowing and reaping. Ev...

Life can leave people carrying hurt, disappointment, fear, and exhaustion beneath the surface. Yet God’s love meets us deeply and personally, bringing healing, hope, and restoration where it’s needed most. His love softens hardened places in our hearts, reminds us who we are in Him, and brings us from despair into life. The story of Hosea paints a beautiful picture of God’s heart toward His people...

Relentless Love Life can leave deep wounds. Most of us know what it feels like to be hurt, disappointed, or let down by others. The book of Hosea gives us a deeply personal picture of God’s love in the middle of that pain. Even when His people turned away from Him, God didn’t give up. He continued to pursue them with mercy, compassion, and faithfulness. Our new series, Loved to Life , is about dis...

Across Aotearoa and around the world, churches have been gathering in prayer between Ascension and Pentecost, believing for a fresh move of God. Many believers are sensing a fresh stirring of faith, a desire for renewal, and a deep longing for the presence of God to rest over New Zealand like a long white cloud of glory. Pentecost reminds us that the Holy Spirit is not distant or reserved for a mo...

For 75 years, God has faithfully woven together generations of people, prayers, and stories into a spiritual family built on His grace. Through every season — times of growth, challenge, renewal, and change — His faithfulness has remained constant. The church has always been more than a building. It is a place where people are welcomed, encouraged, and reminded that they belong in God’s story. Man...

Many of us know what it feels like to carry shame — the quiet voice that tells us we’re not enough, that we’ve failed, or that we need to hide parts of ourselves from others and even from God. Yet throughout Scripture, we see a Father who continually moves toward His people, not away from them. Looking at the story of Adam and Eve, we’re reminded that shame causes us to hide, but God’s response is...

At the heart of faith is an invitation into a real relationship with Jesus, not just religion or religious practice. Through Him, we are welcomed as children of God—brought into His family and given a new identity shaped by love, grace, and belonging. Jesus did not come to establish another religious system. He came to reveal God and invite people into living connection with Him. Faith is not abou...

Many people feel unqualified, unnoticed, or not ready for God to use them. We often assume that only the gifted or highly spiritual are called to serve. But Scripture shows that the Holy Spirit is poured out on all who believe in Jesus. God does not choose people based on talent or status. He gives His Spirit freely by grace. If you belong to Christ, you are already chosen, included, and empowered...

In Acts chapter one, the disciples find themselves confused and uncertain. Jesus had risen from the dead and spent 40 days with them, yet they still struggled to understand His mission. They expected a political Messiah, but God’s plan was far greater—salvation for all people. In this in-between season, Jesus led them back to Scripture, helping them see that everything pointed to Him. Slowly, thei...

This Resurrection Sunday reminds us of a powerful truth: before we ever knew God, He already loved us. From the very beginning, He called us His own and invited us into life with Him. The cross represents pain, sacrifice, and what felt like the end. When the women came to the tomb, they expected loss and grief. Instead, they found hope—Jesus had risen. The stone was rolled away so that we could se...

As we move toward Easter, many of us are carrying heavy things—frustration, grief, or unanswered prayers. We see brokenness around us and feel it within us. Like the cry of Psalm 89, we hold onto God’s promises while wrestling with the reality in front of us. Jesus understands this tension. In the Garden of Gethsemane, just hours before the cross, He was overwhelmed with sorrow. He brought it hone...

In Mark 14, we are drawn into the final days before the cross—a time marked by tension, betrayal, and anticipation. In the midst of it all, two meals reveal both the depth of Jesus’ love and the invitation for us to respond. At the Passover meal, Jesus breaks bread and shares the cup with His disciples, pointing to His body and blood given for us. This moment, which we now remember through communi...

The Bible is far more than a historical record or a book of instructions. It carries the breath of God and speaks life into us as we read it. Through Scripture, God shapes our hearts, strengthens our faith, and invites us into a living relationship with Him. In Mark 13, Jesus speaks about the future shortly before His journey to the cross. As He and His followers leave the magnificent temple in Je...

In Mark 12, we see Jesus in the final week before His crucifixion, surrounded by tension and questions from religious leaders. Even in this challenging moment, He gives a simple, life-changing answer to one of the most important questions:  What is the greatest commandment?  Jesus says it’s to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength—and to love your neighbour as yourself. It’s not a...

From the very beginning, God’s story has been a story of light. In Genesis, the first thing God speaks into the darkness is light—bringing life, order, and goodness. That same thread continues into John, where we see that Jesus is the true Light who came into the world. He shines into our confusion, sin, and struggle, revealing truth and showing us the way back to the Father. Jesus doesn’t stop at...

“Don’t be afraid.” These words echo throughout Scripture — spoken to Abram, to Israel, to shepherds in the fields, and to disciples facing the cross. Again and again, God meets people in uncertain and frightening circumstances with reassurance. Fear itself is not wrong. Some fear protects and guides us wisely. But unchecked fear can drain us, limit our obedience, and keep us from stepping into wha...

What have you received from God—and what are you doing with it? Jesus invites us to live deeply in grace, not just knowing about Him, but relying on Him daily. The gospel reminds us that we are not sustained by our own strength, ability, or righteousness, but by the generous grace of God alone. Every good thing we have flows from Him. Scripture shows us that those who recognise their need for grac...

Over the summer, we were encouraged to step out by praying for others or sharing our faith, inspired by Jesus’ words in John 14 that His followers would do the works He did—and even greater things. Now, with time to reflect, the focus turns to what actually influences our willingness to act. Our actions are shaped by what we truly believe. When it comes to faith, helping others, or sharing the gos...

Jesus once asked His disciples a question that still speaks powerfully today:  “Who do you say I am?”  (Matthew 16:15). While many people in the world see Jesus as a good teacher, prophet, or historical figure, Peter declared the truth that sits at the heart of our faith—Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. In our community and across New Zealand, many people hold different ideas about...

As we begin a new year, we take a moment to reflect and to look forward with hope. The words from Habakkuk remind us that our faith is not dependent on everything going well. Even in seasons of uncertainty or loss, God remains our strength and our joy, and we can choose to trust Him. Looking back, the past year has held different experiences for each of us. Some have walked through challenges they...

As we reflect on the year that has been, we are reminded of God’s faithfulness and goodness, even through seasons we would never have chosen. For many, this year has carried real challenges and moments of pain. Yet alongside the difficulty, there have also been moments of courage—times when people responded to the gentle prompting of the Holy Spirit to speak, act, or encourage others. When we cons...

As Christmas draws near, this is a moment to pause, give thanks, and reflect on God’s faithfulness through every season of church life. In times of transition and celebration, we are reminded of Jesus’ words in John 14, where He invites those who believe in Him to live as He lived and to participate in the works He began. While that invitation can feel daunting, Jesus also promises the Holy Spirit...

The disciples had proclaimed the kingdom, healed the sick, and driven out demons. But Jesus pointed to something deeper that was coming. The “greater thing” would not only be about power or activity, but about transformation from the inside out. Scripture helps us understand this by placing love at the very centre of life with God. In 1 Corinthians 13, love is patiently described as kind, humble,...