Mission Hills Church Messages

The sermon may be over… but the conversation isn't. This week on Continuing the Conversation , Craig and Colin unpack one of the most uncomfortable questions Jesus asks: "Do you want to get well?" It sounds obvious—of course we do. But as they dig deeper into John 5, they explore a surprising truth: sometimes the things we want freedom from are also the things we've built our lives around. In this...

You've probably prayed for God to fix something in your life. A habit. A relationship. A wound. A pattern you can't seem to break. But what if Jesus asked you a surprising question first? In John 5, Jesus meets a man who has been stuck in the same condition for 38 years . Instead of immediately healing him, Jesus asks something unexpected: "Do you want to get well?" It sounds like an obvious quest...

What would you say if Jesus looked you in the eye and said, "What do you want me to do for you?" In this week's episode, Craig and Colin unpack one of the most disarming questions Jesus ever asked — and why the answer matters more than you might think. We're kicking off the Answer Honestly sermon series, and this first episode dives into the blind man Bartimaeus, whose bold, unfiltered ask to Jesu...

What if the breakthrough you're waiting for is on the other side of obedience? In this message, we explore the story of Blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10 and the surprising question Jesus asks: "What do you want me to do for you?" At first glance, the answer seems obvious. But Jesus isn't just interested in the man's condition—He's inviting him into something deeper. In this message, we talk about: Why...

Sometimes following God starts with an idea that sounds… a little crazy. In this episode of Continuing the Conversation , Craig and Colin sit down with Dennis Ferrigno to talk about the unexpected story behind the Ark of the Covenant "rendition" used in the Power and Presence sermon series. It started with a quiet moment in prayer.  A simple prompting. And one question:  What if God is actually as...

Why do things sometimes fall apart even when our intentions are good? In this week's message from 2 Samuel 6, we explore one of the most sobering moments in Scripture. David sets out to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. The worship is loud. The celebration is intense. The passion is real. But underneath the celebration are small compromises. The wrong people. The wrong method. Good...

What happens when people try to control God instead of honoring Him? In this powerful message from 1 Samuel 5, we watch what happens after the Ark of the Covenant is captured and placed in the temple of Dagon. The Philistines assume their god has defeated the God of Israel. But by morning, their idol is face down. And the next morning? It's shattered. This message reminds us that: God will not sha...

Have you ever asked God to bless something you never asked Him about in the first place? This week on Continuing the Conversation , we go deeper into 1 Samuel 4 and wrestle with a hard but honest question: Is God truly leading our decisions—or are we bringing Him in after we've already decided what we want? Israel went into battle without seeking God. When they lost, they tried to fix it by bringi...

Have you ever asked God to bless something you never asked Him about in the first place? In this week's message, we unpack 1 Samuel 4 and wrestle with a hard question: Is God truly leading our battles—or are we just bringing Him in after we've already decided what we want? Israel went into battle without seeking God. When they lost, they tried to fix it by bringing the Ark of the Covenant—as if Go...

We all love the idea of second chances—but what does it really mean when God gives you one? In this powerful conversation, Craig and Colin dive into what it looked like for the Israelites to get a second chance at the Promised Land, and why some didn't get to enter. They unpack Hebrews 6, spiritual disqualification, the difference between failure and rebellion, and why God's grace always goes deep...

Standing at the edge of the Jordan, Israel faces another chance to choose faith over fear as God calls them to focus on His presence and follow Him into the unknown. This message reminds us that faith isn't about feeling confident—it's about stepping forward in obedience and trusting God to make a way.

The Bible's rules and detailed instructions aren't about pushing people away—they're about getting things ready for God to be close, because God has always wanted to dwell with His people. Even though sin makes that closeness complicated, the good news is that God does the heavy lifting Himself, drawing near to us not because we've earned it, but because He wants a relationship with us.

In today's behind-the-scenes conversation, Craig Smith and Colin McFarland dive deep into the end of Psalm 27 and unpack how our unspoken preferences—like avoiding pain or discomfort—can quietly hijack our spiritual direction. They reflect on how unchecked wounds influence our decisions, and how God invites us to clear out the noise so we can follow His better way. Plus, Craig shares a vulnerable...

When life has you lost and lies have you surrounded, you need more than your old strategies. You need God's way forward. Discover how to silence the accusations, face the right direction, and declare God's goodness even when you can't see it yet.

Is God really silent—or is He just preparing you for something greater? In this episode of Continuing the Conversation , Craig and Colin are back and unpack the often misunderstood " silent seasons " of our faith journey. From the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments to the quiet in our own lives, we explore why God might seem distant and how to navigate those moments with wisdom and trust...

When God feels silent, Psalm 27 reminds us that steady faith can hold both confidence and confusion at the same time. This message invites us to choose to seek God's presence, trusting that even in the quiet, he is still here and he's not going anywhere.

If you could ask God for anything, what would it be? David declares in Psalm 27 the one thing he asks from God. It is the answer to our deepest problems of fear and shame.

When challenges seem overwhelming, where do you turn? Learn how David's approach in Psalm 27:1-3 shows us that steady faith begins with making God our light, our salvation, and our stronghold, not by defeating every enemy, but by enduring through them.

This Christmas, learn how Jesus led us out of darkness and into the light. Just like Moses before him, Jesus entered the darkness to save us, but he offers something even greater: freedom from sin and the promise that we are truly loved by the Light of the world.

When Jesus came into history, the world was turbulent and troubled. It was controversial, chaotic, and crazy. It's messy and maddening. Today, the Christmas season can still be hectic and hurried, but in the midst of the mess, we are reminded that Christ came to bring us a type of joy that should far outlast the season and overcome our circumstances.

When the Christmas season feels more like chaos than comfort, how do we find peace? In this episode of Continuing the Conversation , Craig and Abbey Davis dive into the unexpected parts of the Christmas story—messy moments, difficult decisions, and God's presence in it all. Hear a real-life story of redemption in the middle of a car accident, unpack the tension between the law and grace, and explo...

Learn how real peace isn't found in perfect circumstances but in God's presence right in the middle of our mess.

What if the parts of your life that feel the most broken are exactly what God wants to use? In this week's Continuing the Conversation , Craig and Colin dive into Matthew's genealogy and show us how God works through the mess—literally. From kings and scandals to skipped generations, this conversation highlights the beauty of Scripture's layered storytelling and how God weaves grace into every cha...

Your worst moment doesn't define your future when God is writing your story. Learn how the broken people in Jesus' genealogy found hope even after devastating failure.

What if the family tree of Jesus wasn't perfect… on purpose? In this episode of Continuing the Conversation , Craig and Colin dive into the not-so-picture-perfect genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1 and why it matters so much for our understanding of Christmas. With personal stories, biblical insight, and a look behind the scenes of sermon preparation, this conversation brings fresh clarity to a passa...