Redemption Hill Church

This is the summation of the letter and a final charge from the Apostle. At its center, Paul has a curious statement on his grounds for boasting - in the cross of Christ alone. We're going to take some time together to remember the major themes of the letter, and to see how we are called to boast and given freedom to boast.

This is a critically important passage if we are going to understand what it looks like to live together as a spiritual family in the church. The law of Christ will compel us to act in love toward one another, bearing each other's burdens and walking alongside one another in sorrow and celebration. At RHC we often use #churchasfamily. This week will help us to better understand what that actually...

The letter to the Galatians has turned to full-on application at this point. This Sunday's text shows us that the reality of our hearts will show up practically in our lives. In alignment with Jesus' teaching that a tree will be known by its fruit, we see the fruit of our hearts will show up in how we live. The fruit of the Spirit is as clear as the fruit of selfishness and sin.

This section is a turning point in the letter. Paul moves from establishing the theological foundation of the gospel toward its outworking in our lives. If we have come into the family of God by grace through faith, it will show up in our lives. The four Sundays remaining in this series will look at the practical outworking of salvation in our lives as individuals and in the life of our church. Th...

We continue our series in Galatians with the most difficult and confusing passage in the letter. Paradoxically, it also may be the most important, the climax of the theological argument Paul has been building through the first four chapters. Galatians 4:21-5:1 presents a contrast between Hagar and Sarah, Ishmael and Isaac. Paul uses this Old Testament reference to provide an allegory, or illustrat...

In this passage we see the issue of idolatry addressed head-on. The idea of idolatry can be confusing to us - most of us don't have issues with bowing to actual statues. It's important for us to understand that, as Martin Luther said, "Anything on which your heart relies and depends, I say, that is really your God." We all have an idolatry problem, and our worship will show up in our lives. Ultima...

David betrays an abiding love for God and the things of God all across the psalms. Maybe nowhere more clearly than Psalm 63. In this Psalm, we see a deep spirituality shaped by a view of God in three parts.

In a world that is broken by division, injustice, and hate, there is hope for us in Christ. His people have the opportunity to be part of God's work in healing and restoring this world. We will take time to have a clear-eyed look at the brokenness around us both in our nation and in the American Church. All of this, though, will point us to hope and practical action to be part of God's work in hea...

This passage breaks down the life of Abraham and the relationship of God's promises to Abraham with the Law given through Moses. Ultimately all of this relates to Jesus Christ, who brought the culmination of all of God's plans and promises.

Over the past two Sundays we have explored a major conflict between the Apostles Paul and Peter. Paul confronted Peter because the issue of justification was at stake - how we achieve right standing before God. Galatians 2 clearly establishes the importance of our righteousness coming by grace alone, through faith in Christ alone. This Sunday the letter turns back to the churches in Galatia and to...

In Galatians 2:15-21 the beauty of justification is on brilliant display. Every one of us chases righteousness, right standing. That is shown in the guilt and shame that we all experience as we fall short of it. There is hope in Jesus Christ. I can't wait for us to gather together to celebrate it!

After learning about the unity that developed between Paul and the other Apostles, we read in Galatians 2:11-14 about a public confrontation between Paul and Peter. This was a watershed moment for the early church. It teaches us about the critical foundations for the new community that Christ established, and what is worth defending in the church.

A few times each year Redemption Hill gathers at one service with our families. This means that everyone will be in service – parents, kids, singles, community groups, everyone together. We’ll have a simpler service of extended singing together and a shorter sermon or prayer time. Our hope is that this will be a sweet time of gathering together as the young, the old, and everyone in-between declar...

Paul continues to fill in gaps in the story of his early years as a follower of Jesus Christ. This Sunday we will focus in heavily on 2:4-5. People in the early church slipped in to spy on Christians who exercised different freedoms than those to which they were accustomed. They couldn't believe that other Christians thought differently, or practiced different things - all while clinging to the On...

We all want to be liked, recognized, appreciated, and loved. When people believe false things about us it messes with our minds and can seep deeply into our hearts, so we slide into self-protection. Last week we saw the firm foundation in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that there is no other gospel. This week we will see that the gospel frees us from people-pleasing.

October 31, 1517. A monk in a small town in Germany with a troubled soul and much trepidation attempted to invite a theological debate within the church. He didn’t realize that this spark would set off a building powder keg of tensions that would explode and change the course of history. The Protestant Reformation followed. This fall marks the 500th anniversary of that day. Join us this fall as we...

The life of David is a constant help where every Christian may find comfort, example, and the gospel. Though faced with fear, anxiety, and hurt David is able to rest in the promise and word of God leading him to trust-fueled worship. We likewise see David’s example, and are drawn to the perfect example of Christ, who endured all things, fear, anxiety, and hurt on our behalf bringing the salvation...

From Pastor Jon Rees: This Sunday is my last Sunday as your Pastor at RHC. The past five years have been a joy, honor, and privilege to serve alongside you in reaching Capitol Hill and beyond with the gospel of Jesus Christ. As most of you know, the Rees family is moving to Washington, IA where I will be the Senior Pastor of Faith Baptist Church. This is an exciting adventure for us and one we are...

Jesus has hard words for the church of Laodicea - that they are neither cold nor hot, but their lukewarmness makes Jesus sick. We will see on Sunday that the historic context of the city of Laodicea opens the way for us to understand Jesus' rebuke. We will also see a call that all of us need to hear as we respond to Jesus' words.

This church felt small and insignificant. Jesus has no criticism for them, though. There is only praise and encouragement. Jesus has opened a door for the gospel in their city, and their faithfulness is more significant than they could possibly realize. The church in Philadelphia helps us to see what it looks like to live missionally in DC, trusting Christ to build His Church.

Sardis was a well known city, maybe even the most storied city in the list. Jesus has nothing good to say about this church, though. He confronts them as the one who has the fullness of the Spirit of God and tells them that though they have a reputation of being alive, they are really dead. We might hope that this kind of church isn't around us today, but that is sadly not the case. It is easy for...

The church in Thyatira was doing a lot of good work, and Jesus commended them for it. There was a major problem, though. Some of the Christians in Thyatira had embraced a lifestyle that stood opposed to the holiness of Christ. He let them know that He saw their lives and actions, and called them to repent. Christians today face the same kind of pressure. A stand for biblical morality can become a...

Pergamum was a government town, which means it had a level of arrogance and a feeling like it was the center of the news cycle - we don't know anything about that here in DC, right? The Christians in Pergamum faced tremendous cultural and political pressure, and Jesus told them that their city was the place where Satan's throne was. While the Pergamites did hold to Jesus' name, they allowed their...

Smyrna is one of the only churches of the seven to receive no criticism. This letter is for all of you who are suffering and struggling, even wondering where God is in your life. Jesus has words of comfort and a call to faithfulness even in the face of suffering, but a sweet promise of life from the One who has passed through death to life.

The church in Ephesus worked hard and fought hard. They denied false teachers. They did everything they knew to be the right thing and even worked to distinguish themselves from the world around them. Yet, they lost the love they had at the start. So, Jesus threatens to take away the church. There is so, so much for us to learn here.