Redemption Hill Church | Sermons

Various Texts | JD Summers Our relationship to families is deeply personal and often complicated, but it is important. That’s why we need to look to Scripture to understand God’s plan for the family. Sin mars and corrupts our relationships with one another, bringing conflict and death where there should be love and life. But Christ’s death brings reconciliation and redemption to the family, healin...

Galatians 5:22-23 | Steven Parkin Peace is an inner tranquility and calm of the soul. We can only find this peace in our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave his life to reconcile us with God, producing a reconciliation that brings peace to our human relationships as well. Striving for peace will not come without conflict, but as we seek to walk by the Spirit, we must pursue peace with others as far as it...

Psalm 73 | Alex Lynch Scripture is clear that God is good. But this truth is hard to believe when we endure trials, especially when we see others around us thriving. Scripture promises that the path that follows God is filled with blessings while the path of the world leads to destruction, but it seems that more often than not the wicked are living full lives while believers suffer. Is God really...

Galatians 5:22-23 | Steven Parkin It can be tempting to think about joy as a temporary or optional measure. After all, who can have joy when things are hard in our lives? But truly, joy is an overflow from the heart of God that fills believers and is meant to characterize our lives. In the midst of mourning, God’s joy sustains us. As we endure through highs and lows, God’s joy fills and encourages...

Luke 22:54-62 | JD Summers The fear of man hinders us from faithfully following Jesus. Fear can control and constrict us, compelling us to act in ways that are counterintuitive to our faith in Christ. The fear of God should move us to worship, obey, and enjoy him, but we replace that right motivation with other, lesser motivations that lead us into sin. In light of this, then, how wonderful is the...

Luke 22:47-53 | JD Summers The salvific nature of Christ’s mission had been foretold since before he was even born and was reinforced again and again throughout his life and ministry. Even so, as the hour for his sacrifice drew near, many failed to embrace his plan. Some seemed to follow but turned on him in the final hour. Some desired to stand with him, but foolishly pursued their own plans inst...

Luke 22:39-46 | JD Summers Jesus, fully God, eternal, and preexistant, was also human. In the garden, he showed the full force of his humanity as he prayerfully relied on the Father in the moments leading to his crucifixion. Christ’s faithfulness can be seen as he prayed to embrace the Father’s will, relying on the strength he provides. As those who trust in Christ as our Savior, we too must persi...

Luke 22:35-38 | JD Summers We are called to carry out our mission in a hostile world. Jesus did not ask us to follow him merely when the going is good, but instead calls us to take up our cross and follow him. Jesus was numbered among the transgressors, taking on our sin and the penalty that accompanied it. Just as he experienced opposition and hardship, so should we. In light of this, let us make...

Luke 22:31-34 | JD Summers Those who follow Christ are a group of people in process, so we know that there will be failures along the way. But we also know that our failures do not define us and are not the end of our story. We face a real and dangerous enemy in Satan who desires to lead us into sin, and our flesh wants to satisfy its sinful cravings as well. But thanks be to God who lovingly work...

Luke 22:24-30 | JD Summers The ambition that the twelve disciples displayed at the Last Supper was a common problem for them, and so it is for us. Though our hearts often strive to be great and gain power by means of exalting ourselves above others, in reality, true greatness is exemplified in humble service. Our pride leads to conflict with others and a rebuke from Christ, but lowering ourselves...

Luke 22:7-23 | JD Summers At the Last Supper, Jesus demonstrates providence in orchestrating every event in the world according to his plan. He gives grace, pointing to his coming sacrifice and showing that he loves and delights in his followers. And Jesus affirms his hope that he will be with us again, enjoying a future meal with us in eternity. As he initiated the new covenant on the cross, Jesu...

Galatians 5:22-23 | Steven Parkin What comes to your mind when you think about love? Love is too important for us to lack clarity about what it is and how to express it, so we must turn to God’s Word, where he describes and defines what love is. Love is definitional to Christ, marking out his ministry more than perhaps any other attribute. As we seek to express the fruit of the Spirit, of which lo...

Luke 21:37-22:6 | JD Summers It is often uncomfortable to consider the betrayal of Jesus, especially thinking about the role of Judas, one of the 12 disciples. Judas spent 3 years side by side with Jesus, but he wasn’t a real follower. He was an unclean hypocrite who loved money above all else, and he was primed for Satan’s demonic influence in his life. We must beware lest our own hearts latch on...

Romans 8:18-30 | JD Summers Jesus is risen! The resurrection of Jesus Christ marks a new age of redemption, but we still feel the marks of a fallen world. Creation also groans with us as we await the fullness of Christ’s restoring work. Until then, we must hope. We must long for Christ to return, waiting patiently and expectantly. Our strength would fail us, but the Holy Spirit bears us up and mai...

Luke 21:29-38 | JD Summers Why do we as a society have such an interest in the end of the world? In large part because we have a deep-seated sense that we need to be prepared for it. As Christians, how should we live to be ready for Christ's return? We should rest in assurance of Christ's work and strive for holiness in all we do. We must also place our entire hope in Christ, relying on him with o...

Luke 21:20-28 | JD Summers God’s glory is displayed in the climax of his plan to bring judgment and salvation through his son. What a glorious thought that God will one day demonstrate his righteousness by giving justice to the wronged and giving judgment to the wicked. Yet how saddening it is to consider the extent of this judgment upon the world. As we consider God’s plan to redeem the entire wo...

Luke 21:10-19 | JD Summers What comes to your mind when you consider persecution? Jesus tells us to expect persecution to come; it is a normal part of following Christ. He also encourages us not to waste our persecution, but rather to use it as an opportunity to proclaim the gospel and glorify God in the midst of suffering. The way to do this is by entrusting our souls to the one with power over d...

Luke 21:5-9 | JD Summers We do not know when God’s final judgment will come upon the world, but we do know for certain that it is coming. Many seek to deceive God’s people about the future, and we must be on guard against falsehoods. As we reject lies about the future, we must also reject fear about the future. Yes, God will judge the world, but he will not pour out his wrath on believers. Earthqu...

Luke 20:45-21:4 | JD Summers Man looks on the outside, but God sees the heart. Some portray a guise of strength, generosity, or importance. Image is everything, and they are skilled at looking right in the eyes of others. But God is not concerned with how someone looks on the outside. He knows our intentions, he sees our thoughts, and he peers through our deceptions. Instead, God loves the one who...

Galatians 5:16-26 | Steven Parkin The Holy Spirit is foundational to the Christian life. He indwells our hearts when we believe and he sustains us and empowers our sanctification. As we pursue holiness, we must reject the temptation to rely wholly on ourselves, forgetting that God produces holiness in us. We must also reject the temptation to put no effort in, assuming that nothing is required of...

Luke 20:27-47 | JD Summers God’s Word bears the authority of God himself. In Scripture we see ultimate truth that contains the good news of the gospel, but this good news challenges our own assumptions. Without Christ, our own understanding of ourselves, of the world, and of God are faulty, and we must forego our own misconceptions and instead align ourselves with the truth of Scripture. What will...

Luke 20:19-26 | JD Summers What authority does human government have in the life of a believer? This question was on the minds of contemporaries of Jesus even as it is on our minds today. Thankfully, the answer Jesus’ provided during his time on earth still bears true as well. God has ordained that human government has legitimate, though limited, authority. But even as we submit to human governmen...

Ephesians 3:14-21 | Dave Hintz When we think about what we’d like to change about our lives, we often focus on our circumstances - better health, better career, better relationships. But when Scripture talks about change, it focuses on change in our inner person. God desires to transform us and to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ. This is who we were made to be, but left to our own devices,...

Luke 20:9-18 | JD Summers God has poured out his love throughout history. He created the world and entrusted it to his image-bearers. He called out his people Israel and covenanted with them to bless, grow, and establish them. And he sent his son Jesus as the Messiah, the curse-breaker, the redeemer - but even as Jesus came to his own, his own did not receive him. Thus even in the greatest demonst...

Luke 19:45-20:8 | JD Summers Jesus has ultimate authority over all. In expressing his authority, he values right worship and exposes unbelief. We must not corrupt or stain true worship, but rather come to Christ with clean hands and open hearts. Those who approach worship with a spirit of unbelief will find themselves in opposition to the authority of Christ, but all those who come to Jesus in fai...