Shepherd of the Hills — Las Vegas

"... on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matt 13:18 ESV) Jesus' response to Peter's confession was a concrete confirmation of what he had been telling his disciples time and time again — I am the Christ, the fulfillment of promises and prophecies spanning generations. I am the true foundation! This foundational truth about th...

Many in today's world scoff at the idea of an afterlife or an existence beyond the here and now. The concept of heaven, an eternal life in God's gracious presence, is an outlandish tale presented in an outdated book. For Christians, the hope of heaven is not only a future longing, but a present reality through faith in the sure promises of our almighty God. We are living life after death....

In the vast darkness of the night sky, stars shine as beacons of brilliant light. Isaiah compares the glory of the Lord to a glorious light — a light that cuts through the sinful darkness of this world with the brilliance of salvation! As we celebrate Epiphany and remember the miraculous star that guided faithful travelers to the feet of the infant Jesus, we are also reminded of the true light of...

The arrival of the baby Jesus at Christmas, swaddled and laid in a lowly manger, is often called our Savior's "first coming". The King over all creation humbled himself by taking on human flesh and dwelling with us in this broken, sinful world. He came on a mission of love; he came to save us. During this season of rejoicing and celebration of our Savior's first coming, we also a...

What do we do now? After the weeks of buildup and anticipation, the Christmas celebration can feel like a culmination and closure of the season we celebrate. Is this what the first celebrants did? After that wonder-filled night, life indeed continued for Mary and Joseph, and the shepherds returned to their sheep in the fields, but the celebration was far from over. In fact, the celebration has con...

We need Christmas. We don't need the festive music, the feel-good atmosphere of the season or the break from our busy schedules. We need Christmas for a far more important reason: we need a Savior. The humble happenings of that first Christmas night remind us that Jesus humbled himself by entering our world. The incredible and stunning proclamation of the heavenly host reminds us that this baby wa...

The impossible took place when Gabriel first announced the imminent arrival of the Messiah to a young woman named Mary. She — a virgin — would conceive and give birth. "How can this be?" wondered the woman. "The power of the Most High will overshadow you," explained the angel. The son born to Mary would be called the Son of God. "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a...

As God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, their descendants grew to an astonishing number. Their family tree had too many branches to count. But only one branch was the fulfillment of the greatest promise ever made — only one branch was truly righteous. Jeremiah lived during a time of widespread rebellion and disregard for God and His Word. Nicknamed "the wailing prophet", he had...

We don't often picture our Savior as a grand and powerful lion, but in both Genesis and Revelation, Jesus is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah. When Jacob (also called Israel) was nearing death, he prophesied about his many sons. One of those sons was named Judah, from whose descendants the Savior of the world would eventually be born. In this prophecy, Jacob used the picture of a lion and...

The hope we enjoy during the season of Advent was first felt long before the shepherds heard the angels sing, long before Elizabeth marveled at the child in Mary's womb, long before Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Micah prophesied about the coming King. The hope of Advent was first heard from God's own mouth shortly after sin entered the world. It did not take long for Adam and Eve to choose their o...

Every year family and friends get together to give thanks. As Christians, we understand that the abundance of blessings we have comes from our Father in heaven! Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to focus on God's providence, but there's more to it than a lengthy list of blessings. Thanksgiving is just one of countless moments and days throughout our lives when we have the privilege and joy...

The words of Revelation are awe-inspiring. They are also sometimes confusing. Even as the apostle John received this spectacular vision, one thing was very clear — this was from God. In today's lesson, an angel tells John the clear and basic truth of this book: Jesus wins! "These words are trustworthy and true," spoke the angel. The comfort John received from the angel is the same co...

Is the term "Judgment Day" a bit unsettling? Does the idea of Jesus' return make you slightly nervous? In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul reminds them of the confidence they have as they anticipate the last day with great excitement! As Christians who held onto the words and promises of God, the Thessalonians were prepared for Christ's return and through faith, we ar...

For God so loved the world... These well-known words from John's Gospel are simple, yet simply profound. In the clearest way, John records for us the amazing truth of God's gift of grace — his one and only Son. As we celebrate Baptism Sunday, the words of Jesus to a curious Pharisee remind us of the simple truth of God's grace. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. Through baptism,...

When Paul wrote to the church in Galatia, they were burdened by false teaching that threatened to enslave them to the law. In his letter, Paul reminds the Galatians that in Christ, we have been set free! As we celebrate the annual festival of the Reformation, we are also reminded of God's incredible grace in preserving the truth of His Word throughout the generations. When the truths of Scripture...

The world today tells us to fill our lives with earthly pleasures. Wealth becomes the focus of the present and the future as many seek to fill their pockets seeking to satisfy their souls. In today's lesson from Luke, Jesus encounters a rich young ruler and teaches about the ONE thing that truly satisfies — Jesus himself! Jesus tells us to fill our hearts with him and His Word... and it's...

Have you heard of the concept of stick-to-itiveness? We learn about the biblical principles of perseverance & not giving up on God from the parable of the persistent widow. The real-life example of Jacob wrestling with God - not letting go but holding God to his promises - is an encouragement for us to do the same. The perfect Judge in Heaven invites us to keep approaching him with confidence!