Shepherd of the Hills - Winchester VA

Matthew 2:13-23

Titus 2:11-14 On the first Christmas night, the angels of the heavenly host filled the sky with alleluia songs of praise. But what does that mean for us, 2,000 years later? The grace of God that appeared in Bethlehem didn’t fade when the angels finished singing. Christ came to redeem and purify a people for himself—bringing us into his heavenly host. Living between Christ’s first coming in grace a...

Isaiah 7:10-14 Isaiah 7 confronts fear, unbelief, and an astonishing promise. King Ahaz refuses to trust God—even when invited to ask for a sign. Yet God acts anyway, giving a sign no one would have dared to request:  Immanuel , God with us. God does not stay at a distance from fearful sinners. As Advent gives way to Christmas, the comfort is clear: our confidence rests not in the strength of our...

Matthew 11:2-11 Waiting is hard—especially when God’s promises don’t seem to match what we see around us. From a prison cell, John the Baptist asks an honest question:  “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus responds by revealing his identity through fulfilled promises: the blind see, the lame walk, the poor hear good news. Mercy comes before glory, and faith is...

Matthew 3:1-12 Like a courtroom bailiff calling people to rise for the entrance of a judge, John the Baptist stands in salvation history, calling all people to attention with a single urgent word: "Repent!" As the Judge draws near, John exposes false confidences, shatters self-reliance, and points us to the only secure place to stand: the coming Savior who took our judgment on himself. A...

Romans 10:10-18 As Advent begins, we’re reminded that the last thing any of us wants is to be caught unprepared—especially for Christ’s return. In this week’s message from Romans 10:10–18, we discover that being ready for Jesus’ arrival is far simpler than we imagine:  “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But if salvation is that simple, why doesn’t everyone know it? Paul te...

James 1:16-18 Thanksgiving invites us to take a break from the fast pace of everyday life and look with fresh eyes at the gifts that surround us. However, even on a holiday focused on gratitude, our hearts can drift toward confusion about where our blessings come from, what they mean, and what they’re for.    James warns us: “Do not be deceived!” God wants more for us than vague feelings of thankf...

Revelation 22:6-13 As another Church Year comes to a close, Christians hear the same promise Jesus spoke to John at the end of Revelation:  “Look, I am coming soon."  But after centuries of waiting, that promise can start to feel more like distant information than eager anticipation. Why does our excitement fade—and what renews it?

Hebrews 11:32-40 Ever feel like the word  saint  couldn’t possibly apply to you? You struggle, you doubt, you get tired — and halos don’t exactly follow you around. But God doesn’t call you a saint because you feel holy or look impressive. He calls you a saint because Christ made you his own. And that identity doesn’t just comfort you — it strengthens you. Saints don’t stand by their own power; th...

John 8:31-36 We live in an age obsessed with truth—and yet, somehow, we’re more confused than ever. As we celebrate the Reformation, we examine Jesus' famous words, “The truth will set you free.” What does that really mean? From the crowds who first heard Jesus, to Martin Luther rediscovering the Gospel, to our modern search for meaning, the cause and effect remain the same—where God’s truth i...

Luke 17:11-19 Why doesn’t generosity always lead to gratitude? Through the Samaritan leper’s thankful heart, we see how our sense of deservedness and spiritual numbness can block true thankfulness—and how Christ’s generosity at the cross restores it. When we see God's generosity through our eyes of faith, gratitude will always be the result.

Luke 18:1-8 This week is a special edition of the Shepherd of the Hills Podcast. Pastor Wilde is out of town, guest preaching at Cross of Life Lutheran Church in Mississauga, Ontario. Former Shepherd of the Hills pastor (and friend and classmate of Pastor Wilde), Pastor Paul Krueger preached on Luke 18 here at Shepherd of the Hills on October 16, 2016. He graciously has allowed us to use his sermo...

Luke 17:1-10 Growing in faith is kind of like getting a promotion at work. Sure, there are more blessings as you grow closer to God, but at the same time, you become increasingly aware of the duties you have as a believer to take sin seriously, to confront and forgive one another, to trust in God even with mustard-seed faith, and to live out our calling in simple, humble service. Far from being a...

Luke 16:19-31 This week we're listening to Jesus’ sobering story of the rich man and Lazarus. At first glance, it looks like a tale of two very different lives — one filled with daily luxury, the other with daily misery. But Jesus presses us deeper. What we rely on in life, what seems to help us day after day, cannot carry us through death. Not wealth, not comfort, not our own strength. Howeve...

Luke 16:1-13 Jesus tells one of his most puzzling parables: a dishonest manager who earns his master’s praise. Why would Jesus hold up such a figure? We wrestle with the sting of Jesus’ words—that unbelievers often act with more urgency and wisdom than believers do. Yet that sting drives us to the healing truth: Christ was perfectly faithful for us, and in him we are free. Free to master our wealt...

Luke 15:1-10 The idea of being lost and then found is one of the most comforting thoughts in all of Scripture–but only when we realize what it really meant that we were lost do we begin to grasp the depth of God's grace. In two simple yet vivid parables, Jesus reveals the hard truth that we were utterly helpless, hopeless, and lost, and comforts us by showing how eager he is to seek the lost,...

Luke 14:1,7-14 Jesus says,  “All those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Today we see how pride drives us to chase recognition, but how Christ humbled Himself to the cross so that God could say to us,  “Friend, move up to a better place.”

Luke 13:22-30 Jesus’ words cut straight to the heart:  “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door.” This week we wrestle with what it means that the door is very narrow. Jesus’ warning shatters our false securities and calls us to focus on him. We also find gospel comfort: the door may be narrow, but in Christ it is wide open. He went to the cross to open the way for people from east and...

Luke 12:49-53 Jesus is the Prince of Peace, yet in Luke 12 He says He came to bring not peace but division! What does that mean for us? Today we explore how Christ’s mission to bring peace with God also results in painful division—even within families. These wounds hurt, but they are purposeful, like the cuts of a skilled surgeon. They burn away false hopes and leave us with the lasting peace of f...

Luke 12:22-34 Worry can feel unavoidable—almost like it’s part of being human. Yet Jesus points us to some of the simplest teachers in all creation: birds and flowers. They don’t have the capacity to worry, yet they are cared for every day. This week, we explore why worry is ultimately powerless, how it reveals a lack of trust, and how the Father’s proven care frees us to live generously and witho...

Ecclesiastes 1:1,2, 12-14; 2:18-26 What do you do when everything you’ve worked so hard for… still leaves you feeling empty? Solomon's wisdom makes us confront the harsh truth that chasing meaning “under the sun” will always come up short. But in Christ, we’re given something far better than what we could ever earn—true purpose, lasting joy, and the freedom to live with open hands. Whether you...

1 Timothy 2:1-7 Prayer often feels natural, like walking—until we stop and realize how powerful and purposeful it truly is. Today, we explore how God calls us to pray for all people, including those in authority, not just for our own comfort but so that his gospel can flourish. While our prayer life can be clumsy at best, and certainly not somethign we deserve, Jesus, our mediator and ransom, give...

Luke 10:38-42 What do you have in common with a Mars orbiter? Missing one thing might mean disaster. Missing crucial details in calculation can cause a total mission failure for a spacecraft. Missing the "one thing needful" spells total disaster for our lives. Today, Jesus focuses us on the one thing that we need in life and eternity!

Ruth 1:1-19a In a time of famine and grief, Naomi believed God had turned against her. But God was quietly at work—through the loyalty of an unlikely daughter-in-law named Ruth. God’s steadfast love opens our eyes to others, even in our own sorrow. Ruth’s devotion points us to an even greater Redeemer, Jesus, who refused to walk away from us. Because he gave us his undivided attention, we are now...

Luke 10:1-12,16-20 The spiritual needs around us are urgent and immense, like an emergency room overflowing with patients but lacking medical staff. Thankfully, Jesus not only highlights this pressing need but graciously sends gospel workers, promising his authority, provision, and eternal success. This week, we explore Jesus' urgent call for gospel workers and how each of us can confidently respo...