Shepherd of the Hills - Winchester VA

Titus 3:4-7 Throughout the Epiphany season, we are letting God's light shine in the darkness and give us "aha" moments, or epiphanies. Today's epiphany has to do with identity. We struggle to define ourselves in an ever shifting and ever changing world. God's light shines on his gift of baptism to show us that as baptized believers, we never need to suffer any identity crisis!

Luke 1:68-79 Have you ever waited patiently for something, only for it to underwhelm and disappoint? Sometimes we might feel dissatisfied with the fulfillment of God's promises. Looking at Zechariah's joyful song helps us see the wonder of God's faithfulness and leads us from being underwhelmed to overjoyed at God's promises that fully satisfy!

Luke 2:41-52 "If only there were backups in real life." An TV ad campaign suggests that it's just a dream, and that the only consolation is good rates on home and auto insurance. As we look at the only event from Jesus' childhood recorded in Scripture, we see that this isn't just a wish, it's the reality of God's gift at Christmas! Jesus is our perfect real-life backup, the substitute we so desper...

It's a special Christmas episode of the Shepherd of the Hills podcast! Listen to the nine readings from the Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols, and a Christmas message from Pastor Wilde about the confidence we can find in all the unlikely details of the first Christmas!

Luke 1:39-55 Everyone loves an underdog story! We might even adopt an underdog narrative to describe our own life stories. The truth is we are all underdogs, but maybe not in the sense we most often think. Mary's song of praise, the Magnificat, tells the greatest underdog story ever. At Christmas, God lifts up the lowly!

Luke 3:7-18 The holiday season isn't always merry and cheerful. Many people suffer this time of year, under the pressure to be happy. The celebrations can feel hollow and empty. If you're struggling this time of year, there is good news, because a real Christmas, a Christmas that God's word prepares us for in the season of Advent, is one that brings real joy–joy that is deeper than nostalgic Chris...

Luke 3:1-6 Are you ready for Christmas? It's a question that nags at the back of our minds this time of year. There's just so much to do! If you listen to John the Baptist, though, you realize there's only one thing needed to be really ready for Christmas: repentance. Better yet, God's call to repentance isn't one more burden at an already difficult time. It's a call that frees us!

Jeremiah 33:14-16 If Christmas only offers the shallow comforts of nostalgia, pretty decorations, nice gifts, and time with loved ones, you're missing out! If that's all you get, you're not even really enjoying a real Christmas, because you could have so much better joy and peace! Remembering why Jesus came in the first place is the secret to celebrating a real Christmas!

Mark 13:26-37 Even a brief moment of distraction can have disastrous consequences. Jesus calls believers to faithfully watch and wait as Judgment Day draws closer and closer. We live with our eyes on the skies, eager for our Savior's return!

Hebrews 9:24-28 What would life be like if you didn't have to worry about being judged? Even though it seems hard to imagine, this is the blessed reality every Christian enjoys. Those whose names are written in the book of life, who are waiting for the return of their Savior, have no reason to fear judgment of any sort. They know the judge, and the verdict is set! Living like you're going to live...

Mark 12:38-44 Do you ever dream of the amazing good you could do if only you were rich? If only you had the means to be as generous as you want to be! Today we see that all of God's people already have the means to be incredibly generous. It's not the size of the gift itself, or even the size of the gift in proportion to what one has that matters. It's the heart God wants, and he'll do amazing thi...

Daniel 3:1-30 When POWs face physical torture, their tormenters do their best to remove any hope of rescue and to make their victim feel alone and hopeless. As much as we love heroic stories of resistance, the unhappy truth is that the question isn't if a person will break under pressure, it's when. Everybody breaks. It's just biology. As a Christian, you are the exemption! Even though the devil i...

1 Corinthians 9:7-12,19-23 “What’s in it for me?” It’s easy to look at life through the lens of that question, to make decisions based on perceived personal benefit. Perhaps at times we look at Christianity through that lens, wondering what we will gain from following Christ. “What’s in it for me?” Jesus first disciples asked that question. They hoped that following Christ would bring prestige and...

Mark 10:17-27 With God's law written on our hearts in our consciences, it's only natural for us to assume that knowing right and wrong and living a good life should be enough for us to earn eternal life. A rich young ruler in Jesus' time thought the same thing, but even though he felt he had followed God's laws perfectly, he still wasn't sure he had eternal life. Something was missing! Jesus gave...

Ephesians 5:21-6:4 Everybody, believer and unbeliever alike, knows that they should love their family. The problem is that even though it seems like it should come naturally, it isn't actually that intuitive. Pain and strife in families is unfortunately all too common. Everyone knows they should love their families, but followers of Christ have the "how" revealed to them. Disciples of Christ know...

2 Kings 6:8-17 Today we're celebrating the Festival of St. Michael and All Angels. It's a lesser-known minor holiday in the Christian church year, but also a great opportunity to celebrate the wonderful truth that God sends his angels to guard and keep his children! Even though we might not always see them, disciples of Christ have powerful allies!

Mark 9:30-37 The discipled argued over which of them was greatest. People today still live lives driven by the desire to be great or end up bitter that they never had the chance to be greater. Jesus turns our expectations of greatness upside down. Disciples of Christ know what true greatness looks like. They see it in their Savior, and they have an abundance of opportunities for godly greatness in...

Ephesians 6:10-18 Soldiers going out on duty have to be prepared for whatever might happen. In a very similar way, disciples of Christ must be prepared. Even though we might not always see it, there is a war going on, and Christ's disciples can expect to be under constant attack, not just from unbelievers around them, but from spiritual forces of evil. The good news? Jesus has equipped every o...

Mark 7:31-37 What kind of report card would you give Jesus for the miracles he performed during his ministry on earth? You'd probably give him high marks! How about his performance in your life? You know the right answer would be to grade him highly, but sometimes it feels like he's not living up to what you might expect from an all-powerful, and infinitely loving Savior. As disciples of Christ, h...

Mark 7:1-8,14,15,21-23 The temptation is always there to make your case for being a good person based on how you live, whether it's by minimizing your sins, taking too much pride in the temptations that are easy to defeat, or comparing yourself to (and judging) others. There is nothing more hypocritical. Truth is, you could do everything right, and still not have all God wants. He wants a clea...

John 6:51-69 Today concludes our three week look at Jesus' bread of life discourse. We look at two questions that Jesus directed to his followers: "Does this offend you?" and "Do you want to leave me too?" These questions are worth considering ourselves as we reflect on what Jesus teaches us about who he is and what he has to offer. Ultimately, as we evaluate our options th...

John 6:35-51 It feels offensive and uncomfortable, but the truth is we cannot come to Jesus on our own any more than we can toss a jumbo jet like a paper airplane or jump the Grand Canyon. We're naturally predisposed to rejecting Jesus and ignoring the wonderful promises he offers. Thankfully, in his love, the Father patiently and gently draws us to Jesus. By his grace, we learn from him and h...

John 6:24-35 Today begins a three week look at Jesus' famous "Bread of Life Discourse." It's a turning point in Jesus ministry. At the high point of his popularity, his teachings suddenly begin to turn many of his followers off. As we wrestle with the challenging teachings he introduces, we can recognize our own temptations to be disappointed in who Jesus is and what he offers. A...

Mark 6:45-56 So often when things get difficult, we get overwhelmed and start acting and thinking foolishly. We fail to see that Jesus is with us. The solution is simple. All we need to do is look and see that Jesus is right there with us. He's by our side as we face all the challenges of life, including the challenges and difficulties in the meaningful ministry he has given us.

2 Corinthians 9:8-11 One of the hallmarks of a child of God is the selfless and single minded generosity in their life of service to God and others. This generosity gives meaning to a believer's ministry, has everlasting results, and is itself fueled by God's great generosity.