Shepherd of the Hills - Winchester VA

Mark 1:21-28 No one likes to be stuck with a customer service agent who doesn't have the authority to actually fix the problem. We hate to do it, but that's when we have to ask for the manager. Early in his ministry, it became abundantly clear that Jesus had the ultimate, unlimited authority that can only belong to God. When we see Jesus, we see a Savior who has the authority to command de...

2 Corinthians 5:14-21 "What was I made for?" is one of the biggest questions in life. Not knowing an answer to that can cause serious pain and even hopelessness, and so many of the things we find meaning and purpose in are only temporary. Knowing Jesus is knowing a Savior who doesn't just reconcile us to our God, but who lovingly gives us a mission and purpose that is constant. Knowi...

Romans 6:1-11 Often, substitutes are not quite as good as the real deal. When you arrive at a show and find out that the lead role is being performed by the understudy, you might feel a little disappointed. If you're going on vacation and need to leave someone in charge of your responsibilities, you might be a little worried that your job won't be done as well as it should while you're...

Matthew 2:1-12 Does the joy of Christmas seem to end too quickly for you? If so, there is good news! This Epiphany season we are looking at who the Bible reveals Jesus to be. As we do that, we'll see that it's impossible to know Jesus without also knowing true and lasting joy. Today, we're talking about the three wise men. Do they really belong in your nativity? No! But should you keep...

Luke 2:22-40 The angel choir at Bethlehem sang to the shepherds about peace on earth, but it sure doesn't seem like the first Christmas actually accomplished this. Peace is wonderful and powerful and life changing, but it's hard to find and even harder to maintain... ...that is, if you're looking in all the wrong places like we so often do. In the gospel for the first Sunday after Chri...

Isaiah 61:1-3,10,11 Christmas is a time of joy, but so often our joy fades quickly. The excitement of new presents fades, the company of friends and family turns into a burden and a lot to handle, the decorations eventually go back in their boxes. True, lasting joy is hard to find. But not with Jesus! Our king comes to bring us perfect joy. Joy that never fades because it's connected to the lo...

2 Peter 3:8-14 When you have a guest on the way, it's nice to have an ETA. That way you can be sure to be prepared for their arrival. In Advent, we anticipate Jesus' arrival, but just like he didn't reveal exactly when he would be born in Bethlehem, Jesus hasn't provided an ETA for the last day either. The devil and our sinful nature would love for us to be unprepared for Jesus&#39...

Mark 11:1-11 How should we feel in anticipation of Jesus’ arrival? When you’re expecting someone’s arrival, your attitude and preparations will vary greatly depending on who they are and what they’re coming to do. As we begin another church year and prepare to celebrate the fulfillment of God's promises in Jesus' life and ministry, we can get a glimpse of the big picture in the Palm Sunday...

Matthew 25:31-46 On the last Sunday of the church year, we look forward to the Last Day. It could easily be a day we anticipate with fear, anxiety, and desperate acts of self-preservation. Thankfully, our Judge is also our Savior, who tells us exactly to expect. This knowledge turns the "time in between" from a time of dreadful anticipation to one of eager yearning and joyful service.

Luke 7:36-50 Thanksgiving Service at Shepherd of the Hills What are you most thankful for this year? Americans set aside the fourth Thursday in November every year as a special day to focus on being thankful. Depending on how your life is going on any given Thanksgiving, you may find it easier or harder to do that. When things are going great, it’s easy! When you feel lonely or have a tight budget...

Matthew 25:1-13 The third in a worship series looking at the "time in between," the end times in which we look forward to Christ's second coming. It's all too easy even for Christians to get complacent as we wait for Jesus' return. Jesus uses the story of some bridesmaids who foolishly were found unprepared for their role in a wedding to warn us about the importance of stayin...

Revelation 7:9-17 The second in a series in which we are looking at what God's Word says about life in our time: the time in between. It's all too easy to get caught up in the moment, especially when the moment is full of challenges, heartbreaks, and suffering. Christians aren't left to simply take life moment by moment by moment or one day at a time. God gives us the example of the sa...

Daniel 6:10-12, 16-23 The first sermon in a worship series looking at what God says about living in the "time in between," the time between Jesus' first and second comings. For believers in the time in between, steadfast faith is an absolute necessity. The devil, the world, and the sinful flesh constantly attack and try to destroy faith. By God's grace, believers can follow the e...

Romans 13:1-7 As citizens of the United States, we don’t support the government because those we voted for were elected or because we approve of the current tax policy or even because freedom of religion is enshrined in the First Amendment. We support our government simply because it was instituted by God. Jesus himself taught that we owe respect and obedience to our government, even when it doesn...

Matthew 22:1-14 Some invitations would be crazy to accept: an invitation from your bully to hang out one on one under the bleachers after school, for example. Others would be crazy to reject: an opportunity to go to a dream destination for free. Whether an invitation is easy to accept or decline often depends on our personal interests and relationships. Today Jesus tells us a parable that describe...

Matthew 21:33-43 Jesus tells us a story about a landowner who is unbelievably patient with the least deserving tenants ever. What can we learn? God has patience for us that could fairly be called reckless. Without concern for the cost, he patiently reaches out in love to call us to repent and be his own.

Matthew 21:23-32 Jesus tells us a story to show how God desires sincere obedient faith, not simple lip service. God doesn’t want us to simply go through religious motions like some sort of show. He sees right through that. God’s desire is that our repentance would demonstrate sincere sorrow over sin. God wants us to see the grace and forgiveness he has shown us in Christ, and in response, to love...

Matthew 20:1-16 Jesus tells us a story about generosity that just doesn't make sense. It's not fair! That's the point, though. God isn't fair when he deals with us. He's generous, and we wouldn't have it any other way!

Genesis 50:15-21 The fifth and final in a series of sermons in which we are asking "What kind of church does God want?" instead of "What kind of church do I want?" How do you handle when someone has genuinely wronged you? Do you fantasize about getting even? Do you wait to forgive until they've made it up to you? Until your emotions have calmed? God calls believers, his chu...

Galatians 2:11-16 The fourth in a series of sermons in which we are asking "What kind of church does God want?" instead of "What kind of church do I want?" God's message is inherently offensive. That means that sharing it can be hard, especially when it means confronting a brother or sister caught in sin. That is, however, exactly what God calls and equips his church to do...

Matthew 16:21-26 The third in a series of sermons in which we are asking "What kind of church does God want?" instead of "What kind of church do I want?" Our instincts tell us that being members of God's church, connected to his glory and power should be an experience of outward glory and success as well, so what happens when we face hardship? The temptation is to avoid con...

Matthew 16:13-20 Number two in a series of sermons in which we are asking "What kind of church does God want?" instead of "What kind of church do I want?"

Matthew 15:21-28 This is the first in a series of sermons in which we are asking "What kind of church does God want?" instead of "What kind of church do I want?" Is everyone welcome at your church? Why or why not? Today we look at the story of how Jesus lovingly challenged a Canaanite woman to see how serious Jesus is about being the Savior of all, regardless of background, sta...

Matthew 14:22-33 This is the 6th and final sermon in our series on defining what it means to be Christian using God's Word. Doubt is the unpleasant constant companion of faith which likes to rear its ugly head at the worst times: when hardship and crisis occur. Whether we like it or not, doubt is always a part of a Christian's life on earth, but Christians have a unique way of answering th...

1 Kings 17:1-6 This is the 5th in our series on defining what it means to be Christian using God's Word. When it comes to where we get the things we need and want, Christians are no different from anyone else. What makes Christians different is how they view this process. Christians recognize God's powerful hand at work providing for them, and can trust in him to always provide what they n...