South Hills Church - Costa Mesa

Tithing is is something that SO MANY OF US have heard about, but over 80% of Christian's in America don't do it. Why is that? And if Christian's have questions, struggles or doubts about tithing - surely many others do too! So Rather than preaching a sermon about why we believe tithing is something Christian's should participate in, Pastor Chris Kretzu honestly addresses 7 common q...

Part of growing up is getting a job. Everyone’s eventually got to think about how they’re going to make money. You’ve got to pay rent and buy groceries, clothes, and a car. Then there’s insurance, utilities, subscriptions, and shampoo. And savings, obviously. If there’s anything left after, you can finally have a little fun—a vacation, an upgrade, dessert. The more you make, the more you get to mo...

If you were to ask all your neighbors for the first thing they think of when they hear the word “Christian”, how much you want to bet “hypocrite” comes up more than once? That stings a bit. But is it an incorrect assessment? And if it is, are you contributing to or countering it? A lot of people call themselves Christians, but how many actually live like one? What does it mean to fully follow Chri...

Kids complicate relationships. Some of us aren’t sure we want to have them. Some of us accidentally had them. Some of us inherited them. Some of us are absolutely obsessed with them. Maybe you thought you met the love of your life, but then you had a kid. You don’t want to say you love them more, but you definitely love them differently. You’d sacrifice anything for them. And you have. Including y...

Falling in love with someone is the easy part. Learning to live with someone is the hard part. All romance starts with a spark of chemistry, but over time, some couples really complement one another, and others seem to want to kill each other. Is it just dumb luck? What separates those that crumble after seven months from those who end up celebrating seventy years? It’s either a complete fluke or...

Like it or not, relationships define us. But it’s in different ways for different people. Some of us are preoccupied with finding our person. Some of us are wondering if the person we’re with is worth staying with. And others of us are actively trying to avoid being pinned down by anyone. What we all do have in common is we don’t want to do life alone or be stuck in a bad relationship. But are you...

Sex has never been more openly talked about or easily accessible. We’ve got apps for hook ups, websites designed to help us have affairs, and endless pornography at our fingertips. Plus, sex is dripping from our music and movies; cleaver ads and clickbait articles. Words like “thirsty” “ghosted” & “cuffing” are all part of our cultural vocabulary. And yet, for as free as we all seem to be, few...

Ever known someone who was almost impossible to read—one minute you’re best friends, and the next they won’t even return a text? It was hard to tell if they wanted to hang out or not. They’d excitedly make plans. Then randomly break plans. No one’s ever made you feel more special and then instantly unsure of yourself. They’d pull you close and then immediately push you away. Maybe you’ve been told...

Ever been around someone who came off a little calloused? They were focused and reliable, but you could never seem to get below the surface. You think they liked you. They never told you, but they did a lot for you. In fact, they never really slowed down. They always struck you as strong and confident. Sometimes you imagine they don’t need anything or anyone. You’ve joked, “It’s like being friends...

Ever been in a relationship with someone who came off a little clingy—always needing to know where you were, what you were doing, what you were thinking, how you were feeling? They seemed to read into every look, gesture, text, and conversation. They clearly cared about you, but always acted as if they were afraid to hurt, frustrate, or lose you. Maybe you’re this person. How do we end up this way...

Ever struck by how confident, connected, & comfortable certain people seem, and think to yourself, “That’s not how my life & relationships feel at all. Are they really as close & happy as they appear, or is it all for show? And if they are, why aren’t I?” Is there something wrong with you? And if so, what & why? Are you destined to live a life of disconnection, or can you experienc...

New Years Day 2023 at South Hills Costa Mesa

There’s a difference between looking at a picture the Mona Lisa and standing in the Louvre alongside others. There’s a difference between a video of a meteor shower on youtube and looking up at the night sky to experience it yourself. There’s a difference between reading about travel and getting on a plane. Nothing can be truly known through observation, only through participation. The magi knew t...

Christmas At South Hills

Myrrh was from a plant that had various uses, but primary ones were for healing wounds and embalming the dead. While this may seem like an odd baby gift, it was symbolic of the role Jesus would play as a prophet who would say and do things that would create tension – ultimately leading to his death. Jesus’ actions, teachings, and way of living always stirred up controversy, because he gave voice t...

Frankincense was burned as incense in a temple, a way to shield the priest from the direct presence of God. When the magi gave this gift, it was symbolic of Jesus becoming our High Priest; no longer a distant human surrounded by ritual and untouchable by the masses, but a baby, born in a manger and surrounded by both family and strangers alike. Through the vulnerability of Christ, we can be fully...

Gold has always been linked to royalty; the ultimate symbol of kings. So when the Magi brought gold to honor Jesus, they were proclaiming him king. King Herod was “disturbed” when he heard about this newborn king of the Jews, and Matthew tells us that all Jerusalem was disturbed also. Herod was paranoid about anyone taking power from him or challenging his throne, but he couldn’t even begin to ima...

Ever looked at something someone bought & thought—I would never pay that for that! Different people value things differently. So, why do you spend the way you do on what you do? Most of us use our resources to reinforce our identity. We put money into what we think will help us be (or at least be seen as) who we want to be. And while it’s fine to aim our finances in different directions, all s...

Like it or not, the way we approach money is way more emotional than it is logical. A lot of our budgeting is an attempt to access one feeling or avoiding another. We think – “If I lease this, I’ll look good.” "If I save that, I’ll feel secure.” “If I invest here, I’ll have influence.” We don’t all have the same impulses, but we are motivated by the same mechanism: fear. We’re afraid if we took ad...

We all develop various rhythms & routines to hold our lives together. Some we design, others happen by default. In short—We all have certain things we do a certain way. A lot of things just work better when you do them in particular order—like putting on socks BEFORE shoes, or buying a house BEFORE you move in. These things seem ridiculously obvious (to most of us). And the reason the Universe...

What pops into your head when you hear the word “blessed”? Maybe a social media post of someone enjoying something expensive or exclusive? Is that the best Biblical definition? When Jesus spoke about being blessed, he outlined circumstances & scenarios most of us actively avoid. He acted as if it had less to do with how much you have than how well you live. What did He mean by that?

If we throw ourselves into helping our family flourish—we draw out & cultivate the uniqueness of each person, unite around a common vision, schedule first what we value most, and everyone’s soaring toward wholistic health – what else is there? Is there a bigger purpose to family than simply making sure its members are somewhat emotionally, relationally & financially stable? Does our family...

Ever suddenly realize someone in your family doesn’t share your core values? You thought everyone was on the same page, but it turns out, you weren’t. Or maybe you got this vision of the kind of family you want to be – so you share it with them & set goals & everyone nods in agreement, but as time drags on, nothing really changes. Why is that? Why do our default settings consistently overp...

A lot of our families feel like they’re moving in a million different directions, all at once. In a noble effort to support each other’s individual interests, goals, and dreams; we shuttle everyone around town, eat on the run, and reshuffle schedules so everyone can go & be & do whatever they want. Which is amazing. But it invites an interesting question: Is a family about anything more than the i...

We love seeing members of our family succeed. And every family has certain things they celebrate more than others. In some—it’s excelling in academics or athletics; in others—maybe it’s an entrepreneurial mindset or extroverted personality. It’s great if you fit the mold, but what if you don’t? Ever get the feeling you’ll never be good at anything your family values? What then? Do you walk away fr...