As we turn the page from prayer to Scripture in our "And Also" series, Pastor Jayden Zwerner opens up by helping us consider how God's Word becomes not just something we hear—but something we receive, hold, and live out. Teaching from 1 Thessalonians 2:13 and Matthew 4, Jayden explores how the Word of God was at work in the early church under persecution—and how it can transform us from the inside out today.

Whether you're just learning to read the Bible or you’ve known the words for years, this message challenges you to move beyond information and into transformation. It’s not enough to carry the Bible—we need it to carry us.

When life presses hard, will the Word of God be what flows out?

Key Scriptures
📖 1 Thessalonians 2:13 — “...you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.”
📖 Matthew 4 — Jesus overcomes temptation by anchoring His responses in the Word: “It is written…”
📖 Romans 12:2 — Be transformed by the renewing of your mind
📖 Psalm 1 — The one who delights in God’s Word is like a tree planted by streams of water
📖 2 Peter 1:3-4 — God’s promises equip us to live godly lives

Resources & Reflection
• Scripture Memory Challenge: Commit one verse to memory this week and ask God to plant it deep in your heart.
• Reading Plan: Follow along in your “And Also” journal as we explore a new spiritual practice each month.
• Song Recommendation: “Word of God Speak” by MercyMe

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Today’s service is a powerful celebration of how God is transforming lives—from birth through young adulthood—right here at Hillside Community Church.

We’re highlighting the incredible impact of Summer Blast 2025, a Christ-centered experience where over 900 kids encountered the love of Jesus, guided by more than 300 dedicated volunteers. Led by adults and students alike, elementary-age kids worshiped, prayed, learned in small groups, and many made decisions to follow Jesus for the very first time!

But Summer Blast isn’t just for kids—teens, young adults, and adults were also deeply impacted as they served and experienced God at work.

In this special service, you'll hear from our entire Next Gen team—the pastors and leaders who pour into our children and students every week. Come celebrate with us and be reminded that the future of the Church is bright, because God is already moving powerfully in the next generation.

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Is it possible that joy is the missing ingredient in your prayer life? In this week’s message, The Secret to Powerful Prayer, we explore the Apostle Paul's bold invitation in Philippians 4 to rejoice always—even in hardship—and how joy shapes the way we pray, think, and live.

We often seek peace by trying to remove anxiety, but what if peace is produced through joyful, thankful, persistent prayer? This isn’t about faking happiness—it’s about discovering a spiritual rhythm that over time transforms how we experience God.

💡 Big Idea: The secret ingredient for peace over anxiety is developing joy in prayer as a primary characteristic of our faith in Christ.

📖 Key Scriptures:

• Philippians 4:4-7 – "Rejoice in the Lord always… by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
• James 1:14-15 – The anatomy of temptation and sin
• Romans 2:4 – "God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance"
• Acts 3:19 – “Repent… that times of refreshing may come from the Lord”

📚 Featured Quotes & Resources:

• “Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” — Henri Nouwen
• “God instituted prayer in order to lend his creatures the dignity of causality.” — Blaise Pascal
• “Joy… is the gigantic secret of the Christian.” — G.K. Chesterton
• Philippians context from The Bible Project

For the full gathering of this message which includes worship, visit our Youtube channel.

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No matter how far you've gone, no matter what you've done—you can always come back home. In this moving message from Luke 15:11–32, we explore the heart of the Father through the parable of the prodigal son. But this isn’t just a story about one rebellious son—it’s about all of us. Whether you’re the younger son, the older brother, or someone in between, God’s grace invites you to return.

With historical context, spiritual insight, and a powerful story of redemption behind the hymn “Lord, I’m Coming Home,” this message reminds us that God's love isn’t cautious or calculated—it runs to meet us with open arms.

💡 Key Themes:

• What to do when you’ve already done what you shouldn’t
• The danger of sin's subtle spiral—and the beauty of repentance
• God’s kindness that leads us to restoration, not rejection
• The radical, pursuing grace of the Father that redefines what we deserve

📖 Key Scriptures:

• Luke 15:11–32 – The Parable of the Prodigal Son
• Romans 3:23 – “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
• 1 John 1:8 – “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves…”
• James 1:14–15 – The progression from desire to death
• James 4:17 – The sin of omission
• Romans 2:4 – “God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance.”
• Acts 3:19 – “Repent… that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”

🎵 Featured Hymn:
"Lord, I’m Coming Home"
By William J. Kirkpatrick
Written during a revival in 1892 as a prayer for a prodigal soul

“Coming home, coming home, nevermore to roam.
Open wide Thine arms of love, Lord, I’m coming home.”

Watch Live | 1:00:07
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFrP_mOQylI

📌 Takeaways:

• Sin will take you further than you want to go, but grace meets you there.
• God is more gracious, more patient, and more loving than we could imagine.
• You don’t have to clean up first—just come back.
• The Father doesn’t just welcome you home—He runs to meet you.

If you’re ready to return to God, or if you’re in need of grace today, remember:
You can always come back home.

For the full gathering of this message which includes worship, visit our Youtube channel.

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What if prayer was more than a wish list? What if it was a supernatural act of trust, surrender, and relationship?

In this message, Pastor Aaron McRae explores Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 7 to ask, seek, and knock. Through this passage—and with a deep dive into God’s character—we learn that prayer isn’t just about getting what we want, but becoming who God is shaping us to be.

You’ll discover:
Why how you wait matters in prayer
What it means to truly trust God as your Father
The difference between praying for comfort vs. praying for courage
Why persistent, hope-filled prayer transforms you from the inside out

🔑 Key Scriptures:
Matthew 7:7–11
Matthew 6:9–10 (The Lord’s Prayer)
James 1:17, Philippians 1:6, Colossians 3:1
John 14:13–14, John 15:7

🙌 Let this message challenge you to pray boldly, trust deeply, and live with your heart aligned to God's will—not just to get answers, but to walk closer with Him.

For the full gathering of this message which includes worship, visit our Youtube channel.

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Welcome to our June 1st message as we kick off Hillside’s new summer series: And / Also.

This week, we dive into Welcoming Prayer—an invitation to welcome God into every opportunity, every relationship, and every part of our lives. Prayer isn’t just a spiritual task—it’s a relationship. Learn how prayer in Jesus' name helps us align with God’s heart and purposes, both for ourselves and the world around us.

Use our Summer Journal (print or digital) to practice Rhythms & Relationships all season long!

Download the R&R Journal here: https://hillsidecc.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Summer-RR-Journal_2025.pdf

#Prayer #SummerSeries #AndAlso #SpiritualGrowth #HCC2025

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What if your season of waiting isn’t a setback, but a setup for something greater?

In this week’s sermon Junior High Director, Sean Murphy, explores Psalm 40:1–3 and the truth that our waiting can draw us closer to God, deepen our trust, and become a powerful testimony to others. Pastor Sean shares personal stories, biblical insight, and even the words of an 8th-grade student to show that when we wait expectantly—not passively—God hears, God moves, and God transforms.

🔑 Big Ideas:

• Waiting focuses our prayers
• Waiting draws us into God's power
• Waiting becomes our witness

📖 Scripture Focus:

• Psalm 40:1–3
• Romans 8:24–26
• Matthew 16:21–23
• John 15:1–5
• 1 Corinthians 3:10–15

Whether you’re in a season of delay, uncertainty, or spiritual dryness, this message reminds you that God sees you, hears your cry, and is working even in the silence.

You’ll leave encouraged to:

• Pray with expectancy
• Trust God’s timing
• Share your story to build others’ faith

Let this summer be a time of “rhythms and relationships” as we wait well—and witness boldly.

📚 Resources & Mentions:

• Psalm 40:1–3 (NIV)
• Romans 8:24–26
• Jonathan Pennington – The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing
• John Mark Comer – Live No Lies
• Junior High Ministry Testimony: Faith Walker, 8th Grade

🎧 Subscribe and click the 🔔 to never miss an encouraging word from Hillside Community Church.

#Psalm40 #ChristianWaiting #FaithInGod #ChristianTestimony #HillsideCommunityChurch #SermonRecap #HopeInTheWaiting

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In this powerful conclusion to our Sermon on the Mount series, Pastor Aaron McRae explores Jesus’ final teaching in Matthew 7:24–29 — the parable of the wise and foolish builders. Jesus challenges us to consider not just what we hear, but what we do with His words.

Are we building our lives on a solid foundation — or on shifting sand? In a world full of loud voices and quick fixes, Jesus invites us to anchor our lives in Him and His Word. The storms of life are inevitable, but the foundation we choose determines whether we stand or fall.

🔑 Big Idea: A life that lasts is built by hearing and practicing the words of Jesus — He is our firm foundation.

Topics Covered:

• The difference between hearing vs. doing
• Why your foundation matters more than appearances
• What Jesus says about judgment, obedience, and eternity
• Recognizing storms as tests of spiritual stability
• How to stand firm through faith, not performance

Scripture References:

• Matthew 7:24–29
• Romans 10:14, James 1:22
• 1 Corinthians 3:10–15
• John 16:33, Matthew 24:10–13
• Proverbs 1:7, 14:12

Resources & Quotes:

• Jonathan T. Pennington, The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing
• D.A. Carson – Commentary on eternal judgment
• John Mark Comer, Live No Lies – “We make our decisions, and then our decisions make us…”
• HB Charles Jr. – On storms and faith

For the full gathering of this message which includes worship, visit our Youtube channel.

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