Orchard Hill Church Blog
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Jesus as the Light of the World: A Biblical Guide to Walking in His Light
Emily DeAngelo explores the biblical concept of Jesus as the Light of the World, examining how He dispels spiritual darkness and transforms lives through salvation. She weaves together personal insights, biblical references, and practical applications to show how believers can both experience Christ's light and reflect it to others in a dark world.
3 Truths for Students to Remember for Back to School
Back-to-school time is upon us! I know that for some students, this is a time of excitement. But for other students, those same mysteries of the start of a new school year can be the source of anxiety and fear. So, I wanted to take this time to speak to students who are starting a new school year.
Genres of Biblical Literature and How to Study Them
Understanding an overview of each type of literature in the Scriptures is essential for understanding what the human author, and ultimately the Divine Author meant and means for us today.
Ecclesiology: The Doctrine of the Church Explained
What is the church? Is it a building? Is it a collection of like-minded people? A combination of both? These are common and very valid questions that may leave you with a variety of different answers, depending on who you ask.
A New Day, A New Hope
Over the past year, I meditated on Psalm 38:21-22 a lot! What I love about this scripture is that God always answers. You can talk to God at any time, any place, in any circumstance, and He will answer. He brings the gift of light, peace, and hope.
Upside Down Living #13 - Love in a Time of Vengeance
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund concludes Matthew 5 with a message on loving and praying for our enemies, how we can live this out in our lives, and the rights that Jesus calls his followers to release.
Upside Down Living #12 - Truthfulness in a Time of Convenience
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund looks at Matthew 5:33-37 on the topic of oaths, 4 aspects of integrity in the commitments we make to others, and the importance of keeping our word when the culture considers truth relative.
Upside Down Living #11 - Purity in a Time of Indulgence
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund goes through the passages on lust and divorce in Matthew 5:27-32, the three views of sexuality that are prevalent in culture, ways we indulge the temptations in our life, and what the Bible says about what is best for our sexual relationships.
Upside Down Living #10 - Cool Headedness in a Time of Hot Headedness
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund looks at Matthew 5:21-26, Jesus' words about murder and anger, presenting three instances of runaway anger that we see in our lives and how Jesus' words seem upside down 2000 years ago and today.
Upside Down Living #9 - Substitution in a Time of Self Effort
Director of Young Adult Ministry, Josiah Leuenberger, looks at Matthew 5:17-20 with the idea of personal righteousness and how our salvation isn't earned through religious rule-keeping but that we should strive to live in obedience because of what Jesus did on the cross.
Upside Down Living #8 - Impact in a Time of Self-Focus
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund continues in the Sermon the Mount with the first passage after beatitudes where Jesus uses two metaphors, being salt of the earth and the light of the world, to show how his followers are to interact with culture.
Upside Down Living #7 - Endurance in a Time of Persecution
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund looks at Matthew 5:10-12 about how the persecuted are blessed, what Christian persecution has looked like historically and today, and how we can face persecution with an attitude of joy.
Upside Down Living #6 - Peacemaking in a Time of Division
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund continues in the Beatitudes with Matthew 5:9 looking at peacemaking when the current climate is filled with division and how Christians can still be peacemakers while not being at peace with the world by making two choices.
Upside Down Living #5 - Mercy in a Time of Score Keeping
Butler County Campus Pastor, Brady Randall looks at Matthew 5:7 and the idea of mercy, what being merciful means in the bible, how God has shown mercy to people throughout the bible, and how we can share the Gospel with others through mercy.
Upside Down Living #4 - Clarity in a Time of Indifference
Director of Young Adult Ministry, Josiah Leuenberger, looks at what it means to hunger and thirst for righteousness, the struggle between hunger for things of the world and God, and how the Gospel orients our hearts correctly.
Upside Down Living #3 - Meekness in a Time of Harshness
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund continues in the Beatitudes with Matthew 5:5 looking at the idea of meekness, what meekness means, why someone would want to be meek, and how to cultivate meekness in our life.
Upside Down Living #2 - Mourning in a Time of Brokenness
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund continues in the Beatitudes with Matthew 5:4 looking at 2 responses we can have to brokenness and mourning that happens throughout life and the hope we have in Jesus.
Upside Down Living #1 - Humility in a Time of Arrogance
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund begins a new series on the Sermon on the Mount and this week looks at Matthew 5:1-3 and the idea of humility when the world around us is filled with arrogance.
Better #6 - Peacemaking
Looking at how Proverbs shows the idea that peacemaking is better than trouble making, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund shares 3 choices that we can intentionally make to help us bring about peace and joy.