Orchard Hill Church Blog
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Better #1 - Wisdom
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund looks through the book of Proverbs to start the new year in a new series about living a better life through Jesus and three angles we can view wisdom.
Ask a Pastor Ep. 75 - Mega vs. Micro Churches
This episode Senior Pastor, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund, Strip District Campus Pastor, Joel Haldeman, and Director of Young Adult Ministry, Josiah Leuenberger, have a conversation about the differences between mega and micro churches and the pros and cons of each.
Ambitions for a New Year
Josiah Leuenberger, Life Stage Leader & Director of Young Adult Ministries, looks at 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 and how we can receive new life through Jesus and following Jesus.
He Restores Me
I don’t know about you, but sometimes it takes God speaking to me a few times in different ways before a message sinks in! So, I decided to meditate on Psalm 23 a bit more and write down these thoughts.
Ask a Pastor Ep. 74 - Stewards of Creation, Spouse in a Different Place Spiritually, Ingraining Church in Family
This episode Senior Pastor, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund, talks with Director of Women's Ministry in Butler County, Kay Warheit, about being good stewards of creation, being in a situation where a spouse in at a different place in their faith, and how how to ingrain church life into your family.
Disconnected Christianity
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund looks at the beginning of Jesus' ministry in Luke 4, his fulfillment of Scripture from Isaiah 61, and how we can become disconnected from the mission of Jesus.
Joy Amid the World's Brokenness (Psalm 13 Devotional)
The Apostle Paul encouraged us to rejoice in all things. We are always to have the fruit of joy and have a thankful heart. But what does that really mean?
Ask a Pastor Ep. 73 - Intersex People
This episode Senior Pastor, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund, talks with Life Stage Pastor, George Palombo, about some topics related to intersex people, transgenderism, how we should respond these ideas as Christians and how to love people struggling with them.
The Message and Music of Christmas (O Holy Night)
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund and his wife, Faith, examine the traditional song "O Holy Night" and provide historic biblical and social commentary leading up to the birth of the Messiah.
Ask a Pastor Ep. 72 - Spiritual Warfare, Satan's Power, Religion vs. Faith
This episode Senior Pastor, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund, talks with Director of Men's Ministry, Mike Hatch, about the topic of spiritual warfare, the power that Satan has, and the difference between religion and faith.
Conspiracy of the Religious
Strip District Campus Pastor Joel Haldeman tells a tale of the Magi and Herod the Great from the second chapter of the Gospel of Matthew.
The Sacred Revealed in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
For 15 years now, my family has experienced George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker every Christmas season. Each time we see The Nutcracker, we are reminded how this story on the stage points to the overarching meta-narrative of Christmas – God’s divine intervention into human brokenness.
Ask a Pastor Ep. 71 - Marriage and Family Life
This episode Kurt and Faith Bjorklund sit down to have a conversation about marriage and family life.
Following Jesus #13 - In the Way of Unity
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund finishes the section on the Upper Room Discourse and discusses unity between God's followers-and misconceptions about "insiders" and "outsiders" in our world and church community.
The Value of Our True Identity
I have two quarters that I keep in my pocket to remind me of a significant truth about our identity in Christ as Christians. The face value of these quarters is the same, but their essence is completely different. They differ dramatically in true value.
Ask a Pastor Ep. 70 - Kanye West and Christianity
This episode Dr. Kurt Bjorklund, Joel Haldeman and Dan Shields sit down to have a conversation about Kanye West's conversion to Christianity, his new album "Jesus is King", and his influence in our culture.
Following Jesus #12 - In the Way of Distinction
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund unpacks John 17:1-19 to share how Jesus' sacrifice allows his followers not only to be sanctified, but to then be moved into action for a purpose.
Thanksgiving
I love Thanksgiving. I love it for the traditions and for the opportunity it presents us to stop, enjoy time with people who mean so much to us, and reflect with gratitude on the good things in our lives.
Ask a Pastor Ep. 69 - Women and Church Leadership
This episode Senior Pastor, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund, talks with three women on staff at Orchard Hill Church, Emily DeAngelo, Emily Roberts and Kay Warheit, about women in church leadership roles and what the bible says about the differences between men and women.
Following Jesus #11 - In the Way of Joy
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund looks at the second half of John 16 and how Jesus shares with his disciples how joy should be a characteristic in the life of a Christian, but that because of times of trouble, that won't always be the case.