Orchard Hill Church Blog
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From Gloom to Glory
Are you ready for Christmas? I don’t just mean do you have all your gifts bought, wrapped, and sent. I don’t mean do you have all your Christmas cookies baked and iced. I don’t mean do you have your Christmas cards sent. Rather, are you spiritually and emotionally ready for Christmas?
Great Christmas #3 - The Great Inclusion
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund, Emily DeAngelo, Katie Thomas, and Jenna Bajuszik each teach on the startling history of some women God chose to include in the ancestry of Jesus the Messiah.
3 Things to Remember at Christmastime
While we decorated and prepared our home for Christmas, I pondered. What traditions do we want to start this year? How will we help our son prioritize the real meaning of Christmas? Although our family doesn’t quite have this solidified yet, here are three things we want to remember at Christmastime.
Great Christmas #2 - The Great Illusion
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund talks about three illusions we can have about ourselves during the Christmas season as he teaches from a passage in Matthew 7 where Jesus surprisingly tells those who think they have done works in His name, "I never knew you."
A Tunnel, a Waterfall, and a Bug Bring Clarity
There are times in life when we go through darkness and fear, losing our vision and bearings. We suffer pain, sometimes feeling like we are getting nowhere, even feeling like we will never get out of it. During these times, where do you turn to find direction and clarity?
Great Christmas #1 - The Great Gift
Senior Pastor Dr. Kurt Bjorklund teaches on John 3:16-18 explaining how great it is to both receive and give the hope of the world.
Be Engaged in the Divine Dance (Psalm 43 Devotional)
Jesus, when He was here on Earth, was engaged in a kind of ‘divine dance’ with His Heavenly Father and the Spirit. As Christ followers, we are also engaged in that divine dance. We are to hear our Bridegroom’s voice and respond to Him.
Rest for the Weary
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund looks at Matthew 11:28-30 where Jesus indicates three imperatives for people who are weary and heavy laden in their souls.
How our Theology Informs our Doxology
Broadly speaking, a doxology is any song sung within a corporate worship setting since what we are doing as we stand, and sing is ascribing praise to God! As we sing, our hearts and our minds should be fully engaged with the words we are singing.
Quick and Slow
Orchard Hill Church Wexford Campus Adult Ministry Director Russ Brasher vividly describes the key concept of elimination of sin from our life in the New Testament's book of James.
Come Ye Thankful People: A Thanksgiving Hymn to Remember in 2022
Growing up in the church I remember singing "Come Ye Thankful People, Come”. The words to this hymn are foreign to us in 2022, but it is a call to God’s people to gather, sing praise, and give thanks to God after a successful fall harvest.
212 #10 - Alignment
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund completes the 212 message series illustrating how it's important for believers of Christ to align their lives to Biblical truth.
What Does it Mean to Contend Hard in Prayer?
Has anyone ever asked you to “pray hard” for a concern in their life? When this has been asked of me, I have honestly wondered what it means to pray “hard.” What does that even look like, and why would it matter in prayer?
212 #9 - Transcendent
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund continues the message series 212 teaching out of 1 Corinthians. Humanity yearns to connect to the living God.
Why is My Soul Downcast? (Psalm 42 Devotional)
All of us go through times of sadness, sorrow, or even depression. Scripture makes it clear that we live in a fallen world, and that because of sin, we will experience pain in this life. But the purpose of suffering is not to make us let go of life; rather its purpose is to mature us.
212 #8 - Anticipation
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund continues the message series 212 teaching out of 1 Corinthians. In anticipation of the life to come, Christ followers should hold loosely to the comings and goings of this world and keep their sights past the horizon of this current life.
Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
My simple answer to this question is yes. Celebrate Halloween in a way that can glorify God. There is, of course, more nuance to this topic which means my simple answer needs a little more explaining, so here are some more of my thoughts about how to answer this question.
212 #7 - Selfless
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund continues the message series 212 teaching out of 1 Corinthians looking at the biblical qualities of love and how the love of God never stops chasing mankind in spite of all its failures.
Should Christians be Buried or Cremated?
A recent article published by the Washington Post sites that by the year 2040, 4 out of 5 Americans are projected to choose cremation over burial. When considering this decision for yourself, or for your loved ones, is there a clear Biblical position that can be applied?
212 #6 - Compassionate
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund continues the message series 212 teaching out of 1 Corinthians. The Bible teaches Christians to be compassionate out of a place of forgiveness. Without love in action, Christians' teaching is nothing more than a clanging gong to the world.