What made David so special was his heart for God. David was an incredible leader that God used to impact His people and history. David wasn’t perfect. He sinned and made some big mistakes in his life. But after his sins, David always repented and came back to God. Even at the end of his life, he was known as “a man after God’s own heart.” Regardles…

God calls and conditions us to lead with leadership rooted in spiritual influence. Henry Blackaby describes spiritual leaders as those who guide others toward where God wants them to be, starting with their own relationship with Him. Each generation is given the opportunity to raise new leaders who, like David, defeat new giants through deep faith …

The aftermath of David’s sin was chaos and brokenness. His sins were forgiven, but the consequences remained. This began a generational pattern of the sons of David falling short. Jesus is the son of David, who broke the generational curse and created a new way forward. In our lives, we need to be aware of the dangers of sin and its damage to those…

In 2 Samuel, Nathan uses a parable to confront David indirectly about his sin, avoiding direct accusation due to the danger involved. The parable of the little ewe lamb, symbolizing Bathsheba, triggers David's deep-seated compassion for sheep, drawing parallels to his own past as a shepherd. In the story, David condemns the rich man's actions witho…

David's story in 2 Samuel 11:1-15 shows how sin can mess things up, even for someone like the greatest king of Israel. So, because we recognize that we can slip up, praying and reading the Bible daily, having friends who keep us accountable, and knowing how to step away from temptation are all essential in our walk with Jesus. When we do make mista…

In the story of David and Mephibosheth, there’s a central theme of this: when we show kindness to others, we're actually showing them who God is. It's not just about being there for people when things are good for us; we've got to remember others' struggles, even when life gets messy for us. At times, this will mean that we must stick to our commit…

The story of David and Jonathan illustrates a deep, God-centered friendship. It emphasizes rare, enduring friendships rooted in commitment rather than convenience. Their relationship shows fruitful outcomes: celebrating victories, growing spiritually, facing challenges resiliently, and discovering identity through Christ-like growth. It reflects Ch…

The story of David and Saul dives into human desires and flaws. The elders' cry for a change brings Saul to power, but his inner battles and David's tunes show how messy relationships and power can be when God is not on the throne of the leader's life. Saul's jealousy and grudge against David highlight the dangers of ambition, while sneaky adversar…

When we face our own "Goliaths," we should remember that it is not our strength but God's power that will see us through. By depending on God and acknowledging His sovereignty, we can overcome fear and face our challenges with confidence, knowing that He fights for us. As we return to our daily lives, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, our ultimate cham…

David is the most famous person in the Bible outside of Jesus. David’s life is like a movie – he goes from being a nobody to becoming king over all of Israel. David defeats a giant, Goliath, and wins basically every battle he fights. Even more, David is a worshiper of God and keeps his love for God all his life. There is so much we can learn from t…

When it comes to greed, we are quick to forget how cunning and sly greed can be. Greed isn’t always overt. Sometimes it is, but other times, much more subtle. We can even camouflage greed and call it a necessity. Every other person has this, so I need it. Every other family goes there, so we need to go there. Every other kid has this, so my child m…

God calls us to “be holy because I am holy.” Holiness means to be “set apart.” The world wants us to be passive about our faith and to live for ourselves. Yet, Jesus came to “do the will of the Father.” As Christ-followers, we are called to be like Jesus. We should passionately invest in the things of God. But we live in a world that wants us to be…

We live in a world where it is so easy to complain. We are surrounded by ungratefulness on social media, in the news, and in our culture. Yet, as Christ-followers, we are called to an attitude of gratitude. Because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross, we should be the most joyful and grateful people in the world! So, how are we doing in this…

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used…

We live in a word bombardment. We are inundated with words nonstop, from television to social media to text messages and everyday conversations. There is no scarcity of words, but there is a scarcity of grace-filled words to build people up. As followers of Christ, we are called to a different standard with our speech. Our words have power, and we …

All of us struggle in some way with worry. Yet, Jesus says, “Therefore do not worry…” Is this even possible in the world we live in today? There is a difference between healthy worry and unhealthy worry. Healthy worry means we are concerned, but unhealthy means we are trying to be in control. Prolonged worry takes God out of our life, and therefore…

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be holy. But, how do we be holy in the world we live in today? Holy means to be “set apart.” We are called to be different from our culture. This is especially difficult in the area of sexual immorality. There are so many temptations and areas where people choose to compromise. We must come back to what God t…

What is the foundation of your life? We all hear the stories and the words of Jesus, but the difference between the wise and foolish builders, according to Jesus, is on what foundation we build our lives. There are many options out there – money, sports, kids, success – but all of these are shifting sand. The only foundation that can weather the st…

It’s Easter! Praise God! Easter is the greatest event in history and the event that changed our lives for all eternity. Jesus went to the cross to pay the price for your sins – no matter what you have done. No matter how far you feel from God, your Heavenly Father loves you and has an incredible plan for your life. Today, will you come home? Will y…

The Parable of the Good Samaritan is one of Jesus’ Greatest Stories. It is so important for us to “go and do likewise.” We are called to love and serve others. This starts with seeing the needs around us – our family, friends, church, work, school, neighborhood, and to the ends of the earth. We can’t do everything, but we can all do something. But,…

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus shares a story, often called the Parable of the Talents, about a master who entrusts servants resources to manage while he's away. This parable teaches us about using our gifts and resources wisely for His Kingdom. It shows that God expects us to make the most of what we've been given and to invest our time, talents, and …

Jesus’ greatest story today, the Parable of the Wedding Feast, shows us the results of accepting or rejecting God’s gracious and surprising invitation. Through the Gospel, God gives a gracious invitation to everyone, regardless of social or moral standing, to be in His beautifully diverse Kingdom, His Church. Accepting His invitation leads to joy. …

This Easter season, we will be walking through some of Jesus’ Greatest Stories. Jesus taught in parables so people would discover spiritual truth. Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower to show how people respond to the Gospel - the Good News of Salvation. Every person in the world will respond to Jesus in one of these four ways. Where are you? As yo…

The Power of Love as Experienced by the One Being Loved // 1 Corinthians 13 Thank you for being patient with me. It gives me a sense of connection with you. And how I so appreciate your kindness, particularly when I don’t deserve it. It lavishes me with great joy. You never show envy toward those who have more. Grace is your teacher pushing me to m…

Love is God’s idea. He created it. And, God wants us to excel at it. In fact, Jesus said the two greatest commandments are to love God and love others. Life all comes down to how we love. Therefore, having a great marriage starts today. It starts with putting God first in our own heart, putting God first in who we date and ultimately putting God fi…

We are called to grow in our love. Love is the basis of every marriage and every relationship. It is easy to blame other people, but what about us? Are you growing in your love? In 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul gives a list of 15 characteristics of what love is, what love is not, and what love always does. As we study this list, put your name in …

God wants us to have a great love life. God created love, and He longs for us to thrive. Yet, there is a big difference between the world’s way of love and God’s way. The world’s way says, “What can you do for me?” Where God’s way says, “What can I do for you?” Having a great marriage one day starts today. Learn to love the way God teaches. In your…

Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians that he wanted them to be encouraged. They were concerned about loved ones who had passed away. He wanted them to have hope because one day Jesus would come back and bring those who had passed away and those who are living together into His presence for forever. These words should encourage us as well to know that one…

If you have a personal relationship with Jesus, then one day you will spend eternity in Heaven! This is such good news. We live in a broken and fallen world because of sin, but one day it will all be made right. Jesus will take us to our eternal home, and we will be with God and our loved ones forever. Regardless of what you are facing today, know …

There are a lot of misconceptions about how one gets into Heaven today. Most people think it is about being good, being born in the right family, or even being in church. While all these things are fine, Jesus tells us that there is only one way to Heaven. It is not about religion but about a relationship with Jesus. This is God’s Good News. Eterna…

Every civilization has had some belief about the afterlife. The Bible even says, “God has also set eternity in the human heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). But, what do we know about Heaven? Well, God wants us to know about our eternal home. Jesus talked extensively about Heaven, and the Bible mentions Heaven over 550 times. In this four-week study, we wi…

For many, the start of a new year is a fresh, clean slate, and setting a resolution is a way to dictate what they'll prioritize that new year. But, unfortunately, it's more common not to follow through on a resolution than it is for one to complete it. Why is that? Well, one reason could be that we are creating too lofty of goals. Another could be …

Merry Christmas! We all know it. There’s a song (thank you, Andy Williams) that declares it. Christmas really is “the most wonderful time of the year.” The reason is Jesus. Everything, since the beginning of time, has pointed to His birth. And since His birth, everything has counted its time and place in history from Jesus. At Rolling Hills, we lov…

The story of the Magi is one of the mysterious threads in the Christmas narrative. Who were they? Where did they come from, and how did they know about the birth? And even more importantly, why does it matter? When you look closer, you realize it matters a lot. The story of the Magi shows us the beauty of God’s nature, the power of Scripture, and t…

The shepherds were invited by God to see His Son, Jesus, that very first Christmas, and their stories were forever changed. God invited them, and God invites each of us. Sometimes, we disqualify ourselves from hearing from God and serving Him, and sometimes we make excuses. This Christmas, will you experience God’s love and see Him change your stor…

God chose Joseph to be the earthly father to His Son. How amazing! Joseph’s entire life changed that first Christmas. He went from living for himself to living out God’s plan for his life. Trusting God is not always easy, but God’s plans for us are always better than our own. God allowed Joseph to be a part of His story, and God is inviting you as …

Christmas is a season of excitement and anticipation, where we celebrate the birth of Jesus. As we dive into the Advent season, we are reminded of the astonishing story of the first Christmas. This year, our church is in its Christmas sermon series – Stories of Christmas, a journey through Luke 2 exploring the stories of different characters who pl…

We all have so much for which to be thankful. Just think about it. Seriously! In the midst of all the family, food, and football, take some time this week to truly be thankful. Regardless of your circumstances, gratitude is a matter of the heart. We can all be thankful for salvation we have in Christ. We are loved – you are loved. Thank God for His…

Today is our Commitment Sunday! Today is exactly 52 days since we started our NEXT Campaign as a church. Nehemiah and the people rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem in 52 days, and just imagine what God will do through us as we have prayed, sacrificed, and now give together. The people back then set the stage for Jesus’ first coming, and we are build…

This is our time. Nehemiah and the people had their day and their time, and now this is our day and our time. God has called us to do something great for Him – to build His Church. God’s Church will outlast us and impact future generations to come for the glory of God. May we live every day as His people, and may we give our best for His glory. Thi…

Just like Nehemiah, God has given each of us a work to do. First, it is coming to know Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, receiving God’s grace, and then growing more like Him every day. Also, it includes the work of developing our God-given gifts, growing a Ggodly family, building a great church for His glory, and more. It is so easy to be dis…

We see the impact of leadership every day in our world. We see good leaders, and we see terrible leaders. Good leaders put others before themselves, while bad leaders put themselves before others. Good leaders give and sacrifice to help and make a difference. Generosity is a big part of good leadership. God teaches His people to be generous, but we…

When you serve the Lord, you can count on there being opposition. For all Christ-followers, we have an enemy who wars against us. In John 16:33, Jesus told His disciples, “In this world you will have trouble.” However, our God is greater! When opposition comes, use it as a time to grow your faith. Become more determined to do what God has called yo…

Throughout history, God has used men and women to accomplish His work. God doesn’t need any of us. He is sovereign over the entire world. Yet, in His sovereignty and grace, He allows us to be involved in what He is doing in the world. As we join Him and become involved in His work, our lives are changed. We become more like Jesus. Christ-followers …

Just like God called Nehemiah, so God’s call comes to each of us. God's call always takes boldness. When God gives a vision, we must pray and plan. We pray for God to go before us and prepare the way, and then we take the time to plan as we join God in accomplishing His will. Nehemiah shows us the importance of both praying and planning. So, what’s…

Nehemiah had worldly success in his life – I was cupbearer to the king (Nehemiah 1:11). Then, God’s call came to him to be involved in the work of the King of kings. This was an invitation from God Himself. How would Nehemiah respond? He could have said “no” to God. He had money, success, and position, but he gave it all to be involved in what God …

God is always working! God is always doing a new thing! Do you take the time to see it and position yourself in a place to be used by Him? So many stories in the Bible, including the book of Ezra, don’t end tied up in a nice, neat package. Rather, these God-ordained moments and snapshots show us the need to continue placing our hope in Him, and the…

In an ever-changing world, there is only One constant – Jesus. As God’s people today, we are to live in the confidence that He is forever and ever. Therefore, we live by faith and not fear. Out of our confidence in Christ, we are called to invest faith in Jesus to the next generation. We are called to pass on what has been entrusted to us. As paren…

Scripture counsels us to have the glory of God at the center of our lives. That means we are to live for His renown, and this should be evident in our lives. In fact, when we live for His glory over our own, it is always for our good. Paul says, “To Him be glory in the church.” The church (this is us) should be the most beautiful manifestation of H…

Our God is able to do miracles. God works through the power of His Holy Spirit to transform lives for His glory. The Holy Spirit indwells every Christ-follower. God is constantly working in us and through us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are conformed to the image of Jesus, and we are used to impact others. As Christians, we must learn …