Reflections

Which Bible translation–NIV, ESV or HCSB?

March 18, 2015 By ray

**UPDATED (as of March 2015): I decided to switch from the HCSB to the ESV translation. While the readability for the HCSB is better than the ESV, I found over the course of this past year of teaching from it that I was losing some key nuances found in the original Hebrew/Greek.… Read more

Happy New Year (2015)

January 1, 2015 By ray

Happy New Year! I shared briefly last night from Exodus 33. Moses had such an intimate relationship with God. He met God on the mountaintop, in the tent of meeting outside the camp, he had a “face to face” relationship and even saw the unveiled glory of God from the back… Moses was not primarily interested in doing something for the Lord or even reaching the promised land.… Read more

Reflection – How Did I Encounter Jesus in 2013? (pt3 of 3)

December 30, 2013 By coordinator

I wasn’t aware of the severity of spiritual battle until this year. I began this year with those sermons about the figless fig tree in Matthew and I had to ask myself, have I born any fruit? In my 20 years of walking with Jesus, do I know him as well as I do a friend who I have known for that long?… Read more

Reflection – How Did I Encounter Jesus in 2013? (pt2 of 3)

December 30, 2013 By coordinator

Matt 23 13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You lock up the kingdom of heaven from people. For you don’t go in, and you don’t allow those entering to go in. One thing is for sure. Religion and tradition will not save you. These religious leaders were highly committed to their way of doing religion and following tradition.… Read more

Reflection – How Did I Encounter Jesus in 2013? (pt1 of 3)

December 30, 2013 By coordinator

Today, I want us to take a look back on 2013. Was it a good year for you? Was it a good year for us, Hill Community Church? How do you define a year as being good or successful? What criteria do you use? Is it a good year if you got a new job or a new baby was born into your family or you got married, or your kids got all A’s in school, or you got a raise and so you can buy the things you always wanted?… Read more

John MacArthur and Mark Driscoll: Why I am a Continuationist

December 12, 2013 By ray

John MacArthur is a cessationist, which means he believes that the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased with the apostles in the first century. Some of these supernatural “charismatic” gifts are listed in 1 Cor 12– 1 Cor 12 4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord.… Read more