Hillside Community Church

Latest Episodes:

Waiting Well in a Hurry Up World - Aaron McRae Feb 22, 2026

Show notes

What do you do while you’re waiting on God?

In James Week 7, Pastor Aaron walks through James 4–5 to uncover a counter-cultural wisdom for planning, handling wealth, and waiting on the Lord. James confronts arrogant assumptions about tomorrow, exposes the danger of wealth without surrender, and reminds us that our lives are like a mist—temporary, fragile, and fully dependent on God.

This message challenges us to ask:

Are my plans shaped by God’s will—or my own gain?
Am I storing up treasures on earth or in heaven?
Am I waiting with patience—or anxiety?

James doesn’t condemn planning or wealth—he confronts pride, arrogance, and misplaced security. Instead of self-sufficiency, we are called to humility. Instead of hoarding, generosity. Instead of panic about the future, patient trust in the Lord’s coming.

Because real wisdom isn’t just about making plans—it’s about surrendering them.

If this message encouraged you, like, subscribe, and share with someone navigating uncertainty.

📚 Scripture References

James 3:13–18
James 4:13–17
James 5:1–11
Colossians 3:1–4
Matthew 6:19–21; 7:21; 16:24–26
Luke 12:16–21
Philippians 3:7–8
1 John 2:16–17

For the full gathering of this message which includes worship, visit our Youtube channel.

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The War Within- Jayden Zwerner Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

What causes fights, jealousy, and division—even among believers?

In this powerful message from James 4, Pastor Jayden Zwerner walks us through one of the most confronting passages in Scripture. James doesn’t blame circumstances, politics, personality conflicts, or other people. He goes deeper. The root of conflict, he says, is the battle within us—desires that were once good but have become ultimate.

Building from James 3:13–18, we’re reminded that true wisdom is humble, peace-loving, full of mercy, and sincere. But when envy and selfish ambition take root, disorder follows. James 4 asks the hard question: What happens when “me, my, and mine” take the driver’s seat of our lives?

Through the story of Rachel and Leah (Genesis 29–30), we see how unchecked jealousy and comparison can spiral into relational destruction. What begins as a good desire can slowly become an idol—reshaping our identity, our prayer life, and even our friendships.

This sermon explores:

Why conflicts often reveal deeper heart issues
How good desires become “ultimate things”
What it means to delight in the Lord (Psalm 37:4)
The danger of friendship with the world (James 4:4)
The hope found in James 4:6 — “But He gives us more grace.”

The invitation is not shame—it’s grace. The same grace that saved you is the grace that sustains you. When we humble ourselves, submit to God, and draw near to Him, He promises to lift us up.

If you’ve ever wrestled with envy, comparison, unanswered prayer, or frustration that obedience isn’t “paying off,” this message is for you.

📖 Scripture Focus: James 3:13–18; James 4:1–10
🙏 Closing Prayer: Psalm 51:10–12

The Untamable Tongue - Aaron McRae Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

In James Week 5, Pastor Aaron McRae tackles one of the most challenging and relevant issues in our everyday lives: our words. From trained animals and massive ships to raging wildfires, James uses vivid imagery to show that while humans can tame almost anything, no one can tame the tongue.

Walking through James 3, this teaching reveals the sobering truth that uncontrolled speech can wound deeply, divide communities, and even shape the direction of our lives. Words are never words “just slipping out”—they reveal what is stored in the heart. Gossip, anger, careless teaching, and online speech all carry disproportionate power, especially in a world where everyone has a platform.

But James doesn’t leave us stuck. The tongue may not be able to be tamed, but it can be transformed. Through submission to God, repentance, wisdom, and the renewing work of Jesus, our words can move from destruction to healing, from division to reconciliation. As followers of Christ, we are called to speak life—words that glorify God, build others up, and point people toward the reconciling hope of the gospel.

Resources & Scriptures Referenced

Primary Passage

James 3:1–12
James 1:26
James 4:7–8

Supporting Scriptures

Proverbs 18:21
Ephesians 4:29
Matthew 12:34–37
2 Corinthians 5:16–21
Psalm 19:14

Practical Tools

Good, God, Gospel Conversations
https://goodgodgospel.com/

Faith is an Active Verb - Woody Morwood Feb 01, 2026

Show notes

What does it mean to have a faith that actually lives?

In James 2:14–24, Pastor Woody Morwood challenges us to recapture an undeniable, living faith—a faith that moves beyond words and belief statements into real, visible action. James confronts the idea that faith can exist without deeds and asks a sobering question: Can that kind of faith save?

Through a powerful story of a small church faithfully serving people released from prison in Venezuela, this message reminds us that faith is not a claim to make—it’s a life to live. A faith rooted in Jesus will always express itself through love, compassion, and obedience. True faith shows up in real moments, responds to real needs, and moves toward people—not away from them.

James teaches that faith and action are not competing ideas. They are inseparable. Faith is a verb, and when it is alive, it shapes how we love, serve, give, and live every day.

This message invites us to examine our faith honestly and ask: Is my faith moving—or has it stalled?

Faith That Refuses Favoritism - Aaron McRae Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

Playing favorites may feel like a phase we outgrow, but James confronts how deeply partiality still shapes our lives—and our faith. In James 2:1–13, we are warned that favoritism based on status, appearance, wealth, or ideology is incompatible with faith in Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
This teaching by Pastor Aaron McRae exposes how easily we absorb the world’s habits of ranking, judging, and dividing others, often without realizing it. James reminds us that true faith is not merely held—it is lived. Faith in Jesus must look like Jesus, expressed through mercy, humility, and love for neighbor without exception.
Through Scripture, cultural insight, and practical application, this message calls believers to examine their hearts, reject unconscious bias, and live under the “royal law” of love. Ultimately, James leaves us with a defining vision for Christian living: mercy triumphs over judgment.
James Study Journal – Weekly Scripture readings, reflection prompts, and space to apply the teaching personally or with a group - https://hillsidechurches.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/James2026_Journal_FINAL.pdf
Discussion Guide – Designed for small groups, coffee groups, or families to process the message together - https://hillsidechurches.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Discussion-Guide-1.18.26.pdf
Resources & Scripture References
Primary Text: James 2:1–13
Supporting Scripture
-Leviticus 19:15, 18
-Genesis 1:27
-Galatians 3:26–28
-John 1:14
-John 15:12–13
-Exodus 33:18–19
-Ephesians 3:17–19
Referenced Authors
-Douglas Moo, James
-Scot McKnight, The Letter of James
-N.T. Wright, Early Christian Letters for Everyone
-Scott Sauls, Irresistible Faith
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Hillside Website | https://hillsidechurches.com

Hearing God’s Word: Listening is an Active Sport - Aaron McRae Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

What does it really mean to hear God? In James Week 2, Pastor Aaron McRae explores how genuine listening to God’s Word is proven not by information received, but by lives transformed. Using the image of a hearing test, James challenges us to examine whether we are merely hearing Scripture—or actually responding to it with obedience.

Walking through James 1:19–27, this message unpacks how hearing God begins with listening more than speaking, slowing our anger, humbly welcoming the Word, and intentionally putting it into practice. Pastor Aaron highlights James’s warning against self-deception: when we hear without doing, we convince ourselves we’re growing when we’re not. True faith is not just orthodox belief but lived obedience that expresses itself in transformed character and compassionate action toward others.

This teaching invites us to quiet the noise of our lives, tune our hearts to God’s voice through Scripture, and respond with concrete, faithful steps. When we hear like God intends, our hearts are aligned with Him—and our lives become attentive to the needs of the people around us.

Resources

James Study Journal – Weekly Scripture readings, reflection prompts, and space to apply the teaching personally or with a group - https://hillsidechurches.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/James2026_Journal_FINAL.pdf
Discussion Guide – Designed for small groups, coffee groups, or families to process the message together - https://hillsidechurches.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Discussion-Guide-1.18.26.pdf
Scripture Focus: James 1:19–27; Psalm 85:7–8
Recommended Reading:
- James by Douglas Moo
- James by George M. Stulac
- Caring Enough to Hear and Be Heard by David W. Augsburger

Faith That Holds Up Under Pressure - Aaron McRae Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

In James Week 1, Pastor Aaron McRae opens the Book of James by addressing one of life’s hardest questions: How do we trust God in the middle of real suffering? James does not deny the reality of trials—he names them plainly—and invites believers into a new, Jesus-centered way of viewing hardship, vulnerability, and perseverance.

Drawing from James 1, the sermon reframes trials as places where God forms resilience, maturity, and hope. Rather than offering clichés or quick fixes, Scripture calls us to honest faith—one that asks God for wisdom, resists despair, and clings to Jesus when suffering lingers. True faith is not proven by the absence of pain, but by perseverance shaped through it.

📚 Resources & References

Books & Authors Referenced

Tish Harrison Warren — Prayer in the Night
Quote on deciding God’s goodness apart from outcomes.
Brennan Manning — Ruthless Trust
Reflection on suffering, loss, and the danger of shallow explanations.
K.J. Ramsey — This Too Shall Last
Quote addressing suffering, American Christianity, and enduring pain.

Biblical Passages

James 1:2–5, 12–15
1 Peter 1:6–7
Romans 5:3–5
Hebrews 12:2–3
John 16:33
Psalm 46:1
1 John 2:16–17
1 Corinthians 10:13

From Life Hacks to Life-Giving Habits - Aaron McRae Jan 04, 2026

Show notes

We live in a culture obsessed with efficiency—quick fixes, shortcuts, and life hacks that promise fast results. But what if the life God is forming in us requires something slower, deeper, and more transformative?

In this message, we explore the difference between life hacks and life-giving habits, and why spiritual maturity is not accidental—it is formed through intentional rhythms, practices, and relationships over time. Using Colossians 1, Hebrews 5, and other key Scriptures, this teaching reframes Christian maturity not as doing more religious activity, but becoming fully trained in Christ for the sake of others.

We examine common cultural lies about identity, truth, and independence, and contrast them with biblical habits that lead to real formation: knowing and relying on God’s love, ongoing engagement with Scripture, sacrificial service, and authentic interdependence within the church. This message challenges cultural Christianity and invites us into a committed, formed, resilient faith that lasts.

If you are entering a new year asking, “Who am I becoming?” or “What kind of faith do I want to build?”, this teaching offers a clear, biblical vision for spiritual growth rooted in Jesus—not hype, not shortcuts, but transformation.

Resources in this Sermon

Scripture Passages

Colossians 1:21–29
Hebrews 5:11–14
1 John 4:15–18
Romans 12:1–2
Philippians 3:15–18
1 Corinthians 3:1–3
Psalm 16:11
Galatians 5:22
Philippians 4:4–6

Books & Authors

Invitation to a Journey — M. Robert Mulholland Jr.
Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You — Marcus Warner, Jim Wilder

The Gospel Is for Everyone | Bold Faith Lessons from Acts 16 Dec 28, 2025

Show notes

In this message, Pastor Natalie Moore walks through Acts 16 to reveal how the gospel of Jesus reaches people from every background, circumstance, and moment of desperation. From Lydia’s open heart, to a nameless enslaved woman set free, to a Roman jailer asking, “What must I do to be saved?”, one truth becomes unmistakably clear: the gospel is for everyone.

Pastor Natalie highlights how the same Holy Spirit who empowered the early church is alive and active in believers today, challenging us to consider whether we are living out our faith with the same boldness and obedience as those who came before us. Through Paul and Silas’ worship in prison, their response to suffering, and their care for people in crisis, we are reminded that followers of Jesus are called to offer a Savior before a solution.

This teaching also reframes evangelism as a relational, prayerful way of life—sharing not only the gospel, but our lives—through intentional relationships, hospitality, and trust in God’s timing. Whether you are new to faith, facing a season of desperation, or longing to share your faith more confidently, this message invites you to recognize divine opportunities and live anchored in the hope of Jesus.

Advent Week 4- The Joy You’ve Been Looking For Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

What if joy isn’t something you chase—but something you receive?
In this Advent message, Pastor Aaron McRae explores the deep, lasting joy that Jesus brings—a joy that is often unexpected, received by faith, and anchored in eternity.

Drawing from Luke 2 and the Christmas story, this message reframes joy beyond temporary happiness, success, or comfort. Pastor Aaron contrasts the world’s pursuit of happiness with the biblical invitation to joy—one that meets us in brokenness, suffering, uncertainty, and fear. From the unlikely joy announced to shepherds, to reflections from thinkers like C.S. Lewis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and modern neuroscience, this message shows how true joy is not circumstantial, but relational.

This sermon speaks directly to those navigating stress, grief, anxiety, financial pressure, health challenges, or spiritual dryness. It reminds us that Jesus came not only to save what is lost, but to heal what is broken—and His joy is available here and now, regardless of circumstances.

If you are searching for meaning beyond happiness, longing for hope this Christmas season, or wondering where to anchor your joy, this message will help you make room for the lasting joy found only in Jesus.

Scriptures Referenced

Luke 2:1–14
Psalm 16:11
Psalm 51:12
Galatians 5:22
Philippians 4:4–6
Psalm 119:14
Romans 15:13
Hebrews 12:2

Resources & References Mentioned

Arthur Brooks — Leadership and Happiness (Harvard Business School)
Dietrich Bonhoeffer — Conspiracy and Imprisonment
C.S. Lewis — Mere Christianity
C.S. Lewis — Surprised by Joy
Frieson, Wilder, — Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You
Serenity Prayer

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