Park Hill Church Podcast

Better Than an Open Door

From our series "Acts."  What are we praying for when we ask God to "open doors" for us? Do we really know? What does an open door from God look like? And should we walk through every open door, even if it really is opened by God? Not according to Paul in Acts 16. This fascinating story lights the way. Apparently, it's about something far better than any open door we could ever ask for—and it's available to everyone who trusts in Jesus. It's all about loving the person right in front of you.

Everyone Belongs in God's Family

From our series "Acts." Who belongs in God's family? This is the question that prompted the very first church conference which we read about in Acts 15. Certain Jewish Christians were telling Gentile Christians they had to essentially become Jewish to be saved and belong at the table of Jesus. But Paul, Barnabas, Peter and James disagree. This family is for everyone, regardless of background, who repents of their sin and calls upon Jesus as King. This is a message of radical inclusion, open to all who confess Jesus as Lord exclusively. This message has huge implications for us today as a church in a time of extreme polarization and division.

Joy that Lasts through the Highs and Lows

From our series "Acts." Matthieu Rouffet unpacks the turbulent story of Acts 14. Paul and Barnabas experience both extreme highs and extreme lows on their journey. But somehow, they manage to remain in a state of joy. How is this possible? Could the same Holy Spirit that empowered their joy be available to us?

We Want to See Jesus

From our series "Acts." Aleah Pursley walks us through Acts 13 and the Apostle Paul's first recorded sermon, which is a stunning vision of the Risen Jesus.

The Politics of Jesus

From our series "Acts." As the first half of Acts comes to an end, Luke (author of Acts) highlights the dramatic conflict between the kingdoms of the earth and the kingdom of God. While human governments and politicians vie for temporary power, the true King of kings and President of presidents is and will always be a slain Lamb on a throne at the center of the universe who reigns over every human nation of the world. What does this mean for how Christians should engage in human politics? Acts 12 lights the way.

We Are From the Future

From our series "Acts." Cataclysmic newsflash: The Gentiles are in! In Acts 10–11, for the first time ever, Gentiles are coming to faith God through Jesus, repenting of sin, and receiving the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. But the Jewish Christians have a concern: how could Peter the Jew be eating with uncircumcised Gentiles?! This was a problem. Thankfully, Gentile inclusion was always in God's plan, and the Holy Spirit is really good at guiding God's people into all truth. 

Tell Your Jesus Story

From our series "Acts." In chapter 9, we come to one of the most famous stories in the Bible. It's the story of Paul's encounter with the risen Jesus which changed him forever. This wasn't just the turning point in Paul's own life, but one of the main turning points of human history. By reflecting on Paul's story of encountering Jesus, we can learn a ton about how to tell our own Jesus stories. It's not about having a flashy, golden, hollywood, biblical-level Jesus story like Paul’s. It's about bearing witness to the normal, everyday-miraculous ways Jesus encounters us all. All we can say is "This is what saw. This is what I've heard." What if you started sharing your Jesus story in all your relationships?

Becoming Bold Witnesses to Jesus

From our series "Acts." Josh White, founding pastor of Door of Hope Church in Portland, OR, visits Park Hill Church to preach a message on Acts 8v26–40. In this text, a Jewish Jesus follower named Philip follows the leading of the Holy Spirit to share the gospel with an influential Ethiopian eunuch. Josh White interweaves his own story with the story of Philip, and the result is a powerful call to boldly witness to Jesus in our time.

The Practice of Sabbath

As we walk through the book of Acts this year, we are also looking at eight practices from Jesus and the early Christians that shaped the life of the Church through time. In this teaching, Evan Wickham walks us through our fourth practice: Sabbath. It's also Pentecost Sunday—the day the Western church celebrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus' first disciples in Acts 2. What does Pentecost have to with Sabbath? For the Spirit-filled body of Christ today, to practice Sabbath is to engage in a weekly rehearsal of Pentecost. Just as the disciples waited on the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem before doing Jesus's work in the world, so too, we wait for God on the Sabbath Day, and from that place of waiting, we then partner with God in our work for the rest of the week.

The Holy Spirit is Our Great Unifier

From our series "Acts." Christianity goes international. As it does, the Holy Spirit proves himself to be the Great Unifier of God's family in Jesus. As mortal enemies turn to Jesus together, they become family around the same table. This is the shocking stuff of the kingdom that turns the world upside down. Isn't this the reconciled, forgiven family we all long to become? Come and see.