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

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

Stay Connected With Hillside Community Church.
Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/c/HillsideCommunityChurch
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/hillsidechurches/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/hillsidechurches
Website | https://hillsidechurches.com

In a season filled with noise, deadlines, and nonstop activity, Pastor Woody Morwood invites us to rediscover the heart of Christmas. Through a simple yet powerful fable about a man trying to guide birds to safety in a storm, he reveals why Jesus came close—why God stepped into our world, our struggles, and our humanity.

Drawing from John 1:1–14, Pastor Woody explores the radical truth that the eternal Creator became human so we could understand His love. He also challenges us to consider how many people in Jesus’ day missed His arrival—and how easily we can do the same amid the pressures and pace of modern life.

With the symbols of the Star, the Crown, and the Manger, this message reframes Christmas as God offering the greatest gift imaginable: Himself.
If you are longing for hope, peace, clarity, or simply a moment to breathe during this season, this message will help you slow down, pay attention, and make room for the love God offers.

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

Stay Connected With Hillside Community Church.
Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/c/HillsideCommunityChurch
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/hillsidechurches/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/hillsidechurches
Website | https://hillsidechurches.com

December arrives like a whirlwind—busy schedules, pressure, expectations, and the feeling that peace is slipping through our fingers. But in this message, we’re reminded that the very first Christmas also began with uncertainty, fear, and a young girl in a forgotten town… until God stepped into the chaos.

Pastor Karl Romeus walks through Luke 1 and the story of Mary to show us a powerful truth:

👉 Peace is born where trust and surrender meet.

In this talk, we explore:
✨ How God steps into ordinary, overlooked places and moments
✨ Why peace begins with grace—not perfection or performance
✨ The difference between honest questions and distrust
✨ What it means to be still and trust God when life feels impossible
✨ How community, encouragement, and spiritual friendships strengthen our peace
✨ Why surrender isn’t defeat—it’s worship

From tangled Christmas lights to overwhelming schedules, from financial pressure to emotional exhaustion, this message reminds us that peace is not something we manufacture… it’s Someone who comes close.

If you’ve been longing for clarity, comfort, or calm this season, this message will encourage your heart and point you back to the Prince of Peace.

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

Stay Connected With Hillside Community Church.
Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/c/HillsideCommunityChurch
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/hillsidechurches/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/hillsidechurches
Website | https://hillsidechurches.com

As we enter Advent 2025, Pastor Kelly Roth invites us into a season of waiting, reflection, and hopeful anticipation. Advent reminds us that God meets us in the ordinary—just as He met Zechariah and Elizabeth in their everyday faithfulness—and invites us to anchor our hope not in outcomes, but in the unshakable promises of God.

In this Week 1 message on HOPE, Pastor Kelly unpacks Luke 1 and the story of Zechariah, Elizabeth, and the miracle that prepared the way for Jesus. Through Scripture, honest reflection, and practical insight, we explore what it means to live in the “now” and the “not yet”—to trust God in the waiting, to root our hope in His character, and to remember that He is with us, even when life feels uncertain.

Whether you’re entering this season with joy, disappointment, or longing, Advent invites all of us to slow down, refocus, and hold onto the hope that anchors our souls.

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” —Hebrews 6:19

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

Stay Connected With Hillside Community Church.
Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/c/HillsideCommunityChurch
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/hillsidechurches/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/hillsidechurches
Website | https://hillsidechurches.com

In this message, Pastor Woody Morwood teaches on what it means to live with true, God-centered gratitude—not just during the holiday season, but in every circumstance. Drawing from moments happening in our church family and powerful passages from Paul’s life, we see how gratitude is more than a feeling—it’s a spiritual discipline that transforms us.

Through Scriptures like 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Acts 16, Acts 27, and 1 Corinthians 11, Pastor Woody shows how believers can give thanks even in difficulty, anchoring their lives in God’s goodness and provision. The message concludes with guided prayer and worship, practicing gratitude together as a church community.

Scripture References

• 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “Give thanks in all circumstances…”
• Acts 16:22–25 – Paul & Silas beaten, imprisoned, and singing hymns.
• Acts 27:33–37 – Paul giving thanks during a 14-day storm at sea.
• 1 Corinthians 11:23–24 – Jesus giving thanks at the Last Supper.
• James 1:17 – “Every good and perfect gift is from above…”
• Philippians 1:3 – “I thank my God every time I remember you.”
• Ephesians 5:19–20 – “Always giving thanks to God the Father…”

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

Stay Connected With Hillside Community Church.
Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/c/HillsideCommunityChurch
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/hillsidechurches/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/hillsidechurches
Website | https://hillsidechurches.com

Suffering raises a question we all feel but rarely say out loud: “God, where are You in this?” Instead of chasing why pain happens, Jesus invites us to discover who is with us in it. Pastor Karl Romeus lead us through the life of Job where it illustrates we don’t always get explanations, but we get God’s presence. Your pain isn’t proof that God has left you. It may be the very place you meet Him.

Karl Romeus is a pastor, speaker, leadership coach, and consultant. Karl has been in ministry for over 20 years . Most recently as the Executive Pastor of Ministry Development at Flatirons Church in and around the Denver area. He oversees children's ,middle school, high school, college ministry, young adults, and groups across all campuses. And recently launched Flatirons College. He studied Christian Leadership and Biblical Theology at Grand Canyon University. Though he is absolutely in love with Boston sports, his heart belongs to his wife Jen and daughters Georgia and Ruby.

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

Stay Connected With Hillside Community Church.
Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/c/HillsideCommunityChurch
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/hillsidechurches/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/hillsidechurches
Website | https://hillsidechurches.com

When Jesus said it was better that He go away so the Spirit could come, He was pointing to a life-changing truth — the Holy Spirit isn’t an optional extra in faith; He’s the very presence of God at work in us.

In this message, Pastor Aaron unpacks John 16 to reveal how the Holy Spirit convicts, guides, speaks, and glorifies Jesus. Through stories, Scripture, and imagery — from the dance of the Trinity to the metamorphosis of a butterfly — we’re invited to see how God’s Spirit transforms us from the inside out.

Whether you’ve misunderstood the Holy Spirit as distant or mysterious, this teaching offers clarity and hope:
👉 The Spirit’s work is not to draw attention to Himself, but to draw us closer to Christ.
👉 He convicts us of sin, leads us into truth, and reveals the beauty of God’s righteousness.
👉 He creates in us a new kind of life — full of freedom, transformation, and Christlike character.

Key Scriptures

• John 16:7–15 — The Advocate will come... and guide you into all truth
• Hebrews 12:5–6 — Do not lose heart when the Lord rebukes you
• Psalm 139:23 — Search me, O God, and know my heart
• Psalm 51:10 — Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in me

Books & Authors Referenced

1. C.S. Lewis — Mere Christianity
2. R.C. Sproul — What Can I Do with My Guilt?
3. J.I. Packer — A Quest for Godliness
4. A.W. Tozer — Mystery of the Holy
5. Tenney, Merrill C. — The Gospel of John: The Reality of Faith

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

Stay Connected With Hillside Community Church.
Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/c/HillsideCommunityChurch
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/hillsidechurches/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/hillsidechurches
Website | https://hillsidechurches.com

Learn how the Holy Spirit speaks, teaches, and reminds us of truth. In this message, Pastor Aaron McRae unpacks the transforming work of the Spirit— who empowers believers to live out the presence and power of God in everyday life.

From Genesis to Acts, the Holy Spirit has always been active — giving life, guiding truth, producing unity, and empowering followers of Jesus for mission. When the Spirit fills us, we don’t just believe differently; we walk, talk, and act differently.

Explore seven key works of the Holy Spirit: Salvation, Wisdom, Unity, Empowering, Gifts, Fruitfulness, and Influence — showing that the Spirit doesn’t just inspire worship; He transforms how we live.

Whether you’ve grown up in church or are new to faith, this teaching will help you recognize, welcome, and walk with the Spirit in your daily life.

Scriptures Referenced:

• Genesis 1:2
• Psalm 104:29–30
• Ezekiel 36:27
• Isaiah 11:1–5
• John 3:5; 7:38–39; 14:25–26; 16:8–15
• Acts 1:8; 2:4
• Romans 12:3–8
• 1 Corinthians 6:19–20; 12:1–11; 13
• Galatians 5:22–25
• Ephesians 1:17–21; 4:2–3; 5:15–18
• Titus 3:3–7

Resources Mentioned:

• The Familiar Stranger — Tyler Staton
• Forgotten God — Francis Chan
• The Pastor — Eugene Peterson
• The Knowledge of the Holy — A.W. Tozer
• Who Is the Holy Spirit — The Bible Project (Video)

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

Stay Connected With Hillside Community Church.
Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/c/HillsideCommunityChurch
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/hillsidechurches/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/hillsidechurches
Website | https://hillsidechurches.com