"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." -Ephesians 6:17, NIV. In warfare, the helmet and the sword were the last two pieces of armor picked up by the soldier. After fastening the rest of the armor on, the helmet, which was hot and uncomfortable, would be placed on just before heading off, protecting the…

The most frequently used word in this section on the armor of God is stand. The Scripture even compels us, put on the full armor of God so that "you may be able to stand your ground,” then it for emphasis, "and after you have done everything, to stand.” The enemy works to throw off our faith, using other people and situations to cause us to stumble…

על ידי Azure Hills Church

על ידי Azure Hills Church

על ידי Azure Hills Church

I’m wondering, what is throwing off your peace this week? Have you faced difficulties, stresses, or relational struggles that have caused you to fear? Life is not easy. We must wear the right footwear for the journey. Pastor Tara VinCross will offer a message titled, The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace - The Armor of God, pt. 4. With shoes fastened in…

Every day you’re a part of a spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:12 says, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood…” Yes, the struggle is real. This is how it is here on this earth, yet in this struggle, God has provided everything we need for protection. The Breastplate of Righteousness, held by the belt of truth, provides vital covering. Come and fin…

One of the devil's favorite weapons is lies. He distorts the truth, and makes it hard for us to see things as they really are. Yet, as we stand in God’s armor, we are surrounded by the belt of truth. God gives us discernment and wisdom to know the Truth. As we know and live in the truth, we are set free. Pastor Tara VinCross will offer a message ti…

Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world...” The very next verse says, "therefore put on the full armor of God…" There is a battle going on. Are we living in awareness of this battle? This fall, we begin a new series on the Armor of …

We're excited to welcome our guest speaker Pastor Raewyn Orlich! She serves as associate pastor for discipleship and nurture at the La Sierra University Church. In her book, “In Grandpa’s Shoes: An Invitation to Intergenerational Connection,” she shares how her grandfather, Eric Webster (pastor and ultra-marathon runner) helped inspire her ministry…

We have come to the end of the story of the book of Mark and here we find the greatest miracle of all. We remember that in our own lives, “Healing and redemption are all about allowing, receiving, and creating space for the Wonder-Worker to move… We don’t make the miracle,” says Arianne Braithwaite Lehn. Braithwaite Lehn goes on to say, “And when w…

Life if full of highs and lows. There’s no escaping it. As Kahlil Gibran says, "Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven? And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?" We look upon the One who experienced the depths of human joy and sorrow. Pastor Tara VinCro…

At the end of Mark 13, Jesus says "Watch!" and our natural instinct is to think that it's external; that what we need to watch for is something that we see. But what if it's an internal matter? What if the crux of what Jesus was describing was inward? Join in as we unpack from the topic "Watch, In."על ידי Azure Hills Church

We are excited to welcome our guest speaker, Elder Will Penick, to Azure Hills. He is the Ministerial Director at the Southeastern California Conference (SECC). Will loves Jesus and is blessed to serve our pastors in SECC. He has a passion to share the gospel in a divisive public space and encourages the church in growing as disciples, not just mem…

Pastor Daniel Xisto, our new administrative pastor, shares his first message with our church family where he will invite us to explore the triumphant entry of Jesus in Mark 11. We will consider the crowd’s cry of "Hosanna!" We'll delve into the deep significance of this moment, understanding how it reflects our own hopes today. Prepare to reflect o…

What keeps people out of the Kingdom of God? Mistakes? Pride? Continual sinning? No, there are plenty of examples in Jesus’ ministry of people who did all of those things and more but were forgiven and accepted into the kingdom. Jesus did, however, point out certain people that would have a hard time entering the kingdom of heaven. And when he did …

In Mark 9, we find a father who is desperate to get help for his son. He prays a prayer that we’ve all prayed, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.” Because our belief is imperfect we cry out for help. But that cry comes from a place of belief in our good and sovereign God. Faith starts by simply turning toward Jesus. Elder Keturah Reed will share t…

In Mark 8, Jesus heals a blind man in Bethsaida. Though Jesus had touched Him once, his eyesight was not fully restored until Jesus touched him a second time. Mark 8 invites us to be dissatisfied with superficial discipleship, and to receive a deeper transformation through the uprooting of our long held assumptions, and by embracing the way of Jesu…

What good did it do for Jesus to walk on water? What good did it do to feed 5000 (or 10k+) people? Those amazing miracles didn’t seem to change anything in Jerusalem, or Rome, ...or Washington! Pastor Mike Leno continues the pastors’ sermon series on Mark with “Miracles and Misunderstandings.” This message probes the very human tendency to misunder…

In Mark 7, we continue to follow the Miracles of God as Jesus encounters a man who is both deaf and mute. Imagine the man's confusion, consider his thoughts as friends ushered him over to a stranger, someone he'd never heard of...yet would change his life forever. In this text, we learn about what it means to be a community of miracles, and our res…

We humans too easily, too quickly find ourselves in situations so low we can’t get out; so overwhelming we are hopeless. Three stories in Mark 5 clearly demonstrate Jesus is more than able to overcome evil. Nothing is too hard for him. He is here to take us back to community. He will come to take us home. At our 9am and 11:45am worship services, Pa…

This week we celebrate the culmination of Vacation Bible School. Our theme this year is Scuba: Diving into Deep Friendship with God! Each day, the kids have focused on a different aspect of friendship with God. As we continue in our series on the book of Mark, we look at a story that takes place on the sea, and a time when Jesus’ disciples learned …

Jesus was out of control! People thought it was great that he healed people and even cast out demons. But to many, he was reckless in the way he went about his work. He offended influential people. Even his family thought he was a little crazy at times. They decided that if Jesus was going to succeed, he would need some supervision before he blew i…

In Mark 2, Jesus forgives and heals a paralyzed man. In this encounter, we find that the power of friendship can carry us through trying times. We also learn that Jesus isn’t interested in a superficial healing that only affects the body, but a deep transformation that binds the fractured soul. Pastor Gabriel Morales will share the message, "Forgiv…

Mark opens the gospel in the most moving way, with the words the beginning of the good news. In Jesus Christ, we orient ourselves to what is true and good. We hold space for beauty and safety, hope and love. Some days, some weeks, it’s a fight to stay rooted and connected to the goodness of God. As Gabor Mate, Hungarian-Canadian physician says, "Sa…

על ידי Azure Hills Church

על ידי Azure Hills Church

על ידי Azure Hills Church

על ידי Azure Hills Church

Is there a secret for success in the Kingdom of God? Can you do something truly great for his kingdom? Can you, figuratively speaking, hit a home run for God’s team? James and John had an advantage, possibly a secret to success. They knew the Messiah, quite well, they thought. So they they figured they had an inside track to greatness. They were ab…

Diversity is a beautiful thing. But it is also hard. We need to understand why we celebrate it, because experiencing it can often lead to a fear of displacement. The whole book of Romans is about handling diversity (between Jew and Gentile, but also many other kinds of diversity). Romans 9-11 tackles the Jew/Gentile problem, climaxing in Chapter 12…

What can we learn from a destitute widow, a mother who could no longer provide for her son? Her willingness to follow an outlandish request led to God's miracle of provision.על ידי Azure Hills Church

We are God’s handiwork is what Ephesians 2 tells us. But what does that actually mean? Pastor George Tuyu will unpack what that means and so much more in his sermon entitled: “God Prepares, We Practice.”על ידי Azure Hills Church

What do I do now? Will I get through this? Perhaps you have recently asked yourself similar questions. When faced with life’s challenges and crises, it may feel as though you’re permanently besieged. Maybe you have the sense that you have run out of options; the walls are closing in and there does not seem to be an escape route in sight. Amid every…

Living in the reality of the resurrection can be challenging. Thomas’ story teaches us that sometimes the most faithful disciples wrestle with unbelief, and that inner turmoil sticks around despite being surrounded by witnesses to the Risen Messiah. Nevertheless, Jesus meets us where we are and gives us exactly what we need to he restored; He gives…

Do you ever have a hard time talking about money? Of course, we all do at times. I suspect even Jesus had a hard time with that topic, depending on who his audience was. The poor loved it. The wealthy Pharisees, not so much! One of Jesus' most difficult parables has to do with money—the story of the unfaithful steward in Luke 16. It’s a parable tha…

"Darkness Will Not Overcome" is a 4-part series that will inspire, challenge, and empower you. In the book of John, the writer gives 7 signs to not only prove that Jesus is the Son of God, but of the miracle God wants to perform in your life. We will unlock the symbols and signs in the Bible that answer life's biggest questions and will give you ho…

על ידי Azure Hills Church

Words spoken to others matter. Final words especially have weight and meaning. The Scriptures share the final words of Jesus, poignant words from the cross. “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” “Amen, I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise” “Woman, behold, your son….Behold, your mother.” “I thirst.” “My God, my God, why …

To give someone a blessing is the most significant affirmation we can offer. - Henri Nouwen Dr. Delroy A. Brooks will share a message titled “Blessings of the Kingdom.” Pastor Brooks serves as youth, young adult and children’s pastor for the Kansas Avenue Seventh-day Adventist Church in Riverside, CA. Dr. Brooks is happily married to his wife, Dr. …

על ידי Azure Hills Church

על ידי Azure Hills Church

על ידי Azure Hills Church

Pastor Tara VinCross will share the message, A Call to Healing, the fifth part in the Deep Calling series, exploring eight calls of God. The call to healing is a call to honesty and transparency. It’s an invitation to begin where you are, not where you wish you were. It’s an invitation to a process of trusting the work of the Holy Spirit over time.…

Jesus lived and worked in a hostile environment. From the beginning of his teaching career to his death on a cross he faced unrelenting criticism, subtle micro aggressions, and blatant threats on his life. Even though his kingdom was about love and not about political power or popularity, many felt threatened. And threatened people often say and do…

Pastor Tara VinCross shared the message, "A Call to Community," the fourth part in the Deep Calling series, exploring eight calls of God. The entire Christian life is meant to be done in community. As the people of God ‘do life’ together, the connection and care and compassion exhibited in the body of Christ is the greatest witness to the love of J…

Pastor Baron Anthony Sovory will share the message entitled: "Strengthen My Hands." Rebuilding what was once torn down can be challenging. It may even feel discouraging, and some may try to prevent the progress. However, when we unite with a shared goal and mission, there are no limits to what can be accomplished. Lord, strengthen our hands to carr…

Pastor Tara VinCross will share the message, A Call to Rest, the third part in the Deep Calling series exploring eight calls of God. Are you tired? Worn out? Needing rest? The stresses of life are real. What God wants us to realize is that the life of a disciple of Jesus is a life of surrender, which leads to rest.…

Church bulletin bloopers can be good for laughs. A simple typo can be deadly in the case of this blooper: “Ushers will eat latecomers.” Or, in another case, could cause some disappointment and missed expectations: "Evening massage – 6 p.m. Communication can be tricky, to be sure. But communication matters, with both people and God. How do we practi…

James K. A. Smith said, "You can’t think your way into new habits. New habits can only emerge as you practice them.” This is so difficult for us! Perhaps because practicing new habits is so routine, so ordinary. We want something bigger, and dare I say flashier, to bring us into deeper relationship with God, others, and our purpose in the world. Ye…