Orchard Hill Church Blog
Explore. Grow. Engage.
What the Dead Now Know
Death is something we all know is coming, yet most of us spend our lives trying not to think about it. In this blog, Jake Williams explores how the reality of death can reshape the way we live today. Scripture reminds us that eternity is real, God is closer than we realize, and the choices we make in this life matter. For those who are in Christ, death is not the end—it is the beginning of being fully present with the Savior we have trusted all along.
Are You Who You Want to Be?
Shawn Barrett wrestles with a question every Christian knows too well: why do we keep sinning even after finding grace? Drawing on Scripture, Augustine, and Switchfoot, he unpacks the tension of the "already and not yet" and offers four practical steps toward walking closer to Christ.
Pray, Wait, Trust: How to Find God’s Peace in Anxiety
Anxiety can be crippling — spiraling thoughts, a pounding heart, and a constant sense of dread about what might happen next. If you've ever felt like your mind won't stop racing through worst-case scenarios, you're not alone. In this blog, Suzanne Pietro explores what Scripture says about anxiety and how prayer, waiting, and trust can lead us to the peace that only God can give.
When Your Needs Outweigh Your Resources | Luke 9
When Seana Scott's young family lived on food stamps and prayer, she learned what to do when needs outweigh resources. Drawing from Luke 9's feeding of the 5,000 and Exodus 16–17's manna in the wilderness, she shares a four-step pattern—tell, listen, obey, participate—for trusting God's provision in your own impossible situation.
Who Is My Enemy?
Jonathan Thiede asks a question with real teeth in today's outrage-driven world: when we're tempted to "destroy" a stranger online, who are we actually fighting? He unpacks Ephesians 6:12 to help readers see their true enemy clearly—and respond to disagreement with grace instead of rage.
Finding Joy in Hard Times: A Study in Philippians
How do you find joy when life is hard? In this reflection on Philippians, Suzanne Pietro explores Paul's letter from prison to uncover the secrets of unity, humility, and self-sacrifice. Discover how true joy isn't tied to circumstances — it's found by trusting God in every season, even the hardest ones.
When Life Doesn’t Make Sense
When life doesn't make sense — diagnosis, loss, grief, fear — where do you turn? Brady Randall walks through Job's encounter with God's overwhelming power in creation to show why our pain isn't minimized, but met with a God who is bigger than it. You'll come away with a posture of trust, not answers.
Thoughts That Shape Us
In Thoughts That Shape Us, Alexis Shippy takes an honest look at what it actually means to take every thought captive to Christ — a command most of us quote but struggle to live. Readers will walk away with a clearer sense of why their thought patterns matter and practical ways to begin aligning their minds with what is true.
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread: An Encouragement to Read your Bible Everyday
Shawn Barrett gets honest about the struggle to read the Bible consistently — and offers practical steps to help you finally build a daily habit in God's Word. If you've wanted to make Scripture a regular part of your life but don't know where to start, this post is for you.
An Acquired Taste: 3 Tips for Aligning your Heart with Christ
Bryce Vaught tackles a question many believers quietly wrestle with: why doesn't life with Jesus always feel natural or enjoyable? Discover three practical tips for acquiring a genuine taste for Christ — and why the journey is worth every sip.
How to Follow Christ on Vacation
Jonathan Thiede tackles a question many Christians quietly wrestle with: what does God actually expect of us when life's normal rhythms disappear? Whether you tend to put faith on pause or overcompensate with spiritual activity, discover how the gospel itself is the key to following Christ — even on vacation.
Rooted: Finding Your Identity in Christ
Suzanne Pietro tackles the question so many of us wrestle with: how do we find lasting fulfillment when life feels overwhelming, and our identities get tangled up in worldly success? She invites readers to discover the freedom that comes when we stop chasing the world's definition of "best life" and root ourselves in Christ instead.
Look and Live: The Antidote to Our Distraction Dilemma
In a world where we're interrupted hundreds of times a day and bombarded by thousands of ads, how do we focus on what truly matters? In this post, Brady Randall explores Jesus' invitation in John 3 to "look and live," and shares how fixing our gaze on the cross can cut through the noise and anchor us in what's ultimately life-giving.
What are We Supposed to Do with Leviticus?
Leviticus can feel like a distant, confusing book — but as Alexis Shippy explores, buried in its laws and offerings is a profound picture of God's care for His people and the ultimate cost Jesus paid on our behalf. Come discover why this hard-to-read book might be one of the most beautiful setups for the gospel in all of Scripture.
Sin Has No Hold On You
Nick Hettinger challenges the "learned helplessness" many Christians feel toward sin, asking whether we truly understand what Christ accomplished on the cross. Discover how the power of the Holy Spirit means you are no longer obligated to sin — and how that changes everything about how you live.
The Yoke of Christ: From Bondage to Bonding
In a world obsessed with what's next, Shawn Barrett asks why we've lost touch with an ancient farming tool that unlocks one of Jesus' most beloved invitations. Discover what a yoke really meant to its original audience—and why Jesus offering his own might be the most liberating exchange you'll ever make.
Praying Through the Psalms
What if the words you've been searching for in prayer were already written for you? In this post, Emily DeAngelo shares how praying through the Psalms — using simple, practical steps — can saturate your soul with Scripture and transform your daily prayer life.
Beyond the Blizzard: Discovering God’s Hand in 19 Inches of Snow
After shoveling 19 inches of snow seven times in one day, Brady Randall discovered a profound shift in perspective—from frustration to awe at God's sovereignty over creation. Through powerful passages from Job and Isaiah, learn how even winter storms can remind us of God's majesty and His grace that makes our scarlet sins "white as snow."
Joy That Endures: Why Christian Joy Outlasts Secular Happiness
Jake Williams explores why the world's prescription for happiness often leaves us fragile when life gets hard. Discover a deeper, more resilient joy rooted in gospel truth that holds steady through every season.
Clothe Yourself: How to Live with Confidence in Christ’s Character
Bryce Vaught explores how the Apostle Paul's metaphor of "clothing yourself with Christ" can transform your daily Christian walk from feeling out of place to living with confidence and purpose. Discover three practical ways to actively put on Christ by trusting in His finished work, removing old patterns, and practicing His character in everyday life.