Orchard Hill Church Blog
Explore. Grow. Engage.
What Does it Mean to Follow Jesus?
What does it mean to follow Jesus? What does it look like to follow Jesus? I think we've all asked these questions at one time or another. Following Jesus isn't just a checklist of religious habits — it's a changed heart and a daily response to what He has done for us. In this blog, Suzanne Pietro explores what Jesus himself says it means to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him.
Experience of Grace #8 - Certain Victory
In Romans 8:28–39, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund unpacks three reasons followers of Jesus can face any hardship with unshakeable confidence: bad things will turn out for good, the best is still ahead, and nothing in all creation can separate you from the love of God in Christ.
Experience of Grace #7 - Eager Expectation
In Romans 8:18–27, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund explores how the groaning of creation, the Christian, and the Holy Spirit all point toward a hope that outweighs present suffering. Whatever pain or hardship you're carrying, this message offers a powerful reminder: it's not the end of the story.
Experience of Grace #6 - Adoption
In "Adoption," Dr. Kurt Bjorklund unpacks Romans 8:12–17 to reveal that coming to faith in Jesus Christ means being adopted into God's family — with debts forgiven, a new identity, and an irrevocable inheritance. If guilt, shame, or spiritual uncertainty marks your life, this message will transform how you experience grace.
Experience of Grace #5 - No Condemnation
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund unpacks Romans 8:1–11 to show that those in Christ are freed from condemnation while still being shaped by the Spirit's ongoing conviction. Learn to tell the difference between the accuser's voice and God's loving call to change—and why Christian community is essential to discerning the two.
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.
Touching the Hem After a Hard Year
Alexis Shippy explores why year-end reflection feels impossible when life has been messy and complicated. Through the story of the Woman with the Issue of Blood, she shows how faith gives depth to our unknowns and helps us trust God's goodness even in confusing circumstances.
Sola Gratia #7 - Glorified by Grace
Senior Pastor Dr. Kurt Bjorklund concludes the Sola Gratia series focusing on the doctrine of grace. He focuses on the topic of glorification showing how believers have an eternal inheritance through God's grace that, unlike earthly possessions, will never perish, spoil, or fade, offering hope and strength during life's trials.
Quiet Acts of Obedience (Part 1): Seen
As part of my moms’ study group, we decided to read a book over the summer called Risen Motherhood. While reading, a quote that stayed with me is “All our quiet acts of obedience will be seen, rewarded, and praised for the glory of God.”
What is Our Trust Rooted In?: Dealing with Life's Trials as a Christian
While I agree that it’s important to know what’s going on in the world, I also know how much the volume of these things affects my thinking. When we’re constantly bombarded by trials, sadness, and evil, it's easy to allow these things to consume our thinking and warp our view of God.
How God Teaches Us to be More Christ-like (Psalm 32 Devotional)
There is one trait that is perhaps the most important for a teacher. That they care about the student so much that they’ll do just about anything to get them to understand the material. The same is true of God.
Second Message - Dr. Philip Ryken
Guest speaker Dr. Philip Ryken concludes the Second Message series teaching out of Romans 8 explaining the inseparable love of God.
Why Does God Allow Bad Things to Happen?
One question many people have thought about or are currently considering is: “If God is good, then why would he allow bad things to happen?” This is a difficult question to answer, and I know that no one will be able to provide you the perfect answer. But together we can explore how God works amid these situations to bring about His purposes.
Refined by Christ
“I asked God: Why the cutting? Why the shaping? Why the sanding edges smooth? Why the growing and the pruning, and the constant tweak and tune? Then He answered: There are kingdoms rising, falling full of skewed and blurring lines. I’m not built to fit inside yours; you are made to fit in mine.”
Christian Single
The perspective many single adults encounter in the church is often more representative of the values of culture than the teachings of scripture and that can be a frustrating and even discouraging thing. So how do the teachings of the Bible come to bear on this conversation?
Unburdened #5 - Living Without Fear
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund concludes the Unburdened series on Romans 8 looking at the culmination of Paul's arguments on how we should respond as Christians and how we can live without fear as part of our daily life.
Unburdened #4 - Living Without Pride
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund continues in Romans 8 looking at the seriousness of pride in our life and 3 assertions we can make to help us move towards humbleness.
Unburdened #3 - Living Without Despair
Continuing to verses 18-27 of Romans chapter 8, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund takes note of the word "groaning" that repeats itself. What is it that we groan about and what do we do with our pains and problems?
Unburdened #2 - Living Without Bondage
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund continues in Romans 8 looking at 3 different kinds of relationships we can have with the Holy Spirit in our journey through faith.
Unburdened #1 - Living Without Condemnation
Kicking off a new series, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund looks at Romans 8 and how we can make the journey of our life less burdened by coming to Christ.