Orchard Hill Church Blog
Explore. Grow. Engage.
Thankful to Who?: Why Your Gratitude is Looking for God
Jake Williams explores why gratitude feels incomplete when there's no one to thank—why "thank you" becomes a letter with no address. Discover how recognizing the Giver behind every good gift transforms gratitude from a fragile mood into the fruit of a relationship that grounds your joy and dignifies even the smallest blessings.
Emotional Maturity: The Key to Influence and Enduring
Bryce Vaught explores why many pastors and leaders struggle with burnout and conflict, revealing how emotional intelligence can be the key to lasting ministry impact. Learn the four essential elements of emotional intelligence and practical steps to develop self-awareness, manage your emotions, and build healthier relationships that help you endure for the long haul.
Getting Started with Discipleship
Jonathan Thiede explores how to start meaningful discipleship relationships when life gets busy, drawing from his own journey with fishing and faith. Learn the three key qualities to look for in a discipleship partner and why pursuing progress over perfection helps you fulfill the Great Commission.
Take His Hand: How Jesus Reaches Out to Change Lives
Emily DeAngelo explores whether we come to Jesus or He initiates with us through three Gospel accounts where Jesus takes someone's hand to heal and transform. She hopes readers will discover how Jesus does for us what we cannot do ourselves—lifting us from sickness, death, and isolation into abundant life through His compassionate touch.
Planning, Time Management, and Other Ways We Believe We’re in Control
Alexis Shippy explores why our obsession with perfect planning and control often leaves us exhausted and unfulfilled, despite our best intentions. Through personal reflection and biblical wisdom, she reveals how shifting from self-directed planning to God-led living can transform our approach to life's overwhelming demands.
Why Living for the Weekend is No Way to Live
Will Stevens challenges the common trap of "living for the weekend" that leaves us valuing only 48 out of 168 hours each week. Discover how reframing work as meaningful co-creation with God can transform your entire approach to daily life and help you find joy in every moment.
Can I Be Sure I’m Saved?
Many Christians wrestle with the question, can I be sure I’m saved? In Can I Be Sure I’m Saved?, R.C. Sproul offers biblical guidance and practical insight for gaining confidence in your salvation. In this post, Devin Kelly shares how this short but powerful read addresses common doubts, explores the heart of true faith, and reminds us that assurance is found in Christ alone.
Weeping in the Garden
A garden can’t grow on sunshine and rain alone. It needs a gardener—someone to pull weeds, chase pests, and water roots in dry spells. In the same way, our souls need the attentive care of the Good Gardener. In her reflective blog, Emily DeAngelo draws us through the biblical gardens of Eden, Gethsemane, and the garden tomb to show how God meets us in our weeping and tends to our weary hearts. Whether you're wrestling with sorrow or simply battling weeds, this piece is a reminder that Jesus is always at work—restoring, pruning, and preparing us for the day we walk with Him in the garden where every tear will be wiped away.
How We Respond to Sin: The Difference Between Godly Sorrow and Worldly Grief
Nick Hettinger explores how believers should respond to conviction and guilt over sin, distinguishing between godly sorrow that leads to repentance and worldly grief that produces spiritual death. Learn to embrace God's conviction as a gift and find freedom from shame through His faithful forgiveness.
From Distance to Intimacy: Acknowledging God Daily
Bryce Vaught tackles one of faith's biggest challenges: how do we grow closer to someone we can't see? Discover three practical ways to acknowledge God in your daily life and develop the intimate relationship with Christ you were designed for.
How Discipleship Can Energize Your Spiritual Life (Part 1)
Jonathan Thiede tackles the spiritual boredom that comes from knowing about faith without truly living it, like a tennis fan who's never picked up a racket. Discover how discipleship can transform your spiritual life from passive observation to active growth through relational, goal-oriented, and transformative connections with others.
Dual Roads to Darkness: Two Ways to Death and the Single Path to Life
Jake Williams explores why the popular "two ways to live" framework might miss a crucial third path that leads people away from God—religious performance that masquerades as righteousness. Discover how the gospel offers a transformative alternative that transcends both moral rebellion and legalistic religion.
Seven Ancient Worship Disciplines from Richard Foster's Timeless Wisdom
Dan Shields explores Richard Foster's wisdom on worship, showing how we need more than knowing about God—we must experience His presence. Discover seven ancient disciplines that transform worship from routine religious activity into life-giving encounters with the living God in both corporate gatherings and daily life.
Messages in Malachi: Minutes, Marriage, and Mindset
In her insightful exploration of Malachi, Emily DeAngelo unpacks three transformative themes—minutes, marriage, and mindset—challenging us to examine how we worship, honor our covenant relationships, and fix our thoughts on Christ's redemptive promise for our everyday lives.
Contrasting Saul and David: How to Be a Man After God’s Heart
Bryce Vaught explores three key differences between these biblical kings that reveal what it means to reflect God's heart. David's faithful shepherding, spiritual sensitivity, and humble repentance stand in stark contrast to Saul's negligence, spiritual dullness, and pride. Ultimately, David points us to Jesus—the perfect embodiment of God's heart whom we're called to emulate.
How to Study the Bible for All It’s Worth
Discover a deeper understanding of the Bible with How to Study the Bible for All It's Worth. This blog teaches the inductive study method, helping you let Scripture interpret itself and uncover its true meaning. Whether you're new to Bible study or seeking deeper insight, this approach will transform how you read and apply God’s Word. Start your journey today!
Living Wholly for God: Escaping the Trap of Spiritual Seasonality
God isn't meant to be just another hobby we pick up and put down when life gets busy—He's meant to be the foundation of our entire existence. Discover how shifting your perspective from seeing faith as a compartment of your life to the framework for everything you do can transform your relationship with God and bring lasting fulfillment.
Faith Through Fiction: Analyzing Stories Through a Biblical Lens
Discover a powerful four-phase framework that transforms how Christians engage with movies, books, and media through a Biblical lens. This practical guide equips you to identify worldview elements in stories, compare them with Scripture, and use popular culture as a meaningful gateway for spiritual conversations and Great Commission opportunities.
The Power of Forgiveness: Stories of Lives Changed by Jesus
Forgiveness stands as one of humanity's most challenging yet liberating acts. This exploration delves into transformative stories—both ancient and modern—to uncover the profound healing that occurs when we choose forgiveness and how it isn't just something we give to others; but gift we give ourselves.
Humble Like a Child: Seeing Humility as a Strength
When was the last time you spent time with a child? Their unfiltered joy, awe, and honesty set them apart from adults. But what if we could learn from them? In this post, we’ll explore Jesus’ call to childlike humility and how it frees us from comparison, empowers us to uplift others, and deepens our dependence on God. Are you ready to see humility as a strength? Let’s dive in.