Orchard Hill Church Blog
Explore. Grow. Engage.
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.
Why did this happen to me? #3 - When Friends Aren’t Helpful
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund explores Job 15-21, revealing that while friends may offer "miserable comfort" through judgment or "better comfort" through presence, the best comfort comes from knowing our living Redeemer who will stand on the earth. When suffering strikes, your ultimate hope isn't found in circumstances or even good friends, but in Jesus Christ who has bought back your life from sin and will one day restore all that's broken.
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.
Why did this happen to me? #2 - When Answers Don’t Satisfy
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund explores Job 4-14, dismantling three myths about suffering: that doing good guarantees good outcomes, that repentance ends all pain, and that understanding precedes trust. Through Job's story, he reveals how the cross of Christ breaks the retributive principle—Jesus received what we deserve so we could receive what He deserved, offering real hope beyond our circumstances.
Why did this happen to me? #1 - When Your World Falls Apart
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund explores Job 1-3 to address why good people suffer, challenging the simplistic "good deeds = good life" theology and showing that sometimes God allows difficulty for reasons beyond our understanding. This message offers hope for anyone wrestling with the question "Why did this happen to me?" by distinguishing between fleeting optimism and lasting hope found in Christ.
When Faith Meets the Public Square: Speaking to a Legislature as a Christian
How can Christians engage meaningfully in public policy debates while maintaining both biblical conviction and respectful dialogue? In this legislative testimony, Jake Williams demonstrates how believers can articulate gospel-centered perspectives on complex issues like abortion legislation, showing readers a model for faithful public witness that combines theological depth with civil discourse.
Unshakeable #7 - Community
Pastor Brady Randall explores 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18 to reveal how authentic Christian community provides essential accountability, encouragement, and divine empowerment that we cannot achieve alone. Discover why isolation leaves us vulnerable and how God's design for genuine fellowship offers the strength and support needed to live an unshakeable faith.
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.
Unshakeable #6 - Purpose
Join Pastor Dan Irvin as he explores 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 to discover how Jesus Christ is the ultimate Logos—the divine purpose and meaning we're all searching for. Learn how finding your true purpose in Christ transforms ordinary moments into part of God's greater mission, sustaining you through life's challenges.
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.
Unshakeable #5 - Comfort
Jake Williams explores 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 to reveal how God's election doctrine shows we're not chosen because we believe, but we believe because we're chosen—a truth that humbles our pride while offering unshakeable comfort. This powerful message challenges our achievement mindset and invites both seekers and believers to rest in God's overwhelming grace rather than their own efforts.
Does It Really Matter How the World Ends?
In this thought-provoking post, Brady Randall tackles the age-old question that keeps many believers awake at night: what will the end of the world actually look like? Through biblical insights from 2 Peter and Revelation, he reveals why the specific details of Christ's return matter far less than the urgent reality that Jesus wins—and so can you.
Unshakeable #4 - Restraint
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund unpacks 2 Thessalonians 2:5-12 to reveal how we're living in a divine "time of restraint" before ultimate deception is unleashed. Discover why God invites you to join His resistance by living with radically different values, status, and timeline than the world around you.
The Torn Veil: A Moment That Changed Everything
What was the true significance of that earth-shaking moment when Jesus died on the cross? In this powerful retelling, Dan Shields takes you inside the temple as priests witnessed the massive veil tear in two, revealing how Christ's sacrifice opened direct access to God for every believer.
Unshakeable #3 - Future
In this message from 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund reveals three essential truths about Jesus' second coming that can transform your perspective on current world events and personal struggles. Discover how understanding the "day of the Lord" can give you unshakeable confidence and purposeful direction in an uncertain world.
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.
Unshakeable #2 - Justice
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund explores 2 Thessalonians 1:6-12 to reveal how God's unshakeable justice isn't just a future promise but a present calling for believers today. Discover how you can be an instrument of God's justice right now by living worthy of your calling and bringing His glory to your everyday situations.
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.
Unshakeable #1 - Confidence
In this message from 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund reveals how to distinguish between false confidence based on heritage, past decisions, or religious experiences and true unshakable confidence rooted in Christ's worthiness alone. Discover the three biblical evidences of genuine faith that can give you rock-solid assurance in an uncertain world.
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.