Orchard Hill Church Blog
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Experience of Grace #9 - Humble Gratitude
In Romans 9:1–33, Mike Chilcoat reframes one of Scripture's most challenging chapters — showing that God's sovereignty over Israel's story is not a reason for confusion but for praise. If you've wrestled with predestination or grace, this message offers clarity and a reminder: the invitation to know God through Jesus is wide open to everyone.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
One of One (Memorial Day 2026)
In Luke 5:17–26, Russ Brasher unpacks why Jesus—the one-of-one Son of Man—chose to forgive sins before healing a paralyzed man, revealing the deeper miracle beneath the miracle. If you're asking who Jesus really is, this message will challenge you to bust through every excuse and give him your heart.
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.
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.
Experience of Grace #4 - Acceptance of the Struggle
In "Acceptance of the Struggle," Dr. Kurt Bjorklund unpacks Romans 7:14–25 and the tension every believer knows—wanting to do good, yet finding sin still at work within. Discover how embracing the struggle, rather than denying or surrendering to it, leads to deeper grace and a life increasingly aligned with Christ.
Experience of Grace #3 - Married to Christ
Russ Brasher walks through Romans 7:1–13 to show that believers are no longer bound to the law but joined to Jesus — set free to live in grace rather than rules. Discover why striving to earn what God has already freely given keeps you from the relationship you were made for.
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.
Experience of Grace #2 - Slaves to Righteousness
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund unpacks Romans 6:15-23, revealing that we're all slaves to something—either sin, which leads to death, or God, which leads to life. Discover why true freedom isn't doing whatever you want, but surrendering your heart to Christ and walking the path that leads to life.
Can You Really Trust The Bible?: An Honest Answer
Is the Bible trustworthy, or just an ancient book shaped by centuries of copying, bias, and tradition? In this post, Jake Williams walks through the historical, textual, and spiritual reasons we can trust Scripture—and invites readers to see how it reliably leads us to Christ himself.
Experience of Grace #1 - Union with Christ
In this message from Romans 6:1–14, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund explores how union with Christ changes us at the deepest level—freeing us from sin's power and reshaping our motivations from the inside out. Discover why the Christian life isn't about keeping a list of rules but about being drawn to the heart of a God whose grace transforms how we live.
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.
Easter Sunday 2026
In this Easter message from John 18, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund makes the case that Jesus is not merely a historical figure but a substitute for human failure and the leader of a kingdom that changes everything — inviting you to stop avoiding the question of who Jesus is and start living for something greater.
Good Friday 2026
In this Good Friday message from Luke 22, Dr. Kurt Bjorklund traces Peter's journey from hubris to denial to regret to grace — and shows how we follow the same path. If you've ever felt distant from God, this message will move you toward the restoration and recommission that only the cross can offer.
Good Friday: Words from the Cross
Bryce Vaught examines the seven final statements Jesus made from the cross, drawing parallels to Netflix's Famous Last Words to ask: what do a person's last words reveal about their heart? Discover how Jesus' final words offer forgiveness, grace, and the hope that death will never have the final say.