Eastside Church

Pastor John Hull begins our new series, “A Jesus Shaped Life,” with a powerful reminder that theology is a good word.Too often theology feels technical, distant, or disconnected from everyday life—but in reality, theology is simply thinking about God and expressing those thoughts in the way we live.

Paul reveals the ongoing conflict between the old nature (the flesh) and the new nature in Christ. Even as a believer, the struggle remains. As J. I. Packer said, “Paul wasn’t struggling because he was such a sinner. Paul was struggling because he was a saint.”

In this message, Pastor explains that before Christ we were enslaved to sin, but through Christ we have been set free. Using Paul’s illustration of marriage, we see that we are no longer bound to the Law—we now belong to Jesus. The Law reveals sin, but it cannot rescue us. Only Christ can.

In this final movement of The Red Letter Challenge, we turn to one powerful word: GOING.

While many believers are familiar with the phrase “The Great Commission,” research shows that most cannot clearly explain what it means. Yet Jesus’ final command was unmistakable: “Go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:18–20). The mission wasn’t an afterthought—it was born before the Church was born.

Pastor Scott Kelly focuses on giving and the heart behind it. Drawing from Jesus’ words in Matthew 6, this message challenges the fear that often shapes our finances and invites us to trust God with a give-first, kingdom-centered approach. Discover how generosity grows our faith and why following Jesus means surrendering every part of our lives—including our resources.

In week three of the Red Letter Challenge, we turn our focus to the call of Serving. Jesus makes it clear that love for Him is demonstrated through obedience (John 14:15), and that true discipleship often means stepping out in faith with a simple response: “Because You Say So, I Will” (Luke 5:4–5).

This week in the Red Letter Challenge, we focus on one of Jesus’ hardest commands: forgiveness. Through the words of Christ in Matthew 5, 6, and 18, we’re reminded that forgiveness isn’t optional—it’s essential to following Him. Though letting go can be difficult, Jesus calls us to pray for others, release the hurt, and walk in freedom.

The Red Letter Challenge invites us to take a fresh look at the words of Jesus recorded in red and examine how they shape our daily lives. This series is not about information alone, but transformation—moving from simply hearing Christ’s words to building our lives upon them.

This message highlights two unshakable reasons for hope. First, Jesus made Himself like us—entering our broken world, suffering as we suffer, and dying in our place to break the power of death and bondage. Second, Jesus conquered death for us—freeing us from the lifelong fear of what lies beyond the grave.

This Sunday we launch our new Christmas series, The Thrill of Hope, with a message called “The Birth of Hope.”

From Galatians 4:4–5, we discover that the arrival of Jesus wasn’t random — it was perfectly timed, purposefully sent, miraculously born, and personally inviting. In just two verses, Paul unveils four powerful truths: God fulfilled His promise, intervened with grace, entered our world through the incarnation, and invites us into His family through adoption.

Christmas isn’t just a season we celebrate — it’s the moment hope stepped into history. Join us as we rediscover the joy, the promise, and the thrill of the hope we have in Jesus.