Rolling Hills Community Church // Nashville South Campus

The first chapter of Matthew tells us about Jesus’ genealogy and His birth. Jesus’ birth changed our world forever. The thin veil between Heaven and Earth was pulled back, and God came near. Jesus’ Name literally means, “Salvation.” There is salvation for every person because of the grace we receive in Jesus. We have a personal God who loves us and who is near to us. Immanuel, “God with us.” Regardless of where you are or what you are going through, know that God is with you and He is for you. Jesus is here, and you are loved.

God has a plan for your life. We are all a part of God’s Redemptive Story. God created you and put you here at this time in History. As we embark on this journey through the Gospel of Matthew today, we see how everything in History is leading up to Jesus. Our lives and our stories are transformed in Him. If you do not yet know Jesus, then make today the day that changes your life forever. And, if you are a follower of Jesus, then let’s dive deeper into His Word and pass Him on to generations to come. Let’s leave a legacy for Christ and Christ alone.

It’s Easter! And, our Jesus is alive! King Jesus conquered death and has made a way for us to be forgiven and to experience eternal life. We know Easter is all about what Jesus did for us on the cross and the Resurrection. When we were dead in our sins, Jesus paid our price. Today, will you respond to the death, burial and Resurrection of Jesus by receiving Him in your heart and then following Him with your life? And, if you are already a Christian, then let Easter call you to worship our Risen Savior and to live every day for His glory. He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

King Jesus was crucified on the cross. The Crucifixion of Jesus on the Cross is the defining point of the world and of our lives. The cross is where we see God’s judgment on sin and His grace for us intersect. The cross demands a response. How will you respond to Jesus? Jesus paid the price for your sins. Will you receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and respond to Him today? Jesus paid it all for you on the cross. Let’s worship King Jesus.

Easter is all about Jesus. In our culture, Easter can become about a lot of things - Easter eggs, Easter bunnies, Easter clothes, Easter chocolates and so much more. But, ultimately the real reason we celebrate Easter is because of Jesus. The greatest miracle of all has happened, and we come to worship and celebrate our Savior. Jesus willingly gave His life for us. And, our world and our lives will never be the same. It’s Easter, and Jesus is alive! Let’s worship King Jesus!

Boundaries are God’s way of preparing our character for His calling, but when we resist surrender and treat the holy as casual, we risk losing our way. Yet even in our deepest failures, we are not defined by our lack of strength, but by the redeeming grace of Jesus. Because of the cross, our story doesn’t end where we failed; it begins where He finished.

Through Israel’s battle against Jabin and Sisera, we’re reminded that courageous leadership starts with trusting God’s plan. Some battles are appointed by Him, and before we ever step into them, He is already there. God planned the battle, God secured the victory, and God received the glory. When leaders step up and people respond, God moves powerfully. Living for His glory is both a joy and a relief, because it’s not about us. Will we choose comfort and safety, or lay down our lives for the good of others and the glory of God?

God uses ordinary people in extraordinary ways. Our struggle is that we drift from God. We fall in love with the things of this world, and we forget the goodness, grace and blessings of our God. These are the times that we must repent - cry to God - and He will save us. Our strength is not in ourselves, but in the Spirit of the Lord. He alone is the One who can bring peace in our hearts and in our surroundings. Our world desperately needs godly courageous leaders today - will you be the one? Will you lead others to Jesus, the Prince of Peace? This is your time.

Emotional health is learning to live with a Spirit-guarded heart, where emotions are understood as information, not instructions. We cannot stop emotions from coming, but in Christ, we can choose how we respond to them in ways that protect both our hearts and the people downstream from us. Through the Spirit, we practice emotional regulation by pausing to create space, processing what we feel with truth and wisdom, and proceeding with a faithful, Spirit-led response. God meets us in this work, not to shame us for our emotions, but to lead us toward a life that is fully healthy and fully alive.

God created us for relationships. Our God is a relational God, and He created us to be in right relationship with Him and with others. However, there is the problem of sin. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Sin impacts our relationship with God and with others (hurt people hurt people). But there is grace. Praise God for grace! Jesus came to die for our sins and to allow us, by the grace of God, to be restored in our relationship with God. Therefore, we should offer grace to one another. We are called to love others as God first loved us. So, how are you growing in your relationship with God and socially with others? Let’s grow in love.