Mendham Hills

It's probably not possible to look at the forty most influential chapters in the Bible and not land in the third chapter of John's gospel. Within just a couple of lines, John records probably two of the most famous sayings of Jesus: "For God so loved the world..." and, "Lest a man be born again..." Sound familiar? Yet, the story of the man Jesus spoke those words to is so unknown. In many ways, his story is our story, his questions are our questions, and his journey to faith could be yours, too.

Sometimes we wonder where God is. We face issues in life and it all seems puzzling. There are times we can point to His striking awareness of our circumstances, but then there are times when He just seems aloof. Is He too busy for us? Are we just numbers on a list? This next segment in our "40 For 40" series will revolutionize our view of God and challenge us with an awareness we need to ponder deeply. Let's dig in to Psalm 139 together - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.

Unfortunately, the followers of Jesus have become known for one character trait more than any other...and it isn't love. You have probably heard the old preacher's joke in response to this unfortunately common charge. When challenged by someone in the community with, "I would never go church, it's full of hypocrites," he smiled and warmly replied, "Yes! And there is always room for one more! Why not join us this Sunday?" Witty response, but what if it's really not all that funny? Overcoming our hypocrisy this Memorial Day Sunday at Mendham Hills Community Church.

This Sunday, bring your mom to church as we celebrate and honor a mother's love. Samuel Coleridge wrote, "The love of a mother is the veil of a softer light between the heart and the heavenly Father." I think he was on to something. There is just something different about the heart of a mom. The photo booth will be open for family pics this Mother's Day, as we reflect on what has to be the strangest Mother's Day story ever told - this Sunday at MHCC.

In a world of few moral absolutes, uncertainty seems to reign. Truths that once seemed foundational now seem optional. What about for you...personally? What are your core convictions? Do you have any? How far is too far? Where do you draw the line (if there is one)? Discovering the power of personal convictions in your life before it's too late, this Sunday at Mendham Hills.

The last words of Jesus were, "It is finished." Unfortunately, most of us live like the war still rages, like nothing is really finished at all. We live lives of caution, fear and regret, hoping to not become a casualty in a war that ended long ago. Jesus won the war over sin and death...but have you? Living in the light of victory - put another way - walking like the winner you really are, this Sunday at Mendham Hills.

Good Friday services at Mendham Hills Community Church

The greatest prison people live in is the fear of what other people think. If the greatest battle we engage in is the battle within, then perhaps our greatest enemy is the need for approval. What would it be like to wake up one morning and realize the whole thing never really was a competition? Tired of a life striving for a constantly moving finish line? Imagine the freedom of living as if you had already won. Victory over our approval addiction - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.

It seems we live in a world bent on war and filled with rumors of war. Nation against nation and brother against brother, hate seems to be the order of the day and civility is a long-dead casualty. The Bible's chock full of wars, too, leading many to wonder if God is a God of war. It is not God, though, who created humanity to live in violence, but humanity who chooses violence. It is our history, not God's. He winds up tainted by being part of our story, but the story of God is a story of peace. And that peace begins within. Winning the battle within - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.

Join us this Sunday as we hear David Janssen, Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Mendham Hills, share his story of faith and the pieces that so clearly made him a believer in God. He adds to his story the Psalm that so deeply explores the heart of this amazing journey. Come and hear how our David's story and reflections on God's love tie into Psalm 103, written by another David, who knew so well the grace and love of God.

Miriam-Webster just added the term "dumpster fire" to it's renowned dictionary of the English language. That's how common the term is and how frequent the train wrecks are. Pick any synonym you want, when I messed up as a kid, my dad would ask me, "Do you have rocks in your head?" There are so many sayings because we are so good at making bad decisions and messing up our lives. Why are we often so good at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory? Heck, often times I know the right decision and still make the wrong one. This Sunday, before you toss another match in the dumpster, discover the "expulsive power of a new affection.

What is it that you depend on? I guess it "depends" on the situation. On a staircase, it's the railing. On a plane, it's the captain. In a marriage, it's my spouse. Have you ever noticed that your courage, faith and willingness to risk is directly related to what it is you depend on? Ever get in a plane with a captain you don't trust? Would you marry someone with wandering affections? This Sunday at MHCC, we discover a foundational truth in all of the Scriptures - how to be bold in a world full of fear and anxiety.

This Sunday, we continue 40 For 40 - our journey through the 40 most influential chapters in all of the Scriptures. Name a religion and there's a set of rules. Judaism has ten commandments, Islam has the five pillars, Hinduism has the four principles, Buddhists have five moral precepts. What's with all the rules? Do you know of anyone who has walked away from faith because they got confused or tired of trying to keep them all? Have you? This Sunday - Jesus, religion and the role of rules.

This Sunday, we launch into our new series, "40 For 40" as together we explore the forty most essential themes in the Scriptures. Let's be honest - approaching the Bible can often times be intimidating (where do you start?), confusing (what does this even mean?), or defeating (have you tried and given up?). This Sunday, with the help of a forty day devotional guide, we begin an eight week journey through the biggest eight ideas in all of the Bible, in pursuit of not just knowledge, but truth and transformation. These stories are too good to be true, but they are. Commit to these forty days with us and let's see if you don't come out the other side seeing God, and maybe yourself, in a way you never imagined.

If you're old enough for this to sound familiar, you just began to sway. Who knew Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock had such wisdom? This simple rhyme taps into a pretty deep - but often-hidden - spiritual truth. A truth that Paul, an early follower of Christ, said he had to learn. A secret truth he said he had to "be initiated into," a truth about finding joy and purpose, even in the pain. This Sunday, discover the secret purpose of the "stuff."

Unto You - We Demand A Sign by Sunday Podcast

The playwright and novelist, James Baldwin, once remarked, "Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." The apostle Paul also acknowledged this truth when we said, "Follow me as I follow Christ." When stuff happens, we may forget everything we think we know about handling crisis, but we will inevitably gravitate towards the actions of those we have watched walk through it before us. A model to imitate - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.

Unto You - MIssing The Sign by Sunday Podcast

Sometimes when the "stuff" in my life is really spinning out of control, I start looking around. You would think my first thought would be to look for help, a way out. Nope. Do I look for a lesson to be learned from all of this? Not on your life - I'm in no mood for a lesson. When the stuff really hits hard, I have a couple of more primal concerns - wrong ones - and so do you. This Sunday at Mendham Hills, we learn the wrong questions to ask in our stuff, and the right one to help us make some sense of it all.

I had a new friend meet me at the front of the church last week with a pretty profound question: "If God is so powerful and He loves us so much, why doesn't He keep stuff from happening in our lives?" Great question. I mean, we play by the rules, we work hard, we pray and pray and pray...and yet the stuff just doesn't seem to change or go away. Why God? What is all this stuff happening to me? Why won't you just take it away or fix it? The unwanted gift of our stuff - this Sunday at Mendham Hills.