Mendham Hills

Conversations #11 - Riches, Rulers & Sycamore Trees by Sunday Podcast

Conversations #10 - So What Now? by Sunday Podcast

Conversations #8 - Pick Me! Pick Me! by Sunday Podcast

Conversations #7 - Can't Do That...It's Sunday by Sunday Podcast

Conversations #6 - Maybe Later by Sunday Podcast

Conversations #9 - Cheaters & Chuckers by Sunday Podcast

2015 Summer Sermon Series looking at different conversations Jesus had with those He encountered during His earthly ministry.

2015 Summer Sermon Series looking at different conversations Jesus had with those He encountered during His earthly ministry.

Conversations #2 - Faith From The Least Expected by Sunday Podcast

Conversations #1 - Sinners & Winners by Sunday Podcast

Conversations #3 - A Vacation Conversation by Sunday Podcast

This Sunday, we begin our new series, The Reason For God. What a great series to invite a curious friend to, because in the coming weeks we will be studying material from Tim Keller's critically acclaimed book of the same title. Specifically, we will be addressing some of the most common objections to Christianity. This week, we look at the claim that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. Isn't it arrogant and intolerant of Christians to claim this when most of the world is not Christian? Don't all paths really lead to God? What about all of the wisdom, character, and happiness coming from adherents to other faiths? Can there really be only one way?

In or Out. Us or Them. Haves or Have nots. You know the categories. They have existed for all of time. Winner or Loser. Cool or Uncool. Sometimes they're hidden, but most of the time, it's pretty obvious. From the caste system in India, to the table situation in your kid's high school - the world has, oftentimes painfully, been segregating people one from another. Historically though, perhaps nothing has done it better than religion. Yet, in a sea of segregation, one voice calls across time, beckoning that "all" would come. This Sunday at Mendham Hills, we look at the inclusiveness of the call to cross the line of faith and be baptized.

The claim to be "a little bit pregnant" has always stood as the height of absurdity. Well, the truth is, it's the same with being a follower of Jesus - either you are or you're not. The Bible is pretty clear; at some point, you need to make a decision about what to do with Jesus. This week, as we begin to look towards our end-of-the-year baptism party, we look at "fence sitters and line crossers:" stories of people who hung around the edges of Jesus but never committed, and those who crossed the line of faith and were baptized. Have you crossed the line or are you still sitting on the fence? This Sunday, it's time to make a decision!

You know our reputation, don't you? Not ours at Mendham Hills necessarily, but Christians in general. If I went to the Green in Morristown and asked folks to give me one word to describe Christians, what do you think it would be? Well, as the saying goes - as much as things change, they stay the same. The early church was powerful and beautiful. It was taking Jerusalem by storm and shaking the gates of hell. But then came its first real threat. It did not come from Roman rulers or Temple leaders; it came from within. To this day, there is no force more powerful than the church, yet there is one thing that always threatens its purpose: hypocrites! This Sunday at Mendham Hills - how to handle hypocrisy and actually be who we say we are!

The science seems to have coalesced at this point regarding the key to happiness: Lower your expectations! Sure, there is some truth there that many of us do carry around some unrealistic expectations. Yet, if all we ever do is lower our expectations, then greatness, wonder, healing, achievement, and beauty wind up sacrificed on the altar of "ordinary." You, we, the people of God were created for anything but. We were made extra-ordinary, and maybe, just maybe, it's time to dream big dreams again! This Sunday, we look at the question: If we set our sights too low, do we get only what we expect?

Our whole "Groundwork" series has been based on the Bible's command to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind." The scripture is clear that in the battle for joy and purpose, the battle is won or lost in our minds. Science and the bible agree; as a man thinketh in his heart, so shall he be. It turns out that your thoughts matter more to your life thank you circumstances. Yet, we spend most of our lives trying to change our circumstances and not our minds. This Sunday, a practical look at how to change - how to renew your mind!

Contemporary studies agree with biblical accounts; there are few things we think about, worry about, and dream about more than money. It is both the leading cause of divorce in our country and the principal focus of most of the teachings of Jesus. Money itself is neither good nor evil, but it has boundless potential for both. There is no way we can work through a series on transforming our lives without looking at our finances. We need a new way to look at our money, and new strategies for preventing it from dominating our lives and impacting our souls. This Sunday at Mendham Hills - a fresh take on financial health!

This week in Groundwork, we try and bring some transformation to an area many of us overlook. "It is not good for man to be alone," is one of the best known lines in scripture, but the truth is that it is also one of the most important. Our culture has sent us two messages: Celebrate the self-made man, and never allow yourself to rely on anyone. Thus, we have moved from being a people deeply entwined in community to a people surrounded by fences, and at deep levels, alone. And that is not good. This week, we look at a key component to the happiness you are pursuing - relationships!

"I just lost it!" or, "I couldn't take it anymore!" Ever begin a story like that? They usually end with, "So I told her to go…" or, "I let him have it!" Now, in hindsight we often wish our "cooler head" had prevailed, but man, when our emotions kick in, there is just no telling where they might lead. As the classic question goes - do you control your emotions or do your emotions control you? This week, we look at how to make advances, how to bring transformation to our emotional lives. Emotions are not the problem, it is losing control over them which has wrecked life after life. This Sunday, how to regain control of the monster of our emotions!