There’s nothing more nerve-wracking than a looming presidential election. You feel the tension everywhere—online debates, attack ads, opinion pieces, and whole lot of warnings about what will inevitably happen if the other side wins. We’re made to feel like the fate of the universe hangs on the outcome of this election. Everywhere you turn, your fe…

Few things are as annoying as entitlement; acting as if you’re owed certain things or are unaware of all the effort that went into getting you what you got. Ever done something for someone who was ungrateful for your effort? Ever given your best to something you didn’t have to do at all, and someone still complained about it. Ever give a little, on…

We all know people who never seem to apologize for anything, and others who apologize for practically everything. Nobody likes those who can’t admit they’re wrong. It’s easy to see them as self-absorbed, arrogant, excuse makers. At the same time, we can’t always tell when we’re wrong. We’re not always aware of how the things we do impact and affect…

Pretty much every kid is told to say, “Please.” But it may have been a while since you’ve heard an adult say it. In our culture, we tend to think of polite people as pushovers. We like stories about confident, charismatic figures who know what they want, demand what they need, and don’t take crap from anybody. Maybe that’s what comes to mind when y…

Words carry weight. We know it, but don’t always act like it. We’ve all spent a ton of time carefully crafting the perfect text or email. We’ve all also carelessly said something that came back to haunt us. There are some conversations we wish we could remember, and others we wish we could forget. Certain phrases stick with us forever. They’re part…

Keep your hands to yourself. We’re all told this at a young age. Because kids are touchy. Initially, we ignore these instructions. That is—until a stove burns us, a thorn pricks us, or another kid hits us. Too much touch is a problem, but so is too little. Humans with no physical connections emotionally shut down. In Scripture we see a faith that’s…

We all have foods we like and foods we hate. You’ve gotten into arguments about it before. There are certain meals you’d save up and drive across the country for. And there are other things you still wouldn’t eat even if you were starving. We’re obsessed with food. And so is Scripture. There’s so much talk of eating in the Bible—lists of foods you …

Ever been really excited to walk into a restaurant because of how good it smelled? Ever refused to walk into a public restroom because of how bad it smelled? Smells are signals. But they don’t just tell us what we’re about to walk into. They remind us of where we’ve come from and what we’ve been through. Almost every time Scripture prescribes a spi…

Ever been so distracted by the coffee shop conversations around you that you couldn’t think straight? Ever gotten so sucked into the energy of a loud crowd that it changed your mood? Ever decided you couldn’t be friends with someone when you found out what kind of music they liked? Maybe you can’t fall asleep without the gentle buzz of a fan by you…

Ever look right at something but not see it? Maybe you didn’t know what you were looking at. Maybe you just couldn’t focus. Maybe your eyes were on it, but your mind was somewhere else. Ever looked at the same thing as someone else but saw something totally different? How we look at things changes what we see, and what we see changes what we do. So…

Are you filled with ideas, dreams, and desire to make a lasting impact, but instead of making moves you’re stuck in your own head? Maybe you’re caught up in a daily grind that feels directionless or you’re exhausted because you can’t say no to opportunities that make you feel significant. Constantly searching for the right path or the perfect calli…

Are you your own worst critic? Constantly devaluing your own thoughts, words, and actions to avoid judgement and shame. Do you habitually compare yourself to others without even realizing? You probably have a knack for spotting untapped potential and value in others, but are you giving yourself the same opportunity to grow and evolve? Instead of st…

Do you ever feel like you’re helping everyone around you win, but you can’t ever seem to measure up? You work hard, achieve countless goals, and exude confidence, but deep down you wonder if people really see your talents and accomplishments. Maybe you grew up in a household where love felt like a prize to be won, and failure was a curse word. You …

We’ve all had moments where we feel like we don’t belong, but do you catch yourself consistently searching for acceptance? Do you feel alone, surround by people who love you? Are you constantly trying to morph into what you believe others want you to be? Author Brene Brown says, “True belonging doesn’t require us to change who we are; it requires u…

You want to make people happy. What’s wrong with that? Sure, when they’re not, you’re nervously convinced it’s probably your fault. Maybe you did something wrong or just didn’t so something right. You find yourself trying to anticipate the needs of others so you can meet them. It’s so obvious to you that everyone wants to be seen, heard and known. …

You want to make people happy. What’s wrong with that? Sure, when they’re not, you’re nervously convinced it’s probably your fault. Maybe you did something wrong or just didn’t so something right. You find yourself trying to anticipate the needs of others so you can meet them. It’s so obvious to you that everyone wants to be seen, heard and known. …

All of us have moments of stress, but some of us walk around with an ever-present uneasiness eating away at us. Other people say you’re nervous, but you think of yourself as cautious. There is this part of you that feels like you’ve always got to be on guard. When you walk into a room, your eyes dart around, clocking the exits and anything odd or o…

Ever notice that others don’t seem to get worked up or passionate about the same things as you? In fact, if you’re honest, sometimes the oversized reactions you have to certain situations surprise even you. Ever wonder—Where’d that come from? Why did I do that? At times it almost seems like you’re struggling to feel normal in an area everyone else …

We all say the same thing to ourselves when we get hurt, “Never again! I’m never going to put myself in this sort of situation or let someone take advantage of me in this way again.” And we mean it. And we stick to it. For a while. But eventually, over time, we look up and are surprised to find ourselves wounded in the same way. How does this happe…

When we count on someone and they take advantage of our trust, the pain can cause us to want to write them off forever. Are there situations where that’s ok? And if it’s not, what then? Are you just supposed to put your head down, ignore your feelings, cross your fingers, and pray it doesn’t happen again? That sounds stupid. And maybe even a bit da…

Obviously, we don’t trust those who’ve proven untrustworthy. But what happens when someone seems to be trustworthy, and you still don’t trust them? You’ve been there, right? No matter what they say or do, you can’t help but brace yourself for the inevitable let down. There’s something wrong with everyone, but what if your inability to trust is the …

We all know what it feels like not to trust someone. But is that all trust is—a feeling? Where do these feelings even come from? Are they ever wrong? What is it that makes someone trustworthy? Is it a matter or faith or proof? How transferable is trust? If we trust someone with one thing, does that mean we should trust them with everything? Wouldn’…

We’ve all heard someone say, “I don’t trust people.” And they probably have pretty good reasons for it. Maybe when someone says, “Trust me”, there’s part of you that bristles. When someone violates our trust, instead of just seeing them as untrustworthy, we can assume—maybe everyone is untrustworthy. We become suspicious of the motives & actions of…

Ever wonder why other people just don’t get it? The truth is so obvious. And you know what you’re talking about. You’ve looked into it. You’ve done the research. You’ve analyzed what’s out there. And you’re pretty sure you see things clearly. Why can’t everybody else just get on board? It’s up to you to show them where they’re wrong and tell them h…

Ever had an issue you just couldn’t seem to escape? Maybe it was a bad habit, negative thought process, destructive impulse, or unhealthy relationship pattern. Whatever it is, you don’t like that you do it. At times you thought you were over it, but reluctantly crawled back to it. Is this just the way you are? Is there nothing you can do? Are there…

Do you find yourself feeling annoyed a lot—about all sorts of things, large and small? You’re not a hateful person, you just want things to be right. And when they’re not, you can’t help but see it and be frustrated by it. Sometimes it feels like other people aren’t even trying. And the more you think about it, the more upset you get. People have s…

Ever been told you’re hard on yourself? Ever have trouble believing the nice things people say about you? When something doesn’t go as planned, do you assume it’s probably your fault? Is part of you always wondering when it’s all going to fall apart? Ever realize that not everyone else thinks this way? Why is that? How do we come to believe the thi…

It’s easy to assume Christian maturity is following the strictest rules, memorizing the most verses, and meeting the highest standards. We can tend to think the less joy we exude, the more spiritual we are. But Jesus didn’t seem to share this perception. He was less concerned with the rules people followed then the health of the relationships they …

Christians have a reputation of acting as if the world is doomed and their main objective is to complain about it, survive it, and eventually escape it. They seem to believe hope is reserved for heaven, and the only thing available on earth is pessimism. Jesus called His followers the “light of the world”, but many people experience them as a dark …

Many people walk away from church because they felt as if they were surrounded by hypocrites—people who said one thing but did another. And honestly, they’re not wrong. The church IS full of hypocrites because it’s full of people, and people are often inconsistent. The problem we have is not that people make mistakes, it’s that they won’t admit to …

If you ask an outsider what they think of Christians, they’re likely to say, “They’re judgmental and think they’re better than everyone else.” And there’s a good chance their answer is based on personal experience. Some won’t set foot inside a church because they’re convinced all eyes will be on them, staring them down as if they don’t belong. They…

If you're new with us, let us know how we can be praying for you, we invite you to fill out an online Connect Card by visiting https://southhillschurch.churchcenter.com/people/forms/91550 — If you are looking for what is next for you, we invite you to fill out an online “Next Steps” card by visiting https://southhillschurch.churchcenter.com/people/…

If you're new with us, let us know how we can be praying for you, we invite you to fill out an online Connect Card by visiting https://southhillschurch.churchcenter.com/people/forms/91550 — If you are looking for what is next for you, we invite you to fill out an online “Next Steps” card by visiting https://southhillschurch.churchcenter.com/people/…

If you're new with us, let us know how we can be praying for you, we invite you to fill out an online Connect Card by visiting https://southhillschurch.churchcenter.com/people/forms/91550 — If you are looking for what is next for you, we invite you to fill out an online “Next Steps” card by visiting https://southhillschurch.churchcenter.com/people/…

We’re told that what God wants to do in the world is for everyone everywhere and we’re all part of His plan. But, ever feel like that can’t be true of you? Ever feel like you have nothing worthwhile to offer or contribute? Ever feel like when God built the kit to rescue the world, He threw in a couple of spare parts for good measure…and that’s you?…

Everybody knows that just like a road trip isn’t complete without music, a church service isn’t complete without worship. We may not know why that is. But we know that it is. It’s obvious there’s something powerful about music, but why do we need to huddle together and sing love songs in the dark to someone who’s invisible. It’s weird. Why has this…

Life is busy and shows no signs of slowing down. That means doing a lot of our life on-the-go: looking over a proposal while in another meeting, taking a phone call at your kid’s soccer practice, eating alone in your car. A lot of us have a hard time being fully present with the people in front of us—not multitasking, thinking about what’s next, or…

If you're new with us, let us know how we can be praying for you, we invite you to fill out an online Connect Card by visiting https://southhillschurch.churchcenter.com/people/forms/91550 — If you are looking for what is next for you, we invite you to fill out an online “Next Steps” card by visiting https://southhillschurch.churchcenter.com/people/…

The last thing any parent wants their kid to be is a spoiled brat. But, in today’s culture, that’s tricky to avoid. It’s hard enough for adults not to become preoccupied with their own wants and desires. Especially when we’re all told that we deserve better. We’re entitled. How do we keep from being demanding and dissatisfied? Is it something we ca…

So much of what we think we need is dictated by what those around us have. We feel the pressure to keep up with and occasionally one-up our neighbors. But social media has expanded our community of comparison to everyone in existence. Which is a little overwhelming. Why is so much of our self-worth tied to what we have, and why do even those who ha…

Statistically, most Americans live paycheck to paycheck, barely making ends meet regardless of how much they make. It’s easier to make money than to make a plan for your money. We tend to just spend what we get on whatever we need in the moment, not realizing that some of our needs may just be wants in disguise. How can you tell the difference? Is …

Most families don’t talk about money, especially to their kids. Which is a shame because money is a big part of life. A lot of us leave home without much of a financial compass. What we do know we’ve cobbled together from peers, commercials, and social media. Most of that advice leads us to crave what we don’t have and spend what we haven’t earned.…

Getting started with something new is tough enough but sustaining a habit long-term is even harder. To create lasting life-change, make what’s important easy to do, and what’s unimportant hard to do. So, how do you do that? If you're new with us, let us know how we can be praying for you, we invite you to fill out an online Connect Card by visiting…

It’s not enough to know what’s most important; you have to say no to what’s not. Most of us are aware we should say no, and maybe even what or who we should say no to. But we’re nervous about the repercussions. So, how do we courageously navigate no with the least amount of collateral damage? If you're new with us, let us know how we can be praying…

Of all the things we feel like we could or should do, what takes priority and where do you start? Knowing what to do is about clarifying what’s most important to you. So…How do you do that for yourself in this season? If you're new with us, or looking to take a next step, or even to let us know how we can be praying for you, we invite you to fill o…

Our culture attempts to convince us we can be, do, and have it all—all at once. But often, the more we do, the less fulfilled we are. Why is that and what do we do about it? If you're new with us, or looking to take a next step, or even to let us know how we can be praying for you, we invite you to fill out an online Connect Card by texting "WHATSN…

If you're new with us, or looking to take a next step, or even to let us know how we can be praying for you, we invite you to fill out an online Connect Card by texting "WHATSNEXT" to 94000 or visit https://southhillschurch.churchcenter... — To give with us select the Give tab on the Church Center App or visit www.southhills.org/give and select the…

Whether you laugh or cringe, we’re all familiar with fictional NASCAR driver Ricky Bobby’s prayer to “Dear 8lb, 6oz newborn infant Jesus.” When he said “I like the Christmas-Jesus best,” he said out-loud what many of us think internally. Christmas-Jesus is adorable, cute, and easy to imagine. We keep the Jesus of our faith small and contained, like…

The gifts that the wisemen gave Jesus were deeply meaningful, symbolic and extravagant. Those gifts, according to many, were the impetus for the Christmas tradition of gift-giving. While there is nothing wrong with gift-giving, gift-buying has become an increasingly large focus for many. Christmas for many just means consumerism, debt, and wish-lis…

Every nativity play we’ve seen has the grumpy innkeeper who turns Mary & Joseph away. We imagine a heartless man slamming the door in the face of a pregnant woman. Scripture actually says almost nothing about who this person was, or why they turned the young couple away. But what we do know is that, whether it was intentional or not, there was an u…