At the Movies: Christmas Edition
Week 3
In week 2 of At the Movies: Christmas Edition, Russ uses the classic film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation to explore why peace feels so fragile during the holidays. Clark Griswold’s quest for the “perfect Christmas” mirrors our own tendency to chase idealized moments that quickly unravel into chaos, conflict, and unmet expectations. But Jesus offers a different kind of peace—one that isn’t dependent on circumstances, perfect families, or flawless plans. Drawing from John 14:27, Philippians 4:8, and Colossians 3:15, this message helps us let go of perfectionism, adjust our expectations, embrace life’s disruptions, and rest in the steady peace Christ gives. In a season when stress runs high and families are imperfect, this sermon reminds us that the peace of Jesus is secure, present, and available—even in our most Griswold moments.
At the Movies: Christmas Edition
In this first week of Advent, we explore the theme of hope through the classic film Miracle on 34th Street, a story about belief, wonder, and opening ourselves to something bigger than we can logically prove. Just as Susan wrestles with whether Santa is real, many people wrestle with whether God is real and trustworthy—especially in moments of darkness or doubt. Scripture shows us that God doesn’t run from our questions; He steps into them. In Jesus—the Word made flesh, the visible image of the invisible God—we see God revealing Himself, entering our world, and giving us reason for deep, grounded hope. Advent reminds us that in a world filled with confusion and consumerism, light still breaks into darkness. Hope has come because Jesus has come.
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
In this message, Russ explores Hebrews 13 and challenges the idea that following Jesus has to look dramatic, strange, or overly spiritualized. After reflecting on everything from @pastorswithprops to the emotional excesses of the Cane Ridge Revival, he shows that the true life of faith is most often lived in simple, consistent, everyday faithfulness—loving people well, practicing real hospitality, showing empathy to the mistreated, staying committed in relationships, being content, and doing good. Rather than chasing spiritual hype, Hebrews invites us into a steady, grounded walk with Jesus that shapes ordinary Tuesdays just as much as big spiritual moments. This sermon closes the 15-week journey through Hebrews by reminding us that the way of Christ is not weird… just faithful.
Week 15: Hebrews 13
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
Week 14: Hebrews 12:18-29)
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews - Ebony Lovely
God’s loving discipline shapes believers into maturity, even when it feels uncomfortable, and His correction is motivated by love, not anger. Like marathon runners, Christians must train through spiritual discipline, remove distractions and sin, and rely on community for encouragement. The message concludes by urging believers to fix their eyes on Jesus—the ultimate example of endurance—and to run their race faithfully, trusting His grace to carry them through, whether they are weary in the midst of it or just stepping onto the track.
Week 13: Hebrews 12:1-17
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
Week 12: Hebrews 11:20-40
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
Week 11: Hebrews 11:1-19
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
In this week’s message, Russ walks through Hebrews 10 and the three-part invitation at the heart of the book — to draw near to God with confidence, to hold unswervingly to hope even when life gets hard, and to encourage one another in community. The whole letter to the Hebrews builds to this bold invitation to live in God’s presence, anchored in hope and surrounded by others.Week 10: Hebrews 10
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
In this message from our Hebrews series, The New Covenant, Russ explores why the Old Covenant required blood and sacrifice — and what that reveals about the seriousness of sin and the depth of God’s grace. Drawing from Hebrews 9, he explains how the sacrifices of the Old Testament were only a shadow pointing to Jesus, the perfect and final sacrifice whose blood brings complete forgiveness. This message unpacks the difference between the Old and New Covenants, what it means to “rightly divide the Word,” and why there truly is power in the blood of Jesus.Week 9: Hebrews 9:11-28
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
Hebrews 8 reminds us that Jesus didn’t come to update the old covenant— He came to establish a new one. In this message, Russ explains the difference between the old covenant of law and the new covenant of grace, and why following Jesus means we live under something far better.
Week 8: Hebrews 8:1-13
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
In Hebrews 7 we meet one of the most mysterious figures in the Bible—Melchizedek. The writer of Hebrews uses him to show us why Jesus is not just a great High Priest, but a better High Priest. Unlike the priests of the Old Testament, Jesus is permanent, perfect, and the only true mediator who brings us near to God. In this message, Pastor Russ unpacks what Hebrews 7 teaches about Jesus, why He’s greater than any substitute we try to rely on, and how His better way gives us lasting hope, forgiveness, and access to God.
Week: Hebrews 7
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
In this message from Hebrews 6:13–20, Pastor Russ reminds us that while people often break promises, God never does. His promises are secured by His oath and His character, and our hope in Jesus becomes an anchor for the soul—firm, secure, and steady through life’s storms. Unlike everyday wishful thinking, biblical hope is grounded in God’s unchanging word, and that hope points us to Jesus alone as the only foundation that will hold.
Week 6: Hebrews 6:13-20
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
This week at Maury Hills we welcomed Scott Utter as our guest speaker. Scott brought a challenging message from Hebrews 5:11–6:12, reminding us that faith isn’t meant to stay stuck in immaturity but to keep growing toward maturity in Christ. His words invite us to reflect on where we are in our spiritual journey and encourage us to take the next step forward with Jesus.
Week 5: Hebrews 5:11-6:12 - Scott Utter
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
In Hebrews 4:14–16, we’re told that Jesus is not just our High Priest—He’s our Great High Priest. That means we don’t have to approach God like a nervous defendant in a courtroom, hoping for mercy. Because of Jesus, we can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence. In a world filled with anxiety and fear of being judged or rejected, this truth changes everything: you belong in the Father’s house because you’re with the Son.
Week 4: Hebrews 4:14-5:10
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
We love to argue about the greatest of all time—Jordan or LeBron, Brady or Mahomes. For the first Christians, the question wasn’t about sports. It was about Moses. Hebrews 3 makes a bold claim: Jesus is greater than Moses. We may not be tempted to follow Moses today, but we still wrestle with elevating rules over grace and old ways over Jesus. This passage calls us to fix our thoughts on Him, our apostle and high priest.Week 3: Hebrews 3:1-19
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
In Hebrews 2, we’re reminded of something profound: Jesus didn’t keep His distance. He “shared in our humanity,” becoming both fully God and fully human. That matters because it means Jesus understands our struggles. He knows what it’s like to be tempted, to suffer, and to face death itself. He didn’t just come to save us from a distance—He came close enough to walk in our shoes. In this message, Russ unpacks why the humanity of Jesus is just as important as His divinity, and how that truth gives us courage, comfort, and confidence today.📖 Scripture: Hebrews 2:1-18
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
We’re kicking off a new series on the book of Hebrews, The New Covenant. In this opening message, Pastor Russ unpacks the prologue of Hebrews and reminds us that Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God—greater than angels, prophets, or traditions. Many people see God as silent or scary, but Hebrews 1 shows us a different picture: through Jesus, we learn that God is not silent and He’s not scary. He speaks, He cares, and He looks exactly like Jesus.
Hebrews 1:1-14
Ricky Brown, Jesse Reyna, Ryan Morgan, and Aubrey Flagg share testimonies about the work of Hope Center Columbia.
Romans 8:24
Marvin Corr