9 10 83 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/dfdd8dc961abebfdc8c9414193e9b109.jpg 0d4c7eef6563e1a3223c20c748b211aa https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/385647f2446f38175bfd0b9695544e6e.mp4 0897a11de483f989f9a6e440d5669fe6 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2025 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound When the Heart Grows Hard: The Hidden Danger That Blocks Transformation Heb 3:12-15 Imagine standing beside a frozen lake in the middle of winter. The surface is smooth and hard, reflecting the pale sunlight like glass. But beneath that frozen surface, life was still there — the water, the movement, the current — just trapped under the ice. Looking out across that silent sheet of ice, the Lord whispers to your heart: “This is what happens when your heart grows hard. My life is still there… …but it can no longer flow.” Sometimes transformation stops happening in our lives - not because God withdrew… it stops because our hearts grew hard. Watchman Nee once said, “Before a person hardens his heart, his heart is not hard. But once he decides to harden it, it becomes hard — and remains hard.” That’s why Hebrews 3:15 warns us, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” We talked about “beholding” last week. Before we can be transformed through beholding, our hearts must first be soft enough (not hard) to behold. How the Hardening Begins: Eph 4:17,18: So with the wisdom given to me from the Lord I say: You should not live like the unbelievers around you who walk in their empty delusions. Their corrupted logic has been clouded because their hearts are so far from God—their blinded understanding and deep-seated moral darkness keeps them from the true knowledge of God. “They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to the hardness of their heart.” Nee said, “The trouble starts from the heart.” …And that hardening rarely happens overnight — it begins with neglect. Maybe God nudged your heart, but you brushed it off. Maybe conviction came, but you said, “I’ll deal with that later.” I remember one autumn morning (my favorite time of year) I noticed, “I am not feeling the joy – the exhilaration that I used to feel when the weather gets like this. Where is aliveness I used to feel? Jesus warned: Matt 13:15: ‘For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ …as we already said, that hardening rarely happens overnight — it begins with neglect. Then slowly, you stop feeling what you used to feel… Maybe the same worship songs don’t move you. The same scriptures don’t stir you. You’re doing all the right things — but inside, you’re past feeling. That’s the second stage — numbness. ( ) Maybe someone hurt you so badly that you decided just to let your heart freeze up like that frozen lake we talked about. Tony Robbins: You will hang on to your pain until you find something you value more than your pain. And the last stage? Alienation. Not because God left — but because your heart quietly closed its door. Hebrews 3:12: So search your hearts every day, my brothers and sisters, and make sure that none of you has evil or unbelief hiding within you. For it will lead you astray, and make you unresponsive to the living God. Remember when Moses went to Pharaoh and said, “Let my people go?” Exodus 5:1: "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go…” Each time Moses spoke, Pharaoh hardened his heart. Eventually Scripture says, “God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.” Before God ever hardened it, Pharaoh hardened it himself. Each refusal made his heart a little less responsive, until he could no longer feel anything at all. That’s the danger of a hardened heart — you may not even realize it’s happening. On that beautiful autumn day I experienced (or, rather, didn’t experience,) something in me spoke louder than many outward signs would have… I realized I wasn’t feeling the joy I would normally feel. I realized my heart was clogged up with all “the cares of this world.” Jesus’ teaching on The Parable of the Sower is often used to describe how these worldly distractions (the cares of this world) can "choke" one's spiritual life and make it unfruitful. Jesus describes this dangerous kind of soil as “thorny ground” Mark 4:18,19: And what is sown among thorns represents those who hear the message, but they allow the cares of this life and the seduction of wealth and the desires for other things to crowd out and choke the message so that it produces nothing. Can you relate? (has this ever been you?) Psalm 139:23: God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything that may be hidden within me. Symptoms of a Hard Heart • You’re doing the right things, but there’s no warmth. • You hear truth, but it doesn’t pierce you. • You know Scripture, but it no longer convicts you. • You get defensive instead of repentant when corrected. A hardened heart is not a punishment — it’s a condition. • When your heart closes, light can’t enter. When light can’t enter, truth becomes just… theory. And when truth becomes theory, transformation stops. The truth is, the root cause of many diseases lies in the heart. “When the heart is corrupted, the whole being is affected.” When the religious leaders argued with Jesus about traditions regarding what kind of foods were proper, He re-directed them to the true problem: (from Mark 7:20-23) “Words and deeds pollute a person, not food. Evil originates from inside a person…these corrupt things emerge from within (the heart) and constantly defile a person.” Matthew 5:8: (Jesus) “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” To see God — to behold Him — requires a soft, open heart. “The trouble starts from the heart; therefore, the cure must start from the heart.” And here’s the cure: Beholding softens what striving cannot. John 1:29: John the Baptist sees Jesus and proclaims, "Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world". When you Behold the Lamb of God — when you see His mercy, His meekness, His tears — the heart melts. Receive God’s healing and forgiveness today – and offer hat same grace to others. Job 42:10: After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. "see the cross and behold medicine for your soul and body" are you hungry for this revelation today? Four ways to reopen that flow: 1. Return to beholding — sit quietly before Him until you feel again. 2. Invite the Spirit to expose numbness — “Search me, O God.” 3. Respond quickly — every act of obedience keeps the heart tender. 4. Practice gratitude — thanksgiving re-sensitizes the soul. You don’t need to try harder — you need to look longer. (Beholding) God doesn’t want to condemn our hard heart — He wants to replace it. Ezekiel 36:26: “I will remove the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” That’s the invitation today. Let Him trade your stone for flesh. James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Our heart is the soil for God’s Word. The thorny ground Jesus taught about is a double-minded heart A new heart is the KEY to a new life – a true change ,…and that change can also will impact everyone around you. The change in you can bring about a revolution around you. BE the ONE “You are most qualified to help the person you used to be.” Your new destiny is waiting on the other side of your softened heart. Let Jesus give you a heart that feels again, that believes again, that beholds again. When the heart grows hard, we stop being changed by beholding. …But when the heart grows soft again, the image of Christ shines once more. “Lord, melt my heart again. Where I’ve grown cold, warm me. Where I’ve been numb, touch me. Where I’ve tried (in my own power) instead of beheld YOU, teach me to look again. Restore the tenderness that lets me see You clearly. Amen.” Ezekial 36:26: A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource When the Heart Grows Hard 心变硬的时候 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 11/09/2025 Description An account of the resource Heb 3:15: Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. 希伯来书 3:15: 今日你们若听见祂的声音，就不可硬着心。 (page 1942) Eph 4:17,18: So with the wisdom given to me from the Lord I say: You should not live like the unbelievers around you who walk in their empty delusions. Their corrupted logic has been clouded because their hearts are so far from God—their blinded understanding and deep-seated moral darkness keeps them from the true knowledge of God. 以弗所书 4:17,18: 因此，我奉主的名郑重地劝告各位，不要再像不信的外族人一样过着心灵空虚的日子。 他们因为愚昧无知， 顽固不化，理智受到蒙蔽，与上帝所赐的生命隔绝了 (pg 1898) Hebrews 3:12: So search your hearts every day, my brothers and sisters, and make sure that none of you has evil or unbelief hiding within you. For it will lead you astray, and make you unresponsive to the living God. 希伯来书 3:12: 弟兄姊妹，要谨慎，免得你们当中有人心存恶念，不肯相信，背弃了永活的上帝。 (page 1942) Ezekiel 36:26: I will remove the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 以西结书 36:26: 我必从你们肉体中除掉石心，赐给你们肉心。 (page 1408) Matt 5:8: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 马太福音 5:8: 清心的人有福了，因为他们必得见神。(page 1563) Matthew 13:15: ‘For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ 马太福音 13:15: 因为这些人心灵麻木，耳朵发背，眼睛昏花， 以致眼睛看不见，耳朵听不见，心里不明白，无法回心转意， 得不到我的医治。 (page 1580) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/1dd1f86d265c9e83adfb0ffb1f3e6d57.jpg c5709d4cb98b155df754bc1439c9b8c6 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/37e939dc908babe83e9e15c911e0a29b.mp4 e77f5b3aefd56f447210e5082ff3fa70 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 主日崇拜 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 05/20/2026 Description An account of the resource 主日崇拜概述 本场现场直播的证道是在母亲节当天进行的。该崇拜面向全球会众，特别提到了通过 YouTube 和微信收看的教会大家庭，其影响力遍及 14 个国家和地区（包括美国、中国、澳大利亚、加拿大、墨西哥等）。崇拜在最后的圣餐礼中圆满结束。 核心讲道主题 1. 向母亲及重担承担者致敬 牧师在开场时向所有母亲致以母亲节的问候，并向母亲、祖母和曾祖母传递了特别的安慰。他指出，她们是幕后奉献、坚韧不拔和默默付出的最佳典范，但往往也承受着无人知晓的隐秘重担与内心的疲惫。 2. 在软弱中得着力量与医治 证道引用了《希伯来书》12:12-13（“所以，你们要把下垂的手举起来，发酸的腿挺起来……”），强调真正的信仰并不意味着在精疲力竭时还要伪装坚强。 疲惫不等于被遗弃： 牧师提醒会众，感到疲惫不堪并不是上帝遗弃你的证据。 赞美的祭： 鼓励信徒要“对你的大山说话”，而不是“谈论你的大山”；即使在战斗激烈、处境艰难的时候，也要向神献上赞美。 3. 降服是胜利的开始 整场证道的核心属灵悖论聚焦于“举手”这一动作： 在世俗世界或战争中，举手是战败和投降的标志。但在属灵的世界里，向耶稣举手正好相反——这恰恰是胜利的开始。 向神降服意味着将最终的控制权交托给祂，让祂成为我们的平安、力量和供应者。 4. 仰赖伟大的牧羊人 牧师强调耶稣是“好牧人”，而会众是祂的“羊”。他提醒道，许多常常照顾他人的人，往往忘记了自己也需要让这位大牧者来照顾。他呼吁弟兄姐妹要彼此看顾，确保没有人错过神的恩典。 崇拜程序与环节 事工支持呼吁： 埃迪·爱德华兹（Eddie Edwards）先生主持了感恩环节，感谢全球合作伙伴，并请求大家继续为主日学事工提供祷告与财务支持，以维持该事工在国际上的广泛传播。 呼召与祷告： 牧师邀请现场及屏幕前的会众起立，向天举起双手——不是出于失败，而是为了领受神的怜悯，并宣告在基督里的胜利。 敬拜诗歌： 讲道在经典赞美诗《我愿全献上》（I Surrender All）的歌声中得到深化。 圣餐礼： 随后崇拜进入圣餐环节，会众同领饼和杯，共同纪念基督为人破碎的身体和所流的宝血。 祝福祷告： 牧师以传统的祝福为崇拜作结，祝愿大家在新的一周经历胜利，并再次提醒会众：那叫耶稣从死里复活的圣灵，如今也住在他们里面。 Service Overview This live-broadcasted sermon was delivered on Mother’s Day. The service reached a global audience—specifically highlighting a church family tuning in via YouTube and WeChat across 14 nations, including the United States, China, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and others. The service concluded with the observance of Holy Communion. Key Sermon Themes 1. Honoring Mothers and the Burden-Bearers The pastor opened by acknowledging Mother’s Day, extending a specific message of comfort to mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers. He noted that they serve as premier examples of strength, consistency, and behind-the-scenes perseverance, but often carry deep, unseen burdens and heavy hearts. 2. Strength and Healing in Weakness Drawing from Hebrews 12:12-13 ("Therefore, lift your drooping hands, and strengthen your weak knees..."), the sermon emphasized that true faith does not mean pretending to be strong when you are exhausted. Exhaustion vs. Abandonment: The pastor reminded the congregation that feeling exhausted is not evidence that God has abandoned you. The Sacrifice of Praise: Believers are encouraged to speak to their mountains rather than about them, offering praise even when the battle is raging and circumstances are difficult. 3. Surrender as the Pathway to Victory The core spiritual paradox of the sermon focused on the act of raising one's hands: In the physical world or warfare, raising your hands is a sign of defeat and surrender. In the spiritual realm, raising your hands to Jesus is exactly the opposite—it is the very beginning of victory. Surrendering to God means giving Him ultimate control over our anxieties, allowing Him to become our peace, strength, and provider. 4. Relying on the Great Shepherd The pastor highlighted Jesus as the Great Shepherd and the congregation as His sheep. He cautioned that many caretakers spend so much time shepherding others that they forget to let the Shepherd take care of them. The sermon called for the community to look out for one another so that no one misses God's grace. Service Proceedings & Elements Call for Support: Mr. Eddie Edwards led a segment thanking global partners and requesting continued prayers and financial contributions to sustain the ministry's international reach. Altar Call / Prayer: The congregation (and those watching at home) were asked to physically stand and lift their hands toward heaven—not in defeat, but to receive God's mercy and proclaim victory in Christ. Song of Worship: The message was sealed with a rendition of the classic hymn, "I Surrender All." Holy Communion: The service transitioned into Holy Communion, where the bread and cup were taken in remembrance of Christ’s broken body and shed blood. Benediction: The pastor closed the service with a traditional blessing for a victorious week and a final reminder that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells within them. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2022 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound DON’T Hurry Up! Hebrews 3:16 –Hebrews 4:16 “This 2022 season of Lent will not be a time of stopping or giving up. It will be a time to BEGIN.” We honor those whom we refer to as “the self-made man” or woman. Our world has been shaped by the pioneers, the entrepreneurs and the bigger thinkers. The dreamers who were also doers. …but in 2022 we live in a world of rising prices and emptying store shelves. Even more frustrating is, most of us know that it is not for a lack of resources. There are things we can control, and there are things that, in the natural realm, are truly out of our control. It can lead to feelings of frustration – and powerlessness. Some people even just “give up.” “GOD is going to settle your life.” “Power, Love and a Sound Mind” “Power, Love and a Self-Discipline” Jehovah Shalom (rebukes the chaos) Kingdom People: Hear (The Word of God) Believe (The Word of God) DO (The Word of God) Jesus said, “What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.” (Matt 6:33) To seek the kingdom is to make the rule of God the object of our desires. If we want God to settle our lives, we need to start walking by faith in accordance with God’s Kingdom ways – and God’s Kingdom Purposes. 1 Cor 4:20: For the kingdom realm of God comes with power, not simply impressive words. God’s Kingdom is a Kingdom of POWER – and it is also a Kingdom of REST. “Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Make this world right again, starting with me.” It’s time to learn to rest. The Children of Israel – Old Testament Heb 3:19 - “because of their unbelief.” Chapter 3 ended with the warning that it was unbelief that kept the people of Israel from entering into the promised land and the rest God had promised there. Hebrews 3:19: “And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.” Heb 4:2 – “the message they heard had no value” - “those who heard it did not combine it with faith.” Heb 4:6 – “because of their disobedience” (unbelief – lack of faith) “without faith it is impossible to please God” 4:1 - “Therefore, [that’s the sign that the writer is drawing a conclusion from what he just said in 3:19] let us fear, lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it” “We will not enter into God’s rest — God’s Kingdom — if we do not trust his promises.” The connection with Hebrews 3:19 surely tells us the thing we are to fear is unbelief. Verse 19: “They were not able to enter [God’s rest] because of unbelief.” Therefore fear that unbelief, because that’s what will keep you from entering God’s rest “So we should be very careful that none of you fails to get that promise.” Fear unbelief. Fear not trusting God. We may be far from living in God’s rest and not even realize it. ( ) “I prayed hard about that situation” “be anxious for nothing” It’s time for you and I to enter God’s Rest …which is the opposite of doubt and unbelief. It is the end of the struggle. When we rest in God we enter His Presence with a peaceful confidence Heb 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. The message today is entitled “Don’t Hurry Up” It seems often when we try to “hurry up” we get into trouble. I do that at work when I get into panic mode instead of pooling all of the needed resources and voices of skill and experience together first. All thorough The Bible we see how people got out of rest and into unbelief when they tried to “fix things” in the natural (operating from a carnal mindset) in their attempt to “help God” – or speed up the process. • Abraham (Ishmael) • Moses (beating the rock three times) • Peter (cutting off the soldier’s ear) Entering into His Rest is our submission to a power greater than ourselves “Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Make this world right again, starting with me.” “THY Kingdom come, THY Will be done…” The Kingdom is within you Repentance. Repentance from unbelief. Doubt. From “dead works” Rest in His Peace Rest in His Shalom Blessing God’s Peace. Provision. God’s Loving Care “The Lord is my Shepherd” “Be Still and Know” Cease from your own works. Our prayer time should allow us to enter His rest Holy Communion is a “means of grace” that should allow us to enter His rest Our daily life should be a time of rest as well. “Trust and Obey” We have to abandon the carnal/global mindset and become Kingdom Minded It is a walk of faith and trust Eph 2:2 - That was the road you used to travel, keeping in step with this world’s ‘present age’; in step, too, with the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is, even now, at work among people whose whole lives consist of disobeying God. Eph 2:4,5: - But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. “I BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ and I am SAVED.” Made Whole. Restored. Provided For. Healed. Delivered. Redeemed. Renewed. Jesus said, “Take MY yoke upon you… …and You Will Find REST for your souls.” Rest is the opposite of doubt and unbelief It is Trust. It is true Expectation Entering into God’s Rest PROVES that we trust God. “When you pray, BELIEVE…” “Father, thank You that whenever I find myself stuck in a problem or setback, You have the power to reverse it and even restore what’s been lost. Thank You that I can offer You a sacrifice of praise because You hold my future in the palms of Your hands. I believe that You will never disappoint me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” “ …giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.” You have a Kingdom inheritance “Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” Col 1:13: God made us free from the power of darkness. And he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son. “ … has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 别着急 Dont Hurry Up Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 02/27/2022 Description An account of the resource Heb 3:19 – So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. 希 伯 來 書 3:19: 这 样 看 来 ， 他 们 不 能 进 入 安 息 是 因 为 不 信 的 缘 故 了 。(pg 1942) Heb 4:1 – And we still have the promise that God gave those people. That promise is that we can enter his place of rest. So we should be very careful that none of you fails to get that promise. 希 伯 來 書 4:1: 既然我们能够进入上帝安息的许诺依然存在，那么就让我们当心吧，不要让你们中间任何人被认为失败了。(pg 1942) Heb 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. 希 伯 來 書 11:6: 人 非 有 信 ， 就 不 能 得 神 的 喜 悦 ；因 为 到 神 面 前 来 的 人 必 须 信 有 神 ， 且 信 他 赏 赐 那 寻 求 他 的 人 。(pg 1950) Eph 2:4,5: - But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 以 弗 所 書 2:4,5: 但是，上帝的仁慈是非常丰富的，他对我们的爱是博大的。 当我们在精神上因为犯罪而死的时候，上帝让我们与基督一起得到了新的生命。他的恩典拯救了我们。(page 1895) Matt 11:28,29: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 馬 太 福 音 11:28,29: 凡 劳 苦 担 重 担 的 人 可 以 到 我 这 里 来 ， 我 就 使 你 们 得 安 息 。我 心 里 柔 和 谦 卑 ， 你 们 当 负 我 的 轭 ， 学 我 的 样 式 ；这 样 ， 你 们 心 里 就 必 得 享 安 息 。(pg 1577) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor Mike