Mission Hills Church Messages

Easter isn't just something to believe—it's something that should transform your life. But what happens after the celebration fades? Why do so many people drift back into old habits, old fears, and old patterns? In this episode of Continuing the Conversation, Craig and Colin tackle some of the biggest questions coming out of Easter: How do you move from believing in Jesus to actually being changed by Him? Where should you even start reading the Bible? Why do people lose momentum in their faith—and how do you avoid it? What does the resurrection actually accomplish? This conversation is real, practical, and deeply encouraging. If you've ever felt stuck, disconnected, or unsure what your next step is—this episode will help you take it. 👉 Faith isn't built in one moment. 👉 It's built one step at a time. Subscribe for more honest conversations about following Jesus in everyday life. 🎧 Listen to this weekend's full sermon first, then come back here to go deeper. New episodes drop midweek. Subscribe so you never miss a conversation. Like, share, and comment if this episode hit home. As always, shoot us your questions at [email protected] and enjoy today's episode. Also, check out our YouTube Channel and the Playlist titled "Questions with Craig" for more resources. Or submit your PRAYER REQUESTS for our care team. ============================= Continuing The Conversation: Feed Credits ============================= HOST:: Colin McFarland, Craig Smith PRODUCTION + MIXING:: Zac Anderson CREATIVE DIRECTOR:: Colin McFarland VIDEO + SEO DIRECTORS:: Zac Anderson, Colin McFarland A Product of The Mission Hills Podcast Network in Littleton, CO. © Mission Hills Church - All Rights Reserved

Easter is the most important moment in history… So why do so many of us miss what it really means? In this powerful Easter message from John 13, Craig Smith walks through a moment most people overlook—when Jesus asked His disciples a simple but life-changing question: "Do you understand what I have done for you?" Before the cross. Before the resurrection. Jesus gave them a picture of everything He was about to do—and why. In this message, you'll discover: Why the cross was never an accident—it was always the plan What Jesus' actions reveal about His love for you The difference between religion and the gospel Why pride keeps us from receiving what Jesus already did This message is honest, direct, and deeply personal. Because the question isn't just for them—it's for you. 👉 Do you understand what He's done for you? Watch now and take your next step toward Jesus.

Life doesn't usually fall apart at the beginning or the end—it happens in the middle. In this episode, Craig and Colin talk about what it looks like to live in that space. The place where things feel uncertain, stretched, and sometimes overwhelming—but also where real growth happens. They reflect on Jesus calming the storm and the question He asks His disciples: "Why are you so afraid?" It's not just about fear—it's about trust. You'll hear: Why the middle is both hard and meaningful How God often does His best work in the in-between What it looks like to follow Jesus, not just understand Him And how one question from Jesus can change everything If you've ever felt stuck or unsure of what God is doing in your life, this episode is for you. 🎧 Listen to this weekend's full sermon first, then come back here to go deeper. New episodes drop midweek. Subscribe so you never miss a conversation. Like, share, and comment if this episode hit home. As always, shoot us your questions at [email protected] and enjoy today's episode. Also, check out our YouTube Channel and the Playlist titled "Questions with Craig" for more resources. Or submit your PRAYER REQUESTS for our care team. ============================= Continuing The Conversation: Feed Credits ============================= HOST:: Colin McFarland, Craig Smith PRODUCTION + MIXING:: Zac Anderson CREATIVE DIRECTOR:: Colin McFarland VIDEO + SEO DIRECTORS:: Zac Anderson, Colin McFarland A Product of The Mission Hills Podcast Network in Littleton, CO. © Mission Hills Church - All Rights Reserved

Ever feel like you're stuck in the middle? Not where you used to be… Not where you want to go… Just somewhere messy, uncertain, and honestly a little scary. In this message from Mark 4, Jesus asks a question that cuts straight through the noise: "Why are you so afraid?" It's not just about fear. It's about trust. In this week's message, Craig talks about: Why the "middle" of life feels so hard—and why God often does His best work there The difference between following Jesus casually and actually committing to Him What fear reveals about what we believe about God How to move forward when you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure If you've been anxious, stuck, or questioning whether God really cares… this message is for you. 👉 You're not lost. 👉 You're not forgotten. 👉 You're in the middle—and God is still working.

The sermon sparked something… now let's go deeper. In this episode of Continuing the Conversation, we unpack one of the most important questions Jesus ever asked: "Who do you say I am?" But this time, we go behind the scenes—into sermon prep, what didn't make it into the message, and the deeper implications for our everyday lives. We talk about: Why it's possible to say all the right things about Jesus—and still miss Him How our view of Jesus shapes our identity, anxiety, and daily decisions The difference between knowing about Jesus and actually following Him Why spiritual disciplines aren't about earning God's love—but learning to live from it This conversation is honest, practical, and deeply personal. If you've ever felt like your faith is more in your head than your heart, this one's for you. 👉 Take the next step: Don't just understand Jesus—experience Him. 👉 Let's keep the conversation going. 🎧 Listen to this weekend's full sermon first, then come back here to go deeper. New episodes drop midweek. Subscribe so you never miss a conversation. Like, share, and comment if this episode hit home. As always, shoot us your questions at [email protected] and enjoy today's episode. Also, check out our YouTube Channel and the Playlist titled "Questions with Craig" for more resources. Or submit your PRAYER REQUESTS for our care team. ============================= Continuing The Conversation: Feed Credits ============================= HOST:: Colin McFarland, Tanner Lowe PRODUCTION + MIXING:: Zac Anderson CREATIVE DIRECTOR:: Colin McFarland VIDEO + SEO DIRECTORS:: Zac Anderson, Colin McFarland A Product of The Mission Hills Podcast Network in Littleton, CO. © Mission Hills Church - All Rights Reserved

What if you could say all the right things about Jesus… and still completely miss Him? In this message from Matthew 16, we look at one of the most important questions Jesus ever asked: "Who do you say I am?" It's not just a theological question—it's personal. And how you answer it shapes the direction of your entire life. We explore how easy it is to put Jesus in a box—keeping Him useful, but not letting Him be Lord. We also unpack the powerful truth that your identity isn't something you achieve—it's something you receive. And when you truly understand who Jesus is, it changes how you see yourself, your purpose, and your mission. This message will challenge you to stop settling for a comfortable version of faith and step into the life Jesus is actually inviting you into. 👉 Don't just know about Jesus. Discover Him. 👉 Don't just attend church. Live on mission.

The sermon may be over… but the conversation isn't. This week on Continuing the Conversation, Craig and Colin unpack one of the most uncomfortable questions Jesus asks: "Do you want to get well?" It sounds obvious—of course we do. But as they dig deeper into John 5, they explore a surprising truth: sometimes the things we want freedom from are also the things we've built our lives around. In this episode, they talk through: Why we turn "it's complicated" into "I can't" How our struggles can quietly become systems that keep us stuck The subtle ways we blame others instead of taking ownership What it actually looks like to step toward healing in real life This isn't surface-level faith talk. It's honest, practical, and sometimes uncomfortable—in the best way. If Sunday's message sparked something in you, this conversation will help you take the next step. 🎧 Listen to this weekend's full sermon first, then come back here to go deeper. New episodes drop midweek. Subscribe so you never miss a conversation. Like, share, and comment if this episode hit home. As always, shoot us your questions at [email protected] and enjoy today's episode. Also, check out our YouTube Channel and the Playlist titled "Questions with Craig" for more resources. Or submit your PRAYER REQUESTS for our care team. ============================= Continuing The Conversation: Feed Credits ============================= HOST:: Colin McFarland, Craig Smith PRODUCTION + MIXING:: Laina Ludwig CREATIVE DIRECTOR:: Colin McFarland VIDEO + SEO DIRECTORS:: Laina Ludwig, Colin McFarland A Product of The Mission Hills Podcast Network in Littleton, CO. © Mission Hills Church - All Rights Reserved

You've probably prayed for God to fix something in your life. A habit. A relationship. A wound. A pattern you can't seem to break. But what if Jesus asked you a surprising question first? In John 5, Jesus meets a man who has been stuck in the same condition for 38 years. Instead of immediately healing him, Jesus asks something unexpected: "Do you want to get well?" It sounds like an obvious question… until you realize something deeper. Sometimes the thing that's hurting us has also become the system we rely on. Sometimes our weakness becomes the way we get sympathy, avoid responsibility, or stay comfortable. In this message from the Answer Honestly series, Pastor Craig Smith explores how: Your issue may not actually be your real issue "It's complicated" is different than "I can't" The systems we build can keep us stuck Jesus wants to free us from more than just symptoms If you've ever felt trapped by patterns, pain, or circumstances, this message will challenge you to answer one honest question: Do you really want to get well?

What would you say if Jesus looked you in the eye and said, "What do you want me to do for you?" In this week's episode, Craig and Colin unpack one of the most disarming questions Jesus ever asked — and why the answer matters more than you might think. We're kicking off the Answer Honestly sermon series, and this first episode dives into the blind man Bartimaeus, whose bold, unfiltered ask to Jesus is a masterclass in honest prayer. Craig and Colin explore why Jesus asks questions He already knows the answer to, what gets in the way of us being that honest with God, and how to hear His voice clearly when life feels loud and crowded. Plus: Craig goes deep on a fascinating biblical rabbit hole — why the Gospel of Mark doesn't include a resurrection account, and what that might actually tell us about the heart of the gospel message. 🎧 Listen to this weekend's full sermon first, then come back here to go deeper. New episodes drop midweek. Subscribe so you never miss a conversation. Like, share, and comment if this episode hit home. As always, shoot us your questions at [email protected] and enjoy today's episode. Also, check out our YouTube Channel and the Playlist titled "Questions with Craig" for more resources. Or submit your PRAYER REQUESTS for our care team. ============================= Continuing The Conversation: Feed Credits ============================= HOST:: Colin McFarland, Craig Smith PRODUCTION + MIXING:: Zac Anderson CREATIVE DIRECTOR:: Colin McFarland VIDEO + SEO DIRECTORS:: Zac Anderson, Colin McFarland A Product of The Mission Hills Podcast Network in Littleton, CO. © Mission Hills Church - All Rights Reserved

What if the breakthrough you're waiting for is on the other side of obedience? In this message, we explore the story of Blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10 and the surprising question Jesus asks: "What do you want me to do for you?" At first glance, the answer seems obvious. But Jesus isn't just interested in the man's condition—He's inviting him into something deeper. In this message, we talk about: Why your condition doesn't get to define your identity, How focusing on what you can't do keeps you stuck, Why Jesus sometimes calls us before He cures us, What it looks like to answer God's call even when it feels awkward. Many of us are waiting for the fear to go away, the doubts to disappear, or the circumstances to change. But what if the cure is on the other side of the call? If you feel stuck behind a wall in your life—this message is an invitation to take your next step toward Jesus.

Sometimes following God starts with an idea that sounds… a little crazy. In this episode of Continuing the Conversation, Craig and Colin sit down with Dennis Ferrigno to talk about the unexpected story behind the Ark of the Covenant "rendition" used in the Power and Presence sermon series. It started with a quiet moment in prayer. A simple prompting. And one question: What if God is actually asking me to do this? Dennis shares how that moment of obedience turned into something far bigger than he expected—bringing together artists, craftsmen, and even unexpected challenges along the way. Through it all, one theme kept showing up: when we step out in faith, God does the rest. This conversation explores: • What obedience really looks like in everyday life • How God's presence still moves through ordinary people • Why small acts of faith can lead to bigger stories than we imagine If you've ever wondered whether God might be nudging you toward something—this episode is for you. 🔔 Subscribe for honest conversations, fresh insights, and practical faith for real life. Like, share, and comment if this episode hit home. As always, shoot us your questions at [email protected] and enjoy today's episode. Also, check out our YouTube Channel and the Playlist titled "Questions with Craig" for more resources. Or submit your PRAYER REQUESTS for our care team. ============================= Continuing The Conversation: Feed Credits ============================= HOST:: Colin McFarland, Craig Smith 🎉 SPECIAL GUESTS:: Dennis Ferrigno PRODUCTION + MIXING:: Zac Anderson CREATIVE DIRECTOR:: Colin McFarland :: VIDEO + SEO DIRECTORS:: Zac Anderson, Colin McFarland A Product of The Mission Hills Podcast Network in Littleton, CO. © Mission Hills Church - All Rights Reserved

Why do things sometimes fall apart even when our intentions are good? In this week's message from 2 Samuel 6, we explore one of the most sobering moments in Scripture. David sets out to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. The worship is loud. The celebration is intense. The passion is real. But underneath the celebration are small compromises. The wrong people. The wrong method. Good intentions that ignored God's instructions. And the result is devastating. This message challenges us to wrestle with some hard but necessary questions: Are we choosing convenience over obedience? Are we substituting intensity for integrity? Are we trying to protect God instead of simply obeying Him? Are small compromises creating bigger damage than we realize? The good news? God's heart has not changed. He still wants to bless us with His presence. But we have to prepare for it. If life feels off, distant, or spiritually stuck, this message is an invitation to reset and realign.

What happens when people try to control God instead of honoring Him? In this powerful message from 1 Samuel 5, we watch what happens after the Ark of the Covenant is captured and placed in the temple of Dagon. The Philistines assume their god has defeated the God of Israel. But by morning, their idol is face down. And the next morning? It's shattered. This message reminds us that: God will not share His glory. Idols eventually fall. Pain can be a wake-up call. The power isn't in objects, rituals, or strategies. The power is in the presence of God. If you've been tempted to prop something else up in God's place—career, relationships, comfort, control—this message will challenge and encourage you. God is loving. God is holy. And He refuses to be treated lightly. Take your next step. Press play.