hilltown_baptist_church

Holy Week

office@hilltown.church (Renee Nicolo) — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 18:21:11 GMT

Why Do We Call Good Friday "Good"?

There was no darker day than the day we killed our loving King. So how on Earth can we call the worst day “good”?

I think the only way to be satisfied in answering that is to know our God as both supremely loving and utterly holy. Never do you see God’s love and holiness so perfectly displayed in one moment than on the cross.

Jesus Became Your Sin

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus died for your sin, but more than that Jesus also became your sin.

Some of us are angry people.

Some of us are jealous.

Some of us are perverted.

Some of us are arrogant.

Some of us are materialistic.

Some of us are gossips.

Most of us are all of these.

Jesus became the worst of what we are. Think about that! Think of your worst sin.

Jesus went to the cross for you and all of your sin -- for me and all my sin. That’s why it’s good news. That’s why it’s Good Friday. “He was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5).

Take some time to meditate on these great truths, church family. And look forward to reflecting together -- online again -- on Friday, 7pm and celebrating together on Sunday at 10:30am.

Grace and peace.

Tim

Don't Waste Your Quarantine

office@hilltown.church (Renee Nicolo) — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 14:43:52 GMT

You're such an encouragement to me, Hilltown!

The Church outshines any other community in our world in moments like this. Your joy, faithfulness, and selfless care this past week has been wonderful.

Here are some quick updates:

1. Last Sunday around 250+ of us (and others?) logged on to our YouTube livestream . We recognize it's not the ideal --- it's a temporary compromise --- but thank the Lord for the technology to connect!

2. Our church directory could not have come at a better time. A number of you are using that to pray, call, and encourage others. Keep that up! If you'd like a pdf copy, I'm happy to email you one.

3. We launched a new Facebook Group called Quarantine Like a Rock Star Parent to help parents share ideas, ask for prayer, be encouraged to make this once-in-a-lifetime season count.

4. Our small groups and others are connecting on Google Hangouts, Zoom, Skype, and other online platforms.

5. We continue to update our COVID-19 page ... where you can find the live stream on Sundays, access online giving, and now you're able to complete a form notifying us of any needs you may have or a willingness to meet the needs of the body. All updates during this time are available at hilltown.church/cv .

Greg has been a great example of someone not given to panic. I asked him to share an encouragement, particularly for our husbands and dads as we seek to lead well in our homes this season.

CHECK IT OUT HERE

Love to you all, Hilltown. See you online again Sunday at 10:30am!

Tim

Hilltown's Response to Current Health Concerns

office@hilltown.church (Renee Nicolo) — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 14:27:45 GMT

Hilltown family,

Our elders and leaders continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and its potential impact on our church family and ministry programs. We have several health professionals in our church who are keeping us up to date with the latest from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), and we are following all the recommended actions the CDC gives for churches and community organizations.

At this time, there are no known cases or connections to any Hilltowners, so we will continue to worship the Lord together, and all mid-week programs and Bible studies will go on as scheduled.

Here are a few precautions we are taking to ensure the cleanliness of our facility and the health of our community.

What we are Doing as Staff and Volunteers

1. Bob Hardin and our facility team have purchased more effective cleaning products.

2. We are disinfecting every surface (doors, tops of pews, counters, etc.).

3. Several moms are performing a deep-clean of our nurseries.

What we Recommend for our Entire Church Family

1. If you know or suspect you are sick (fever, cold, or otherwise), stay home.

2. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

3. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

4. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, especially with unwashed hands.

5. Sneeze and cough into your elbow rather than your hands.

6. And for all of us huggers … Just a nod or a wave will do.

I have thanked the Lord often for the multi-generational make-up of our church. Times like this remind us to take extra action to honor and care for the youngest and oldest of our church family especially.

If you are willing to volunteer to help clean over the coming weeks, please contact Bob Hardin at bob@hilltown.church . In the meantime, pray for the Lord’s mercy and for His Church to respond in faith and compassion rather than fear or inaction.

Grace and peace.

Tim

10 Ways to Be a Rockstar Guest When Hosted

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 17:38:44 GMT

At some point you'll be hosted. Here are 10 ways to be a joy to those who host you.

We set out to make 2020 “a year of hospitality”, and I’m inspired by how you’re creatively and joyfully this living out. Here are three recent examples I’ve heard...

Tabora Talk “Every Sunday, I invite someone different to Tabora for coffee and pastries after worship. It’s been awesome!”
Movie Nights “I listed my top 5 movies from before 1990, and I’m hosting movie nights to talk about them with others.” I hope The Sting or (any) Indiana Jones is on that list.
Friends on Fridays I love this. One of you is encouraging your kids to host their friends on Friday evenings. What a great way to pass on a heart for hospitality!

10 Ways to Be a Rockstar Guest When Hosted

When we think “hospitality”, we think of us doing the hosting. But the other less obvious side of being a hospitable church is the fact that at some point we’ll be hosted. Here are some tips on how to be a joy to those who host you.

Before you arrive...

1. Accept grace graciously

Being a good guest begins before you get there. RSVP in a grateful and timely manner.

2. Offer to contribute

Asking “What can I bring?” let’s your host/ess know their hospitality isn’t taken for granted. It gives them a chance to accept your help or to free you to come with no expectations. Hey, Elijah provided bottomless bread sticks ( 1 Kings 17 ), and Jesus provided wine ( John 2 ). We can at least bring a salad or dessert!

After you arrive…

3. Ask about “house rules”

“Is it ok if my kids eat your brownies melty ice cream near that beautiful grand piano? ...or over that white carpet?” “Are you ok with them walking on your couch?” If you’re a parent, don’t expect your hosts to parent for you! Be perceptive and parent with joy.

4. Talk to their kids (like, really talk to them)

If your host/s have kids, it will mean a lot that you’re genuinely interested in them as well. Just like love for our Father is shown by love for His kids ( John 13:35 ), you can’t really know and love me if you don’t know and love my kids.

5. Stay off your phone

Better yet: leave it in your car. If you absolutely need to be reachable, ask your host where you can put it, then turn the ringer on and leave it there face down.

6. Serve

Pick up a towel. Pick up a toy. Like our Lord did for His disciples, be willing to roll up your sleeves and get dirty in order to serve ( John 13 ). As my papa always said, “We leave it better than we found it.”

7. Be open to new things

New games. New movies. New foods. Learn to look for the best in them all. And don’t be that picky eater. As my mama always said, “You don’t have to like it to eat it!” (Remind me to tell you about the time I was the guest of honor in a middle-Eastern culture and ate sheep intestines. ...actually don’t remind me. But I did it! And my hosts were honored.)

8. Leave them wanting more

Don’t wear out your welcome! Feel it out. When the time is getting close, put out a feeler like "Hey, I should get going", and see how they respond. I love how Proverbs says it: “Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he have his fill of you…” ( Prov 25:17 )

9. Bless the hosts and their house before you leave

This is a wonderfully rich and biblical practice . Before you go, simply say, “Hey, let me pray for you…”, and then thank the Lord for your host/s and ask his blessing on their home.

10. Follow up with a thank you note

The best way to respond to grace is with gratitude. About a day later, send a note (handwritten is the best, but not always necessary) to simply say thank you. You can even recap some of your favorite moments or memories while you’re at it.

Hosted for all eternity

Here's a cool thought: We're going to be hosted for all of eternity. One of the images Scripture leaves us with in it's closing pages is that of a magnificent supper where we are the guests. May we bring joy to our hosts today in a way that brings glory to our Host of Heaven.

What would you add?

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Click reply and send me a quick note.

Grace and peace.

Tim

7 Ways To Connect With Neighbors

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 13:58:23 GMT

Mission-Driven Hospitality

I had an inspiring conversation with one of our church-planting missionaries about how they connect with their neighbors in order to begin potentially eternal relationships. As we saw earlier in the year , biblical hospitality includes those we don’t yet know. And since it’s helpful to have some practical ideas ready, below is a simple list to start.

What other ideas would you add to this list? Shoot me an email with your thoughts!

7 Ways to Connect with Neighbors (Even if You Don’t Have Any)

1. Bake or grow extras and pass them out (cookies, flowers, fresh basil ... yummm).

2. Walk your dog (or yourself!) at the same time and place.

3. Invite both neighbors and friends from church for a dinner party or the next “big game”.

4. Spent time in front rather than behind your house.

5. Become a “regular”. Go to the same ___ (hair dresser, barber, diner, deli). Learn names and start to ask personal questions.

6. Attend your neighbors’ parties. Well… when you’re invited.

7. Ask your neighbor for help, borrow a tool, or grab a cup of sugar when you need it.

Pick just one of these ideas and try it out this week. Let me know how it goes.

Grace and peace.

Tim

The Hospitality of a Homeless Jesus

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 17:55:43 GMT

Keep up the great work, Hilltown!

I’ve heard some delightful stories of hospitality within our church family these past few weeks …

Some of you are hosting breakfast every Sunday before worship.
Some are rolling up your sleeves and making dinner together.
Some are bringing dinner to others who can’t travel and eating there.
Some are hosting board game nights.

What great ideas!

If you haven’t yet, remember our goal is to open our homes at least two times in January to those we don’t yet know well . Really, we aim to grow as God’s hospitable people.

The Hospitality of a Homeless Jesus

If I were a skeptic, the first thing I would poke at is the fact that Jesus was homeless. He himself said, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” ( Mt 8:20 ). So how on earth (literally) did he exercise hospitality?

1. He used the little space he had.

We know Jesus had a home of sorts. He may not have owned it, but he “went and lived” “at home” ( Mt 4:13 ; Mk 2:1 ). Some think this was Peter’s home, but we don’t know for sure. What we do know is that so many people came over that he ran out of room ( Mk 2:2 ), sometimes to the point they couldn’t even eat the food they had ( Mk 3:20 ).

Point: You don’t need a huge space. In fact, celebrate running out of space, just like these accounts above!

2. He used public space as well.

Jesus felt right at home outside and spent many nights praying and camping out ( Lk 5:16; 9:18, 28 ). And He hosted some significant meals outside for both large groups ( Mk 6:30 ; 8:1 ) and intimate conversations ( Jn 21:9-19 ).

Point: Invite others out for a meal. Treat if you’re able. Go Dutch if you need to!

3. He used others’ space often.

Jesus did a lot of ministry around a table, and many times it wasn’t his own. Think of the party at Matthew’s house ( Mt 9:10 ), his meal with Zacchaeus ( Lk 19:5 ), his meal with Simon the Pharisee ( Lk 7:36-50 ), not to mention many others.

Point: Consider asking a friend to help. For a season, Kelli and I opened our home to our young adults. They brought and prepped the food, they invited the crowd, and they even cleaned the kitchen! Some of them knew our kitchen as well as did after a few months.

The Main Point: Think Outside the Box

My hope and prayer for you today is that considering the hospitality of our Savior Jesus Christ would encourage you to find the joy of creative hospitality yourself.

What creative ways have you enjoyed? Where have you experienced hospitality from others? If you’re willing to share, I’d like to hear!

Love to you, Hilltown family.

Pastor Tim

5 Tips on Being a Rock Star Host

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 17:28:40 GMT

Some of us seem to be born with a hospitality gene. Others pick it up by watching people who do it well. If hosting isn't something second-nature to you yet, consider a few of the following tips.

1. Never turn down help.

Make it a potluck affair, and let your guests surprise you! There's a real beauty in that. Delegate the parts of the meal that stress you out, and focus on what you do well.

2. Don't Perform

Your goal isn't to welcome people into the life and home you want them to think you have, but the one you actually have. So resist the pressure to perform. Relax. You're home doesn't need to be perfect. The food doesn't need to come from a Michelin-star-winning recipe. Yes, it's loving to cook that killer dish you know they'll enjoy. But do it to serve, not to impress. Maybe just order a pizza.

3. Make as much ahead as possible.

We've been there. You're anxiously stirring the pot so it doesn't burn to the bottom when you hear a car door close and realize you're still in your pajamas. Or your friends arrive and you're still dodging all around them, trying to convince them you're listening as you grab that "one last thing". Find ways to minimize your emotional busyness. Busyness kills intimacy.

4. Sit next to people not over them.

If you are hosting someone younger (by age or by spiritual maturity) don’t seek to mentor, teach or parent them - unless they ask you to. You don’t want your guests to walk away like they just left an intervention or seminar. Seek to know, understand, and appreciate them without needing to be known, understood, or appreciated yourself. You already have that in Christ!

5. Practice Gospel Hospitality.

This will take practice. Worldly hospitality seeks to impress people with material stuff. Gospel hospitality seeks to impress people with a gospel-centered life. This is not door-to-door evangelism but open-door evangelism.

- Be you and pray before the meal like you always do.

- Be excited about your church or ministries you’re involved in.

- Be sincere when being positive and encouraging.

- Be vulnerable and transparent showing that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.

- Be both grateful and thankful. Find moments of gratitude in a busy, messy, loud, and selfless day of hosting.

- Be willing to sacrifice habits for hospitality.

- Be willing to sacrifice white carpets for the opportunity to share the gospel.

Hospitality is Not "Entertaining"

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 18:25:21 GMT

Throughout the month of January we'll be sharing reflections, testimonies, and tips on biblical hospitality.

We’ve been looking forward to this new year and new focus on biblical hospitality . But what do you think of when you hear the word “ Hospitality ”?

Biblical Hospitality is Not “Entertaining”

What we tend to think of is stuff like warmly lit rooms, beautifully plated foods, and cool place settings. But do you know how many times God mentions those things when He talks about hospitality in Scripture? Exactly zero.

So what does He talk about? And is it possible we’ve confused hospitality with entertaining?

Biblical Hospitality is to Bring the Outsider In

The word for hospitality in New Testament Greek is philoxenia and means “the love of strangers” (like in Hebrews 13:2 ). Even in the Old Testament, God regularly reminded His people to “treat the stranger as a native among you” and “love him as yourself” ( Leviticus 19:34 ).

In other words, there’s a movement implied. Those who were once outside the community are brought inside the community. In a way, it’s a snapshot of the gospel---we who were once far from God are brought to His table.

Biblical Hospitality is to Deepen Friendships

It’s fun to host your friends! Mary, Martha, and Lazarus used to host Jesus, who had become a good friend ( John 11:5 ). And Peter talked to the church about joyfully hosting “one another” ( 1 Peter 4:9 ). So even though we aim to avoid being clique-ish or exclusive, we certainly don’t want to stop hosting those we’ve come to love in order to love them more.

Biblical Hospitality is a Command

It’s noteworthy that Paul’s command to “show hospitality ” is right on par with “love one another”, “serve the Lord”, and “be constant in prayer” ( Romans 12:13 ). It’s also remarkable that hospitality is not a suggestion for church leadership, but a prerequisite ( 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1 ).

Goal: 2x This Month, Host Those You Don’t Yet Know

Our primary goal this January is to open our homes at least twice to those we don’t yet know (or don’t yet know well). That’s achievable! That’s measurable. And that’s biblical.

For Kelli and I, one of our favorite things to do is combine all of this. We host someone we don’t yet know along with a good friend who can help break the ice, maybe even help serve, and bring the other in.

How do you plan to go after this goal this month? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Just reply here and send me a quick note!

Grace and peace.

Tim