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Guarding your heart isn't a single decision — it's a daily fight over what you let in, what comes out, and where your eyes are fixed. Proverbs 4:23 calls the heart "the wellspring of life," and the verses around it spell out exactly how to protect it: guard your ears, guard your mouth, guard your eyes, and ponder your path. We see this demonstrated in the life of Caleb, the spy who trusted God's promise when ten others gave in to fear, who spoke the truth to a terrified nation even under threat of being stoned, and who at eighty-five years old was still strong enough to ask for the very land God had promised him years earlier. His story is a picture of a heart that stayed fixed forward, no matter how long the wait. Scripture References Proverbs 4:20–27Numbers 13Numbers 14Joshua 14Key Moments 00:00 Welcome 00:31 Message: Eyes Fixed Forward 03:14 Recap: The Good Fight & Guarding Your Heart 08:49 Scripture: Proverbs 4:20–27 10:04 Guard Your Ears: Caleb and the Voice of God 17:12 Guard Your Mouth: Speaking Truth to a Fearful Crowd 21:12 Guard Your Eyes: Fixed Forward Through Forty Years 28:43 Ponder Your Path: Where Is My Heart Chasing? 33:19 Reflection and PrayerThank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on September 20, 2026, at 9:30am. You can find us online at ⁠nwhills.com⁠.

Conflict runs throughout the biblical story, but the fight between good and evil isn't only something happening around us. Proverbs 4:23 brings the struggle inward: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." As Northwest Hills begins The Good Fight, we explore what the Bible means by the heart, why our inner lives matter so deeply, and why changing our behavior alone doesn't reach the source. Solomon's own story offers a striking tension: a man known for extraordinary wisdom who nevertheless allowed his heart to drift. Scripture References Proverbs 4:231 Kings 11:4Psalm 139:23–24Ephesians 3:14–21 Key Moments (00:00) Welcome(00:32) Message: Guard Your Heart(04:21) Conflict Throughout the Bible's Story(10:49) Proverbs 4:23: Keep Your Heart With All Vigilance(13:16) What We Guard: Valuable, Dangerous, Vulnerable(17:25) First Step: Realize You're in a Fight(19:40) Two Conditions of the Heart: Old and New(24:06) Solomon: Great Wisdom, Drifting Heart(28:18) Time to Reflect: Where Is My Heart? Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on September 14, 2026, at 8:00am. You can find us online at ⁠nwhills.com⁠.

What does it really mean to serve God when doing so costs us something? As Northwest Hills closes out a year focused on living as servants and stewards, Worship Director Justin Jackson looks back at the lives of Joseph, Jeremiah, Peter, Jesus, and others we've studied along the way. Through their stories, he explores faithfulness through hardship, choosing truth when it's costly, letting go of present comforts, and the surprising relationship between serving God and true freedom. Scripture References Proverbs 21:6John 8:31–32Jeremiah 20:71 Peter 1:3–4Genesis 50Jeremiah 29:11John 6:38–40 Key Moments (00:00) Welcome(00:28) Message: Is Serving God Worth It?(01:11) The Game Ball My Brother Gave Away(06:28) A Year in Review: Joseph, Jeremiah, Peter, and the Mothers of Jesus(09:36) Fighting for the Truth(19:18) Fighting Through Hardship(25:20) Trading Present Comforts for Future Reward(28:35) Trading "Freedom" for True Freedom(33:04) Redefining Freedom: Doing Whatever God Wants Mentioned in This Message Chasing Love by Sean McDowellJohn Adams and the Boston Massacre trial Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on September 6, 2026, at 10:30am. You can find us online at ⁠nwhills.com⁠.

Lead Pastor Josh Carstensen continues our series on Mark. Mark ends in a surprisingly abrupt way. The tomb is empty. The women are afraid. And there are still many unanswered questions. Which is actually a pretty good picture of what it can feel like to follow Jesus. Sometimes life is uncertain, and the best thing we can do is simply stay close to Him. Sometimes following Him is both amazing and a little terrifying. And sometimes we're more like Peter. We've failed, we're carrying shame, and we wonder what Jesus thinks of us now. But tucked into the resurrection story are two simple words: "and Peter." Jesus hadn't forgotten him. He wasn't done with him. In fact, He was already ahead of Peter, waiting for him where it all began. And that's exactly where Jesus meets us too. Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on August 30, 2026, at 10:30am. You can find us online at ⁠nwhills.com⁠. Key Moments (00:00) Welcome(01:11) Message: The Gospel of "And Peter" (Mark 16)(07:31) Imagining First-Century Rome Under Persecution(11:35) Reading Mark 16:1-8: The Empty Tomb(12:53) A Longing for Closeness in the Middle of Chaos(18:07) The Tension of Amazement and Fear in Following Jesus(24:10) Jesus Meets Peter — and Us — in Our Shame(27:39) Six-Point Recap and What You Need Today(28:49) Closing Response and Prayer

Associate Pastor Ron King continues our series on Mark. Mark 15 takes us to the cross, and everything looks like defeat. Jesus is mocked. Beaten. Abandoned. The people with power seem to have won. And yet, beneath all of it, something entirely different is happening. Human power is exposed for what it is: temporary. The ones who thought they were in control fade into history, while the cross they meant for humiliation becomes the place where God's power is revealed. And standing nearby are some surprising people: a foreigner carrying the cross, women who refused to leave, a Roman centurion, and even a member of the religious council. One by one, they begin to see it. This wasn't defeat. It was love — brutal, costly, overwhelming love. And once you see that love clearly, the question becomes: what will you do with it? Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on August 23, 2026, at 10:30am. You can find us online at ⁠nwhills.com⁠. Key Moments (00:00) Welcome(01:18) Message: The Cross That Looked Like Defeat(06:17) Scripture Reading: Mark 15, Jesus' Trial and Crucifixion(12:54) The Illusion of Human Power(18:59) The Shocking Injustice and Brutality of the Cross(22:47) The Surprising People Gathered at the Cross(27:41) The Astounding, Unfathomable Love of God(32:54) The Real Question: How Will You Respond?(35:24) An Invitation to Prayer and Communion

Guest Preacher Caleb Hunt continues our series on Mark. Mark 14 brings us to a night when everything seems to be falling apart. Jesus is betrayed. His closest friends abandon him. Peter denies him. And in the garden, Jesus faces what's coming and prays, "Not my will, but your will." Because sometimes trusting God is the hardest when we can't understand what He's doing. Some reject Jesus when He won't do things their way, and others run when following Him becomes painful. But Mary does something different. She pours out everything she has — not because she understands the plan, but because she trusts the One making it. And that changes how we see moments that look like defeat. Because the cross looked like everything had gone wrong. But it was actually the greatest victory of all. Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on August 16, 2026, at 10:30am. You can find us online at ⁠nwhills.com⁠. Key Moments (00:00) Welcome(1:08) Message: Coming to God on His Terms, Not Ours(2:49) Illustration: What We'd Lose If We Rescued Paul from Prison(7:41) Scripture Reading: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:32–42)(8:26) Illustration: The Doctor Who Discovered Handwashing(14:47) Mark's Literary Structure: The "Markan Sandwich"(20:32) Mary of Bethany: Pouring Out Everything She Had(24:03) Gethsemane: The Olive Press and Three Ways We Respond(31:08) Invitation: Coming to God on His Terms

Lead Pastor Josh Carstensen continues our series on Mark. Some things feel like they'll last forever. Like the life you've built, the people you love, and the plans you've made. But Jesus reminds us how fragile it all really is — not to fill us with fear, but to free us from holding too tightly to what was never meant to last. There's a surprising kind of hope that grows when you realize history is moving somewhere on purpose. Even when the world feels unsteady, when obedience is costly, or even when tomorrow isn't promised. The goal isn't to figure out the timeline. It's to live awake today. To loosen our grip on what fades, hold tightly to what endures, and be ready whenever the King returns. Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on August 9, 2026, at 10:30am. You can find us online at ⁠nwhills.com⁠. Key Moments (00:00) Welcome(01:05) Message: Everything Is Temporary, But Jesus Is Coming Back(13:38) The Temple Feels Permanent, But Everything Is Temporary(16:14) Wars and Disasters Are Birth Pains, Not the End(18:41) The Holy Spirit Gives Us Words, and We Stand Firm Under Persecution(23:09) God Limits Our Suffering and Warns Against False Christs(30:58) The Son of Man Returns in Glory to Gather His Elect(35:52) No One Knows the Day, So Stay Awake and Keep Working(36:42) Don't Put Off Until Tomorrow What Obedience Requires Today

Today, Young Adult Pastor Gary Jones continues our series on Mark. The way that Jesus navigates difficult conversations about faith reveals what God truly values. When he is approached by religious leaders who are insincere in their flattery, he cuts through external performance and gets straight to the heart of the matter, saying that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. His answer encourages us, but it also challenges us to ask: are we giving God our best, or just our leftovers? If you want to explore what true devotion can mean in your own life, then this message is for you. Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on August 2, 2026, at 9:00am. You can find us online at nwhills.com. Key Moments 00:00 Welcome 00:53 Message: True Devotion 05:10 Hypocrisy and Heart Motives 07:57 Greatest Commandment Reading 10:18 Love God With Everything 14:41 Love Your Neighbor Truly 24:23 Costly Giving Self-Examination 30:49 Invitation and Prayer

Lead Pastor Josh Carstensen continues our series on Mark. Some moments in Scripture are meant to stop us in our tracks, and this is one of them. Jesus does something that almost feels impossible to reconcile with the Savior we think we know. But beneath the surprise is a deeper invitation that goes past appearances and into the condition of our hearts. When frustration rises, when faith feels stretched, when old wounds still linger, Jesus doesn't settle for fixing the surface. He goes straight to the root. And somehow, in the middle of overturned tables, a withered tree, and impossible promises, we discover a God who is restoring hearts instead of simply managing behavior. It's a reminder that real worship bears fruit, real faith holds on when everything feels shaken, and real freedom begins the moment forgiveness takes root. Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on July 26, 2026, at 10:30am. You can find us online at ⁠nwhills.com⁠. Key Moments (00:00) Welcome(01:15) Message: Jesus, the Fig Tree, and the Path from Frustration to Forgiveness(04:30) Reading Mark 11:12-14: Jesus Curses the Fig Tree(06:58) Context: Palm Sunday and Chaos in the Temple(10:27) Reading Mark 11:15-25: Jesus Cleanses the Temple(12:17) The Mark Sandwich: Why the Fig Tree Story Is Really About the Temple(17:34) Three Responses to Frustration: Root Cause, Patience, and Restoration(24:44) Faith and the Danger of "Name It and Claim It" Theology(29:46) Forgiveness: Receiving It Before We Can Give It

Lead Pastor Josh Carstensen continues our series on Mark. Have you ever found yourself secretly playing the comparison game, chasing after a better job title, or trying to prove your worth by who you know? We live in a world that is obsessed with status, titles, and trying to rank higher than the person next to us. It's an endless cycle, and it's exhausting. But Jesus reveals the discontinuity between what we think we want from God and what He actually offers us. He challenges us to look past our cultural definitions of success and embrace his upside-down kingdom—where true significance isn't earned, but is already secured by a Savior who came to serve. If you need a reminder today of a love that requires no performance, this message is for you. Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on July 19, 2026, at 9:00am. You can find us online at nwhills.com. Key Moments 00:00 Welcome 01:00 Message: The Comparison Game, Status, and Jesus’ Upside-Down Kingdom 07:58 Mark Overview and Big Question 15:07 Spiritual Blindness 19:41 Disciples Miss the Point 22:19 Chasing Status, Titles, and People 30:53 Greatness Through Serving 36:14 Reflection and Prayer

Worship Director Justin Jackson continues our series on Mark. In chapter 9, Peter's standing on a mountain, watching Jesus' face turn to light, and two men who'd been dead for centuries talk to him like it's nothing. And his response is to suggest they build some tents to try and keep the moment going a little longer. It's such a human reaction. We reach for control, for a bigger role, and try to fill the silence instead of sitting in it. Then a voice comes out of the cloud with a command. And what it means for Peter, and for us, is worth hearing all the way through. Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on July 12, 2026, at 10:30am. You can find us online at ⁠nwhills.com⁠. Key Moments (00:00) Welcome(01:00) Message: The Master Grants a Mountaintop Before the Dark Valley(08:08) Scripture Reading: Mark 9:2-9, The Transfiguration(09:01) The Transfiguration and Why Jesus Wants Faith, Not Sight(17:48) Peter's Mistake: Wanting a Greater Role(23:08) Peter's Other Mistake: Trying to Control What He Can't(29:02) The Kingdom's Paradox: Servants Who Will Reign(30:26) Living on the Mountain, Walking Through the Valley(32:32) The Practice of Listening Prayer

Associate Pastor Ron King continues our series on Mark. What do you do when you realize your plans and God's plans aren't the same thing? Because that's exactly where Peter lands in Mark 8. He finally gets it right by calling Jesus the Messiah. And then Jesus tells him what that actually means: suffering, rejection, and death. Peter can't handle it, so he pulls Jesus aside and basically tells God he's wrong. Jesus doesn't let that slide. "Get behind me, Satan," he says. Because sometimes the biggest obstacle to following Jesus isn't unbelief — it's holding onto our own good plans a little too tight. Here's what it actually costs to follow Jesus, and why letting go of your version of the plan is the best trade you'll ever make. Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on July 5, 2026, at 10:30am. You can find us online at ⁠nwhills.com⁠. Key Moments (00:00) Welcome(1:05) Message: What Do I Do When My Plans Aren't God's Plans?(2:53) America First, Jesus First, and Entering Mark 8(4:55) When Your Plans and God's Plans Aren't the Same(8:09) Reading Mark 8:27-38(11:04) Peter's Confession and Jesus' Sharp Rebuke(22:15) Denying Yourself: Discipleship Isn't About You(32:08) Bonhoeffer's Costly Grace(44:57) Journal Questions to Close

Worship Director Justin Jackson continues our series on Mark. There's something uncomfortably familiar about the Pharisees. It's not the robes or the rituals, but their impulse to believe that if I just follow the right rules and look like I'm doing it right, then maybe I don't have to actually change anything on the inside. Jesus calls this out directly in Mark 7. He's sitting down to a meal with his disciples when the religious leaders confront him — and his response is a harsh quote: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. That's not just an ancient critique. We do this too! We make our own rules, impose them on others, and call it righteousness. But the whole point of the law was never to be a ladder we climb. It was a mirror showing us we need help. And what Jesus offers on the other side of that realization isn't more rules. It's a new heart and actual freedom. Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on June 28, 2026, at 10:30am. You can find us online at ⁠nwhills.com⁠. Key Moments (00:00) Welcome(1:15) Message: Lips vs. Heart — Why We Replace God's Commands with Our Own(3:56) What "Spraying Beta" Has to Do with the Pharisees(8:49) Scripture Reading — Mark 7:1–8(9:51) Why the Pharisees' Ritual Washing Was Never About Hygiene(11:28) The Law Was a Mirror, Not a Ladder(15:01) How the Religious Leaders Turned Loopholes into Power(19:25) Three Reasons We All Replace God's Law with Our Own(28:56) What Jesus Offers Instead — A New Heart and Real Freedom(31:02) Three Self-Examination Questions and Communion

Young Adult Pastor Gary Jones continues our series on Mark. Have you ever felt like you’re just too inadequate to be used by God for anything significant? We often disqualify ourselves before we even begin. But what if our focus is in the wrong place? As followers of Jesus, he calls all of us to step out in faith to boldly proclaim his urgent message to a broken world. But our confidence is not in ourselves, because we may be flawed instruments, but we are in the hands of a perfect God. If you want to know practically how to follow Jesus and make him known even through challenges and opposition, this message is for you. Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on June 21, 2026, at 9:00am. You can find us online at nwhills.com. Key Moments 00:00 Welcome 00:54 Message: Sent Out in Faith - God Uses Flawed Instruments 01:57 Why Mission Matters 04:36 Jesus Rejected at Nazareth 08:04 Sending the Twelve Out 13:08 Four Ways to Go 19:50 Repentance and Gospel Truth 24:36 Opposition and John the Baptist 33:21 Closing: A Flawed Instrument in His Hands

Lead Pastor Josh Carstensen continues our series on Mark. Two people come to Jesus in Mark 5. A synagogue ruler whose daughter is dying. And a woman who's been sick for twelve years, who's tried everything, spent everything, and is getting worse. They couldn't be more different. One is powerful and named. The other is anonymous and desperate. But they both end up at the same place: on their knees, out of options, reaching toward Jesus. What's striking is that he doesn't respond to them the same way. One gets immediate healing. But the other has to wait through the worst moment of his life first. If you've ever prayed hard for something and felt like heaven was quiet, this one is worth your time. Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on June 14, 2026, at 10:30am. You can find us online at ⁠nwhills.com⁠. Key Moments (00:00) Welcome(1:00) Message: When You've Run Out of Options, Come to Jesus(5:46) Why Three Gospel Writers Tell This One Story(7:21) Jesus Challenges Our Brokenness and Authority(13:40) Jairus: A Father at the End of His Rope(16:08) The Woman Who Bled for Twelve Years(21:46) Why People Come to Jesus, and What It Takes(27:29) Jesus Heals Differently: Publicly, Privately, on His Timeline  (31:17) Application: Coming to Jesus Now, Whatever Stage You're In