Contributors
Michael's church

Christian Hills Church
, Illinois
708 349-0777

About Michael
  • Education: Afl-CIO Carpenter Apprenticeship - Graduated 1983. Pastoral Diploma from North Central Bible College - minor in Bible - Graduated 1988. B.S. Social Work from Bemidji State University - minors in Chemical Dependency Counseling, and Sociology - 1994. Masters of Biblical Studies in Pastoral Ministry - Master’s Divinity School- 2008
  • Experience: 11/’08 - present - Senior Pastor of Christian Hills ’97 - 11/’08 - Senior pastor New Life Community Church ’97 - ’07 - Special ed. teacher, and substitute teacher ’94 - ’97 - Associate Pastor Christian Hills Church ’95 - ’97 - Teacher Christian Life College - part time ’90 - ’94 - Sand Hill Lake Bible Camp -- Manager/Minister ’88 - ’90 - Pastor Liberty Chapel ’84 - ’88 - Self employed M&M Construction ’79 - ’84 - Afl-CIO Union Local 7 -- Carpenter
  • Comment to those looking at my sermons: It’s by the grace of God that I can even do this!
  • Sermon or series that made a difference: Leadership Pain, Life of Joseph series, 3 motto’s of a Servant Leader, Servanthood series, 7 Keys to revival, Legacy of the pew - Series
  • One of my favorite illustrations: The truth of the matter is man has been making mistakes since creation. Here are just some of the great mistakes of the past: 1). The ancient Babylonians believed that the earth was flat in 8th Century B.C.. The sad fact is there are still people today who believe that the earth is flat. Their claims are based on their literal interpretation of the Bible, which, for example refers to "the four, corners of the Earth." They call themselves the "Flat Earth Society." There base is in Utah.
  • Family: Wife - Kathy married for 38 years - she is a teacher at our Christian School. 4 DAUGHTERS: Tiffany - (Josh) and two twin grand sons, Ayden and Keagan twins, and granddaughter Evie - Ashley - (Vernon) Emerson, Harlowe, Deklin, Cooper - Christa _ Isa our spiritual adopted daughter
  • What my parents think of my sermons: My mom say’s "I am dynamic." My dad has only heard me preach once at a Father’s Day Banquet and he said, "You did well, but your socks did not match your suit."
  • What my spouse (really) thinks of my sermons: She says, "They are awesome! They are life inspiring! They are motivational! They are enlightening! They are heart changing! and He’s cute too!"
  • Best advice given to me about preaching: Be Yourself. Pray for the Lord to use the sermon he laid on your heart. Use illustrations. Be creative "It’s a sin to bore people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ" (Swindoll). Preach in modern day Parables. Repeat you main point 7 times. Do your homework!
  • Books that have had an impact: "Leadership Pain" Samuel Chand "All In" Mark Batterson "Radical" by David Platt "Experiencing God" by Blackaby, "David" by Charles Swindoll, "Laugh Again" by Charles Swindoll, "Developing the Leader Within" by John Maxwell, "Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make" By Hans Finzel, "Turning Vision Into Action" by George Barna, "Descending Into Greatness" by Bill Hybels, "The Life You Always Wanted" by John Ortberg, "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" by Jim Cymbala, "Fresh Faith" by Jim Cymbala, "Fresh Power" by Jim Cymbala
  • Hobbies: Reading, Computer Strategy Games, Walking, Boating
  • If I could Preach one more time, I would say...: Commit 100% to Jesus and then lead people from here to eternity.
  • Something funny that happened while preaching: When I was doing my internship in a church I once noted to the congregation that I had recently received a news letter from Hell. I mean’t to say I had received a News Letter which had an article about Hell and it came out wrong. Everyone laughed and teased me that they did not know that I had a hotline to Hell.
  • What I want on my tombstone: He was a man after God’s own heart!
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Newest Sermons

  • Healing Church - Words

    Contributed on Oct 1, 2023
     | 36 views

    Words our words carry the power to create a positive environment or a negative environment. Words create worlds – yes- the world’s around us are created by our words. What do your words sound like each day?

    Series: “The Healing Church 2023” Sermon #2: Healing Church – Words Thesis: Words our words carry the power to create a positive environment or a negative environment. Words create worlds – yes- the world’s around us are created by our words. What do your words sound like each day? ...read more

  • Healing Church Pt 1

    Contributed on Sep 24, 2023
     | 198 views

    A church/ ministry that creates a healing environment and literally sees healing taking place is a church that focuses on the Good News of Jesus and on making right decision in life.

    “The Healing Church 2023” Opening Remarks: Disclaimer on the screen – options for kids and teens to go to for this sensitive topic and message. Pastor Marlon and I attended the AACC Convention in Nashville Tn. last week and I was pressed by the Holy Spirit to talk about us being a healthy and ...read more

  • The Fog - Hide And Seek

    Contributed on Sep 19, 2023
     | 219 views

    The fog has rolled into western culture and choked out intimacy with God. The fog hinders and blocks us from being in an intimate relationship with God. The fog drives us to choose to hide from God rather than seek out His presence! But Jesus is seeking us out even in the fog!

    The Fog Chapter 4 - “Hide and Seek?” Illustration: Have you ever played Hide and Seek – I have with my grandkids – Deklan is the funniest because where he hides is usually in the same place and if you listen you can hear him singing – he loves to sing – at our summer blast I put him on the ponies, ...read more

  • Improving Your Serve 2023

    Contributed on Sep 3, 2023
     | 347 views

    Serving does not come easily to any of us, it is an art, a discipline which has to be developed in our life. Servanthood must also be modeled after Jesus.

    Improving your serve! Opening Illustration: Serving the ball story! Thesis: Serving does not come easily to any of us, it is an art, a discipline which has to be developed in our life. Servanthood must also be modeled after Jesus. Scripture: Mark 10:35-45 35 Then James and John, the sons of ...read more

  • The Fog Part 3

    Contributed on Aug 27, 2023
    based on 1 rating
     | 227 views

    The eerie spiritual fog has rolled in over the Western church and Christian culture, it has descended on us because, “There is no fear of God before people’s eyes today.” This created the right atmosphere for the fog to roll in and engulf our nation in deception and deceit.”

    Series: Reflections from Sabbatical Sermon 3: The Fog Thesis: The eerie spiritual fog has rolled in over the Western church and Christian culture, it has descended on us because, “There is no fear of God before people’s eyes today.” This created the right atmosphere for the fog to roll in and ...read more

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Newest Sermon Series

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Newest Sermon Illustrations

  • Soul

    Contributed on Jan 11, 2023
     | 594 views

    John Ortberg describes it this way, “We each have an outer life and an inner one. My outer self is the public, visible me. My accomplishments, my work, and my reputation lie there. But inside is my soul that part of me that speaks in silence to others but yells at me. It's the inside stuff of ...read more

  • All In

    Contributed on Nov 21, 2021
     | 1,333 views

    Mark notes: “When you go all in with God, you never know how or when or where He might show up. But you can live in holy anticipation, knowing that God can invade the reality of your life at any given moment and change everything for eternity. And when He does, you need to ...read more

  • Stoyan's Father By Nik Ripken

    Contributed on Apr 14, 2019
     | 3,375 views

    When Stoyan was twelve, they imprisoned his protestant pastor father. His father remained in custody for ten years. “At first,” he said, “they held him in a secret police place in our city.” “Every morning one of the guards would take some of his own human waste and spread it on the piece of toast ...read more

  • Tavian's Story From Insanity Of God

    Contributed on Mar 22, 2019
    based on 1 rating
     | 4,068 views

    Story from Insanity of God Tavian, pages 183-185: Up four flights of creaking stairs, in a tiny apartment, we met a white-haired, stooped-over, shell of a man. It was clear that, earlier in his life, he had cast a longer shadow. He invited us into his apartment. The aged furnishings made the room ...read more

  • Community

    Contributed on Oct 2, 2015
     | 6,684 views

    Dr. B. adds, “Christ desired that his church would be the earthly community of oneness modeled after the eternal community of oneness. Jesus went on to declare that he had provided his followers with everything they needed to bring about this oneness. He prayed, “I have given them the glory that ...read more