Heart of A Shepherd Inc

Heart of A Shepherd Inc is a 501c3 charitable organization, and publishes daily devotionals by Pastor Travis D. Smith. Email at: [email protected]

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

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This study is Pastor Smith's conclusion of his Hebrews series, "Jesus Is Greater: Faith in the Supremacy of Jesus Christ." The title of this message, "Bearing His Reproach: Five Marks of a Faithful Church," is based on Hebrews 13:9-25.

The sermon suggests that Hebrews 13:9-25 offers insight into a pastor's heart and conveys the passion, love, and concerns of a spiritual shepherd for his congregation.

The central theme of the study is "Five Marks of a Faithful Church" (Hebrews 13:13-19).

#Hebrews, #Church, #Salutation, #Conclusion, #Pastor, #Members, #Shepherd,

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

Hillsdale's Sunday Worship Services, August 23, 2026

Dear Hillsdale family and friends,
I was ill last Sunday morning and missed the chance to fellowship and worship with you. I have recovered from the virus and am excited to finish the Hebrews series, "Jesus is Greater: Faith in the Supremacy of Jesus Christ," tomorrow morning.

In concluding his epistle to the first-century Hebrews congregation, the author offers insight into his identity, his role as a spiritual shepherd, and his love for believers. Hebrews 13:9-25 is instructive for pastors and the congregations they serve. The sermon for the 10:30 a.m. service is titled "Bearing His Reproach: Five Marks of a Faithful Church." The morning service will conclude with the Lord's Supper.

In the lobby, we are highlighting Hillsdale's Adult Bible Fellowship (ABF) hour tomorrow morning. You are invited to attend one of our ABF classes, which begin at 9:15 a.m. In addition to our children's and teen Sunday School hour, we also have time-of-life Bible studies, beginning with Young Singles and continuing through PrimeTimers. The auditorium class is open to all ages and is currently studying the major doctrines of the Scriptures.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday morning!

With the heart of a shepherd,

Travis D. Smith
Senior Pastor

https://t.co/4FyEQvXmn9

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

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Following last Wednesday's Genesis orientation class, HBBI's fall class, "Origins," begins with Pastor Smith introducing the first of a two-part study of Genesis 1-11, titled "God Created."
The study opens with a presentation on the critical role that faith in Genesis 1 and its account of creation has not only for Bible believers but also for the founding of the United States.
This study focuses on Genesis 1:1-5.

#Creation, #God, #Evolution, #Beginning, #Creator,

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

Hillsdale friends and family,

This is a reminder that our regular mid-week ministry classes for your family start this Wednesday. Master Kids' Clubs kick off with registration in the lobby at 5:45 p.m., with club activities beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Inside/Out Teens kicks off its new school year at 6:00 p.m. with Pastor Peterman. Come dressed for outdoor activities, followed by a challenge from God's Word.

Pastor Mills, his wife Teresa, and Travis and Tanya Henry are looking forward to starting a new year of Parenting Classes for parents of preschool- and elementary-age children. The class begins at 6:15 p.m. and meets in our second-floor Friendship Hall.

"Origins," a study of Genesis 1–11, is the focus of our new Hillsdale Baptist Bible Institute class, which meets weekly in the auditorium. The class begins with a brief time of Praise, Prayer, and Fellowship at 6:00 p.m., followed by Bible study from 6:15–7:15 p.m.

Lastly, a pre-session supper is not planned for this Wednesday; however, we are working toward providing a light meal each Wednesday going forward. We need volunteers to help with food prep and cleanup if we are to provide a weekly meal.

To volunteer, please email the church office at [email protected].

With the heart of a shepherd,

Pastor Smith

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

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This is the first study in an introductory series to Genesis 1–11 for Hillsdale Baptist Bible Institute (HBBI). HBBI has long been a dream of Pastor Smith's — to teach and train a new generation of leaders, pastors, teachers, deacons, and laypeople who will dedicate their lives to serving as Christian leaders for Hillsdale Baptist Church and beyond. Having observed the failings of Bible colleges, universities, and seminaries over the past two decades, Pastor Smith has been burdened to establish a training ground for a new generation of leaders.

As you'll hear in this introductory study, Genesis 1–11 is the foundation of the major doctrines taught at Hillsdale Baptist Church. This 18-week course will use the Bible as its core textbook, supplemented by Dr. Henry Morris' commentary, The Genesis Record.

This lesson declares our confidence that Genesis 1–11 is a factual, sequential, historical narrative, inspired and preserved by God. We interpret Scripture using the Grammatical-Historical (literal) method of hermeneutics and reject interpretive methods that accommodate secular science.

Hillsdale Baptist Church and HBBI believe that Scripture interprets Scripture, and that the days of creation were ordinary 24-hour days.

#HBBI, #HBC, #Genesis, #GenesisRecord, #Creation, #Creator,

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

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Our study of the Gospels brings us to Matthew 14, which recounts John the Baptist's martyrdom.
Herod Antipas, the son of King Herod the Great, was living in incestuous sin with Herodias, his brother's wife. Under pressure from Herodias, Herod arrested John for condemning their unlawful marriage.
However, Herodias exploited a rash oath made at Herod's birthday banquet to finally secure the prophet's beheading.

#Herod, #John, #Baptist, #Jesus, #Gospel, #Sin, #Wickedness, #Forgiveness, #Hope, #Salvation,

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

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Our study of the Gospels continues with Matthew 10.
Matthew 10 marks a fundamental shift in Christ’s public ministry. Jesus, who had called the Twelve as disciples, now commissioned them as apostles. The apostles were to be discerning about where they stayed and to whom they ministered.

#Disciples, #Apostles, #Gospel, #Commission, #Calling, #Jesus, #Israel, #Missions, #Go, #Pray, #Preach,

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

You are invited to join us this Wednesday evening as we kick off a new season of Hillsdale's Wednesday evening ministries. Whatever your age or stage of life, there's a place for you.

Genesis — Hillsdale Baptist Bible Institute's inaugural class is this evening. The evening begins with a brief time of praise and prayer at 6:00 p.m., followed by Genesis, a foundational class introducing the Book of Genesis, at 6:15 p.m. You won't want to miss this study on origins.

Master Kids Club kicks off this evening at 6:00 p.m. with an orientation class in the Friendship Hall for parents and children through 6th grade.

Inside/Out Teens — a class designed just for our teens — begins with an activity time at 6:00 p.m., followed by a Bible study with Pastor Peterman.

All classes begin at 6:00 p.m. We'd love to have you and your family join us.

See you tonight!

With the heart of a shepherd,

Travis D. Smith
Senior Pastor

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

https://t.co/3M5ZAeRoWP

Today's Bible study follows Christ and His disciples as they cross the Sea of Galilee during a storm (Mark 4).
Arriving on the eastern shore, Mark identified the area as the Gadarenes (Mark 5:1). Jesus was met by a hopeless, tormented, demon-possessed man whom He healed.

#Sin, #Wickedness, #Demons, #Devils, #Maniac, #Healing, #Salvation, #Jesus, #Lord,

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

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Our study of the Gospels continues in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 8, and you will notice parallel accounts of events in today’s Scripture compared with prior devotions in Matthew and Mark.
I especially invite you to consider Luke 8:17, where we read, “For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.”

#Storms, #Doubt, #Fear, #Anxiety, #Troubles, #Peace, #Prayer, #Faith, #Jesus, #Galilee, #Lies, #Secrets,

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

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Today’s Scripture reading is from Mark 4, where we find Christ continuing to teach in parables.
The focus of our devotional is the disciples' experience during a storm on the Sea of Galilee, in which they came to learn that Jesus was Sovereign and LORD of creation.

#Storms, #Doubt, #Fear, #Anxiety, #Troubles, #Peace, #Prayer, #Faith, #Jesus, #Galilee,

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

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Pastor Smith is nearing the end of his Hebrews series, titled "Jesus is Greater: Faith in the Supremacy of Jesus Christ." This second-to-last message from Hebrews, titled "Continuing in Brotherly Love" (Hebrews 13:1-8), is an exposition of six principles for being "the light of the world":
1. Continuous love for the brethren (Hebrews 13:1)
2. Compassionate love (hospitality) for strangers (Hebrews 13:2)
3. Concerned love for the suffering (Hebrews 13:3)
4. Chaste love (purity) in marriage (Hebrews 13:4)
5. Contented love "without covetousness" (Hebrews 13:5-6)
6. Consistent love for Christ and the example of spiritual leaders (Hebrews 13:7-8)
#BrotherlyLove, #Compassion, #Strangers, #Suffering, #Marriage, #Contentment, #Consistent, #Pastors,

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

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Jesus taught eight parables in today’s Scripture reading (Matthew 13).
The Parable of the Soils (Matthew 13:3-23) is the focus of this Bible study. Here, we find four soil types that serve as metaphors for the spiritual condition of men’s hearts.

#Parables, #Teaching, #Preaching, #Soils, #Hearts, #Seed, #Sower, #Gospel, #Jesus,

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

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As Matthew 11 opens, Jesus commanded His disciples to depart “and teach and preach” in the cities and villages of Galilee (Matthew 11:1). Blessed like no other region in history, the cities and villages of Galilee heard Jesus teach, yet many still rejected Him.

#Salvation, #Mercy, #Grace, #Rest, #Yoke, #Disciple, #Jesus, #Peace, #JohntheBaptist, #Isaiah, #Prophecy,

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

I'm looking forward to being back with my Hillsdale church family this Sunday morning after two weeks away — it will be good to be reunited!

We're returning to our series in the Book of Hebrews, "Jesus is Greater: Faith in the Supremacy of Jesus Christ," as we turn to the final chapter. The message for our 10:30 a.m. service, "Continuing in Brotherly Love" (Hebrews 13:1-8), is wonderfully practical — six life-changing principles for living as "the light of the world." (Live Broadcast at 10:30 a.m. on Hillsdale's Facebook Page, YouTube Channel, and at https://t.co/0RAlQ39qMD.)

I'd also love to see you join us earlier for Sunday School and our Adult Bible Fellowship Hour at 9:15 a.m. We're blessed with gifted teachers who love God's Word and teaching it.

I can't wait to worship together this Sunday!

With the heart of a shepherd,

Travis D. Smith
Senior Pastor

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

https://t.co/tcr2T0mKy1

Today’s second devotional is based on Luke 7.
Some of Jesus’ greatest miracles are recorded in Luke 7—He healed a Roman Centurion’s servant, raised a widow’s son from the dead, and assured John the Baptist’s disciples that He was the Messiah.

#Jesus, #Messiah, #Disciples, #JohnTheBaptist, #Miracles, #Healing, #Compassion,

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

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Our chronological study of the New Testament continues with today’s readings from Matthew 9 and Luke 7.
This first of two devotions is drawn from Matthew 9, where we see Jesus healing the sick and forgiving sinners.
His supper with publicans and sinners provoked the Pharisees' ire.

#Pharisee, #Criticism, #Hypocrite, #Judgment, #Jesus, #Sermon, #Miracle, #Healing,

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

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After two weeks of travel and a break from daily social media, I'm happy to be back and posting my daily Heart of A Shepherd's video devotionals. I'll be catching up and posting the past two weeks' devotionals on my YouTube channel later today.

Today's Scripture reading is from Matthew 5. This Bible study will focus on Matthew 5:3-12. The Beatitudes are the sum of Christ's declaration about the actions and attitudes of heaven's citizens, meant to be lived on earth. Each Beatitude begins with the word "Blessed" (Matthew 5:3-12).

#Beatitudes, #Christ, #Jesus, #Teaching, #Character, #Heaven, #Sermon, #Galilee, #Mercy, #Persecuted, #Blessed,

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

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Following our earlier Bible study on Luke 2, this devotional from Matthew 2 highlights a fascinating event in antiquity: the journey of the "wise men from the east" who came to Jerusalem (Matthew 2:1) and asked, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?" (Matthew 2:2).
We are again reminded that the wisest of men still seek Jesus and "come to worship" Him (Matthew 2:2).

#Bethlehem, #Caesar, #Augustus, #Rome, #Jerusalem, #Herod, #Joseph, #Mary, #Jesus, #Christ, #Birth,

[Heart of A Shepherd Inc @HeartofAShephe1]

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Today’s Scripture readings from Luke 2 and Matthew 2 continue our introduction to Jesus' early years as a boy.
This first of two Bible studies is based on Luke 2, which records the birth of Jesus, among the most significant events in human history.
Christ's birth was celebrated by a host (army) of angels. For shepherds tending their flocks on the hills around Bethlehem, an ordinary night became extraordinary with the sudden appearance of angels.

#Christ, #Jesus, #Birth, #Shepherd, #Angels, #Announcement,