Weekly Update
Best Church-Coffee ever!
Breakfast Club has the warmest welcome and the tastiest breakfast you could ever find. Furthermore, folks who come find out about Jesus, who welcomes those who submit to His Lordship, into eternity - our Redeemer. So thankful for our church.
- Rob
"Thou has taught me to say... "
Jim Holbrook shared with us the account behind the song: "It is Well with My Soul." He then played an astounding arrangement of the song. Thanks, Jim! I'm so grateful for the Highland Tribe.
- Rob
We love the church.
Highland's partnership with our churches is priceless to us. Christ Community, thanks for coming our way and doing Mission Meals with us today. We are so thankful for the Body of Christ!
Pat Roper is a person I have known most of my life. She loves Jesus. She lives her life to honor Him. Her way is welcoming and warm. She and her family have been part of the Highland Tribe for many years. We are are honored to call her one of our own.
Each year, during the Christmas season, Pat has done a terrific job organizing one of our Annual Outreaches called: Boxes of Love. This ministry consists of packaging boxes of household goods and food so that those who are part of Highland can sign up to pass along a "box of love" to their neighbor or loved one. This provides the church, as a whole, the chance to share the Gospel with whom they share the box, plus impart the lovingkindness of Jesus to our city. We are so thankful for the dedication that Pat has demonstrated year after year to this Kingdom-advancing work, all for the renown of our Lord.
Pat has recently learned she has cancer. She is battling cancer and the costs that are incurred with taking on that battle are great. In light of this reality, a Benefit has been organized by her family and friends. The Benefit will be held this Saturday at Turntime Farms, from 6pm-8pm. Barbecue will be served and the Shelby Brothers will put on a show.
There are two ways to give. You may contribute to the online fundraiser started by the family, or you can contribute cash or check to them directly during the event. Let's do all we can to provide the Roper family a "Box of Love."
- Rob
Over the last several years, Nikki Gentry of Impact 360 has offered Impact students an invitation to attend her church, Highland, while in our area. Many take her up on the invitation. We, at Highland, love having them be part of our tribe!
Now, this class pictured above is getting ready to wrap up their time at Impact. While we are happy for their accomplishment, we are sad to see them go.
Go do great things, all for the worth and name of Jesus.
- Rob
Chris Dubose
Chris Dubose enriches the Highland Tribe with his solid grip on God's Word. Today was no exception. Grateful for all you do, Chris.
- Rob
Caught in a candid moment.
Come shake off those circumstances with us tomorrow.
- Rob
So, thanks to Ritchie White, we’ve been able to theme our new web design in black and white - a timeless look. Thanks, Ritchie! These photos capture a fresh perspective of the life of Highland Community Church.
A few changes to note:
1. Church updates will be posted on our Facebook page.
2. This page will offer more “official” updates.
3. The church continues to use Soundcloud to stream sermons. Click link above.
4. You may now give online through this site. However, we need a few days to get the page done.
5. The church email system has been updated. Those addresses can be found on the Contact page.
6. If you have suggestions regarding our website, please let us know.
- Rob
Due to technical difficulties, the sermon was not recorded today. So, I decided to do the next best thing, which is to provide a written copy of the sermon, to the best of my ability.
WALK IN THE LIGHT
If you’ve been around Highland for some time, you have, perhaps, heard me encourage believers to: ‘Walk in the Light.’ What I’ve written below offers a bit more context for my encouragement (which actually comes from Ephesians 5:8).
Let’s begin by looking at this critical statement Jesus makes when speaking with Nicodemus in John 3:17-21:
“For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. “This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”
LIGHT TAKES AUTHORITY OVER DARKNESS
When the sun comes up over the darkness, everything is under its presence; the vastest ocean, the tallest mountain and the deepest valley. The same is true for people. All are in darkness. All encounter the Light (Jesus). The intent of the Gospel is that those in the darkness will encounter the Light and then choose to yield to the Light as their only hope, submitting to “His” authority.
THE VALLEY
Even when you are in a deep valley struggling with sin that you hate, if you are looking to the Light of Christ as your only hope, then you are in the light of His presence. You are walking in the Light. Press on! Walk in the Light! Let the conviction of the Holy Spirit refashion your life into Christ-likeness every step of the way!
THE CAVE
However, if ones’ deeds are evil, then that person will seek to find a retreat from the
Light, such as a cave. You see, valleys are a part of every Believer’s journey, but people who go into caves when they see the Light are intentionally hiding their deeds, because their deeds are evil. (Notice in the passage above Jesus says: ‘For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it...’, this speaks to the intentionality of the heart.) Now, the Light still rises above these caves, so, just because they are dark places and people who intentionally avoid the Light dwell there, does not mean that these dark places escape the authority of judgment the Light brings.
So, not only does the Light of Christ have authority over and expose the high, low and dark places, but most importantly, it reveals the intentions of ones’ heart.
JESUS JUDGES THE HEART
This explains one of the most heart-piercing statements Jesus makes that is found in Mark 4:21:
He also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand? For nothing is concealed except to be revealed, and nothing hidden except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen!”
So, in essence, if one engages the Light, then submerges it into a dark place, then the intention of the heart has already been revealed by the Light they are attempting to submerge. This statement speaks to the intentional response one makes when they encounter the Light of Christ.
The question for each of us then becomes (even if we are in “a valley” wrestling with sin), are we walking in the Light? Are we submitting ourselves to the authority of Christ allowing Him to expose our intentions and desires? Or, are we ‘avoiding the light’ by seeking out dark places in hopes of hiding our evil deeds and desires?
I pray that if you’re in a valley, that you press on beyond the cave-mouths, into the Light of Christ. While realizing that those cave-mouths may look like a tempting place to rest or find comfort, understand that this luring is a deception of Satan - press on!
- Rob
