Plans for October 30th & 31st

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Highland, you are loved.

“This church opens wide her doors with a welcome from Jesus Christ.”

CHICKEN & RICE THIS SATURDAY

Each Saturday from 10:30am-1:00pm, we serve our streets a meal of Chicken & Rice, along with the Gospel. Volunteers are welcome to join us. Chicken & Rice Ministries is our flagship work. It serves as the invitation to all in our streets to come and know Christ. If you would like to come and serve, please contact us.

TENT GATHERING AT 10AM THIS SUNDAY

This Sunday, I look forward to seeing everyone at the Tent Gathering. We are currently going through 1st Thessalonians as a church together. As we gather this Sunday for our Tent Gathering, I wanted to go over the schedule with you. This Sunday, our schedule is as follows:

  • 9am-10am: Coffee and Conversation. As you arrive, grab a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Enjoy having conversation with one another and the chance to be together. Also, if you’re willing, some will be setting up for the 10 am service. We welcome your help, if you’re able.

  • 10am-11am: Tent Gathering Service. *At 10am, bring your camping chairs or blankets to make for yourself a place outside, underneath our tent. We will gather to worship as we set our eyes upon Jesus. Highland, I ask that we would be in prayer for the name of Jesus to be exalted in our corporate gathering; that those who wander, or are deceived throughout our streets, would hear that Jesus saves, and repent! We will conclude and dismiss following this service. So, breakfast will be offered but not lunch.

We are strongly encouraging social distancing and masks will be available for those who would feel most comfortable wearing one. If you have a mask, please bring one for yourself to use.  We ask that you stay home when you are sick. We also ask that you cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Also, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Finally, keeping your hands clean using sanitizer or by washing them with soap is vital. If you have a personal bottle of sanitizer, bring it and keep it on you for your personal use throughout gatherings.

OTHER RELATED INFO

  • Van route riding requirements: windows down, masks worn and no more than 10 on a van.

  • Wednesday night studies, Pillow Party and prayer sessions have been canceled.

  • Children’s Ministries, Life Class & Breakfast will not resume until a later date.

*All proposed plans remain contingent upon medical information available to us throughout the foreseeable future. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us. I rejoice over you, Highland. I look forward to being with you Sunday.

I love you, Highland,

Rob

Setting Our Definition of Sanctification

1st Thessalonians Series

Our Purpose

A Time For Concentration on Our Sanctification

Our Anchoring Verse

“For God has not called us to impurity but to sanctification.”

- I Thessalonians 4:7

Last Sunday, the sermon centered on building a working biblical definition of sanctification. The two different levels of which sanctification is taking place are at the church level (Highland’s local body) and on a personal level (between the Holy Spirit and our own heart).

Defining Sanctification (Church Level)

Sanctification is a people being “called out”.

(I Thessalonians 1:1; Colossians 1:13):

“Called out” means that, though we reside in the world, we no longer belong to the world; we belong to the Kingdom of God. As our hearts now belong to the Lord, those who have been “called out” know their purpose in their place in time to be serving the Lord.

As a people belonging to the Kingdom of God, our evidences are ( I Thessalonians 1:3):

1. Work of Faith

2. Labor of Love

3. Endurance of Hope

Defining Sanctification (Personal Level)

“As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. For the Lord’s message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out. Therefore, we don’t need to say anything, for they themselves report what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath” (I Th 1:7-10).

As a person who belongs to the Lord, our evidence is: (I Thessalonians 1:9):

Knowing salvation that comes through Christ alone, we find such delight in Him that the lure of idols no longer appeals to us. In comparison, we see the false-hope of idols and we turn our affection to the living and eternal hope of Jesus - for that turning is our worship. As we personally turn toward Him, then our “work of faith”, “labor of love” and “endurance of hope” ring out, as an example to all believers in every place our faith in God has gone out - for His glory!

Highland, I am grateful for you,

Rob

Plans for October 23rd & 24th

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

CHICKEN & RICE THIS SATURDAY

Each Saturday from 10:30am-1:00pm, we serve our streets a meal of Chicken & Rice, along with the Gospel. Volunteers are welcome to join us. Chicken & Rice Ministries is our flagship work. It serves as the invitation to all in our streets to come and know Christ. If you would like to come and serve, please contact us.

TENT GATHERING AT 10AM THIS SUNDAY

This Sunday, I look forward to seeing everyone at the Tent Gathering. We are currently going through 1st Thessalonians as a church together. As we gather this Sunday for our Tent Gathering, I wanted to go over the schedule with you. This Sunday, our schedule is as follows:

  • 9am-10am: Coffee and Conversation. As you arrive, grab a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Enjoy having conversation with one another and the chance to be together. Also, if you’re willing, some will be setting up for the 10 am service. We welcome your help, if you’re able.

  • 10am-11am: Tent Gathering Service. *At 10am, bring your camping chairs or blankets to make for yourself a place outside, underneath our tent. We will gather to worship as we set our eyes upon Jesus. Highland, I ask that we would be in prayer for the name of Jesus to be exalted in our corporate gathering; that those who wander, or are deceived throughout our streets, would hear that Jesus saves, and repent! We will conclude and dismiss following this service. So, breakfast will be offered but not lunch.

We are strongly encouraging social distancing and masks will be available for those who would feel most comfortable wearing one. If you have a mask, please bring one for yourself to use.  We ask that you stay home when you are sick. We also ask that you cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Also, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Finally, keeping your hands clean using sanitizer or by washing them with soap is vital. If you have a personal bottle of sanitizer, bring it and keep it on you for your personal use throughout gatherings.

OTHER RELATED INFO

  • Van route riding requirements: windows down, masks worn and no more than 10 on a van.

  • Wednesday night studies, Pillow Party and prayer sessions have been canceled.

  • Children’s Ministries, Life Class & Breakfast will not resume until a later date.

*All proposed plans remain contingent upon medical information available to us throughout the foreseeable future. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us. I rejoice over you, Highland. I look forward to being with you Sunday.

I love you, Highland,

Rob

Evidences of Our "Calling Out"

1st Thessalonians Series

Our Purpose

A Time For Concentration on Our Sanctification

Our Anchoring Verse

“For God has not called us to impurity but to sanctification.”

(I Thessalonians 4:7)

God is truly moving and teaching us from I Thessalonians. The “homework” has been challenging and convicting!

Thinking on my own “evidences” of faith, love, and hope was a much needed time of reflection which caused me to rejoice in growth in some areas, to identify places of “Needs Improvement!”, and to be convicted of sins of omission. This has resulted in repentance, thanksgiving, and praise to our God!

Here are some the evidences of Highland being “called out” . Here is how I have seen our sanctification being lived out:

Work of Faith - trusting God’s word to transform people’s lives by the preaching of the Gospel, taking leaps of faith in starting the church, starting the school, starting the job training program, planning for a new building, baptisms increasing and including the young and the old, lives being transformed, exalting the name of JESUS and not ourselves.

Labor of Love – loving ALL people who come to our church and those in the neighborhood who do not, offering food to the hungry, teaching the children, training the neighborhood with job skills, working in cooperation with other churches, ministries, and Christians.

Endurance of Hope – perservering through COVID 19 pandemic and restrictions by worshiping outside and making modifications, but never quitting, persevering through trials in the neighborhood, TSA becoming an accredited school and persevering through obstacles of COVID 19.

Highland, as we press on in our work of faith, in our labor of love, in our endurance of hope, let us continue to “turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”

Cathy Crowder

Sermon Refresher

1st Thessalonians Series

Our Purpose

A Time For Concentration on Our Sanctification

Our Anchoring Verse

“For God has not called us to impurity but to sanctification.”

(I Thessalonians 4:7)

Our Passage From October 10th


“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy: To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace. We always thank God for all of you, remembering you constantly in our prayers. We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, knowing your election, brothers loved by God” (1st Thessalonians 1:4-7, HCSB).

Paul, Silus and Timothy discussed the growth and the health of the church in Thessalonica and this letter that Paul writes is the result of their discussion. It serves as a means of encouragement, instruction and teaching. As Paul addresses them, the statement Church of the Thessalonians means to those called out in Thessalonica. “Called out” means that, though they reside in the world, they no longer belong to the world; they belong to the Kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13). As their hearts now belong to the Lord, those who have been “called out” know their purpose in Thessalonica to be serving the Lord. What does the outworking of their purpose entail? What Paul reflects upon and rejoices over: “their work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, knowing your election, brothers loved by God.”

The question of the meaning of election often arises here, in this passage. Are we predestined and elected or do we have free-will? As your pastor - my direction is that it remains a supernatural work and the Lord’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts. So, as to the question: predestined or freewill - from our human-perspective it seems fitting that both views apply, in part.

Spurgeon also lays out his thoughts on this text: “I am not sure that in Heaven we shall be able to know where the free agency of man and the Sovereignty of God meet, but both are great Truths” (His I Th Sermon Series, 1889).

When Pauls says “knowing your election” what we can deduce is that the Lord has elected to offer salvation unto those of us in the world. He has elected through Whom to make salvation available - through His one and only son, Jesus. He also foreknows who will come to know Him as Lord and He also foreknows those who will remain under His wrath; additionally, we also know that it is His desire that none should perish (2 Peter 3:8-9). So, to know our election is to know that God comes after us in His love (1 John 4). Those who submit to His love, He then enables us to love Him, to put His love into every facet and relationship of our lives. In essence, knowing our election is knowing that the Lord has made possible for us, through Christ alone, the privilege of being in relationship with Him - to know that we belong to Him.

Those of us who’ve looked at the law and, under conviction, see God’s holiness and our sinfulness; acknowledging that there’s nothing we can do to rid ourselves of the curse of sin or make ourselves right with God. Jesus, Who hung on that tree for us, bore our penalty of sin due to us in His body - offering us the chance to call our Creator, “Father”, then, through the Holy Spirit, a new heart and a renewed disposition that hungers for holiness to those who repent, declaring Him to be Lord.

While we still deal with the residue of sin, we are no longer defined by the curse of sin. He took upon Himself the curse of sin, offering to those who repent His righteousness, that, by His spirit, we might be able to share in a heart agreement with our Heavenly Father, as sons and daughters of the Most High. The results in the mercies of God being upon us, our children, and our children’s children for a 1000 generations!

Now, Paul makes clear that there is evidence or fruits that flow out of the church’s life that verify their calling out - “our work of faith, our labor of love and our endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Highland, as we closed our sermon last Sunday, I asked you to reflect on the evidence, both in your personal life and in the life of our church. I look forward to hearing from you.

As a matter of fact, there is a space below for you to offer your reflections on church’s evidences. Completing this form will help us to examine the life of our church and continue bear much fruit together. Please consider completing this section below. Thank you!

Plans for October 16th & 17th

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

IMG_0317.JPG

CHICKEN & RICE THIS SATURDAY

Each Saturday from 10:30am-1:00pm, we serve our streets a meal of Chicken & Rice, along with the Gospel. Volunteers are welcome to join us. Chicken & Rice Ministries is our flagship work. It serves as the invitation to all in our streets to come and know Christ. If you would like to come and serve, please contact us.

TENT GATHERING AT 10AM THIS SUNDAY

This Sunday, I look forward to seeing everyone at the Tent Gathering. We are currently going through 1st Thessalonians as a church together. As we gather this Sunday for our Tent Gathering, I wanted to go over the schedule with you. This Sunday, our schedule is as follows:

  • 9am-10am: Coffee and Conversation. As you arrive, grab a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Enjoy having conversation with one another and the chance to be together. Also, if you’re willing, some will be setting up for the 10 am service. We welcome your help, if you’re able.

  • 10am-11am: Tent Gathering Service. *At 10am, bring your camping chairs or blankets to make for yourself a place outside, underneath our tent. We will gather to worship as we set our eyes upon Jesus. Highland, I ask that we would be in prayer for the name of Jesus to be exalted in our corporate gathering; that those who wander, or are deceived throughout our streets, would hear that Jesus saves, and repent! We will conclude and dismiss following this service. So, breakfast will be offered but not lunch.

We are strongly encouraging social distancing and masks will be available for those who would feel most comfortable wearing one. If you have a mask, please bring one for yourself to use.  We ask that you stay home when you are sick. We also ask that you cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Also, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Finally, keeping your hands clean using sanitizer or by washing them with soap is vital. If you have a personal bottle of sanitizer, bring it and keep it on you for your personal use throughout gatherings.

OTHER RELATED INFO

  • Van route riding requirements: windows down, masks worn and no more than 10 on a van.

  • Wednesday night studies, Pillow Party and prayer sessions have been canceled.

  • Children’s Ministries, Life Class & Breakfast will not resume until a later date.

*All proposed plans remain contingent upon medical information available to us throughout the foreseeable future. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us. I rejoice over you, Highland. I look forward to being with you Sunday.

I love you, Highland,

Rob

Tent Gathering - Sermon

“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy: To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace. We always thank God for all of you, remembering you constantly in our prayers. We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, knowing your election, brothers loved by God.”

I Thessalonians 1:1-4

Plans for October 9th & 10th

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

IMG_0081.JPG

CHICKEN & RICE THIS SATURDAY

Each Saturday from 10:30am-1:00pm, we serve our streets a meal of Chicken & Rice, along with the Gospel. Volunteers are welcome to join us. Chicken & Rice Ministries is our flagship work. It serves as the invitation to all in our streets to come and know Christ. If you would like to come and serve, please contact us.

TENT GATHERING AT 10AM THIS SUNDAY

This Sunday, I look forward to seeing everyone at the Tent Gathering. We are currently going through 1st Thessalonians as a church together. As we gather this Sunday for our Tent Gathering, I wanted to go over the schedule with you. This Sunday, our schedule is as follows:

  • 9am-10am: Coffee and Conversation. As you arrive, grab a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Enjoy having conversation with one another and the chance to be together. Also, if you’re willing, some will be setting up for the 10 am service. We welcome your help, if you’re able.

  • 10am-11am: Tent Gathering Service. *At 10am, bring your camping chairs or blankets to make for yourself a place outside, underneath our tent. We will gather to worship as we set our eyes upon Jesus. Highland, I ask that we would be in prayer for the name of Jesus to be exalted in our corporate gathering; that those who wander, or are deceived throughout our streets, would hear that Jesus saves, and repent! We will conclude and dismiss following this service. So, breakfast will be offered but not lunch.

We are strongly encouraging social distancing and masks will be available for those who would feel most comfortable wearing one. If you have a mask, please bring one for yourself to use.  We ask that you stay home when you are sick. We also ask that you cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Also, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Finally, keeping your hands clean using sanitizer or by washing them with soap is vital. If you have a personal bottle of sanitizer, bring it and keep it on you for your personal use throughout gatherings.

OTHER RELATED INFO

  • Van route riding requirements: windows down, masks worn and no more than 10 on a van.

  • Wednesday night studies, Pillow Party and prayer sessions have been canceled.

  • Children’s Ministries, Life Class & Breakfast will not resume until a later date.

*All proposed plans remain contingent upon medical information available to us throughout the foreseeable future. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us. I rejoice over you, Highland. I look forward to being with you Sunday.

I love you, Highland,

Rob

Our Purpose for This Series

I THESSALONIANS SERIES

A Time For Concentration on Our Sanctification

Our purpose for going through I Thessalonians together is to place a concentration on our sanctification. As a church, we have been asking the Lord to make us a people who, not only desire, but hunger and thirst for righteousness, that we may be filled! To be righteous is for us, submissively, to share in heart-agreement with the Lord - that His desires would be our desires.

As the Holy Spirit convicts, those who repent turn from sin! The repentant know and declare Jesus as Lord, receiving the Holy Spirit; who then renews our desires, our thought-life, causing us to share in heart-agreement with the Lord. This is how the Bible characterizes Salvation - that moment we encounter Jesus as Lord, then being reborn through the Holy Spirit of God, receiving new life.

Now, Highland, the Bible goes beyond receiving new life and also explains walking in new life. The Bible calls walking in this newness of life: sanctification. In this letter, Paul tells believers at Thessalonica that “their sanctification is God’s will.”

Let’s define sanctification to help us better understand - if you look up sanctification, it means to declare something to be holy. So, for those of us who have repented, who know Jesus as Lord, we have received the Holy Spirit - by way of what Jesus has done by paying for our sin on the cross. When we submit to His Lordship, we receive salvation in His name and the Holy Spirit seals our salvation. This results in us being declared holy, as our heavenly father is holy. So, that means that if we are declared to be holy because Jesus paid for our sin-debt, satisfying God’s wrath toward us, then out of a joy over what Jesus has done for us, we will become uncomfortable with unholy living and will recoil at the very notion of sin!

To quote the Apostle Peter, who offers us an “under the hood” look at the outworking of our sanctification: “Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be serious and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.”

In this series, we are going to turn our attention to our sanctification. We are going to hunger for holiness together, Highland. For this is the roadway to our sanctification.

Grateful for you, Highland,

Rob

Location & Mailing address

3408 5th Avenue, Columbus, Georgia 31904

phone Number — (706)249-9424