This Sunday, we welcome Mr. Dewayne Webb, along with others, from All About Fitness. They will be here throughout the morning, starting with Coffee & Conversation! All About Fitness prioritizes personal fitness while lending others in our community a helping hand. As they join us during service, they will explain more about what they do and how we can participate, Highland.
They are lowering blocks (aka their sick friend) through the roof to be healed by Jesus.
Sunday Morning Schedule
8am: Doors open
8am–9am: Coffee & Conversation in our Dining Facility
9am-10am: Sunday School – runs through March 30th
10am: Sunday Morning Service in our sanctuary (which is our gym)
class locations
Classroom 1: 0-2 year olds: Church Nursery
Classroom 2: 3 and 4 year olds: First Green Room
Classroom 3: Kindergarten-Second Grade Class: Second Green Room
Classroom 4: Third-Fifth Grade Class: Yellow Room
Classroom 5: Tweens & Teen Boys: Red Room
Classroom 6: Women’s Bible Study: Second Orange Room
Classroom 7: Men’s Bible Study (Ongoing throughout the year): First Orange Room
Classroom 8: Tweens & Teen Girls: Blue Room
Red-brick Sanctuary: The Theology Program
Dining Facility: Life Class Devotion (Ongoing throughout the year)
““You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. “You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.””
our series through matthew
Last Sunday’s Text — Matthew 5:21-30, ESV
Last Sunday’s sermon garnered a great deal of feedback! Thank each of you for your insight regarding our series through Matthew! I appreciate you taking the time to reach out and discuss Scripture with me.
In this portion of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus accentuates the severity of our sinful nature. Moving beneath our actions, He addresses the attitude of our sinful hearts. Hovering a magnifying glass over the Mosaic Law, Jesus peers into our hearts! Beneath the act of murder or adultery, are hearts that are fueled by anger and lust, to which Jesus points out as being offensive to the holy nature of God and deserving of hell.
It’s here, though, that we must recall how the Sermon on the Mount begins, Highland. Opening the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” I offer that “Poor in Spirit” is Jesus’ description of a repentant heart.
As one who, under the weight of sin (in this case: anger or lust) encounters the holiness of God, those who repent come face-to-face with their own spiritual poverty. They acknowledge their helpless estate and their inability to overcome their sinful nature. In that same encounter, those who repent, while feeling the shame of their sin, and feeling the deep emptiness of their own spiritual poverty, turn their hearts toward Christ and receive salvation and renewal.
In this convicting moment (over anger or lust), instead of receiving judgment and criticism, those who repent receive mercy and forgiveness. Not only are those who repent forgiven, but heirs – “for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” A heart that belongs to the Kingdom of heaven is a heart that is keenly aware of their spiritual poverty, rejoicing all the more in Christs’ riches in becoming a son or daughter of the most High God, with a humble heart.
In describing “poor in spirit” – Spurgeon borrows from a puritan who says: The person that is poor in spirit is a Christ-admirer; he has high thoughts of Christ, he sets a high value and appreciation on Christ, he hides himself in Christ’s wounds, he bathes himself in his blood, he wraps himself in his robe; he sees a spiritual famine at home, but he looks to Christ and he cries: ‘Lord, show me thyself’, and it suffices.
In summary, when consumed with anger or lust, those who hide themselves in Christ’s wounds, bathe themselves in Christ’s blood, wrap themselves in His robe - find a feast of mercy and forgiveness. Last week’s sermon is available online. To listen, check out our audio page.
Photo by Katie Parker
kingdom sports
Games are underway! Check out our game schedule and come when you’re able! Also, volunteering would be a tremendous help. Consider how you might be part of this incredible ministry.
Highland cafe’
The Highland Cafe continues to open wide our doors with a welcome from Jesus Christ and a warm cup of coffee. Each weekday morning from 8:30-11:30 offers you the chance to come and serve our neighbors, in honor of our Lord. You can also enjoy a cup of coffee, too! Come, serve and be served, all, in the name of Christ Jesus. Furthermore, snacks and coffee essentials, like cream and sugar, would be most appreciated.
Thank You, Brenda!
A HUGE thank you to Brenda Steele for sharing her gifting as a hairstylist in our Highland Cafe recently! Brenda offered free haircuts to anyone who wanted to receive them. A fresh cut always feels lighter and is a great boost to start off the week. Brenda plans to come back in a few weeks to share her talents again so be sure to check back for future dates!
Mailing Address Update
Our P.O. Box is now closed. Please send all mail to 3408 5th Ave. Columbus, GA. 31904
See you Sunday.
I love you,
Rob
