20/20 Vision
Pastor Bob Wade lays out a vision for the year ahead at Highlands...
Christmas is a chance to remember the amazing gift we have in Jesus Christ - a Savior who calls us to draw near to Him, no matter our past or what struggles we might be walking through. Through His death and resurrection, we can receive the ultimate gift of grace and mercy for all eternity.
Christmas brings a hope unlike anything our world can offer. Jesus is God Himself, come down in the flesh, to be born a humble baby, sacrifice His life for our sake, and rise from the dead to give us new life. Because of who He is and what He’s done, we can receive this incredible gift of mercy and grace as we look forward to the day when Jesus will return to rule and reign as King forever.
Have you ever had your seats upgraded at a concert or a game? We love it when we get to ‘draw near’ to something great. The author of Hebrews encourages us to “draw near” to God, and Jesus is who makes this closeness possible. For those who have ever felt distant from God or walked through a season of loneliness, this invitation is an incredible gift - made possible through the life, death and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
When life gets hard, it can feel like God is distant. But the truth of the gospel is that God came down to us in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus lived among us as a man, experiencing all the emotions, temptations, triumphs and heartbreak that we experience. He laughed, He cried, He got angry, He loved friends and lost friends. It means He knows exactly what it’s like to experience everything we experience in life. At the same time, in His perfection, He lived a life we couldn’t live: a life without sin. He’s a perfect Savior because He is Emmanuel - God with us.
The season of Advent is when we look both back and forward at the gift of Jesus. We look back and give thanks for the gift of Jesus our Savior, born as a baby 2,000 years ago to live among us and pay the penalty for our sin once and for all. We also look forward in anticipation of the day when Jesus will return to make all things new and to rule and reign as King for all eternity. As the Christmas season brings all kinds of distractions and challenges our way, the Bible is clear in its encouragement to “hold fast” to the truth about Jesus: that we were lost in sin, but Jesus came to make us alive in Him. There is no greater hope to look toward than Jesus!
When Jesus says, “love your neighbor”, who comes to mind? We probably first think about the people we choose to reach out and help because we already have compassion for them. But what about the people who are harder to be around, or the people we might consider our enemies? In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus gives us a radical picture of what it looks like to look past our preferences, cultural barriers and politics, and simply show love and care for others, period.
Have you ever been given an important assignment by someone you admire and respect? Chances are you took that assignment pretty seriously. Jesus has given every single one of his followers an assignment: to go into the world, wherever your sphere of influence might be, and tell others the good news about the Kingdom of God. Not only did he give us the assignment, but he also equipped us with the story to tell and the power (through the Holy Spirit) with which to tell it. Each new day is a new opportunity to share the joy we have in Jesus.
The call to follow Jesus is a call to lay down our desires, our priorities, and even our comfort. It's not just costly, but to truly follow him costs us everything. So we must ask ourselves, am I prepared to place Jesus over everything?
The greatness of Jesus is on full display all around us as we remember that through him everything in existence was created. But even more incredible than that is the greatness of how personal Jesus is. In his ministry he showed great care and compassion for humble, everyday, broken people. Through the cross, he showed his great love for each one of us personally. We follow Jesus because he’s both the great Lord and King, but also our great personal savior.
Have you ever had a ‘mountaintop experience’ in your faith? Maybe it was a moment when God’s glory shone through a situation, or when you’ve felt God’s presence in an incredible way. When Jesus’ disciples witness his transfiguration on the mountain, they’re overcome by the experience. Later in their ministry, that experience would provide encouragement and the eternal perspective of glory that would help sustain them through the suffering and challenges they faced.
Previous12345678910 ... 3334Next
Sermons by: Non Series Sermons
How Patriotism and Mission Coexist
In a special Independence Day message, we discuss our citizenship -...
Four Gifts a Father Can Give
What is the legacy that you are leaving for your children? In...
Mom Stories of the Bible
In celebration of Mother's Day, Pastor Thomas is joined by three...