Highland Church Podcast

Why missions? Why plant more gospel churches in more places for more people? Paul had a grasp on this reason. He saw it as the reason for his whole life, and it shows up repeatedly again and again at the end of Acts during Paul’s trials— “the resurrection of the dead”. We look at Acts 23-26 for our lesson today as we think about our Outreach Contribution that supports ministry in Memphis and all o...

Today's lesson comes from Acts 23. Paul is in prison. And if that weren't bad enough, there were 40 men waiting to kill him when he would be released. Sounds like the odds were stacked against him. But God doesn't allow his will to not be done in Paul's story. He wants Paul and us to be courageous in every situation.

Todays lesson is from Acts 21:12-14 and it is a story about sacrificing our own desires and comforts for God’s plan. Paul is heading towards Jerusalem (and ultimately to Rome). All of his friends are trying to stop him. Agabus comes to Caesarea and tells Paul that he will suffer so he should stay with them instead. But Paul is ready to do the Lord’s will, no matter what that costs him. We should a...

Paul says the essence of the good news about Jesus is God’s grace. And this grace has the power to change us. So, if I’m to understand the good news of Jesus, and if I am to be changed by it I must ask: What is this grace, and how does grace work?

Acts 19 is 6 Stories about 1 thing- power. Here’s what at stake here in chapter 19- REAL POWER vs IDOL POWER. Paul is able “to see” the idols of the world around him. We must see them also.

Acts 19 is 6 stories about 1 thing… power. Is Power a bad word? Seems to be today. Who has it, who is abusing it, who is oppressed by it? Sure seems bad. The Bible makes clear its not power that’s the enemy, it’s the self. So the invitation and promise of Jesus given through the Spirit is: with the right power over me, that same power will be with me and work through me.

Jim Harbin, from the Raleigh Community Church of Christ, shares our lesson today. Our lesson comes from Acts 12:1-5 and highlights the importance and power of an earnest prayer from the body of Christ.

Today we will look at two heroes of faith- Priscilla and Aquila. Their story is found in Acts 18. Somehow the two of them together—their marriage—was known and appreciated across all the churches of the ancient world. Before social media & internet or telephones. They are truly together. Scripture never mentions them apart from each other. When Paul called them “Partners in the Christ Jesus” he me...

Let’s admit this... its hard to talk about Jesus. Actually voicing, proclaiming, sharing the good news, is a huge part of Acts. Look at all the speeches, and conversations recorded. It’s a big chunk of the book. Talking about Jesus to others is important for us, as witnesses. So, how do we do that? There’s a lot of examples given in Acts. Acts 17 might be best for today’s world.

Last week we talked about Gentleness. Because we suffer we need Shepherds, gentle Shepherds who meet our suffering with loving, gentle compassion. But compassion alone doesn’t make a good shepherd. We need compassion, but we also need direction. A good shepherd is also called to be watchman, who watches and warns his flock. Today we will look at this topic.

Today we will look at a passage in Acts 14:19-23 that shows us the need for elders in the body of Christ. We find that because we suffer, we need elders. As we look into the qualities that make good shepherds, we find that one of the major traits is that of gentleness.

In Acts 17:10-12 we find a group of people that do a great job when it comes to paying attention to Scripture. Scripture says that we are members of a “royal priesthood” (1 Pet 2:9). We are set-apart, different in character. Today’s message will look at how we ,as a noble man/woman-, handle God’s Word?

Acts 17:1-9 is our passage today. In this passage we find Paul sharing the good news of Jesus and turning the world upside down by it's message. This is a life-changing truth. The accusers in Thessalonica got that. If people believe this it will change their lives. Sure enough it did change the Thessalonians. Look at how the way the see the world produces different work, labor, and endurance.

“I just want to be happy”—ever heard that? I bet you have. What most of us mean when we say that is that we actually wish for a happiness that circumstances couldn’t touch. The word we have for that is Joy. In Acts 16 we find where the gift of Joy comes from and how we can have it.

One of the deepest human longings is to not just know of God, but to know God. Not to talk to him, but to talk with him. To hear not just what he says, but what he says to me. So, can we hear God? If so, how? In today's lesson we will look at Acts 16:6-10 and see what that passage has to say.

Todays passage continues in Acts 15. The apostles are giving instruction to the gentile believers in this text. The believers want to know what is required of them for unity in the body of Christ. The apostles remind them, since your job now is to worship the true God with your whole life, whatever you do, don’t worship another. Don’t do those things that are really idolatry at their core.

Today's passage is from Acts 15:1-5. We will think about this passage in terms of what it says about what the church is really built on. What really matters? What is of first importance? What doesn’t matter as much? And how to know the difference?

Today we’re gonna explore Matthew 16:13-18 which is passage is full of a lot of important biblical concepts. Jesus asks his disciples about his identity. We will look at how they answer him and why it is so important that we get this answer correct.

We sat down with Mrs. Beverly Midyett a few weeks ago. She’s in a special moment in life, and we wanted to talk to her about that. In many ways she reminds us of Lydia from Acts 16. In todays lesson we will hear testimony from her about the importance of worship, family, and hope when facing death.

Today's passage is from Acts 14:19-23. This passage leads us to ask one of the most common questions that all humans ask- Why is there suffering? We are going to look at three reasons that we suffer and why Paul says "We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God."

Have you ever desired deliverance from something? I’m sure all of us can resonate with this feeling of desiring deliverance from our circumstances. Sometimes, we can take control of these situations, but what about the times we can’t? What are we supposed to do in situations that we can’t control? We take this question with us into the passage of today Exodus 14:13-14. In this passage we find amaz...

Is what happens in life the result of chance & choice or design & destiny? Is it my will or God’s will? Is eternal life about our will or God’s will? These are some of the questions that our passage in Acts 13:46-48 addresses. This topic is troubling for many of us but Paul (who is speaking) and Luke (who is narrating) are not. For them: There’s Our Free Will and there’s God’s Sovereign Will. Both...

Everything in your life is going to try to convince you that What God thinks of you doesn’t matter? All that matters is what you think of yourself and what others think of you. But neither is what matters ultimately. What God thinks of you is the most important question you will ever ask? Am I good with God? In today's passage we will look at why justification is such an important part of that ans...

Acts 13:4-12 is a story about power and influence. Paul sees this. He recognizes that the governor—a man with great power—is being influenced by an even greater power preventing him from seeing and believing the truth—and he doesn’t know it. This passage is great example of how we need to be aware of the influence this world is having on others and ourselves. And that we need to be influenced by t...

If our differences cause us to divide, then the Antioch should have been doomed. But, what we see in the Antioch church affirms what we see here at Highland and fills us with hope. Its that tandem work of rock-solid commitment to Christ, and rock-solid commitment to his work, that binds them and us, not our differences. The Antioch church also shows us the importance of being a "sending" church an...