Highrock Church

How far would you go to know and love someone? "Incarnation" refers to God becoming flesh (v14), just like us. God goes for the full human experience, as far as one could possibly go. And in so doing, Jesus becomes the one being in the universe with first-hand, full understanding of both God and humanity. He is the ultimate Christmas gift -- one who understands and empathizes with us (grace) and i...

In this replay from December 13, 2023, we hear the apostle Paul remind us that our generosity is brought to life out of gratitude for what Jesus has done for us. Jesus became poor to make us rich (v.9)! And in so doing, he shows us the path to true life — that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https://...

In this replay from December 6, 2023, Jesus tells a story about farmers who rent their land but decide to fight the owner in order to keep what does not belong to them. The parable illustrates how many will not look forward to the return of the Son, denying anything we might owe to God. This Advent, let us prepare to receive the Lord with gladness, giving back to God with a spirit of gratitude! We...

Sermon #3 of Highrock's Advent series, "Expecting: Awaiting the Birth of Jesus," by Pastor Meghan DeJong from Isaiah 61:1-4 and Luke 4:16-21 (NIV)

John's Gospel opens much like Genesis, "In the beginning...." But through John, we see that the Creator God in Genesis was actually God the Father working with and through God the Son. And instead of the "let there be light" of Genesis, God the Son becomes the light that shines in our darkness. We are not the light; we are not anyone's savior. Instead, like John the Baptist, our honored role is to...

The prophet Isaiah foretells many details about the Messiah who would come centuries later, including details about his eventual impact in Galilee. This Messiah would come to be known as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace -- one who will bring justice, peace, and an end to war itself. All of this will be one day be accomplished not by might, power, or even pol...

For anyone who seeks to discover their family roots, the images of a branch, a stump, and a root might not seem so strange. What is undeniably strange is that the promised messiah would be a descendant (a branch) of Jesse (king David's father) and also somehow the origin (the root) of that same Jesse. Once again, we see the promised messiah would be human yet something far more! Looking for a prev...

The prophet Micah made a curious and very specific prediction about the promised messiah -- that he would be born in Bethlehem. This promise was pregnant with paradox. This king would be born in humble circumstances yet have origins in ancient days. This birthplace would place the shepherd of Israel amongst the lambs raised for sacrifice in the Temple. And centuries later, its fulfillment would re...

Waiting is especially challenging when you are waiting for the fulfillment of a broken promise. God had promised that a descendant of King David would sit on the throne forever, so what had happened? Israel waited for centuries without any such king in sight. Had God forgotten the promise? Today, many might feel similarly forgotten. What are we to do in such times? Looking for a previous devo? Wan...

Sermon #2 of Highrock's Advent series, "Expecting: Awaiting the Birth of Jesus," by Pastor Dave Swaim from Isaiah 40:1-11 (NIV)

Advent is a season of anticipating, waiting, and trusting in God's promise -- but what if we grow weary of waiting? Abraham is called the "father of our faith" but here we see him also expressing resignation and doubt. When we also grow weary of waiting for God to show up in our lives, can we learn from Abraham a more faithful way to doubt? Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a fri...

Advent is a season of waiting. Like those who waited for God to show up in Jesus that first Christmas, we once again wait for the return of Jesus. But there is someone who has been waiting far longer. When Adam and Eve went into hiding, God called out, "Where are you?" and God has been waiting for us to stop hiding ever since. Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start her...

Earlier in Isaiah, God exhorted us to comfort one another with the truth. In today's passage, we are encouraged to remember the truth that our God reigns. We must remember that this message was spoken to and by a people who were in the deep darkness of defeat and captivity. It is in the darkest moments that we must remember and wait for the light of God's promise -- the true spirit of Advent! Look...

Three times, we are told to tell and even shout the good news that "God is coming!" More than that, there are two things we are encouraged to know about the God for whom we wait. First, our God is a mighty ruler who has power to rescue and bless. Second, our God is a gentle and good shepherd who is gentle and tender toward us lambs. Who is this mighty king who is also a gentle and good shepherd? I...

During Advent, we look forward to the return of Jesus and the final rescue he will bring. We identify with captive Israel in waiting for the fulfillment of God's promise long ago. Israel had to wait patiently for her deliverer. In the meantime, God instructs them (and us!) to comfort and encourage one another. This Advent, let us comfort one another with the promises of God! Looking for a previous...

Sermon #1 of Highrock's Advent series, "Expecting: Awaiting the Birth of Jesus," by Pastor Taylor Burgoyne from Isaiah 64:1-9 (NLT)

Happy Thanksgiving! In this flashback to January 23, 2024, Jesus calls for a radical love, one that does good to those who hate us! How is such love even possible? The truth is that we do not know how to love this way until we first receive this kind of love from God. What we receive from Jesus, we can then give to others through the power of the Spirit. Looking for a previous devo? Want to share...

Happy Thanksgiving! In this flashback to March 18, 2022, we looked at Paul's close to his letter. Paul draws attention to many others who serve, often in ways that are easy to miss or forget. These people are examples of all that Paul has been teaching and encouraging the Corinthians (and us) to do. Who has God used to serve and bless you? Have you told them about how God has worked through them?...

"Double predestination" is the doctrine held by some that God both chooses some to be saved and some to be damned. Just as a potter uses the same clay to create pottery for noble or vulgar purposes, God can similarly deal with the people God creates. But is that what God does? Is that even what Paul suggests? Or is Paul posing a hypothetical that addresses the worst possibilities before leading us...

In the world before GPS, if you were to follow a map on a journey and found yourself at the wrong destination, you would have to backtrack. Where did you take a wrong turn? Paul take us back to the beginning as we consider how his people waited for the Messiah for centuries yet largely missed him when he showed up. God often takes us in unexpected directions and shows up in surprising ways which w...

Throughout this letter, Paul has been arguing that we are all on equal footing, that we all come to God through the grace of Jesus Christ. But in that case, is there anything special about Israel? Paul begins this lengthy discussion with a brokenheartedness that invites us to consider whether we ourselves have a similar heart for those who seem far from God. Looking for a previous devo? Want to sh...

Sermon #7 (and final) of Highrock's fall series, "Behind the Curtain: Secrets of the Seven Churches of Revelation" by Pastor John Mury from Revelation 3:14-22 (NLT)

Most people seem to imagine that there is something that might cause God to give up on them. Perhaps there is a secret sin, a dark past, or a feeling of inadequacy. Perhaps we have no idea what has displeased God but the troubles in our lives seem to be proof that God is unhappy with us. In a grand conclusion to the first half of his letter, Paul argues over and over again that, "No!", there is no...

Our best efforts could never earn what God so freely gives. We might struggle to pray, but the Spirit is literally praying with us and for us. Not only that, God is with us in every struggle, promising to make all things work for our good -- perhaps especially the worst things. We can trust God with this incredible promise because God already took the worst imaginable thing, the crucifixion of God...

Is the world an ugly place or a beautiful place? Obviously it is both, but why? Paul reminds us that sin didn't just corrupt us, it twisted the entire created order. But Jesus changes all things. Creation now groans like in childbirth -- there is pain, but with a purpose, and only for a time. The world suffers with us, waiting for God's purposes to be fully restored in us and in the world. Looking...