Highrock Church

Sermon #3 of Highrock's fall series, "Imago: Relationships that Reflect Our Maker" from Acts 2:1-8, 12 (CEB)

Paul finally concludes the prayer he began in 1:15 and briefly resumed in 3:1. With all those thoughts in mind, Paul's desire is that we would have the power to understand and embrace God's love. We need power to even receive God's love, a love that will, in turn, give us even more spiritual power to live and love like Jesus. Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here...

Many would like to dismiss the Church as an institution that serves little purpose in the world. One of history's greatest critics of the Church would disagree -- that is the Apostle Paul himself. Paul hunted down Christians before becoming one himself! Here he shares some of the reasons for that 180-degree turnabout. Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https:...

Have you ever watched a story unfold in one direction, only to see it take a dramatic twist? In the best stories, that twist is shocking when revealed yet, looking back, the signs were all there. So it is with God's story. Paul reveals to us the mystery, hidden throughout the ages, that is now revealed in the Gospel! Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https:/...

The old temple was made of large stones that held together through great tension. God is likewise binding us all together into a new temple where God might take up residence! How might God be inviting you to lean into others so that we together would be built together as a fitting home for God's Spirit? Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https://www.highrock....

Building on the previous verses, Paul builds an even greater case for our common humanity. Not only do we start from a place where none of us can claim a place of pride over others, but Jesus himself destroyed the wall of hostility that separates us. What is this wall? And how do we stop from rebuilding it? Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https://www.highr...

Sermon #2 of Highrock's fall series, "Imago: Relationships that Reflect Our Maker" from Mark 3:20-35 NIV

You're not better than anyone because of how you behave, and not even because of how you are made. Your significance comes from being carefully chosen and formed by God, just as every word in a poem is necessary and no word stands alone. We are, all together, God's "poema" (v10) -- God's poem, God's masterpiece to express and embody God's goodness! Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one wi...

As Paul writes to the Ephesians about our unity in Christ, he starts with one thing we all have in common -- that is, we were all spiritually dead before Christ entered our lives. We were all helpless. We were all going the wrong way! None of us has any reason for pride or looking down on others. Instead, we have reasons only for gratitude! Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a fri...

In light of the divine plan to bring all things into unity in Christ (v10), Paul prays for us, the Church. God's divine plan and purpose is not only for us but meant to be worked out through us! Let us make it our prayer as well. Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/

God is bringing all things together in Christ (v10) and the Spirit is the guarantee both that it will happen and that we are part of that plan. In other words, the Spirit is like a down payment that assures us that what God has begun will surely be brought to completion. But how do we know if we have the Spirit? Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https://www....

The theme of Paul's letter to Ephesus, and one of the greatest themes of Scripture, is that all of the world's brokenness is being mended in Christ. All things are being brought together! We are invited to join in as part of God's great family, and it is God's great pleasure to do so -- though many may have heard differently! Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here...

Sermon #1 of Highrock's fall series, "Imago: Relationships that Reflect Our Maker" from Psalm 149:1-5 NIV

God desires to fulfill our needs in ways that lead to flourishing. Too often, we choose to take shortcuts and attempt to fulfill those needs with easier substitutes that end up harming or controlling us. The secret to true freedom and saying "no" to these false substitutes is to say "yes" to the Spirit. Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https://www.highrock....

The Corinthians were well-acquainted with Olympic-style games; their city held similar games every two years. Paul uses these athletics as a metaphor for the Christian life, especially the need to say "no" to our appetites in order to achieve goals with a far greater value! Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/

Speaking to the Corinthian church, Paul counsels them to be humble in their approach to temptation. They should not think too much of themselves nor too little, especially because God is faithful and will be with them! Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/

People often start their faith journey with a desire for answers. Paul says here that we must first learn to walk with God daily, as living sacrifices -- an exercise of self-control through God's Spirit. That relationship of daily, true worship will not only transform us but lead us to the answers we seek! Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https://www.highro...

Sermon #9 (and final) of Highrock's summer sermon series ("Flavor: Taste of the Fruit of the Spirit") from Matthew 21:1-15 NIV

In our final Summer 2024 Flashback Friday, we return to June 2, 2022 where we see Jesus being led into the desert. While there, he is approached by the devil and tempted in three different ways. These three temptations form the basis for all the temptations we also face. After the Labor Day holiday this Monday, September 2, we will return to our normal Monday-through-Friday scheduling. Looking for...

A good high priest is able to be gentle with wayward people because he shares their weaknesses and struggles -- and Jesus is our perfect high priest. When we fail to be gentle with others, could it be because we forget or deny our own weaknesses? Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/

Paul writes to Timothy, his young protégé in Ephesus. That city had been quite difficult and even hostile to their early believer, even violently running Paul out of town! Still, Paul counsels Timothy to be gentle and kind, and that it will be God, not Timothy, who wins them over to the truth. Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https://www.highrock.org/daily-...

As well as being a way to harness teams of oxen, a "yoke" was an image of discipleship under a rabbi. Unlike many of the other teachers of his day, Jesus was gentle and humble, not wishing to overburden his followers. Yes, there was work to do, but Jesus would help us to carry any burden placed upon us! Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https://www.highrock....

What's so blessed about being meek? Should we aspire to be passive pushovers? And if not, is there a way to use our power and influence that is truly a fruit of the Spirit? Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/

Sermon #8 of Highrock's summer sermon series ("Flavor: Taste of the Fruit of the Spirit") from 1 Samuel 24: 1-12, 16-20 NIV

In this flashback to June 21, 2022, we explore what Jesus teaches about generosity in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus tells us both to let our lights (good deeds) shine but also to do them in secret. How do we do both? Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/