Sun, 21 April 2024
Could you name the Ten Commandments? Studies done over the years show that the majority of Americans and even Christians struggle to recall them. While memorization is valuable, it's more important for us to grasp the truths embedded within the words spoken by God to His people. Truths that are still relevant for us today. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion Why is it important to understand that the commandments are a faithful response to God and not a prerequisite for a relationship with God? Reflect upon modern-day idol worship. How do modern-day idols (anything or anyone other than God that you make the ultimate thing in your life) affect our lives and relationship with God? What idols are you prone to serving? Discuss the significance of the third commandment, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." How does our behavior and speech reflect on God's reputation? What would the people in your life say or think about God based upon your interactions with them lately? |
Sun, 14 April 2024
The people have reached Mount Sinai. The mountain where it all began–just as God had promised when He first appeared to Moses in a burning bush: I will be with you, and this shall be a sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain. The promise is being fulfilled. The time has come for them to meet the God they will serve. Will they obey His voice? Will we? |
Sun, 7 April 2024
I am a sucker for survival shows. Shows where people are dropped into remote locations and they have to live off the land. There is a reason why those shows are filmed in non-arid settings. There is no harsher survival setting than the wilderness of the desert where there is no relief from the scorching sun and the parched earth seems to stretch on forever. After the Red Sea event, this is where Israel found themselves. In an existentially threatening environment. The wilderness. They learned some quick lessons in the wilderness—what their bodies needed for survival, basic provisions such as food and water. They were also reminded from whom all provisions come. Morning by morning, God provided them bread from heaven, which was but a foretaste of what was to come. Food and water for the soul. |
Sun, 31 March 2024
There are certain places that one can and should expect to find certain things. For example, if you want good food or quick food, there are right places to look and there are wrong places to look. There is one thing the world is desperately seeking, but will never find no matter how hard they try – life. The world is desperate to be and feel truly alive, but it will never happen, at least not in a way that lasts, because the world is looking for life in all the wrong places. What about you? |
Sun, 24 March 2024
Nothing Jesus ever did was by accident. If you look closely every detail matters. One example of this is the specific date Jesus rode into Jerusalem one final time for a passover celebration. The date of His triumphal entry was just as significant as the day itself. What happened that day tells us that the Jews in Jerusalem believed that Jesus was their long awaited King, but the literal date tells us something they didn't see, something they misunderstood: Jesus was not just their conquering King, the lion of Judah, He was also their Passover lamb. P.S. This week is Palm Sunday where the kiddos of our church will have the chance to wave palm branches. Please be in the sanctuary no later than 10:30A so the kids have the whole body present to cheer them on as they parade through the sanctuary. Seriously, don’t be late this weekend. It’s for the kids! -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion Nothing Jesus did was by accident. Reflect on the significance of the timeline leading up to Jesus' entry into Jerusalem as described in John 12. How does this timeline relate to the events of the Passover in Exodus 12? What insights does this parallel provide about Jesus as the Passover Lamb? Discuss the reality that Jesus is both the conquering King and the Passover Lamb. How does this challenge conventional notions of power and kingship? How does it redefine victory and hope for followers of Jesus? Consider the current cultural attitudes towards suffering and how they contrast with the Christian perspective. Do you agree that contemporary Western culture struggles to cope with suffering? Why or why not? What about you? Are you more likely to suffer with hope or struggle to cope? |
Sun, 17 March 2024
Fear is an interesting word in the Bible, isn’t it? Its meaning is twofold—in one sense it means dread and in another it means reverence. Unfortunately, these two types of fear are enemies of one another. Mutually exclusive. You can only go with one fear at a time. The former stops you dead in your tracks. The latter leads to life. At the Red Sea, the people made their choice. Which will you choose? -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion Look again at the references to Joseph’s charge about his bones in Genesis 50:25, Exodus 13:19 and Hebrews 11:22. What do these references tell us about Joseph’s faith and hope? What do they tell us about our faith and hope? Consider the two types of “fear” in Exodus 14 (v. 10, 31). How does the fear of the Lord differ from other fears? How does the call to “Fear not, but go forward in the fear of the Lord!” resonate with you this week? How does the fear of the Lord free us from other fears we might have? Have there been situations in your life where you felt like the Israelites, trapped between Pharaoh and the Red Sea? Have there been times when God has stepped in to help you and to make his presence and power known? Discuss what these meant to you at the time. |
Sun, 10 March 2024
Have you ever had an experience that you never want to forget? Or maybe an event that looking back, meant your life would never be the same? Like the thrill of starting fresh in a new city, the excitement of landing your dream job, the magic of meeting the love of your life, or all the feels that fill you when you hold your child for the first time. For the people of Israel, such a moment has arrived, one so monumental that their God reset their entire calendar for it: the Passover. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion Why was the first Passover necessary? Reflect on the idea that God is serious about who He is and what He has promised. How does the Passover demonstrate God's character as both just and merciful? Discuss the difference between “passover” faith and passive faith. Which do you feel best describes your faith right now? What’s one way you can grow in active and obedient faith? In what ways did the New Testament writers see Jesus as the ultimate Passover lamb? Does it change your heart/appreciation for the word of God in any way? Why or why not? |
Sun, 3 March 2024
Jeremiah 17:9 reads, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it?” The answer to Jeremiah’s question is “God, and God alone.” He not only understands the heart but is completely sovereign over the heart and is the only one wise enough, good enough, and great enough to use even the most wicked of human hearts in accomplishing His perfect plan and purpose. Don’t believe me? I give you Exhibit A: The Heart of Pharaoh. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion How does the reality of God’s hardening Pharaoh’s heart challenge your understanding of God's sovereignty and human responsibility? Reflect on the implications of God's sovereignty and mercy in your own life. How does understanding these concepts affect your relationship with God and your response to His word? Consider the call to not harden our hearts in response to God's voice. How can we cultivate hearts that are receptive to God's leading and mercy? |
Sun, 25 February 2024
We’ve reached the infamous showdown between God and Pharaoh with a capital “P,” who in a way represents all of us. He is the archetype of the wickedness and stubbornness of the human heart. “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice?” Pharaoh asks. The Plagues are God’s answer to the question. He is God and there is no other. How will we respond? -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion How does God’s purpose in the plagues—that people would know that He is Yahweh—represent the opportunity for Pharaoh and Egypt (and the Israelites, too) to experience His grace and mercy? How was Pharaoh’s false repentance, prompted by the plagues, different from genuine repentance? What are some characteristics of false humility and repentance? Pharaoh’s actions as the plagues progress reveal that we oftentimes qualify our repentance and submission to God. Some of these reservations persist for many years after our conversion. What are some ways God is calling you to move toward complete submission and obedience to Him? |
Sun, 18 February 2024
After Moses and Aaron first confront Pharaoh, things go from bad to worse for the people of God, and understandably, the people can't deal with it. It’s not a question of “if,” but “when.” Jesus once said that we can all expect trouble in this world. How will we ever learn to deal with it? God has the answer to our question. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion When facing the troubles of the world, hatred and/or hardship in life, where do you typically turn for help? How might you better turn to God? The sermon discusses the concept of "Pharaohs" in our lives—things or people that bring hardship. Can you identify any "Pharaohs" in your life currently? How do you typically confront or deal with them? Genuine faith is tested faith. Have you experienced times when your faith was tested? How did you respond? What did you learn from those experiences? Reflect on the "I will" statements of God in Exodus 6:6-8. How do these statements reflect God's character and His promises to His people? How can we trust in these promises during times of trouble? |
Sun, 11 February 2024
Moses lives in our memory as one of the greatest leaders in the history of God’s people, but it's important to remember where he began: insecure, uncertain, unprepared, and unworthy. He was entirely insufficient (in every sense of the word) for facing Pharaoh, but he’d soon learn that the LORD was sufficient enough. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion What is your regular rhythm for spending time in the presence of God in your life? What might you change to better practice His presence this week? Which of the five excuses of Moses do you most resonate with? Why? How does God’s response to the excuse help you in your struggle? Jesus uses the phrase ‘I AM’, which is central to the revelation of God’s identity in Exodus 3, in John 8:58. What should we conclude from this about the relation of Jesus to the God of the Old Testament? |
Sun, 4 February 2024
This week we are introduced to Moses. Moses' remarkable story reveals to us that God desires a relationship with His people and goes to great (often unexpected) lengths to make it happen. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion How can we be more attentive to the work God is doing in our lives, especially in those aspects that we might not think to look? Are there areas in your life where you might be tempted to think that God is not actively involved or has forgotten? How does this passage in Exodus encourage you to trust in God’s ongoing care and guidance? What comfort do you find in the unchanging nature of God and His Word? How does this motivate you to think, say, and do differently? |
Sun, 28 January 2024
The Book of Exodus tells an important story. And by story, I don’t mean a fictional story, but a factual one. It is a timelessly true story about God and what He does for His people—He was, is, and ever will be the God who provided ‘a way out’ for his people, who were slaves in Egypt, and He is still providing a way out today. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion Consider the two types of fear: The fear of God and the fear of man. How can we cultivate a greater fear of God in our lives, and how might this impact our decision-making in various aspects of life? Explore ways to trust in God's sovereignty, recognizing that His plan will always prevail. How can we align our lives with His purposes and trust in His wisdom even in the face of uncertainty? God hears. God sees. God knows. Which of these most encourages you today? How can we practically live out our faith in a way that reflects our understanding of God's covenant and love for His people? |
Sun, 21 January 2024
This week we wrap up our ALL IN series with the call to love God with all of our strength. What is strength? What does it mean to have strength? How do I love God with all my strength? The answers from scripture might surprise you. Thankfully, it’s got little to do with moving monster trucks with ropes. -- Questions for Personal Reflection and Group Discussion Reflect upon your understanding of the term me’od and how it goes beyond physical strength. How might you explain it if asked? Consider the significance of loving God with your "muchness" in private, personal, and public aspects of life. Which of these is a strength of yours? Which of these needs the most help? What are some instances from your life or the lives of others where God has proven Himself trustworthy. How does knowing Him contribute to your ability to trust Him? Consider how the revelation of God's character, as seen in Exodus 34, influences your trust in Him. How does knowing who God is impact your ability to love and trust Him? |
Sun, 14 January 2024
This week we discuss the importance of loving God with all of our minds. I find it interesting that the Word commands us to love God with all our mind. We don’t usually speak of love in terms of intellectual activity. In fact, most of our understanding of love today is described in passive categories. We speak not of jumping in love but falling in love, like it is an accident that just happens to us. But loving God is no accident. And it cannot happen without the mind. Let’s talk about it. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion What are some of the ways you intentionally engage your mind in thinking about God and the things of God? How often do you do this? How often do you think for the sake of loving God? What stands in the way of you doing it more often? Completely. Correctly. Consistently. These were the words used to describe what it might look like to love God with all of your mind. Which of the three is your strongest? Which may need adjustment to align more closely with a love for Godly men? What practical steps will you take to ensure that your thinking about God leads to a deeper love for Him? |
Sun, 7 January 2024
Loving God with all our heart makes sense to us. What else would we or could we love God with besides our heart? Well, God commands a few things. The next to discuss is loving God with all our soul. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion How does the OT and NT understanding of the soul challenge the common understanding of the soul? What difference does this make in your understanding of the command to love God with all of your soul? God alone is the satisfaction of our souls. Does your life reflect this truth? How so? How not? What stands in the way of the change needed for your life to better reflect this truth? What’s one thing you want to or ought to do differently this week to better love God with all of your soul? |
Sun, 31 December 2023
This week we start a new sermon series titled “All In,” which most commonly refers to a move in a poker game where a player bets all of his or her chips on one hand. However, that phrase has caught on to the larger culture beyond poker games. Nowadays, it simply implies that someone is fully committed. You hear it everywhere—whether in business talk, catchy marketing campaigns, sports pep talks, and even in discussions about faith. One could say that the Bible had the contemporary meaning of “all in” all along. As Christians we are to give every aspect of ourselves to God—we are “all in” believers and followers of Jesus. But the depth of our enthusiasm goes beyond being excited about a new brand or public figure. Let’s talk about how we can go all in together to start the new year! -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion Loving God starts with knowing God. What are the qualities of who He is that stir your affections for Him? Jews then and now consider the recital of the Shema both evening and morning to be one of their most sacred duties. It is a discipline of their devotion to God. What disciplines do you have that help you to love God? How are they helpful? Which disciplines would you like to practice more? How can your community help? Do you have a resolution for the new year? How could the command to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, help you to accomplish your goals? |
Sun, 24 December 2023
The greatest Christmas gift of all has come, Immanuel, God with us. How will you respond to the news? -- Questions for Reflection and Discussion In what areas of your life do you struggle to acknowledge and celebrate the abiding presence of God? How might recognizing Immanuel, God with us, transform your perspective in those areas? What practical steps can you take to cultivate awareness of His presence in your daily life? Consider Herod's reaction to the news of Jesus's birth. Are there areas in your life where you resist surrendering power and control to God? Reflect on the indifference of the chief priests and scribes despite their knowledge of the truth. How can you ensure that your celebration of Christmas (and of Jesus in general) is not some lifeless routine but a genuine response of worship and adoration of Immanuel? |
Sun, 17 December 2023
Ever notice how the holiday season, meant to be a time of joy, turns into a stress-fest? The pressure for perfection in decorations, gifts, and gatherings, coupled with social media's picture-perfect standards, leads to nothing but all out chaos. Add in the financial strain, family dynamics, and the ticking clock of holiday deadlines – it's the perfect storm of stress. Question: When the trappings of the holidays rob us of joy, where do we turn? Scripture suggests something profound: we turn to Christmas itself, not the glitzy chaos, but the real heart of it, the baby born in Bethlehem whose name is Jesus. -- Questions for Reflection and Discussion How do you typically seek comfort during challenging moments? How might turning to God for comfort change your perspective? Consider the connection between the Old Testament prophecy in Isaiah and the birth of Jesus in the New Testament. How does the birth of Jesus bring joy, and how can you keep the focus on the true meaning of Christmas amid the holiday hustle and bustle? Reflect on the connection between seeking the Lord, obedience, and the promise of joy in John 15:11. How does joy flow through obedience in your understanding, and how can it transform your approach to life's challenges? |
Sun, 10 December 2023
2024 marks an election year, and it is shaping up to be unlike anything I've witnessed in my lifetime. Unfortunately, every four years, our nation appears to be growing more and more divided. This division has reached a point where the idea of a government embodying justice and righteousness seems unimaginable, let alone one characterized by enduring absolute justice. Can you imagine? A government so just and so good that there is only and always an ever-increasing peace in the world? It’s a scenario that feels like an impossible dream, given the historical trajectory of humanity—even the best-intentioned governments in history have eventually succumbed to the inherent flaws of human nature. And yet, Scripture teaches that God has achieved what humanity cannot. Through the birth of His Son, a kingdom marked by everlasting authority, justice, righteousness, and peace has been established, and we get to be citizens of this kingdom, now and forever. -- Questions for Reflection and Discussion The people mentioned in Isaiah's time were not just facing moments of overwhelming darkness but were seemingly content to dwell in it. How do you see parallels between that situation and the current state of the world or society today? Are there areas in your life where you are content to dwell in darkness too? The victory in Isaiah 9:3-5 is likened to Israel's triumph over Midian, which was unexpected and decisive. Can you share a personal experience where God brought victory in an unexpected way in your life? Isaiah 9:6 assigns powerful names to the promised child: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Which of these most resonates with you right now? Why? What practical steps can you take to actively invite the peace of Christ into your life and community? |
Sun, 3 December 2023
In a world filled with uncertainties, challenges, and ever-changing circumstances, the concept of hope often emerges as a guiding light for many. However, the world's understanding of hope can sometimes resemble a fragile wish, a desire founded on circumstances and fleeting emotions. It’s not so for the people of God. This Sunday, we will not gather to practice wishful thinking together, but to proclaim a profound contrast between the hope propagated by secular culture, rooted in the temporal and the uncertain, and Christian hope, which is firmly rooted like “an anchor for the soul” in our unchanging God. -- Questions for Reflection and Discussion Discuss the three-fold foundation for Christian hope as outlined by Hebrews 6 i.e God’s Word, nature and character, and the redemptive work of Jesus. How does this differ from the foundation of secular hope? How does this deepen or challenge your current understanding of hope? Consider the list of New Testament promises mentioned in the sermon (Salvation and Redemption, Victory over Death and Sin, etc.). Which of these promises most resonates with you currently, and why? With which do you most struggle currently, and why? In practical terms, how can we as a church and as individuals anchor our hope in God's Word, nature and character, and in the redemptive work of Jesus in our everyday lives? In what ways can this message of hope be shared or applied in your community and beyond? |
Mon, 27 November 2023
What do you treasure? One needs to look no further than his or her priorities for the truth. Whatever we focus on dictates our actions–make no mistake, you are willing to sacrifice for the thing(s) most valuable to you. Whether it’s money, status, power, safety, or comfort. What do you treasure? There is only one thing most “worth it;” one thing of “surpassing worth” (of “everlasting worth”) that is truly worth treasuring, where the gain for us and for others is truly worth the sacrifice. This Sunday, let’s talk about the one thing of surpassing worth in our lives regardless of who we are or where we are and the gain of our sacrifice, should we give ourselves to the pursuit of Him. -- Questions for Reflection and Discussion Consider the things that people/you treasure. Why do they/you treasure these things? Why do they/you ultimately fall short of treasuring Jesus? Consider the areas in which we might rejoice in ourselves i.e. our flesh. Which is most enticing for you? Why? How can we have the same “count it all as loss” mentality as Paul? How does koinonia in the suffering of Christ help you to know Him more? How does the hope of resurrection encourage you in your life and walk with Jesus today? |
Sun, 19 November 2023
Have you ever been asked the question, “What do you do?” For the majority of us, when asked the question, we begin with our career, our work–at least we do if we are proud of what we do, right? In our culture, we are often defined by our work. There are a number of problems with this mentality. The biggest problem with this mentality, frankly, is that it is unbiblical. We are not defined by our work. The Bible clearly teaches that we are defined by God’s work–the work He has done for us in Christ and is doing in us by His Spirit; however, work is vitally important to all life. Life does not work without work. That’s true in general but also true with our spiritual life as well. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion There is a significant difference between “working for your salvation” and “working out your salvation.” What is this difference and why is the distinction important to make? Behind our work is God’s work. How does this bring comfort to your life as a follower of Jesus? We are all tempted to grumble and complain. How can you maintain a joyful attitude in the midst of the problems of life? Who are the people in your life who model Jesus? In what ways do they model Christlikeness? Similarly, who are the people in your life to whom you model Jesus? In what ways would they say you model Christlikeness? |
Sun, 12 November 2023
This weekend is Veterans Day where we honor veterans of our country’s Armed Forces. There is something particularly beautiful about sacrifice that, when you see it, you cannot help but be moved, whether it be a hero's sacrifice for one’s family or country or, in the case of our scripture reading for Sunday, a savior’s sacrifice for the sin of the world. |
Sun, 5 November 2023
This Sunday is International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Together, we join millions of Christians around the world in praying for the persecuted church. The statistics are startling. There are over 360 million Christians who will suffer high levels of persecution today and every two minutes, someone is killed for their faith in Jesus.* These persecuted brothers and sisters of ours are without question some of the most courageous people on earth. From where does their courage come? Bring a friend and join us this Sunday as we look to the book of Philippians for the answer in a new series we are calling Surpassing Worth: Sacrificial Living for the Sake of Christ. |
Sun, 29 October 2023
Join us this Sunday as we wrap up our Ready to Run series. Let's explore the discipleship strategy here at North Highlands and discover what it means to Learn, Love, and Live Like Jesus. |
Sun, 22 October 2023
We often seek temporary prizes or pleasures, but Jesus asks us to seek His kingdom and His righteousness which are imperishable. This week we hear about several lessons from the Sermon on the Mount - lessons that Christ calls us to put into practice now for an eternal reward. |
Sun, 15 October 2023
Our third and final value is an outward facing one: You are Wanted. Every church wants to be a welcoming church. But oftentimes the way churches think of “welcoming” is superficial at best or misguided at worst, opting for an approach that (even if unconscious) avoids all moral judgments and encourages a “values-free” environment in the name of being welcoming. Well, here at North Highlands, we believe those two approaches to being a “welcoming” church fall woefully short of the biblical standard; we seek to practice a “welcome” that is both deeper than superficial smiles and higher than politically correctness. |
Sun, 8 October 2023
So, I grew up going to a beautiful old (in every way) Methodist church in downtown Waco. My mom sang in the choir, which meant my siblings and I needed someone to watch us every Sunday. That someone was Ms. Sandra Test, a sweet elderly woman, who, to curb our boredom, would do little scribbles on the bulletin for me and my siblings and then we would have to turn them into something - a dog, a cat, etc. She did her best, but we were bored out of our minds. In fact, I associated church with two words: boredom and buildings. I don’t associate the church with those two words anymore. Praise God! The church has come to mean so much more to me. Now, the words that come to mind are more inline with what God has in mind for His Church. And I am excited to celebrate that with you this weekend as we look at the second shared value we have at North Highlands: We are Family. |
Sun, 1 October 2023
This weekend we pivot from Mission and Vision and begin to focus on a few values that we have here as a church. These values are the shared convictions that we have as a church body that create the culture we enjoy as a church. They are the things that people pick up on or feel when they are with us and this morning we hit on the first of three values we have at North Highlands: God is God (and we are not). I have heard time and time again from folks how much NHBC values the authority of God and His word in our lives as a church family and I cannot wait to talk about it through Isaiah 40, which is one of the great “God is God” texts in all of scripture. |
Sun, 24 September 2023
It’s going to be an exciting Sunday! We have a guest worship leader and Connect4Lunch. Yum! And to top it off, we will talk about our vision as a church which is to see lives forever changed through everyday encounters with Jesus. This is not only possible, it should be the expectation. And not because we want it, but because God wants it. Bring a friend, come hungry and we will see you this weekend! |
Sun, 17 September 2023
I am so excited to kick off this new vision series we are calling Ready to Run and I hope that you are excited, too. This first Sunday would be the PERFECT Sunday to invite friends who are looking for a church family or are simply on your mind and heart because we are going to discuss our mission as a church as we consider the most important question that we will ever answer. |
Mon, 11 September 2023
Studying Paul’s letter to the Ephesians has been so good. And while we all might prefer Paul to end on “high note,” Paul opts to end with an honest one–he talks about the Opposition and the Armor of God. For we know for certain God’s plan is to create a new united humanity, but it will not happen without a fight. There is an Enemy who will stop at nothing to keep God’s plan from happening. But, praise God! The Enemy has already been defeated and the battle has already been won. |
Sun, 3 September 2023
There are few passages in scripture more controversial than the one we are going to read this weekend–and possibly then for this very reason, there are few passages more socially relevant and important for followers of Jesus to both rightly understand and faithfully follow. Let’s talk about it! |
Sun, 27 August 2023
This week we cover a text that is to the modern audience one of the most well-known and controversial texts in all of the New Testament–to suggest it be read at a wedding today would lead to a public outcry. I think the reasoning is two-fold. It requires something the world doesn’t have and something the church hasn’t done. |
Sun, 20 August 2023
Most of us are probably familiar with the old adage “Like Father, Like Son.” It reflects the idea that children often inherit traits, behaviors, and tendencies from their parents, especially their dads. I often catch myself saying things or doing things that my father did and I catch my kids saying and doing things that I do. It’s awesome, but also terrifying to think–kids imitate their parents. Ephesians 5:1 and following acknowledges this enduring truth and even encourages it, only we are not called to imitate our earthly fathers–we are called to be imitators of our heavenly Father as we walk in the footsteps of His beloved Son. Let’s talk about it! |
Sun, 13 August 2023
One of my favorite things growing up about going back to school was getting to buy new clothes. With a new shirt and a new pair of shoes, I felt like the possibilities for me were endless. Like it was all I needed to live my best life. Our scripture passage from Ephesians is the perfect Back to School Sunday text because it reminds us that when we become followers of Jesus, we get a new set of clothes–we are clothed in Jesus, and these new clothes truly do make all the difference. |
Sun, 6 August 2023
All of us are entered in the race. We are in the marathon of all marathons. This is the only race worth running, why not run it well? Bring your running shoes and join us this Sunday to learn how to be faithful to the finish! |
Sun, 30 July 2023
We have talked about the truth of who we are in Christ. Now, we begin to talk about what it looks like for us to live in response to this truth together. What does it look like to walk worthy of our calling? |
Sun, 23 July 2023
The first three chapters of Ephesians have been all about who God is, what God has done, and consequently then who we are in Christ Jesus. The final three chapters are about how we are to live in response–how we are, as Pauls says, “to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” Understanding who God is and what God has done is essential for us, especially if we are to know what is true of each of us in Jesus. But, you and I need more than knowledge of these things if we intend to live accordingly–if we intend to walk in a worthy manner. And so in Ephesians 3:14-21 Paul prays for what we need. |
Sun, 16 July 2023
Are any of you prone to getting distracted? In today’s world, there is no end to the things that cause distractions–it seems like literally everything in life is competing for our attention, right? Well, believe it or not, this seems to happen to Paul in our scripture text for the morning. He is motivated to pray, but he quickly goes off on a tangent before he gets around to actually praying. But how awesome is it that even something that seems like a detour or a digression, even with this, our God is able. Praise God–He is able to take a tangent, a rabbit trail and reveal to us timeless truths! |
Sun, 9 July 2023
We live in a world of rivalries: Coke vs. Pepsi, *which are both wrong because Dr. Pepper is clearly the best; Democrat vs. Republican; Star Wars vs. Star Trek; UT vs. OU, etc. Rivalries can be found literally everywhere, some of them even leading to bloodshed. This morning we discuss the blood shed to end the bloodshed. We have been made one in Christ Jesus. |
Sun, 2 July 2023
Missionary from Ukraine, Mark McDonnel shares a message to help us see our place in this country. |
Sun, 25 June 2023
If you missed the sermon last weekend go back and give it a listen to get up to speed because this Sunday is Part Two to our time in Ephesians 2:1-10. If last week we discussed what we are by nature i.e. the Bad News, this week we discuss what we can become by God’s grace, which is the Best News. Ever. |
Sun, 18 June 2023
“I’ve got good news & I’ve got bad news.” Have you ever heard or said it before? Which do you prefer first? Good or bad? Multiple studies have found that roughly four out of five people prefer the bad before the good. Whether we’re a patient getting test results or an employee in our end of year review, our preference is clear: bad news first, good news last. Ephesians 2:1-10 is the ultimate bad news, good news passage. The bad news is bad—as bad as it gets. But, the good news—the good news more than makes up for it. It’s better than good news. It’s the best news. Ever. |
Sun, 11 June 2023
Pastor Marvin Walker from the Watermark South Dallas Campus will be sharing a message this week from Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders of the church. |
Sun, 4 June 2023
We all have eyes. They help us to see things as they truly are. Some eyes obviously help better than others, but even with 20/20 vision, there are things you and I cannot see on our own. Paul therefore prays that God would open our eyes to see things as they truly are, but he does not pray for our physical eyes, he prays God would open the eyes of our hearts. |
Sun, 28 May 2023
This week we begin a new summer sermon series on the Letter of Paul to the Ephesians, which he wrote while he was under house arrest in Rome circa AD 62. For an overview of the letter, check out this video from the guys over at BibleProject. This Sunday we celebrate the heart of the message of Ephesians, which is this: God has a wonderful plan for all of His creation–things in heaven and earth. Want to know what that plan is? Join us as we look to Ephesians 1:3-14 for the answer. |
Sun, 21 May 2023
Have you ever experienced that moment when you hear something or see something–something you swear you’ve never heard or seen before–but from that moment on, you cannot help but hear or see it everywhere… Jesus teaching us to pray for our Heavenly Father to lead us and deliver us helps us to see things he sees, things that have always been there, things we will never not see ever again. |
Sun, 14 May 2023
We have arrived at the most difficult phrase in the Lord’s Prayer: and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. The expectation is that Jesus’s followers are people who “Ask, and Pass It On.” Easier said than done. Let’s talk about it. |
Sun, 7 May 2023
Prayer is many things to many people, but at its simplest and most obvious, it is asking God for help. This is how most people in the world, religious and non-religious alike, understand the word, and to a certain extent, they are right. It is really one of the most natural things in the world to ask God for things. This week we will talk about one thing in particular: Daily Bread. |
Sun, 23 April 2023
Riots in the streets, teens being shot for approaching the wrong house, and fentanyl killing over 150 people everyday. The hope of humanity is the return of Christ to set up His righteous Kingdom. So, we pray ‘Thy Kingdom Come’. Listen as we look at this all important prayer. |
Sun, 16 April 2023
“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name!” Could this be the battle cry for the church in the 21st century? We’ll look into this possibility Sunday morning. |
Sun, 9 April 2023
As we prepare our hearts to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ let’s pause for a moment and remember why He died—that we might have life, with a new identity and a new future. Come and see what the Lord has done. |
Sun, 2 April 2023
The Bible is so good! This weekend is both Palm Sunday and Communion Sunday at North Highlands and our text for Sunday, Psalm 118, is intimately linked to BOTH! Seriously, if this wasn’t already one of your favorite Psalms, it will be. |
Sun, 26 March 2023
Hebrews 11 opens with the declaration that for the follower of Jesus, faith is not wishful thinking, naive or blind hope that something is true, but it is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith then is entirely rational. Make no mistake, there is certainly more involved in Christian faith than rationality, but not less. All this means that we believe not because want Christianity to be true or because we need Christianity to be true, but rather we believe because it is true. Come, let us behold the empty tomb together. |
Sun, 19 March 2023
One of my favorite lines from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy comes after the infamous ring has been destroyed at Mount Doom. Sam Gamgee wakes up from his sleep surprised he is alive and surprised to see Gandalf alive as well. This prompts him to ask the question, “Is everything sad going to come untrue?” I love this line! The answer we hold as followers of Jesus to this question is—”Yes. Everything sad is going to come untrue!” Jesus once gave a wedding party a foretaste of this beautiful truth. |
Tue, 14 March 2023
Pastor Rick Chitwood shares a message from the book of Job and looks at why bad things happen and what we can do. |
Sun, 5 March 2023
Pastor Rick Chitwood walks us through the goodness of God's grace. He shows us examples of where our goodness falls short and that only what Jesus Christ did for us is good enough to satisfy God. |
Sun, 26 February 2023
Just one quick glance at your Newsfeed and it should be as obvious to you as it is to everyone else: Something is wrong–with the world, with people, with all of it. No one would suggest otherwise. We ALL know something is terribly wrong, which begs the question: what–or who–can set it right again? |
Sun, 19 February 2023
Have you ever heard of the expression, “Two sides of the same coin?” It refers to a situation where two things appear superficially to be opposites of one another, but they are in fact fundamentally alike. I think last week’s message and this week’s message are a great example of this. Last week we read about a conversation that Jesus had with a social, moral, and religious outcast. “The outcast of outcasts”, we said, right? She was a woman, five times married and was now living with a man who was not her husband, who went to the water well to draw water at noon because she would rather brave the heat of the day than face a crowd. She was obviously desperate… This week we will read about a conversation Jesus has with not an outcast but an insider in every way imaginable–socially, morally, religiously, you name it. We might say he was “put together” or he had life “all figured out.” Superficially, these two could not appear to be any more different than they are, but spiritually, they were one in the same. And if these two, who were as different as we could imagine, had this in common spiritually, I think it is likely many of us share this same spiritual diagnosis as well. |
Sun, 12 February 2023
Every person in the world wants what will make him or her truly happy. As a result we are all desperately searching for the person, place, or thing that will meet our expectations, needs, and wants; searching for that which will fully and forever satisfy our deepest desires. What–if anything–can satisfy this never-ending thirst? |
Sun, 5 February 2023
Pastor Rick Chitwood helps us to see when sacrificing our freedoms for others is loving. |
Sun, 29 January 2023
This Sunday we begin a new series titled, Come & See, where together we will look at centuries old life-changing conversations that individuals had with Jesus from the gospel of John. My prayer is that we would experience life-changing encounters with Jesus like these individuals experienced. The first conversation will address perhaps the most fundamental question: Where should we look for answers to life’s biggest questions? |
Sun, 22 January 2023
This past Friday was sarcastically referred to as “Quitting Friday” by those among us who study people and our predictable New Year’s Resolution patterns. I read an article last week that suggests that nearly half of us (43%) expect to fail by February. This is not saying that 43% of people DO fail in the first month, that number is closer to two-thirds (64%) – No, this says that 43% of people who start resolutions in January, START EXPECTING TO FAIL one month into their resolutions. It’s almost as if we know–even in our resolutions–that our priorities are out of order. Matthew 6:25-34 |
Sun, 15 January 2023
This Sunday we are going to talk about… wait for it… investing wisely. No need to adjust your screen. You read it correctly. We are going to talk about our investments, BUT I PROMISE YOU it will not be anything like the investment conversations you have with your financial team if you are into that sort of thing. Jesus will help us invest wisely by teaching us the reality that what we invest and where we invest it is determined by at least two things: 1) how clearly we see and 2) who we choose to serve. |
Sun, 8 January 2023
Pastor Rick Chitwood teaches from Romans and challenges us to accept others no matter what their convictions may be. |
Sun, 1 January 2023
Pastor Rick Chitwood challenges us to take our faith in Christ seriously and make some changes this year, starting today. |
Wed, 28 December 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood brings us a Christmas message of God’s love for us and a gift we can give to our God. |
Sun, 18 December 2022
Pastor Rich Roush shares with us from the first chapter of Luke and shows us how good God has been to us and ask us to share that favor. |
Sun, 4 December 2022
Listen to the installation service for new Lead Pastor Rich Roush. Senior Pastor Rick Chitwood starts with a charge to Rich followed by a message from Rich's mentor Pastor Bob Johns and Elder Greg Hatteberg finishes with a charge to the church body.
Direct download: 2022.12.04-Rich-Rousch-installation.mp3
Category:Christian Life -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT |
Sun, 27 November 2022
Mario Zandstra shares a message on the holiness of God. |
Sun, 20 November 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood shows us from Romans 13 how we can never love enough. |
Sun, 13 November 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood outlines our responsibility governing authorities from chapter 13 of Romans. |
Sun, 6 November 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood shows us how Romans teaches us to love others no matter who they are or what they do. |
Sun, 30 October 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood challenges us to love each other by serving one another through the power of the Spirit of God. |
Sun, 23 October 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood continues in Romans 12 explains how God has gifted each of us and wants us to use our gifts together so we can be a healthy church. |
Sun, 16 October 2022
Rich Roush shares a message from 1 Corinthians that challenges us to live our lives in the power of God. |
Sun, 9 October 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood shows us steps to keep our minds from being corrupted and allowing God to transform them. |
Sun, 2 October 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood shows us how we are called to surrender ourselves and live for Christ in chapter twelve of Romans. |
Sun, 25 September 2022
Matt Prine from World Venture shares a message with us today challenges us from Matthew 16:13-20. |
Sun, 18 September 2022
Brian Lonergan encourages us from 2 Timothy 4:7 and shows how God's word is the same yesterday and today. |
Sun, 11 September 2022
Marvin Walker challenges us with a message from Acts 9 to continue share our faith. |
Sun, 4 September 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood shares a message about Israel from Romans 11 and how we are blessed today. |
Sun, 28 August 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood teaches from the eleventh chapter of Romans. He shows us that the gospel of Jesus Christ is available to everyone and we need to share it. |
Sun, 21 August 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood shares the truth that God is sovereign but our choices still matter. |
Sun, 14 August 2022
Jason Coke challenges us to look beyond circumstances to hope in Jesus Christ. |
Sun, 7 August 2022
Jason Coke shares a message from Haggai and challenges us to consider our ways how we can be used by God for His purpose. |
Sun, 31 July 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood reminds us from Romans chapter 8 that God is always by our side. |
Sun, 24 July 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood continues in the book of Romans. We along with all creation suffer because we live in a broken world, but we who are in Christ will one day share in His glory! |
Sun, 17 July 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood helps us to answer the question - How can we be sure that we are children of God? |
Sun, 10 July 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood continues preaching from Romans. He shows us how walking in the Spirit is not only removing misdeeds, but replacing them with righteous deeds. |
Sun, 3 July 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood gets back into Romans this week. He shares from chapter 8 about the battle between our bodies and our spirits. |
Sun, 26 June 2022
Jed Ostoich shares a message from Exodus and challenges us not to focus on the promise, but to focus on the Promise Giver. |
Sun, 19 June 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood challenges us to stand up for Jesus Christ and truth in all circumstances. |
Sun, 12 June 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood challenges us to wait on the God who ia never late and always keeps His promises. |
Sun, 5 June 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood tells the story of God's faithfulness and how Jesus is always with us and will never leave us. |
Sun, 29 May 2022
Pastor Rick Chitwood shares a message of hope and how we must live faithful lives through Jesus Christ. |
Sun, 22 May 2022
Pastor Marvin Walker shares a message from Acts 5 about honesty and living in the light. |
Sun, 15 May 2022
Guest Pastor Tim Robinson shares a message to help shape our hearts and minds from Proverbs 4:23 & Galatians 4:19-20. |