Highland Christian Church - Asheville, North Carolina | The Whole Gospel for the Whole Life, for the Whole City
Highland Christian Church - Asheville, NCCommunicator - Tim BryantLuke 4:14-30 - "The Scripture you've just heard read has been fulfilled this very day." Jesus announces that He is the fulfillment of all the freedom Israel has been waiting for, but hometown folks resist.
Highland Christian Church - Asheville, NCCommunicator - Jason GarrisLuke 3:21-23, 4:1-13 - "This is my SON!" Announcement and affirming. "Jesus led into the wilderness" The Son of God is declared – and immediately driven into the battle… and VICTORIOUS.
Highland Christian Church - Asheville, NCCommunicator - Jason GarrisLuke 3:1-20 - "Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon…" Everyone is looking for a Savior—but not everyone is ready for the real one.
Highland Christian Church - Asheville, NCCommunicator - Jason GarrisLuke 1:1-4 - "So you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught."Jesus' story isn't about wishful thinking – it truly is a foundation you can build your life on!
Passage: Exodus 3:1-10Guest Speaker: Nick Honerkamp
What if the most freeing truth isn't that everything depends on you—but that it doesn't? "All of It" invites us to rediscover life with God at the center and learn how following Jesus transforms the way we live, steward, and trust Him with everything.
There are some memorable characters in Jesus' stories. The unjust judge and the needy widow just happen to be two that we should remember when we are struggling to pray.
The disciples were stirred by what they saw when they saw Jesus pray. The disciples knew Jesus had something that they didn't. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to spend time with the Father just like He did. What does Jesus want us to know about this gift of prayer?
The disciples were stirred by what they saw when they saw Jesus pray. The disciples knew Jesus had something that they didn't. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to spend time with the Father just like He did. What does Jesus want us to know about this gift of prayer?
The disciples were stirred by what they saw when they saw Jesus pray. The disciples knew Jesus had something that they didn't. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to spend time with the Father just like He did. What does Jesus want us to know about this gift of prayer?
The disciples were stirred by what they saw when they saw Jesus pray. The disciples knew Jesus had something that they didn't. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to spend time with the Father just like He did. What does Jesus want us to know about this gift of prayer?
The promise to Abram (Abraham) is a promise that is still impacting the world today. "Blessed to bless" was not only a promise about the Messiah, it's a call to live as a people who trust that God is our provider.
From the moment we turned our backs on God, the world took on a very different look from the Garden. Leaving the presence of God, the place we were made to live, opened the door for the unthinkable. The decision to be our own gods didn't free us. The decision to live our lives without God left us in chains.
We have heard that God made things good, but what we see in us and around us doesn't seem so good. We see hurt, abuses, sorrow, and death. How does the Scripture address pain and is there any hope?
Where does human value come from? What if it's not found in what we accomplish? What if it's found in understanding what our Creator has said about us?
There is great hope in considering how God made all things "good." God created all things, including humanity, with purpose and function.
As we begin a new year and a new journey through the Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, lets start with spending some time considering some reasons WHY we should study the Scripture.
Advent Series. Helper.
Advent Series. Merciful.
Advent Series. Mighty.
Advent Series. Savior.
ParablesSheep, and Coins, and Sons Oh My!Luke 15
ParablesThe Religious Man & the IRS ManLuke 18:9-14
ParablesThe Two BuildersMatthew 7:24-29This parable comes at the very end of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, 7). Jesus ends the sermon not with a pep talk or a funny story, but with a series of warnings. This parable is the final warning. Jesus says that the wise person is the one who not just listens to his words, but also does and that this is like a builder who builds their house on a solid foundation. Jesus says that the person who hears his words and doesn't do them is like a foolish builder who builds their house on the sand. The storms come to both house; one remains standing and the other falls with a great crash.Jesus is taking a familiar idea from the Hebrew Scriptures, the wise vs the fool, and re-centering it around himself. Wisdom is the path to life while the Fool brings destruction upon themselves. Jesus says that the the way to wisdom, the way to life is by putting his words into practice and that those who don't put his words into practice are bringing about their own destruction.This warning isn't so much - "Do what I say or you're going to get it!" It's more like a parent warning a child not to run into the street because it's dangerous and they will get hurt. Evil and sin have invaded God's good world and you will have storms. The only way to stand through them when they come is if your foundation is solid, built around doing his words.We'll also look at how the Holy Spirit helps us put Jesus' words into practice, so it's not about our willpower and determination. We'll look at the transformation process where the Holy Spirit transforms us into a new type of person who is able to live out the words of Jesus.
ParablesThe Good SamaritanLuke 10:29-37Until we recognize Jesus as our Good Samaritan, we will not understand how to be one.This story is often used to teach ethics. "Help anyone in need" tends to be where we go with this. While that is a true statement, this story can often be summed up as a "change your behavior" story WITHOUT proper context.Jesus is directly addressing a religious leader who has no intentions of learning from Jesus. We know that he set out to "trap" Jesus. Jesus doesn't play into that. The religious man doesn't even know that his question AND his answer simply show he doesn't understand how God works in our lives. We do not EARN an inheritance. We CANNOT keep the law - the law shows us that we can't when we properly study it. "WHO is MY NEIGHBOR?" showed that all the man cared about was justifying himself.Jesus' telling the story of the good Samaritan was not just about being kind. It was a lesson in how religion cannot save us (nor does it want to - it only condemns). The man who was near dead on the road had no ability to save himself. He was completely dependent upon the help from a stranger. And the fact that Jesus closes out the story with saying that a "GOOD" Samaritan was the one who saved the day would have been so offensive. BUT, it was exactly the Gospel picture we all need. "While we were still his enemies, Christ died for us."This story isn't just about crossing boarders and extending a hand to your neighbor - which DOES IN FACT MEAN - ANYONE in NEED (in this case, even the non-Jewish & non-well behaved good Jewish people for that matter). It is about the GREATEST BOUNDARY CROSSING. It's about the greatest need being met (our being left for dead in our sin now rescued, carried, and brought to safety). Sure, should we aim to go and do what Jesus said, in "being the one who showed mercy," yes. But don't be too quick to put yourself in the story as the one who does the good... what if we need to first be the one who realizes the good done to us?
ParablesThe SowerLuke 8:4-15This parable ultimately lays out the work of the parable. The parable reveals how readily our hearts are to receive God's word. Jesus tells the story but then he actually explains the story. He doesn't always do that. And he only lets the disciples understand this story - which is interesting because it's recorded for us - so it makes clear God's desire for US to also understand the truth Jesus expresses in this story. The average public wouldn't have heard the explanation since the disciples were the ones to ask, "What does this story mean?"Jesus expresses just how important our ears are... ears take words in and they make their way to our hearts. THEN, what we do with those words (understanding and practice) MATTERS.The footpath, the hard heart - because of how hard the ground is, the seed lays on top of the ground and the enemy snatches it up.The rocky soil, the ears hear and get excited, but the second trials come, the temptation to go back to our ways, rather than God's ways - becomes too great and there is loss.The thorns and weeds... the seed is planted, but because it's among weeds and thorns there is a competition for nutrition. The person who is looking for life won't find it because of their obsession with money and the cares of this life - as long as we think they will nourish us... we will starve. Our time and care is placed on things of this world and the seed does not produce.The good soil... the heart that is hearing (beyond just listening but understanding), BUT CLINGING TO God's words... over time produces a harvest.This parable would have frustrated the disciples. In their minds, the kingdom should come in power and outward displays - restoring Israel in power. A story about a kingdom and seeds would have seemed absurd. BUT, the story describes how the Kingdom comes AND how the King of that Kingdom comes. In order for fruit to be produced, the seed has to die so that the germ can grow and produce, that takes time... but it produces more than we could ever expect or ask for.Where is our heart when it comes to hearing? Are we "leaning in" to hear and understand Jesus' words? Are we hard and disinterested? Are we "emotional" response people - easily excited but anti-commitment? Are we still chasing money and the cares of this world and disregarding the One thing that could truly nourish us? Do we long to be the heart ready to receive, cling to, and produce fruit?
ParablesThe Unforgiving Forgiven GuyMatthew 18:21-35
ParablesThe Rich FoolLuke 12:13-21 - The Parable of the Rich Fool.Jesus is inspired to tell this story because of a self-centered demand for justice. Jesus does not entertain the man's request, but Jesus DOES deal with the heart of the man's request: Greed.The story is A GREAT picture of our American culture. The man only speaks to himself (not his community or God), he does not think of his neighbor, and he becomes satisfied with HIS stuff. Only thing is, NONE of this man's life is his own... it's simply on loan from God. And when God calls for the man, the man is faced with just how wasted and empty his life has really been.Jesus then closes with such a simple statement... "A person is a fool to store up earthly treasure but not have a rich relationship with God."Fool is a harsh word - but it's meant to stir us to look inward and ask the tough question: "Am I living foolishly?" If we answer "yes" to the question, Jesus is changing our minds and pointing us to a way of living that doesn't compile MORE STUFF, but a life that is made WHOLE.Becoming RICH (in this life or in relationship with God) takes investment. What we invest in has lasting effects. Jesus tells us that our investments in this life will either trap us or free us. Jesus also makes sure we understand that there is no separation between our physical and spiritual worlds. Everything we do, everything, has implications on our souls.
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