We have seen quite a number of weddings at Highland Hills this year.  Every wedding, of course, reminds us of the relationship of Christ to His Bride, the Church.  Scripture teaches this.  This imagery also teaches us to understand our relationship with Christ as a covenantal relationship.  A covenant—whether in marriage or with Christ—requires a pledge of complete and unreserved commitment to the other.  I think we so often speak of our commitments to Christ we may overlook His commitment to us.  He is not indifferent in this relationship!  This Sunday I would like to conclude the series we have been studying in the Book of Hebrews by considering the benediction/prayer found in Chapter 13.  These two verses summarize the message of the entire book, and especially underscore the lessons on faith from chapter 11, and outlook on perseverance in chapter 12.  The realities of our covenant relationship will be found here as... Download MP3 Audio

Dave Fath speaks about Joy from 1 Thessalonians 1. Download MP3 Audio

Pastor Adam discusses passions in life according to Paul. Download MP3 Audio

Sunday August 8th, 2010 As we worked through Hebrews chapter eleven, we found it rich in examples of men and women living by faith.  The author of Hebrews drew on these examples from the Old Testament.  Time and again we saw wholehearted trust and obedience to the Word of the Living God.  Of course, not every life recorded in the Old Testament is an example to be followed.  There are many lives that serve rather as warnings.  Since the author of Hebrews has already made good use of the Old Testament, it is very natural for him to draw our attention there once again as he seeks to illustrate faithlessness.  The account recorded in Hebrews 12:14-17 is taken from the Book of Genesis, and the life of Jacob’s brother, Esau.  Esau demonstrated neither trust nor obedience, and thus had a sobering disregard for holiness.  We will do well to heed the warning of his life as we consider this passage from Hebrews chapter twelve. Download MP3 Audio

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It seems like most small children go through a phase where they repeatedly ask the question “Why?” They arrive at the developmental stage where they are beginning to make connections in their understanding, and are hungry for information and explanation. The repeated question, “Why?” can even become annoying because there are so many things to answer. By contrast, it is a mark of growth and maturity to possess an understanding of things so that instead of asking questions, one knows the answer to them. Our text for Sunday morning is John 16:23-18, as we return this week to our sermon series on the “Amen, amen” passages in John’s Gospel. Jesus is preparing His disciples for his departure. Among other things, He wants to assure them that they are not merely spectators to His work of salvation. Yes, of course, Christ alone does the work, but salvation is not something that Jesus does “to” his disciples, but “for” them. As His followers participate in the benefits of salvation, they are “I... Download MP3 Audio