Highland Christian Church

A + C = 0Galatians Ep 02

A + C = 0Galatians Ep 01

DetourBlessing

DetourRebellion

DetourDistraction

Detour"Ahhh!"

ParablesSheep, and Coins, and Sons Oh My!Luke 15

ParablesThe Rich Guy & LazarusLuke 16:19-31

ParablesThe Religious Man & the IRS ManLuke 18:9-14

ParablesThe Weeds & the WheatMatthew 13:24-30

ParablesThe Two SonsMatthew 21:28-32

ParablesThe Speck & the LogMatthew 7:1-5

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 destru

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 can

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 b

PentecostThe SendingActs 2

ParablesThe Visitor at MidnightLuke 11:1-13

ParablesThe TalentsMatthew 25:14-30

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 po