Sunday, June 30, 2019

Luke 15:1-7 (ESV)

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him (Jesus).

2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

3 So he told them this parable:

4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?

5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’

7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

1. Every missing person has a name.

2. Every missing person has a story.

3. Every missing person matters to God.

4. Every missing person is equally loved, but the lost are God's priority.

5. No missing person is forgotten by God in the sea of humanity.

6. God reserves heaven's loudest celebration for when just one missing person is found by them receiving the Good News about Jesus's substitution for their sins.

Romans 10:13 (ESV)

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Dino Rizzo, Church of the Highlands

Sunday, June 23, 2019

Acts 28:3-5 New Living Translation (NLT)

3 As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand.

I. Expect the enemy attacks, but not accept a spiritual defeat.

II. Don't panic when the enemy attacks.

4 The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.”

III. Don't believe the lies of the enemy when he speaks through others.

5 But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed.

IV. Shake off the pain of the past.

Acts 28:6-10 (NLT)

6 The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god.

7 Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days.

8 As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him.

9 Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed.

10 As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.

V. If we respond the right way, God will use our pain to His glory.

Paul used the snake bitten hand to heal others. God uses our pain to help others if we don't hide it.

How to bless others

1. Praise others by finding a quality in them to pull out. Don't highlight the bad, but highlight the good.

Proverbs 25:11 (NLT)

¹¹Timely advice is lovely,

like golden apples in a silver basket.

2. Express thankfulness by recognizing what others do for you.

3. Show affection by saying I love you. That's what God did to Jesus.

Matthew 3:17 (NLT)

17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT)

³Long ago the Lord said to Israel:
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.

4. Encourage others by adding courage in discouraging situations. Don't tell them who they are, but who they could be.

Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)

29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

5. Be kind to others. It's okay to disagree, but not to be unkind.

Galatians 5:22 (NLT)

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: ...kindness, ...

Proverbs 15:1 (NLT)

15 A gentle answer deflects anger,
but harsh words make tempers flare.

6. Speak the truth in love with a smile as you say it.

Ephesians 4:15 (NLT)

15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

7. Pray for them. Pray Father, let them find their destiny. Pray for them in these areas.

Luke 2:52 (NLT)

52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

Luke 2:34 New Living Translation (NLT)

34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined...

Jesus was born with a destiny, and so do you.

God's Word written by Man's hand.

We won't know God if we don't know God's Word. The Bible is God's Holy Spirit written with man's hand.

Principles of Church of the Highlands Kids

1. Age Specific Learning.

2. Authentic Faith

3. Spiritual priority

4. Moral boundaries.

5. Meaningful friendships.

6. Wise Choices.

7. Others first.

8. God given priorities.

We want our children to know other children in their own grade level. We want them to have a specific small group leader. We want to help them to memorize God's Word.

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/bless-the-little-children

Saturday, June 22, 2019

The Power of Peace

Luke 21:25-28 NKJV

25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”