Highrock Church

Imprisoned in Herod Antipas' fortress, John the Baptist begins to doubt. He was the one who saw the Spirit of God descend upon Jesus but in the darkness of prison, he begins to ask some tough questions. One might expect Jesus to reprimand John. Instead, Jesus gives him reassurance and praise. Rather than silence doubt, Jesus treats doubt as a part of discipleship, especially for those who put everything on the line for God.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/Resources for "New Testament in a Year"https://www.highrock.org/newtestamentFor Reflection:- How do you typically respond when God’s actions don’t match your hopes or timeline?- How does Jesus respond to John’s doubt, and what does that reveal about his character?- Jesus affirms John publicly after addressing his doubts. What does that teach you about how God views you in seasons of weakness?- Who in your life might be struggling with questions or disappointment, and how can you reflect Jesus’ compassion toward them?

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus had encouraged his listeners to put God first and trust God for the rest. In this passage, Jesus extends that principle to putting Jesus first and the potential short-term costs, which may even include rejection from our families. For many, this price might seem too high but Jesus assures us that God will honor those who choose faithfulness!Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/Resources for "New Testament in a Year"https://www.highrock.org/newtestamentFor Reflection:- Have you experienced pain, loss, or conflict from choosing to follow Jesus? What happened?- How has God been present to you in those difficult times? What have you learned about God and about yourself?- Is there a cost to discipleship that concerns you today? Do you find God’s promise of presence and reward sustain or encourage you in any way?- Prayer: Strengthen my commitment, Lord. Help me to trust you with each step and to know that you are with me.

Jesus sends out the twelve disciples on their own but with detailed instructions. Some of those instructions were just for those disciples, and even just for that particular moment. However, understanding what Jesus was doing in that moment can help us discern universal patterns and values that apply in all cases, even for us today, especially the promise that God's Spirit will be with us.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/Resources for "New Testament in a Year"https://www.highrock.org/newtestamentFor Reflection:- Where and to whom might God be sending you? Where might God be inviting you to step out in faith?- What specific concerns and fears might diminish your willingness to invite others into a relationship with God?- How might knowing that God's Spirit will be with you be an antidote to those fears? - Prayer: Lord, give me the courage to go wherever you send me.

Jesus makes himself available to all kinds of people, both the privileged and the outcast. He embraces all kinds of interruptions, looking for the opportunity to bring people closer to God. He even encourages us to have the same kingdom focus -- to pray that God would raise up more workers to connect people back to God. Who knows? God might even invite us to become a part of the answer to that prayer!Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/Resources for "New Testament in a Year"https://www.highrock.org/newtestamentFor Reflection:- What needs do you see around you today (in the world, in your neighborhood, at your work/school, in your life)?- Interruptions played an outsized role in the ministry of Jesus. How does that fact speak into your life? Are you available for interruptions? When is an interruption an opportunity, and when is it a distraction? - How might God be calling you to serve or pray more intentionally?- Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to the needs around me. Use me as part of your harvest.

When did faith start feeling like another performance review? Jesus doesn’t say, “Become salt and light.” He says, “You are.” So why do so many of us live like we’re still trying to earn it? And what changes when you stop?· ·👉🏻 Check out other Highrock sermons: https://tinyurl.com/3rdw4x8n👉🏻 Check out Highrock's 15-min daily devotionals: https://tinyurl.com/38d4aryd

Jesus closes his Sermon on the Mount with a parable about a house built on sand which is washed away by the storm vs. a house built on rock that survives. This, says Jesus, is the contrast between those who do and those who do not put Jesus' teachings into practice. Faithfulness does not prevent the storms of life, but it promises to sustain us through them. Faith in action is faith that endures!Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/Resources for "New Testament in a Year"https://www.highrock.org/newtestamentFor Reflection:- In what ways might God be inviting you to put Jesus' teachings into practice?- Think of someone whom you respect for how they have endured the storms of life. What does their spiritual foundation reveal about the habits of faithfulness that might benefit you?- Prayer: Lord, help me to put your Word increasingly into practice, with faithfulness and courage.

[An earlier version of this episode was missing the first scripture reading.]In this section of Jesus' sermon, he turns our attention to spiritual practices (fasting, praying, giving) as expressions of trust. He highlights money itself as a critical focus, one that can easily become a substitute for God in our hearts and minds. Money promises security but in the end, it creates even greater anxiety about the future. Instead, we find true peace in God when we put God first in our lives.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/Resources for "New Testament in a Year"https://www.highrock.org/newtestamentFor Reflection:- What anxieties challenge your trust in God today?- How has walking with Jesus impacted your relationship with money in positive or negative ways?- What has helped you to have a more positive relationship with money?- Prayer: Jesus, teach me to trust you more fully. Help me seek your kingdom above all else.

[An earlier version of this podcast was uploaded without the first scripture reading.]Throughout this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus continues to magnify the reach of God's Law, not just to our behavior, but to our hearts. God wants us to know God's heart and follow it in all ways, even to the point of loving our enemies. God's love is so amazing that it extends even to those who see themselves as God's enemies, and Jesus invites us to follow God's example.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/Resources for "New Testament in a Year"https://www.highrock.org/newtestamentFor Reflection:"Turn the other cheek", "give the shirt off your back", "go the extra mile", and "love your enemies" -- these sayings all originate from here in Jesus’ sermon.- What questions or insights arise for you in this passage?- How do you understand God, Jesus, your neighbor, or yourself differently from what Jesus teaches?- How might God be inviting you to take a step towards seeking good for someone who might be making life difficult for you?

Jesus, much like Moses, brings God's covenant and God's instructions to the people from the mountain. Jesus is calling the people into a relationship with God, one that is richer and more connected with God than they may have ever thought possible. These opening words are called "beatitudes", from the Latin for "happy" or "blessed", but they are much more than principles of happiness. Jesus is revealing who God is, who he is, and what true life will look like for all of us.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/Resources for "New Testament in a Year"https://www.highrock.org/newtestamentFor Reflection:- What questions and insights do these beatitudes raise in your heart and mind?- Which beatitude do you feel is most challenging to you right now?- What resources might you need in order to take a faithful step forward into that challenge?- Prayer: Shape my heart to reflect yours, Jesus.

Jesus faces temptation not with mere arguments or willpower, but with God's Word. His victory over temptations reminds us that spiritual strength is formed long before moments of testing arrive. Temptation often appeals to godly desires pursued in the wrong way, but God’s Word anchors us in trust and faithfulness.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/Resources for "New Testament in a Year"https://www.highrock.org/newtestamentFor Reflection:- Where do you feel vulnerable to temptation right now?- How have you seen Scripture help you or others stay faithful when tested in the past?- How can Scripture guide your responses this week?- Prayer: Lord, help me rely on your Word when I am tested.

First Sunday of the year: fresh calendars, fresh goals, and fresh resolve. Then Jesus cuts through all of it with a different invitation - one that doesn’t start with “try harder,” but with “turn around.” What if repentance isn’t shame but a new and better direction?· ·👉🏻 Check out other Highrock sermons: https://tinyurl.com/3rdw4x8n👉🏻 Check out Highrock's 15-min daily devotionals: https://tinyurl.com/38d4aryd

In this holiday replay from September 5, 2024, we consider the Apostle Paul's encouragement to practice self-control. The Corinthians were well-acquainted with Olympic-style games; their city held similar games every two years. Paul uses these athletics as a metaphor for the Christian life, especially the need to say "no" to our appetites in order to achieve goals with a far greater value!Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/We will resume new devotionals on Monday with Matthew 4, tracking with our congregational read-through of the New Testament.https://www.highrock.org/newtestamentLooking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:Paul compares the Christian to an olympic-style athlete who enters a period of discipline to achieve a lasting goal.- What are some ways that this athletic metaphor might be helpful to you? Are there limitations for you?- Through training, athletes can often accomplish what seems impossible, and they often do so with a grace that makes it seem almost easy. Are there challenges that today seem easy to once seemed difficult or impossible for you? How might God be inviting you to train in an area that seems difficult for you today?

Happy New Year! In this holiday replay from August 29, 2024, we consider Jesus as our high priest. A good high priest is able to be gentle with wayward people because he shares their weaknesses and struggles -- and Jesus is our perfect high priest. When we fail to be gentle with others, could it be because we forget or deny our own weaknesses?Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/We will resume new devotionals on Monday. We will track with our congregational read-through of the New Testament.https://www.highrock.org/newtestamentLooking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:A high priest is able to be gentle with the people because he knows their weaknesses and struggles -- and Jesus is our perfect high priest.- What does it mean to you to know that Jesus fully experienced and knows your temptations and weaknesses?- How might identifying and confessing your own shared weaknesses (Heb 5:2) help you to be more gentle with others? In other words, could harshness towards others be rooted in a forgetfulness or denial of our own weaknesses?

In this holiday replay from July 15, 2024, we consider kindness as a fruit of the Spirit. Do you keep any trophies, certificates, diplomas, or awards on display? What important events or achievements do they commemorate? God, too, has trophies; we are trophies of God's grace and kindness. What are some of the ways that you display God's kindness to the world?We will resume new devotionals in the new year that track with our congregational read-through of the New Testament.https://www.highrock.org/newtestamentLooking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:The Bible declares that we are trophies of God's grace and kindness, on display for ages to come!- Do you have any trophies, awards, certificates, or diplomas that you keep? What important achievements of memories do these trophies commemorate? Why are they important to you?- What does it mean for you to hear that God intends for you to be a trophy of God's kindness, on display for ages to come? Is there a way that you might display God's kindness today?

In this holiday replay from July 31, 2024, Pastors Taylor and Dave discuss the relationship between patience and confidence in Paul's words to the ancient believers in Rome.We will resume new devotionals in the new year that track with our congregational read-through of the New Testament.https://www.highrock.org/newtestamentLooking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/

In this holiday replay from August 15, 2024, we consider the Apostle Paul's encouragement to allow peace to "rule in your hearts." How might we finally live at peace with one another and experience the feeling of peace we so often desire? The Apostle Paul shares several steps that we can all take together today.We will resume new devotionals in the new year that track with our congregational read-through of the New Testament.https://www.highrock.org/newtestamentLooking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:Some steps toward the peace of Christ (v16) are to fill our lives with the message about Jesus, to teach and to counsel one another with godly wisdom, and to sing and worship together with thankful hearts.- How have you experienced peace through these expressions of love?- Sunday services emphasize each of those elements but Sunday is only one day. How might God be inviting you to bring these practices into the rest of your week.

Christmas is supposed to be the moment everything changes. But the first Christmas passed almost unnoticed followed by years of ordinary life, silence, and waiting. What if faith is formed not in the miracle itself but in the long waiting that follows?· ·👉🏻 Check out other Highrock sermons: https://tinyurl.com/3rdw4x8n👉🏻 Check out Highrock's 15-min daily devotionals: https://tinyurl.com/38d4aryd

In this holiday replay from August 5, 2024, Paul instructs us to be continually joyful, and prayerful, and thankful. These are not separate commands. Rather, they are like a 3-legged stool that cannot hold us without all three legs. God deeply cares about our joy, and our joy is possible only when partnered with continual prayer and gratitude!We will resume new devotionals in the new year that track with our congregational read-through of the New Testament.https://www.highrock.org/newtestamentLooking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:The Apostle Paul instructs us that continual joy, prayer, and gratitude are all connected to one another and rooted in who Jesus is and what he has done for us.- Imagine that you are teaching a children's class in Sunday school. How might you explain the connection between joy, prayer, and gratitude in this passage? Perhaps write your answer down in a paragraph or two.- Why do you imagine that God, through Paul, commands us to do these things? What might be God's motive? In other words, how much does your joy matter to God?

In this holiday replay from July 8, 2024, we consider God's agape love -- the first fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). This love is very different from all the other kinds of love that we might experience. But in order to understand it and share it with others, we must first receive it ourselves. It is a fruit of the Spirit, not our own efforts!We will resume new devotionals in the new year that track with our congregational read-through of the New Testament.https://www.highrock.org/newtestamentLooking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:Love is the most excellent way, the first fruit of the Spirit -- perhaps the fruit from which all others spring. God's "agape" love is the measure of all things!- How has God's love challenged your previous or false notions of what love is? Can you remember a time when you first began to understand how different God's love is?- Where have you seen or experienced God's love, or gained a clearer vision of what it is? What might help you to receive it more completely and share it less reservedly?

In this holiday replay from last year, we see that Joseph faced a difficult choice -- the woman he loved was pregnant and the child was not his. What should he do? Though he likely felt betrayed, he chose a path that would spare Mary of any additional shame, even at great cost to himself. God gave Jesus parents who would raise Jesus in the path of true righteousness, a path of faith, mercy, and self-sacrificial love.We will resume new devotionals in the new year that track with our congregational read-through of the New Testament.https://www.highrock.org/newtestamentChristmas Eve Services:https://www.highrock.org/calendar/christmaseve2025Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:Jesus was raised by two parents -- Joseph and Mary. Today we see some of the character that made Joseph a fitting parent for God the Son.- However we picture Joseph's understanding of "righteousness", we see that he was willing to pay a high cost to spare Mary any additional shame. If you had to guess, why do you think Joseph might have made such a choice?- And calling of God will involve sacrifice because it is a call to love something or someone more than we love ourselves. What or whom has God called you to love sacrificially?

Through the prophet Zechariah, God paints a picture of the coming messiah-king, a ruler unlike any other. Riding on a donkey rather than a warhorse, this king proclaims peace not just to Israel but to all nations. This picture is a foretelling of who Jesus would be and what he would do for us. Zechariah’s vision continues to invite us to expect and embrace the peace of Christ which will one day end all war.Christmas Eve Services:https://www.highrock.org/calendar/christmaseve2025Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:- Jesus laid claim to this prophecy of the humble messiah-king for himself in all 4 gospels (Matt. 21.1-11; Mark 11.1-11; Luke 19:28-40, John 12.12-19). What do you think might have been so important that every gospel emphasized it?- According to this prophecy, the power to establish peace rests in the hands of God's chosen messiah-king. Given that peace is ultimately in God's hands, what might be your part to play? How might God be calling you to join with Jesus as a peacemaker?

God’s peace often comes in unexpected ways and places. The angels' announcement of "peace on earth" is given to shepherds - shift workers on the margins of society. God's peace is not reserved for the powerful and privileged, but offered freely to all in Christ. Advent invites us to listen for God’s good news in humble moments, and even dark circumstances.Pastor Dave's sermon on Luke 2https://youtu.be/ZUDG3TDi6YgChristmas Eve Services:https://www.highrock.org/calendar/christmaseve2025Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:- What stands out to you about the way God announces peace, and to whom?- Where in your life, work, and relationships are you hoping for God to bring peace today?- How might God be inviting you to be a part of bringing peace into the world?

Peace on earth gets sung every Christmas—but the world still feels loud, fractured, and anxious. What if the peace promised that first Christmas was never meant to wait for the world to be fixed?· ·👉🏻 Check out other Highrock sermons: https://tinyurl.com/3rdw4x8n👉🏻 Check out Highrock's 15-min daily devotionals: https://tinyurl.com/38d4aryd

A religious leader named Nicodemus came to Jesus under cover of darkness to seek answers but left with even more questions. One clear answer that Jesus gave encapsulates the entire Gospel, the fullness of the good news. In Jesus, God has come down to us (that's Christmas) and Jesus told Nicodemus that one day, he would be lifted up (that's the crucifixion and Easter). And behind that answer was the simple truth, that God so loved the entire world that he has offered eternal life to us in Jesus.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:- How have the life and teachings of Jesus informed or changed how you understand love?- Who might Christ be inviting you to join him in loving others in a costly or inconvenient way?- How does hope in Christ shape the way you give yourself to others?

Many would agree that nothing matters more than love, yet those same people often disagree on what love actually is. What is love? What does it look like? The Apostle John insists that the answers to these questions is that God is love. We know what love is only because God first loves us, which is what Christmas is all about. Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:- If a child asked you what love is, how might you answer?- When John insists that God is love (verse 8), what do you think he means?- What does Christmas reveal about God's love to you? What does Christmas reveal about how God might want you to love others?

Through the prophet Hosea, we see God as a loving parent whose tender love is ignored and even rejected. God teaches this child to walk, feeds them, and leads them with "cords of human kindness". And this is the love God expresses toward a rebellious, wayward child! God's love is not distant or conditional; it is patient and persistent. It is the love that comes to us with Jesus' birth, when God comes to lead wayward children home.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:Where do you see God’s patient and persistent love in your own story?In what ways are you tempted to resist or overlook God’s love?How does this passage deepen your understanding of God’s heart?

God’s love is not distant or detached. In Jesus, God has drawn close to us, inviting us to be part of God's family. Jesus came for everyone, even those who would misunderstand or reject him. God is with us, full of grace and truth, and offers us the right to become true children of God.From Fast to Feast (Community Meal on 12/17)https://www.highrock.org/calendar/fromfasttofeastThe registration form for MetroWest is open. The Arlington registration form is closed but there is a contact listed. Be sure to mention the special dispensation from Pastor Dave :)Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:How does the incarnation shape your understanding of God’s closeness to you?How might your life be different if you were more continuously aware of Jesus' presence with you?Who or what are the people, places, and practices that help remind you of God's loving presence with you?

Advent invites us to contemplate the love of God displayed through the humility of Christ. Pride lifts yourself up, even at the expense of others while love lifts others up, even at the expense of yourself. In Jesus, we see that God will raise us up when we lift up others in love.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:- What stands out to you about Christ’s humility and love in this passage?- Where might God be inviting you to practice Christlike humility and love this Advent season?

Sometimes the most powerful expressions of love arrive in forms we don’t expect. A familiar name for Jesus may hold a deeper meaning for our worth, belonging, and grace than we’ve ever noticed.· ·👉🏻 Check out other Highrock sermons: https://tinyurl.com/3rdw4x8n👉🏻 Check out Highrock's 15-min daily devotionals: https://tinyurl.com/38d4aryd

Mary and Joseph are not alone in having to hold onto hope. Eight days after Jesus was born, they encounter someone who is holding onto hope as well. Simeon carried hope in his heart for many years, trusting in the promise that he would see the Messiah. Our hopes are fulfilled in Christ, whether we have to wait for weeks, years, or a lifetime.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:- Have you ever had the experience of a long-awaited hope being fulfilled? What happened? How hard was it to hold onto hope as your waited? What helped you to sustain your hope along the way?- Are there hopes that you are still waiting for God to fulfill? What promises of God are you holding onto in hope?- How does the Christmas story shape your understanding of hope?

The angel Gabriel brings a message of great hope to Mary but she still faces a choice. Will she choose to pull back and protect herself, or will she embrace the angel's invitation into a life in which she will have no control? She chooses to trust God and accepts the invitation to step into God's story, saying, "May everything you have said about me come true.” She is able to hope in the possibilities of what God might do because she knows who she is, that is, a servant of the Lord.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/This past weekend's message on the same passage:https://youtu.be/IYc-UhpegT0For Reflection:- What do you think of the idea that hope is "confidence without having control"? - If hope is confidence without having control, how do you feel about hope? Does it sound inviting? Frightening?- What difficult choices do you face? How might God be inviting you to trust more deeply as you make that choice?

Jeremiah found hope not in changing circumstances, but in remembering God’s unchanging character. As we continue through Advent, we strengthen our hope by recalling God’s steadfast love. We can continue to hope even in the darkest of times if we continue to remember who God is and the ways that God has been proven faithful in the past! Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:In community, our hope can lighten the darkness for others, and when we are in need of hope, their hope can lighten ours.- How have you been moved by God's past faithfulness to others, whether in the Bible or in the lives of people you know?- What examples do you have of God's faithfulness in your own life?- How does remembering the past build hope for the future?

Advent is a season of waiting — not passive, but active, hopeful waiting. The psalmist waits “more than sentries long for the dawn.” A sentry or night watchman cannot hasten the dawn through waiting. Even so, watchful waiting will help them endure the night and to be ready for whatever may come. In hope and trust, we wait on God for what only God can do, ready for whatever God may call us to do when the time comes.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:"I long for the Lord / more than sentries long for the dawn, / yes, more than sentries long for the dawn." (v.6)- What are you waiting for God to do in your life this Advent?- We can wait with anxiety or with the expectancy that comes from hope. What helps you to move from anxious waiting to expectant waiting as you learn to trust more in God? (It might be helpful to consider the people, places, and practices that help encourage the changes you desire.)

When we are in a dark place, that darkness can seem unending. Hope in God can shine like a light that pierces the darkness. In a very dark moment of Israel's history, God spoke a message of hope through Isaiah. God showed them a future promise of the coming messiah. We, too, are reminded that hope rests not on what we can see, but on who God is.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:"The people who walk in darkness /will see a great light. /For those who live in a land of deep darkness, /a light will shine." - Isaiah 9:2- Where is there darkness in your life? Does it sometimes feel unending and hopeless? Where do you need God's light of hope to shine into your life?- Which of God’s promises might speak to the hope that you need? For a short list of promises (along with context), look here:https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-are-god-s-promises-in-the-bible.html

Ever hoped God would show up in big, obvious ways—only to feel underwhelmed or overlooked? This sermon wrestles with why God’s greatest gifts often arrive in small, unassuming packages… and why hope rarely looks the way we expect.· ·👉🏻 Check out other Highrock sermons: https://tinyurl.com/3rdw4x8n👉🏻 Check out Highrock's 15-min daily devotionals: https://tinyurl.com/38d4aryd

Joy is not only a gift; it is also a calling. Jesus desires to place his own joy in us — not just a little bit, but overflowing joy. How do we receive such joy? By remaining in his love. And how do we remain in his love? By obeying his commands. And what is his command? To love each other in the same way that Jesus has loved us. Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:God's commands are not meant to burden us or restrict us — they are meant to fill us with the joy of Jesus!- In your own life, how has following Jesus led to joy?- Imagine you are teaching a children's class and a child asks if we have to obey Jesus' command if we want to have joy. How might you address that child's question?- Throughout the day, pray for the opportunity to bring Jesus' joy to others.

Advent is, at its core, a season of waiting. And waiting often reveals what we truly believe about God. Joy in Advent is not passive; it is a choice to trust that God is at work even when we cannot see it. Our joy is built upon a confident hope that God will continue to be faithful to all the promises made to us.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:"Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying." - Romans 12:12 - Who or what are the people, places, and practices that help you to experience joy in difficult times?- What are you waiting on God for right now? What are the promises that form the foundation of your "confident hope"?- How can you practice joy — real, rooted joy — while you wait?

We often think of joy as a feeling reserved for the high and easy moments — but biblical joy is often a renewal in darker times. When Nehemiah said "joy of the Lord is your strength", the people were exhausted, overwhelmed, and convicted of their own sin. Yet God extended an offering of joy to them. Joy is not just for the best moments in life. Joy is a gift that fortifies us when we feel empty.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:Before we can experience joy, we often need to be reminded of the reasons we have for that joy. Nehemiah reminded the people of the reason for their joy and the importance of celebrating that joy with one another.- What reasons do you have for joy?- How might joy look different from simple happiness?- Is there an area of life where you need God's strength and renewal right now?

The angel doesn't just bring ordinary news to the shepherds, but good news of great joy! What is this good news? A savior has been born -- a child, lying in a manger. Once again, we see that the gift of joy arises from the presence of God with us. How might we more fully experience this joy? Like the shepherds, we can make the effort to go and see what God is doing.The Kairos Circle (mentioned by Pastor Kim):https://vimeo.com/101761387Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:The shepherds didn't just listen to the good news; they took action to engage with what God was doing. Joy isn't just a gift, it is an invitation into participation.- Have you ever received good news that produced great joy in you? What was the news? Why was it so joyous? How did you respond to the news? What changed in you as a result?- What part of the good news about Jesus brings you joy today?- With whom can you share that joy? How might you share your joy and theirs?

The gift of joy arises not from outward circumstances but from God's presence with us. Everything good comes from God, and the ultimate gift is to receive the giver. As King David expressed in Psalm 16, our joy is that God is with us. That is why we call Jesus "Emmanuel" -- which means, "God with us."Pastor Taylor's sermon on Psalm 16 and Joy:https://youtu.be/LmnmBvuY4KkLooking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/Reflection Questions:"You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence, and the pleasures of living with you forever." (v.11)- Where do you normally look for joy?- King David refers to the "joy of your presence" -- how have you experienced the joy of God's presence?- What could you do to make space to notice God’s presence this week?

Whether this season finds you surrounded by laughter and lights—or numb, lonely, or emotionally worn—many of us know the quiet ache beneath the surface. In a time when so much around us promises quick fixes and feel-good moments, what if the gift we truly long for is something deeper, steadier, and more sacred?· ·👉🏻 Check out other Highrock sermons: https://tinyurl.com/3rdw4x8n👉🏻 Check out Highrock's 15-min daily devotionals: https://tinyurl.com/38d4aryd

In this famous parable, Jesus says to the faithful, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." When we serve the last, the lost, and the least, we are actually serving the ruler of heaven and earth! Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:The practice of serving leads not only to becoming more like Jesus, but recognizing that God is present in every person we serve.- Who do you think Jesus means by the "least of these"?- Why do you think it is so hard to recognize the presence of God in those we serve?- Suppose you were teaching a children's class and a child asked how serving "the least" is serving Jesus? What might you say to that child?

In this holiday replay from November 19, 2024, we see that our motivations reveal our hearts. Why should we do as God says? A lowly servant might obey out of fear. An employee might obey for hope of reward or fear of punishment. But for those who are in Christ, Paul says, our obligation is that of adopted children. We respond to God's generosity, not to gain something positive or avoid something negative, but purely out of joyful gratitude! Happy Thanksgiving!Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:Why should we obey God? Servants might fear punishment and employees might seek a reward, but we are adopted children who are at our best when moved by joyful gratitude!- The Spirit testifies that we are adopted children. How might you feel or live differently is this idea was ever-present to you? What might help you to remember this thought and feeling in darker times?- How might you feel and live differently if you remembered this truth about your spiritual sisters and brothers?

God is the ultimate giver and invites us to join God in blessing the world. In order to do so, God gives each and every one of us a gift that others need! Our talents, skills, and resources are not just for our benefit — they are tools to serve one another in love. You are gifted! What gift has God given you?Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:People often resist the idea of being gifted in one of two ways. Some act as if their gift is their own and resist using it to serve others. Others find it difficult to believe that God has given them anything worthwhile to give.- Which of those two challenges is more difficult for you? Why do you think that is the case?- What gifts has God given you that have been or could be a blessing to others?- How might God be inviting you to more faithfully serve?

Like yesterday's passage, service involves a paradox. Not only is service the path to true freedom, but the path to being raised up is a path of laying your own life down in service. As Jesus puts it, whoever wants to be greatest must be the servant of everyone, which is exactly who Jesus is. In our upside-down world, Jesus shows us that the path up is a path down into humility and service.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:Jesus' words and example reminds us that true greatness in God’s kingdom is measured not by status but by how we love and serve others.- How does Jesus’ example challenge or transform your understanding of greatness?- Several examples today show that giving is the path to receiving, even if the return is delayed. Has your observed that dynamic in your life, or has it played out differently?- Where in your life might God be inviting you to humble yourself to serve others this week?

The idea of serving naturally implies a loss of freedom, but many of life's greatest truths are paradoxes. Ultimately, the call to service is the path to true freedom -- the freedom to become the people God means for us to be.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:Service is love in action. Service isn’t about earning favor with God; it’s a natural response to God's love for us.- Do you agree that the call to service is a call to freedom? Imagine explaining your answer to a young teenager.- Do you ever hold back from serving because it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable?- What’s one way you can put love into action today?

You feel the weight of the world’s hurt—and maybe also the tension of your own life, whether it feels cushioned with comfort or stretched thin by struggle. What do we do with that ache? Perhaps the practice of service isn’t about fixing everything, but about becoming the kind of people who refuse to look away.· ·👉🏻 Check out other Highrock sermons: https://tinyurl.com/3rdw4x8n👉🏻 Check out Highrock's 15-min daily devotionals: https://tinyurl.com/38d4aryd

Christian community is built upon a new law. The old law already commanded that we should love one another. What is new about Jesus' command is that he personally showed the way, "Just as I have loved you, you should love each other" (v34). Jesus' love does not create a closed circle. Instead, it is a living testimony of God's love to the world.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:Jesus gives us a new command: to love one another just as he has loved us!How does Jesus’ example redefine what love in community should look like?What do Jesus' words say about who you are and what the purpose of your life might be?What might God invite you, your family, your small group, or your church community to do in order to show God's to the world?

Community isn’t just about finding friends and fellowship — it’s about bearing each other's burdens. We live out Christ’s love by helping one another through struggles, both spiritual and practical. Community meant that when one suffers, we all suffer; when one rejoices, we all rejoice. This isn't a race; life is not a competition. We are sojourners, travelers who are moving through life together.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:"Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2- Can you recall someone who helped you when you were overburdened or overwhelmed? What happened? - Think about your own life and the people in it: is there anyone who has fallen under the weight of life? Is there someone in danger of falling?- Can your offer provision, prayer, or simply presence? - Ask God to open your eyes to those who are struggling under a burden today.

Community is a word that has been greatly reduced in power, much like hospitality. Paul points to the true power of community and how it arises from nothing less than the power of Christ through the Spirit. This kind of power is most clearly on display when we love people who are difficult to love -- relationships where there is difference or division. Christ calls us to a community that builds bridges, not walls.Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/For Reflection:"Make every effort..." (verse 3)- How have you seen Christian sisters and brothers display humility, patience, and gentleness, "making allowance for each other's faults" (v2)?- How might you take a step towards Christian unity even when there is disagreement?- Consider one relationship where tension or misunderstanding has crept in. Pray for humility and wisdom in how God might invite you to "Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit" (v3).