Two Questions That Change Everything | Pastor Jeff Scott

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As we step into 2026, it’s the perfect time to align our hearts with the purposes of God. In this message, Pastor Jeff explores two pivotal questions Jesus asked His disciples—questions designed to move them beyond surface-level religion and into a deep, life-altering relationship with the Savior.Drawing from Mark’s Gospel, we look at how Jesus intentionally trained the Twelve by putting them in "impossible" situations to stretch their faith. Whether you have followed Jesus for years or are just starting to seek Him, these two questions challenge us to examine our true identity and our perception of God.

Key Questions Explored:

Do you really know who you are? (Mark 7:14–23) Jesus challenges the idea that outward traditions make us "clean." Instead, He points to the heart—the source of our motivations, affections, and desires. To truly follow Him, we must first understand our own brokenness and need for grace.

Who do you perceive me to be? (Mark 8:27–33)At Caesarea Philippi, a center of pagan worship, Jesus asks the ultimate question. It’s not enough to know what others say about Jesus; we must personally recognize Him as the Christ—the suffering servant who gave His life to rescue us.

The Call to Follow

The message concludes with the radical cost of discipleship found in Mark 8:34: a call to deny self, take up the cross, and follow Him daily. This year, let’s move past a "human perspective" and embrace the divine purpose God has for our lives.

Next Steps:

Reflect: Are you willing to take a "deep dive" into your heart to see what motivates your actions?

Connect: If you don't yet know Jesus as your Savior, we would love to introduce you to Him.

#GospelOfMark #Discipleship #ChristianLiving #2026Vision #Jesus #Faith

In this special episode of Alongside, several of the pastor of HBC sat down to talk through the significance of 2026, including the coming vote on the constitution. Listen as the pastors walk through the timeline of the constitution creation, the importance of theological guardrails, and the move to eldership. This is a great way to hear the heart and purpose behind the potential constitutional change as we prepare to vote in 2026. Referenced in this conversation:Teachings on Elders & DeaconsFull Timothy & Titus SeriesMembers Page

The Shepherd Who is Near | Psalm 23

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As we stand at the hinge of 2025 and 2026, we look to the most beloved shepherding passage in all of Scripture: Psalm 23. In this message, we explore how the Lord’s presence provides us with three unshakable confidences to carry into the new year: I shall not want, I will fear no evil, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Message Highlights

The Shepherd’s Experience: Written by David—a shepherd-warrior who fought lions and bears—this psalm is anchored in the reality of God’s literal nearness in the valleys of life.

Sufficiency in a Someone: We often struggle with lack, fear, and insecurity. David teaches us that true satisfaction is found not in "something" (possessions or status), but in "someone"—the Person of God.

The Shadow of Death: For those who belong to the Shepherd, death is but a shadow. While the shadow may feel cold and dark, it cannot touch the soul because our Mighty Companion walks with us.

From Sheep to Sons: The psalm concludes with a victory banquet where the Shepherd-King stoops to serve us, eventually bringing us into His household as fully adopted children for all eternity.

A Warning and a Hope

These words of comfort are a "blessed gift," but they are also "profoundly dangerous" if they nurture a false assurance. This covenantal language belongs to those who have trusted in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. If you desire this relationship, the good news is that belief can be yours today.

Scripture References:

Psalm 23

1 Samuel 17 (David’s background)

John 10:11 (The Good Shepherd)

Revelation 7:17 (The Lamb as our Shepherd)

Next Steps:

Memorize Scripture: Join us this spring as we memorize Psalm 23 and Ezekiel 34 together.

Reflect: Take time as a family to look back at 2025 and see how the Lord has gently shepherded you through both hardships and blessings.

Connect: If you have questions about what it means to trust in Jesus, we would love to talk with you.

#Psalm23 #GoodShepherd #NewYear2026 #BibleTeaching #Heritage

The Shepherd Who Brings Peace | Sunday Service

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In this powerful Christmas message, we explore the profound reality of peace—not just as a feeling of tranquility, but as a concrete cessation of hostility. Drawing a parallel to the famous Christmas Truce of 1914 during World War I, we see how peace requires someone to step out of the "safety of the trenches" and into "no man's land" to make a genuine overture.

• The Context of War: While we often think of the Christmas story in terms of "Silent Night," Luke 2 actually takes place against a backdrop of cosmic warfare. Ever since the fall, humanity has been in a state of rebellion and "at war" with a holy God.

  
  

• Micah’s Prophecy: We dive into the book of Micah, a text that oscillates between declarations of war and overtures of peace. Micah 5:2-5 foretells a Shepherd-King from Bethlehem who is both human and divine ("from ancient days") and who doesn't just bring peace, but is our peace.

  
  

• Jesus in No Man's Land: Jesus Christ is the ultimate emissary of peace. He left the safety of heaven to step into the "no man's land" of our world to offer an end to hostilities between God and man.

  
  

• The Peace Offering: True peace is not universal or automatic; it is a gift of grace received through faith. By the blood of His cross, Jesus reconciled us to God, turning enemies into friends.

  
  

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased." — Luke 2:14

God's Promise of a Shepherd: Finding Fulfillment in Jesus Christ

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This message explores the rich prophetic background of Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd, drawing primarily from the Old Testament book of Ezekiel and contrasting it with the Christmas story in the New Testament.

Good storytelling highlights the hero by contrasting them with the villains and darkness. The Christmas narrative in Matthew and Luke is presented as a drama of contrast:

• False Kings and Teachers:

  
  

  • Caesar Augustus, the self-proclaimed "son of God".

  • King Herod, the corrupt and murderous usurper.

  • The chief priests and scribes, the corrupt teachers and enemies of God.

    
    

• Contrasting with Jesus Christ:

  
  

  • The True God.

  • The Promised King.

  • The Faithful Teacher.

  • Jesus, the Good Shepherd coming for His sheep.

    
    

For ancient Jewish ears, the title "Shepherd" held both affectionate and royal connotations, signifying the king as the earthly caretaker for the divine ruler's flock. This royal image was widespread in the ancient Near East. The Akkadian verb meaning "to shepherd" also meant "to rule".

Ezekiel 34, written centuries before Christ, is one of the most explicit shepherd passages in all of Scripture, speaking to both the Incarnation (Christmas) and the Cross (Easter). The passage breaks down into three key sections:

1. Indictment Against Failed Shepherds (Ezekiel 34:1-10) : These failed kings and false prophets were characterized by self-service (feeding themselves), exploitation (fleecing the sheep), neglect (leaving the sick, injured, and lost), and harsh rule. Their failures resulted in the scattering of the flock.

   
   

2. God as Shepherd (Ezekiel 34:11-16) : In stark contrast, God declares, "I, I myself will search, seek out, and rescue My sheep". God promises to personally be the shepherd, providing rest and tending to the weak, lost, and injured.

   
   

3. The Coming Shepherd (Ezekiel 34:23-25) : God promises to set over them "one shepherd, my servant David," who shall be their prince and shepherd. This shepherd must be divine to fulfill God's promise but also human (of the line of David). This promise finds its fulfillment in Jesus, born in Bethlehem, the city of David.

   
   

Ezekiel 34:12 speaks of God rescuing His scattered sheep on a "day of clouds and thick darkness," which is consistent Old Testament imagery for divine wrath and judgment.

This prophecy finds its supreme fulfillment not just at Christ's final return, but on the cross:

• The Gospel accounts record thick darkness covering the land during Jesus' crucifixion from the sixth hour until the ninth hour.

  
  

• Jesus, the Good Shepherd, rescues His sheep by becoming the wrath of God (propitiation) on the cross. The penalty of sin is poured out on the Shepherd instead of the sheep.

Christmas is impossible to celebrate without Easter, as the Good Shepherd's coming was to give His life for the sheep.

Have you put your trust in Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd who bore the wrath for your sin?

• Key Scripture: Ezekiel 34:23

• Related Themes: Prophecy, Messiah, Incarnation, Atonement, Davidic Covenant

🌟 The Drama of Contrast📜 The King as Shepherd: An Ancient Title🐑 Ezekiel 34: God's Indictment and Promise✝️ The Day of Rescue: Clouds and Thick Darkness

Wednesday Night Gathering

Series: Acts

Teacher: Zach Martin

🐑 Watching and Waiting for a Shepherd | Christmas Message 2025

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Join us as we explore the beautiful and profound title of Jesus the Good Shepherd and its connection to the Christmas story.The Christmas season is a time to celebrate and remember the first coming of Christ—God becoming flesh to save sinners. This event is described as humble majesty. The title "Good Shepherd" encapsulates this concept of humble majesty, combining gentleness and care with divine authority and royalty.We connect the dots between the Old Testament prophecies and the New Testament fulfillment by studying three key passages:John 10:11: Jesus proclaims, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep". This title conveys humility, gentleness, and care, but also divinity and royalty, referencing the Messianic imagery throughout the Old Testament.Jeremiah 23: We examine the failure of earthly shepherds, God's promise to personally intervene and gather His flock, and the prophecy of the coming righteous King—a "righteous branch" from the line of David. This coming Shepherd-King would be called "The Lord is our righteousness".Luke 2: The narrative of Jesus's birth in Bethlehem—the city of the shepherd-king David—screams the "aesthetic of shepherd," with the manger and the angels appearing to shepherds. The angelic announcement to the shepherds proclaims Jesus's humility (born this day) and his majesty (Savior, Christ the Lord, rightful heir to David's throne).The prophecy that "The Lord is our righteousness" is fulfilled in the Good Shepherd, who lays down his life so that His righteousness becomes ours, giving us peace with God.We are urged to respond this Christmas season by proclaiming the humble majesty of the Good Shepherd, worshipping what He has done, and sharing the need for Jesus Christ with others.Sermon Scripture Passages:John 10:11 Jeremiah 23:1-8 Luke 2:1-20 If you've been blessed by this message, please subscribe and share it with a friend!

The Faithfulness of God | Vernon Smith at Heritage Baptist Church

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Join Vernon Smith as he delivers a powerful message on the profound and unchanging Faithfulness of God.

Drawing from personal experiences as a missionary in Arusha, Tanzania , and tracing God's promises from Abraham to the New Testament , Vernon Smith affirms that God is eternally faithful.

• God is Faithful The central, simple truth is that God is faithful. This faithfulness was demonstrated generationally, fulfilling promises from Abraham and Sarah having a son in their old age (Isaac) , to David's everlasting ruler , and ultimately to the lineage of Jesus Christ.

  
  

• The Big Idea: God's faithfulness motivates believers' faithfulness for His purposes.

  
  

• A Deeper Understanding of Blessing: God blesses in order to fulfill His purposes. The overwhelming evidence in Scripture is that believers are blessed to be a blessing for the sake of the Gospel.

  
  

• What God's Faithfulness Doesn't Mean: It does not mean He is faithful to give us what we want, but rather to orchestrate things for His own will and purposes. It doesn't mean He will answer every prayer exactly the way it's prayed. Instead, even when we don't understand His hand, we can trust His heart.

  
  

• Motivation for the Christian Life: God's faithfulness, especially in providing salvation and forgiveness , motivates believers to live a faithful Christian life of Christian morals and ethics.

  
  

"Even if we are unfaithful, God remains faithful because he cannot deny Himself." (Referencing 2 Timothy 2)

Vernon and his wife Mary have served the Lord as global workers for all their adult lives. They send greetings from Arusha, Tanzania, and share an encouraging word of God's provision and greater plan.

• Learn more about the issues facing the African church: The Africa Statement on the Prosperity Gospel and the Word of Faith Theology.

  
  

• Website: www.africastatement.org

Scripture References: Genesis 12:1-7 , Genesis 21:5-7 , Genesis 24:27 , Exodus 34 , 2 Samuel 7:28 , Zechariah 8 , 1 John 1:8-9 , Romans 10:9-13 , John 3:16 , Romans 5:8 , 2 Peter 3:9 , Hebrews 13:5 , Matthew 28:20 , Isaiah 55:8 , Hebrews 11:6 , 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

The Marks of Christian Maturity | Philippians 3

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In this sermon, we explore the essential marks of a mature Christian as laid out in Philippians chapter 3. Before diving into Philippians, we take a moment to reflect on the foundational truth of our salvation in Christ, remembering that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works, as taught in Ephesians 2.

The sermon focuses on the way a mature Christian thinks, drawing directly from Philippians 3:15: "Let those of us who are mature think this way".

The speaker identifies three core marks of a mature Christian based on the passage:

• 1. The mature Christian relinquishes all self-righteousness.

  
  

  • This is the way of thinking that puts no confidence in the flesh or our own ability to appease or earn favor with God.

    
    

  • Paul, despite his impressive religious credentials (circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, a Pharisee, blameless under the Law), counted all of it as loss and rubbish for the sake of knowing Christ.

    
    

  • Religious acts like Bible reading, serving, and giving are good and should be part of a follower's life, but they do not make us right with Jesus or make God love us more.

    
    

• 2. The mature Christian believes that their righteousness comes through Christ alone.

  
  

  • Our righteousness, or right standing before God, comes through imputed righteousness by way of faith in Christ alone, not by our works.

    
    

  • This belief means that our regular wrestling with sin, doubts, and fears does not remove our right standing with God, as we have been given all of Christ.

    
    

  • Christian maturity is a growing understanding that there is no greater love God can show us than what has already been given in Christ.

    
    

• 3. The mature Christian is primarily motivated by the world to come.

  
  

  • We press on toward the goal of the "upward call of God in Christ Jesus," forgetting our former self-righteousness and sinful pursuits.

    
    

  • Followers of Christ are compared to those who walk as "enemies of the cross," whose minds are set on earthly things, whose god is their belly, and whose end is destruction.

    
    

  • By contrast, our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our bodies to be like His glorious body.

    
    

A key takeaway is that the growth process takes a lifetime—even Paul admitted, "Not that I have already attained it or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own".

Ultimately, a key mark of Christian maturity is a growing and deepening faith in Christ. This faith transforms our engagement with spiritual disciplines: we read the Bible to know the God who loves us, we pray because we truly believe He hears us, and we serve passionately because we have tasted His goodness.

Scripture References:

• Philippians Chapter 3

• Ephesians Chapter 2

• Galatians 2

Wednesday Night Gathering

Series: Acts

Teacher: Dr. Gnanakan