Highlands Community Church of the C&MA

In week two of our "We Believe" series, we dive into the powerful opening line of the Apostles' Creed: "I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth". Pastor Andrew explores what it means to relate to God not as a distant, detached force, but as an intimately personal and loving Father. We discuss how our earthly experiences often distort our view of God, and how embracing His perfect fatherhood completely redefines our identity and security.

Episode Description:

We are kicking off a brand new sermon series called "We Believe," diving into the foundational truths of the Christian faith through the lens of the Apostles' Creed. In a culture that constantly tells us to invent our own truth, Pastor Andrew explores why anchoring our lives to historic, objective Christian theology actually brings true freedom and unity.

Episode Description: This week, Pastor Andrew welcomes guest speaker Aaron to share a powerful message on the heart of Alliance Missions. Discover why the call to share the hope of Jesus extends to the ends of the earth, and how our local church is actively partnering to make a global impact.

Episode Description:

After a season of confronting our hidden sins, toxic shame, and the dark nights of our soul, Easter morning the tomb is empty. In this joyous Easter we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and what it practically means for our messy lives today. We are reminded that Jesus didn't just die to cover our mess; He rose to give us a brand new life.

On Good Friday, we confront the ultimate cost of our "mess" as Jesus willingly steps into the darkness and weight of the cross. We reflect on the severity of His sacrifice and the profound, relentless love that kept Him there on our behalf.

The crowds on Palm Sunday wanted a conquering political king to fix their worldly mess, but Jesus arrived on a donkey to rescue them from a much deeper spiritual one. In this episode, we explore the danger of placing our own agendas onto Jesus and what happens when God's plan doesn't match our expectations.

Episode Description: In this episode, we hear from Wanda Walborn about the danger of letting faith become a routine checklist and what it takes to strip away the distractions. Join us as Wanda discusses how to reignite your passion and return to a pure, authentic relationship with Jesus.

What You'll Hear:

• How doing "Christian things" can sometimes distract us from Christ.
• The warning signs that your faith has become an empty routine.
• Practical ways to reignite your passion and return to your first love.

Episode Description: Have you ever hit a spiritual "wall" where God feels completely absent and your normal faith routines stop working? In this episode of our Lent series, we look at Job 23 and the painful reality of the "dark night of the soul." Instead of viewing God's silence as a punishment or a sign that you've done something wrong, discover how surrendering control during these difficult seasons can actually purify your faith like gold.

Key Scripture: Job 23

In this Lenten episode of "Messy Church," we tackle the uncomfortable topic of shame. Like Adam and Eve, we often hide our pain behind "fig leaves" coping mechanisms like overworking, phone addiction, or rigid religiosity. But God gently asks, "Where are you?", inviting us to step out of hiding so He can meet our deepest needs and clothe us in His grace.

Scripture Reference:

• Genesis 2:25 - 3:21

Reflection Questions:

1. What are your "fig leaves" (coping mechanisms)?
2. What specific pain or shame are those fig leaves covering up?
3. What is the real, underlying need you are trying to meet?

We often believe that confessing our messes will lead to shame and rejection, but the exact opposite is true.

In this episode, we explore Psalm 32 and the profound freedom of living a confessional life.