Highrock Church

At the Last Supper, Jesus expresses his deep desire to eat with them before his suffering. Using the bread and wine of the Passover meal, he points to his sacrifice and covenant love for them, and for us. Yet even in this intimate moment, the disciples descend into a fight about who among them is the greatest. Jesus gently corrects them, teaching that true greatness in God’s kingdom is found in humility and service, with his own life as our example.

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Christians often turn to passages like this and wonder, "When will Jesus return?" Jesus seems to be intentionally ambiguous but what he is very clear about is how we should live until that day comes. Jesus warns his disciples to guard their hearts against distraction, indulgence, and anxiety, urging them to stay alert and prayerful so they will be ready for whatever is to come, whenever it may come.

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Jesus observes rich people giving their offerings at the temple but highlights a poor widow who contributes just two small coins. Though her gift seems insignificant, Jesus declares that she has given more than all the rest because she gave out of her need rather than her surplus. This moment reveals once again that God sees beneath the surface. God measures generosity not by amount but by sacrifice and trust, honoring a heart that gives fully and dependently.

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Not all distance from God is dramatic. Sometimes it’s quiet, gradual . . . almost unnoticeable. Until something calls you to wake up and come back.

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As Jesus approaches Jerusalem, he weeps over the city, grieving that they will choose a path of power and violence rather than his way of peace. He warns that their choice will lead to the horrors that were later fulfilled when Rome crushed the Jewish rebellions. Entering the temple, he drives out those who have turned it into a place of profit, declaring its true purpose as a house of prayer. We are God’s temple today: are our hearts more like a place of profit or a house of prayer for all people?

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As Jesus passes through Jericho, he notices Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector who is eager to see Jesus but is despised by others. Jesus calls him by name and chooses to stay at his house, sparking anger in the crowd. In response to this unexpected grace, Zacchaeus repents, offering not only repentance but a desire to restore anyone he has wronged. Jesus declares that salvation has come to his house, affirming that he came to seek and save the lost. The invitation is clear — will we join Jesus in his mission?

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It's a powerful question that sits in the middle of two stories about blindness, faith, and understanding. Jesus takes his disciples aside and details his coming suffering, death, and resurrection, yet they fail to understand. As they approach Jericho, a blind beggar cries out to Jesus despite the many folks who tell him to be quiet. Jesus asks him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The answer might seem obvious, but we'll never know unless we ask the question. Do we know what we want? Do we know what others want, even people who are close...

Jesus teaches about persistent prayer through the parable of a widow who continually seeks justice from an unjust judge, showing that God, who is righteous and compassionate, will respond to those who cry out to Him. He then contrasts two men praying in the temple—a self-righteous Pharisee and a humble tax collector—revealing that God honors those who come with humility and repentance rather than pride. Together, these teachings emphasize that a faithful life is marked by persistent dependence on God and a posture of humility before Him.

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When asked about the coming of God’s kingdom, Jesus explains that it is not something that can be observed outwardly in obvious signs, because the kingdom is already present among them. He then speaks to his disciples about the future revealing of the Son of Man, describing it as sudden, unmistakable, and accompanied by judgment. Jesus encourages perseverance and spiritual awareness, recognizing God’s present work while remaining prepared for Christ’s return.

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You can’t fix mold with surface solutions. And the same is true for the patterns that keep showing up in your life.

What if God named this long ago and gave us a way forward that goes beyond behavior change?

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Want to make the best possible investments with your money? Do you want to make the ultimate plans for the greatest future returns? Jesus tells the parable of a shrewd manager who, facing dismissal, wisely uses his remaining opportunity to prepare for the future. In essence, he uses what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Sometimes you can take it with you! So how does this advice apply to how we use money? Jesus doesn't always explain his parables but this time, he gives us clear instructions for how to use our money for maximum returns! <...

In the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus tells of a younger son who squanders his inheritance in reckless living, eventually returning home in desperation and repentance. Instead of rejection, he is met with extravagant grace as his father runs to embrace and restore him. Meanwhile, the older brother resents the celebration. He is perhaps even more lost that his brother was, lost not because of his sin but because of his "righteousness". Jesus tells this story to not only illustrate God's joyful grace towards us, but also to challenge us to celebrate and share God's grace rather than...

Imagine a healthy person becoming upset that doctors pay so much attention to sick people. Such a complaint would be hard to imagine yet the religious leaders complained that Jesus spent so much time with "tax collectors and sinners". In their understanding, those were all the wrong people. In response, Jesus tells three parables in a row about God's desire to "seek and save the lost". We consider the first two of those stories today — the lost sheep and the lost coin — to see how they reveal God’s heart for those who have lost their way.

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Jesus turns to the crowd of casual followers and speaks candidly about the true cost of following him. His path will lead him to the cross and so, following him is a path that will lead us to the cross as well. We cannot follow Jesus without actually following Jesus. To be a disciple is not a casual relationship. Instead, it is a path marked by surrender and sacrifice, and most importantly, the opportunity to become even more closely connected with Jesus mere comfort could ever accomplish.

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At a dinner, Jesus challenges social norms by urging his host to invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the marginalized — those who cannot repay him — rather than seeking status or return favors. He then tells a parable about a great banquet where the invited guests make excuses and refuse to come, so the host fills his table with outsiders instead. Are you good enough to receive this invitation? Thank God that the invite is a reflection of God's incredible generosity and hospitality, and has nothing to do with what we do or do not deserve!

What if the version of Jesus you’ve been given feels too small? Like it doesn’t quite hold up to the brokenness you actually see in the world?

Step into the story of Passover and discover a Jesus who doesn’t just forgive sins but confronts evil, breaks chains, and brings real freedom.

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Why did Jesus promise to bring division rather than peace, even into families? And what's the connection to being able to see a coming storm? Jesus criticized his listeners for being able to discern the coming weather while being unable to see an even clearer political storm that was rapidly approaching. Understanding Jesus' provocative words can help us to navigate the chaos and division that can disturb our world, our nation, our communities, and even our families.

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Financial independence and early retirement — that's the dream, right? Jesus tells a story about man who achieved just that. This man's only worry was about building bigger barns to store all his new wealth! However, the man did not foresee that his early retirement would be cut short by an early death. Jesus calls such a person a "fool" as he was rich only towards himself and not towards God or others. In planning for the future, the man did not plan far enough into the future — a future that includes not only retirement, but eternity!

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Jesus here reserves his harshest words for those who are self-righteous. He confronts the religious leaders for their focus on outward religiosity while neglecting inner transformation and love for others. Instead, Jesus says that an inner cleansing (a clean heart) will lead to outward goodness as well. This inner cleansing, Jesus says, is especially marked by care for the poor. After all, what good is religion if it doesn't lead us to become more like Jesus?

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Why do we give up so easily in prayer, or fail to pray at all? Do we doubt God's desire to give us good things? Jesus encourages his disciples to ask, seek, and knock with confidence, assuring them that God is not reluctant but eager to respond. He invites us to approach God with trust and persistence, believing that God desires to give us the ultimate gift of all!

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Who is my neighbor? Jesus answers this question with the Parable of the Good Samaritan. The story is rich and deep and has multiple applications but at the very least, it shows us that being a neighbor is to love those whom God puts in our path. With this mindset, interruptions can become opportunities to love in the way that Jesus has loved us. Could this season be an opportunity to let go of something that keeps us too busy to love our neighbors?

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Easter is supposed to be good news, but what do you do when your feelings are mixed? Hope and doubt, joy and hesitation, all at once. You’re not the first to feel that way. And it turns out, the story of Easter might be more honest AND more certain than we expect.

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Jesus takes his disciples Peter, James, and John up a mountain to pray, where they promptly fall asleep. The awake just in time to see Jesus in his divine glory, along with Moses and Elijah. Peter blurts out a suggestion that seems to put Jesus on the same level as Moses and Elijah but is immediately overshadowed when God's voice declares, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.” As great as Moses and Elijah were, Jesus' identity calls for much more than amazement and admiration — it calls for obedience.

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As Jesus and his disciples cross the lake, a sudden storm arises, and the boat begins to fill with water while Jesus sleeps. The terrified disciples wake him, fearing for their lives, and Jesus rebukes the wind and waves, bringing an immediate calm. The disciples are simultaneously amazed and afraid. Jesus' presence often calms our fears, much like he calms the storm, but what is it that the disciples see in Jesus that also makes them afraid? Should we be afraid as well?

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In one of Jesus' most famous parables, he tells a story of a farmer who sows seed generously and indiscriminately, but only some of the soil is able to receive the seed and produce life. What is Jesus talking about? Thankfully, Jesus explains the meaning, but only to those who are interested enough to ask. Beyond the meaning of the actual parable, Jesus is highlighting the role we have to play. We are the soil, and we must be prepared to receive the seed, which is the Word of God. The curiosity demonstrated by the disciples is one of...

In this powerful scene, a sinful woman enters a Pharisee’s house where Jesus is dining and expresses deep gratitude by washing his feet with her tears and anointing them with perfume. The Pharisee silently judges both the woman and Jesus, but Jesus responds with a parable that reveals a profound truth: those who have been forgiven much, love much. Just thus exposes the underlying reason for the Pharisee’s lack of love as well. Despite his outward goodness, the Pharisee needs a much deeper awareness of his own debt to God.

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A Roman centurion, a military officer, seeks Jesus’ help for his highly valued servant who is near death. This centurion, a man of authority himself, humbly recognizes Jesus’ greater authority. He believes that Jesus has even the authority to heal from a distance, and with just a word! Jesus is amazed at his faith, especially because it belonged to an outsider. Do we believe in Jesus' authority? Will we obey Jesus' authority?

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Most of us are living in a kind of performance trying to be impressive, in control, and enough. It works for a while . . . until it doesn’t. Beneath the surface, it’s exhausting and often lonely. But there’s another way of living that looks weaker on the outside, yet changes everything underneath.

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Jesus teaches that we are all in need of healing, but only some of us recognize it. Which group are we? Jesus calls Levi, a hated tax collector, to follow Him, and Levi immediately drops everything. But first, Levi hosts a banquet where many of Levi's fellow outsiders gather to meet Jesus. The religious leaders and insiders complain that Jesus would have anything to do with such "scum". These outsiders, says Jesus, are the sick who recognize their need for a physician. It's not that everyone else is healthy; it's just that they can't recognize or admit their need...

When Jesus called his first disciples, he asked them to do something that made no sense at all — it went against everything they understood as fisherman. Still, Simon (the soon-to-be Apostle Peter) did what Jesus said and the results were staggering, literally life-changing! How often are we tempted to think, like Simon, that we might know better than God? Will we trust our "logic" or trust our Lord?

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After claiming that Isaiah's prophecy about the messiah is about himself, Jesus goes about proving it to be true. Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah by healing the sick, bringing liberty to the spiritually oppressed, and by preaching the good news. His words are as good as his actions and there is an invitation for us to have the same kind of integrity. Do our actions match what we say?

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Jesus returns to Galilee in the power of the Spirit and is initially praised for his teaching. In his hometown of Nazareth, he reads from Isaiah and boldly declares that he is the fulfillment of God’s promise to bring good news, freedom, and restoration. While the people marvel at first, their amazement quickly turns to offense when Jesus reminds them that God’s grace extends to outsiders. This message is a welcome one for outsiders like many in Luke's audience, but it is offensive to those who hold onto hate for others.

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John the Baptist confronts the crowds with a sharp call to repentance, warning that outward identity or religious heritage is not enough — true change must be seen in the fruit of a transformed life. He gives practical examples, urging people to live with generosity, integrity, and justice in their everyday roles. As expectations rise about whether John might be the Messiah, he points beyond himself to one far greater who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and bring both salvation and judgment. John’s bold preaching ultimately leads to his imprisonment, showing that faithful truth-telling often comes at a cost...

We all know what it’s like to hold back - waiting for a better time, more clarity, or less risk. But what if the real issue isn’t a lack of opportunity? What if the cost of playing it safe is higher than we think?

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After visiting Zechariah, the angel Gabriel visits Mary, a young woman in Nazareth, announcing that she will miraculously conceive and give birth to Jesus, the Son of the Most High. Though initially troubled and confused, Mary responds with humility and faith, asking how it will happen but ultimately surrendering to God’s will: “I am the Lord’s servant.” In Mary, God continues to work through unexpected people and circumstances, highlighting the beautiful things that can happen when we trust a God who is beyond our understanding!

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Unlike the other gospel writers, Luke is an outsider. He was not an eyewitness of the original events and apparently not part of the Jewish culture of the original disciples. Instead, he approaches the events more like an investigator or an historian. He also has an eye for the outsider and outcast. He begins his careful account by turning to Zechariah and Elizabeth, an older couple who were heartbroken over their inability to have children. Though the world might look on such people as forsaken by God, Luke's gospel opens with God sending an answer to their prayers.

After the Sabbath, several women go to Jesus’ tomb to anoint his body, only to find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Inside, a young man announces that Jesus has risen and instructs them to tell the disciples that he will meet them in Galilee. We, like the women, are left with the question of what we believe about Jesus and the empty tomb. Who do we say that Jesus is, and what difference will it make in the way we live?

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As Jesus is crucified, he also endures mockery and rejection. The religious leaders taunt him with the fact that he could save others but not himself. They did not realize the truth in their words. Yes, he saved others because he refused to save himself. He could not save himself because of his love for us. Seeing the way Jesus died, the Roman centurion declares that he "truly was the Son of God." We are left to answer the same question: "Who do you say that Jesus was?"

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Jesus is brought before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate by the religious leaders, who accuse Him and seek His execution. Though Pilate recognizes that Jesus is innocent, he yields to the pressure of the crowd and condemns Jesus to be crucified. The Roman soldiers then mock him with a coronation using a purpose robe and crown of thorns. The irony is that Jesus is true king and lord of all. Will we recognize Jesus as our king or join with Pilate, the priests, and the crowds of people who all fail to recognize the truth?

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It’s easy to assume we’ll have more time to repair a relationship, deepen our faith, or say what needs to be said. But some of life’s most important moments arrive without warning. What happens if the moment comes before we’re ready?

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👉🏻 Check out Highrock's 15-min daily devotionals: https://tinyurl.com/38d4aryd