High Street Church

Generous with our Money and Ourselves

The two great commandments according to Jesus are to love God and love people. We can’t love God or people without giving. When we intentionally develop a generous heart it will shape our character. Giving to meet the needs of people around us makes us more like God. If you want to change your life, lean into greater generosity.

The Generosity Effect

This Sunday we begin a series called the “Generosity Effect.” Generosity is a learned behavior. We are at our core all very selfish. In this series we are going to explore the effects of developing a generous spirit. We begin by looking at how honoring God and putting him first has always included offerings. Responding to God with generosity will transform our relationship with God.

The Glory of Adversity

Enduring adversity is less about MY GOOD and more about HIS GLORY.

Journey To Freedom: Free To Free Others

One of the most important things we all need is purpose. We sometimes feel like our pain and struggles have disqualified us from being used by God. This is not true. God will use the stories of our lives to help others find freedom. What the evil one meant to destroy us can actually be used by God to help others.

Accepted In The Beloved

The identity that we embrace, whether true or false, determines whether or not we are living a free life or not. Many of us let a bad decision, a negative circumstance, or someone else define who we are. Others of us let our work titles or accomplishments define us. No matter who we are, or what we have done, we are God’s beloved. Only when we truly receive the acceptance of God will we be able to experience the powerful freedom found in belonging to God’s family.

Journey to Freedom: The Surprising Power of Forgiveness

How we deal with our past hurts and failures will determine our present state of mind and our future. The past offenses will stay with us and shape our relationships one way or another. God offers to stand with us and help us. His solution is always to forgive, and he doesn’t leave us to do it on our own.

Journey to Freedom: No Longer a Victim

Life is not perfect. We are not perfect. A lot of things are unfair. All of us live in a fallen and broken world. We have to deal with the difficult realities of our lives. We can choose to be defined by past mistakes, hurts, and hardships or we can make choices that set us free.

Journey to Freedom: The Fearlessness of Freedom

One of the most difficult things to do in life is to confront our brokenness, failures, and hurts. We often feel overwhelmed and afraid when we think about these difficult things in our lives. Satan tells us we will be destroyed by our struggles. God tells us that it is in this battle we will be set free from our fears. Through Jesus we are more than conquerors. To live in this freedom, we must do the hard work of confronting our fears.

Journey to Freedom: Finding Breakthrough by Slowing Down

When you ask someone how he or she are doing one of the most common responses is "busy". There is no doubt that life is busy. The demands of work, school, family and life in general keep us constantly going. Not only does busyness make us physically tired, it prevents us from understanding and dealing with our heart issues. Physical, emotional, and spiritual exhaustion can bring us down and cause despair. God, by example and command established a day of rest: a Sabbath. The path to freedom mu...

Journey to Freedom: Introduction

Have you ever had the blues, been emotionally down, or felt depressed? There are times when your entire world is seen through the lens of sadness, hopelessness, mourning, loss, emptiness, grief, pain, anger, frustration, guilt and death. We are going to begin a series to help us get free. Jesus did not deny the difficulty of trouble. He actually said in John 16:33 that trouble was inevitable. He did however come to set us free. He can turn our pain to strength.

The Incarnation Continued

During the Christmas season we celebrated the incarnation of Christ, or the story of God coming to earth in human flesh. But God didn’t just come to us once, as a baby. For those of us who have placed our faith in Him, He dwells with us each day. He goes with us into our city, our schools, our workplaces — into the everyday spaces of our lives. And when we live as disciples of Jesus in loving community with one another, we incarnate the good news to those around us. This Sunday, we focus on o...

New Year New Mindset: Del Hooge

Today we welcome Delbert and Lora Hooge, our missionaries to the Philippines. We are the sending church for the Hooges. In addition to being brought up as missionary kids in the Philippines, they celebrate 50 years of service as missionaries. We are blessed to be a part of their ministry.

Christmas at High Street: Gifts at Christmas

Today we celebrate Christmas together. For those of us who have accepted Jesus as our personal savior, this is more than a holiday on a calendar. This is the best story we have ever heard. We gather together to offer our thanks to God for sending his son to save us. We celebrate the hope of everlasting life in the presence of God for all of eternity. We marvel once again when we think that a baby born on Christmas was God in the flesh. We rejoice that Jesus brings us together in the church. M...

Christmas at High Street: The Baby, the King

The central figure in the Christmas story is the baby. When the wise men told Herod that a king had been born in Bethlehem he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. The idea of a rival king did not bring peace to Herod. We like the idea of a baby but a king who has the right to assert his authority over us is troubling. We must all decide how to respond to this controversial King of Christmas.

Christmas at High Street: The Fathers of Jesus

It is amazing how the details of the Christmas story carry a message and a challenge. Last week, we looked at the mother of Jesus. This week we are going to look at the father of Jesus. In the Christmas story, Joseph is the husband of Mary and the assumed father of Jesus. After a visit from an angel, Joseph learned things no one else was told. This child of Mary is God. God was coming as a baby, fully human. God was coming to save us from our sin and to be with us. Joseph could have said no a...

Christmas at High Street: The Mothers of Jesus

The Christmas story is rich with carefully placed details. The story begins when a young virgin hears from the angel that she will be the mother of the Messiah. The story includes a list of ancestors including several mothers. When God introduces his son he not only lists the names of fathers but also of several women. The mention of these mothers is quite out of the ordinary. Looking deeper at the stories of these women we discover some shameful circumstances. From the start we see that the ...

Made for More: We Are Missionaries

In life, we do what we do because of who we are. In other words, our identity determines our actions. In this series, “Made For More,” we are examining our identity as disciples of Jesus. We have seen that we are sons and daughters in God's family, as well as servants representing Jesus and His kingdom. In this message we consider our role as missionaries sent into the world to make disciples.

Made for More: We are Servants

In life, we do what we do because of who we are. In other words, our identity determines our actions. In this series, “Made For More,” we are examining our identity as disciples of Jesus. Last week we talked about being chosen and adopted by God to be part of His family. Today we look at our position as servants. Because Jesus humbled himself to serve us, we are now free to live as servants who represent our King and His kingdom.

Made for More: We Are Family (Adoption)

In this message we are going to look at the amazing truth that we can be adopted into the family of God. We are adopted by a God who loves us, has chosen us, and never gives up on us. This is also our Sunday to celebrate the work of those who have fostered and adopted children. This powerfully illustrates what God wants to do for us.

Politics, Culture, and the Church: Family Conversations

Former Secretary of Education William Bennet once said, "If we have stronger families we will have stronger schools, stronger churches, and stronger communities with less poverty and less crime. The family is the linchpin of society, both economically and socially.” Our government leaders understand that the state of the family affects the state of the nation. That is why there is so much discussion about families during an election season. We live in a day when there is a lot of conversation...

Politics, Culture, and the Church: Life Conversations

One of the topics of conversation in our current election season is the topic of life. One of the best known documents in our history is the Declaration of Independence. The following words have guided our nation regarding the value of life since our beginning: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” What does God have to s...

Politics, Culture, and the Church: Election Conversations

An election season stirs many important conversations about the future of our country. As citizens, we must care. We need to participate in the discussions. We need to exercise our civic responsibility and vote. In this message we are going to examine where the church fits into the arena of culture and politics.

The Jericho Wall

2016 WorldProject Missions Conference

This week was our WorldProject conference and were are so glad to have our missionary guests with us, Brian & Rachel Weed to Nicaragua, Vernon & Mary Smith to Tanzania, Ben & Raelene Walker to New Zealand, and Peter & Zorka Abrman to Slovakia.

Trademarks: Bless Your Enemies

The most challenging trademark of a real follower of Jesus is our response to evil. All of us have to deal with the evil that comes to us from other people. In this passage, we are given specific instructions to not be overcome with evil, but to overcome evil with good. This is not a natural response. To overcome evil with good will take nothing less than the work of God in our lives.

Trademarks: Love For Each Other

The fourth trademark of a follower of Jesus is Authentic Community. Jesus powerfully summarized this when he said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” It is in this authentic community that we can experience the presence of God as we serve each other. It is here that we also will grow in our faith.

Trademarks: The Real You

Everybody wrestles with big questions in life about their identity, security, and significance. True Christ-followers are marked by real answers found through a personal relationship with God. In this message we will look further at Romans 12 to discover the real you.

Trademarks: Transformation

All of us are inundated by the messages from the culture around us. These messages lead us to believe that life is about pleasure, things, and position. Many people have been destroyed by these pursuits and can tell their respective tragic stories. Jesus leads us to think differently. One of the trademarks of a follower of Jesus is a renewed mind that leads to a transformed and victorious life.

Trademarks: The Great Surrender

In this message we will begin a series from Romans 12 we are calling Trademarks. What are the trademarks of a life fully committed to following Jesus? Romans 12 describes the trademarks of this life as good, pleasing, and satisfied.

The Kingdom Grab

This week we have the privilege of launching a brand new church out of High Street. Ben and Savanna Schenck will be sharing how faith has helped to overcome their fears and follow God’s plan for their life. So as we look at the fears that bind us, we will see how our faith in God can set us free.

Back to School Bash

We are a church that cares deeply about the next generation! This Sunday was our Back To School Bash, where we celebrated our kids and youth as we talked about the role we all play in investing in them.

The Bible Project: Raising Lazarus from the Dead

Jesus takes on our greatest enemy, death itself, when he raises Lazarus back to life. This was the miracle of miracles. All of us live with a fear of death. The hope of a resurrection is the miracle we all will need.

The Bible Project: Walking on Water

In this message we will look at the miracle of Jesus walking on water. Stuck in the storm in the middle of the lake, the disciples were afraid and unable to move. When all hope seems lost, Jesus comes to them. The only way we can survive the frightening times of life is to have Jesus come to us. As we live out the storms of life, we can have faith that Jesus is with us.

The Bible Project: Feeding the 5,000

In this message, we continue in our series: Miracles in John. Miracles always point us to something beyond just the miracle. They show us something about God. One of the best known miracles in John is the feeding of the 5000. In this miracle, we watch Jesus provide enough bread for a multitude to have a meal. After everyone was full, there were leftovers in abundance. We learn that God is not a stingy God. He goes beyond our expectations and demonstrates His limitless power to provide. As we ...

The Bible Project: Lucas Parks

To start phase two our series, we are pleased to welcome Pastor Lucas Parks from Belfast, Ireland as our speaker. He is going to talk about the miracle Jesus performed to heal the blind man. By translating the Bible for the Gur people, we will bring the miracle of sight to a people who need to see the truth.

All Ears

We live in a culture of noise, where we are constantly bombarded by loud voices and visual distraction. Everyone has an opinion, and everyone wants to have a voice. Contrary to the norm of consuming content and speaking out, the Bible speaks clearly to the power of having an open ear, both to God and to one another.

Gospel Reconciliation

With the news this past weeks of the shootings in Dallas, combined with the racial distrust in our culture, Pastor Ben brings us a message on how the Gospel brings reconciliation to all people.

Good Good Father: A Good Father Disciplines

Every good father puts limits and boundaries to protect and direct their children. God is a good, good Father because he guides, directs and disciplines His children for their good.

Good Good Father: God Our Father, Our Provider

God is a good father because He is generous. Out of His benevolent disposition, He seeks our wellbeing. You don’t have to convince God to be good to you because His goodness is part of His character. He takes pleasure in giving to you. He seeks to bless you.

Good Good Father: Father’s Day 2016

This weekend we celebrate Father's Day. The greatest reason we call God a good Father is because He loves us. His love for us is unconditional, sacrificial, and everlasting. Only God the Father can satisfy our deepest longings for this kind of love.

Good Good Father: Righteous and Kind

For different reasons, many people live with a distorted view of God. Some see Him as a bitter, angry old man in the sky who draws pleasure from dishing out punishment. This God they envision is harsh and unkind, and His thoughts toward us are only framed by disappointment. Thankfully, the Bible paints a different picture of the one we call Father. God is a good Father because He is righteous in all His ways, and kind in all His works.

Good Good Father: Power and Heart

God, like a good earthly father, has the power and heart to help. Time and again the scriptures tell stories of people who felt powerless and overwhelmed, but then God steps in. A good father steps in to help us in our weakness. This is what makes God a good Father.

Good Good Father: Knows and Cares

In this message we are going to look at how God is a Father who knows it all. He is never blindsided, and He always knows what to do. God knows everything about us and is deeply concerned for us. God is the good, good Father we are looking for because He knows and cares.

Good Good Father: Present and Engaged

In this message we begin a series we are calling “Good, Good Father”. What characteristics about God make us see him as good? Jesus said the first and greatest commandment is to love God. No one can love God until they know what is good about Him. The more we understand His goodness, the more we will love Him.

Ben Schenck: Bad Blood – Forgiveness According to Taylor Swift

From our family to our coworkers, we all have relationships that are defined by bad blood. In this message we're going to take a look at empathy, the first step toward reconciliation.

Mother’s Day 2016

Mother’s Day is one of the most celebrated days in the year, and rightfully so. Mothers can sometimes feel unnoticed. We grow to expect them to do what they do and sometimes forget to thank them as often as we should. On this Mother’s Day, we make it a priority to appreciate our Mothers. There is a story of a mother who was not celebrated and felt invisible. The high point of this story is when God speaks to her and at that moment she did not feel ignored. In this message we are going to look...

Jerry Thorpe: Drop the Rocks

In this message we are glad to welcome our guest speaker, Jerry Thorpe. He is Pastor Emeritus of CrossRoads Fellowship (formerly Temple Baptist Church) of Odessa, Texas and an active member of the Liberty University Board of Trustees in Lynchburg, Virginia. He co-pastored Temple Baptist Church with his father, Curtis Thorpe, from 1964 until 1984, at which time he assumed the position of Senior Pastor of the church. In 2000, Jerry retired as Senior Pastor and now travels the nation speaking.

Andrew Tate: The Longing For Leadership

From first to final breath, we all experience real tension in life between our desire for independence and our need for guidance. In other words, we often want to lead when our need is to be led. This is clearly observable in the life of toddlers and teenagers, but is not always so obvious in adulthood! However, this personal conflict is a healthy tension to be managed rather than a problem to be solved. The Creator himself embedded a longing for leadership in every human heart. In this messa...

Fully Alive: A Meaningful Life

Living a life of full devotion to Jesus is not easy. We will be called on to make hard choices. Living in obedience to His commands will require faith and, at times, will be costly. We will find ourselves asking the question “Is it worth it to follow Jesus?” In the last verse of 1 Corinthians 15, we are reminded that it is worth it to follow Jesus. In fact, following Jesus is the best way to spend our lives because of the reality of the resurrection.

Fully Alive: The New You

Every human being lives under the dark shadow of death. We can ignore it or pretend it is not true but it never goes away. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is not just a great theological story. It is personal to everyone who has come to Christ. We have the promise that death will not hold on to us. We too will be resurrected again to live forever. This is a powerful hope that turns death into a doorway of life.