What is it that immediately says to you, "These are my people"? Is it the Razorback shirt? The accent? The crocs? What is it that immediately says to you, "These are not my people?" We are constantly looking for who is "us" and who is "them". That's not a problem. The problem is what we use to determine who is "us" and who is "them". This week, we look at what Jesus had to say about "us" vs "them" in the Kingdom of God and challenges us to change the way we're making that call.
0 Comments
How do you climb the ladder you're on? Is it by selling more, being smarter, or playing more golf with the boss? Does moving up require pushing someone else down? What is the point of moving up your ladder? Is it freedom, money, or power? We're all on a ladder and the ladders operate in pretty much the same way. So, what happens when we apply the same rules to the Kingdom of God? How do we climb that ladder? What's the point of climbing that ladder? Is there even a ladder to climb? This week, we continue our series in Mark by looking at what Jesus said to the disciples about climbing the ladder in the Kingdom of God. And, spoiler alert, there is a ladder and Jesus wants you to climb it. Why is it that some people quit work as soon as they get a chance and others keep going as long as they can? There're lots of reasons, but a big one is purpose. Those who keep going after they absolutely have to keep going because they have found a purpose larger than just the work. When we work with purpose, the work stops being about the pay and becomes something else. Something more fulfilling. Something that brings joy beyond what the job itself can bring. That principle applies in your work and in your church. This week, Pastor Ben Hightower takes us through Romans 12 to see what Paul said about finding purpose in our service and our work. It's hard to love when you don't feel like you belong. Jesus said our motive for what we do as a church should be love, but how do we make ourselves love? This week, Pastor Ben Hightower continues with our series, Amateur Year, to show us the next function of the church that is designed to produce love for our church in us. How am I supposed to love something? Is there a button I can click or a switch I can flip to make me love? Jesus wants me to act out of love, but how do I decide to command my emotions and get them to obey? This week, Pastor Ben Hightower continues our series, "Amateur Year", to show how obeying the commands of Jesus produces love. What is an Amateur? We've got some pretty negative opinions of the word now, but originally, an Amateur was someone who did what they did because they loved what they did. Olympic athletes are amateurs. Some of the best BBQ ever smoked was made by Amateurs. The most beautiful homes in America were decorated and designed by Amateurs. An Amateur is someone who is motivated by love for what they do or who they do it for. This week, Pastor Ben Hightower challenges us to make this year an Amateur Year and takes us through what Jesus says the consequences of ignoring our motivations will be. 12/31/2023 0 Comments December 31st, 2023 - Waiting on Christmas - Week 4 - An International IncidentYou know those moments when you're stuck with no idea why? Traffic isn't moving, but there's no wreck. Your project has stalled because, but everything is ready. You've filled out the forms, but the circle on the screen just keeps turning. Waiting without knowing why is incredibly frustrating. This week, Pastor Ben Hightower finishes our series "Waiting on Christmas" by looking at what Mary and Joseph did after Christmas and what God was doing while their lives were on hold. Asking Mary to carry and deliver Jesus and asking Joseph to raise Him as his own son were big asks, but those were necessary. We need a Messiah. We needed Him to live as one of us. Someone had to do it and it had to be done in a way that fulfilled prophecy. But, did He really have to ask them to travel during the last week of her pregnancy? Why would God add another difficult thing on top of an already difficult situation? This week, Pastor Ben Hightower takes us through Luke 2 to show us what God was doing. How do you feel about interruptions? I guess it depends on the interruption. What about when God interrupts? When He throws a wrench in your plans? How do you respond to God when He says that your life is going to go differently than you planned? This week, we continue our Waiting on Christmas series with a look at two people who had their lives and plans interrupted by God. |
Our PastorBen Hightower has been the Pastor of Solid Rock since December 2019. Before moving to NWA, Ben was a Youth Pastor in Malvern, Arkansas and a Church Planter in Fayetteville, Arkansas as well as Columbia, Missouri. Archives
April 2024
|