All Things in Christ’s Strength | Together in 2025

At our members’ meeting this Sunday night, the elders presented our new mission statement. It still reflects the heart of our mission: to make disciples. But it emphasizes the purpose for which we were created: God’s glory.  
 
As we have been learning in Luke’s gospel, Jesus came to “preach (announce/proclaim) the good news of the kingdom of God to” all peoples (Luke 4:43). That is, Jesus is God’s anointed King who inaugurates the promised kingdom of righteousness, justice, and peace, and announces that the promised kingdom has arrived in him (Luke 4:16-30). Since in the promised kingdom, there is no evil, not sickness, no disease or death, Jesus proves the arrival of the kingdom in his coming by casting out demons and healing the sick (Luke 4:31-44). Jesus’s word is accompanied with kingdom authority (Luke 4:32). 
 
As we will learn THIS SUNDAY, Lord willing, Jesus calls sinners to join his mission by “going fishing” (Luke 5:1-11). Jesus calls repentant sinners to become followers. And those followers become fishermen. THIS is our mission: to follow in Jesus’s steps, announcing the good news (gospel) that Jesus is God’s anointed King and that the promised kingdom has arrived in him (Luke 24:45-47).  
 
How, then, will we seek to follow Jesus in announcing the Kingdom and gathering those who repent and believe into the church, teaching them to obey all Jesus has commanded? 
 

1. Reaching unbelievers with the gospel of Christ. 

• Evangelism, Sending, Church Planting 

 

2. Gathering worshipers into the body of Christ (an Acts 2 Church).  

• A Community that is devoted to a Common Faith rooted in the Word of God. 
• A Community that shares a Common Life flowing out of a Mutual Love. 
• A Community that provides a Compelling Witness that displays the Glory of God. 

 

3. Equipping the saints with the word of God (an Ephesians 4 Ministry). 

• Formal Structures/Trellises 
• Informal Structures/Trellises 

 

4. Scattering and sending the members of Christ. 

• Living out a Compelling Witness in the world (Acts 2) 
• Loving our Neighbors and Seeking the good of our city (Jeremiah 29) 
• Sending gospel workers as faithful witnesses of the gospel to the nations (Matt 28:18-20; Acts 13) 

 
Understanding that there are two aspects to our mission in the world, both as the gathered church and as the scattered church, what is the role of each member in our mission?  

• The Church Gathered: 
  • Prayer (see our 2025 prayer lists HERE) 
  • For ALL our Commitments: See the Church Covenant 
    • Committing to participating in a culture of evangelism: Reaching Unbelievers 
    • Committing to participating in a shared life together: Gathering Worshipers 
    • Committing to participating in a culture of discipleship: Equipping Saints 
    • Committing to going into the world as a faithful witness and loving neighbor: Scattering. 
    • Committing to sending/being sent to the nations: Sending 
  • Sunday Morning Plus 1 (click link HERE). 
    • Our commitments include praying for the ministries of the church, its members, and its pastors. 
  • “We will contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations” (HPBC Church Covenant). 
    • Our commitments include our contributions to the ministries of the church with our time, talents, and financial resources. 

 

• The Church Scattered 
  • To be faithful Christians in private 
    • Prayer, Communion with the Lord 
    • Faithful Christian witnesses in the home. 
  • To be faithful witnesses in the world 
    • Living as faithful followers of Jesus in the world (Ephesians 4:17-6:9) 
    • Reaching unbelievers with the gospel of Christ. 
  • Seeking the welfare of our city. 
    • Praying for governing officials (1 Timothy 2:1-7) 
    • Being a good citizen (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17) 
    • Loving your neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40; Romans 13:9-10; Galatians 5:10; James 2:8) 
    • Overcoming evil with good (Romans 12:14-21) 

 
Let us remain faithful to Jesus and pray that he will grant us much fruit for his glory. 

• On Prayer when Sick and Asking the Elders to Pray for You When You are Sick 
  • How to Pray When the Prognosis Is Grim
  • Should We Anoint the Sick with Oil (James 5:14–15)?
  • If God Doesn’t Heal You

•  On Demon Possession and Spiritual Warfare 
  • Demon Possession: A Theological Summary Essay
  • Does Demon Possession Happen in the West?

 

• Thinking Through Evangelism 
  • A Biblical Understanding of Evangelism
  • What if I’m Discouraged in My Evangelism?

 

• Song of the Month: The Church’s One Foundation

Opportunities to Serve and Grow at High Pointe 
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)  

Meaningful Membership Class | THIS Sunday, March 2 | 1:15 PM to 4:30 PM
If you’re interested in learning more about High Pointe or pursuing membership with High Pointe, please mark your calendars Membership Class. This class will cover three main questions: What is the church and why should I join, what does High Pointe believe, and what do we expect of church members at High Pointe. Click here to register.

Women's Prayer and Head Wear Gift Exchange Event | Saturday, March 8
Please join us at High Pointe on Saturday, March 8 from 3-6 PM for a prayer exchange! The purpose of this event is to provide an opportunity for women to get to know each other and pray for one another. Each attendee should bring a new, unused "head wear" item to exchange with another woman! Whoever’s item you end up with, that’ll be your prayer partner for the remainder of the year. This will also be a potluck event, so please bring an appetizer to share!
 
Life Classes | Sunday at 9:00 AM
Life Classes are meant to equip High Pointe for life as a Christian. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity and join us. Childcare is available for ages 8 months through Pre-K. This session, we are offering the following classes from January 26 to May 25:

• Evangelizing through Mark (Room 201, Old Choir Room) 
• Discipling Through Ephesians (Room 203, Livingston Room) 
• Spanish Life Class | Los Atributos de Dios (Room 200, East Training Room) 
• Youth Life Class | The Pentateuch (Room 101, Old Library) 
• Kid's Life Class | K-5th grade (Room 104, Overflow Room) 

Sunday AM Preaching Schedule: Pray regularly for the ministry of the Word at High Pointe. Also, prepare for our gatherings by reading the sermon text, thinking it through, and asking questions about the text before Sunday. Here is our (tentative) preaching schedule designed to help you prepare for Sundays:  

• March 2 | Luke 5:1-5:32 | Pastor Juan Sanchez 
• March 9 | Deuteronomy 6:1-9 | Pastor Robert Cline 
• March 16 | Luke 5:33-6:11 | Pastor Juan Sanchez 
• March 23 | Luke 6:12-49 | Pastor Juan Sanchez 
• March 30 | Psalm 119:9-16 | Pastor Robert Cline

 
Begin praying as you prepare to gather with us this Sunday at 10:00 am.
 
Gospel Partner of the Month: Predica Fiel
In our approach to missions at High Pointe, we not only seek to send our best, but we also want to equip and encourage those who are already serving in the field. One of the ways to do that is to provide training for national pastors and missionaries. Predica Fiel is a training ministry that equips pastors, missionaries, and church leaders in expositional teaching and preaching. They provide training workshops throughout the island of Cuba and the Spanish-speaking world.
 
Please pray that the Lord will give them favor and fruitfulness in their work. Pray that the Lord would grant them continued opportunities to train pastors, missionaries, and teachers. And pray that the Lord would provide all the resources they need to do their work.
 
On-Call Pastor
To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours and on weekends. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.