BLOG | STRAIGHT TO THE HEART
5th Sunday Fellowship
From Pastor Robert
This week, I want to encourage you to make plans to be present for our 5th Sunday Fellowship featuring ICE CREAM, singing, and ministry updates. You will also have a chance to hear briefly about discipleship spaces in place to grow as whole-hearted followers of Jesus this fall.
This is a time for our church family to relax together and get to know one another better as we head into the fall season. 5th Sunday Fellowships are intended to help us connect every quarter around simple food, dessert or snacks.
We plan to have some sort of church wide fellowship time on the 5th Sundays of the months in the coming church year:
Aug. 30, 2026
Nov 29, 2026
Jan 31, 2027
May 30, 2027
Aug 29, 2027
Go ahead and mark your calendars now!
Resources
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org
Volunteering in the Children’s Ministry | Current Openings
*Sunday morning nursery, serving once every 5 Sundays, has two openings in the Toddler Room, two openings in the Pre-K class, and 4 openings in the baby room.
*KidsPointe, serving one Sunday per month, has two openings for small group helpers.
Volunteering in the children’s ministry is a great way to know others at High Pointe and to serve parents. Reach out the Erin Wyman for specific details and to get started on our child protecting screening steps.
Life at High Pointe
Want to know what’s happening at High Pointe?Check out our weekly announcements and upcoming events to stay informed and connected with the life of our church!
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:
August 16 | 2 Peter 1:12-15 | Remembering to Remind One Another | Pastor Robert Cline
August 23 | 2 Peter 1:16-21 | Trustworthy Witness and Word | Pastor Robert Cline
August 30 | Luke 18:18-30 | What Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life? | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 6 | Luke 18:31-43 | The Joy of Spiritual Sight | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 13 | Luke 19:1-10 | Salvation and the Fruits of Repentance | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 20 | 2 Peter 2:1-10 | Don’t Be Deceived by False Teachers | Pastor Robert Cline
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: 9Marks exists to help pastors, future pastors, and church members build healthy churches. To this end, 9Marks creates resources like books, podcasts, a quarterly journal, web courses, and more. They also host training events around the world. Their focus in everything is on nine marks of a healthy church—expositional preaching, gospel doctrine, conversion and evangelism, church membership, church discipline, discipleship and growth, church leadership, prayer, and missions. Why these nine? Because the Bible requires them, and, sadly, too many evangelical churches have neglected or assumed them.
On-Call Pastor To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
Habitually Thankful
From Pastor Robert
In Sunday’s sermon, Craig Horton reminded us that many of our sinful responses grow out of entitlement. When life does not go our way, we start acting like we are owed a better life, a better plan, or a better outcome. We forget God’s kindness to us in Christ. We trust in our own devices. We try to make life work apart from Christ and his grace.
The media and people around us often feed that mindset. You deserve…we deserve…everyone deserves...It trains us to expect comfort, solutions to problems, and even custom assistance whenever things don’t go our way. We are owed that and so we expect it. But the gospel says something very different. We are not owed anything; every good gift is graciously given by the LORD. Culture says, “I deserve.” Christ teaches us to say, “I receive what I don’t deserve.” We are always getting better than we deserve, even when life is full of difficulties and we feel like we deserve better.
If we at High Pointe are going to live as citizens of Jesus’ kingdom in this cultural moment, we will need counter habits that push against our natural instincts. So far, we have considered three:
Being willing to talk about awkward subjects.
Being intentional about encouraging others.
Beginning our day with prayer and Scripture.
Today, we add another: practice gratitude instead of entitlement.
This week, pay attention to how you respond when life does not go your way. Do you complain, compare, or demand? Do you indulge sinful desires? Or do you pause and remember that even your hardest moments are met by a God who gives good gifts? James 1:17 reminds us that “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”
Here are a few simple ways to practice this counter habit:
Trade complaints for gratitude.Pray: “Lord, I recognize this feeling. I’m feeling you owe me something better. Forgive my entitlement. Correct my thinking and make me grateful.”
Count gifts, not grievances. Pause each day and thank God for Christ, your living hope, and for three specific gifts. Evening meal time would be a great time for this.
Serve quietly. No spotlight needed. Plan and act to serve someone today in a hidden way. Then actually do it.
When we remember that everything we have is a gift, gratitude grows and entitlement weakens. And that is a counter-cultural way to live under the good rule of Jesus. Let’s help each other be grateful people who remain amazed that God would give us Christ rather than what we actually deserve!
Resources
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org
Volunteering in the Children’s Ministry | Current Openings
*Sunday morning nursery, serving once every 5 Sundays, has two openings in the Toddler Room, two openings in the Pre-K class, and 4 openings in the baby room.
*KidsPointe, serving one Sunday per month, has two openings for small group helpers.
Volunteering in the children’s ministry is a great way to know others at High Pointe and to serve parents. Reach out the Erin Wyman for specific details and to get started on our child protecting screening steps.
Life at High Pointe
Want to know what’s happening at High Pointe?Check out our weekly announcements and upcoming events to stay informed and connected with the life of our church!
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:
August 9 | New Series: 2 Peter 1:1-11 | Grace Gives Godliness | Pastor Robert Cline
August 16 | 2 Peter 1:12-15 | Essential Pastoral Reminders | Pastor Robert Cline
August 23 | 2 Peter 1:16-21 | Trustworthy Witness and Word | Pastor Robert Cline
August 30 | Luke 18:18-30 | What Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life? | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 6 | Luke 18:31-43 | The Joy of Spiritual Sight | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 13 | Luke 19:1-10 | Salvation and the Fruits of Repentance | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 20 | 2 Peter 2:1-10 | Don’t Be Deceived by False Teachers | Pastor Robert Cline
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: 9Marks exists to help pastors, future pastors, and church members build healthy churches. To this end, 9Marks creates resources like books, podcasts, a quarterly journal, web courses, and more. They also host training events around the world. Their focus in everything is on nine marks of a healthy church—expositional preaching, gospel doctrine, conversion and evangelism, church membership, church discipline, discipleship and growth, church leadership, prayer, and missions. Why these nine? Because the Bible requires them, and, sadly, too many evangelical churches have neglected or assumed them.
On-Call Pastor To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
Start Your Day with Prayer and Scripture
From Pastor Robert
In Sunday’s Sermon, Austin Burns helped us rejoice in Jesus Christ as the “Yes” to all God’s promises and to pray accordingly. We also heard how Paul had been falsely accused by some in Corinth. Paul’s response throughout 2 Corinthians reminds us that Christ’s Kingdom is frequently at odds with the prevailing cultural norms and expectations. His kingdom often overturns the values our world celebrates. If we at High Pointe are going to live as citizens of that kingdom in our current cultural climate, we will need to embrace and practice counter habits that push against our natural instincts. We’ve considered two counter habits so far:
Being the person who’s willing to talk about subjects that feel awkward.
Being the person who plans for and actually encourages others.
Today, I want us to consider yet another counter habit:
3. Let your first words be a prayer and the first thing you read be God’s Word from Scripture.
This week, pay attention to how you wake up and what you do first thing in the morning. If you work a night shift, maybe it’s first thing in the afternoon! Studies suggest that most people reach for their smart phone as the first move after awakening, even before they get out of bed. Too often these invisible patterns do not serve us well.
What if you first gave thanks to God for another day and for a great Savior in Jesus and invited him to rule and reign over your day? What if you then read Scripture before scrolling, checking your messages or notifications? Even for just a minute or two. What if you began your day hearing from and speaking to your Creator who made you and who is with us in Christ through his Spirit?
The Bible doesn’t insist on this, but it does seem like a good counter habit for us to establish. Our smart phones and our devices have a way of urgently insisting that we attend to them often and first. Unless we are intentional, these devices and the ever present algorithms steal our attention without asking our permission. It just happens, doesn’t it?
Why not invite King Jesus to rule and reign over our phones and devices and seek to be more intentional about where we direct our attention first thing in the morning?
Being intentional about where we focus our attention and saying “No!” to our phones first thing in the morning will put us in the minority; it will be a counter cultural habit.
Here are a few ways to begin to practice this counter habit:
Do not put your phone next to your bed and don’t read your phone while in bed.
Put a physical copy of God’s Word, a Bible on top of your phone so that when the alarm sounds, you are reminded to first give attention to God and His word.
You might even create a simple notecard or note to put inside your Bible with a simple, short prayer to start each day.
Short prayers like this:
“Thank you LORD for another day. Help me walk through this day with joy and faithfulness as I seek to love you and love others well. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from all evil this day.”
Or this: “Thank you LORD for another day. Help me walk through this day with joy and faithfulness as I seek to love you and love others well. Give me this day the daily bread I need. Remind me to be thankful.”
Or create your own simple Prayer To Start The Day where you pray a promise like Austin mentioned: “Lord Jesus, I’m weary today. Help me rely on your strength in my weakness.”
Then read God’s word: If you don’t know where to start, read one chapter in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John or read the Proverb that coincides with the date or the Psalms or the Scripture passage being preached upon at High Pointe. Or just follow your own reading plans.
Let’s practice it this week and watch how God is honored and see how we are changed when we first give him our attention as we start our days.
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org
Volunteering in the Children’s Ministry | Current Openings
*Sunday morning nursery, serving once every 5 Sundays, has two openings in the Toddler Room, two openings in the Pre-K class, and 4 openings in the baby room.
*KidsPointe, serving one Sunday per month, has two openings for small group helpers.
Volunteering in the children’s ministry is a great way to know others at High Pointe and to serve parents. Reach out the Erin Wyman for specific details and to get started on our child protecting screening steps.
Life at High Pointe
Want to know what’s happening at High Pointe? Check out our weekly announcements and upcoming events to stay informed and connected with the life of our church!
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:
August 2 | Psalm 73 | Refuge: What Worship Does | Pastor Craig Horton
August 9 | New Series: 2 Peter 1:1-11 | Grace Gives Godliness | Pastor Robert Cline
August 16 | 2 Peter 1:12-15 | Essential Pastoral Reminders | Pastor Robert Cline
August 23 | 2 Peter 1:16-21 | Trustworthy Witness and Word | Pastor Robert Cline
August 30 | Luke 18:18-30 | What Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life? | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 6 | Luke 18:31-43 | The Joy of Spiritual Sight | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 13 | Luke 19:1-10 | Salvation and the Fruits of Repentance | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 20 | 2 Peter 2:1-10 | Don’t Be Deceived by False Teachers | Pastor Robert Cline
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: Reaching and Teaching International Ministries – B.M. Reaching & Teaching International Ministries (RTIM) seeks to advance the gospel by partnering with local churches as they send qualified missionaries to make mature disciples, establish healthy churches, and train local leaders around the world. You may know of RTIM because we sent the P family through this sending organization. This month, we want to highlight our support for B.M. B and his wife served for seven years as missionaries in Central Asia, working in evangelism, discipleship, and church planting. After returning to the US, B spent six years as a global trainer, traveling around the world to equip international church leaders for ministry. He desires to see the gospel spread and churches established among the nations of Central Asia. B is a graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife have three children.
On-Call Pastor To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
Choosing Encouragement in an Age of Criticism
From Pastor Robert
Mark Cambranis reminded us during Sunday’s Sermon that we do not need to hide our weakness because God displays His power through it. John Thompson began by showing us that living under Jesus’ rule and reign is the truly blessed life, even though His kingdom often overturns the values our world celebrates. If we at High Pointe are going to live as citizens of that kingdom in our current cultural climate, we will need to embrace and practice counter habits that push against our natural instincts. Last week, I encouraged us to be willing to talk about subjects that feel awkward.
Today, I want us to consider another counter habit: learning to encourage others and speak words of blessing, even when it feels uncomfortable. It often seems easier to point out what is wrong than to name and celebrate what is good. Even offering sincere, face-to-face encouragement can feel awkward. We may worry our words will sound forced or insincere. Yet Scripture repeatedly calls us to build one another up and to speak grace-filled words that strengthen weary hearts.
This kind of encouragement requires intentionality. It means looking for evidence of God’s work in someone’s life and naming it. It means thanking others for quiet faithfulness and reminding one another of God’s promises. These simple acts can make us feel vulnerable. To say, “I see God’s grace in you,” or “Your faithfulness has encouraged me,” risks being misunderstood. But these words honor our Creator and can become turning points. Our encouraging words can be moments when someone hears, perhaps for the first time in a long time, that their life matters and that God is at work in them.
Here are a few ways to begin to practice this counter habit:
For all of us: Ask the Lord to bring one person to mind, then send a short note or message naming one way you see God’s kindness in their life and how it has encouraged you.
For families: Take a few minutes during a meal to let each person share one affirmation or blessing for another family member. Keep it simple, genuine and specific.
For our youth: Choose one friend this week and tell them something true and kind you appreciate about them. Connect the affirmation to how you see Jesus growing and changing them.
As we take small steps like these, choosing to speak encouragement instead of remaining silent, we will discover that speaking kind words can be habit forming. Encouragement can bring glory to God and strengthen others. Over time, what once felt awkward will become more natural, forming a counter habit that honors the Lord and builds up His people.
In the coming weeks, we will continue exploring practices like this. For now, begin with encouragement. Let’s practice it this week and watch how God uses our words.
Resources
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org
Volunteering in the Children’s Ministry | Current Openings
*Sunday morning nursery, serving once every 5 Sundays, has two openings in the Toddler Room, two openings in the Pre-K class, and 4 openings in the baby room.
*KidsPointe, serving one Sunday per month, has two openings for small group helpers.
Volunteering in the children’s ministry is a great way to know others at High Pointe and to serve parents. Reach out the Erin Wyman for specific details and to get started on our child protecting screening steps.
Life at High Pointe
Want to know what’s happening at High Pointe? Check out our weekly announcements and upcoming events to stay informed and connected with the life of our church!
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:
July 26 | 2 Corinthians 1:12-24 | Precious Promises | Austin Burns
August 2 | Psalm 73 | Refuge: What Worship Does | Pastor Craig Horton
August 9 | New Series: 2 Peter 1:1-11 | Grace Gives Godliness | Pastor Robert Cline
August 16 | 2 Peter 1:12-15 | Essential Pastoral Reminders | Pastor Robert Cline
August 23 | 2 Peter 1:16-21 | Trustworthy Witness and Word | Pastor Robert Cline
August 30 | Luke 18:18-30 | What Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life? | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 6 | Luke 18:31-43 | The Joy of Spiritual Sight | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 13 | Luke 19:1-10 | Salvation and the Fruits of Repentance | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 20 | 2 Peter 2:1-10 | Don’t Be Deceived by False Teachers | Pastor Robert Cline
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: Reaching and Teaching International Ministries – B.M. Reaching & Teaching International Ministries (RTIM) seeks to advance the gospel by partnering with local churches as they send qualified missionaries to make mature disciples, establish healthy churches, and train local leaders around the world. You may know of RTIM because we sent the P family through this sending organization. This month, we want to highlight our support for B.M. B and his wife served for seven years as missionaries in Central Asia, working in evangelism, discipleship, and church planting. After returning to the US, B spent six years as a global trainer, traveling around the world to equip international church leaders for ministry. He desires to see the gospel spread and churches established among the nations of Central Asia. B is a graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife have three children.
On-Call Pastor To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
#Blessed Counter Habits
From Pastor Robert
On Sunday, John Thompson reminded us that living under Jesus’ rule and reign is the blessed, truly good life, but Jesus’ kingdom often turns the world’s values on their head. Sunday night I put it this way: if we at High Pointe are going to live as blessed subjects of Jesus’ kingdom in our current cultural climate, we will need to adopt and practice counter habits.
In this article, I simply want to begin that conversation. In the weeks ahead, we will gently explore some of these counter habits together. These practices may feel awkward or costly at first but we develop these habits by trusting Jesus and taking his Word seriously. I know that we don’t need another list of things to do; hear this as an invitation to us as a church family to consider how the Lord might reshape our everyday reflexes into blessed counter habits in light of his good kingdom.
One of the ways following Jesus runs against the grain of our culture is that we know that it can be #blessed to be the ones who talk about the “awkward stuff.” Most of us would rather avoid conversations about death, sin, our weaknesses, systemic evil, and relational hurt. Yet Scripture speaks honestly about all of these, and it does so for our good. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” says Proverbs 27:6 and sometimes love means saying what is hard to say. Speaking encouragement to others may feel awkward too, but that’s for next week!
In fact, avoiding awkward topics is usually less loving than we might think. When we stay silent about what is broken, confused, or painful, we may spare ourselves an uncomfortable moment, but we also miss the chance for healing and change in our lives and in others. Awkward but honest, humble conversations can become turning points; places where a relationship begins to mend, a hidden burden is finally shared, or someone takes a first step toward hope in Christ. “Speaking the truth in love” is one of the ways the body of Christ grows up into Jesus (Ephesians 4:15, ESV). It’s one way to be #blessed in living under Christ’s rule.
Here are a few action steps for our High Pointe family:
For any of us: ask one trusted friend a deeper question than usual… share a burden, a fear, a personal weakness or failure, a doubt, or a struggle you normally keep to yourself, and invite prayer and honest feedback. Then listen.
For families: set aside a few minutes around the table or at bedtime to talk about something real; a hurt, a fear, a conflict; and practice listening, confessing, and forgiving in light of Jesus’ grace. End with prayer.
For our youth: choose one conversation where you resist the pressure to joke past the serious stuff; instead, speak kindly and truthfully about what is right, what is wrong, or where you need help.
For any of us: Sit quietly for 2-3 minutes and ask the LORD to show you if there is anyone whose forgiveness you need to ask. If so, plan to do that. Simply say this: I was wrong [to do, say, act this way], please forgive me.
As we keep taking small steps in this direction; learning to talk about what is awkward and hard, to confess when we’ve sinned against others, and to seek forgiveness where there has been real offense; we will find that Jesus is leading us into a #blessed life, even when it runs against the grain of our world.
In the next few weeks, we will take up some of these counter habits one by one and consider how the Lord might be inviting High Pointe to live more openly, more honestly, and more gently for his sake.
NOTE:I first read about counter habits in a book by Justin Earley.
Helpful Resources
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
Volunteering in nursery or children’s ministry is a great way to get to know others at High Pointe and to serve our parents on Sunday mornings and other church gatherings. Reach out to Erin at erin@highpointeaustin.org
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org
Life at High Pointe
Want to know what’s happening at High Pointe? Check out our weekly announcements and upcoming events to stay informed and connected with the life of our church!
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:
July 19 | 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 | Strength in Weakness | Pastor Mark Cambranis
July 26 | 2 Corinthians 1:12-24 | Precious Promises | Austin Burns
August 2 | Psalm 73 | Refuge: What Worship Does | Pastor Craig Horton
August 9 | New Series: 2 Peter 1:1-11 | Grace Gives Godliness | Pastor Robert Cline
August 16 | 2 Peter 1:12-15 | Essential Pastoral Reminders | Pastor Robert Cline
August 23 | 2 Peter 1:16-21 | Trustworthy Witness and Word | Pastor Robert Cline
August 30 | Luke 18:18-30 | What Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life? | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 6 | Luke 18:31-43 | The Joy of Spiritual Sight | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 13 | Luke 19:1-10 | Salvation and the Fruits of Repentance | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 20 | 2 Peter 2:1-10 | Don’t Be Deceived by False Teachers | Pastor Robert Cline
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: Reaching and Teaching International Ministries – B.M. Reaching & Teaching International Ministries (RTIM) seeks to advance the gospel by partnering with local churches as they send qualified missionaries to make mature disciples, establish healthy churches, and train local leaders around the world. You may know of RTIM because we sent the P family through this sending organization. This month, we want to highlight our support for B.M. B and his wife served for seven years as missionaries in Central Asia, working in evangelism, discipleship, and church planting. After returning to the US, B spent six years as a global trainer, traveling around the world to equip international church leaders for ministry. He desires to see the gospel spread and churches established among the nations of Central Asia. B is a graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife have three children.
On-Call Pastor To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
Rebels, Remnant, and Our Faithful God in Isaiah 65-66
From Pastor Robert
Isaiah 65–66 ends with both warning and hope. The One True God will judge rebellion, preserve his servants, gather the nations, and create a new heavens and new earth. With the final verse, Isaiah presses a question: Are we with the rebels or the repenting remnant?
Sermon Summary
God answers his people’s anguished prayers not by excusing sin, but by exposing rebellion as the real problem (Isa. 65:1–7). Yet judgment is not his last word. God keeps his promises to Abraham not by overlooking covenant unfaithfulness, but by preserving a faithful remnant by grace and by extending his saving purpose to the nations (Isa. 65:8–10; 66:18–21). The Lord clearly distinguishes between those who reject his word and those who belong to him as his servants, and he promises a new creation, a comforted people, a missionary task, and a worldwide gathering of worshipers in the New Jerusalem (Isa. 65:11–25; 66:10–23).
God’s Character
God’s character shines clearly in Isaiah 65–66. He is holy and just, refusing to overlook idolatry, hypocrisy, and self-made religion (Isa. 65:3–7; 66:3–4, 15–17). He is patient and merciful, stretching out his hands to a rebellious people and preserving a remnant for his servants’ sake (Isa. 65:1–2, 8–10). He is tender toward the humble, looking with favor on the contrite who tremble at his word and promising comfort to his people like a mother comforts her child (Isa. 66:2, 13). He is the sovereign Creator and covenant-keeping God, able not only to judge and save, but to gather the nations and make a new heavens and new earth by his own power (Isa. 65:17–19; 66:18–23).
Rebels vs Remnant
Isaiah draws a sharp distinction between two kinds of people. The contrast is moral, spiritual, and eternal.
Rebels follow their own insights instead of God’s word (Isa. 65:2). They may appear religious, but their worship is proud, false, and self-directed—actually idolatry (Isa. 65:3–5; 66:3–4).
They refuse to listen to God’s voice, choose what displeases him, and face judgment and shame (Isa. 65:12–15; 66:15–17, 24).
The remnant are God’s servants, preserved by grace and not by their own strength (Isa. 65:8–10).
The repenting remnant are those whom God preserves for his own name and promise. They are not marked by outward impressiveness, but by repentance and humble dependence on the Lord.
They are humble, contrite, and marked by trembling at God’s word (Isa. 66:2). They wait on the Lord and will share in his joy, comfort, and future kingdom (Isa. 65:13–19; 66:10–14).
Two peoples. Two paths. Two destinies. Isaiah invites us to be those who listen to God’s word and respond.
This week…
Read Isaiah 65–66 this week and ask God to show you, “Where does my life show resistance to God’s word and clear teaching?” (Isa. 65:2; 66:2). Confess and then return to the LORD
Turn away from any outward religious ritual that hides pride, self-rule, or unconfessed sin (Isa. 65:3–5; 66:3–4) and return to wholehearted devotion to Christ our King.
Wait on the Lord with hope as you seek to love God and neighbor in all your life and work, trusting that he will keep his servants and bring them into the world to come (Isa. 65:8–9, 17–25; 66:22–23).
Helpful Resources
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
Volunteering in nursery or children’s ministry is a great way to get to know others at High Pointe and to serve our parents on Sunday mornings and other church gatherings. Reach out to Erin at erin@highpointeaustin.org
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org
Life at High Pointe
Want to know what’s happening at High Pointe? Check out our weekly announcements and upcoming events to stay informed and connected with the life of our church!
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:
July 12 | Matthew 5:1-12 | Kingdom Blessings | John Thompson
July 19 | 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 | Strength in Weakness | Pastor Mark Cambranis
July 26 | 2 Corinthians 1:12-24 | Austin Burns
August 2 | Psalm 73 | Refuge: What Worship Does | Pastor Craig Horton
August 9 | New Series: 2 Peter 1:1-11 | Grace Gives Godliness | Pastor Robert Cline
August 16 | 2 Peter 1:12-15 | Essential Pastoral Reminders | Pastor Robert Cline
August 23 | 2 Peter 1:16-21 | Trustworthy Witness and Word | Pastor Robert Cline
August 30 | Luke 18:18-30 | What Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life? | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 6 | Luke 18:31-43 | The Joy of Spiritual Sight | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 13 | Luke 19:1-10 | Salvation and the Fruits of Repentance | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 20 | 2 Peter 2:1-10 | Don’t Be Deceived by False Teachers | Pastor Robert Cline
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month:Reaching and Teaching International Ministries – B.M. Reaching & Teaching International Ministries (RTIM) seeks to advance the gospel by partnering with local churches as they send qualified missionaries to make mature disciples, establish healthy churches, and train local leaders around the world. You may know of RTIM because we sent the P family through this sending organization. This month, we want to highlight our support for B.M. B and his wife served for seven years as missionaries in Central Asia, working in evangelism, discipleship, and church planting. After returning to the US, B spent six years as a global trainer, traveling around the world to equip international church leaders for ministry. He desires to see the gospel spread and churches established among the nations of Central Asia. B is a graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife have three children.
On-Call Pastor To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
While We Wait: The Prophetic Call to Hope-Filled Waiting
A Pastoral Reflection on Isaiah 63:7-64 and the Christian Life
From Pastor Robert
"From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him." — Isaiah 64:4
Nobody likes to wait.
We live in an age of instant everything: instant messages, instant answers, instant delivery to our front door. We switch lanes in traffic convinced the other one is moving faster. Waiting feels unproductive and uncomfortable. Most of us are not very good at it.
And yet, the life of faith is fundamentally a life of waiting.
From the first promise in the garden to the final cry of "Come, Lord Jesus" in Revelation, the people of God have always been a people who wait. Waiting is not a detour from the life of faith. It is the life of faith. The prophet Isaiah helps us understand this.
Isaiah wrote to a people living in the ache of an unanswered prayer, longing for God to break through and make things right. He became what we might call the waiting prophet. And in Isaiah 64:4, he speaks a word that reframes everything: there is no God like this God, a God who is not passive while His people wait, but who is actively at work on their behalf. Your waiting is not wasted. There is a God in heaven who acts for those who wait for Him.
In Jesus Christ, we see this God coming down for those who were waiting for him. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, God did exactly what Isaiah had begged Him to do. He rent the heavens and came down. The Son of God stepped into human flesh, wept real tears, and carried human suffering on a Roman cross. When He breathed His last, the temple curtain was torn from top to bottom. Not from the bottom up, as if by human hands. From the top down. The God who acts for those who wait had acted in the most stunning and costly way imaginable.
And yet here we are, two thousand years later, still waiting for his return.
But we do not wait the way Isaiah's people waited. We wait on the other side of an empty tomb, with the Holy Spirit in and among us, knowing God has already acted and will act again. Theologians call this living between the times, in the already and the not yet. Sin has been defeated, but suffering remains. We are caught between the dawn that has come and the full sunrise still on its way. Isaiah 64:4 will not let us despair. The waiting is not empty. While we wait in hope, God who is working, preparing, and will come again.
Waiting Actively and Hopefully
Christian waiting is not passive resignation. It is alert, Spirit-filled expectancy rooted in the confidence that God acts for those who wait. Here are a few practical ways to wait well:
Begin every day with praise. Declare what God has already done of us in Christ! Gratitude is a weapon against despair.
Pray honestly. Bring your real grief and longing before God. Lament is not a failure of faith. It is faith, refusing to go silent.
Wait together. Find a few others and lean into community, especially when the wait grows long.
Serve the people in front of you. Meet practical needs. Encourage the discouraged. Love one another. Point others to the Savior.
Saturate yourself in Scripture. God’s people learn to wait hopefully. Let His Word recalibrate your heart when waiting grows heavy.
Rest in God's promise. Isaiah 64:4 is your anchor. God is not watching your waiting from a distance. He is acting within it, ahead of it, and through it.
We have seen a manger, a cross, and an empty tomb. No eye has seen all that God has prepared for those who wait for Him, but we have seen enough to trust Him with what remains.
So, we wait, not in despair but in hope, not in silence but in praise, not alone but together.
Helpful Resources:
Sanctification is Slow and AI Can’t Do It For You
A Different Kind of Influencer
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
Volunteering in nursery or children’s ministry is a great way to get to know others at High Pointe and to serve our parents on Sunday mornings and other church gatherings. Reach out to Erin at erin@highpointeaustin.org
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org
Life at High Pointe
Want to know what’s happening at High Pointe? Check out our weekly announcements and upcoming events to stay informed and connected with the life of our church!
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:
July 5 | Isaiah 65-66 | Yahweh Answers: Judgment and the New Creation | Pastor Robert Cline
July 12 | Matthew 5:1-12 | Kingdom Blessings | John Thompson
July 19 | 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 | Strength in Weakness | Pastor Mark Cambranis
July 26 | 2 Corinthians 1:12-24 | Austin Burns
August 2 | Psalm 73 | Refuge: What Worship Does | Pastor Craig Horton
August 9 | New Series: 2 Peter 1:1-11 | Grace Gives Godliness | Pastor Robert Cline
August 16 | 2 Peter 1:12-15 | Essential Pastoral Reminders | Pastor Robert Cline
August 23 | 2 Peter 1:16-21 | Trustworthy Witness and Word | Pastor Robert Cline
August 30 | Luke 18:18-30 | What Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life? | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 6 | Luke 18:31-43 | The Joy of Spiritual Sight | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 13 | Luke 19:1-10 | Salvation and the Fruits of Repentance | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 20 | 2 Peter 2:1-10 | Don’t Be Deceived by False Teachers | Pastor Robert Cline
September 27 | 2 Peter 2:11-22 | Beware! It Doesn’t End Well for Deceivers
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: Reaching and Teaching International Ministries – B.M. Reaching & Teaching International Ministries (RTIM) seeks to advance the gospel by partnering with local churches as they send qualified missionaries to make mature disciples, establish healthy churches, and train local leaders around the world.
You may know of RTIM because we sent the P family through this sending organization. This month, we want to highlight our support for B.M. B and his wife served for seven years as missionaries in Central Asia, working in evangelism, discipleship, and church planting. After returning to the US, B spent six years as a global trainer, traveling around the world to equip international church leaders for ministry. He desires to see the gospel spread and churches established among the nations of Central Asia. B is a graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife have three children.
On-Call Pastor To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
What is a Sabbatical?
From Pastor Juan
It’s hard to believe that we’ve been doing ministry together for twenty-one years now. Shepherding High Pointe, alongside faithful elders, has been one of the greatest joys of my life. But as you likely know, even the things that bring us great joy are costly and tiring. The elders have graciously granted me a sabbatical during the months of July and August to allow me to take some time away with Jeanine for the purpose of rest and reflection in order to return to High Pointe refreshed and ready for the next season of ministry together.
The word sabbatical comes from Sabbath, which simply means rest. We know rest is good because God rested on the seventh day after having created/worked the previous six. God blessed this seventh/Sabbath day and declared it holy (Genesis 2:2-3). The biblical idea of rest is connected with the thought that God invites us to join Him in His rest. We enter that rest now by faith (Hebrews 4:1-5), but we are looking for a final Sabbath when we will enter into eternal rest with God (Hebrews 4:6-11).
The purpose of my sabbatical is primarily rest, though I will be working on a writing project here and there. During the month of July, Jeanine and I will travel throughout California, Oregon, and Washington, enjoying several national parks. Then, for the month of August, we will go to our usual place of rest – the beach in Florida. Please pray for our safe travels on the road, that we would be able to rest well, even in a tent, and that the Lord would continue to knit mine and Jeanine’s hearts together as we encourage one another with the word of God.
Thank you, High Pointe! Thank you for your love for me and my family and your continual support and prayers. And thank you elders for this great gift. Our love for you is without bounds. Know Jeanine and I will miss you greatly.
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
Volunteering in nursery or children’s ministry is a great way to get to know others at High Pointe and to serve our parents on Sunday mornings and other church gatherings. Reach out to Erin at erin@highpointeaustin.org
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org
Resources of the Week
Five Things to Pray for Your Pastor While He’s on a Sabbatical
Life at High Pointe
Want to know what’s happening at High Pointe? Check out our weekly announcements and upcoming events to stay informed and connected with the life of our church!
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:
June 28 | Isaiah 63:7-64:12 | Yahweh, Hear this Prayer and Come Down to Save
July 5 | Isaiah 65-66 | Yahweh Answers: Judgment and the New Creation | Pastor Robert Cline
July 12 | Matthew 5:1-12 | Kingdom Blessings | John Thompson
July 19 | 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 | Strength in Weakness | Pastor Mark Cambranis
July 26 | 2 Corinthians 1:12-24 | Austin Burns
August 2 | Psalm 73 | Refuge: What Worship Does | Pastor Craig Horton
August 9 | New Series: 2 Peter 1:1-11 | Grace Gives Godliness | Pastor Robert Cline
August 16 | 2 Peter 1:12-15 | Essential Pastoral Reminders | Pastor Robert Cline
August 23 | 2 Peter 1:16-21 | Trustworthy Witness and Word | Pastor Robert Cline
August 30 | Luke 18:18-30 | What Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life? | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 6 | Luke 18:31-43 | The Joy of Spiritual Sight | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 13 | Luke 19:1-10 | Salvation and the Fruits of Repentance | Pastor Juan Sanchez
September 20 | 2 Peter 2:1-10 | Don’t Be Deceived by False Teachers | Pastor Robert Cline
September 27 | 2 Peter 2:11-22 | Beware! It Doesn’t End Well for Deceivers
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: North Africa – Team Expansion We are privileged to partner with the K family in North Africa. For 15 years, the Ks have been reaching unbelievers in a predominantly Muslim country (99%). And yet, the body of Christ is growing in that nation.
Some ways you may be praying: 1. Pray for a healthy, fruitful church led by godly, growing, local leaders. 2. Pray for these believers/leaders, especially as they face unique opportunities and challenges. 3. Pray for the K family – for a Jesus-centered home and joyful hearts. 4. Pray for the K family’s financial provision.
On-Call Pastor To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
The Good. The Bad. The Justified.
From Pastor Juan
“Suppose you were to die today and stand before God and he were to say to you, ‘Why should I let you into my heaven?’ what would you say?”
How would you answer that question. What is the basis of God accepting you into heaven? In the parable, Jesus exposes the most common answer – “You must be a good person.” This is the answer that the major religions of the world offer. But Jesus reveals that for those who hold that view, there will be a shocking reversal on the last day. God justifies the ungodly who humbly rely on God’s mercy instead of proudly relying on their own righteousness.
The Good. The good is the “morally upright person.” The person who relies on himself. How do you know you’re relying on self? You make much of yourself, and you look down on others (v.9). In other words, self-righteousness leads to self-exaltation. Self-righteousness is deceptive, and it is damning.
The Bad. The point is not that God accepts bad people over good people. The point is that we’re all bade and deserve God’s judgment. The question is, “Do you recognize that you are bad or are you too busy judging others? If we’re to have any hope, we must recognize our unrighteousness and humble ourselves.
The Justified. What does it look like to humble ourselves before God?
1. Stop trying to tell God all the reasons he should accept you.
When you pray, are you telling God who you are and what you’ve done?
Do you recount everything you’ve done as if to win God’s favor?
Do you attend, serve, give in order to impress God?
These are all signs you are relying on your own righteousness.
2. Admit you are unrighteous and that your sin is first and foremost against a holy God.
This is hard to do because most of us want to think we’re good people.
True sorrow over sin leads to repentance – a desire to make things right.
3. Rely on God’s mercy for forgiveness.
The tax collector cried out for God to atone for his sins.
Our sins are forgiven because Jesus, the only good one, received God’s judgment on the cross in our place.
God justifies the ungodly who humbly rely on God’s mercy instead of proudly relying on their own righteousness. Are you relying on Christ alone for your justification or self? Humble yourself and turn away from self and turn to Christ. Rely on God’s mercy. Everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
Volunteering in nursery or children’s ministry is a great way to get to know others at High Pointe and to serve our parents on Sunday mornings and other church gatherings. Reach out to Erin at erin@highpointeaustin.org
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org.
Resources of the Week
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector – A sermon by R. C. Sproul
This Man went to His House Justified – A sermon by John Piper
God Justifies the Ungodly – a podcast by Sinclair Ferguson
What If I Feel Deserted by God – Sinclair Ferguson
How Do I Humble Myself – David Mathis
Life at High Pointe
No Life Classes over the Summer – Join a Summer Reading Group This summer, we are encouraging members of High Pointe to read and discuss books that are spiritually edifying. We have both men’s, women’s groups, and coed groups. To find out more about a group, go to the church app or contact Austin Burns at austin@highpointeaustin.org
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:
June 21 | Luke 18:15-17 | Let the Children Come | Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 28 | Isaiah 63:7-64:12 | Yahweh, Hear this Prayer and Come Down to Save
July 5 | Isaiah 65-66 | Yahweh Answers: Judgment and the New Creation | Pastor Robert Cline
July 12 | Matthew 5:1-12 | Kingdom Blessings | John Thompson
July 19 | 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 | Strength in Weakness | Pastor Mark Cambranis
July 26 | 2 Corinthians 1:12-24 | Austin Burns
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: North Africa – Team Expansion We are privileged to partner with the K family in North Africa. For 15 years, the Ks have been reaching unbelievers in a predominantly Muslim country (99%). And yet, the body of Christ is growing in that nation.
Some ways you may be praying: 1. Pray for a healthy, fruitful church led by godly, growing, local leaders. 2. Pray for these believers/leaders, especially as they face unique opportunities and challenges. 3. Pray for the K family – for a Jesus-centered home and joyful hearts. 4. Pray for the K family’s financial provision.
On-Call Pastor To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
Persistent Prayer
From Pastor Juan
As Christians living in a broken, unjust world, suffering is inevitable and so is being wronged. And if you’ve ever been wronged or faced injustice, then you know something about waiting for vindication. Maybe you’re facing some difficulty just because you’re a Christian – being disrespected by an unbelieving spouse, being discriminated against at work or school just because you call yourself a Christian, or maybe you lose your job or a relationship because of your Christian convictions. Jesus reminded his disciples that this life may get so bad that they would desire the days of the Son of Man (Luke 17:22). How are we to endure suffering and wrong as we await the return of Jesus when we will once and for all receive our vindication?
We endure suffering by a faith that persistently longs for the return of Christ and our vindication. More specifically, with this perspective in view, Jesus reminds us that we endure through persistent prayer. When life gets bad, Jesus says, we “ought to always pray and not lose heart” (18:1). To make his point, Jesus shares a parable about a godless, unrighteous judge. If he gave justice to the powerless widow who refused to give up, “Will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night” (18:7)?
When we fail to believe God to be God, and are unwilling to wait on the Lord, we will try to take matters into our own hands and exact our own vengeance instead of going to the Lord in prayer. Jesus reminds us that there is a better way – persistent prayer. What justice do you need from God? Run to him first. Be honest like Job or Habakkuk. Ask God to help you in the moment like Nehemiah. When you don’t have words to pray, ask the Spirit to give you the words like Paul says. Invite others to pray with you and for you. Join others in praying for them. Gather with the church when we pray.
We are longing for our final vindication when Christ returns and rights all wrongs. Until then, we endure TODAY by a faith that persists in prayer, longing for the day of our vindication at the return of Christ. We cry day and night, “How long, O Lord?” And the answer comes back, “Wait just a little while longer.”
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
Volunteering in nursery or children’s ministry is a great way to get to know others at High Pointe and to serve our parents on Sunday mornings and other church gatherings. Reach out to Erin at erin@highpointeaustin.org
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org
Resources of the Week
The Unjust Judge – A sermon by R. C. Sproul
How Do I Persist in Prayer – Ask Pastor John (Piper)
On the Use and Importance of Corporate Prayer – Mark Dever
Life at High Pointe
No Life Classes over the Summer – Join a Summer Reading Group This summer, we are encouraging members of High Pointe to read and discuss books that are spiritually edifying. We have both men’s, women’s groups, and coed groups. To find out more about a group, go to the church app or contact Austin Burns (austin@highpointeaustin.org).
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:
June 14 | Luke 18:9-14 | The One Who Humbles Himself will be Exalted | Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 21 | Luke 18:15-17 | Let the Children Come | Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 28 | Isaiah 63:7-64:12 | Yahweh, Hear this Prayer and Come Down to Save
July 5 | Isaiah 65-66 | Yahweh Answers: Judgment and the New Creation | Pastor Robert Cline
July 12 | Matthew 5:1-12 | Kingdom Blessings | John Thompson
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: North Africa – Team Expansion We are privileged to partner with the K family in North Africa. For 15 years, the Ks have been reaching unbelievers in a predominantly Muslim country (99%). And yet, the body of Christ is growing in that nation.
Some ways you may be praying: 1. Pray for a healthy, fruitful church led by godly, growing, local leaders. 2. Pray for these believers/leaders, especially as they face unique opportunities and challenges. 3. Pray for the K family – for a Jesus-centered home and joyful hearts. 4. Pray for the K family’s financial provision.
On-Call Pastor To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
The Restoring Love of God in Christ
From Pastor Robert
Isaiah 61 shows us the heart of God in Christ. He delights to reverse the fortunes of weak, broken, and sinful people. He comes near to those who are weary, ashamed, grieving, and burdened, bringing good news to the poor, binding up the brokenhearted, and comforting those who mourn. He gives beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, and praise in place of despair.
The LORD loves to restore ruins and make friends of His enemies.
That means we do not have to hide our needs from Him.
Too often, we think of the Christian life mainly in terms of duty, effort, and pressure. But when obedience is separated from the love of God, it begins to feel heavy. Isaiah 61 reminds us that the One who calls us is also the One who comforts us. The One who sends us is the One who first restores us. Jesus has already loved God and neighbor perfectly for us and in our place. His love is not a reward for obedience. His love is the very power that fuels it.
When the love of God in Christ truly settles into our hearts, obedience becomes a glad response to mercy rather than an added burden to carry. We forgive because we have been forgiven. We serve because we have been loved. We move toward others because Christ first moved toward us. We know our weakness, and we ask Jesus to give us His strength and love.
And as He restores us, He sends us. The comfort we receive from Jesus becomes the comfort we offer to others. The hope He gives us becomes the hope we carry into weary places. The restored are sent to rebuild the ruins, loving God and others in union with Christ.
So, bring your burdens and hurts afresh to Christ today. Rest in His love.
Ask Jesus to open your eyes to a discouraged believer, a hurting friend, or a lonely neighbor who needs His hope through you.
Ask Jesus to direct you to people He places in your path who are different from you in many ways, but who need you to show and tell them the good news.
In His love, Jesus still restores His people, and He still sends His people, going with them in love for the lost even to the ends of the earth.
Rest in the love of Christ this week as you live as His wholehearted follower to the glory of God.
Helpful Links
When the unreached people move into your neighborhood
Is it wrong to see Jesus in the Old Testament?
Be a living example of God’s Love
Life at High Pointe
Men’s Pickleball Event: Men, join us for a great time of fellowship, fun, and pickleball at Pickleland in Plfugerville from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Bring $5 to play!
Ladies’ Tea Party: Join us for a lovely Ladies’ Tea Party at church in the fellowship hall from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Enjoy an afternoon of fellowship, laughter, tea, sweet treats, and meaningful conversation. Tickets are $8 per person and include food and drinks. Space is limited to 35 ladies, so sign up today! Click here to register.
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:
June 7 | Luke 18:1-8 | Persistent Prayer | Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 14 | Luke 18:9-14 | The Pharisee and the Publican | Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 21 | Luke 18:15-17 | Let the Children Come | Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 28 | Isaiah 63:7-64:12 | Yahweh, Hear this Prayer and Come Down to Save
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: Middle East Ministries It is our joy to support one of our High Pointe families serving in the Middle East. We will not refer to them by name to protect their identity and location, but you may pray for them as you work through our membership directory.
Please pray that the Lord will give them favor and fruitfulness in their work. Pray that the Lord may send a like-minded and similar life-stage family (or two) to serve alongside them. And pray that we would care for and encourage them well.
On-Call Pastor To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
VBS Emerald Crossing 2026
From Pastor Robert
Don’t forget to invite neighbors and relatives to our Emerald Crossing Vacation Bible School, this week May 31–June 3, 6–8 p.m., with a special Wednesday Family Night for all ages. There will be engaging groups for children and adults, in both English and Spanish.
Kids will “travel” across a playful Irish landscape—through quiet valleys, beside “still waters,” and over “emerald” hills—as they unpack each phrase of Psalm 23 in ways they can see, feel, and remember. Each day will highlight a rich truth: the Lord provides, the Lord protects, the Lord is with us, the Lord leads us home.
Through fun Bible stories, lively music with a Celtic flair, creative crafts (like “sheep” and “staff” projects), and high‑energy games inspired by Irish countryside life, children will learn about Jesus, the Good Shepherd who knows their name, calms their fears, and guides their steps. Wednesday night will be a family night with games and food for all. You won’t want to miss the drama and skits.
Helpful Links
Don’t let the Darkness Get You Down (song) Short Facebook Video
Life at High Pointe
Combined Life Class – Baptist 101: This Sunday is the final week of our Life Class for adults, students, and children, meeting in the Old Choir Room. Throughout this class, we have been exploring why HPBC is a Baptist church and why that matters for our worship, leadership, membership, discipleship, and life together as the body. Come ready to learn, ask questions, and deepen your engagement in the life of our church family.
Emerald Crossing VBS 2026: May 31-June 3 from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. Registration is NOW open! Please register for the area where you are willing to volunteer and contribute (for example, snacks and decorating donations). You can also register children, students, and adults for VBS classes. It’s not too late to tell your friends so they can mark their calendars for this year’s VBS!
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:
May 31 | Isaiah 61:1-11 |The Servant Brings Freedom and Joy | Pastor Robert Cline
June 7 | Luke 18:1-8 | Persistent Prayer | Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 14 | Luke 18:9-14 | The Pharisee and the Publican | Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 21 | Luke 18:15-17 | Let the Children Come | Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 28 | Isaiah 63:7-64:12 | Yahweh, Hear this Prayer and Come Down to Save
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: Middle East Ministries It is our joy to support one of our High Pointe families serving in the Middle East. We will not refer to them by name to protect their identity and location, but you may pray for them as you work through our membership directory.
Please pray that the Lord will give them favor and fruitfulness in their work. Pray that the Lord may send a like-minded and similar life-stage family (or two) to serve alongside them. And pray that we would care for and encourage them well.
On-Call Pastor To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
What Will Christ’s Return Be Like?
When it comes to the last day, that is, the day of Jesus’s return, there is much confusion, deception, and madness. Many are confused as to what the Bible teaches in light of current events taking place in the world today. The Bible warns us that false messiahs who will deceive people leading them to say, “look here or there.” And some Christians obsess over end times to the degree that it is all they think about.
What is the CURE for the “Last Days Confusion, Deception, and Madness”? The ANSWER: The simple, clear teaching of Jesus about the last day. In Luke 17:20-27, Jesus teaches his disciples about the day of his return. First, he responds to the Pharisee’s question in vv.20-21. Then, he turns his attention to teaching his disciples. On Sunday, I gave us three sets of words that will help us understand the day of Jesus’s return so that we won’t be confused, deceived, or distraught. As to the Day of Jesus’s return…
It will be VISIBLE and UNDENIABLE (17:22-25) | Everyone will see it. So, don’t be confused or deceived.
It will be SUDDEN and SURPRISING (17:26-33) | So, be ready and hold on loosely to the things of this world.
It will be a day of SALVATION and JUDGMENT (17:34-37) | That Day will result in a great separation! Jesus will welcome all who turned away from the kingdoms of this world and bowed down to King Jesus, and will cast out into judgment all who reject him.
So, imagine that day. Will you be welcomed or cast out? Unbeliever, come now and fall at King Jesus’s feet. Christian, long for and pray for the return of Christ. That is the day we will see our salvation!
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
Volunteering in nursery or children’s ministry is a great way to get to know others at High Pointe and to serve our parents on Sunday mornings and other church gatherings. Reach out to Erin at erin@highpointeaustin.org
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org
Resources of the Week
The Return of Christ – Alan Bandy
The Two Ages – Benjamin Gladd
Four Ways Jesus’s Second Coming Changes Us Now – The Gospel Coalition
The Day of the Lord – Jason DeRouchie
Life at High Pointe
New Joint Life Class: We are offering a joint Life Class from May 17th - May 31st on learning what it means to be a Baptist – Baptist 101. Over three weeks, this combined Life Class for adults, students and children will explore why HPBC is a Baptist church and why that matters for our worship, leadership, membership, discipleship and life together as a body. Come ready to learn, ask questions, and deepen your engagement in the life of our church family.
Emerald Crossing VBS 2026: May 31-June 3 from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. Registration is NOW open! Please register for the area where you are willing to volunteer and or contribute (for example, snacks and decorating donations). You can also register children, students, and adults for VBS classes. It’s not too late to tell your friends so they can mark their calendars for this year’s VBS!
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:
May 24 | Isaiah 60 | Light and Glory in the Risen City | Pastor Robert Cline
May 31 | Isaiah 61:1-11 | Spirit Filled Servant Brings Jubilee Freedom | Pastor Robert Cline
June 7 | Luke 18:1-8 | Persistent Prayer | Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 14 | Luke 18:9-14 | The Pharisee and the Publican | Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 21 | Luke 18:15-17 | Let the Children Come | Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 28 | Isaiah 63:7-64:12 | Yahweh, Hear this Prayer and Come Down to Save
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: Middle East Ministries It is our joy to support one of our High Pointe families serving in the Middle East. We will not refer to them by name to protect their identity and location, but you may pray for them as you work through our membership directory.
Please pray that the Lord will give them favor and fruitfulness in their work. Pray that the Lord may send a like-minded and similar life-stage family (or two) to serve alongside them. And pray that we would care for and encourage them well.
On-Call Pastor To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
A Thankful Heart
Are you characterized by thankfulness? True salvation produces a heart that gives thanks for the gifts and praises God as the giver. And when you consider what you deserve (judgment) and recognize what Jesus offers (a salvation that includes cleansing, healing, and wholeness), you will affirm the gift of salvation you’ve received in Christ and affirm God as the source of that salvation.
That’s what produces a thankful heart – reflecting on our great salvation moves us to fall down at Jesus’s feet, like the Samaritan leper in Luke 17:11-19, praising God and thanking Jesus for our glorious salvation. May we be marked by thankfulness!
The good news is that we can grow in thankfulness by practicing thankfulness. So, as we go about our week, let’s do so:
In our private devotions (Psalm 7:17) – count your blessings, name them, and give thanks.
In our prayers for one another (Ephesians 1:15-16) – look for evidence of grace in one another’s lives. Look for how God is working in your brothers and sisters and give thanks.
In our gatherings (Ephesians 5:18-20) – as we rehearse the gospel in our gatherings as we pray the word, read the word, sing the word, preach the word, and see the word in the ordinances, give thanks to God with your voice, in song, with your body, lifting holy hands.
As we’re scattered (Psalm 57:9) – as we go about our day at work or recreation, let us be marked by thankfulness to God. That will allow us to be faithful witnesses in a cynical and thankless world.
We’ve received the greatest gift of all. We were unclean, separated from God, deserving judgment. But by faith in Christ, we’ve been cleansed and brought near to God and his people. We cannot help but praise God and give thanks!
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
Volunteering in nursery or children’s ministry is a great way to get to know others at High Pointe and to serve our parents on Sunday mornings and other church gatherings. Reach out to Erin at erin@highpointeaustin.org
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org.
Resources of the Week
Christian Thankfulness: What It Is ( and Isn’t) – Desiring God, John Piper
What Does It Mean to Praise? – Modern Reformation, W. Robert Godfrey
Book Recommendations on Thankfulness:
The Grumbler’s Guide to Giving Thanks – Dustin Crowe
Practicing Thankfulness – Sam Crabtree
Growing in Gratitude – Mary Mohler
Life at High Pointe
Spring Life Classes We will offer a joint Life Class from May 17th to May 31st. Over three weeks, this combined Life Class for adults, students, and children will explore why HPBC is a Baptist church and why that matters for our worship, leadership, membership, discipleship and life together as a body. Come ready to learn, ask questions, and deepen your engagement in the life of our church family.
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:
May 17 | Luke 17:20-37 | When Will the Kingdom Come? | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 24 | Isaiah 60 | Light and Glory in the Risen City | Pastor Robert Cline
May 31 | Isaiah 61:1-11 | Spirit Filled Servant Brings Jubilee Freedom | Pastor Robert Cline
June 7 | Luke 18:1-8 | Persistent Prayer | Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 14 | Luke 18:9-14 | The Pharisee and the Publican | Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 21 | Luke 18:15-17 | Let the Children Come | Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 28 | Isaiah 63:7-64:12 | Yahweh, Hear this Prayer and Come Down to Save
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: Middle East Ministries It is our joy to support one of our High Pointe families serving in the Middle East. We will not refer to them by name to protect their identity and location, but you may pray for them as you work through our membership directory.
Please pray that the Lord will give them favor and fruitfulness in their work. Pray that the Lord may send a like-minded and similar life-stage family (or two) to serve alongside them. And pray that we would care for and encourage them well.
On-Call Pastor To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
Let’s Help One Another Fight Sin!
At High Pointe, we want to become and make wholehearted followers of Jesus among all peoples. But what does that mean? What does that look like?
In Luke 17:1-10, Jesus gives us a glimpse. Wholehearted followers of Jesus:
Take sin seriously (17:1-3).
Forgive others freely (17:3-4).
Live by faith genuinely (17:5-6).
And serve Jesus humbly (17:7-10).
There is a lot to that, but to review: We can only live that kind of wholehearted life by faith in Jesus and a love for one another.
We can fight sin together by lovingly confronting one another when we sin, patiently guiding one another toward confession of sin and true repentance, and graciously forgiving one another when we repent. Use these questions to help you think on these things more deeply:
Are there any areas of your speech, online behavior, or counsel that might be causing a younger believer to stumble?
What practical habits or accountability structures do you have in place to guard yourself and your community against temptation?
Do you have someone in your life to whom you can confess your sin and ask for guidance as you repent?
Is there someone you need to speak to about sin but you’ve been avoiding it?
Is there someone that you need to forgive but have been withholding it?
As wholehearted followers of Jesus, this should be a normal and regular pattern in our lives together as a church: rebuke with the goal of repentance that results in forgiveness. It may feel awkward to confront a brothers or sister, but it is vital to our holiness together. By faith in Jesus, we can do what is awkward for God’s glory and our good.
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
Volunteering in nursery or children’s ministry is a great way to get to know others at High Pointe and to serve our parents on Sunday mornings and other church gatherings. Reach out to Erin at erin@highpointeaustin.org.
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org.
Resources of the Week
5 Things You Should Know About Fighting Sin – Ligonier
7 Traits of True Repentance – Jim Newheiser
10 Things to Know About Repentance – Chris Brauns
Using Small Groups to Fight Sin – 9Marks
7 Tips for Confronting a Friend in Sin – Crossway
Understanding and Cultivating Forgiveness – CCEF Video
Life at High Pointe
Spring Life Classes NO LIFE CLASSES, Sunday, May 10. We will offer a join Life Class from May 17th - May 31st on learning what it means to be a Baptist – Baptist 101. Join us!
Emerald Crossing, VBS 2026 | May 31 - June 3 from 6:00-8:30pm
Registration is open! Click the link to register your kids, volunteer, donate snacks/decor, or attend an adult class!
Men’s Breakfast | May 16 at 7:30am
Brothers, join us for a men's breakfast in the Fellowship Hall at High Pointe. We’ll enjoy a great meal (eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, fruit, and more), meaningful fellowship, and a time of encouragement.
Memorial Day Picnic | May 24 at 5pm
Join us as we gather as a church for fellowship, fun, and BBQ. Bring the whole family! The church will provide the BBQ, but members are asked to bring the sides and desserts. Check out the list below to see what you can contribute!
If your last name begins with:
A-E: bring desserts
F-M: bring cold sides
N-Z: bring hot sides
Teens and college students: bring beverages
Please bring your own folding chairs and blankets if you are planning to eat outside, and bring outside yard games for fun activities!
If anyone would like to volunteer to help set-up/clean-up please reach out to Beth Hyman for more details.
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:
May 10 | Luke 17:11-19 | A Thankful Heart | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 17 | Luke 17:20-37 | When Will the Kingdom Come? | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 24 | Isaiah 60 | Light and Glory in the Risen City | Pastor Robert Cline
May 31 | Isaiah 61:1-11 | Spirit Filled Servant Brings Jubilee Freedom | Pastor Robert Cline
June 7 | Luke 18:1-8 | Persistent Prayer | Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 14 | Luke 18:9-14 | The Pharisee and the Publican | Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 21 | Luke 18:15-17 | Let the Children Come | Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 28 | Isaiah 63:7-64:12 | Yahweh, Hear this Prayer and Come Down to Save
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: Middle East Ministries It is our joy to support one of our High Pointe families serving in the Middle East. We will not refer to them by name to protect their identity and location, but you may pray for them as you work through our membership directory.
Please pray that the Lord will give them favor and fruitfulness in their work. Pray that the Lord may send a like-minded and similar life-stage family (or two) to serve alongside them. And pray that we would care for and encourage them well.
On-Call Pastor To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
You Are Not Enough (And That's Good News). Share it this week.
From Pastor Robert
You've got this! Pull yourself up by your bootstraps! Hustle harder! Just follow these 5 steps to personal development and all will be well. You can change your future. You can change who you are…if you just follow these simple steps.
It is hard to escape the relentless noise. Every podcast, every motivational post, every self-help bestseller is broadcasting the same signal: you have what it takes to make life work in this broken world. But what if that signal is wrong?
Isaiah 59 tells us plainly that we are not self-sufficient. That self-reliance is not a strength. It is self-deception.
Writing 2,700 years ago, the prophet Isaiah looked at a people stumbling in moral darkness while convinced they were doing fine. His diagnosis could not have been clearer: "Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God." (Isaiah 59:2) The wall between you and God is not His doing. It is yours. And no amount of hustle, self-improvement, positive thinking, or spiritual effort can tear it down from your side.
Then something remarkable happens. Isaiah describes a God who saw the full depth of Israel's brokenness, searched the entire horizon for someone able to help, found no one who could solve the sin problem. He didn’t abandon his promises or his people.
So His own arm brought salvation. He came as the Divine Warrior, armed with righteousness and zeal. He came as Christ the Redeemer, specifically for those who are desperate enough to admit they cannot save themselves. He came in flesh, in the person of Jesus Christ, to accomplish what you never could: pay the moral debt you owe your Creator, give you a new heart to love Him and your neighbor, and stir in you a new desire to work for the flourishing of the community around you.
You are not enough. You never were. But He is. And that is not an insult. It is an invitation. Stop striving. Stop pretending. Turn to the One who intervenes when no one else can.
That is the best news you will ever hear. It’s news that we need to share with others.
Who can you point to Jesus this week?
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
Volunteering in nursery or children’s ministry is a great way to get to know others at High Pointe and to serve our parents on Sunday mornings and other church gatherings. Reach out to Erin at erin@highpointeaustin.org.
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org.
Resources of the Week
WHAT TO SAY TO SOMEONE IN GRIEF 5 MINUTE VIDEO
Life at High Pointe
Emerald Crossing Vacation Bible School | May 31-June 3 | 6:00-8:30pm
Online registration is NOW OPENfor VBS! Please register for the area where you are willing to volunteer and/or contribute (snacks and decorating help, for example). You can also register children, students, and adults for VBS classes now. It’s not too early to tell your friends so they can mark their calendars for this year’s VBS!
Spring Life Classes
Life Classes are meant to equip High Pointe for life as a Christian. Our spring classes are from January 25th - May 31th. Click here to see which Life Classes are being offered!
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:
May 3 | Luke 17:1-10 | Our Life Together | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 10 | Luke 17:11-19 | A Thankful Heart | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 17 | Luke 17:20-37 | When Will the Kingdom Come? | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 24 | Isaiah 60 | Light and Glory in the Risen City | Pastor Robert Cline
May 31 | Isaiah 61:1-11 | Spirit Filled Servant Brings Jubilee Freedom | Pastor Robert Cline
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: Immanuel Church, Fujairah, UAE
We have the privilege of partnering with pastor Jesse Brannen and Immanuel Church of Fujairah. Jesse and his wife, Delaine, are from the United States and came to Immanuel Church in 2021 along with their four children. Prior to coming to Immanuel, Jesse served as an Assistant Pastor at Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, where he previously completed a pastoral internship. He holds an MA in Biblical & Theological Studies from Gulf Theological Seminary.
Immanuel Fujairah is A Church Proclaiming and Displaying the Gospel of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ - Immanuel - God with Us. To learn more, visit Immanuel Fujairah online
On-Call Pastor
To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
The Servant No One Expected (Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12)
From Pastor Robert
Written 700 years before Jesus was born, this passage is one of the most remarkable in all of Scripture. The prophet Isaiah paints a portrait of a Suffering Servant so precise and detailed that readers across centuries have stopped and asked: who is this?
God Says: "Behold, My Servant"
Before anyone else speaks, God speaks. He announces a Servant who will be "high and lifted up and exalted." This language is used elsewhere in Isaiah 6 for God Himself on His throne. But then we read that this same Servant is so disfigured that people are appalled at the sight of Him. Glory through suffering. Exaltation through humiliation. This is God's way, and it is not the way we would have written the story.
We Said of the Servant: "Not Him"
Isaiah then gives us the crowd's sobering response. The Servant grew up quietly, without an impressive appearance or earthly status. He looked ordinary; not like a movie star. He was "despised and rejected, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." People turned their faces away. They wrote Him off and looked elsewhere. This isn’t the Savior we want.
We also recognize ourselves in that crowd. We often prefer a Savior who meets our expectations. A powerful, triumphant, and visibly impressive Servant Savior. But Jesus came humbly and simply.
We Confess: "Our Wounds, His Cross"
The watching community finally sees and understands the Servant came to suffer in their place, for their sins: "He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."
The innocent sinless Servant was not suffering for anything He had done. He was suffering for everything we had done. God loaded upon the Servant our moral guilt, our wandering, our rebellion and "laid on him the iniquity of us all." And like a lamb led quietly to slaughter, the Servant did not resist. His silence was not weakness; it was the willing, loving surrender of God’s own son to be the sacrifice for our sins.
Substitution: God saves us by the innocent One taking the place of the guilty. Our wounds and sorrows and sins carried by Him.
God Gets the Last Word: "It Is Finished"
God Speaks again. The Servant's death was not a tragedy; it was Plan A. The Servant's soul was made a guilt offering for sin, and through that offering, "many are accounted righteous." Yet, the Servant will "see his offspring, prolong his days, and be satisfied". This isthe language of resurrection and reward.
Jesus Himself, hanging on the cross put it this way: "It is finished" (John 19:30). Not a cry of defeat, but of complete victory over sin and death. The work is done. The debt is paid. The substitutionary sacrifice accepted.
Two Ways to Respond This Week
Isaiah 53 meets us right where we are.
1. Read again slowly and personally. Open your Bible to Isaiah 53 and read it aloud, replacing "our" and "we" with your own name. Let the personal pronouns do their work. These are not just words for ancient Israel they are words written about your sin, your healing, and your peace.
2. Offer a simple prayer of thanks to Christ the Suffering Servant Savior. You do not need elaborate words. "Lord, thank you that your Servant bore what I deserved" is a prayer God delights to hear. Rest today in the truth that His finished work is enough and there is nothing you need to add to that finished work of Jesus.
The One the world refused is the Savior we all need. His wounds are our healing. His cross is our peace. His victory is our hope.
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
Volunteering in nursery or children’s ministry is a great way to get to know others at High Pointe and to serve our parents on Sunday mornings and other church gatherings. Reach out to Erin at erin@highpointeaustin.org.
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org.
Resources of the Week
WHAT TO SAY TO SOMEONE IN GRIEF 5 MINUTE VIDEO
Life at High Pointe
Emerald Crossing Vacation Bible School | May 31-June 3 | 6:00-8:30pm
Online registration is NOW OPEN for VBS! Please register for the area where you are willing to volunteer and/or contribute (snacks and decorating help, for example). You can also register children, students, and adults for VBS classes now. It’s not too early to tell your friends so they can mark their calendars for this year’s VBS!
Spring Life Classes
Life Classes are meant to equip High Pointe for life as a Christian. Our spring classes are from January 25th - May 31th. Click here to see which Life Classes are being offered!
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:
April 26 | Isaiah 59:14-21 | The Only Feasible Option: Yahweh Himself will Accomplish It | Pastor Robert Cline
May 3 | Luke 17:1-10 | Our Life Together | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 10 | Luke 17:11-19 | A Thankful Heart | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 17 | Luke 17:20-37 | When Will the Kingdom Come? | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 24 | Isaiah 60 | Light and Glory in the Risen City | Pastor Robert Cline
May 31 | Isaiah 61:1-11 | Spirit Filled Servant Brings Jubilee Freedom | Pastor Robert Cline
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: Immanuel Church, Fujairah, UAE
We have the privilege of partnering with pastor Jesse Brannen and Immanuel Church of Fujairah. Jesse and his wife, Delaine, are from the United States and came to Immanuel Church in 2021 along with their four children. Prior to coming to Immanuel, Jesse served as an Assistant Pastor at Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, where he previously completed a pastoral internship. He holds an MA in Biblical & Theological Studies from Gulf Theological Seminary.
Immanuel Fujairah is A Church Proclaiming and Displaying the Gospel of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ - Immanuel - God with Us. To learn more, visit Immanuel Fujairah online
On-Call Pastor
To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
The Hole in Our Holiness
In 2013, a popular evangelical pastor wrote a book titled, “One Way Love: Inexhaustible Grace for an Exhausted World.” He argued that God’s grace is one-directional without any precondition, merit, or reciprocal obligation on our part. He was concerned about legalistic “performancism,” and his solution was to free people from the weight of “doing” by emphasizing “who we are in Christ” already.
His critics warned, however, that his emphasis on the gospel of free grace undermined the law of God. That is, by only emphasizing the gospel of radical grace, he denied the gospel’s demand (the law) for an obedience that leads to holiness. This tension between law and gospel in the Christian life is not new.
The key question we have to consider is, “Does the gospel of radical grace free us from us from obeying the commands of God – the law?” And the clear answer Jesus gives in Luke 16:17-18, is an emphatic NO! Though we are no longer under the law of Moses (circumcision, dietary restrictions, festivals), we are under the law of Christ. But we still relate to the Old Testament law as Scripture. Our guide for how to apply it to ourselves as Christians is Jesus. And that is what Jesus does in Luke 16:18.
There is a great danger in preaching a gospel that does not also demand righteousness. On June 21, 2015, the author of “One-Way Love” resigned from his pastorate after admitting to an extramarital affair. The author’s critics argued that such an antinomian-leaning emphasis on unconditional grace, with an underemphasis on the law’s sanctifying role, was not unrelated to his moral fall. In other words, what we believe matters; our theology guides our actions.
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
Volunteering in nursery or children’s ministry is a great way to get to know others at High Pointe and to serve our parents on Sunday mornings and other church gatherings. Reach out to Erin at erin@highpointeaustin.org.
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org.
Resources of the Week
The Hole in Our Holiness – book by Kevin DeYoung
Preach the Good News of Guilt and Justification – a sermon by Kevin DeYoung
He Bore Our Sins that We Might Life to Righteousness – a sermon by John Piper
Life at High Pointe
Spring Life Classes
Life Classes are meant to equip High Pointe for life as a Christian. Our spring classes are from January 25th - May 31th. Click here to see which Life Classes are being offered!
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:
April 19 | Isaiah 53 | The Atoning Servant Who Suffers and Rises Again | Pastor Robert Cline
April 26 | Isaiah 59:14-21 | The Only Feasible Option: Yahweh Himself will Accomplish It | Pastor Robert Cline
May 3 | Luke 17:1-10 | Our Life Together | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 10 | Luke 17:11-19 | A Thankful Heart | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 17 | Luke 17:20-37 | When Will the Kingdom Come? | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 24 | Isaiah 60 | Light and Glory in the Risen City | Pastor Robert Cline
May 31 | Isaiah 61:1-11 | Spirit Filled Servant Brings Jubilee Freedom | Pastor Robert Cline
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: Immanuel Church, Fujairah, UAE
We have the privilege of partnering with pastor Jesse Brannen and Immanuel Church of Fujairah. Jesse and his wife, Delaine, are from the United States and came to Immanuel Church in 2021 along with their four children. Prior to coming to Immanuel, Jesse served as an Assistant Pastor at Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, where he previously completed a pastoral internship. He holds an MA in Biblical & Theological Studies from Gulf Theological Seminary.
Immanuel Fujairah is A Church Proclaiming and Displaying the Gospel of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ - Immanuel - God with Us. To learn more, visit Immanuel Fujairah online
On-Call Pastor
To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
How to Read the Bible Like a Christian
Don’t we all read our Bibles like Christians? Well, all who profess faith in Christ are Christians, and, we expect, all Christians read their Bibles. So, what do I mean?
Think of the first Christians. The only Bible they had was what we now call the Old Testament. That was Jesus’s Bible. This was the apostle’s Bible. How did they read it? THAT is the question, and it’s an important one.
We get a clear sense as to how Jesus read his Bible from Luke 24:25-27, 44-49. Jesus is the LENS through which we read all of Scripture. But that still leaves the question of HOW the Old Testament commands apply to us. And THAT is the question before us this Sunday when we gather to consider Luke 16:14-18.
There was much confusion in the early church as some Jews (Judaizers) went around trying to convince Gentiles to become circumcised and observe the Old Testament dietary laws and festivals. Thankfully, Jesus and the apostles addressed this concern, and this Sunday, we will learn from Jesus how to read our Bibles, in particular, the Old Testament as Christians. Join us!
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
Volunteering in nursery or children’s ministry is a great way to get to know others at High Pointe and to serve our parents on Sunday mornings and other church gatherings. Reach out to Erin at erin@highpointeaustin.org.
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org.
Resources of the Week
10 Reasons the Old Testament Matters to Christians – Jason DeRouchie
When My Old Testament Became Christian – Jason DeRouchie
The Law of God – Stephen Wellum
Life at High Pointe
Spring Life Classes
Life Classes are meant to equip High Pointe for life as a Christian. Our spring classes are from January 25th - May 31th. Click here to see which Life Classes are being offered!
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:
April 12 | Luke 16:14-18 | Learning to Read Your Bible Like a Christian | Pastor Juan Sanchez
April 19 | Isaiah 53 | The Atoning Servant Who Suffers and Rises Again | Pastor Robert Cline
April 26 | Isaiah 59:14-21 | The Only Feasible Option: Yahweh Himself will Accomplish It | Pastor Robert Cline
May 3 | Luke 17:1-10 | Our Life Together | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 10 | Luke 17:11-19 | A Thankful Heart | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 17 | Luke 17:20-37 | When Will the Kingdom Come? | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 24 | Isaiah 60 | Light and Glory in the Risen City | Pastor Robert Cline
May 31 | Isaiah 61:1-11 | Spirit Filled Servant Brings Jubilee Freedom | Pastor Robert Cline
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: Immanuel Church, Fujairah, UAE
We have the privilege of partnering with pastor Jesse Brannen and Immanuel Church of Fujairah. Jesse and his wife, Delaine, are from the United States and came to Immanuel Church in 2021 along with their four children. Prior to coming to Immanuel, Jesse served as an Assistant Pastor at Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, where he previously completed a pastoral internship. He holds an MA in Biblical & Theological Studies from Gulf Theological Seminary.
Immanuel Fujairah is A Church Proclaiming and Displaying the Gospel of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ - Immanuel - God with Us. To learn more, visit Immanuel Fujairah online
On-Call Pastor
To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
Help Provide a Welcoming Environment for our Guests on Easter Sunday
Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you . . .
Philippians 4:21-22
We rejoice over the many visitors the Lord brings to our gatherings each week. This Sunday, April 5, is Easter, and we are likely to welcome an increased number of visitors, some for the very first time. You already welcome visitors with kindness and love each Lord’s Day. Visitors take notice. While we praise God for His work in us that opens our hearts to visitors, let’s continue to grow in Christian hospitality on Sundays. The following suggestions are just some ways we can help our guests feel welcome and at home each Sunday, but especially this coming Easter Sunday.
Leave the parking spaces closest to the entrances for our first time guests and senior adults. We have clearly marked our guest parking area. We ask that our members honor our guests by leaving these spaces open for visitors. For those who are able, we ask that you utilize the farther parking spaces so our senior adults will not have as far to walk. Also, please note that if our parking lot should happen to be wet, it may be slick, so help one another to the building.
Greet everyone you see with a smile whether you know them or not. From the time you step out of your vehicle, greet everyone with a friendly smile and tell them how glad you are to see them. Use the time from the parking lot to welcome visitors.
Introduce yourself to those you don’t know. If you don’t know someone, take the time to greet them and introduce yourself. Make an effort to meet a new person or family each Sunday.
Assist those who don’t seem to know where they are going. Remember, you may know where everything is, but our guests are not familiar with our facilities. Take time to show them around and offer to take them to where they need to go.
Fill the seats at the front of the auditorium first when you enter. We all run behind schedule at times for various reasons. Latecomers and guests do not like to parade before the entire congregation on their way to find a seat. If we fill the seats up front (and scoot toward the middle), then visitors and latecomers can slip in without having to walk in front of the entire congregation.
Don’t rush off after the service. Instead, take a few minutes to greet visitors. Thank them for attending our services and invite them to come again.
Bring your guests to the foyer (Connection Center) for a free gift bag. We have prepared gift bags for our guests, which contain information about our church and other free materials. Gift bags will also be available in the nursery.
Invite visitors to a meal at a restaurant or in your home after the service. One of the best ways to get to know someone is to share a meal together. Practice Christian hospitality by inviting someone to eat lunch with you after worship.
Invite first-time visitors to come back and worship with us again. You will be amazed how much weight a personal invitation carries. Encourage visitors to return and worship with us on a regular Sunday.
I thank God for you, High Pointe, and the love and fellowship we share with one another. Right or wrong, visitors will form an opinion about our church within the first few minutes after they arrive. Let’s make every effort to make our visitors feel welcome through genuine, loving Christian hospitality.
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
Volunteering in nursery or children’s ministry is a great way to get to know others at High Pointe and to serve our parents on Sunday mornings and other church gatherings. Reach out to Erin at erin@highpointeaustin.org.
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org.
Resources of the Week
Wess Huff on The Resurrection- Video (Share with your unbelieving friends)
The Final Days of Jesus – a TGC Study Course
Life at High Pointe
Spring Life Classes
Life Classes are meant to equip High Pointe for life as a Christian. Our spring classes are from January 25th - May 31th. Click here to see which Life Classes are being offered!
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:
April 5 | EASTER | Luke 16:19-31 | The Rich Man and Lazarus | Pastor Juan Sanchez
April 12 | Luke 16:18 | What the Bible says about Divorce and Remarriage | Pastor Juan Sanchez
April 19 | Isaiah 53 | The Atoning Servant Who Suffers and Rises Again | Pastor Robert Cline
April 26 | Isaiah 59:14-21 | The Only Feasible Option: Yahweh Himself will Accomplish It | Pastor Robert Cline
May 3 | Luke 17:1-10 | Our Life Together | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 10 | Luke 17:11-19 | A Thankful Heart | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 17 | Luke 17:20-37 | When Will the Kingdom Come? | Pastor Juan Sanchez
May 24 | Isaiah 60 | Light and Glory in the Risen City | Pastor Robert Cline
May 31 | Isaiah 61:1-11 | Spirit Filled Servant Brings Jubilee Freedom | Pastor Robert Cline
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: Immanuel Church, Fujairah, UAE
We have the privilege of partnering with pastor Jesse Brannen and Immanuel Church of Fujairah. Jesse and his wife, Delaine, are from the United States and came to Immanuel Church in 2021 along with their four children. Prior to coming to Immanuel, Jesse served as an Assistant Pastor at Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, where he previously completed a pastoral internship. He holds an MA in Biblical & Theological Studies from Gulf Theological Seminary.
Immanuel Fujairah is A Church Proclaiming and Displaying the Gospel of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ - Immanuel - God with Us. To learn more, visit Immanuel Fujairah online
On-Call Pastor
To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.