Don’t Fear Man. Fear God!
When writing to Timothy, who was pastoring the church in Ephesus when false teachers opposed him and the gospel, he reminded him, “...all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). This is the NORMAL Christian life.
We may not presently experience the extreme or high persecution the church has endured over the last 2,000 years, but we should and must prepare for it. This is what Jesus is doing for his disciples in Luke 12:1-12. He exhorts them to (1) pursue integrity, not hypocrisy (vv.1-3); (2) fear God, not man (vv.4-7); and (3) rely on the Spirit, not self (vv.8-12). Times of difficulty will come. Persecution will arrive. We must prepare now. How?
Believe the truth of God (Big God theology) and the gospel (Christ had died for us).
Pursue integrity (let your life match what your lips speak).
Fear God, not man (the worst they can do is kill you. God is the final judge).
Trust God (he cares for you, for you are more important than birds).
Rely on the Holy Spirit (he has saved us, given us Scripture, and will teach us what to say when we need to say something).
When opposition rises because we are followers of Jesus, you don’t have to be anxious. That doesn’t mean we won’t be rejected, mocked, publicly shamed, harmed, or even killed. But because we are God’s children and Jesus’s friends, the worst they can do is kill us. To be absent from the body is to be present with Christ.
Listen to Sunday’s Sermon HERE.
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
Ministries Focused on the Persecuted Church:
How to Pray for Persecuted Christians
Blessed are the Persecuted – a sermon by John Piper
Your Suffering is Not Meaningless – Ask Pastor John (Piper)
Life at High Pointe
Women’s Christmas Brunch | December 6
Save the date for the annual Women’s Christmas Brunch! This is a sweet time for fellowship and food. Register here by December 4.
High Pointe Christmas Missions Offering
During this Christmas season, High Pointe will be collecting a special Christmas Missions Offering. The goal is to raise $27,000 in support of IMB Middle East Partners, Ekklesia Afrika, and N. Africa Partners. For ways to give, please click here.
Members’ Meeting | December 14
Members please plan to attend our December Member’s Meeting where we will be voting on the proposed constitution.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service | December 24
Please join us at 6pm on December 24 for our Christmas Eve Service. There will be invitations available this Sunday to hand out to your neighbors, family, and friends. Come celebrate and reflect on the birth of our Savior.
Fall Life Classes | Sunday at 9AM
Life Classes are meant to equip High Pointe for life as a Christian. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity and join us! Click here to see our current Life Classes. Please note that we will be combining Life Classes for 3 weeks (11/30, 12/7, 12/14). This will be in the Livingston Room. No Youth or Children’s life classes. Childcare will still be available (8mo-PreK).
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:
December 7 | Luke 12:13-34 | Don’t Worry. Trust God | Pastor Juan Sanchez
December 14 | Luke 12:35-59 | Don’t Waste Your Life. Be Ready | Pastor Juan Sanchez
December 21 | Luke 13:1-9 | Now is the Time to Repent | Pastor Juan Sanchez
December 28 | Isaiah | Pastor Robert Cline
January 4 | Pastor Robert Cline
January 11 | Habakkuk | Pastor Juan Sanchez
January 18 | Habakkuk | Pastor Juan Sanchez
January 25 | Habakkuk | Pastor Juan Sanchez
February 1 | Luke 13:10-17 | What is the Point of the Sabbath? | Pastor Juan Sanchez
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: The P Family
J.P. and E.P. recently relocated to begin language and cultural immersion as they pursue long-term work in their new city. They are navigating the challenges of joining a new team while adjusting to a small fellowship. Please pray for their consistency and perseverance in language acquisition, for deep and authentic friendships to develop, and for their children to thrive and find joy during this significant transition.
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.
