Faith That Bears Fruit
Have you ever wondered why some people receive the gospel gladly and others do not? Do you ever wonder why some people seem to respond to Christ with joy, but later fall away from the faith? These are some of the questions Jesus answers in the Parable of the Soils in Luke 8:1-21. In this parable, Jesus teaches that only those who hear and obey the gospel with persevering, fruit-bearing faith are true members of God’s kingdom family.
The parable reminds us that, like Jesus, we are responsible for proclaiming the good news of the kingdom to all peoples (8:1-3). It also reminds us that, like Jesus, we will get mixed responses to the gospel (8:4-15). Only the whole-hearted have faith that endures and produces fruit (8:15). The question Jesus wants us to ask ourselves is, “Which soil [heart] am I?”
Here are “Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health” from a book by the same title by Donald Whitney. Read through the questions and answer them honestly. Then ask for the Spirit to help you and strengthen your faith. If you’re not a Christian, then ask yourself, “Why not?”
Do you thirst for God?
Are you governed increasingly by God’s word?
Are you [growing in being] more loving?
Are you [growing in being] more sensitive to God’s presence?
Do you have a growing concern for the spiritual and temporal needs of others?
Do you delight in the bride of Christ [the church]?
Are the spiritual disciplines increasingly important to you?
Do you still grieve over your sin?
Are you a quick forgiver?
Do you yearn for heaven to be with Jesus?
To listen to Sunday’s message, click HERE.
Resources of the Week
12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child by John Piper
Why Did Jesus Speak in Parables by Sinclair Ferguson
Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health by Donald Whitney
Book Review by Tim Challies (contains the ten questions to ask yourself)
Song of the Month: Come Christians, Join to Sing
Contribution Update
We’ve Got a New Mailing Address!
High Pointe now has a brand new PO Box! This change will help us process your offerings more securely and efficiently.
For Donation checks sent by mail, please use this new address:
High Pointe Baptist Church
PO Box 80043
Austin, TX 78708
Opportunities to Serve and Grow at High Pointe
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
Vacation Bible School | A Church-Wide Outreach Event | STARTS THIS SUNDAY | June 1-4, 6:00-8:30pm
Vacation Bible School starts this Sunday, June 1, at 6:00 PM! It’s not too late to register to attend (kids, teens, adult classes in English & Spanish) or to volunteer for Family night. Invite your friends, coworkers, and neighbors! Click here to register. Pray that the Lord will, in His kindness, allow us to see people from our community come to faith in Jesus through our efforts.
Men’s Walking Together Group | Wednesday, June 11 (ongoing meetings until August 13)
Men, please join us on Wednesday nights at 6:30 PM from June 11-August 13 as we meet to study God’s Word and read through “The Blessings of Humility” by Jerry Bridges. For more information and to register, click here.
Women’s Neighborhood Dinner Fellowship | June 14 at 5:30 PM (various locations)
Ladies, please join your High Pointe neighbors for dinner Saturday, June 14! You can register online here or in the Church Center App. The deadline to register for this event is Sunday, June 8. There will be several locations across the Austin area, so you can choose your own neighborhood and enjoy extended conversation and fellowship with other High Pointe women in your area!
No Life Classes THIS Sunday, Summer Life Classes Begin June 8
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. This session, we are offering the following Summer Life Class:
What Does It Mean to Be a Christian Today?
The way Christians live out their faith has always been affected by the culture and context around them. That’s as true for us today as it was for believers centuries ago. So how have Christians remained faithful in the face of changing times, challenges, and cultures? This summer, join us as we explore the lives of key figures from Church History and discover how they sought to follow Christ in their own era. Each week we’ll zoom in on a different individual (or group), considering their faithfulness, flaws, and what we can take away from their example.
Please note: There is no children’s ministry or nursery provided during the summer months.
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 1 | New Series from Isaiah | Pastor Robert Cline
June 8 | New Series from Isaiah | Pastor Robert Cline
June 15 | Luke 8:22-9:6 | Jesus is Lord of All| Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 22 | Luke 9:7-27 | Who Do You Say Jesus Is? | Pastor Juan Sanchez
June 29 | Luke 9:28-50 | The Majesty of Christ | Pastor Juan Sanchez
July 6-27 | Summer Preaching Series
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: Cuba | 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 and on weekends. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
