Trading Our Attention
From Pastor Robert
In our study of 2 Peter 1:16-21 last Sunday, I challenged us to consider one specific moment each day when we might choose to open God's Word and read Scripture rather than letting our attention be hijacked by scrolling, the 24-hour news cycle, or the ever-present "to do list" the instant we have a free moment. Peter calls Scripture a lamp shining in a dark place, something we do well to pay attention to (2 Peter 1:19). Peter reminds us that God speaks through the Scriptures, and so we do well to pay careful attention to what He says…and we can do that not just in the mornings but at various times during our days.
Every day we make trades. We trade money for groceries, time for rest, effort for growth. The question is whether we are making good trades with our attention, the one resource we can never get back. Algorithms, screens, and devices are all competing for our attention. Every glance at a screen is a small trade. The Lord invites us to make a better one, trading a few scattered minutes for a few focused ones paying attention to His Word.
We can practice choosing to pay attention to our God who speaks to us through the Bible.
Paying attention to God's Word can look like:
Reading portions of the Bible
Copying portions of Scripture onto a notecard
Using a Bible app notification to read Scripture three times a day
Reading Scripture with another person
Listening to portions of the Bible
Reciting Scripture verses
Memorizing Bible verses and passages
Meditating on Bible passages
Praying Scripture as we read it
Praying the promises of God which are "Yes! And Amen!" in Jesus Christ.
Almost all of these can be done privately and personally. But when we invite others to pay attention to God's Word together, it becomes even more fruitful. We remind one another to remember.
Some trades worth making:
When you feel anxious or bored, reach for a Scripture app instead of reaching for your phone to check notifications, email, or social media.
Trade one weekly lunch hour for an appointment with God's Word alone or with someone else. Then read, discuss, and pray through the Bible together.
Trade one 30-minute block of sports highlights or news for a half hour of careful, prayerful attention to Scripture.
Trade a gaming session, your daily TikTok scroll, or a YouTube binge for focused time in the Word.
Your attention is valuable so spend it wisely.
*In Sunday’s message, I mistakenly said that James and Peter were crucified. James, the first apostle to be martyred was beheaded, not crucified.
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 to 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 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.
