The Highway Community: Recent Episodes
The Highway Community
The Highway Community is a nondenominational Christian congregation in the heart of Silicon Valley. Our core values are Hope, Authenticity, Truth, and Community.
The abiding presence of God can, and does, evoke a variety of responses from within our hearts. As we look our scriptures today we witness the goodness, the kindness, the shelter and the rescue of God. Our hearts are invited to draw near to the presence of God that we might experience the fullness of God's goodness.
What does it really mean to say that God “knows everything”? For many of us, that idea doesn’t feel comforting—it feels invasive. In a world shaped by data collection, surveillance, and algorithms that know our habits better than our friends do, being “fully known” can sound more like control than love. This talk explores the deep tension between being watched and being truly known, tracing a spectrum of Christian perspectives on God’s omniscience while refusing easy answers. Along the way, it asks a more personal question: is God’s knowledge like data, or like intimacy? Not a system tracking us—but a presence who sees us, remembers us, and holds us without shame.
We all tend to imagine God in ways that fit us—filtered, familiar, and often transactional. In this message, we explore a surprising and freeing truth about who God really is: God doesn’t need us.Drawing from Moses at the burning bush and Paul’s sermon at Mars Hill, we look at God’s self-sufficiency—what theologians call aseity. God is the great “I AM,” not dependent on us, not extracting value from us, and not operating out of lack. And that turns out to be really good news.If God doesn’t need us, then our faith isn’t about obligation, guilt, or trying to earn God’s approval. It’s an invitation into relationship. We’re not employees trying to perform—we’re beloved children learning to rest.This sermon invites us to lay down control, release the weight we carry, and rediscover a God who doesn’t need us—but deeply wants us.
When we hear the word holy, many of us think distant, judgmental, or “holier than thou.” In this message, we explore God’s holiness unfiltered—fearful and mysterious, yet deeply approachable—by looking at Scripture, the life of Jesus, and what it means to stand on holy ground in everyday life. From ancient temples to Safeway lines, this sermon invites us to rediscover a God who is both transcendent and near, and who transforms us not through striving, but through closeness.
We live in a time of weariness. Fatigue, darkness, and burnout feel like the air we're all breathing. In this conversation, we sit with that reality instead of rushing past it. We look at how weariness isn't new, how God entered history in the middle of it, and why Christmas begins on a dark and stormy night. We reflect on Jesus as the word. Not distant or abstract, but present, embodied, and near.
Following the pace of Jesus and staying interruptible. Challenging the way our culture places efficiency as the highest value. Staying aware of beauty, of goodness, of embodied presence in an age that pushes those into the background.
What if real power doesn’t look like winning, but enduring?In a world obsessed with strength, success, and control, 2 Timothy 1 offers a radically different vision—one where courage is born in weakness, love triumphs over fear, and the Spirit gives strength not to escape suffering, but to stand faithful within it.This teaching explores how we often misunderstand power, how disappointment can drive a wedge between us and God, and how grace empowers us to face trials with courage, love, and self-discipline.
Hope can be lived out in prophetic acts. Acting with hope in the midst of hopelessness is a mark of Jesus followers always. We see if the story of Jeremiah, as he buys his cousin's field even while his nation is about to fall to enemy invaders, that God promises a hopeful future.
Jeremiah brings the fullness of emotion into his expression of grief. The prophet invites us into the spiritual work of grieving, both for our own experience of the broken world, but also on behalf of others.
We all wear blindfolds. We avoid what’s uncomfortable, distracting ourselves with busyness, cynicism, or fear. But what happens when we refuse to see reality? In Jeremiah’s day, God’s people lived in denial, and Jesus later wept over the same blindness in Jerusalem. The good news? Even in our ruins, God opens our eyes through Christ. Bird Box, Jeremiah, the Emmaus road, and the Cubs remind us: resurrection hope is still possible when we dare to see.
Every element of brokenness in our lives can be brought to God. God is like a potter who loving and faithfully works with a piece of clay to shape something beautiful and good. Any pain, any abandonment, and any failure or discouragement can be renewed in the hands of God to display Jesus to the world.
Why do we keep chasing more—more success, more pleasure, more experiences—yet still feel empty? Jeremiah 2 calls it "broken cisterns." We discuss the deep longing we all carry, and how Jesus offers the living water our souls are truly thirsty for.
We’ve all said it: “I am only…” only a student, only a mom, only a beginner, only average. Jeremiah said it too. But God doesn’t see “only.” He sees enough. Today, we step into Jeremiah’s story and discover what it means to live with courage in the presence of God.
The faithfulness of God is showcased in our lives and the stories our lives tell. From time to time we will set aside space in our worship gathering to hear a few stories from those who are part of Highway. We call these "Storyteller Sundays". On this Sunday we hear from Fred Martinez and Cris Otonari.
Isaiah delivers one of the most shocking words in Scripture—God says He hates the worship of His own people. Why? Because their prayers and sacrifices were disconnected from justice, compassion, and care for the vulnerable. In this message, we face the uncomfortable truth that it’s possible to honor God with our lips while ignoring Him with our lives—and we discover the hope that even with blood on our hands, God offers grace, cleansing, and a new way forward.
In our culture of more, how can we live with less? Join us as we examine the dangers of greed as laid out in a parable Jesus tells, and look at two ways we can practice simplicity in our lives. Acts 12:13-21
The Lord's Prayer starts with a relational anchor that reshapes how we approach everything that follows. Prayer is not a transaction, it's a relationship.
When it comes to the story of Mary and Martha, Martha often gets a bad rap. "Don't be a Martha," people say. But in reality, it's much more complex. Martha was doing important work. She just got distracted. Which is like most of us.In the midst of an endless amount of opportunities and activities, it's easy to lose the point and miss what matters most. Are you worried? Are you distracted? Hear the voice of Jesus calling you back to his feet.
We’ve turned the Good Samaritan into a feel-good story about kindness—but Jesus told it to provoke, challenge, and disrupt. This sermon unpacks the radical edge of the parable: a call to draw near, to cross boundaries, and to embody the kind of gut-level compassion that costs us something. Real compassion isn’t about being nice—it’s about being willing to get messy. Featuring a live interview with Matt and Coralie Brown, former members of Highway now serving refugees in Kentucky.
We’re busy. We’re burdened. We’re over-packed—with stuff, schedules, and stress. But what if Jesus is calling us to something simpler, riskier, and more beautiful? In this sermon from Luke 10, we explore what it means to be sent on a barefoot, baggage-free mission—a mission of radical peace and urgent love. No shoes. No purse. Just trust, presence, and the power of God’s Kingdom breaking into the world.
The invitations to participate in God's kingdom are time-sensitive, yet we're often drawn to wait. Join us as we explore the call to follow Jesus with urgency, courage, and faithfulness—without looking back.
What does it mean to be fully human again? In this message from Luke 8:26–39, we explore the story of a man stripped of his name, dignity, and community—and the Jesus who restores it all. When the world labels and divides, Jesus looks deeper. He sees the person. He calls them by name. And he clothes them in wholeness.
Modern culture tells us to be the hero of our own story. But what if real hope isn’t found in self-reliance, but in joining something bigger than ourselves? In this Trinity Sunday sermon we look to the Trinity as our model—not a puzzle to solve, but a divine community that invites us to belong, suffer, and hope together. This is not a story about personal strength. It’s about a God who pours out love—and a Church that bears witness as a unified collective. (Romans 5:1–5)
Walking through both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament we encounter the Spirit of God moving is both powerful and gentle ways to guide, to convict, to comfort, and to enliven the people of God.
How do we live well in places of suspension, when we’re waiting for an outcome or seeking a resolution we haven’t yet found? This sermon from Acts 16:20-31 examines the unresolved moment Paul and Silas find themselves in, and considers what it means to sing, to stay, and to surrender in those spaces.
When life feels overwhelming and lonely, Jesus offers something deeper than quick fixes—his ongoing presence through the Holy Spirit. This sermon from John 14:23–29 explores how the Spirit guides us, comforts us, and reminds us that we are never alone.
Preacher Julie Pederson's sermon on the unique gifts and calling that each person has with which to praise God and bless the world.
In the loudest era of human history, how do we hear the voice of Jesus?Whether you’re feeling anxious, overstimulated, or unsure how to connect with God in a busy world, we have the invitation to return to the Shepherd who still calls us by name.
What if the disruption you’re facing isn’t the end of the road—but the beginning of your real story?In Acts 9, Saul is literally knocked off his path by a blinding light—and a voice. Jesus doesn’t argue. He interrupts. Because every divine disruption… is a divine opportunity.In this message, we explore why comfort and calling don’t usually travel together. We follow Jesus as He disrupts fishermen, Pharisees, and modern people like us—with a call to something deeper.
The doubts, the questions, the fears, these are all normal parts of the life of faith. The early followers of Jesus experienced exactly these things. It was the presence of Jesus to them, especially in the journey of Thomas, that set their hearts and lives alight with confident hope.
In the midst of the rubble of our world. In the midst of lives worn down by cycles of collapse. In us, worn by sickness, by sorrow, by overwhelm, the message of Easter and the newness of life found in the resurrection of Jesus rings out with a powerful hope.
At the Last Supper, Jesus doesn’t just serve bread and wine—he reinterprets the entire story of freedom. He takes the ancient meal of Exodus and flips it into a revolution of grace. Not just forgiveness, but freedom from shame, fear, and the pressure to prove ourselves. In a world built on hustle and control, Jesus sets a table that sets us free.
We all hide. Whether it’s guilt, shame, regret, or something we’re afraid to admit—we bury it deep and hope it goes away. But what we hide doesn’t disappear. It weighs us down. Psalm 32 offers a powerful alternative: an invitation to stop hiding from God and start hiding in Him. This sermon explores the freedom of confession, the joy of being known, and the healing that comes when we come out of the shadows. Drawing from Psalm 32, the story of the Prodigal Son, and 2 Corinthians 5, this message is a reminder that God isn’t waiting to condemn—He’s waiting to celebrate.
What if repentance isn’t what you think it is?In this message from Luke 13:1–9, we unpack the misunderstood word “repent” and reimagine it as an invitation—not to guilt, but to grace. Through three fresh movements—reorientation, reviving, and returning—we explore how repentance is not about shame, but about waking up, turning around, and coming home.With a look at the fig tree parable, this message invites us to see repentance as a gift that leads us deeper into the life of the Kingdom—here, now, and always.
Even a death threat couldn't stop Jesus from completing his mission to seek and save the lost. Jesus' life is an example for us to follow, as his loving protection enables us to pursue our mission with courage and perseverance.
The temptations of Christ in the wilderness pivot on real loves and real needs. As we walk into this Lent season, let's consider how we might draw closer to Jesus through an examination of our comforts, and let's lean further into the deep love of God.
Even when you can't see clearly, God is still present and still making a way, calling you forward.
What if Jesus actually meant it? Love your enemies. Bless those who curse you.Pray for those who mistreat you.In a world obsessed with payback, this feels impossible. But enemy-love isn’t passive—it’s a practice. A discipline. And maybe, how we hold onto our enemies is shaping us more than we realize.Jesus saw enemies differently. Even on the cross, He prayed, “Father, forgive them.”What if today, you started seeing people—and God—with new eyes?
We all turn to something for comfort, security, and meaning—our careers, money, distractions, even our own sense of control. But are these things really delivering what they promise?The prophet Jeremiah describes two paths: one leads to a dry, withering existence, the other to deep roots and a life that flourishes even in difficulty.What if trusting God isn’t just a cliché, but an actual practice of turning—turning away from the anxiety of control, the exhaustion of striving, the weight of external validation—and turning toward a God who nourishes, sustains, and brings peace even in life’s storms?Maybe the best thing you can do today is release your grip. To trust. To turn.
When God leads us into new areas of kingdom work, it is important to take note of the experiences of stress. God wants us to respond both with trust in the call, but also with patience in the unfolding of it. Taking a step of faith doesn't mean pulling the biggest burden onto your back.
Consider what it means for God to call and guide you. As in the story of Jeremiah, what steps might help you see the hand of God in your stories and what might that mean for how you live today and the path you take tomorrow?
We all have moments of selective hearing—whether it’s ignoring what we don’t want to hear or only listening to what fits our agenda. In Luke 4, Jesus gives His first sermon—a mission statement proclaiming good news to the poor, freedom for the oppressed, and sight for the blind. But His audience wasn’t ready to hear the full message.What about us? Are we truly listening to Jesus’ call, or only hearing what’s comfortable? What if His mission to bring restoration to the poor, the oppressed, and the blind isn’t just for others—but also for us?Join us as we explore Jesus’ Kingdom Manifesto and what it means to open our eyes, live with awareness, and step into His revolutionary mission today.🔑 Reflection Questions:• Where are you spiritually blind or selectively hearing Jesus’ message?• How can you be part of His mission for the poor, the oppressed, and the blind this week?
The first miracle that Jesus does is the middle of normal human experience. It's at a wedding, and it's only the servers even know what has happened. How does this invite us to approach our day to day lives with a sense of wonder? Can we carry expectation that God is present and working miracles into the day to day material of our lives?
Who am I? Where do I belong? These aren’t just questions for kids or teenagers—they’re questions we all wrestle with throughout life. On this Baptism of the Lord Sunday, we explore the truth that God calls us by name: beloved, precious, and His. But this identity isn’t just about feeling good—it’s about transformation and mission. When we know who we are in Christ, we are freed to change and help others see their true identity too. So, what labels are you carrying that don’t belong to you? And who in your life needs a mirror held up to remind them they’re beloved?
The light of Christ shines in any and all darkness. As follows of Jesus we have a call to carry the light into any and all of the places God has placed us.
As we look at the often simple or ordinary contents of our days, the perspective we have can be transformed by the story of the angel's appearing to lowly shepherd's. In this moment we see heavenly hosting bringing the glory of God into the everyday circumstances of the lowest in society.
What kingdom are you responding to in your life?In the shadow of Herod’s greatness—a kingdom built on fear, greed, and control—Jesus was born into a kingdom of humility, trust, and surrender. The Christmas story reveals a clash between two kingdoms: one that hoards power and another that gives it away.Today, we still live under the shadow of the kingdom of empire, constantly told we need more, do more, be more. But Jesus invites us into a different kind of greatness—a kingdom of enough, of service, and of letting go.1. What am I striving for that I think will finally satisfy me? Will it ever be enough?2. What am I holding on to that I need to lay down at Jesus’ feet?
Pain is inevitable, but it offers a choice: to run away or draw closer to God. This Advent, discover how Anna’s story in Luke 2 reveals the power of persistent faith in the face of suffering. Through intimacy with God, even in pain, we can experience His voice and presence. Join us as we explore how our pain can lead us into deeper communion with Him.
What does it truly mean to seek Jesus? The story of the Magi isn’t just about a Christmas star—it’s about the relentless pursuit of truth and worship. In this sermon, we explore the courage of these outsiders who sought Jesus across great distances, while others stayed behind. What does it mean to be a seeker today? What might we be missing when we stop searching?The Magi remind us that seeking is not a one-time act—it’s a lifelong pursuit that invites us to move beyond sentimentality and into the awe and wonder of Advent. Whether you feel stuck, distracted, or outside the traditional boundaries of faith, this message will inspire you to follow the star again.
A heart of gratitude turns us toward God, who is the giver of good gifts. This is seen in an account of ten healed lepers. One — a Samaritan — literally turns towards Jesus as he returns to thank his healer for the gift of being healed. The Samaritan does so with abandon; “He threw himself at Jesus’ feet” (NIV). This account serves as inspiration for not only how one can express thankfulness, but also when we can express gratitude to God. There’s something important about thanking God for his good gifts in the moment.
God made us in his image and this includes our physical bodies. We are invited to both care for and love our bodies, even in their imperfections and hurts, because they are the tangible image of God in us.
Most of us go through life unaware or out of sync with our internal world. Today we'll be talking about way we might learn to be attentive to God's voice in the everyday moments.
Our culture begs a relentless cycle of consumption, performance, and achievement. We can become preoccupied by what we need to do, have, or be in order to be loved. These stand in the way of rest. Because rest is counter cultural (especially in the Bay Area), intentionality is vital to true, meaningful rest. The Hebrew concept of shavat, “to rest,” is connected to a larger biblical vision for the restoration of all things, including individuals (Deut. 5:14), the land (Ex. 23:11), and social structures (Lev. 25). Rest fosters restoration both within us and also through us.
Come the good or the bad of any current political situation, our ultimate hope, and our truest reality, is that Jesus is Lord.
How can we hope to discern truth from lies, or stay immune to deception in our age? Working to stay rooted in Jesus is the call of scripture and what it is that will give us firm ability to stand in reality.
Is it possible to live out the value expressed in the book of James to be "quick to listen and slow to speak"? Explore this challenge as Pastor Cris Otonari shares helpful tools to help us honor God and care for one another in all conversations, and especially around difficult topics.
How to be citizen of heaven while engaging in the world? Jesus proclaimed the "good news" of God's Kingdom - a reality available here and now, not just after death. In the early days of Christianity, believers risked persecution by declaring "Jesus is Lord" instead of "Caesar is Lord," a political statement affirming their primary allegiance to God's Kingdom over any earthly nation or leader. As followers of Christ, we engage in politics because policies affect people. Loving our neighbors means caring about issues that impact their lives. But our approach is unique: we start with our sphere of influence, recognizing that while we may not change national policy, we can significantly impact our local communities. In the political arena, we're called to advocate for others first, following Jesus' example of servant leadership. We're to be a paradox, not partisan - caring deeply about issues while remaining non-anxious, flexible in our political stances but unwavering in our Kingdom values. Reflect: How can you bring "up there, down here" in your daily life and community?
In any and every political divide or disagreement, the call of Christ remains on his followers to love our enemies.
What does it mean to live a life of authenticity? What does that kind of life look like in light of what our scriptures reveal.
What makes a Jesus-centered hope distinct from optimism? What gives that kind of hope such gritty strength in the face of pain or failure?
A Jesus formed community is unique. In this message, Pastor Adam Hendrix walks us through the ways that we seek to both participate in this kind of community, as well as a challenge to extend the mission of Jesus' love and invitation to the people around us.
When it comes to instant gratification, at no other point in human history have people had to deal with what we deal with today. Phones, food, drink, work...it's all instant and ready to give us the pleasure and release we crave.But what instantly gratifies, rarely actually satisfies. How do fight against these cravings and seek after the nourishment our souls are longing for?
This summer a new Nike commercial came out addressing the concept of "winning at all costs." "I don't respect you." "I have no empathy." "I am obsessed with power." These are some of the quotes and messages. In this world, winners rise to the top because of their ruthlessness. This world rewards harsh takes and decisive, cut-throat leaders. But what about the Kingdom of Jesus? This week we look at a situation where Jesus has the opportunity to crush his opponent but offers another approach filled with the healing power of gentleness.
The fruit of faithfulness is not just about having a sense of belief or certainty in God, but it is birthed from God's steadfast faithfulness that is new every morning. Because he is trustworthy and continually faithful, we can learn to be people of consistent, faithful love in our everyday lives.
Phones, notifications, traffic, social media...life is faster and busier than ever. What is this doing to our souls? Or our ability to connect with God? This week we reflect on how it's possible for the Spirit to form the fruit of patience in us.
What does God require of us? What makes a follower of Jesus different from the world? To do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. It's a simple concept, but much harder in practice. This week we reflect on God's invitation to live in the way of the Kingdom, as we go against the current of the world.
What role do sadness and grief play in our call to love others? Paul invites Christ-followers to empathize with others. This is a mark of Christian. Jesus, himself, modeled empathy when he entered into his friends’ deep sadness as he wept with them over the loss of Lazarus.
Jesus invites us to persistently ask, seek, and knock and promises to respond. But how do we wrestle with the reality of us not getting what we request?
Jesus invites us to invite others in our lives. This invitation is not just for those who look, act, or think like US. But those who are on the outside, on the margins, and those who require extra attention and time.
It is so easy to pay more and more attention to our needs, our wants, our appetites, and our place on the ladder of success. But Jesus took on the very nature of a servant and calls us to follow him in that. What heart change do we need so that we can readily consider the wellbeing of others?
Is it possible to have a contentment that stays constant through all of life's ups and downs? Only when we receive ongoing strength from God can we live out hope in the broken corners of the world.
How do we live the unburdened life? In Matthew 11:28, Jesus teaches us in this short verse about the need for rest, the way to rest, and gives us a call to rest. Join us as we examine the nature of true toil, the meaning of the rightful yoke, and how we can come to Jesus.
Is the bible just a lifeless accumulation of history and information, or is it actually active and alive?
What does it mean to give from the heart? In this message we explore the gift-giving and generous person of God and the joy that is found in generosity.
The Spirit of God works through the crisis and roadblocks and difficult situations of our lives to create beautiful and lasting good. Lookin g at the letter writing ministry of Paul born out of adversity.
Considering the call of God to Paul, and the courage it asked of him for the sake of God's Kingdom. Continuing in our sermon series on the Holy Spirit's empowering the early church in the book of Acts
Who belongs within the Kingdom of God? The definition of the people of God expand to include both Jew and Gentile. In this exploration of Acts, and the Spirit of God is active and moving and pushing into new territory of belonging.
This giving of the Holy Spirit in the early church left people divided, either earnestly asking "what does this mean", or scoffing in dismissal. How do we hope to experience the Spirit today? How can we be open to that giving of control over to God? Do we trust that God wants to do amazing work in our midst and through our lives?
In his resurrection, Christ opens a portal of sorts from the present age of suffering, decay and death, and points us toward the age to come. An age of wholeness and life everlasting.
When Jesus quotes Psalm 31 on the cross, it is his final word before dying. It is also an expression of full and complete trusting in the will and the goodness of God.
How do we understand Jesus' cry of "it is finished" from the context of the cross? What does triumph look like for a follower of Jesus in light of the cross?
How did Jesus suffer? why did Jesus suffer? what do his sufferings have to do with our own pain?
Jesus' words from the cross speak of kinship, belonging, and a new way of being family to one another.
The first is our Lent sermon series. Christ offers forgiveness to his oppressors, to those who are crucifying him, to the surrounding crowd, and to us.
A look into Acts 2 and a consideration of the value for community that marks the early church. This value must be at the heart of any mission or compassionate endeavor in the church today.
Continuing in our "Incarnational" teaching series with a message about following Jesus to the people, places, and communities on the margins in our local community. Highlight on our food security efforts at Buena Vista Mobile Home Park in Palo Alto
A regular rhythm of connecting with Christ is integral to the mission that God is calling his church into.
First of a five week series clarifying and inviting us into our call here at Highway to be a missional church.
At the start of a new year we all have a chance to consider what matters most in our lives, in our pursuits, and in our faith.
The end of the year is a perfect time to gain perspective. To zoom out and remember all of the ways God has provided for us. Instead of focusing on our burdens and circumstances, we want to learn to focus on the blessings of God.
A Christmas Eve message proclaiming Jesus as the Prince of Peace we need in this chaotic world and in our often chaotic lives.
This week, we delve into Jesus' cleansing of the temple as an act of righteous anger and a call to address injustice. We are challenged to actively engage in matters of justice and social action, mirroring Christ's passion for righteousness within the church and beyond.
A sermon from new pastor Adam Hendrix calling Highway to center our church on connection to God through prayer.
A serving of worship honoring the ministry of founding pastor John Riemenschnitter and welcoming the new pastoral leadership of Adam Hendrix.Dean Smith, co-founder of Highway, preached a message telling the story of Highway, the story of John, and situating his years in ministry in the tradition of early church leaders in Colossians.
The final sermon from the Passages series (and the final one from John R. as lead pastor) articulating the importance of rest and stepping away from the needs to connect with God.
A message on the importance of being slow to judge drawn from the story of Jesus' encounter with Zacchaeus in the book of Luke.
John explores the importance of showing up in various ways (for community, for spiritual practices, for acts of service, etc.) and emphasizes how God often does unexpected things when we do show up… regardless of what we think we have to offer.
Seasons are a natural part of life. In today's message we consider the way in which they're gifts and what God might have for The Highway Community in this season of change.
In this final sermon from our Yesterday, Today, and Forever series in the book of Hebrews, we explore the faith and faithful action of Rahab.
What do the actions of the Israelites at Jericho show us about what it means to obey in faith? Join us as we discuss what it means to worship in the midst of our obstacles, and the importance of showing up.
Hebrews 11:24-28
Downward mobility, as demonstrated by Moses, is countercultural. It involves sacrifice, humility, and emptying of self. Yet, humility and self-emptying is vital to following in the way of Jesus.
Jesus is the one who, being fully God, didn’t consider privilege something to be used to his advantage (cf. Phil. 2:3-8). He came as a man, rather than an angel cf. (Heb 2:9), which allowed him to provide humanity the ultimate sacrifice — and the ultimate example of how to live.
What does it mean to step out in faith? Join us as we study the example Abraham sets for us by leaving, and by looking forward, as acts of faith in the Christian life.
This week we continue our series in the Book of Hebrews, focusing on how we show our faith in God through the way we give of our time and money
In tht series kick off, we’ll receive the truths of the Hebrews sermon as we fix our eyes on Jesus, the ultimate priest and sacrifice who is God’s better and final word, and brings ultimate rest. And, we’ll receive the exhortation of the Hebrews sermon to mature in our faith (cf. Heb. 5:12-14) which is not blind but informed — based on the foretold, encountered, and eternal truths of Jesus and the Kingdom.
Faith sits at the fulcrum of remembering and foreshadowing as what’s known from the past and hoped of the future is brought into the present. God’s purposes and presence transcends time in Jesus and, by faith, in us"
And at the core of the great promise that ends Psalm 23 is a very interesting word. The Hebrew word translated as “follow” is used more than 150 times in the Old Testament. Most commonly, it’s translated as “pursued,” or “chased,” or “hunted,” because it’s most often used to refer to being hunted or chased by an animal.
And so the image is more intense that what we might ordinarily think of when we hear the word “follow.” David’s image is of God pursuing us. Chasing us. Hunting us. And beautifully, it’s God’s goodness and love that are relentlessly and inexhaustibly chasing us.
The journey that David has been charting for us culminates in the house of the Lord, which in the Old Testament, refers to the place where God dwells among his people– which in the wilderness was the tabernacle, and then later, the Temple. But it’s representative of God’s presence.
God’s goodness and love chase us down and return us to his presence, which, every time we come to it, comforts us and gives us hope.
As we come to Psalm 23:5, we see that the migratory journey culminates at a table that the Lord our shepherd has prepared for us. In addition to covering us with his protective presence, God also covers us with hospitality in the form of anointing oil (used for honoring guests), and an overflowing cup (an abundance of provision).
How do we pull up a chair and experience God’s protective presence, and the abundant hospitality that he provides?
How do we face dark times in our spiritual journey? We examine three metaphorical images David gives us in Psalm 23:4—the valley, the rod, and the staff—to look at the darkness we can expect, and the guidance and protection we can be comforted by in our dark valleys.
Psalm 23 is a journey — one that mirrors the migratory journey of a shepherd moving from place to place in search of good pasture for the flock during the changing seasons. As we take this journey, may we encounter the Lord — our Shepherd and host — who satisfies, refreshes, guides, guards, covers, and pursues us.
Our series will explore Psalm 23 as a journey, a journey that mirrors the migratory journey of a shepherd moving from place to place in search of good pasture for the flock during the changing seasons.
Our journey will begin in the green pastures near the quiet waters, progress along the faithful paths, through the darkest valleys, to the tableland that has been prepared in advance, and then finally, to the homestead.
Along the route, we will see that the Lord our Shepherd satisfies us, refreshes us, guides us, guards us, covers us, and pursues us.
Lisa Hanle brings a final message in the "How to Love" series asking:Are we connected to what’s happening in our own bodies?What if we loved God and loved other people with our full “presence”, and how intentional are we with what we’ve been given?
Are we inviting God to form our wills, hopes, fears, desires? How does an internal world aligned with and formed in God lead us to love those around us? (love without ego, insecurity, agenda)
The Shema was a part of daily life for the ancient Jews. Its repetition served a purpose. It was a formative practice. Something was supposed to happen in them as the words took root: a way to see the world around them and the choices they made in everyday life as an opportunity to respond to the love God had shown them. They were to respond to love with love. Love from God with love for God. And in reciting the Shema they were rehearsing what it meant to love God with all of their lives, with all of their hearts, their souls, and their strength. This was at the core of what it meant to live in faithfulness to the covenant that God had invited them into.
What does Melchizedek show us about how Jesus is our king? Why is priesthood a role which we inhabit today, and how do we do so? Join us as we finish our study of Psalm 110 by looking at the radical concept it introduces of Jesus as not just our king, but our royal priest. We will trace the theme of priesthood through the Bible, and examine how it is we too can bring God to people, and bring people before God.
What does it mean to live like Jesus is our divine king? Join us as we look at what Psalm 110 shows us about the kingship of Jesus and how his people follow him in response.
When Jesus receives the news that his friend Lazarus is sick, he makes no immediate action.Again– like both the wedding at Cana, and his encounter with the royal official– Jesus will choose his own time. Lazarus’ illness will not lead to death, but rather to glory, and it’s from this story that the theme of glory moves to the foreground.Jesus tells his disciples before leaving for Judea that Lazarus is dead, and “for your sake, it is good that I was not there, so that you may believe.” Once again, like all the signs, the disciples, and everyone else, are invited to believe into Jesus.As Jesus calls Lazarus out of the tomb by name (cf. John 5:25), Lazarus emerges from the tomb, still bound by his grave wrappings. This is a powerful illustration of what Jesus, the Good Shepherd, does for all his own– he calls his sheep by name, and gives them eternal life– life that is beyond the power of death to touch.
In John 9, as Jesus and the disciples encounter a man blind from birth, the disciples assume that someone has sinned to cause the condition. Jesus, however, dismisses that, and sees the man’s blindness as an opportunity for God’s work to be revealed.Once again, more important to John than the miracle itself is its significance. Like the healing of the paralytic at the pool, this sign also occurs on the Sabbath. As the inquisition unfolds, the blind man will believe into Jesus over the course of the narrative. Fourteen questions are asked in the story, the most important of which is asked by Jesus in verse 35: “do you believe in the Son of Man?” “Lord,” answers the man in verse 36, “I believe.”John’s narrative reveals that, more significant than experiencing the physical light that comes with eyesight is the spiritual insight of seeing the divinity of Jesus. Ultimately, the light shines powerfully through the man’s testimony about the light of the world.
John 6:16-21After Jesus withdrew to a mountain by himself, the disciples— fresh off of witnessing Jesus reject the title of king— headed for Capernaum by boat. They were away from Jesus, in the dark, and perhaps experiencing doubts that were more violent than the storm in which they suddenly found themselves.At the moment of their greatest distress, Jesus comes to them, walking on the water, and says, “It is I, do not be afraid.” The phrase “it is I” is “ego eimi” in the Greek, which can alternately be translated as “I am,” which is the form of divine disclosure in Scripture.In the previous story, Jesus fed the crowd in a way that was reminiscent of Moses. But this sea miracle transcends the parting of the Red Sea. Jesus’ calming of the waters— which in Hebrew literature are a symbol of chaos— is a sign of his power of the created order of nature, and of his ability to deliver his disciples from chaos.
How does the unique way in which John tells the story of the feeding of the 5,000 point to who Jesus is, and how we can live into a life of provision in Him? Join us as we look at how this story shapes our understanding of prophecy and provision, and of surrender and sustenance.
John 5:1-15While in Jerusalem for the festivals, Jesus encounters a paralytic at the pool of Bethesda, who had not walked for 38 years. Jesus engages the paralytic, and tells him to pick up his mat and walk. Verse 9 not only tells us that “at once the man was cured,” but it also informs us that it was the Sabbath– a detail that John intentionally suspends for dramatic effect.When the Jewish leaders saw the man carrying his mat after being healed, they did not see a person who had been an invalid in the community for 38 years– they saw someone who was violating the Sabbath. The Jewish leaders were unconcerned with the miracle itself; they simply wanted to know who was responsible for it.The healing of the paralytic is a sign of Jesus’ authority– a sign that he has authority over the Sabbath. Life in Jesus’ name is not always bound by, or constricted by, the letter of the law.
In this first Sunday in our new "Signs of Life" teaching series, John Riemenschnitter unfolds the first of Jesus' miracles, the changing of water into wine, done to help a bride and groom in their community wedding celebration. This was the first of the signs through which Jesus revealed his glory–literally, the original. The beginning. And as John 2:11 underscores it was a sign of the time for the disciples, who were just beginning to believe into Jesus, the Messiah, who was present among them.
The new year is a time when we look ahead to the unknown. And so often, what we want to know about the future is categorical: should I do this, or that? Will you do this, or that? And when we encounter new events, new people, new opinions, new issues, we want to categorize them as well. We want God and people to fit into our categories.In Joshua 5:13-15, an encounter with a spiritual begin, a commander challenges Joshua’s categories: “No, but ...” No, this is not about whether I am for or against you. This is about whether you are for or against me. I am. I have come. The place you are standing is holy ground. God does not serve our categories, but we serve him. Our orientation to him, our worship of him, our personal relationship with and encounters with him, are more important than the categorical decisions we get so distracted by and focused upon.To recognize that something is holy ground is to recognize the powerful presence of God in the places of our lives, and because Jesus has come and the Holy Spirit lives in us, we are now holy people, on holy ground in all the spaces of our lives. How can we remain cognizant of that through all the ups and downs of the next year? What are some practices that tie us in to that reality of holy ground?
In Joshua 5:1-12 the goodness of God in keeping his promises is not conditional on the Israelites’ obedience: he had already led them across the Jordan. But God does ask his people to consider how to set themselves apart for God. He asks them to respond in obedience by both laying something aside through circumcision, and by partaking of something through the Passover meal.As people of the new covenant, we no longer need to be circumcised to be accepted as God’s people. But Paul does speak about circumcision in this way in Romans: “circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.” The Bible asks us to go deeper than behavior modification – God invites us to look at our hearts, the seat of who we are, and asks us how we identify ourselves as belonging to God. Just like the Israelites, we’re prompted to consider what we base our identities on, and what we may set aside or take up in obedience to that identity. And as Paul reminds us, it is the Holy Spirit who does this work in us.
In Joshua 4:1-24, God specifically instructs his people to carry stones and build a memorial. This is because how we remember is important. The stories we tell ourselves and others is important.During the new year, we have all kinds of traditions for remembering, for doing our year-in-reviews. But it is important not only to look back at events, but to see how those events reveal God’s provision and faithfulness in our lives. It is important to give thanks, to remember that God is indeed mighty, because we so often forget. And establishing practices of gratitude and remembrance can become a touchpoint, a foundation, for us as we go forward into new missions in our lives."
Why and how can we face new things without fear? We’ll study the first nine verses of the book of Joshua as we answer this question in this introduction to our new sermon series.
Enter into the work of listening. For us it can be very similar to the story in Elijah's life, where the voice of God is often heard in the stillness and not in the noise or the fury
Our final sermon is The Herald series, given on Christmas Eve, Dec 24, 2022 at The Highway Community in Mountain View, CA.
John’s baptism also heralded the one who would come and baptize not with water, but with the Spirit. When Jesus emerged from the wilderness after 40 days of temptation, he went to the Jordan to be baptized by John. And as Jesus emerged from the water, the Spirit descended upon him, and God spoke and affirmed his identity as his son.This revelation and anointing importantly heralded that God and his kingdom were present with his people through his son Jesus now– and provide a glimpse into the future age, where Jesus would continue to be present, through the Spirit.Advent is the season of Emmanuel, God with us.
While we tend to associate repentance with remorse for something we’ve done or said, John was actually calling his hearers to something much more revolutionary. He was calling them to change their minds– to change their understanding about the coming of God’s kingdom. John was inviting them to see that the kingdom of heaven was not the political reality they were expected, the kingdom was not only going to be for the Jews, but for everyone. Additionally, the kingdom was not something solely to be longed for in the future, it was here and now.
We continue in the second week of Highway's Advent celebration and the second message in our series titled "The Herald" considering the coming of the Messiah and the person of John the Baptist. John's naming ceremony was filled with a sense of expectation, as the people asked, “What then is this child going to be?” The answer to their question is contained in John’s name. Yohanan means “Yahweh brings grace,” which points to John’s prophetic role as the forerunner and herald to the one who would usher in the age of grace.As we celebrate Jesus’ coming, and anticipate his return this Advent season, we are invited to share in the joy of the grace and love that God has shown us through the sending of his Son, our Savior.
Our Highway Advent season begins with a message from John R. exploring what Jesus’ message reveals about John The Baptist, the one who came to herald the coming of Christ. We will consider how the call of John the Baptist continues to prepare our way for the coming of Jesus.
The church at Laodicea was wealthy and affluent, and had accommodated itself to its surrounding culture so much so that Jesus uses an indelible image to describe just how repulsed he was. Not only do Jesus’ words of correction provide a lens for us to consider the ways that we have accommodated as the church today, but they also remind us of his ongoing invitation for us to depend on him in all things.
The church at Philadelphia faced a number of significant obstacles, but was nevertheless highly esteemed by Jesus. Jesus’ words of affirmation are a powerful reminder of our calling as a church, and the way that the obstacles we face are can be doors of opportunity to continue his mission.
As we continue in our "Ears to Hear" series we consider Revelation 3:1-6 and Jesus' words to the church in Sardis.
This church is one of just two churches for whom Jesus has no words of affirmation. Jesus knows the deeds of the Sardis church. They are well regarded, with a solid name and reputation for being alive– but they are dead.
Their works are incomplete and unfinished. There is a disparity between appearance and reality; a disparity between what people see when they look at the church, and what God sees. There was a lack of inward integrity. The church was inauthentic. Jesus calls them to wake up from their lethargy, to remember and hold fast what they have seen and heard, and repent.
The church at Thyatira is warmly commended by Jesus for its deeds, its love, its faith, its service, and its perseverance. They were also growing, and developing, and progressing.
However, in the midst of all of that, there were compromises that were being made. They tolerated a self proclaimed prophet called Jezebel, who was misleading people, the church at Thyatira had love, but tolerated the false teachings.
Responding to the call of holiness can be costly. And requires the courage and conscience to be intolerant of behaviors and values that oppose the very heart of God.
We’re on our third letter in this series on what Jesus has to say to the churches in the book of Revelation, and his word for the church in Pergamum is: hold to the truth. Join us as we see that the enemy of truth is not always a lie; the enemy of truth is compromise. How do we compromise in our personal lives? How do we compromise the truth as a church? How can we keep Jesus at the one, central place in our lives?
As we continue in our "Ears to Hear" series from the book of Revelation, we consider the church at Smyrna, and the poverty that has come as a result of embodying Christ's presence, and the presence of the kingdom in the world.
Jesus knows about the way that the church has been slandered, perhaps in part because of their refusal to to worship Caesar either in addition to, or in favor of, their Lord and Savior Jesus– which would have made them seem unpatriotic or treacherous.
Jesus encourages those in the church to not be afraid of the suffering that is undoubtedly ahead for them, which may include imprisonment, or even death. Interestingly, in their suffering, the church at Smyrna is not corrected by Jesus. There is a righteousness to what they are bearing.
To learn more about Highway, go to www.highway.org
The church at Ephesus is praised by Jesus for their untiring, vigilant work, and for their adherence to the truth in the mist of false apostles. But Jesus corrects them for forsaking the love that they had at first. Our ultimate calling as the church is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. How have we, as the church, forsaken the love we had at first? How is Jesus inviting us to hear his coll to love?
What does it look like for the church to be shaped by Jesus? John’s vision of the resurrected Jesus, and his words to the seven churches of Asia in the book of Revelation, provide us with some insight. We begin our series by considering the blessing, the greeting, and the opening vision of Revelation 1, and the invitation for the church to listen, and take to heart, Jesus’ words for his church.
A service of Psalms with singing and original prayers from a variety of Highway staff and pastors.
The pandemic demanded a different way of life, and we certainly found ways to make it work, but we don’t want to get stuck there. Join us as we talk about how to be intentional about stepping back into the life-giving rhythms of practicing our faith together outside of Sunday mornings.
The pandemic demanded a different way of life, and we certainly found ways to make it work, but we don’t want to get stuck there. Join us as we talk about how to be intentional about stepping back into the life-giving rhythms of practicing our faith together.
Nik Bartunek is the Creative Arts and Music Pastor at Highway. Today he shares the personal story of how God led him into vocational ministry and the connections that emerge in our lives when we look back and see how God was with us through all seasons.
Jesus sees the whole truth when he looks at us. All of it. Yet he loves us the same and made a way for us to be whole.
The Gathering is an important annual milestone for The Highway Community. Today we look back on the ministry year we have completed, and look ahead to how we see God moving among us, as enter into the coming year.
Jesus sees and enters into the grief of a beloved friend, even as he grieves, himself. As we see, empathize with, and share in heartache with the heartbroken, we extend a precious gift. Join us in a time of lament as we lift grief and sorrow to the God who weeps with us and for us.
In the story of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus responds to a presented problem in a completely unexpected way. Join us as we examine what that shows us about how Jesus sees hypocrisy—what he sees about how it works in our lives (the definition of hypocrisy), how to bring it into the light (unraveling the deceit of hypocrisy), and how to overcome it in our lives (the defeat of hypocrisy).
After four men dig through a roof to lower a paralyzed man to Jesus, Mark 2:5 says that Jesus “saw their faith”— which is very curious, because faith is something that seems unseeable. What is is that Jesus sees? What do these men show us about what it means to make faith visible?
While on his way to do something very important, Jesus stops, sees, and heals a sick woman. God's people are called to live aware and interruptible lives in order to see the unseen, with eyes like Jesus.
At Highway we value personal storytelling. We believe that rehearsing the stories that God has written, and is continuing to write in our lives, allows us to know ourselves, to be known by others, and to know God as we see his ongoing work of transformation in our lives. This summer, we will occasionally pause our teaching series to hear stories from our staff about how God called them into ministry, and how that came to serve at The Highway Community. Today, John Riemenschnitter shares his story.
What Jesus saw as he was present among us on earth not only reveals what was important to him, but it also shows us how we should see. We begin by envisioning what it might be like to have our eyes opened to see as Jesus sees, and to see what Jesus sees everywhere.
Our triune God's core character is love. Join us as we participate in three practices in order to make space to receive God's love, ask for his help to extend his love to others, and remember the sacrificial journey of love Jesus undertook, anointed and led by the Spirit, to be a part of his Father's redeeming work.
As we celebrate the milestone of of graduation with our students, we explore the important spiritual milestone of baptism.
Jesus crossed boundaries when he met, saw, and revealed himself to a woman of low social status in order to give the gift of living water. As God’s eternally quenching water of life rose up within her, it flowed out and brought renewal and transformation to others.
How do we find God’s life when we feel displaced or depleted? What does Ezekiel do and how does he perceive that God provides grace in even small, ordinary ways?
Join us for a conversation about how stepping back into the rhythm and order that God created for our lives can transform the chaos that comes from feeling like we don't have enough of what we need, into the life giving waters of God's abundance.
Pain can create so much chaos. So many perpetuated cycles. So much injustice and mistreatment of others. Join us this week as we look at how God's presence transforms that chaos into the potential for life.
We begin a 5 week series tracing the theme of water through the Scriptures. As we explore stories that revolve around rivers, wells, and springs, we’ll how God reveals himself, and brings life, restoration and refreshment to his people, and to us. We begin with the creation narrative, where we see God, bringing order and life to the waters of the deep.
In our second episode, Nik and David discuss the song 'Nothing/Something' by Pat Barret and Dante Bowe. The song is pulled directly from Scripture, and is a challenge for us to do all things through love (1 Corinthians 13). They also discuss the implications it has for us when we sing it together in a congregational setting.
'Every Beat A Prayer' is a production of The Highway Community Our hosts are Nik Bartunek and David Haley Our engineers are Nik Bartunek and Kyle Wong Episodes edited and produced by Nik Bartunek and Kyle Wong Our theme music is by Ketsa. Please support their music at the link below: ketsamusic.com/about
He is Risen! Three words that change everything. Join us for a message about how the resurrection meets us with the hope that even in loss, disappointment, or when we don't understand what's going on, the story isn't over.
Station 7 - Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments and Given Gall To Drink by The Highway Community
Take a journey as a family through the Stations of The Cross! Each track is an audio guide an experience through the Stations of the cross, suitable for a family experience.
This Audio Experience is a production of The Highway Community.
Stations narrations by Jana Anders, Marlene Hekkert, Danielle Cannon, , Richie Takasugi, and Nik Bartunek Scripture Narrations by Julie Pederson Produced & Engineered by Brendan Dreaper Music Composed by Nik Bartunek & Brendan Dreaper A production of Hieromonk Studios
Take a journey as a family through the Stations of The Cross! Each track is an audio guide an experience through the Stations of the cross, suitable for a family experience.
This Audio Experience is a production of The Highway Community.
Stations narrations by Jana Anders, Marlene Hekkert, Danielle Cannon, , Richie Takasugi, and Nik Bartunek Scripture Narrations by Julie Pederson Produced & Engineered by Brendan Dreaper Music Composed by Nik Bartunek & Brendan Dreaper A production of Hieromonk Studios
Take a journey as a family through the Stations of The Cross! Each track is an audio guide an experience through the Stations of the cross, suitable for a family experience.
This Audio Experience is a production of The Highway Community.
Stations narrations by Jana Anders, Marlene Hekkert, Danielle Cannon, , Richie Takasugi, and Nik Bartunek Scripture Narrations by Julie Pederson Produced & Engineered by Brendan Dreaper Music Composed by Nik Bartunek & Brendan Dreaper A production of Hieromonk Studios
Take a journey as a family through the Stations of The Cross! Each track is an audio guide an experience through the Stations of the cross, suitable for a family experience.
This Audio Experience is a production of The Highway Community.
Stations narrations by Jana Anders, Marlene Hekkert, Danielle Cannon, , Richie Takasugi, and Nik Bartunek Scripture Narrations by Julie Pederson Produced & Engineered by Brendan Dreaper Music Composed by Nik Bartunek & Brendan Dreaper A production of Hieromonk Studios
Take a journey as a family through the Stations of The Cross! Each track is an audio guide an experience through the Stations of the cross, suitable for a family experience.
This Audio Experience is a production of The Highway Community.
Stations narrations by Jana Anders, Marlene Hekkert, Danielle Cannon, , Richie Takasugi, and Nik Bartunek Scripture Narrations by Julie Pederson Produced & Engineered by Brendan Dreaper Music Composed by Nik Bartunek & Brendan Dreaper A production of Hieromonk Studios
Take a journey as a family through the Stations of The Cross! Each track is an audio guide an experience through the Stations of the cross, suitable for a family experience.
This Audio Experience is a production of The Highway Community.
Stations narrations by Jana Anders, Marlene Hekkert, Danielle Cannon, , Richie Takasugi, and Nik Bartunek Scripture Narrations by Julie Pederson Produced & Engineered by Brendan Dreaper Music Composed by Nik Bartunek & Brendan Dreaper A production of Hieromonk Studios
Take a journey as a family through the Stations of The Cross! Each track is an audio guide an experience through the Stations of the cross, suitable for a family experience.
This Audio Experience is a production of The Highway Community.
Stations narrations by Jana Anders, Marlene Hekkert, Danielle Cannon, , Richie Takasugi, and Nik Bartunek Scripture Narrations by Julie Pederson Produced & Engineered by Brendan Dreaper Music Composed by Nik Bartunek & Brendan Dreaper A production of Hieromonk Studios
Take a journey as a family through the Stations of The Cross! Each track is an audio guide an experience through the Stations of the cross, suitable for a family experience.
This Audio Experience is a production of The Highway Community.
Stations narrations by Jana Anders, Marlene Hekkert, Danielle Cannon, , Richie Takasugi, and Nik Bartunek Scripture Narrations by Julie Pederson Produced & Engineered by Brendan Dreaper Music Composed by Nik Bartunek & Brendan Dreaper A production of Hieromonk Studios
Take a journey as a family through the Stations of The Cross! Each track is an audio guide an experience through the Stations of the cross, suitable for a family experience.
This Audio Experience is a production of The Highway Community.
Stations narrations by Jana Anders, Marlene Hekkert, Danielle Cannon, , Richie Takasugi, and Nik Bartunek Scripture Narrations by Julie Pederson Produced & Engineered by Brendan Dreaper Music Composed by Nik Bartunek & Brendan Dreaper A production of Hieromonk Studios
Take a journey as a family through the Stations of The Cross! Each track is an audio guide an experience through the Stations of the cross, suitable for a family experience.
This Audio Experience is a production of The Highway Community.
Stations narrations by Jana Anders, Marlene Hekkert, Danielle Cannon, , Richie Takasugi, and Nik Bartunek Scripture Narrations by Julie Pederson Produced & Engineered by Brendan Dreaper Music Composed by Nik Bartunek & Brendan Dreaper A production of Hieromonk Studios
Take a journey as a family through the Stations of The Cross! Each track is an audio guide an experience through the Stations of the cross, suitable for a family experience.
This Audio Experience is a production of The Highway Community.
Stations narrations by Jana Anders, Marlene Hekkert, Danielle Cannon, , Richie Takasugi, and Nik Bartunek Scripture Narrations by Julie Pederson Produced & Engineered by Brendan Dreaper Music Composed by Nik Bartunek & Brendan Dreaper A production of Hieromonk Studios
Take a journey as a family through the Stations of The Cross! Each track is an audio guide an experience through the Stations of the cross, suitable for a family experience.
This Audio Experience is a production of The Highway Community.
Stations narrations by Jana Anders, Marlene Hekkert, Danielle Cannon, , Richie Takasugi, and Nik Bartunek Scripture Narrations by Julie Pederson Produced & Engineered by Brendan Dreaper Music Composed by Nik Bartunek & Brendan Dreaper A production of Hieromonk Studios
Take a journey as a family through the Stations of The Cross! Each track is an audio guide an experience through the Stations of the cross, suitable for a family experience.
This Audio Experience is a production of The Highway Community.
Stations narrations by Jana Anders, Marlene Hekkert, Danielle Cannon, , Richie Takasugi, and Nik Bartunek Scripture Narrations by Julie Pederson Produced & Engineered by Brendan Dreaper Music Composed by Nik Bartunek & Brendan Dreaper A production of Hieromonk Studios
Take a journey as a family through the Stations of The Cross! Each track is an audio guide an experience through the Stations of the cross, suitable for a family experience.
This Audio Experience is a production of The Highway Community.
Stations narrations by Jana Anders, Marlene Hekkert, Danielle Cannon, Richie Takasugi, and Nik Bartunek Scripture Narrations by Julie Pederson Produced & Engineered by Brendan Dreaper Music Composed by Nik Bartunek & Brendan Dreaper A production of Hieromonk Studios
While bearing the weight of the sins of the world, Jesus experienced the depth of abandonment — being forsaken by his father. The Messiah willingly entered into forsakenness and death to give humanity the gift of presence with God. Join us at the cross as we keep vigil with Jesus in suffering and death, look at the faithful presence of his female disciples, and consider how their example can inform the way we live our lives today.
In our first episode, David and Nik discuss the megalithic worship song 'Way Maker' and about how it was written by someone you may not know of. But that is a beautiful thing! They also discuss what the song means in this season of life and how it can be a response to the harshness of life.
'Every Beat A Prayer' is a production of The Highway Community Our hosts are Nik Bartunek and David Haley Our engineers are Nik Bartunek and Kyle Wong Episodes edited and produced by Nik Bartunek and Kyle Wong Our theme music is by Ketsa. Please support their music at the link below: https://ketsamusic.com/about
After being condemned to death, Jesus was dressed in a robe and a crown of thorns before being mocked by the soldiers. Forced to carry his cross, he was then led just outside the city walls to Golgotha. The physical pain Jesus endured on the cross was undeniably excruciating. But the emotional pain he experienced in the form of rejection, belittlement, and mockery– the loneliness and isolation– the dehumanization– is equally horrifying. This week we explore Jesus’s suffering, and how we might see ourselves in Jesus’ lived experience on the cross.
After Jesus was taken to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, the Jewish leaders took him before Pilate, the governor of the ruling Roman Empire. And it’s here that Jesus enters “the system.” Jesus is wholly unknown to Pilate. He has no status, or standing. As Jesus is mocked, belittled, physically beaten, and uncaringly sentenced to death, there is an invitation for us to deeply connect with the injustice of his experience, and, by extension, the injustice of the experiences of our neighbors.
Join us as we continue our journey through the Stations of the Cross, this week, entering into Peter's denial of Jesus after his arrest. As we look at how Jesus responds in one of Peter's worst moments, we'll find solid ground for when we have those moments too.
What exactly is 'Every Beat A Prayer"? In this prelude episode, our hosts David Haley and Nik Bartunek discuss the hope and intention behind this podcast and what to expect in future episodes!
To learn more about The Highway Community you can head to www.highway.org
'Every Beat A Prayer' is a production of The Highway Community in Mountain View, CA Our hosts are Nik Bartunek and David Haley Our engineers are Nik Bartunek and Kyle Wong Episodes edited and produced by Nik Bartunek and Kyle Wong Our theme music is by Ketsa. Please support their music at the link below: https://ketsamusic.com/about
Jesus, who was betrayed, knew his role in God’s redemptive plan as he allowed himself to be found and taken into custody at Gethsemane. God’s kingdom is known through relationships marked by trust – and he guides and sits with us in the tension of trust and betrayal as we navigate relationships today.
We continue in the stations of the cross this week by contemplating Jesus’ experience in the Garden of Gethsemane. What was the nature of his suffering, and why did it occur at the time that it did? What do we learn about how to handle crushing times in our own lives?
The Stations of the Cross is a long-standing church tradition that invites us as followers of Jesus to walk with Jesus, and enter into the suffering that he endured on the way to the cross. Our series will explore seven of Jesus’ stops along the way to the cross, tracing a theme that emerges from Jesus’ final meal with his disciples in the upper room.
Paul and Timothy’s final instructions to the church, and the personal greetings that conclude Colossians, highlight the praying, missional, and inclusive nature of a church that is centered on Jesus.
Join us for a conversation about stepping into who God says we are, and how that can transform our relationships.
Join us for a conversation about living into the new life God has given us as we continue our series in Colossians. This week, our passage is Colossians 3:1-11
Our ideas and practice of church have been challenged by recent history. What is church? In this passage, Paul lays out the belief systems that are informing the church’s identity. Join us as we examine what he has to say about the source, means, nature and effect of false and true identities, and consider what it means to keep our identities, as people and as a church, centered on Jesus.
Jesus is creating a multi-ethnic family. The apostle Paul stewards this mystery and identifies a mystery that God desires to reveal to us – Christ in you, which is the fundamental truth of your identity.
We explore the text known as the Christ hymn, and the unique role of the church that emerges for Paul’s Christology.
We begin a series of messages in Colossians by exploring the context of Paul’s letter, as well as his prayer that the Colossians would be centered on God’s will in Jesus.
God created you with purpose and a calling on your life, and God is always working in us, preparing us, forming our character, to be ready for what he’s called us to do. This morning we sit with the invitation to love that process by embracing the long-haul perspective, leaning into being stretched, and letting go of perfectionism.
We conclude our series by exploring the final Candle of Advent, which reminds us of the wonderfully simple, yet wonderfully profound truth the God loves you.
This week, as we light the Candle of Good News, we remember that God is faithful to His promises, and is still present and at work, even in difficult circumstances.
The third week of advent we light the candle of Joy. As we listen to the story of Jesus’ birth we are reminded of the joy that the good news this baby brought.
This week, as we light the advent candle of peace, we take a look at our text from Isaiah 11 to see what it has to tell us about the source of peace (how do we get it?), the vision of peace (what does it look like, and how does that inform us now?), and the way to peace (what are some practical marks of a peacemaker?). Join us to see how the Biblical concept of peace differs from our cultural concept, offers us a radical hope, and challenges how we live today.
This week we begin a new series exploring the themes represented by five Candles of Advent, as we remember the coming of Jesus, the the great and true light, who came to bring the light of life.
e conclude our series by exploring how we can tangibly live into Highway Volume 2 during the season of Advent.
This week we explore Jesus’ invitation for us to sacrifice through the lens of James and John’s request for positions of prestige in Mark 10.
Join us for a conversation about generosity as we explore what it means to have a generous heart, to trust God with our whole selves, and to let God lead us in how we give.
Jesus welcomes a woman who lived a sinful life by forgiving her and receiving her well-and sending her away whole. May we, like the woman, be compelled by Jesus' extravagant and undeserved gift to us, and show love and welcome in our time and place.
Join us as we continue our Highway Volume 2 series. This week, we begin a deeper look at the character that we hope forms in us as a church, with a conversation about humility.
Join us as we continue in our Volume 2 series. This week we look at the role community plays in pursuing the mission of God.
Jesus' mission is to proclaim and embody the Kingdom of God. As his representatives—as individuals and as a body of believers at The Highway Community—we are called to live under God's rule and reign and be a part of his beautiful and upside down kingdom in all of the places we've been sent.
Practicing prayer in the way of Jesus is essential to being connected with God, and his presence, and his activity in us, and around us.
We begin a new teaching series exploring what it looks like for our church to be shaped by the person of Jesus, and his command that we love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbors as ourselves.
This week, as we pause between our story-sharing teaching series and look ahead towards our series about "Highway Volume 2", we center ourselves on the beauty of the body of Christ and consider invitations to experience this reality anew.
For more information head to www.highway.org
This week, we take a look at a story which Jesus told, examining how it functions not just as a moral tale, but as a challenge to our worldview and an invitation to change. We examine three steps for transformation, including seeing our spiritual poverty, examining the compassion of Jesus, and redefining neighboring.
Join us this week as John Dustman shares about belovedness and knowing the voice of the Shepherd. You can view a list of verses to remind you of God's love at highway.org/beloved.
Through a simple farming story, Jesus reveals that a person's reception of God's kingdom message is determined by the condition of their heart. We can get a view of our heart's condition, or our soil, by looking at our crop—which is our response to life's happenings.
Join us this week as David shares his story of transformation and a reflection on Psalm 16.
Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman reveals the role that our personal stories can play in knowing God, knowing others, and knowing ourselves.
God folds the story of Boaz’s faithfulness to Ruth into his grand narrative to redeem all of humanity. In the same way, when we animate God’s unfailing, generous, reciprocal and faithful love, he folds the pages of our life story into his big story of redemption.
Naomi’s plan to release Ruth to a home where she will be well provided for highlights the reciprocal nature of God’s love, and transformational it is to receive God’s love from others.
As we continue on in our journey through the book of Ruth, we see God’s redemptive hand at work through a generous heart. When God’s people trust in and live out his abundance by being aware of the needs of others and doing something about it, we animate his generous heart and come under what he is making new.
This week we rehearse the story of our community, as we share about the ways that God is moving among us during a time of change and transition.
This week, we pause to create intentional space to reflect on and experience God’s enduring and gracious presence. As part of this pause, we will engage an ancient prayer practice called Lectio Divina. Lectio Divina, which means ‘divine reading’ in Latin, is a form of meditation which uses the reading of God’s word as a way of encountering him. May you experience God’s presence in today and in the coming week.
We take care of many things in our lives, but Moses says that the most important thing we can take care of is our soul. Join us as we step through each phrase in Deuteronomy 4:9 to see what it means to take care of our souls, why we should do it, and how we should do it. We will touch on examples including the “divine self,” spiritual practices, and a story that tells us of grace.
As we continue our series exploring what the book of Deuteronomy has to say about navigating transition, we consider the power of corporate witness, and how choosing to walk together empowers us to live into loving God with our whole selves, and loving our neighbor as ourselves.
After leading the nation of Israel through the story of their last 40 years in the wilderness, Moses urges them to be faithful to the covenant, and to "choose life" in the days ahead. As we look back at this last year, what will we do with what we find? What intentional choices is God calling us to make about what lies ahead?
Join us as we start a new series in the book of Deuteronomy as we explore what it has to say about times of transition. In this first week, we consider making space to stop, look back objectively on what we've just come through, and listen for what God is saying about it.
Through the sixth and final petition of the Lord's prayer, we are invited to admit our weakness and acknowledge our need for God's strength, before and during times of temptation. Jesus triumphs over temptation in the wilderness because he has drawn near to his Father and his word. In this way, we too can be fortified in and focused on God as we move beyond the Lenten season.
This week explore Jesus’ invitation to trust him to provide for us in the context of today.
How do we define God’s will? What does it mean to release our own agenda so we can live into God’s will for our lives? What practical tips can we learn from a time in Jesus’ life when he does this? Join us as we discuss the third petition in the Lord’s prayer and consider what it means to respond to this invitation together.
Join us as we continue our series on the Lord's Prayer as we consider the prayer "Your Kingdom Come," and how God is inviting us to respond
The Lord’s prayer begins with a petition for God to bring glory to his name— to enhance his reputation on earth, and make himself known. We begin praying with Jesus by considering three names of God from the Scriptures, and how each emerged from God making himself known, and— even better— making himself real in the lives of his people. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name...
Today we begin a new series entitled, RSVP, where we will be exploring the six petitions of the Lord’s Prayer as a guide through the season of Lent.
Join us as we conclude our "Rooted" series in Ephesians 2:11-22, looking at how being rooted and established in love leads us to reconciliation.
By grace we are rooted in God’s great story of salvation through faith in Jesus. As followers of Jesus, God amazingly continues to write and tell his story, in and through our lives.
Join us as we continue our reflection on Ephesians chapter 1 and explore the hope we have in Christ, rooted in God's love made manifest in the cross. Christ followers are called to enlist an active hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and come under God's work of renewal in the world.
This week, our “Rooted” series continues with a conversation on identity from Ephesians 1:1-14.
The coming of Jesus reveals the active nature of God’s love. When God’s love takes root in our heart, it naturally and organically expresses itself in an active love for others.
Join us as we start our new series for the New Year and explore what it means to have our lives rooted and established in love.
The story of the woman who anoints Jesus’ head with expensive perfume shows us what it looks like to live into our calling to love sacrificially.
Our series concludes with a story that shows us that sacrifice was a part of the fabric both of Jesus’ mission, and his human experience, from the very beginning.
Join us as we explore three basic truths from this passage that show us how Jesus understands the pain of being wronged by others, lived out the forgiveness he taught, and gives us the power to do the same. During the process, we will examine how to examine whether we have practiced true confession and received forgiveness from God ourselves.
Join us as we explore Jesus' experience with grief and loss, consider how God responds to our own grief, and gain a more practical understanding of what grief is like in our own lives.
While we might have imagined that the quarantine and isolation of the COVID pandemic would make us less busy, the irony is that in many ways, we’re busier than ever. Jesus, too, was no stranger to busyness. And in Mark 1, he models the importance of connecting with God in the midst of the constant demands of his ministry. As we seek to learn from Jesus, today we’re introducing a simple prayer practice for the Advent season to similarly keep us connected to God’s presence with us.
Jesus faced temptation too. Join us as we look at this famous passage in Matthew 4, explore what temptation reveals about us, and consider the invitation to inner transformation, not just more disciplined actions.
After the Magi visited Jesus, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt, where they lived as refugees until Herod’s death. When Jesus proclaimed that he himself was fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in the synagogue in Nazareth, that divine mission was also a lived experience. Jesus’ own story— his own human experience— was very much aligned with the heart of the kingdom he came to inaugurate.
Suffice it to say, 2020 has been a dark and tumultuous year. Similarly, the time of Jesus' coming was a time of intense political and social unrest in Israel, which means that from the moment of his birth, Jesus was no stranger to chaos. As both the prophet Isaiah promised, and the angels announced to the shepherds, Jesus came to bring peace— to bring wholeness to our relationship with God, and others. As Jesus’ followers, we are called to the hard work of bringing peace to our relationships, and making the presence of God’s kingdom visible in a beautifully tangible way.
As we close out our series, we'll finish in Numbers 21:4-9. Through the Scriptures, we'll look at how God uses wilderness seasons in our lives to remind us of our need to "look up", to turn to Him for life, and hope, and healing that overflows to the world around us.
What orients and grounds you during times of instability and stress? Join us as we discuss the story of Korah’s rebellion in Numbers 16 by taking a look at what our complaints reveal about our underlying orientation. We will see what lessons we learn from Moses about how to complain less, and what God reveals about himself as he invites us to a table in the wilderness.
This week we explore God’s righteous anger with the Israelites in Numbers 14, and the role Moses plays interceding on their behalf. We look at some foundational elements of God’s anger in the Scriptures and consider the power of intercession by God’s people today.
12 explorers. One 40 day reconnaissance mission. Two entirely different reports about the land. Why was Caleb able to see things so differently, and stay calm in the face of the challenges that lay ahead?
As Moses becomes exasperated by the complaints of the people, God moves to help Moses discover that he is not alone in the wilderness. God, and others, are present to share the burden.
This message explores how God guided his people in the wilderness, and how that informs our own journey, as we seek to discern God’s direction in our own wilderness seasons.
A Table in the Wilderness, places our wilderness experiences in the story of God guiding His chosen people after the Exodus through the Sinai Desert. After a year there, God instructed His people to celebrate Passover to remember their deliverance from Egypt. The table in the wilderness for us today is celebrating the Lord’s Supper, symbolizing our deliverance through Christ’s sacrifice. People of faith rehearse God’s rescues.
2020 has been a year of unprecedented twists and turns. But through it all, our vision for what it means to be a church community continues to remain rooted in the story of the first church in Acts 2. As we transition from the summer into the fall, we consider some of the ways that we endeavoring to reflect and embody that first church community at Highway.
We conclude our Arrow Prayers series a prayer uttered by none other than Jesus himself, in the midst of a moment of tremendous struggle. Jesus models the importance of creating consistent rhythms that enable us to keep on praying, and allows God to shape our own will, according to his own.
The arrow prayer “praise the Lord” is an imperative that is incomplete without a response. Deborah, a Judge and prophetess in Israel, wrote a song peppered with “praise the Lord”, followed by descriptions of what the Lord had done. May we pray this prayer and fulfill its command by recounting the Lord’s gracious deeds.
Praying the arrow prayer, “Give thanks in everything” launches our daily search to find and declare God’s presence and goodness in our lives, no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in.
The arrow prayer, "Lord, answer me!, prayed by the prophet Elijah in his showdown with false prophets on Mount Carmel, invites God to reveal Himself in a special way in order for a person to see the true God and the truth about life. When we've said what can be said and prayed what can be prayed, "Lord, answer me!" invites God to make Himself known in ways that only He can.
Today we study the prayer of a woman who was in such distress that she flouted all the cultural and historical conventions of her time to become the first and only woman in the Bible to go up herself before God’s presence to pray. The heart of Hannah’s arrow prayer are the words “remember me.” Join us as we look at three things these words teach us about how to handle our own distress: what it means to pour out our suffering before God, to ask him for our desires while releasing ownership of the outcome, and to see through our prayer how God can reveal Himself in a way that gives us unconditional joy.
Initially, the disciples tried to block a father with an epileptic son, described as an evil spirit set to destroy him. When Jesus questions his faith, the father responds, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” We’re often in situations where we want to believe that God will act according to His nature and purposes, but we’re honestly struggling. This father’s arrow prayer should be ours, “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!” That’s the most honest, faith-filled way to pray as we struggle to walk by faith, not by sight.
While Psalm 51 is a classic arrow prayer for confession, “Lord, forgive me”, less practiced is the corporate version of that prayer, “Lord, forgive us.” While many of us wrestle with shouldering the collective ownership of others’ sins and participate in corporate confessions, the Bible is packed with examples of exactly that. The message, “Lord, Forgive Us” focuses on Daniel’s corporate confession of sin in Daniel 9:1-19. May “Lord, Forgive Us” be added to our quiver of arrow prayers.
This arrow prayer emerges from Psalm 51, a penitential psalm inspired by a dark and disturbing story from the height of David’s rule as Israel’s king. Psalm 51 provides an incredible glimpse into David’s soul, and serves as a model prayer of forgiveness. It reminds us that forgiveness requires a humble awareness of sin, and a turning to God that is always met by God’s unfailing love and great compassion.
We continue our series in arrow prayers by examining Thomas’s climactic prayer in John 20:24-31. We will look at the encounter with Jesus that led to this prayer, what is being expressed in this prayer, and what we can learn from Thomas’s prayer about how to live and to pray during this time.
Today we begin a series on arrow prayers in the Bible by studying the shortest prayer in the Bible. We will examine each of the words in this prayer to see what they show us about what arrow prayers are. We’ll then apply what we’ve learned by going through examples of arrow prayer, and looking at what this prayer in particular teaches us about how to pray.
During these heavy times, it’s easy to feel unmoored and overwhelmed. In this passage, Peter shares perspectives on suffering, time and love that inform both how we see the time we’re in and how we live in them out.
To find out more about Highway head to www.highway.org
In the book of 1 Peter we hear a surprising rumor: The church isn't a building, it's a people.
To find out more head to www.highway.org
In 1 Peter 1:13-2:3, Peter shares how the Gospel goes viral through sincere love. God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ is poured through us to others, providing evidence that the rumor of hope is true.
To find out more about Highway head to www.highway.org
In 1 Peter 1:3-12, Peter proclaims that our Living Hope—salvation through Jesus Christ secured by His resurrection—is the energizing principle of the new life. Hearts shaped by a Living Hope require frequent fertilizations of hope, suffering and fulfillment.
Is Hope foolish or strong? Is Hope attainable or is it a fairytale? Esther Chang continues our sermon series on 1 Peter by walking us through the idea of Hope in the context of struggle.
We begin our new series in the book of 1 Peter, called 'Rumors of Hope '. We invite you on this journey to understand peace and hope in the midst of struggle and hardship.
We have two podcasts for you this week. Esther Chang, who attends our Palo Alto campus and publishes a daily blog 'Thoughts Through a Year', shares a sermon entitled, "Kingdom Relationships", from Matthew 7:1-12. We hope you listen to it, as well and one by Dean Smith on the same passage and topic from our series, The Heart of the Kingdom, messages on the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7.
We have two podcasts for you this week. Esther Chang, who attends our Palo Alto campus and publishes a daily blog, Thoughts Through a Year, shares a sermon entitled, Kingdom Relationships, from Matthew 7:1-12. We hope you listen to it, as well and one by Dean Smith on the same passage and topic from our series, The Heart of the Kingdom, messages on the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7.
In this special Easter Sunday sermon recording, Dean explore the security found at the heart of The Kingdom.
To find out more about Highway head to: www.highway.org
Along with this sermon, we have another podcast for you this week. Esther Chang, who attends our Palo Alto campus and publishes a daily blog, Thoughts Through a Year, shares a sermon entitled, Kingdom Audience, from Matthew 6:1-18. We hope you listen to her sermon, as well as this one by Dean Smith on the same passage and topic from our series, The Heart of the Kingdom, messages on the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7.
Esther Chang's Sermon: https://soundcloud.com/the-highway-community/the-heart-of-a-kingdom-audience-esther-chang-040520
To find out more about Highway Community head to www.highway.org
We have two podcasts for you this week. Esther Chang, who attends our Palo Alto campus and publishes a daily blog, Thoughts Through a Year, shares a sermon entitled, Kingdom Audience, from Matthew 6:1-18. We hope you listen to it, as well and one by Dean Smith on the same passage and topic from our series, The Heart of the Kingdom, messages on the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7.
To find out more about Highway head to: https://www.highway.org
The third installment of our remote podcast sermon series exploring the Sermon on The Mount. Pastor Dean Smith explains the order of the Kingdom.
John’s purpose for writing is so that those who have remained faithful to Jesus keep believing in Jesus, and know that they have eternal life. Continuing to move toward Jesus requires dependence-- a dependence on prayer, and a dependence on God’s promises.
Confidence is a highly desirable trait in our world, just as insecurity is troublesome. Yet insecurity looms in some way for all of us. How does a deeper understanding of God’s love change our insecurities and produce a godly version of confidence?
A mark of an authentic Christian is sacrificial love. John sets up a binary distinction between sacrifice and selfishness. An authentic Christian forms her or his life in the pattern of Christ’s sacrifice and enjoys the promise of confidence in their relationship with God.
Authentic followers of Jesus are marked by a discernment that comes from being deeply rooted in the truth of the Scriptures, and trusting the presence and voice of the Holy Spirit to guide us into that truth.
The mark of discernment is the practice of distinguishing between truth and error, right and wrong, what is of Christ and what is antichrist. Discernment requires a conviction on the truth of the incarnation and Christ’s resurrection as well as listening to the Holy Spirit through the Word of God.
An authentic follower of Jesus is marked by love for others in the community. The ultimate test of that, both in the context of 1 John, and for us today, is seen when we have to reach beyond ourselves and love someone that we don’t want to love.
1 John is a letter about what starts to emerge in our lives when God is at work in us. Few things are a better indicator of the Spirit’s work than being known by love, even in the midst of crisis or difficulty. What does that love look like? How do we live into it?
John the Apostle addressed a growing heresy in the Early Church that denied the reality of the incarnation and questioned the nature of reality. In this letter, John identifies the marks of an authentic Christian, beginning with authentic transformation, revealed in transformed beliefs, behavior and relationships.
John the Apostle addressed a growing heresy in the Early Church that denied the reality of the incarnation and questioned the nature of reality. In this letter, John identifies the marks of an authentic Christian, beginning with authentic transformation, revealed in transformed beliefs, behavior and relationships.
Jesus came to show us the nature of God’s love, so that we can love others with the same love.
Jesus came because God loved the world. That love was humble and sacrificial, undeserved, and yet unconditional. “This is love, not that we loved God, but God loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10
We begin a new Christmas series entitled, “This Present Glory,” where we are exploring the incarnation of Jesus, and, more specifically, why Jesus came. The prologue to John’s gospel describes the epic nature of Jesus’ journey from heaven to earth. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, so that we could see God’s glory shining forth. This week we consider the gift of God’s presence in the person of Jesus.
John 1 tells us Jesus came to restore God’s presence with His people. And redefine it. What does it look like for the infinite God of the universe to be tangibly present in a moment of heartache?
We begin the Advent season with a reflective look at Jesus’ coming through the lens of Isaiah’s vision of the great light that came into the deep darkness.
Justice aligns the world with God’s character and the value of people created in God’s Image. A society is just when all the defenseless ones, all the unprotected ones have been brought back into the community, to enjoy a fair share in the community's goods, and a standing and voice in the affairs of the community. Justice gives the world the experience of what God is like. God extends us grace—how will you work toward justice?
Just as there is no limit to God’s forgiveness, there should be no limit to ours. We love because He first loved us. We forgive as Christ forgave us. By forgiving others we become channels of Jubilee in other’s lives. Building on Christ’s work in our lives, how will you live forgiveness?
Before rest comes redemption. Jubilee—redeeming people and possessions every seventh and fiftieth year—looked forward to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. For us today, rest and rescue happen simultaneously—Christ redeems us and we rest in Him. God redeems us from something to something. What is your redemption story? How will you contribute to the redemption of others?
It is for freedom the Christ has set us free. But what do we do with that freedom? How does our modern freedom ideal line up with what God calls us to in the Scriptures?
It is for freedom the Christ has set us free. But what do we do with that freedom? How does our modern freedom ideal line up with what God calls us to in the Scriptures?
Sabbath is the core theme of Jubilee. Just as God created for six days and rested on the seventh, we take time each week to stop working and enjoy a Jubilee in Jesus Christ, our Sabbath Rest. On a Sabbath day, we stop working, rest in Christ, delight in His grace, reflection our lives and serve others in Christ’s Name.
Since the Sabbath lies at the very core of Jubilee, it’s no surprise that it’s also an essential part of Jubilee life. This week we look at how Jesus’ observance of the Sabbath underscores the critical role that it plays to creating the capacity necessary to live Jubilee.
Based upon the biblical institution of Jubilee and fulfilled in Christ’s work on our behalf, Jubilee Life is living out the riches found in Christ. Sabbath. Redemption. Freedom. Forgiveness. Justice. A Jubilee Life experiences the riches found in Christ and channels them to others.
Jesus began his public ministry with a profound and jaw-dropping sermon in his hometown of Nazareth, where he read from Isaiah 61-- a prophetic text that the coming of the Messiah will be punctuated by a proclamation of jubilee. We begin our series by exploring the roots of this “year of the Lord’s favor” that Jesus announces, why it elicited the reaction it did in the synagogue, and the implications that all of that has for us as Jesus’ followers today.
The church fulfills its role in God’s redemptive mission in the world when we remember we’re a people not a place, a movement, not an institution. The church has a unique opportunity to demonstrate to the world the power of the Gospel to heal and reconcile, and all of this starts with being a community of people led by and dependent on the Holy Spirit.
Preparation is required to serve Christ as a missionary. Acts 1:1-8 reveals that Jesus instructed the disciples 40 days between His resurrection and ascension. He directed them to wait and watch in a posture of receiving for the coming of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Then, just as the first Christians served first in Jerusalem and went from there, Christians envision their parish to further Jesus’ mission.
As followers of Jesus, we’ve been commissioned to the same mission He had. What does it look like to live with that same kind of purpose and intention in the world? At a practical level, what are some of the barriers we face to stepping into that mission?
Jesus is a king with a mission, to proclaim and embody God’s Kingdom on earth. What is that kingdom like? How is it different from how the world so often works?
Just as Jesus is a different kind of king, his kingdom takes the norms and values we so often see in society - both now and in Jesus’ day - and turns them upside down. In particular, we explore how Jesus’ kingdom elevates the humble and lowly, and cares about the heart and motivation behind our actions rather than simply an outward performance. Someone from the community also shares his recent journey of how he has been wrestling with the meaning of Jesus’ upside down kingdom.
To understand God’s mission in the world, we have to start with Jesus. The Gospel writers were eager to communicate Jesus’ identity as the promised king. Why? And what kind of king is Jesus?
2 Corintians 3:18 says that as followers of Jesus, we are on a journey of being transformed into this image, or likeness. As we consider what that means, a fundamental question that emerges is, “who is Jesus?” This week, we explore how Matthew’s story of Jesus’ life proclaims Jesus as king, and how that informs both the nature, and the purpose, of our journey of transformation.
In part 1 of 3, of the Women in Leadership Podcast, Lead Pastor John Riemenschnitter discusses the context for, and details of, the Shepherds team process which lead to the decision to allow men and women equal access to church leadership positions. Coming after the announcement of Lisa Hanle joining the pastoral staff, this podcast series will help guide Highway Community members through the decision making process, discussion, and study that lead to this decision.
Women in Leadership is a podcast discussing the recently announced decision by The Highway Community Shepherds Team to grant men and women equal access to all church leadership positions.
In the third, and final part to the Women In Leadership Podcast, Lead Pastor John Riemenschnitter discusses the Shepherds nomination process, and how it will be affected by the decision to grant men and women equal access to all leadership positions at Highway.
Women in Leadership is a podcast discussing the recently announced decision by The Highway Community Shepherds Team to grant men and women equal access to all church leadership positions.
In Part 2 of 3, of the Women in Leadership podcast, Lead Pastor Dean Smith discusses the primary scriptures at the center of the debate around Women in church leadership. He discusses the primary verses which lead Highway Community to grant equal access to men and women to all leadership positions, along with discussing the context and explanation of many misunderstood and controversial portions of scripture around this debate.
Women in Leadership is a podcast discussing the recently announced decision by The Highway Community Shepherds Team to grant men and women equal access to all church leadership positions.
For the second week of our series, Making Room, we explore what it means to make room for one another. We look to a story from Jesus' life found in John 13 to learn about benefits and risks of functioning as a community. Ultimately, we find that Jesus points us to the value of entering into a shared human experience with those around us.
The story of David & Bathsheba is an often misrepresented and misunderstood story. This story reveals the setup and sequence of sin, as well as how to deal with it.
Kevin kicks off a new series on King David entitled "A Heart After God's Heart." This first chapter in David's story focuses on the beauty and honesty of the Psalms, and the failures of King Saul.
David Haley kicks off our new series, 'A Heart After God's Heart' which explores the Psalms and King David. In this sermon entitled "Undivided Heart" David explores the differences between King David and Saul. Although David is often portrayed as a hero in the Bible, he was in fact a pretty awful person who used his power to hurt many people. Compared to David, Saul, from all appearances, was a pretty stand up guy who had his stuff together. However, why does scripture call David '..a man after God's own heart'? David Haley explores this and more.
David Haley kicks off our new series, 'A Heart After God's Heart' which explores the Psalms and King David. In this sermon entitled "Undivided Heart" David explores the differences between King David and Saul. Although David is often portrayed as a hero in the Bible, he was in fact a pretty awful person who used his power to hurt many people. Compared to David, Saul, from all appearances, was a pretty stand up guy who had his stuff together. However, why does scripture call David '..a man after God's own heart'? David Haley explores this and more.
Josh Stone speaks at the Palo Alto campus about "a new creation in christ" and how we are meant to live into the things that God calls us to.
Kevin concludes our series in Galatians—"Set Free to Live Free"—with a short summary of the book, and an exploration of the idea that we are to become 'new creations'.
Greg Larson speaks at our Highway Mountain View campus regarding the last two weeks of violence in America. How are we to live in the midst of that? Do we have hope? How can we as christians speak to these issues?
Kevin Continues our Galatians series, focusing on Paul's command to share the load—an appropriate call during a nightmarish week of unrest in America.
This week Ryan Greco continues our series on Galatians with a lesson on the fruit of the spirit, and how we are called to love another despite where we might disagree. How do we love another in the face of disagreement? How do we love people as they are even when that seems scary?
John continues the 'Set Free To Live Free" series with a teaching on Galatians, Chapter 5. Here John explains that Christ has freed us to live in love, by seeing one another humbly.
Steve Joh teaches on Galatians chapter 5; Christ has given us freedom, and we understand what we have freedom from, but doe we understand what we have freedom for?
Kevin continues the "Set Free to Live Free" series in Galatians as Paul introduces a new concept in his argument against the Judaizers—love.
Kevin continues our Galatians study, examining Paul's notion that we are "Children Of Promise"—a people possessing a supernatural history of God's favor.
This week David Haley continues our series 'Set Free To Live Free' with a sermon on Galatians 3:26-4:7. Here David challenges us to examine what we seek identity from, to let those things go, and create a unified community through embracing the identity we’ve received in Christ.
This week Josh Stone continues our series 'Set Free To Live Free' with a sermon on Galatians 3:26-4:7. Here Josh discusses Our Identities as Adopted Heirs in Christ and how that applies to us as Individuals Creating Community.
Kevin Marks preaches in this section of Galatians, where Paul asks what the point of Mosaic Law was / is, and argues that it was necessary for a time, but now we've moved past it. So, are we all grown up? Like kobe beef, have we been aged to perfection in Christ, or do we still need a babysitter?
John preaches on Galatians 3:15-25 and The Apostle Paul, and the message of the new christian faith and how it intertwines with the Old Testament law that he spoke to the Galatians.
Kevin Marks preaches at the San Jose campus, in this series about Galatians entitled 'Set Free To Live Free'.
John continued the 'Set Free to Live Free' series at HW Mountain View with a sermon on grace and legalism.
Steve Joh continues the 'Set Free to Live Free' series, as he preaches from Galatians on the nature of grace, and how it pertains to the early church in Galatia and the struggles they dealt with as a community of faith.
This sermon was recorded at Highway Palo Alto
Kevin preaches on the importance of not getting caught in legalism, as he continued our series on Galatians 'Set Free To Live Free'
Recorded at the Highway San Jose campus
Seth Dickson speaks at Highway San Jose about City Dive, the annual outreach program aimed at informing and educating us about our respective cities and the needs therein.
Darin of Common Change speaks with Greg and friends about the important of Generosity Dinners, and what they are about!
Dr. John Walton visits Highway Community in Mountain View to discuss cultural and contextual analysis of the book of Genesis. How should we interpret scripture based on the culture and context of the Ancient Near East? What was the meaning of the book of Genesis? What topics and ideas does it speak to?
Dr. John Walton is a professor of Old Testament studies at Wheaton College. He is the author of over 20 books about Ancient Near Eastern Culture, Genesis, and Old Testament interpretation.
Joining us for another year of 'Walton Weekend' Dr. John Walton speaks at the San Jose campus about 'Emmanuel' or 'God with us'. Spanning the arc of the biblical narrative, Dr. John speaks about God's love for us and his want to connect and be present in our midst.
John kicks off our new series, 'Rest Rehearsal' with a sermon about being dangerously busy.
Join Steve Joh as he kicks off our advent series entitled 'Songs of Advent' at the Highway Palo Alto campus. For the first segment Steve discusses Zechariah's song.
NOTE: Due to technical difficulties, the sound is uneven in the recording. The Audio Fidelity is much lower than normal.
Seth Dickson opens the 'Songs of Advent' teaching series at San Jose. Here Seth speaks on Zechariah's song.
Seth Dickson speaks at the San Jose campus, continuing our 'Centered' series. Here, Seth talks about Pauls letter to the Colossians in regards to being humble, and the power structure of the culture at that time. Paul called the christians in Colosse to replace the Roman power structure of the day, with the family dynamic that the cross calls us to; love and service to one another, no matter the age, race, sex, or social status.
Dean continues our exploration of Colossians in our 'Centered' series. Here we discuss the family dynamics laid out in Colossians, and how this was Pauls attempt to restructure the Roman family unity to be based not on control, and male dominance, but rooted in humility and service to one another.