04/15/18—Highland—Meute Evangelism: “Having Holy Conversations” Psalm 22: 25-31; Acts 8: 26-39 Pearl: Seeking opportunities for deeper level conversations (“Go Deeper”) Function: To motivate listeners to intentionally steer conversations to deeper levels where it is much more natural to include spiritual insights and God’s Spirit will be at work. When you get into a swimming pool do you prefer to stick a toe in and gradually work your way gently through the shallows of the pool as … [Read more...]

04/08/18—Highland—Meute Evangelism: “Walking Together on the Journey of Faith” Ecclesiastes 4: 7-12; I Corinthians 9: 19-27; Luke 24: 13-35 Pearl: The life of faith is to be “with” others. Function: To encourage believers to share their spiritual thoughts and passions with others who are also on the journey and Jesus will reveal his will and way.   Cleopas and the other disciple of Jesus were walking together on the road to Emmaus. It was good that they were together … [Read more...]

Easter                                                                                                 04/01/18—Highland—Meute “Foolish God, Foolish Followers” I Corinthians 1: 18-25; Mark 16: 1-8 Pearl: The counter-intuitive, “foolish” Way of God. Function: To motivate worshippers to trust the seemingly feeble and weak Way of Christ which reverses the conventional wisdom of the world (Christ appeared to lose everything, but by giving his very life he gained everything—the redemption … [Read more...]

Palm Sunday                                                                                       03/25/18—Highland—Meute Spiritual Practices: “Humility” Philippians 2: 5-11; John 13: 3-16 Pearl: Humility brings us into equal footing with each other and is a magnetic witness. Function: To urge worshippers to humbly serve each other and everyone by being genuine with their true selves (Jesus loved and accepted people as they were). The Pharisees were one of the groups of religious … [Read more...]

03/18/18—Highland—Meute Spiritual Practices: “Discernment” I Kings 3: 1-15; Matthew 7: 7-11 Pearl: Discipleship and discernment go hand in hand. Function: To move worshippers to begin to use the “Awareness Examen” as a regular practice so that the relationship with God becomes contagious to others. When young Solomon (about age 20) was approached by God in a dream soon after becoming the King of Israel and given the opportunity to ask for anything he wanted from the Lord, he hit … [Read more...]

03/11/18 Spiritual Practices: “Celebration” II Samuel 6: 1-5, 17-19; Luke 4: 14-21 Pearl: Celebrate the Lord and his reign of justice and love Function: To give an overlaying reason for God’s people to regularly celebrate God’s goodness, all the while striving in his just and loving purpose for all things.   Worship is the most common aspect of our corporate practice of “celebration.” So “celebration” as an aspect of our faith practice should not be strange or unfamiliar. … [Read more...]

03/04/18—Highland—Meute Spiritual Practices: “Hospitality” Genesis 18: 1-9; Hebrews 13: 1-3, 5-6 Pearl: Expand your table guests. Functions: To challenge worshippers to share their lives more widely, remove some barriers, and have deeper fellowship with the people around them. In 1993 I was blessed to be a part of a group of forty travelers from Pittsburgh Presbytery on a visit to the “warm heart of Africa:” Malawi. I want to tell you about the level of “hospitality” that we … [Read more...]

02/18/18—Highland—Meute Spiritual Practices: “Awareness of God’s Presence” Genesis 28: 10-22; Mark 9: 2-8 Pearl: Attending to God’s presence. Function: To sharpen our sensitivity to God’s abiding nearness and interest in our lives such that we would respond in such a way that positive change in this world will be realized. Jacob’s life is a profound testimony to God’s faithfulness and not Jacob’s goodness or faithfulness. Jacob was the conniving, deceiving son of Isaac who with … [Read more...]

02/11/18—Highland—Meute Spiritual Practices: “The Love be With You!” I Corinthians 13; John 21: 15-17 Pearl: Love is the force underlying all legitimate spirituality. Function: To commend the primacy of love as the foundation and framework for the life in Christ; it is the true energy of the gospel. “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” Those opening lines begin each and every installment of the Star Wars brand. Seeing those words kindles the imagination of every Star … [Read more...]

02/04/18—Highland—Meute Spiritual Practices: “We Talkin’ About Practice?” Deuteronomy 6: 1-9; Matthew 7: 24-27 Pearl: Spiritual practice brings faith to life (knowledge to life). Function: To excite and encourage listeners to use spiritual practices to give depth, height, and breadth to the life with Christ. Tonight is the big game! The Super Bowl is now about the biggest sporting event in the United States. Super Bowl Sunday comes in second to Thanksgiving as being the biggest … [Read more...]