Highland Christian Church- Disciples of Christ

Highland Christian Church- Disciples of Christ We are a Disciples of Christ congregation. This page offers a taste of 'who we are'. Our website is: www.highlandchristianchurchbv.org for indepth information.

Come share Sunday mornings with us...
HIGHLAND CHRISTIAN CHURCH- DISCIPLES OF CHRIST··
Been looking for a church where you feel part of a family? Where you can feel included and surrounded with Christian love for just being who you are? Highland Christian Church is a medium sized congregation with people from all walks of life, seeking and sharing a closer relationship with God and our Lord, Jesus

. Adult Sunday school classes are offered at 9 a.m. followed by a social time at 10 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Service starts at 10:30 a.m. We have an active choir, an organist and pianist and music is an important part of every service. Our Pastor, Skip French, brings many years of experience and a lovely sense of humor to each of his sermons and there is a story time for children during the service. Communion is offered each Sunday and all are welcome at the table. Come visit us and see for yourself!

11/24/2025

Monday Musings
Nov. 24, 2025
I don’t usually start off my Monday Musings with a Scripture but because it’s the holiday season and we're about to or we’ve just celebrated Thanksgiving (depending on when you're reading this), I want to start off with one that sets the tone for this writing, but I will let it be a little homework for you if you don’t know it by heart you’ll have to look it up. It is Matthew 25:35-40.
March 25th, 1965, in Montgomery Alabama there was the conclusion of a historic march from Selma. I was 8 years old, and my mother had loaded me up in the car the day before and we went there to march the last 4 or 5 miles. My mother said to me that this was something that we needed to be a part of. I didn’t really understand at the time. My mom was always on the right side of history. She was a progressive in a day when progressives were unheard of. Especially, a 34-year-old white woman from south Arkansas.
I shared that story with you because as we celebrate this Thanksgiving holiday, I wanted to share what I was thankful for this year. I am thankful for people, like my mother, who believed that God loves us all and that we are supposed to be our neighbor’s keeper.
My dad was always inviting strangers to our house for Thanksgiving and Christmas. After I was grown, he would say when you come for Christmas be sure to bring a woman’s or a man’s gift. And it was always for someone I didn’t know and usually no one else in the family knew them either.
However, this is what I’m thankful for today. The idea, the belief, the understanding that there may be strangers in our midst, but they are all our neighbors. I am thankful for people, like my father, who believed that God loves us all and that we are supposed to be our neighbor’s keeper.
What am I thankful for this year? Parents who adopted me and raised me as their own and taught me how to be a good human being and to love my neighbor.
One last thing I want to say I am thankful for. I am thankful for the life and experiences I’ve enjoyed for the last 7 years here in Bella Vista. I’ve sat and cried with many of you, laughed at some of the awkward moments we shared, rejoiced with many of you during moments of celebration. But most importantly I’ve made friendships that will last a lifetime. Thank you for being there for me during my best and worst of times. God loves you and so do I.

Peace,
Skip

11/17/2025

Monday Musings
Nov. 17, 2025
Paul writes in Philippians 4:5, “Let your gentleness be known to all.”
Pause with that for a moment. Notice what he doesn’t say. He doesn’t urge us to make sure our opinions are known to all. He doesn’t insist that our accomplishments be broadcast to all. He doesn’t suggest that our irritations, frustrations, or grievances be made known to all.
If we’re honest, those are often the things we’re most eager to share. But Paul points us in a different direction. He insists that what should rise to the surface, what should be most visible in us, is gentleness.
What is gentleness?
The Greek word Paul uses here is epieikēs. In classical Greek, it described someone who was fair-minded and flexible, someone who could bend without breaking. In the New Testament, the word carries the tone of humility — of being reasonable, considerate, and approachable.
Paul even uses it to describe Jesus himself in 2 Corinthians 10, appealing to his readers by the “meekness and gentleness of Christ.” That’s a striking thought: the Son of God, who carried divine authority and unmatched strength, chose to be known for gentleness.
Gentleness is not weakness.
It would be a mistake to confuse gentleness with passivity, or to imagine it as the opposite of strength. In the kingdom of God, strength and gentleness are not rivals — they walk hand in hand. True strength is not proven by domination or force, but by the ability to remain steady, kind, and fair even when tested.
Gentleness is not about being silent or invisible. It is about the way we carry ourselves when we speak, act, or lead. It is the posture of Christ, who could calm storms with a word and yet welcomed children onto his lap.
Why it matters.
In a world where proving our point, defending our ground, and getting our way often feel like the highest goals, gentleness can seem like a luxury—or even a liability. But Scripture keeps bringing us back to it. Gentleness is not optional; it is a mark of Christlikeness. It is listed among the fruits of the Spirit. It is the standard of leadership in the church. It is the way of Jesus.
So today, as you seek to make your mark — whether in your home, your workplace, your community, or your church — remember Paul’s words. Let your gentleness be known to all. Not because you have nothing else to offer, but because gentleness is the very strength of Christ at work in you.

Peace,
Skip

11/10/2025

Monday Musings
Nov. 10, 2025
Discouragement has a way of creeping in quietly and settling heavily. It can come after a failure, a disappointment, or simply the weariness of carrying too much for too long. Psychology Today notes that one of the most effective ways to push back against discouragement is to remember.
Think of times when you were in a good place.
When failure whispers that you’ll never succeed, recall the moments when you did.
When despair tells you joy is gone forever, remember the seasons when laughter came easily.
When you feel stuck at the bottom of a deep, hard dirt floor, remind yourself: I’ve climbed out before. I can climb out again.
This practice of remembering is not just good psychology — it’s also deeply biblical. Psalm 42 gives us a window into the heart of someone who knew discouragement well. Written during a time of exile and trouble, the psalmist doesn’t deny his pain. He names it honestly: “My soul is downcast within me.” But he also chooses to remember:
The act of remembering becomes a turning point. The psalmist recalls worship, community, and joy. He remembers God’s presence in the past, and that memory fuels hope for the future. By the end of the psalm, his lament shifts into a declaration:
Notice the movement here: from despair to memory, from memory to hope, from hope to praise. The psalmist doesn’t deny the struggle, but he refuses to let it have the last word.
So, when you find yourself discouraged, take time to remember. Remember God’s faithfulness in your own story. Remember the times when joy returned after sorrow, when strength came after weakness, when light broke through the darkness. And remember God’s promise that the story is not finished yet.
Discouragement may visit, but it does not get to stay. Hope has the final word.

Peace,
Skip

11/03/2025

Monday Musings
Nov. 3, 2025
Patrick Henry is remembered most for his fiery words, “Give me liberty or give me death.” But he also made another statement that often shows up in quotation collections: “I know of no way of judging the future but by the past.”
Say that aloud to an audience and you’ll likely see heads nodding in agreement. It sounds like good common sense. And in some areas—politics, history, even investing — it may hold true. But as a foundation for life and faith, it falls short.
That’s because God does not relate to us based on our past. Instead, God offers us the chance to let go of yesterday and begin again — every single day.
Jeremiah captured this hope when he wrote:
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22–23)
The Bible is full of stories that prove this truth. David, Moses, Peter, Paul—each carried a past that could have disqualified them. Yet God did not judge their future by their failures. And God doesn’t do that with you, either. As the psalmist reminds us: “He does not treat us as our sins deserve.” (Psalm 103:10)
Every sunrise is a reminder that God’s mercies are fresh, that we are invited to step into the day with a clean slate. What a gift it is to begin again.
And just as God refuses to let the past stand in the way of our future, we are called to extend that same grace to one another. Imagine how different our relationships would be if we offered each other the same gift of new mercies each morning.
So, as you step into today, remember: your past does not define your future. God’s love does.

Peace,
Skip

10/27/2025

Monday Musings
Oct. 27, 2025
An ancient Eastern proverb says, “Those who drink the water must remember who dug the well.”
When you lift a cup of cool water to your lips, you rarely pause to think of the one who bent low in the heat, breaking the ground, lowering the bucket, and drawing it up. Yet without their labor, your thirst would remain.
In every area of life, our burdens are made lighter through the efforts of others. Look around: the house you live in, the clothes you wear, the table where you eat, the chair where you rest, the bed where you sleep. Someone “dug the well,” so to speak, to make these things possible.
And beyond the material, think of those who shaped your spirit: the teachers who guided you in school, the Sunday School leaders who told you about Jesus, the volunteers who gave their summers to VBS and youth camps, the friends who prayed for you, the encouragers who lifted you when you were weary. Each one was digging a well, and each one deserves your gratitude.
Our calling, then, is twofold. First, to remember those who put the well in its place—to say thank you in person when we can, and to say thank you to God for bringing them into our lives. But our calling goes further still: we are to dig wells of our own.
It is a simple but searching question to carry with us throughout the day: Who, besides me, will benefit from what I am doing right now?
The apostle Paul “dug a well” in Ephesus during his missionary journeys—planting a church, leading people to Christ, training leaders. And yet, it was Paul who expressed gratitude to them: “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:16). His gratitude was not just polite acknowledgment; it was fuel for the believers, reminding them that their faith and labor mattered.
So, it is with us. Our work involves digging wells that will last for eternity. Every act of kindness, every prayer lifted, every word of encouragement spoken lowers the bucket for someone else.
Let us drink deeply, give thanks freely, and dig faithfully. For the wells we dig today may quench the thirst of generations yet to come.

Peace,
Skip

10/21/2025

Monday Musings
Oct. 20, 2025
Several years ago, worship leader Rita Springer said something that has stayed with me: “You’ll never know that God is all you need until you reach a point where God is all you have.”
At first, that sounds like a lesson reserved for those who have lost everything. But the truth is, you don’t have to lose it all to discover it. Sometimes it only takes one sudden storm.
You can be surrounded by friends, blessed with financial security, and celebrated for your accomplishments—and then, in a single moment, a crisis strips away the illusion of control. Suddenly, the things that once seemed so solid no longer hold you up. In those moments, you realize that beneath all the layers of success and security, God is really all you have.
And here is the good news: God is all you need.
God meets us in our weakest moments. God comforts us when we are shaken, forgives us when we stumble, and surrounds us with steadfast love when everything else feels uncertain. The psalmist knew this truth well, which is why he could pray with confidence: “I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” (Psalm 57:1)
Storms will come. Some will pass quickly, others will linger. But through them all, God remains near. God’s presence is not shaken by our circumstances. God’s love is not diminished by our failures. God’s strength is not exhausted by our weakness.
So, as you begin this week, carry this reminder with you: All you truly need, you already have.

Peace,
Skip

Address

1500 Forest Hills Blvd
Bella Vista, AR
72715

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 12pm
Tuesday 8am - 12pm
Wednesday 8am - 12pm
Thursday 8am - 12pm
Sunday 9am - 12pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Highland Christian Church- Disciples of Christ posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Place Of Worship

Send a message to Highland Christian Church- Disciples of Christ:

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Come share Sunday mornings with us...

Been looking for a church where you feel part of a family? Where you can feel included and surrounded with Christian love for just being who you are? Highland Christian Church is a medium sized congregation with people from all walks of life, seeking and sharing a closer relationship with God and our Lord, Jesus. Adult Sunday school classes are offered at 9 a.m. followed by a social time at 10 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Service starts at 10:30 a.m. We have an active choir, an organist and pianist and music is an important part of every service. Our Pastor, Skip French, brings many years of experience and a lovely sense of humor to each of his sermons and there is a story time for children during the service. Communion is offered each Sunday and all are welcome at the table. Come visit us and see for yourself!