Higdon Christian Church

06/02/2026

Hope for the Poor in Spirit

Jesus began His famous Sermon on the Mount with an upside-down perspective and eight counter-cultural blessings commonly known as the beatitudes.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

To be physically poor is to lack resources or material possessions. The word "poor" might trigger a mental image of someone who can’t pay their bills, can’t break free from the cycle of poverty, or can’t afford food, clothing, or shelter.

So what does it mean to be spiritually poor, and why does Jesus think that’s a good thing?

Those who realize their own spiritual poverty know that, without God, they are spiritually bankrupt. Those who are poor in spirit understand the desperation of their situation—that they can have nothing, do nothing, and be nothing without Him. Those who are poor in spirit recognize that it’s humility, not pride or self-reliance, that’s a common characteristic in the kingdom of heaven.

Those who are poor in spirit know that they can’t, but they trust that God can.

If we’re honest, most of us would prefer to be rich, comfortable, and self-dependent. We would rather lack nothing. But even if we happen to be financially stable or physically healthy, we cannot save our own souls.

We were created to need God.

So if you’re feeling weak, weary, or worn out, it’s okay. If you feel like you have nothing to offer, Jesus actually says that you are blessed.

When you have a need, He can meet it. When you’re not enough, He already is. And when you feel poor in spirit, you are in the perfect position to be saved and filled by God.

06/02/2026

Songs in the Dark

Even in life’s hardest and most depressing seasons, God is with us and is listening to us.

One purpose of a song of lament, or lament psalm, is to be honest with God. It’s about expressing vulnerability by telling God exactly how we feel. We should never be afraid of God or how we speak to Him, because He is able to handle our deepest emotions and complaints. And lament psalms are our model in Scripture on how we can be honest with Him.

Psalm 42 is a lament psalm. It is a song about the hopelessness of the writer’s current condition. It speaks to deep sorrow and grief that is experienced in life. The writer of Psalm 42 does not know why he is depressed. He’s not sure why certain things are happening to him. And so he goes to God in prayer and song, expressing the deepest parts of his soul.

Another purpose of lament is to connect the hopelessness of life with the hope that God gives. Laments act as a bridge between our present situation and the promises we’re waiting on.

The writer of this Psalm speaks to his own soul and encourages himself to continue to hope in God. He knows that no season lasts forever, and there will come a time when joy returns to him.

We will all go through seasons of sadness and grief. And we will have Psalms as a guide. The first step is to come before God and honestly express yourself to Him. Tell Him exactly how you feel.

Next, remember the promises that He has given you in His Word. Recount how much He loves you and cares for you.

And lastly, encourage yourself to put your hope in God. Move towards songs of praise in spite of your current circumstances.

05/30/2026

Lost Things: The Lie That We’re All Alone

http://bible.com/r/IBn

Trust is easy… until it’s tested. It’s easy when the car starts. When the road is clear. When the plan unfolds exactly as you expected.

But what happens when something goes wrong and throws you off your path completely? Sometimes life has a way of breaking us down, and that’s precisely when God does His best work in our souls.

In Lost Things, losing the keys wasn’t just inconvenient for Nick. It served to expose something deeper at play: how quickly fear can take over, and how fast the lie of God’s abandonment can surface in our hearts. We forget him. Or we think He’s left us.

One setback becomes a spiral. One unanswered prayer becomes doubt. One delay becomes discouragement. And before we know it, we’re not just facing a problem—we’re believing a story, about God and about our lives.

The story that says: God isn’t listening. This was a mistake. I’m on my own. I can’t do this.

But… Are you ready for the takeaway? Trials don’t just challenge our faith. They reveal it. They strengthen and grow it.

The Apostle Peter says it in the Bible: difficulties refine our faith like fire refines gold. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

Ease and comfort aren’t promised to us in this world (in fact, the opposite is true!). But they’re not here to destroy us. God does not abandon us in our trials, even when the outcome isn’t what we hoped.

Reflection:

When you experience difficulties in life, what stories do you find yourself believing about God?
How might your perspective change if you viewed trials as opportunities where your faith is being refined?

Prayer:
God, when fear tries to convince me I’m on my own, help me remember that You are present even in the trial. Please strengthen my faith in the middle of uncertainty. It’s in Your name I pray, amen.

05/25/2026

Finding Rest in God

Can you remember the last time you drank cold water after being outside in the hot sun? Or maybe diving into a lake in the middle of summer? It feels good to be refreshed physically, and all of us have different ideas about how to get refreshed.

God’s Word tells us that God is like a Shepherd who takes care of us. He protects us from harm and He makes sure we’re nourished.

One of the jobs of a shepherd is to provide the sheep with refreshment. This is why the writer of Psalm 23 says the Lord leads him into quiet places and lush spaces. Those things were refreshing to his soul.

Have you checked on your own soul lately?

Sometimes when we haven’t been refreshed by God, we end up living in a hurry. We keep our souls and minds busy going from one thing to the next. We become anxious. After long enough, we begin to think there might be something wrong with us.

In John 10:11, Jesus says that He is the Good Shepherd, and we are His sheep. This means that Jesus provides the right path that we should walk, spiritual protection and guidance through prayer, and also spiritual refreshment for our soul. When we spend time with Jesus, part of His job is to refresh us.

But in order to do that, we have to follow Him into those quiet spaces. We have to leave the noise and notifications of the world behind us and learn the slow pace of Jesus. We don’t have to hurry in our time with Him.

When we learn to quiet our souls by removing distractions, we can begin to enjoy simply being with Jesus. When we learn to enjoy Jesus, then He will do His job of refreshing our souls that are parched and weary without Him.

So take some time today without distractions and spend time with Jesus. If you find that difficult, that is an indicator that your soul isn’t used to resting. Your life will be so much healthier and satisfying if you make it a daily habit to be refreshed by God.

Watch Psalm 23:3 by CITAM Church Online:

https://www.bible.com/en/videos/52807?orientation=portrait&utm_content=STORY_CLIP&utm_medium=SHARE&utm_source=YVAPP

05/24/2026

Here is today's sermon👇

Consider from the life of Christ what it takes for a person to avoi...

05/18/2026

Live Prepared

Pause and think of the people who, at a moment’s notice, have to be ready for anything. Maybe your list includes first responders, the military, athletes, teachers, parents, pilots, surgeons, or pastors.

But does your list include you?

As followers of Jesus, we are called to…

“…Be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭NIV‬‬ (Emphasis added)

We can’t expect people to observe what Jesus has commanded us unless we are also observing His commands ourselves.

Do we want people to learn about God’s love? Then we need to show God’s love to people. Do we want people to learn about Jesus’ compassion? Then we need to be compassionate. Do we want people to give generously? Then we need to be good stewards of our money. Do we want people to study God’s Word? Then we need to study it for ourselves.

When you give Jesus control over your life, you allow His love, joy, and hope to transform you. As this happens, your life becomes an act of worship that reveals His hope within you.

When you live like Jesus, people are drawn to Jesus in you.

As you worship Jesus with your life, you will be able to honestly say that Christ in you is your hope and glory—and people will believe it because they will see the evidence.

They might not like who you are or agree with what you believe, but they won’t be able to find a logical reason to hate you when your life is centered around loving people the way Jesus loved you.

So as you go about each day, aim to live with gentleness and respect toward everyone—and let Jesus’ joy, love, and hope permeate your heart, mind, and relationships.

05/17/2026

In case you missed church today
👇

1. Paul found a place to worhsip2. Paul took the opportunity to teach scripture3. Paul presented Jesus to the people4. Paul upset some of the locals

05/17/2026

The Spirit of Truth

One of the major promises in the Old Testament is that one day the Spirit of God would dwell within the people of God. Previously, the people of God interacted with the presence of God within the temple.

In fulfillment of Scripture, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort God’s people. This has big implications. It means that Christians have access to the presence of God by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. God’s Spirit is with us wherever we go.

Jesus mentions in John 16:13 that the Spirit of God will guide us into all truth. God desires to be part of our daily journey through life, helping us and guiding us towards what is right.

When we have questions about what direction in life to take, the Holy Spirit is there to help us. When we’re not sure what is right or wrong, the Holy Spirit is with us to bring light to our decisions.

Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will speak to us in accordance with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit will also reinforce and help us understand what we read in Scripture.

Throughout this week, make an effort to be mindful of the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life. Remind yourself that God is with you every day. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and illuminate your path in life, and spend time praying to be comforted and strengthened by God.

Watch this teaching clip on
John 16:13 by Wonderhunt:

https://www.bible.com/en/videos/52730?orientation=portrait&utm_content=STORY_CLIP&utm_medium=SHARE&utm_source=YVAPP

05/16/2026

The Hard Work of Obedience

I often wonder what Naaman was thinking as he walked into the Jordan River.

The water wasn’t impressive. In fact, parts of the Jordan River are muddy and unpleasant. This powerful commander was standing in a river that probably smelled bad, surrounded by people watching him.

And God told him he had to submerge himself seven times.

I imagine the thoughts running through his mind.

“This might make me sicker!”
“This is ridiculous!”
“What if this doesn’t work?”
“What will people think?”

Obedience can feel uncomfortable like that.

God’s instructions don’t always match our expectations. Sometimes they challenge our pride, our reputation, and our sense of control. But Naaman eventually chose obedience.

And obedience requires full surrender. The Bible says in the Wisdom Book of Proverbs:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5, NIV)

Following God means trusting Him even when we don’t understand the process.

It means letting go of our preferred solutions and embracing His wisdom instead.

Naaman had to release his dignity, his pride, and his expectations. Only then could he experience healing… And he did!

The same is true for us.

Sometimes the greatest miracles happen on the other side of simple obedience. The hard work of obedience is rarely glamorous, but it is always powerful.

God isn’t asking us to understand everything. He’s asking us to trust Him enough to follow.

Can you trust God beyond the 7th time? Let’s pray together:

Lord, help me trust you even when your instructions challenge my pride or my plans. Give me the courage to obey you fully. Teach me to surrender my understanding and follow your wisdom. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

You are a miracle!
*Grant Fishbook

05/14/2026

Download and Listen to "Psalm 23 (I Am Not Alone)" here: https://lnk.to/Psalm23-JoshuaShermanChord Charts: https://rebrand.ly/Psalm23-IAmNotAlone-ChartsFollo...