Highland Baptist Church

06/03/2026

Tuesday: Remembering His Covenant

Scripture: Luke 22:20 (CSB) "In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'"

Historical Context: The concept of covenant was central to Jewish understanding of relationship with God. In the Old Testament, covenants were solemn, binding agreements sealed with blood sacrifice. God made covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David—each establishing promises and relationship. The "new covenant" Jesus spoke of was prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34, where God promised to write His law on people's hearts and remember their sins no more. Unlike the old covenant which required repeated sacrifices, Jesus's blood established a once-for-all covenant that could never be broken.

Devotional: When Jesus lifted the cup and declared it "the new covenant in my blood," He was making an astounding claim. He was saying that through His death, the entire relationship between God and humanity would be transformed. No longer would people need to bring animals to the temple for sacrifice. No longer would priests need to repeatedly offer blood for sins. Jesus Himself would be the final, perfect sacrifice that would establish an eternal covenant between God and His people.

What makes this covenant so remarkable is that it's not based on our ability to keep our end of the bargain. The old covenant required obedience, and Israel repeatedly failed. But the new covenant is secured entirely by Christ's faithfulness, not ours. When we take the cup, we remember that God's acceptance of us is not based on our performance or our merit, but on Christ and His sacrifice. This means that on your worst day, when you've failed miserably, when you've sinned grievously, when you feel utterly unworthy—the covenant still stands. Not because you held up your end, but because Jesus held up His.

This is why our hearts can be filled with assurance. If we didn't do anything to earn our salvation, we can't do anything to lose it. The covenant is sealed with Christ's blood, not ours. It's secured by His righteousness, not ours. It's maintained by His faithfulness, not ours. This doesn't give us license to sin carelessly, but it does give us confidence to approach God boldly, knowing that we are accepted in the Beloved. The cup reminds us that we belong to God through an unbreakable covenant purchased with the precious blood of Jesus.

Reflection Questions:

-How does understanding the covenant nature of your salvation change your view of your relationship with God?
-In what areas of your life do you struggle to believe that God's acceptance is truly secure?

Action Steps:

-Read Jeremiah 31:31-34 and thank God for fulfilling His promise of a new covenant.
-Identify one fear or insecurity about your standing with God, and speak the truth of the covenant over it: "I am accepted because of Christ's blood, not my performance."
-Share with someone this week about the security you have in Christ's covenant.

Do you have a prayer request or question you would like to share with the church staff? https://www.highlandbaptist.net/resources/prayer

Do you want to receive this via text message? https://highlandbaptistchurch.shelbynextchms.com/external/form/3082e910-9118-4ea6-b815-9d0c410cffcf

06/02/2026

🪩 Bright lights. Big fun. Jesus at the center. 💡
That’s what Illumination Station VBS is all about!
Sign up today: https://highlandbaptistchurch.shelbynextchms.com/external/form/95b1ed15-ac68-41b3-ac77-b0da6c74b89a

06/02/2026

Weekly Devotional: "Do This in Remembrance of Me"
Monday: Remembering His Sacrifice

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-24 (CSB) "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, 'This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'"

Historical Context: Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthian church around AD 55, addressing various issues including their improper observance of the Lord's Supper. The practice of breaking bread together originated on the night before Jesus's crucifixion, during the Passover meal. In Jewish tradition, Passover commemorated God's deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery. Jesus transformed this ancient memorial into something new—a remembrance of His own sacrifice. The early church continued this practice regularly, gathering to remember Christ's broken body and shed blood.

Devotional: When Jesus said "do this in remembrance of me," He wasn't asking us to perform an empty ritual. He was inviting us into a profound act of worship that anchors our faith in historical reality. Every time we take the bread, we remember that salvation came at a tremendous cost. Jesus willingly gave His body to be broken for us. He endured the mockery, the beating, the nails, and the cross so that we could receive forgiveness. This wasn't a theoretical sacrifice or a symbolic gesture—it was real flesh torn, real blood spilled, real suffering endured.

The beauty of remembrance is that it keeps us grounded in truth when our feelings fluctuate. There will be days when you feel distant from God, when your faith feels weak, when you wonder if you're truly saved. In those moments, the Lord's Supper calls you back to objective reality: Christ died for you. Not because you were good enough, not because you earned it, but because He loved you. The bread reminds us that our hope doesn't rest in our goodness or our works or our religious efforts. Our hope rests entirely in the finished work of Christ on the cross.

As we begin this week reflecting on the Lord's Supper, let your heart be filled with gratitude. Consider the price that was paid for your freedom. Jesus gave Himself—fully, willingly, sacrificially—for you. That's not just something to remember once a quarter when we observe communion. That's the foundation of every single day of your Christian life. You are loved with a love that went to the cross and didn't turn back.

Reflection Questions:

-When you think about Jesus's sacrifice, what specific aspect of His suffering moves you most deeply?
-How does remembering Christ's broken body change the way you view your own struggles and suffering?
-In what ways have you been tempted to base your hope on your own performance rather than on Christ's finished work?

Action Steps:

-Spend five minutes today in silent reflection, picturing Jesus on the cross and thanking Him specifically for what He endured for you.
-Write down one area where you've been trying to earn God's acceptance, and surrender it to Him in prayer.

Do you have a prayer request or question you would like to share with the church staff? https://www.highlandbaptist.net/resources/prayer

Do you want to receive this via text message? https://highlandbaptistchurch.shelbynextchms.com/external/form/3082e910-9118-4ea6-b815-9d0c410cffcf

06/01/2026

Remember His Goodness: Celebrating God's Faithfulness Through the Lord's Supper

Ever notice how easy it is to forget the good things God has done? One moment we're celebrating a breakthrough, and the next we're anxious about tomorrow. We're forgetful people by nature, which is exactly why Jesus gave us a powerful way to remember.

At our recent celebration service, we paused to reflect on all God is doing in our community—from youth serving at the Christian Services Center to our growing prison ministry at East Mississippi Correctional Facility. These stories remind us that God is actively at work, transforming lives in the darkest places. But the most profound reminder of God's faithfulness comes through the Lord's Supper itself.

Why Jesus Told Us to Remember

The night before His crucifixion, Jesus gathered His disciples for Passover and did something revolutionary. He took the bread and cup—symbols they'd known their entire lives—and gave them new meaning. "Do this in remembrance of me," He said. This wasn't just another religious ritual. It was an invitation to worship through remembrance.

The Bible mentions remembering over 400 times because God knows we need constant reminders of His goodness. When we come to the Lord's table, we're not just going through motions. We're engaging in an act of worshipful remembrance that anchors our souls in three essential truths.

Three Truths Jesus Wants Us to Remember

We Remember His Sacrifice for Us

When we take the bread, we remember that Jesus willingly gave His body to be broken for us. Our salvation came at a tremendous cost—one we could never pay ourselves. This isn't about our goodness or religious efforts. Our hope rests entirely in Christ's finished work on the cross. That truth fills our hearts with gratitude and joy.

We Remember His Covenant with Us

The cup represents the new covenant sealed by Jesus' blood. In the Old Testament, covenants were solemn promises established through blood sacrifice. Through Christ's death, we sinners receive eternal forgiveness and adoption into God's family. Our acceptance isn't based on our performance—it's secured in Jesus. Since we didn't earn our salvation, we can't lose it. That truth gives us unshakeable assurance.

We Remember His Coming for Us

The Lord's Supper doesn't just look backward to the cross—it looks forward to Christ's return. Every time we observe this meal, we're reminded that this world isn't our final home. One day, faith will become sight. One day, we'll gather at the marriage supper of the Lamb. This is just a foretaste of the greater feast to come. That truth fills us with hope.

Come to the Table with Expectation

When was the last time you paused to remember all God has done for you? The Lord's Supper invites us to remember the past with gratitude, live in the present with full assurance, and face the future with confident hope.

This isn't our table—it's Jesus' table. And He invites every believer to celebrate with thankful hearts, worshipful minds, and eyes fixed on Him. Whether you're serving at a food pantry, ministering in a prison, or simply trying to follow Jesus in your everyday life, you need this reminder of His faithfulness.

Join us for our next celebration service and experience the joy of remembering together what Christ has done, is doing, and will do.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of remembrance. Help us never forget the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. When we're tempted to doubt Your goodness or forget Your faithfulness, bring us back to the table. Fill our hearts with gratitude, assurance, and hope as we remember all You've done. In Jesus' name, Amen.

06/01/2026

06/01/2026

We've had a blast this past quarter! Check it out.

06/01/2026

Sign your kiddo up, invite their friends, and come to VBS at Highland June 14-18!
https://highlandbaptistchurch.shelbynextchms.com/external/form/95b1ed15-ac68-41b3-ac77-b0da6c74b89a

06/01/2026

Pray for our students and chaperones as they leave for a week of camp at Ridgecrest, North Carolina. Pray for safe travels, sincere worship, and life-changing decisions that will honor and glorify Christ.

And yes, they left the church at 1:30 this morning.