The Word from South Highland

April 23, 2023 - The two believers on the road to Emmaus on Easter Sunday had heard about Jesus' resurrection, but couldn't believe it - or even recognize the risen Christ walking beside them. Rev. Dr. Ed Hurley preaches from Luke 24 that the resurrection of our Lord is very real.

April16, 2023 - The disciple Thomas has gotten a bad rap for questioning his brothers' report of having seen the risen Jesus (ever heard of "doubting Thomas?"). But Rev. Cort Gatliff says that in the Bible, doubt is treated as a natural thing that will always arise in a life of faith and can be dealt with patiently.

April 9, 2023 - An earthquake shook the earth on Good Friday as the temple curtain was torn from top to bottom; another earthquake shook the ground as the stone was rolled away on Easter morning. Rev. Dr. Ed Hurley says Christ's resurrection was a seismic shift for all creation.

April 4, 2023 - In Jesus' most vulnerable moment - on the cross - He cries out, "Father...". Rev. Abby Gatliff has a brief but powerful sermon on Jesus' last words from the cross, "Father, into Thy hands I commit my spirit."

April 6, 2023 - On Maundy Thursday - Holy Thursday - the Passover is remade. With the words "It is finished" the next day, Jesus has taken the ancient Seder Passover supper and made it new, grounded in his body and his blood. Rev. Dr. Ed Hurley preaches from Matthew and John.

April 2, 2023 - As Jesus makes his way to his ultimate confrontation with evil and the heart of darkness, it is the voices of the children that ring out, in the streets and in the temple. In the wake of a senseless school shooting, Rev. Dr. Ed Hurley encourages us to, like the children of Jerusalem did, see with open hearts who Jesus really is.

March 26, 2023 - As Jesus begins his final journey to Jerusalem in Matthew 20, He invites us to get on the Jerusalem road with him and follow, follow to the cross, then to the crown. Rev. Dr. Ed Hurley says that doing so calls for our full loyalty and love.

March 19, 2023 - The Beatitudes can be considered the preamble to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and are truly radical, both then and now. God wants his people to be different, to be set apart, to be holy, to glorify Him. Guest preacher Dr. Beck Taylor, president of Samford University, preaches on Matthew 5:3-12, “…blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

March 12, 2023 - Our world is replete with enemies far and near, from threatening dictators to that boss who just makes your work life miserable. But who is the real enemy? Rev. Dr. Larry Michael preaches on Jesus' call in the Sermon on the Mount to love our enemies.

March 5, 2023 - Jesus didn't come preaching a message of comfort and convenience, but rather one of costly, sacrificial love. Rev. Dr. Ed Hurley preaches from Matthew 5 on Jesus' call to - before bringing out gifts to the altar - be reconciled to those with whom we are in conflict.