The Word from South Highland

May 4, 2025 | Luke 24:36-49 - The disciples in the Upper Room are startled and terrified to see the resurrected Jesus in the flesh. Then he offers them peace. Rev. Cort Gatliff teaches that Jesus follows up by giving them a new purpose and the power to carry it out, and that the purpose and power are ours today as well.

April 27, 2025 | John 20:11-18 - Grief is something we each experience at some point in our life, but it certainly shouldn't override our happiness. Rev. Mike Gatliff reminds us that, in our risen Savior, Jesus Christ, we find that the bedrock of our lives is built on joy.

April 18, 2025 | Mark 15:25-39 - What should our focus be as we consider Christ's crucifixion and death? Rev. Abby Gatliff teaches from Mark's gospel that all the signs point to Jesus Christ as the Song of God, as the King of Kings.

April 20, 2025 | Mark 16:1-8 - The words of the Easter message are simple: Jesus Christ is alive. Rev. Cort Gatliff teaches that those words are true in the present tense today, and their meaning is transformative both for the world and for you.

April 13, 2025 | Mark 14:1-11 - How do you respond to Jesus in light of the events of Holy Week? Rev. Cort Gatliff teaches us that, in response to His extravagant love for us, Jesus is worthy of our entire lives.

April 6, 2025 | Mark 13:32-37 - Jesus speaks to his followers about the coming destruction of the temple, but then links that to the Apocalypse in the end times. Rev. Cort Gatliff teaches from this passage about how we are supposed to live as we anticipate Christ's return.

March 30, 2025 | Mark 12:28-34 - The scribe asked Jesus about the most important commandment. Rev. Abby Gatliff teaches that Jesus doesn't want to be just your religion. He wants your heart, soul, mind, and strength. 

March 23, 2025 | Mark 12:13-17 - Christians have a real duty to our governing authorities, but a greater duty to God. In an important lesson for our times, Rev. Cort Gatliff teaches about our culture's tendency to get caught up in division, anger, and fear, when we should instead be uniting around the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

March 16, 2025 | Mark 11:12-21 - Jesus cursing a fig tree seems odd on the surface, but then he overturns tables in the temple. Rev. Cort Gatliff points out how these two events are actually closely related, and reveal to each of us ways in which we need to be cleansed.

March 5, 2025 | 2 Corinthians 5:20–6:10 - On Ash Wednesday, many Christians receive the sign of the cross in ashes marked upon their foreheads. Rev. Abby Gatliff teaches that an outward symbols doesn't make us ambassadors for Christ, but rather our reflection of the righteousness of God.

March 9, 2025 | Mark 11:1-11 - For the first Sunday of Lent, we find ourselves at Mark's telling of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Rev. Cort Gatliff teaches the deep ways that our Lord's arrival as King goes beyond what anyone was expecting of the Messiah.

March 2, 2025 | Mark 10:32-45 - James and John answer Jesus that yes, they can drink the cup that he will drink and receive the baptism he will receive, but they really have no idea what they're saying. Rev. Cort Gatliff teaches about the true reality of what the cross means: the cup, the baptism and the ransom.

February 23, 2025 | Mark 10:17-31 - In our society, striving to be like the "rich, young ruler" is a good thing - until he and we meet Jesus. Rev. Cort Gatliff teaches about the void we cannot fill, the warning we must heed, and the promise we can all trust.

February 16, 2025 | Mark 10:1-12 - The Pharisees keep trying to trap Jesus by asking him about arcane technicalities in the Law, in this case divorce. Rev. Cort Gatliff tells us that Jesus answers them by taking the higher road pointing to God's original design for marriage, which ultimately is about the grace-filled love story between God and His people.

February 9, 2025 | Acts 8:26-40 - When Philip has his encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch, he is being obedient to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Rev. Dr. Jim Truesdell teaches that, when it comes to holy nudges, when we start to do what the Spirit is asking of us, we begin to hear more and more from the Holy Spirit.

February 2, 2025 | Isaiah 6:1-10; Revelation 4:8-11 - You may not think that God's call to mission is directed at you. Rev. Abby Gatliff teaches from scriptural visions of God's glory that we actually can answer 'yes' to that call because, rather than our own abilities, we are sent and equipped by the purifying and awesome glory of the Creator of the universe.

January 26, 2025 | Mark 9:30-50 - As we seek to grow in our discipleship with Jesus Christ, our goal is to become more like him. Teaching from Mark, Rev. Cort Gatliff opens up for us the two traits Jesus emphasizes that we should cultivate: humility and holiness.

January 19, 2025 | Mark 9:14-29 - Doubts about God and our beliefs are inevitably woven into our walk of faith. Rev. Cort Gatliff shows us that it can happen when we depend on our selves rather than on the sure and strong power of Jesus Christ.

January 12, 2025 | Mark 9:2-13 - At the Transfiguration, Jesus leads his friends up the mountain to see His glory. Rev. Cort Gatliff teaches that the vision of the glory and holiness of God can propel us and sustain us for the life of sacrificial service and following Jesus.