The Word from South Highland

June 29, 2025 | Proverbs 5:1-23, 6:27 — Rev. Cort Gatliff has a lesson for us about the Lord's gift of physical intimacy between man and woman. He teaches that at the heart of the the Christian vision of sex is the idea that sex is both far more dangerous and far more beautiful than we tend to imagine. And so, because that is true, we need wisdom. 

June 22, 2025 | Selected Proverbs — What is it about knowing God that propels us to look outside of ourselves and to care for the marginalized? Rev. Cort Gatliff teaches that justice should matter to us because justice matters deeply to God.

June 15, 2025 | Selected Proverbs — God's will for our life is not some sort of corn maze, with only one right way and lots of wrong turns. Rev. Cort Gatliff teaches about God's sovereign will and about being so immersed in God's word that HIs priorities begin to transform our hearts, and our decision making.

June 9, 2025 | Proverbs 9:1-6, 13-18 — In the book of Proverbs, the Ladies Wisdom and Folly issue identical invitations to the people passing by. Rev. Cort Gatliff teaches that, when we listen to Folly, the next voice we hear is from the Holy Spirit, that we are not alone, and that it's not to late to change our path.

June 1, 2025 | Proverbs 1:20-33 — In the early part of Proverbs, we find Lady Wisdom represented as a character crying out wherever she can be heard, imploring God's people to listen. Rev. Cort Gatliff teaches that Jesus worked the same way, that God is not hiding from us but rather is speaking to us all the time.

May 25, 2025 | Proverbs 1:1-7 — The whole of Scripture points us to Jesus and shows us how to live. But that goes beyond the do's and don'ts of the ten commandments. Rev. Cort Gatliff teaches about the Proverbs that their goal is deep character, straight thinking, and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

May 18, 2025 | Acts 22:1-22 — Paul was changed by Jesus on the road to Damascus, but the man he had been provided a foundation for that change. Rev. Abby Gatliff teaches that your background can be used by God for eternal purposes, but there are still significant ways we are changed by the risen Lord.

May 11, 2025 | John 21:1-19 — On the shore of the Sea of Galilee a few weeks after the resurrection, and after having denied his Lord three times, Peter encounters the risen Christ. Rev. Cort Gatliff teaches us that Jesus see us as we really are, and moves toward us in love in order to restore us.

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.