January 1, 2023

Today we began a new series "Rooted". A four week series that follows the four steps of plants...PLANT - GROWTH - PRUNE - HARVEST and how these steps are a model for growth in Jesus.
So today we began with "PLANT" and the parable of the sower in Matthew 13.

More specifically we learned that WE are the soil and the Word of God is "Good Seed".  The depth and acceptance of the Word of God that dwells in us (that is "planted" in us) is dependent on the condition of our hearts.  We want to have soft, open hearts ready to accept the Word of God!

Psalm 1:3 - (KJV)

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

We pray that you will invite Jesus into your life and make Him Lord of your life.  If you need to pray about this with someone please call Pastor Harvey at 323-316-7131 and he will be glad to pray with you.

Here is a reminder of our church building Sunday schedule..

9 am -       Highland Park Christian Church adult and children's Sunday School
10 am -     Highland Park Christian Church main worship service
12 noon -  Iglesia Evangélica Génesis main worship service
2:30 pm -  Iglesia De Dios Pentecostal M.I. main worship service

Let us pray for you.  Just send an email to us and we will add you to our online prayer list.

We will continue to prepare these online worship pages for you. 

We will continue to keep uploading the sermon and providing the YouTube versions of the songs that we sang during worship. Even if you cannot join us, we'd still like to pray for you.

We'd Love to Pray with and for You!

Give us a call or email Pastor Harvey at harvey.hpcc@gmail.com to request prayer or just chat/connect.  

Please comment down below and we will respond.  Let us know how we can help and if we have blessed you with this on-line worship.  Thanks!

This weekend we have prepared a worship page for you that includes...

great YouTube versions of Christian Hymns and contemporary songs that we sang today...

Our pastor, Harvey brought part III of Christmas Playlist - Joy to the World!

We hope this continues to bless YOU and draws you closer to God.

Remember, Denise and I are a phone call away if you want to pray together or just chat.  
(Also remember that God is NOT far away, He has promised that He would never leave us - can I get an "Amen"!)

And don't forget you can comment below about anything that we can help you with or send us a Facebook message on the Facebook message app.

You can also use the "comments below to start any conversation with us.

Thanks for all of your support!
For Him and His Kingdom,
Pastors Harvey & Denise

Pastor Denise is now meeting LIVE with the children - come join her in Sunday school every Sunday at 9:00 am.  Sing, Pray and learn about God.

Also we are meeting LIVE for Adult Sunday School every Sunday at 9:00 am.
Now we are studying the subject "The Miracles of Jesus" next week is "The Spirits are Exorcised" Please join us!

          And Now It's Time to Worship Christ

Prayer Requests from Sunday, January 1, 2023

Sandra - Pray for her friend Eva.
                 Pray for her neighbor Ruth.

Harvey/Denise - Pray for Harvey's father, Harvey Sr.
     Pray for Harvey's family; Denise, Victoria, Casey, Noelle and Marc.
     Pray for our church family for growth and service to God.
     Pray for Leah in the hospital with a kidney stone.

Ray - Pray for his friend, Laura, who is undergoing cancer treatment.
           Pray for his uncle Manny.
           Pray for his mom and family.

Marlene - Pray for Pam for God's touch.  
                   Pray for Tammie for healing from surgery.
                   Prayer of Jean, who is healing from surgery.
                   Pray for young Sage.
                   Pray for her brother Walter for physical and spiritual healing.

Bryan - Pray for his family.
              Pray for Brienanna Long and her family.
              Pray for an unspoken request.

Al -  Pray for Al's friend, Clemmie, to recover from a fall and put away fears.
         Pray for his friend David to get medical & financial help and to continue walking with God.
         Pray for his knee, health and his walk with God, with his Bible reading.

          Here Is This Week's Worship Order.

Bringing in the Sheaves
Artist:  Adonai Worship

Give of Your Best to the Master
Artist: The NCrew

After singing a few songs, then as a congregation we read together aloud the following scripture...

Ephesians 1:15-23 (NASB)

15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,

16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

19 and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might

20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church,

23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Here is the text from the sermon -   
Matthew 13:1-13; Matthew 13:18-23; Matthew 13:15; Mark 8:35; John 16:33; Luke 21:34;
Psalm 1

Matthew 13:1-13 NASB
[1] On that day Jesus had gone out of the house and was sitting by the sea.

[2] And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.

[3] And He told them many things in parables, saying, "Behold, the sower went out to sow;

[4] and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up.

[5] Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and they sprang up immediately, because they had no depth of soil.

[6] But after the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

[7] Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out.

[8] But others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much.

[9] The one who has ears, let him hear."

[10] And the disciples came up and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"

[11] And Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.

[12] For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.

[13] Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

Matthew 13:18-23 NASB
[18] "Listen then to the parable of the sower.

[19] When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one sown with seed beside the road.

[20] The one sown with seed on the rocky places, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;

[21] yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution occurs because of the word, immediately he falls away.

[22] And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

[23] But the one sown with seed on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much."

Matthew 13:15 NASB
FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL,
WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR,
AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES,
OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES,
HEAR WITH THEIR EARS,
UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART,
AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.'

Mark 8:35 NASB
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.

John 16:33 NASB
These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

Luke 21:34 NASB
"But be on your guard, so that your hearts will not be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that this day will not come on you suddenly, like a trap;

Proverbs 4:23 NASB
Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

Psalm 1 KJV
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord
Artist: Paul Baloche

Again, Denise and I are available for prayer.

In Christ,

Pastor Harvey