Highland Baptist Church

"Discipling Men and Women," Titus 2:1-15

Titus 2: 1-15 “Discipling Men and Women”
03/08/2026
 Application:
There are five areas of discipleship that Paul focuses on. Older men, older women, younger women, young men, and servants. How does Paul instruct on discipling each of these groups? Remember, the object is to equip men and women with the good news to attract a lost world to the treasures of Christ, and that the Christian life must be free of those things that hinder the testimony of Jesus. Embed yourself with teaching that builds your relationship with Jesus and fosters a tough-minded Christianity that moves people to action.
Older Men Must Be Well-Rounded in the Faith- The elder men, or older men, are called those men who have raised families and of their own and add this insight to the body of Christ. Again, the word sober-minded is used, meaning complete clarity of mind which leads to wise judgment.” These are men who are seasoned in their faith and have been walking with Jesus for a while. The church needs your experience and knowledge of the Word. Serve on a mission or ministry team, participate in and promote outreach events, and raise up or join a prayer team. The younger men need to see and hear you pray and, if able, go.
Older Women Must Train in Righteousness- Much like the elder men with the younger men, older women are to disciple and mentor the younger women. These women are to engage in worshipful behavior and activities that bridge life and worship. This means slanderous talk must go.
Young Men Must Model Integrity- The word for “self-controlled” is used once again, and this takes a different nuance, self-controlled instead of being driven by hormones and emotions. Remember, one day you will be leading the younger men in the body of Christ, so commit to being discipled. I find no shame whatsoever in a young man approaching an older Christ-loving follower and asking, “Will you disciple me?”
younger men in the body of Christ, so commit to being discipled. I find no shame whatsoever in a young man approaching an older Christ-loving follower and asking, “Will you disciple me?”
Workers Must Labor To Honor Christ- The word doulous is sometimes translated as " slaves or servants. In this context, we draw the connection between employer and employee. The challenge is upfront, work at your place of employment as unto the Lord, so that there will be a clear pathway for the good news of Jesus. Paul even gives the challenge, " Don’t talk back to your manager,” and certainly don’t embezzle or take things that do not belong to you. Work as if you are expecting someone to ask you about Christ. Remember, all of these challenges are so that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior, and not just for a moral parade, but so people may come to know Jesus Christ as Lord.
 
Prayer Prompts-
Pray for people that you can help to lead in discipleship and disciple-making.
Pray the Lord will enable you to be a person of integrity and to be “above reproach.”
Pray that God will fill you with the expectation that a person can come and ask you about Christ at any time.

"The Order of Elders," Titus 1:1-16

Titus 1:1-16 “The Order of Elders”03/01/2026Application: • Much of Timothy and Titus carries the same themes; in fact, if you were to align chronologically, I Timothy was composed first, followed by Titus, and subsequently II Timothy. Titus was left in the Mediterranean island of Crete to act as the main overseer there. On the island of Crete, there were people known for their deceitfulness, wickedness, and laziness. • When appointing any person to a place of church leadership, we must remember that the gospel is the foundation. In order that these recipients stay in step with the truth of Christ and His church, and how they are to live in context in gospel community. The gospel is not something you do, but something only Jesus can do for you and His glory. There are no enough laws, rituals, ceremonies, or works that will give you favor with God outside of saving faith in Jesus.• In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth and made everything perfect and good, but human kind disobeyed God’s command and thrust sin and brokenness into the world, and this sin effects every single facet of life, sin ultimately affects your relation to God, who is Holy, it is this sin that causes separation from God because He will not be in the presence of Sin, and we are all born into sin, but God offered a remedy by sending His Son, to be born and to bare the sins of sinful humanity, Jesus was condemned as a criminal, yet was innocent and without sin, “he who know no sin, bore our sin, so we could become righteous before God, He died on a cruel cross, was put into a tomb, and overcome sin and death by rising again, thus bridging that broken relation that humans once had with God.
Prayer Prompts:
That the gospel will take the primary position in your service and leadership in the church.
That as the church looks for people to serve and to fill ministry roles will make the gospel clear and concise.
Pray for those in our community, and our neighbors, and that they may come to know Christ.
 

"The Need for Community," II Timothy 4:9-22

Recorded 2-22-202
II Timothy 4:9-22 The Need for Community
Pastor Larry finished preaching a series on the letters to Timothy. Listen and be challenged to enjoy the church community the Lord has placed you in. 
I. The Need for Community in Times of Joy and Sadness:
II. The Need for Community is Used by God to Rescue:
Discipleship Reflection: How can we better appreciate the need for church community?
        1. We focus more on encouragement than discontents.
        2. We Rejoice in What God is Doing
        3. We Never Return Evil for Evil:

"Finishing Well," II Timothy 4:1-8

II Timothy 4:1-8 “Finishing Well”
2/15/2026
 Application:
Sometimes, it is very difficult to hear the truth; it’s even more difficult to live it out. To finish well means the follower of Christ must proclaim God’s truth through scripture. Like the workman Paul spoke of earlier, we all have a level of commitment to handling the Bible.
The proclamation of the word drives preparation, correction, rebuke, and encouragement with patience. The command is to take a stand or “stick to it,” stay at it, show proof of errors, and rebuke, at the same time, encourage.
There are some who abandoned truth and are looking to get their ears tickled, and it is like trying to yank someone's arm out of the socket. Many have abandoned the truth of scripture and attempted to substitute it with feel-good, self-help sermons.
What areas of life and ministry must Highland monitor with “sober-mindedness?”
Membership Is Not Your Sole Identity
Steward our Resources Well.
Be Intentional In How We Study The Bible.
Prayer Prompts:
“Lord, help me to hear and accept truth even when it is difficult to hear. Help me to follow through with Biblical convictions.”
Pray the Lord will give you a hunger for solid teaching and application from the Bible.
Pray the Lord will help you identify areas in your life, and the life of the church, where there needs to be reform and correction.

"Equipped for Good Work," II Timothy 3:10-17

II Timothy 3:10-17 “Equipped for Good Work”
2/8/2026
 Application:
The purpose of the workman of Christ is to demonstrate a single-minded commitment to the Lord Jesus. There must be a single-minded purpose within the body of Christ, a purpose, a drive, a mission, a unity.
If we can’t relate to severe persecution for the gospel, we can relate to the present sufferings of this age. These sufferings, though painful, can be useful and edifying to the cause of Christ. Persecution and suffering help equip of the good work of the gospel.
If you want to grow into a faithful workman of God, stay in the Bible. Persevere in the gospel truth. There is no new Word from the Lord; He has already given what He is going to give as revelation. Nothing is more convicting than the Spirit of God moving you to a place of repentance as you hear the Word of the Lord.
How are we equipped for Good Work?
By Suffering Persecution and Difficulty Gracefully
By Staying in the Word of God
 
Prayer Prompts:
“Lord, help me to endure gracefully, and help me be that workman who is equipped for every good work of the gospel.”
Pray the Lord will help you to stay and grow in the Word of God. The Lord will bring you someone to study the Bible with.
Pray the Lord will use you to help grow fruit in others in the church. “Lord, use me.”
 
 

"Foul and Fresh Fruit," II Timothy 3:1-9

Recorded for 02-02-26 Morning Worship
Application and Prayer Points:
 Application:
The listing of rotten characteristics listed II Tim 3 are characteristics that must not be named among the church. These are characteristics of the unregenerate. These rotten characteristics reflect the world we live in. Thus, the urgency of the gospel message is vital.
A simple profession of faith without genuine repentance can no more carry you to heaven than a dead horse can compete in the Kentucky Derby, or a sunken ship can save a man from drowning, or a cracked helmet can save the head from wounding. It’s like trying to hand a drowning person a glass of water. Profession without repentance is empty words.
To exhibit the fruit of the Spirit is to be like Christ, who is true love, the prince of peace, ever patient, all kind, eternally good, faithful to the will of the Father, perpetually gentle, the epitome of self-control, and without sin. The fruit of the Spirit is a description of the characteristics of Jesus and how those who are in Christ cannot help but bear fruit.
In what ways can we bear fruit for the Kingdom of God?
By growing in the Spiritual Disciplines.
By Serving Christ and His People.
By sharing the gospel.
Prayer Prompts:
Pray that the Lord will enable you to bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.
Pray the Lord will help you to identify areas where rotten fruit is evident in your life and distance yourself from them.
Pray the Lord will use you to help grow fruit in others in the church. “Lord, use me.”

"The Be Unashamed," II Timothy 2:13-26

Recorded for 01/25/2026 Morning Worship. 
II Timothy 2:14-26 To Be Unashamed
Application and Prayer Points:
 Application:
To Be Unashamed Will Produce The Approved Worker. To serve Jesus with all you have, but He is worth it; you remind them (followers of Jesus) of these truths.
There is a right way to express the truth of the gospel and to avoid quarrelsome or hurtful words that do nothing but harm the message of the gospel. Avoid using words that have no eternal purpose. The worker who is unashamed will avoid vain, irreverent babbling.
Steadily pursue faith, love, and peace. A person committed to Kingdom work will rejoice when the church is exhibiting Christ’s righteousness, a firm, unshakable faith, and a love for Christ and other believers.
What are some ways to dismantle harmful and inappropriate controversies?
Identify when conflicts are present.
Recognize areas of immaturity.
Confront sin in the congregation
Identify and tear down idols.
Prayer Prompts:
Pray that the Lord will diminish your desire to gossip, slander, or use language that does not build up the body of Christ.
Pray that you will make the gospel of Jesus about all else, even our nation.
Pray the Lord would equip Highland to be mature followers of Jesus.
Pray we will work hard and serve Highland and the Kingdom of Christ with the right motives and gospel-centered goals.

"The Foundation of Discipleship," II Timothy 2:1-13

Recorded 1/18/2026
Pastor Larry Stephens continues the sermon series through II Timothy. This week, Pastor Larry highlights four disciplines illustrated by the apostle Paul for effective discipleship and disciple-making.
Application:
A faithful teacher takes the time to ensure the lesson is correct and invests enough to ensure that the recipients understand and receive it. A faithful teacher, passing down truth, ensures the message is clear and received.
A devoted soldier takes the time to train hard (in the Word) and knows the orders of his commander (to go).
Like a focused athlete, there must be consistent training in the Word, seeking guidance from the coach or discipler, and a knowledge of the landscape of Christianity for perspective on the Word of God and history.
To be like the hard-working farmer, to be like a hard-working farmer is to prepare for the future.
The Faithful Teacher
The Devoted Soldier
The Focused Athlete
The Hard-Working Farmer
Prayer Prompts:
Pray that the Lord will give you the desire to uphold sound teaching and live in such a way that will compel others to pay attention.
Pray that you will make the gospel of Jesus about all else, even our nation.
Pray that you will keep your eyes on the goal, which is Christ Jesus. Pray, you will be focused on what is important in your faith.
Pray we will work hard and serve Highland and the Kingdom of Christ with the right motives and gospel-centered goals.

"Contrasting Doctrines," II Timothy 1:13-18

Recorded 1/11/2026
Reverend Thomas Barber continues in the sermon series through the second letter of Timothy. He issues a challenge to pass down and guard sound doctrine and to encourage those who suffer for the sake of the gospel.
Application:
As a church, we are always reforming (semper reformada) and evaluating missions, ministry, and disciple-making principles.
Uphold sound doctrine and pass it down to the next generation.
Continue to pray and support those who are suffering for the gospel.
Prayer Prompts:
Pray that the Lord will give you the desire to uphold sound teaching and invest in the next generation.
Encourage those who are modeling rightful worship and bypass those who teach an unbiblical model of “worship.”
Pray that the Lord will give you a renewed and revived desire to make disciples. Pray that God would bring someone in your path to disciple or lead you to someone to disciple you. Since we are all still disciples of Jesus, age is not an issue.

"Protect the Treasure," II Timothy 1:1-12

Recorded 01/04/2026
Pastor Larry Stephens returns to the sermon series on Timothy and Titus.
II Timothy 1:1-12 “Protecting The Treasure.”
Application and Prayer Points:
 Application:
“Who are you discipling?” By the end of this journey through II Timothy, I hope you can identify someone in your life that you are discipling. Someone to whom you can pass down gospel truths.
Remember where God brought you from and where you are now. Commit to raising and equipping the younger generation to walk more closely with Jesus.
God did not give you a spirit of fear but of confidence in Him. The spirit of fear is not from God. Instead, He gives His people boldness (fearlessness) and self-control.
Unapologetically share your faith in Jesus and the gospel. Because of all the Lord has done, and because He brought you this far, and because you have no reason to fear, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord.
Discipleship Reflection: What Must We Do To Pass Down and Protect the Gospel Truth? 1. Pray and Rely on the Word and Spirit of God. 2. Consider Church Membership as a Top Priority. 3. Make Worshipping with Your Church a Necessity.
Prayer Prompts:
Pray that the Lord will give you a renewed and revived desire to make disciples. Pray that God would bring someone in your path to disciple or lead you to someone to disciple you. Since we are all still disciples of Jesus, age is not an issue.
Pray that God would give you the boldness to share the gospel of Jesus with a stranger or someone you have known for years. Pray that God would give you the words to say.