Podcast Summary: "Jesus Calls"

Church of the Highlands – Sunday Messages – Audio
Episode Date: September 21, 2025
Speaker: (Presumed) Pastor Mark from Church of the Highlands
Main Theme: Understanding and Accepting the Call of Jesus

Episode Overview

This Sunday message, titled "Jesus Calls," forms part of the Church’s ongoing series on "The Goodness of God." The focus is on recognizing and responding to God’s calling in each believer's life. Pastor Mark passionately encourages both newcomers and longtime Christians to experience God’s goodness personally and to step boldly into their unique callings.

Key Discussion Points

1. The Importance of Lifting Up Jesus

• The message opens with a call to unity and worship, reminding listeners that the church gathers to lift up the name of Jesus above all else.
• Key Scripture: John 12:32 — When Jesus is lifted up, He will draw everyone to Himself.
• A celebration of God’s movement in the church, particularly evident among young people and first-time or returning churchgoers, ties into the day’s theme ("National Back to Church Day").

2. The Goodness of God Revealed in Jesus

• The ongoing series centers around Psalm 34:8 ("Taste and see that the Lord is good") and Colossians 1:15 ("The Son is the image of the invisible God").
• The ultimate proof of God’s goodness is the gift of Jesus Christ.

3. Introduction to "Jesus Calls" – Accepting God’s Invitation

• [09:10] Notable Quote:
  "You are called. There is a call of God on your life, and it's not subtle." – Pastor Mark
• The “call” is not a whispered suggestion but a bold, persistent proclamation found over 160 times in Scripture.
• The biblical call is an "invitation" – but its power is only realized when accepted.

4. Personal Stories on Invitations

• Pastor Mark shares personal anecdotes about memorable invitations and how, like invitations, God’s call requires a response.
• Memorable Moment [14:05]:
  His story about meeting his wife, Jill, illustrates how an invitation can change your life—making the spiritual analogy tangible.

Three Key Themes of Jesus' Calling

5. Theme 1: Jesus Always Meets Us Where We Are

• [19:50]
  "Jesus has an invitation for you, and He knows your address." – Pastor Mark
• Jesus seeks out the broken, the outsiders, and the unlikely—reaching people in their unique circumstances rather than waiting for them to approach Him.

6. Theme 2: The Call of Jesus Isn’t About Our Resume

• [22:40] Notable Quote:
  "Jesus doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called."
• Scriptural support: Romans 11:29 points to the irrevocability of God’s gifts and calling.
• The enemy tries to disqualify people through lies and shame, but God’s call is woven into the very fabric of our being.

7. Theme 3: The Core Call—“Come, Follow Me”

• Every call of Jesus in the Gospels boils down to three words: Come, follow me.
• Context given from Matthew 16:21-24 where Jesus spells out the radical nature of discipleship.
• (See Timestamps: [29:55]–[32:25])

Following Jesus: What Does It Really Mean?

Pastor Mark unpacks Jesus’ command in Matthew 16, identifying three steps at the heart of following Christ:

8. Step 1: Pursue Real Relationship

• Scripture: Revelation 3 – Jesus knocks on the door of our hearts.
• God's greatest desire is an authentic, daily relationship ("He wants to spend time with us").
• [38:10] Notable Quote:
  "You are where you are, but God sees you. He loves you… It is time. It’s time to step into, to let Him into your heart."
• The story of two climbers illustrates the need to cut the rope of self-reliance and fall into God’s arms.

9. Step 2: Deny Yourself

• Discipleship isn't easy: "To forget oneself, to lose sight of oneself and one’s own interests."
• [44:05] Notable Quote:
  "Religion would say, 'Get yourself right, then get in.' Relationship is always the foundation."
• Denying self is not about harshness but about holiness—trading destructive tendencies for God’s gifts (pride for humility, anxiety for peace, etc.).
• Biblical Example: Romans 12 – called to be “living sacrifices.”
• Prayer: John 3:30 – "More of You, less of me."
• The world listens to what we say but is transformed by how we live.

10. Step 3: Take Up Your Cross and Live on Mission

• The cross represents our purpose, not just suffering.
• True biblical purpose is living on mission with God, not chasing our own dreams and asking Him to bless them.
• [55:00] Notable Quote:
  "When we pick up the cross, we pick up our purpose. God, I’m not asking you to bless my dreams. I’m submitting to Your mission."
• Every vocation and role—teacher, politician, parent, artist, medical professional—can be a mission field.
• True fulfillment isn’t about comfort, but about joining God’s purposes even when it leads to discomfort, rejection, or challenge.

Memorable Pastoral Moment

The Story of Ken’s Question

• [01:01:30] Notable Quote (from Ken):
  "Now tell me who you are in that picture [at the cross]... Until you’re on the cross with Jesus, you have no hope. For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."
• Pastor Mark shares a deeply moving story of vulnerability in spiritual mentorship, circling back to the core message: surrender and transformation through being "crucified with Christ."

Practical Invitation: How to Respond

11. Response & Call to Action

• Three opportunities for listeners:

  1. Accept Jesus—beginning a relationship or rededicating commitment.
  2. Identify an Area for Self-Denial—asking God to reveal where transformation is needed.
  3. Recommit to God’s Mission—living as a faithful witness.

• The salvation prayer invites anyone listening—online, in-person, or in correctional facilities—to boldly respond in faith.

• Closing Quote [01:11:19]:
  "More of You, less of us. And as You transform us, we promise to be faithful witnesses on mission for You, sending us out of these doors today, Holy Spirit, to be Your hands and feet. We say yes to that mission, in Jesus’ name."

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "You are called. There is a call of God on your life, and it’s not subtle." — Pastor Mark [09:10]
• "Jesus has an invitation for you, and He knows your address." — [19:50]
• "Jesus doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called." — [22:40]
• "It’s time. It’s time to step into, to let Him into your heart." — [38:10]
• "Religion would say, 'Get yourself right, then get in.' Relationship is always the foundation." — [44:05]
• "When we pick up the cross, we pick up our purpose. God, I’m not asking you to bless my dreams. I’m submitting to Your mission." — [55:00]
• "Until you’re on the cross with Jesus, you have no hope. For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." — Ken (quoting Galatians 2:20) [01:01:30]

Tone

The message is celebratory, warm, approachable, and shepherding. Pastor Mark uses humor, relatable stories, and heartfelt exhortation to encourage listeners to see themselves as vital, called participants in God’s mission.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode is a clarion call for anyone—newcomers, lifelong believers, or skeptics—to recognize the bold, loving invitation Jesus makes to every person. Through Scripture, personal narrative, and direct challenge, Pastor Mark urges everyone to move beyond passive belief and into an active, authentic relationship with God, marked by self-denial and a passion for living out their unique calling in the world.