What does it mean to "be a man"? Our culture is wrestling with all kinds of definitions - from the hyper-masculine on one side to those on the other who claim there is no defining characteristics and we can completely decide for ourselves. But what does the Bible say about what it means to be a man? What does God's created order have to do with it? What characteristics should men aspire to?

Dr. Jeffery Ventrella has written extensively on the subject of the Bible and culture and provides a great framework for our discussion, including the pitfalls of social media's "man-o-sphere", and even mixed messages the church itself has sent young men over the last 20 years. You can find more of Dr. Ventrella's work discussing the Bible and culture at Truth Xchange: https://truthxchange.com/

How does someone raised in the Islamic faith hear the message of the gospel? In this live Viewpoint class session recording, Pastor Joe Infranco is joined by special guest Al Fadi, who came to the U.S. as a Muslim and was led to faith in Jesus Christ. Al shares his conversion story, and about the family and cultural pressures that he and others encountered afterward. His experience gives us great insight on how to reach out to our Muslim neighbors with the hope of the gospel. Learn more about Al Fadi's ministry, CIRA International, at https://cirainternational.com/ Find out about more upcoming Viewpoint class sessions at Highlands Church at HighlandsChurch.org/Viewpoint

Our culture presents us with a steady view of the supernatural, especially in TV and movies. Stories range from how angels get their wings to gruesome horror portrayals of dark spirits. But what does the Bible actually teach on the spiritual dimension and human interaction with this unseen realm? Are there things we can know for sure? As Christians, how much should we be thinking about the spiritual realm in our day-to-day life? This episode features a live class session held in February of 2025 hosted by our Pastor of Adult Education, Joe Infranco, and our Equipping Pastor, Dr. Ed Lutz. You can find the notes referred to in the episode at this link (PDF).