The Heights Church

The Way of Jesus - wk2

"Time with God"

Dr. Gary Singleton

Healthy relationships are important.  We all have an inherent desire to be close to other people … to connect and build relationships.  Studies have shown that having healthy relationships can cause us to have less stress, better healing, a greater sense of purpose, and even a longer life.  But relationships don’t just happen.  Good relationships take work, and one of the best ways to build a relationship is spending time together.
 
If you’re a Christian, the most important relationship you can have is your relationship with God.  And just like any other relationship, a healthy relationship with God means spending time with Him.  Jesus consistently spent time with His Father, and we need to follow the way of Jesus.
 
Do you want to have a better relationship with God?  God wants a better relationship with you, and if you will spend time with Him, He will guide you into “The Way of Jesus.”

The Way of Jesus - wk1

"Fans vs Followers"

 Bryan Jones

Stop for a minute and think about your favorite team.  Maybe you’re a football fan and the Cowboys are your jam.  Or maybe you’re more of a baseball or basketball fan.  Whatever your sport of choice, think about your favorite team.
 
Now think about how long you’ve cheered for that team.  Are you one of those die-hard loyal followers who sticks with your team through thick and thin?  Or are you a bandwagon fan who drinks in the excitement when the team is winning but walks away when the winning streak ends?
 
This Sunday we’re going to begin a new sermon series called “The Way of Jesus,” and we’ll start with a look at a passage in John 6.  Jesus is surrounded by fans – probably around 15,000 of them.  They had seen the miracles that Jesus performed and they were impressed.  But Jesus wasn’t looking for fans.  He was looking for followers – those die-hard, devoted people who were willing to stick with Him through the hard stuff.
 
I hope you will join me Sunday as we unpack the qualities Jesus is looking for in His team.  Are you a follower of Jesus or are you just a fan? 

Oh My Soul - wk5

"Giving in Worship"

 Dr. Gary Singleton

The issue of entitlement is becoming more and more common in today’s society. Entitled people wear their entitlement like a crown. They’re rude, demanding, and get resentful and angry when things don’t go their way. “Thank you” is just not a part of their vocabulary. Just take a look at social media. Entitled people are everywhere.

And yet studies show that those who consistently practice gratitude are happier, have better relationships, and even sleep better. Gratitude literally rewires the brain. Gratitude is more than just saying a casual “thanks!” Showing true gratitude requires more.

This Sunday we’re going to take a look at what it means to show gratitude as we wrap up our sermon series “Oh My Soul.” There are many ways we can say thank you when we receive something of value. And we should make it a habit to thank others often and sincerely. But what about God? How do we express our thanks to Him for His unspeakable gifts?

This Sunday we’re going to take a look at Psalm 116. It’s a psalm that was written by an unknown author who is struggling to express his thanks to God for delivering him from imminent death. For this writer, giving thanks to God is an act of worship. I hope you will join me Sunday as we ask, “What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?” (Psalm 116:12)

Oh My Soul - wk4

"Irreverent Familiarity"

 Bryan Jones

Reverence is defined as “a feeling of deep respect or awe.”  When you treat someone with reverence, you show them intense respect.  Some people show reverence for a President, a hero, or even a favorite sports figure.  Hebrews 12:28 tells us that we should “offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.”  
 
Irreverence, on the other hand, is just the opposite.  It is viewing something as not worthy of admiration.  The thing about irreverence is that it is usually displayed toward things that would normally call for reverence – like addressing the president as “Dude.”  
 
In today’s culture, too many of us have what I refer to as an “irreverent familiarity” when it comes to our relationship with God.  We’ve lost our reverence … our respect for who God is.  We’ve become far too casual in the way we approach Him.
 
Friends, I hope you will join me on Sunday as we continue our sermon series “Oh My Soul.”  Let’s explore together what it means to “offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.”

Oh My Soul - wk3

"Hills and Valleys"

 Richard Covington

One of the most repeated words in the Bible is the word “heart.” Biblically speaking, the heart is the core of who you are as a person. Your direction will always be determined by the devotion of your heart. So it’s not surprising that the Bible is full of verses telling us that God wants our heart. In fact, according to the prophet Hosea, God doesn’t want our sacrifices. He wants our devotion … our heart! When our heart is connected to our Father, worship happens.

This Sunday we’re continuing our sermon series on worship that we’ve called “Oh My Soul.” We’re going to explore how the different seasons of our lives impact our worship. There are times when it’s easy to connect our heart to God’s. Other times that connection is a struggle. So how do we remain constant in our devotion and worship of our Father in both the good times and the bad?

What season of life are you in? Is your heart connecting daily with God’s? Or are you struggling to find that connection? I hope you will join me Sunday as we explore what it means to connect our heart with God’s in worship.

Oh My Soul - wk2

"Keys to Unleashing True Worship"

 Bryan Jones

“Who do people say the Son of Man is?”  That is the question Jesus asked His disciples as they stood at the “Gates of Hell” in Caesarea Philippi.  The people in Jesus’ day had various answers to this question.  Some said he was a reformer, others a miracle worker, and still others a great teacher.  But when Jesus asked this same question of Peter, he declared, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  (Matthew 16:16)
 
Who do you say Jesus is?  Do you truly believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God?  If you do, have you built your life around Him?  The starting point of truly worshipping God is seeing Him for who He truly is.  It’s not just believing in Him, but putting Him above everything else.
 
After Peter’s bold declaration, Jesus turns the tables and says to Peter,  “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.”  (Matthew 16:18)  It’s not enough just to know who Jesus is.  You have to know your own identity as a follower of Jesus.  You have to understand that you are chosen by God and you have a purpose.
 
As we continue our sermon series on worship this Sunday, we’re going to take a look at this encounter between Jesus and His disciples at Caesarea Philippi.  There are two keys to truly worshipping God.  Know who God is.  Know who you are.

Oh My Soul - wk1

"Oh My Soul"

 Bryan Jones

Praise means “expressing admiration or approval.”  When someone praises you, you feel valued.  A recent Gallup poll concluded that employees who receive regular praise are more productive, engaged, and more likely to stay with their organization.  Praising someone strengthens your relationship with that person.  Praise is powerful.
 
For those who follow Jesus, praise and worship go hand in hand.  You could say that worship is the language of the soul.  Worship is a place where you get lost in God’s presence, and from that place comes praise for who God is and what He has done.
 
Starting this Sunday we are going to spend five weeks talking about worship in a sermon series called “Oh My Soul.”  We will start this Sunday with a look at what the Old Testament teaches us about praise.  In the Hebrew language, there are seven different words used for praise, and each of them has its own unique meaning.  Some words translated as “praise” mean “to throw up your hands.” Others describe loud shouting.  Some refer to playing an instrument.  Others describe hope in the midst of hopelessness, anticipating God’s saving grace while we are still in our troubles.
 
So this Sunday we’re going to look at each of those words as they are used in the Psalms.  We’re going to join together in an anthem of praise as we worship God with our hearts and our minds … in spirit and truth.

Spiritual Gifts - wk2

"Put Your Spiritual Gifts into Practice"

Dr. Gary Singleton

Last Sunday Bryan did a great job of introducing us to spiritual gifts. This Sunday we’re going to continue that study with a look at some of the specific gifts that Paul lists in Romans 12. I really do encourage you to discover your spiritual gifts, because knowing how God has uniquely gifted you will help you learn more about how you can use your gifts to glorify God and build up the body of Christ.

God has given every one of His followers a specific gift … or maybe 2 or 3 gifts. We don’t choose our gifts – God does. Some gifts are front and center – like preaching and leadership. Others are more behind-the-scenes like hospitality and administration. No gift is more important than any other gift, and all are needed in order for the body of Christ to function the way God intended.

I hope you will join me Sunday as we discover more about some of the specific spiritual gifts, and then learn how each of us can use our gifts to serve the body of Christ here at The Heights. There is a place for everyone, and all of us are needed. Discover your spiritual gift, and then use that gift for God’s glory.

Spiritual Gifts - wk1

"What is Your Spiritual Gift?"

Bryan Jones

What was the last gift you received?  Maybe you got a tie for Father’s Day a couple of weeks ago.  (Do people even give ties anymore?)  Maybe you got a box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day.  Or maybe you have a stack of gift cards that were given to you as gifts for various occasions.
 
Sometimes we receive a gift that is exactly what we wanted and we can’t wait to use it!  Other times not so much.  Maybe that box of chocolates was milk chocolate and you only like dark.  And there’s always the old “re-gifting” for gifts we can’t really use or don’t really like.
 
Well for the next two Sundays we’re going to be talking about gifts … spiritual gifts, that is.  If you are a follower of Jesus, you have been given a gift, and God intends for you to use that gift to build up the body of Christ.
 
Some of you already know your spiritual gift.  Others are saying, “Wait – I have a gift?”  Yes, you do.  And in order to use your gift you need to know what it is!  We’re going to talk about that on Sunday as we take a look at 1 Corinthians 12.
 
It takes every believer using their gift for the body of Christ to function the way it should.  I encourage you to join me this Sunday to learn more about your spiritual gift – what it is and how you can use it to glorify God and build up the body.

James 3 & 4 - wk4

"Good Plans"

Dr. Gary Singleton

Are you a planner?  Do you keep up with the schedules of every person in your family?  Do you put together a detailed itinerary for every family vacation?   When you see a list, do you have an urge to leave no item unchecked?  If any of this sounds familiar, chances are you’re a planner.
 
Being a planner is a good thing.  We count on the planners in our life to keep us organized and on track.  But being a planner has its drawbacks too. 
 
This Sunday we will wrap up our sermon series in James with a look at making plans.  James has some words of warning to those of us who are making plans without any input from God.  All of us have goals and dreams, and we have a plan of action to move us in that direction.  But James tells us we need to hold those plans in an open hand and not in a closed fist.
 
I hope you will join me Sunday as we learn from James that planning isn’t wrong, as long as we make our plans on our knees.