The Heights Church

The Way of Jesus - wk7

"Who Do You Work For?"

Dr. Gary Singleton

Bad bosses.  Most of us have had at least one.  Maybe you have one now. Bad bosses micromanage.  They take credit for your work.  And they are never, ever wrong.  A recent study found that 56% of American workers claim their boss is mildly or highly toxic.  Another study found that 75% of Americans say their boss is the most stressful part of their workday. 
 
This Sunday we are looking at how walking in the way of Jesus affects how you approach your job.  The way of Jesus transforms your mindset and makes His agenda your agenda.  When you walk in the way of Jesus at work, you make Jesus your boss.  Jesus changes you, and changed people change the world.
 
The reason God planted you at your particular desk and gave you the spot you occupy on the org chart is because He intends to change the eternal destiny of every person you work with.
 
Have you made Jesus your boss at work?  On your campus?  Join me Sunday as we hear what Paul says about walking in the walk of Jesus at work.

The Way of Jesus - wk6

UNITED Weekend

Bryan Jones

Do you hate being alone? A lot of people do. Maybe all of us do at times. We get anxious about traveling alone or eating alone. To avoid being alone we spend hours with our “friends” on social media. The truth is most of us just feel stronger and more confident when we have someone with us.

This Sunday we will look at the most repeated promise in the Bible. Jesus promised over and over, “I will be with you.” In John 20, Jesus has just been crucified, and then suddenly He begins to appear to different people. People who were hurting. People who had failed. People who were afraid. And He promised each of them His presence.

Jesus gives us the same promise. Are you struggling with following Jesus? Is there some painful experience that had caused you to question God? Does it seem like in spite of your best intentions, you just fail Jesus over and over?

Join me Sunday as we hear those words that Jesus promised … words that will transform your life. You are not alone. Jesus says to each of us, “I will be with you.”

The Way of Jesus - wk5

"Neighboring"

Dr. Gary Singleton

What comes to mind when you hear the word “neighbor?”  Most of us probably think about the people who live next door or across the street.  In fact, that’s how the dictionary defines neighbor – “a person living near or next door.”  But isn’t it really more than that?  What about the waitress in your favorite restaurant?  Is she your neighbor?  Or what about the parents of the kids on your child’s soccer team?  Are they your neighbors?
 
For the last several weeks we’ve been talking about what it means to follow the way of Jesus, and this week Jesus lays it out for us:  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”  (Luke 10:27)  Sounds pretty easy, right?  But let’s just admit that there’s a lot more to it than we think.
 
This Sunday we’re going to look at another familiar parable – the parable of the Good Samaritan.  Jesus is asked by a young lawyer, “Who is my neighbor?”  The answer Jesus gives is not what the lawyer expected.
 
Who is your neighbor?  I hope you will join me Sunday to hear what Jesus has to teach us about what it looks like to love your neighbor as yourself.

The Way of Jesus - wk4

"Seeds of Grace"

Bryan Jones

Do you know someone who has a green thumb?  They just seem to have a natural talent for growing things.  Everything they plant grows and blooms like something in a Miracle-Gro commercial.  But then there are others of us whose thumbs are … well … brown.  The gardens belonging to the brown thumbs seem to be the place plants go to wither and die.  It’s sad, really.
 
Most people think they’re either one or the other.  But actually, growing things is mostly mindset.  Even the greenest of thumbs has watched a plant or two wither – so don’t give up!  Keep on planting those seeds!
 
This Sunday we’re going to talk about scattering seeds and watching them grow.  Our text is a familiar one – the Parable of the Sower found in Luke 8:4-15.  In this parable, Jesus talks about four different types of soil, and it doesn’t seem to matter whether the sower’s thumb is green or brown.  How well the seeds grow is determined by the soil – not the sower.
 
I hope you will join me Sunday as we talk about what it means to scatter seeds of grace … seeds of Jesus.  Jesus tells us that our part is to plant the seeds and then leave the rest to Him. 

The Way of Jesus - wk3

"Sabbath"

Dr. Gary Singleton

How much rest do you get? I think for most of us the answer would be “not enough.” According to a recent Gallup poll, 40% of Americans get less than the recommended amount of sleep. And when it comes to vacation time the average U.S. worker only gets 16 paid days off – and 57% of us leave unused vacation days on the table! CNN referred to America as the “no vacation nation.”

And yet God commands us to rest. In fact, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8) is one of the Ten Commandments. The word “Sabbath” means literally “to rest.” God is telling us that rest is holy.

For the past few weeks we’ve been talking about following “The Way of Jesus.” We are to follow Him in prayer, and in reading scripture, but we’re also to follow Him in rest. Scripture tells us that Jesus often withdrew to quiet places to rest and to pray.

If even Jesus needs to stop and rest in the midst of a chaotic world, don’t you think we need rest, too? Join me this Sunday as we take a look at the Sabbath … God’s command to rest. Rest is holy. The way of Jesus is the rhythm of sacred rest.

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.