The Heights Church

Questioning God - "Do All Paths Lead to God?"

"Do All Paths Lead to God?"

Dr. Gary Singleton

There are no shortage of opinions surrounding who God is, and how to get to Him. Some would say that there are many ways to earn God's favor, while Jesus made the claim that He is the only way. Could Jesus have been wrong? If He's not wrong, then what happens to those who follow different paths?

ALPHA AT THE HEIGHTS

We believe everyone should have the chance to explore the Christian faith, ask questions and share their point of view. Alpha is a series of sessions exploring these Christian faith. Each talk looks at a different question and is designed to create open conversation. Alpha will be held on Wednesdays, starting September 12 at 6:30pm at our Creekside Campus. For more information or to volunteer as a leader, email alpha@theheights.org. To register, visit www.theheights.org/alpha. Registration closes on September 23.

Have more questions? Send us an email at ask@theheights.org!

Get In The Game - wk3

"Follow Jesus"

Matthew 4:18-20

Dr. Gary Singleton

If you asked several people, “Are you a Christian?” you would probably get a variety of answers.  “Yes – but aren’t all religions basically the same?”  “No!  Christians are judgmental and anti-gay.”  “Yes, I think so.  I mean, I’m a pretty good person.”
 
The term “Christian” was first used in the first century to describe those who followed Christ, and it was not a complimentary term.  In that day, most people thought followers of Jesus were just a little bit crazy.  But it was not hard to figure out who the Christians were, because those who followed Jesus clearly lived differently than everyone else.
 
What was (and still should be) so unique about Christians?  This Sunday we will take a look at what Matthew has to say about following Jesus.  When Jesus called His first disciples, He called common, everyday fishermen – and He promised to make them “fishers of men.” (Matthew4:19)
 
I hope you will join me this Sunday as we see that following Jesus always leads to inviting others to follow Him.  Matthew shows us that if you’re not fishing, you’re not following.

Get In The Game - wk2

"How I Serve"

1 Peter 4:7-11

Bryan Jones

 

Last Sunday we began a sermon series on serving called “Get in the Game.”  Gary showed us that as believers, “servant” is our identity and our calling.  It is who we are and what we do.  This Sunday we will look at how, as followers of Christ, we are called to serve.

Our focus this week will be on Peter’s instructions in 1 Peter 4:7-11.  A few verses earlier, Peter tells us that we are priests.  (1 Peter 2:9)  Priests are called to be the middle men between God and man.  They usher people into the presence of God.  Peter tells us that as priests, there are three things we are required to do.

First, Peter tells us we are to pray.  We are to step away from the busyness of our lives and spend time talking to God.  Next we are told that we are to love others with God’s agape love – deeply and unconditionally.  And last, Peter tells us that we are to use our gifts – our time, our money, and our God-given abilities – to serve others.

I hope you will join me Sunday as we spend some time learning from Peter how God wants us to serve.  You and I are priests.  We are chosen by God to serve.

Get In The Game - wk1

"Why I Serve"

Luke 17:7-10

Dr. Gary Singleton

 

If you are a Christ-follower, then you are a servant.  Being a Christian leads as naturally to serving as being a fireman leads to putting out fires.  “Servant” is your identity in Christ, and it is your calling as a Christ-follower.  It is who you are and what you do.

With that in mind, we will spend the next three weeks in a sermon series we're calling "Get In The Game."  We're going to be talking about serving, and this Sundaywe will look at a parable told by Jesus in Luke 17.   In this parable, Jesus identifies Himself as the Master and us as the servants. Jesus assumes that we all serve, and that our service leads to the growth of the Kingdom of God here on earth.

Where are you serving the Kingdom of God?  Join me Sunday as we learn from Jesus that we are all servants by nature and by calling.  Will you get in the game and find your place to serve?

Wind & Waves - wk3

"Navigating Change"

1 Kings 19:19-21

Bryan Jones

 

This Sunday we are wrapping up our three-week sermon series called “Wind and Waves.”  We have been looking at the life of the prophet Elijah, and learning from him how to look beyond the circumstances we face.
 
As I prayed about this sermon series months ago, God led me to talk about change.  Elijah found himself in a constant state of change.  Some of the changes were good.  Some were not.  As we come to 1 Kings 19, Elijah is about to retire and a new prophet is about to step up and take his place.  And not only that, God has told Elijah that his time on earth is almost done.  Big changes were on the horizon for Elijah.  But before he moved on, Elijah had a few bucket list items to cross off.  He made a few stops on his way out, and in the places he visits there are some keys to navigating change well.
 
Like Elijah, our lives are full of change, and it’s easy to get caught up in everything that’s in front of us.  I hope you’ll join me Sunday as we learn from Elijah how to find peace in times of change.

Wind & Waves - wk2

"Benefits of Change"

1 Kings 17:8-24

Bryan Jones

 

Are you in a season of disappointment, change or pain? Has it been a week, a year or decade of confusion? We all face tough times, but we don’t have to let it be wasted. This Sunday we are going to look at something a lot of people don’t talk about – the benefits of pain and disappointment.

Did you know God can shape us through difficult times? God used Elijah to show us how we can look to God, even when it doesn’t make sense. It’s a fact of life that the wind and waves will come, but in 1 Kings 17 Elijah learned that there were amazing things that can come out of seasons of disappointment, change and pain. Is God trying to get you to look beyond your circumstance? Maybe he wants you to look past the wind and waves in front of you. Will you bring your sorrow before the Lord? Will you let God shape you?

I hope you will join me this Sunday as we talk about the benefits of pain and disappointment.

Wind & Waves - wk1

"Dissapointment"

1 Kings 17:1-7

Bryan Jones

 

What tough circumstances are you facing today?  Maybe a child has run away – spiritually or physically.  Maybe you’re faced with a job situation that just won’t seem to change.  Chances are good that all of us are facing something – and it’s easy to focus on our circumstances and let them start to bring us down.  Remember when Peter stepped out of the boat to walk on water to Jesus?  As long as he focused his attention on Jesus, he was fine.  But as soon as he turned his attention to the wind and waves, he started to drown.
 
So for the next three weeks we’re going to talk about some of the wind and waves that we find ourselves facing – things like pain, and disappointment, and change.  We’re going to look at these circumstances through the life of Elijah – someone who experienced all of these things.
 
Where are you struggling to understand your circumstances?  Where are you being battered by the wind and waves?  Join me Sunday as we look at the life of Elijah and see that God is in those moments working in ways that you can’t see.  He hasn’t forgotten you.  God’s way is not pain free – but He is up to something.

All Are Tested

"All Are Tested"

Judges 3:1-6

Dr. Gary Singleton

 

Being tested is a normal part of the human experience. Everything and everyone gets tested. Students are tested in school to see how well they retain knowledge. Marriages, and friendships, and relationships of all kinds are tested. Even new products are tested before they are released to the market.

But testing is also found in scripture. God added testing to life’s experience from the very beginning. Adam and Eve were tested in the Garden of Eden. God placed the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil in the center of the Garden and then allowed Satan to use it to test them.

This Sunday we are going to look at another clear example of God testing His people. The children of Israel had entered the Promised Land after forty years of wandering in the wilderness, but they had disobeyed God’s command to destroy all the inhabitants of the land. As we look at this story found in the book of Judges, we will see that God left those inhabitants in the land to test His children.

I hope you will join me Sunday as we see that all of us are tested, and not all of us pass. But failure does not have to be final.

James 2 - wk4

"Show My Faith By My Works"

James 2:20-26

Dr. Gary Singleton

 

Have you ever had something that turned out to be useless?  A flashlight is a great thing to have when the power goes out.  But if it doesn’t have any batteries, it’s useless!  Your car is probably one of the most useful things that you own.  You count on it to get you everywhere you need to go.  But if you can’t find your keys, it’s useless!
 
This Sunday we will wrap up our sermon series from James 2, and James tells us that it is possible to have authentic faith … a faith that saves us from hell and gets us into heaven … and that same faith can be completely useless.  How is that possible?
 
In James 2:20, James makes this statement:  “… faith apart from works is useless.”  What “works” is he talking about?  He’s talking about sanctification – the ongoing work of being made more like Jesus.  It’s not enough just to believe in Jesus.  We have to follow Him.
 
I hope you will join me Sunday as we wrap up our time in James.  Faith without works is useless, but faith with works transforms you and the world around you.

James 2 - wk3

"Faith & Works"

James 2:14-19

Bryan Jones

 

For the past two weeks, Gary has been teaching from James chapter 2, and we have learned about showing no partiality and loving our neighbor. This Sunday we will continue in the second chapter of James with a look at faith and works. James tells us there are three kinds of faith, but only one leads to life in Christ.

The first kind of faith that James describes is dead faith. Dead faith is intellectual faith with no action to back it up. The second kind of faith is demonic faith. Like dead faith, demonic faith is also intellectual – but demonic faith also contains emotion. The last kind of faith that James describes is dynamic faith, and it is this kind of faith that leads to life in Christ. When we have dynamic faith, it results in action … in works. Genuine biblical faith will always produce works. When we have this kind of faith, our love for God starts to transfer into a love for people.

I hope you will join me this Sunday as we explore these three kinds of faith. What kind of faith do you have?