The Heights Church

Focused on Jesus - wk1

"Micah"

Dr. Gary Singleton - Senior Pastor

Keeping track of time these days isn’t as easy as it used to be.  Some haven’t left the house in weeks.  Others are our heroic “essential employees” who continue to go to work and do your job every day in the midst of this pandemic.  No matter your current circumstances, these are challenging times for all of us.

So, as we find ourselves still sheltering in place, we’re going to turn our focus to the only One where we find hope and peace in these crazy days. 

This Sunday, Gary is beginning our sermon series focusing on Jesus by taking a look at an unlikely source – an Old Testament prophet named Micah.  What can someone who lived 700 years before Jesus’ birth teach us about Jesus?

Just like us, Micah lived in days of great uncertainty. However, he kept His eyes on Jesus and not on his circumstances.  Because of this, he had incredible impact on his generation.

Do you want God to use you in these uncertain days?  Micah shows us that God can use this time for your good and His glory.

 

Easter 2020

Easter 2020

Bryan Jones - Teaching Pastor

Well church family, Easter 2020 is going to be one to remember!  COVID-19 and social distancing means we won’t be gathering together in the Worship Center this Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.  But that doesn’t mean we won’t be celebrating! 

This Easter Sunday, we’re going to look at a story - which is not surprising - but the focus will be on the idea of "story."  Everyone loves a good story.  Stories are the reason we stay up late to finish a book or binge watch on Netflix.  But what is it about stories that draw us in?
 
As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus this Sunday, we’re going to take a look at His story.  The story of Jesus stands above every other story, and Paul tells us in Colossians 1 what makes the story of Jesus so powerful.
 

Go (wk6)

"Missional Parenting"

Dr. Gary Singleton - Senior Pastor

"Control" - March 29

"Control"

Bryan Jones - Teaching Pastor

Well, church family – this week we’ve seen things drift even farther away from what we define as normal. If you’re in Dallas County, you’re now under a “Shelter in Place” order and staying at home is now mandatory. Some of you haven’t left the house in days – so maybe you’re starting to go a little stir crazy?

And with so much of our daily routine out of our control, a lot of us resort to controlling the things that we can. (Like stocking up on toilet paper!) We try to control our environment, and we try to control the people around us. This is especially true of those Type-A personalities we sometimes refer to as “control freaks!”

Almost every day we hear from some mental health expert about things we can do to manage the stress and anxiety some of us are feeling. Forbes even has a list of “Nine Things You Can Do to Keep Your Cool in the COVID-19 Crisis.” Not being in control is stressful!

So as we continue to navigate these uncertain days, this Sunday we’re going to take a look at a guy named Saul who tried to take control of his situation. You can find his story in 1 Samuel 13:7-14.

If we can replace our need for control with surrender, God can use these days to cause our faith to flourish like it never has before. “Let go and let God!”

SPECIAL:: Heights 24/7 Prayer Chain

Richard Covington (Missions Pastor) is joined by Ivan Low (Assoc. Missions Pastor) to talk prayer. They talk through what prayer has meant to them in their lives as well as launch an initiative of 24/7 prayer throughout the COVID-19 season in America.

Go - wk5

"Windows of Opportunity"

Bryan Jones - Teaching Pastor

It’s been quite a week, church family!  Schools and businesses have closed, grocery stores are empty, and we have added phrases like “social distancing” and “community spread” to our vocabulary.  Experts are telling us that we have a window of opportunity to slow the spread of COVID-19, and #flattenthecurve is trending on Twitter.
 
As followers of Jesus we also have windows of opportunity in the midst of the chaos, and this Sunday we’re going to talk about those opportunities.  Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:16 that we are to make the best use of our time.  With activities cancelled and restaurants closed, do you find yourself with extra time?  How can you put that time to the best use?  What can followers of Jesus do to share His love with a world that needs it now more than ever?
 

Go - wk4

Missional Church (wk4)

Go - wk3

"Missional Groups"

Dr. Gary Singleton - Senior Pastor

When God created Adam in the Garden of Eden, one of His first observations was “It is not good that the man should be alone.”  (Genesis 2:18)  So He created Eve and she joined together with Adam to form the first group.  Ever since then, we have gathered in groups.  Why do we do that?  What needs are met when we spend time with a group?  Group participation satisfies our need to belong.  Every group has a specific purpose, and participation in that group gives us the opportunity to influence others, even as our fellow group members influence us.  
 
This Sunday we’re going to continue our sermon series on missional living with a look at missional groups.  Jesus was the leader of a group of men we know as His disciples.  And in John 21 we find the resurrected Jesus meeting with His group to spell out their missional purpose.
 
Every group that you participate in … your marriage, your sports team, your book club, your family … every group has a purpose.  And you have a unique purpose within that group.  Join me Sunday as Jesus teaches us how to look at our groups in a different light, and then embrace our missional purpose in those groups.

Go - wk2

"Missional Worldview"

Bryan Jones - Teaching Pastor

If you were asked to describe your worldview, what would you say? 
 
Your worldview represents your most fundamental beliefs and assumptions about the world you inhabit.  It reflects how you would answer all the “big questions” of human existence.  Who are we?  Why are we here?  What is the meaning and purpose of life?  
 
Some worldview questions are about God.  Does God exist?  What relationship does He have with the universe?  Since around the fourth century, Western civilization has been dominated by a Christian worldview.  But in the last couple of centuries competing worldviews are gaining in popularity, and the Christian worldview is on the decline.
 
This Sunday we’re going to examine what it means to have a missional worldview … a Christian worldview.  As Christians it is crucial that we understand our worldview, and then live out those beliefs in the culture around us.  Jesus’ plan isn’t for us to escape the world or fight the world.  He wants His followers to GO and transform the world.

Go - wk1

"Missional God"

Dr. Gary Singleton - Senior Pastor

When we hear the word “prodigal” most of us think it means “wayward” or “rebellious.”  But what it actually means is “wastefully extravagant.”  And such was the lifestyle of the prodigal son – a parable told by Jesus in Luke 15.  Most of us are familiar with this story.  And most of us can relate to one of the two sons – the younger son who squandered his inheritance, or the older son and his righteous indignation.
 
This Sunday we are starting a new sermon series called “Go.”  We’re going to be exploring the last of our 5Gs and how we can be more intentional … more missional … about sharing the gospel with those who don’t know Jesus.
 
Our God is a missional God.  Like the father in the story of the Prodigal Son, He loves us no matter what.  He wants to know us and He wants us to know Him.  And when we turn to Him we find His grace … His amazing, scandalous grace … offered freely and without reservation.
 
I hope you will join me Sunday as we take a fresh look at this familiar passage.  Whether you identify with the younger son or the older son, God is ready to extend His grace.  And as recipients of that amazing grace, our mission is to go to a world that is far from God and tell them about Jesus and the grace that He offers.