The Heights Church

Easter Sunday

"The Story Isn't Over"

Mark 16:1-8

Dr. Gary Singleton

We live in a time where religion is considered to be a matter of preference or opinion. Many believe that all religions are fundamentally the same, so you can just choose whatever works for you. Your truth may not be the same as my truth.
 
But Easter brings us face to face with the ultimate truth we must decide to either believe or disbelieve. Did Jesus rise from the dead? Everything hinges on this truth. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:17, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile …” If the resurrection is not true, then the story of Jesus ended 2000 years ago.
 
This Easter Sunday we listen to the testimony of the first eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. As we hear the story of Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome found in Mark 16:1-8, we enter the story of Jesus and begin to understand that His story is not over.
 
I hope you will join me this Easter Sunday as we examine the resurrection of Jesus. And as we do, each of us will reach one of two conclusions.  Either Easter is a lie … or Jesus is alive.
 
Jesus conquered sin, and death, and the grave – and because He did, there is hope for us. The story is not over.

Awaken - wk2

"Garden of Gethsemane"

Mark 14:32-41

Dr. Gary Singleton

Have you ever experienced something that was both terrifying and exciting at the same time?  Maybe you felt that way when you got married or when you became a parent.  You were terrified of taking such a big step, and yet excited and hopeful for what the future would bring.
 
Jesus certainly understands what it’s like to be both terrified and hopeful.  This Sunday as we continue our sermon series "Awaken," we will look at Jesus’ experience in the Garden of Gethsemane.  We are told in Mark 14:33 that Jesus was “greatly distressed and troubled.”  He told His disciples that His soul was “very sorrowful, even to death.”  He asked God to provide another way forward. 
 
But Jesus pushed through his fear toward a greater hope … a greater joy … a greater future.  He determined that our lives were worth His death.  He chose us.  And when He did, He gave us hope.  Jesus teaches us that we should never let fear rob us of our hope.
 

Awaken - wk1

"Triumphal Entry"

Mark 4:1-11

Bryan Jones

This week will begin a new sermon series leading up to Easter called “Awaken.”  Over the next three weeks, we will be unpacking the events leading up to Jesus’ death on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter Sunday.
 
We start with a look at Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Most of us are familiar with this story.  Jesus rides into Jerusalem on the back of a young donkey while the people lay palm branches on the road in front of Him and shout “Hosanna,” which means “save now.”  The people were recognizing Jesus’ authority and royalty.  They expected Jesus to seize military and political power.  But that was not Jesus’ plan.
 
Jesus wants to take control of our hearts and our lives.  For many people control is more of a god than Jesus is.  We want Jesus in the back seat because He’s handy to have around, but we don’t want to let Him drive.  We want Him to save us, but we still want to be in control. But here’s the thing.  If God is in control, your life will never be out of control.  I hope you will join me Sunday as we learn to give Jesus the driver’s seat.  It is only in surrendering control to Jesus that we find true freedom.

Master Class - wk5

"Give"

Matthew 6:1-4

Dr. Gary Singleton

Master Class - wk4

"Go"

Luke 10:25-37

Bryan Jones

Over the past few weeks, we’ve spent time in the Master Class of all master classes – the lessons taught by Jesus Christ. I hope what you’ve learned is that Jesus is masterful at getting to the heart of the lesson. He doesn’t fall prey to foolish premises or attempts at self-justification. He sees to the heart and deals in Truth at that level.

This week we spend time diving into a passage about a journey many of you are familiar with – The Good Samaritan. Jesus challenges the crowds around him to really dig deep and answer “Who is my neighbor, and how do I allow God’s love to lead me to love my neighbor?”  I think we all have asked this first question at some point. But could it be the deeper question we are struggling with is, “How far, how much, how uncomfortable am I supposed to be when called to GO and to LOVE others?”

Master Class - wk3

"Grow"

John 15:1-6

Dr. Gary Singleton

One of the best ways to improve any skill is to learn from a master … from someone who is an expert in that area. If you want to improve your leadership skills, study someone like Winston Churchill. If you want to be a better athlete, someone like Stephan Curry or Serena Williams can teach you some new skills. 

 

Did you know that the same principle applies to growing in godliness? You have to learn from the Master. You have to abide in Jesus.

 

For the past few weeks in our sermon series "Master Class," we have been talking about five elements that define a disciple. We are calling these five elements the “5 G’s.” So far we have covered the first two – Grace and Gather. This Sunday we will look at the third of our 5 G’s – Grow.

 

Healthy things grow, but growth doesn’t just automatically happen. Growth in godliness only happens when we abide in Jesus, and Jesus tells us how to do this in John 15:1-6.

Analyzing The Nature of Your Belief in God

"Analyzing The Nature of Your Belief in God"

John 4:43-54

Neil McCledon

Guest speaker, Neil McClendon, taught our Heights Students this weekend at ChiAlpha and he brings us a message from John 4 this morning.  It is important to talk publicly about Jesus and to think deeply about how you believe.

"What's exciting about this "out loud with words" set of propositions is that it can and should lead to real equality, racial unity and radical generosity. This is exactly what unfolded in the early church."  -- Greg Stier

Master Class - wk2

"Gather"

Matthew 16:13-20

Dr. Gary Singleton & Chris Havard

If you’re a parent, you have probably encouraged your child to get involved in a group activity like sports, or band, or ballet.  These activities help your child get some exercise and develop social skills.  But if most parents are completely honest, they know these activities also help keep kids out of trouble.  Is that why God commands us to gather together?  Is He afraid that if we don’t gather on Sunday mornings we’ll get in some kind of trouble?
 
We believe God’s purpose for gathering goes much deeper than just keeping us out of trouble.  We see His purpose clearly when we look at a day in the life of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 16:13-20.  On this day, Jesus gathered a small group of men around Him – His twelve disciples.  During the course of His ministry, Jesus spent time in groups of all sizes.  But as we look at the groups that gathered around Him, we see that those most impacted by His ministry were the ones who gathered closest to Him.  This week we look at the second of our 5 G’s – Gather.  We will learn from Jesus that believers are produced in large gatherings, but small gatherings produce disciple-makers.

Master Class - wk1

"Grace"

Luke 15:11-16

Bryan Jones

Over the next few weeks we are going to unpack each of the 5G elements that define a discple individually. This Sunday we begin with grace. Grace is God’s favor that we don’t deserve and cannot earn.  This week we are taking a look at a familiar parable in which Jesus gives us a great example of what grace really means. Most of us have heard the story of the Prodigal Son, and for most of us the focus is on the son.  We focus on his mistakes and on what he does.  But Jesus didn’t tell this story to focus on the ways that the son failed.  He told this story to show God’s radical grace. Every one of us has received God’s grace.  As disciples we must commit to extending God’s love and grace to others.

Kingdom Come - wk4

"Go"

Matthew 4:12-17

Dr. Gary Singleton

We all live with an “in view of” mentality. We adjust our current actions in view of a future reality. In view of the bills that keep coming in, we get up every morning and go to work. In view of the desire to be healthy, we eat right and exercise regularly.  But there is an “in view of” reality that is much bigger than our bills or our health. Jesus announced this reality in Matthew 4:17, when He said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In view of the coming kingdom of heaven, we must adjust our current actions. We must go and make disciples.