The Heights Church

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.

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.