The Heights Church

Parables [Matthew25] - wk2

"Parable of the Talents"

Matthew 25:14-30

Bryan Jones

This Sunday we will continue our sermon series from Matthew 25 with a look at the “Parable of the Talents.”  A parable is defined as “a short and simple story that teaches a religious or moral lesson.”  Jesus often used parables to help His listeners grasp difficult truths.  So what is the truth that Jesus is communicating in this parable?
 
“Talent” in this passage refers to money, but it can also refer to our skills, and even our opportunities.  Jesus tells us that a man entrusted various amounts of his wealth to three servants, and each received an amount proportionate to his ability – one received 5 talents, one received 2, and the third received 1 talent. 
 
Now if you’re like me, you immediately think that the five-talent person must be more valued and successful than the one-talent person.   Our society today bases success on what you achieve and on what you acquire.  But Jesus teaches that success is not found in what you get done, but in who you become.   God cares more about your faithfulness than your success.
 

Parables [Matthew25] - wk1

"Parable of the 10 Virgins"

Matthew 25:1-13

Dr. Gary Singleton

This Sunday is Mother’s Day, and beginning this Sunday we will be working our way through the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 25.  This chapter opens with a parable about ten virgins – not a likely text for Mother’s Day, right?  But in this parable there is a very important message for moms … and really for all of us.
 
The parable of the ten virgins is about the kingdom of God, and it is a call to keep the main thing the main thing.  It is a call to live today as if Jesus is coming back today.
 
Moms want so many great things for their kids.  Moms want their kids to be happy, and healthy, and successful in whatever they do.  But in this day of constant busyness and distraction there is a real danger that we can focus on the good things and lose sight of what’s most important.
 
I hope you will join me this Sunday as we celebrate moms and listen as Jesus teaches us how to prepare ourselves and our kids for the most important thing.  Jesus is coming again, and we can’t wait until He returns to get ready.  We need to be ready now.  We need to live today as if Jesus is coming back today.

Forward - wk5

"Forward in Celebration"

Nehemiah 12

Dr. Gary Singleton

 

 

Forward - wk4

"Forward in Worship"

Nehemiah 9

Bryan Jones

If you’ve ever applied for a job, chances are you were asked to provide a resume.  A resume is a brief summary of your skills, abilities, and experience.  It’s a snapshot of who you are and what you have done.
 
This week we continue our sermon series "Forward" from the book of Nehemiah, and we will focus in on chapter 9.  In this chapter one of the priests, Ezra, prays the longest prayer recorded in the Bible.  This prayer is God’s resume.  It tells us exactly who God is and what He has done.  But it is also our resume.  It tells us who we are and what we have done.
 
In John 4:23 we are told that we are to worship God in spirit and truth and our focus this Sunday is on moving forward in worship.  In order to worship God, we must understand who He is, and who we are. 
 
I hope you will join me this Sunday as Nehemiah teaches us what it means to worship God in spirit and truth.  When we get a clear picture of God’s resume and ours, we can begin to move “Forward in Worship.”

 

 

Forward - wk3

"Forward in Unity"

Nehemiah 4

Dr. Gary Singleton

For the past two weeks we have been talking about moving forward in our mission to make disciples, and we are certainly seeing some great progress. But to take huge strides we will need to unite and do this together.

 
We’ve all heard stories about groups of people who worked together to overcome the odds and achieve great victories. Just a few weeks ago we watched Loyola University become the Cinderella team of the NCAA tournament. And who can forget the 13 colonies who stood up against the British Empire and gave birth to the United States of America?
 
We see the same kind of unity with the people of Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s day. As we continue to examine the story of Nehemiah, we come to a place in the story where God’s people had to unite around a common cause. The enemy tried to divide them using threats, and fear, and distractions. But God’s people worked together to overcome their enemy.
 
And just like the people in Nehemiah’s day, that which unites us is far greater than the trivial things that try to divide us. We must work together, with each of us doing our part in working toward our goal of making disciples and growing the kingdom of God.

Forward - wk2

"Forward in Opposition"

Nehemiah 4

Bryan Jones

As we continue our sermon series "Forward" from Nehemiah, we want to talk about some of the things that can cut off the flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  We have seen that the people of God have been scattered, and the walls of Jerusalem are in ruins.  The best and brightest  of God’s people have been taken to Babylon – and that’s where we find Nehemiah.
 
Nehemiah held a high-ranking position as cupbearer for the king.  Even in a foreign land, he was living a comfortable life.  But when Nehemiah heard of the conditions in Jerusalem, he stepped out of his comfort zone in obedience to God’s calling to rebuild the walls.
 
When we choose comfort over obedience, we cut off the flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  And even though Nehemiah chose obedience, he still faced opposition.  His enemies hatched a plan to stop the work on the walls.  The people started to lose hope, and fear and distress crept in.  Anger and disappointment followed.  And all of those things can cut off the flow of the Holy Spirit.
 
What situation do you find yourself in today that is cutting off the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life?  Where are you facing fear and distress?  A difficult marriage?  A job transition?  A health issue?
 
Nehemiah puts on a clinic on what to do when faced with opposition and we learn from Nehemiah that we must go “Forward in Opposition.”

Forward - wk1

"Forward in Faith"

Nehemiah 1

Dr. Gary Singleton

Has there ever been a time when you believed God was calling you to make a certain decision? You knew this decision would impact your future – but you didn’t know exactly how everything would turn out. Ultimately you had to make a choice to either ignore what you believed God was telling you to do, or move forward in faith.
 
When God calls us to move forward with Him, He seldom lets us see the outcome of our choice. God asks us to move forward with hope and conviction, and without having all of our questions answered.
 
We see this kind of faith in the story of Nehemiah. The walls that surrounded Jerusalem were in ruins. God’s people were discouraged. They were looking for the promised Messiah, but Jesus wouldn’t come for another 400 years. God’s plan to rescue His people depended on someone stepping forward in faith to rebuild the walls.
 
This Sunday we begin a new sermon series that we are calling “Forward.” We are going to take a look at the story of Nehemiah and how he followed God’s calling and stepped forward in faith.
 
I believe all of us at The Heights are faced with an opportunity to move forward in faith as a church – just like the people of God did in Nehemiah’s day. I hope you will join me Sunday as we learn from Nehemiah that obedience requires us to move forward in faith.

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.