The Heights Church

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.
 

Kingdom Come - wk3

“The Plan - 5Gs"

Bryan Jones

All of us want to lead a life of significance. We want our life to count for something. As followers of Jesus, our lives must count for the kingdom of God. We must make a commitment to our mission of making disciples. So this Sunday we are going to look at what we believe God is calling our church to commit to. We are calling it the 5 G’s, and we believe they define what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

Kingdom Come - wk2

"Thy Kingdom Come"

Matthew 6:10

Dr. Gary Singleton

This Sunday we look forward to what 2018 will bring.  Over the next few weeks we will take a look at our vision, as we explore what we are about and why.  We have stated our mission like this: Making disciples by taking personal risks to bring the gospel to every relationship.
 
This week we learn from Jesus that our mission is to make disciples – and disciple-makers never lose sight of the coming kingdom of God.

 

 

 

Kingdom Come - Celebration

Celebration

Ephesians 5:19-20 & Joshua 4:5-7

Bryan Jones & Dr. Gary Singleton

Oftentimes in a new year, people are looking ahead on what they want to accomplish and what they want to achieve. We wanted to take a moment to look back and reflect on what God has done for us over 2017. Last year may have not been a storybook year, but we always want to celebrate who God is and the way he is continuing to work in our lives.