The Heights Church

Gospel Risk wk5

Relationship with those who know Christ

This morning we are continuing our sermon series "Gospel Risk." For the past few weeks, we have been looking at the mission and the strategy that God has given The Heights for 2016. We have stated our mission like this: " Taking personal risks to bring the gospel to every relationship." Our focus will be on taking risks in our relationship with God ... with those who know Christ ... and with the world that needs Christ. But how can we measure our progress in these three relationships? Last week we focused on what it looks like to take personal risks in our relationship with God. This Sunday we turn our focus to our relationship with those who know Christ. Once again, Paul's letter to his friend, Philemon, shows us the way.

Gospel Risk wk4

Relationship with God

We have been talking about how God has placed The Heights at a crossroads in the middle of a growing community. This gives us an incredible opportunity to share the message of the gospel. We have stated our mission like this: “Taking personal risks to bring the gospel to every relationship.” The gospel message should be a growing part of all of our relationships - our relationship with God, with those who know Christ, and with the world around us that needs Christ. But how do we measure our progress? How do we know if we are successfully bringing the gospel to our relationships? Let’s start with our relationship with God. In a letter to his friend Philemon, the apostle Paul tells us that bringing the gospel to our relationship with God means that we know our identity ... we embrace our community ... and we are empowered by grace.

Gospel Risk wk3

God has brought The Heights to a crossroads in 2016. We have been given an amazing opportunity to reach our growing community with the message of the gospel. We have dedicated ourselves to a new mission: “Taking personal risks to bring the gospel to every relationship.” And we have laid out a strategy, using the early church from the book of Acts as our model. We will come together to do three things, so we will all go out and do one thing. This morning we will focus on the one thing we will go out to do. The things we come together to do must lead to one incredible, priority-changing result. This morning we will see that the church gathers so that we can then scatter.

Gospel Risk wk2

Strategy

Last Sunday we talked about the incredible opportunity that God has given The Heights in 2016 to reach our growing community with the message of the Gospel. In light of this opportunity, we have prayerfully stated our mission like this: “Taking personal risks to bring the gospel to every relationship.” This is not just our mission collectively as a church. It is also our personal mission as followers of Jesus. Accomplishing this mission will require a strategy. This morning we will talk about that strategy, using the early church as described in the book of Acts as our model. Our mission has given us a starting point. Our strategy will show us how to get there.

Gospel Risk wk1

Taking Personal Risks to Bring The Gospel to Every Relationship

As 2016 begins, we find ourselves at an incredible crossroads here at The Heights. New development is springing up all around us at the same time that additional funds are becoming available to reach our community with the gospel message. In light of this exciting opportunity, we have spent most of the past year prayerfully evaluating and rethinking our mission. Every church is called to win the lost and teach the saved. Every church is called to make disciples, and to fulfill the Great Commission. But what is our unique thumbprint at The Heights? What makes us different from all the other churches? This morning we will talk about the unique mission that God has called us to at The Heights: Taking personal risks to bring the gospel to every relationship.

What’s Your Story All About? - Miguel Lopez

Miguel Lopez looks at Joseph’s story in Genesis 37-50. Joseph’s story has multiple parts to it: 1) Joseph learns to listen to God and His plan for him, and 2) Trials and suffering develop his character to look more like Christ’s.  It took many years for Joseph to figure out what God’s plan for Him was.  Are you listening to His plan for you? Do you understand that trials you face will help develop your character?  This will help you understand what your story is all about.

Rescuer wk5 - Richard Covington

This Christmas season we have been looking at Jesus - our Rescuer. Only Jesus rescues us from darkness and reclaims all that belongs to Him. Only Jesus reconciles us to God through faith in Him. Only Jesus reveals Himself to us so that we can experience His grace and truth. And on this first Sunday after Christmas we see that Jesus, our Rescuer, offers an invitation for us to be a part of His Story. We are offered an invitation to follow Him, to know Him, and to introduce others to Him. Jesus, our Rescuer, has come, and the birth of Jesus demands a response. How will you respond to Him?

Rescuer wk4

This Christmas season we have been looking at Jesus - our Rescuer. Only Jesus rescues us from darkness and reclaims all that belongs to Him. Only Jesus reconciles us to God through faith in Him. Only Jesus reveals Himself to us so that we can experience His grace and truth. And on this last Sunday before Christmas we see that Jesus, our Rescuer, is recognized as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) Jesus, our Rescuer, has come, and the birth of Jesus demands a response. How will you respond to Him?

Rescuer wk3

Christmas is such a great time of year. It’s a time of peace on earth and good will to men, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus - our “Rescuer.” But what’s so special about Jesus? Why are we still celebrating His birth after two thousand years? For the past two weeks we have been listening as John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, describes how Jesus rescues us from sin and darkness. He reclaims our lost and broken world. And He reconciles us to God. Today we hear John’s testimony about why the birth of Jesus is still worth celebrating today. Jesus became flesh so we can experience grace and truth.

Rescuer wk2

This Christmas season we are looking at Jesus - the “Rescuer.” Jesus came to rescue us from sin and darkness, and in doing so He reclaimed our broken world. But we must be reconciled to Him through faith. And those of us who have been reconciled must then embrace our calling to be reconcilers. You have been sent by God to this place, at this time, at this Christmas season, to bear witness about the light so that others might believe and be reconciled to God. This morning we will listen as the Apostle John shows us that our Rescuer, Jesus, is the One who reconciles.