This morning we’re wrapping up our two-week study of the end times. Last week we saw that even in the midst of these crazy days, the Apostle Paul tells us to be encouraged! Jesus is coming again, and this time He will come to reign! This morning we continue our study with a look at 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, where Paul tells us to be expectant! As we get closer to the end times, we want to be ready. So Paul tells us to live with the end in mind. Live like we long for that day. Live with expectation! Jesus is coming again!

Over the past few weeks it seems like the world has just gone crazy. Every day in the media we see truth being ridiculed as lies, and lies being held up as truth. Our Christian faith and our Christian values are under attack, and it seems like Jesus could come back at any moment. What about you? Do you find yourself thinking the end is near? We are going to spend the next two weeks on the subject of end times. In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul describes what will happen as this age comes to an end. For those who follow Jesus, Paul tells us there is hope! Be encouraged! Our Savior is coming again - and when He does, He will make all things new.

What is the biggest risk you have ever taken? Maybe it was asking that special person for a date or making a major career change. Or maybe it was something really risky like jumping out of a plane. The most exciting ... and I would suggest the most important ... things in life always involve risk. Our mission here at The Heights is “Taking personal risks to bring the gospel to every relationship.” If we are going to embrace God’s call to be disciple makers, we have to be willing to take risks. This morning we will look at risk-taking through the parable of the talents. Jesus teaches us through this parable that risking for God is dangerous, but not risking is more dangerous.

This morning we once again welcome Jon Burns to The Heights. Jon and his family relocated here from the U.K. a couple of years ago, and we have been honored to have them as part of The Heights family. Jon was recently appointed President of Greater Europe Mission, a non-denominational mission agency that is committed to seeing God expand His Kingdom through all the peoples of Europe to the world. This morning Jon will unpack for us what it means to be a missionary. In Luke 10:1-9, Jesus appointed 72 missionaries and sent them out. At The Heights, we are to be disciples who make disciples. Jon shows us how we can be missionaries in our world today.

This morning we once again welcome Neil McClendon to The Heights. Neil served as Camp Pastor for our students at camp a few weeks ago, and our students were challenged and encouraged as Neil opened God’s Word for them. Neil is Lead Pastor at Grand Parkway Baptist Church in the Houston area. His passion is to live the gospel, preach the gospel, and incarnate the gospel to the glory of God. Neil is married to Marcie, and they have two daughters - Madison and Sophie. We look forward to hearing what God has to say through Neil this morning.

This morning we welcome Michael Kelley back to The Heights. Michael has been with us on several occasions, and this morning he will begin a two- part sermon series called “Ekklesia.” “Ekklesia” is a Greek word that is most often translated as “church.” What exactly is a church? Most of us think of a building with pews, a steeple, and a cross. But “church” is so much more. The way the Bible describes it, the church is not a place we go, but a people we are. This morning we will look at what the Apostle Paul had to say about the church in his letter to the Ephesians. The church is God putting His wisdom on display for the entire universe to see - and we are invited to be a part of it.

This morning we are celebrating Independence Day and the sacrifice made by so many to purchase our freedom. And on this Independence Day weekend we are also wrapping up our study of Jesus’ final public sermon found in Matthew 23. We have called this sermon series “Urgent,” because there is a deep sense of urgency in the words that Jesus spoke. But there is something else in His words that we must hear - truth. Jesus is the voice of Truth, and we must hear and obey His words. How about you? Are you listening to the voice of Truth? Or are you trying to silence it?

In this sermon series we have been working our way through the urgent words of Jesus in Matthew 23. Jesus has just pronounced judgment upon the religious leaders who have rejected His message. Seven times He said to them “Woe to you!” This is not the Nice Guy Jesus that so many proclaim. This is the Son of the eternal God calling all to repent and follow Him, and making it clear that those who refuse to do so will face the judgment of God. These religious leaders made it a practice to thump their self- righteous chests and declare their good deeds to all who would listen. Jesus has a clear message for them ... and for all of us. Self-righteous chest-thumping invites wrath, not grace.

We’ve been working our way through Matthew 23 in a sermon series called “Urgent.” This chapter contains part of the last public sermon that Jesus preached, and His words have a deep sense of urgency. This morning we come to verse 13, and Jesus turns His focus to the religious leaders who have opposed His message. Seven times Jesus says to them, “Woe to you!” Jesus tells us that God judges religious behavior that celebrates looking good on the outside, while ignoring the filth on the inside. The message of Jesus in a nutshell is this: Religion kills. Jesus saves.

This morning we will continue our sermon series “Urgent” from Matthew 23. Our text is a part of Jesus’ last public sermon, and the words He speaks have a deep sense of urgency. Last week we saw that Jesus urged all who follow Him to live authentically. As He continues His message we will see this morning that those who live on mission with Him are to have an attitude of humility. Humility is the soil from which disciples grow. Humble people have soil that is rich, and what God produces through their life is truly amazing. What does a life of humility look like? Jesus spells it out for us.