The New Heights Church Podcast

Why did Jesus say the end times would look like "the days of Lot"? This verse-by-verse study walks through the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the prophetic parallels emerging in our own culture, and the sobering warning of Lot's wife — a picture of a heart that never left the world behind.

At 99, Sarah had quietly stopped believing God would ever keep His promise to her — until He overheard her cynical laugh and asked, “Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?” This study of Genesis 18 walks through Sarah’s unbelief, Abraham’s bold intercession for Sodom, and the God whose character is big enough to do wonders even for you. SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS: - Read Psalm 9:10. Has growing in you...

God was never after the mark on Abraham’s body — He was after his heart. In this study, we unpack circumcision, covenant, and the daily battle between flesh and Spirit, and discover why real faith obeys God now — before we have all the answers. SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS: - Read Ezekiel 36:26-27. Looking back, where have you seen God soften something in you that used to be hard? - Read Mark 7:20–23. Ar...

After 14 years of silence, God meets Abram — now 99 and drifting — and doesn’t open with a rebuke but with His own name: “I am God Almighty.” In this study, we explore what God says to a believer who has wandered, why He gives Abram a new name and an everlasting covenant, and how the strange sign of circumcision points to the heart of discipleship: lordship — surrendering every part of our lives,...

When a pregnant, frightened Hagar runs into the wilderness to escape a mess she didn't create, she discovers that the God she didn't even know already saw her. In this study of Genesis 16:4b–16, we unpack why waiting on the Lord is active rather than passive, how shortcuts around God's plan create fallout far bigger than we imagine, and why El Roi—"the God who sees"—still pur...

In 1 Timothy 6:6–10, Pastor Dave Bechtel contrasts the gains of the godly with the gains of the greedy. While the world pursues wealth and possessions, Scripture teaches that true gain is found in godliness with contentment. This message explores the dangers of loving money and challenges believers to train their hearts to treasure Christ above earthly riches. When Jesus becomes our greatest desir...

Pastor Dave Bechtel opens 1 Timothy 6:3–5 with a sobering warning about the kind of people who quietly ignite division within the church. In “Congregational Arsonists,” we’ll examine how pride, unhealthy controversy, gossip, and selfish ambition can spread like wildfire through a congregation when left unchecked. Paul calls believers to reject quarrelsome attitudes and guard the unity Christ died...

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS: - Read 2 Corinthians 4:16–18. When you first believed in Jesus, or started taking your faith seriously, what did you assume the Christian life would be like? How has reality matched what you expected, and where has it diverged? Where did those expectations come from in the first place? - Read Romans 8:18-25. Christians aren’t exempt from the natural consequences of living in...

In Genesis 15, God doesn't meet Abram halfway—He walks through the bloody covenant alone, taking on Himself the consequences of every breach by either side. This message traces that picture from Abram's vision all the way to the Cross, where Jesus paid for the half of the covenant we could never keep. If you've ever feared you could blow it and lose your salvation, this one's for y...

As God comes to Abram while he's wrestling with fear and doubt, we are given a lesson on God's character and how believers are to approach wrestling with these powerful enemies. SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS: - Read Genesis 15:1-6. Have you ever experienced fear or doubt shortly after stepping out in faith, and how did God meet you in that moment? - How does the secular world (culture, medicine, p...

In this message on 1 Timothy 6:1-2, Pastor Phil teaches on what it means for believers to honor all people in every area of life. From the workplace, to marriage, to our relationship with governing authorities, this sermon challenges us to reflect Christ through humility, respect, and godly conduct in the way we treat others. SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS: - Discuss what it means to give honor to the Lord...

As we continue our study of what giving looks like for the Christian under the New Covenant, we'll answer the questions, "Is tithing a perpetual command that predates the Law?" and "Can I give time and service instead of money?" We'll also look at Paul's instructions to the Corinthians regarding giving, which offer many insights still helpful to us today. SMALL GROU...

Tithing first appears in Scripture in Genesis 14. But is it still something that's relevant to Christians today? How are believers in the Church to approach the subject of giving? SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS:- How does viewing yourself as a steward of God's resources rather than an owner change your daily financial decisions and priorities?- Should giving to God make you more or less worried abo...

In this special Easter Sunday message, we'll dive into the wonderful hope of the Gospel and the picture painted for us through the tenth plague in Egypt in the Book of Exodus. SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS: - We often judge ourselves, for better or worse, by comparing ourselves to others. How can comparing ourselves to Christ instead lead to greater freedom and humility? - Do you view Jesus as having...

In this message on 1 Timothy 5:24–25, Pastor Dave walks through the judgement of the Lord and what it means for both believers and unbelievers, clearly explaining six types of judgment found in Scripture and reminding us all that the only way to "settle out of court" at the final judgement is to trust in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ on our behalf.

In this message, Pastor Dave walks through 1 Timothy 5:17–25, offering practical and biblical guidance on how we honor and care for others within the body of Christ. This passage highlights the importance of showing respect to leaders, handling accusations with integrity, and living with impartiality and wisdom in all relationships. SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS: - Have you had any "close calls"...

In this study, guest speaker Dr. Jared Moore walks through what it looks like to really live the love of christ. Specifically, he shares with us how we can have freedom from the snares of this fake love that the world offers.

Abram's ne'er-do-well nephew, Lot, gets himself and his family kidnapped, leading to a daring nighttime military rescue and dramatic encounters with the kings of Salem and Sodom - the mysterious Christ-like figure Melchizedek and the "son of evil" Bera. SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS: - How have you seen Christians use wealth well to serve God? - How have you seen Christians be led astray...

God begins to work on growing Abram's faith by putting it to the test. We'll learn from both his successes and failures as we explore the impact of fear and faith on our actions under pressure. SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS: - Abram fled to Egypt during a famine rather than trust God to provide in Canaan. What areas of your life are you tempted to take into your own hands instead of trusting God&#...

As Abram enters the Promised Land, we look ahead to see how God's initial counsel was designed to save him from a whole lot of trouble, and learn from his example of prioritizing worship. SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS: - Abraham partially obeyed God by leaving his homeland, but brought his father and nephew Lot with him. Have you ever experienced tension between honoring family relationships and fully...

As we conclude our study of Israel from a biblical perspective, we'll look at the events of 70AD and God's incredible plans to turn Israel's heart back to Him through the crushing of the Great Tribulation and the glory of the Second Coming. SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS: - In Romans 11, Paul warns the Church not to be “arrogant” (V.20), “ignorant” (V.25), or “conceited” (V.25) concerning Israe...

As we continue our examination of who Israel is in Scripture, we see God's chosen nation walking in continued rebellion by rejecting Jesus, orchestrating His death, and persecuting His Church. SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS:- Why do you think there were only 120 people in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost, following the ministry and Resurrection of Jesus?- Do you feel like you’ve observed 2 Timoth...

In this study, Pastor Dave continues through 1 Timothy 5:7–16, where Paul gives further instruction on caring for widows and emphasizes the responsibility of families within the church. This passage highlights the balance between compassion and accountability, showing how God desires families to care for another first, and then for the church to care for those who have no family. SMALL GROUP QUEST...

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS:- List the four categories of people the apostle Paul identifies andcharacterize how believers are to respond to each. Can you asa group give some illustrations of how each of those might look? Is there a person in the church comes to your mind for each ofthese categories?- Every had an older woman in the church who was like a“mother” to you? If so, care to share about that?-...

In Genesis 12:3, God famously comes to Abram and says, "I will bless those who bless you,I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt." In this study, we'll do our best to address some of the controversial questions surrounding Israel, her identity, her relationship to the Church, and what Jesus and His Word have to say about these matters. SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS:- God chose Israe...