Lead teaching pastor

Heights Church
Jacob is the Founding Pastor of The Heights Church, serving alongside his wife, Kym, and their two teenage sons. A veteran who found Christ later in life, Jacob is passionate about helping people follow Jesus by living out their faith both inside and outside the church. Within the community, he serves as a Chaplain for the Airway Heights Police and Fire Departments and leads on the mat as a wrestling coach for Kingdom Wrestling and the local middle school team. Whether he is learning Spanish to better connect with churches in Mexico or exploring his family property in Fruitland, Jacob’s life is defined by active service. His mission is to see people discover their true identity in Christ and walk out their faith in their everyday lives.

Title: Part 5, James 1:27- Breaking  Religion

Series-Unshackled James 1:19-27
Big idea: Breaking the shackles of religion
Points:  
1.  Should to Share-Epathy
2.  Should to Shield- Protection

Question: What does the word religion mean to you?  Click here to answer.

Car ride conversation:  Where have you seen a religious spirit in your own life lately, or where have you experienced being 'should' on by someone else?"
Anchor Passage: James 1:21 NLT 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

Prophetic Thought: In a world that constantly tells us who we should be and what we should do to be successful, our faith can often feel like just another loud list of demands. Religion often gets a bad reputation because we have shackled it to a "should and should-not" checklist. Pure, genuine religion isn’t about mastering a list of rules; it is about a heart that strives to grow closer to God and learning to love the things He loves. When we stop performing and start seeking His heart, we find the freedom to care for the hurting and live a life that is truly unshackled.

Application: Breaking the shackles of religion means looking inward and outward. We must ensure our traditions don’t cause us to miss God’s heart. Pure religion requires a shift from Should to Share: instead of telling a struggling person how they should live, we share their actual burden—like providing a meal or childcare to someone in a crisis. We must also move from Should to Protect, choosing to guard our hearts against toxic media or cynical friendships that harden our spirits and kill our empathy. True faith is found when we stop measuring others by our own rules and instead meet their needs, offering the same grace that was first offered to us.

James 1:26-27 NLT 26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

John 13:34-35 NLT  34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
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