In this message from 1 Corinthians 11, Pastor J.D. picks up the most fundamental element of Christian worship—the bread and the cup of communion. When we share this meal together, we aren’t merely remembering Jesus’ last meal. We are entering into his presence. Come to this table. There is no place for religious pride here. No place for classism. No place for racial division. But there is a place for you.

In this message from our “Cutting Through the Noise” series, Pastor J.D. walks through one of the most confusing and misinterpreted passages in the entire New Testament. Along the way, we’ll learn just how relevant first-century head coverings are for the hot button questions about gender (and gender identity) in the twenty-first. And we’ll see that in Christ’s service, every brother and sister finds unimaginable grace, inestimable value, and eternal purpose.

In this message from our “Cutting Through the Noise” series, Pastor J.D. echoes the warnings of Paul in 1 Corinthians 10, showing us the dangers of (and the deliverance from) idolatry. Much of what we seek in life—success, romance, family—is good. But when we make these good things into essential things, we find ourselves eaten up with anxiety, strife, suffering, and sin. Only one identity is strong enough to be our foundation—servant of God.

In this message from our “Cutting Through the Noise” series, Pastor J.D. picks up the analogy Paul uses in chapter 9—of an athlete in training—and asks us, “How can we run like disciplined athletes in pursuit of the race God has set before us?” Athletes are ruthless, eliminating everything that stands in the way of winning. And we should be the same. Whether we’re looking at our personal preferences, our worship services, our political decisions, even our ethnic identity … we lay it all on the line for the sake of the gospel—that we might save some.

In this message from 1 Corinthians 7, Pastor J.D. addresses an issue that is as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago—divorce. Broken marriages affect so many of us in the church, and we often fail to apply gospel hope to this painful experience. But the Apostle Paul offers real-world wisdom and gospel hope to those who are divorced, those who have considered divorce, those who have been hurt by divorce. Essentially, to all of us.

In this message from 1 Corinthians 7, Pastor J.D. walks us through Paul’s teaching on sex, singleness, and spiritual gifts. When it comes to marriage and singleness, it’s easy for us to get disoriented. Outside the church, marriage seems less and less important. But inside the church, it can sometimes be elevated to the status of idol! So how do we understand God’s design for both marriage and singleness? Simple: We follow the example of the Apostle Paul.

As we continue through the book of 1 Corinthians in our series, “Cutting Through the Noise,” Pastor J.D. explores a topic that is as contentious to us today as it was to the people in Corinth—sex. Our society has a lot of competing ideas about what sex is for and what makes sex good. God has ideas, too. And since sex was his idea, it’s well worth listening to the wisdom he has to share.

In this message from 1 Corinthians 5, Pastor J.D. teaches about the messy but necessary process of church discipline. We may find it harsh to hear what the Apostle Paul says about those who persist in sin. But if we truly care about our people, if we truly care about the vulnerable, if we truly care about our neighbors, if we truly care about Jesus’ reputation … we will be faithful to confront our brothers and sisters in love.

Whether you’re a pastor or a plumber, a stay-at-home mom or a shift leader, at some point in your life you will lead others. The question isn’t if you’re a leader, but rather how you’ll lead. Join Pastor J.D. as he unpacks what biblical leadership looks like as we continue our series in 1 Corinthians, Cutting Through the Noise.

In this message, Pastor J.D. kicks off our series in the book of 1 Corinthians, showing how the gospel cuts through the noise and chaos of our lives. First up—the issue of divisions in the church. We may assume that church factions are a new phenomenon. But one glance at the church in Corinth reveals that dysfunction, division, and doctrinal chaos are as old as the church itself. And yet, in the midst of all this conflict, all this division, all this noise, the gospel provides a voice of clarity and a place of calm.

The final chapters of the book of Revelation present the end of the world as we know it—but there’s also a glorious beginning. In this message from Revelation 21–22, Pastor J.D. walks us through the vision of a new heaven and a new earth described by the Apostle John. The fact that God will once again dwell with his people should cause all of us to rejoice. But the fact that those who reject God will not experience this reunion with him should motivate us to share the gospel with urgency, inviting people to put their faith in the God who delights in making all things new.

What do you most look forward to? Maybe it’s a vacation that you’ve been anticipating for a long time, or a new job that you can’t wait to start. Maybe it’s catching up with an old friend that you haven’t seen in years. For those who follow Jesus, what we look forward to with great anticipation is what Revelation calls “the marriage supper of the Lamb.” In this message from Revelation 19–20, Pastor J.D. unpacks the implications of this great wedding feast as well as the 1,000-year earthly reign of Christ, encouraging us to live with the realization that life is short and eternity is forever.

We’re all familiar with the experience of being tourists, but exiles? No way. And yet, we are told in multiple places in the Bible to think of ourselves as exiles here on earth, because this is not our true home. In this message from Revelation 14–18, Pastor J.D. shows us the value of living as exiles in a place that frequently seems alluring but will ultimately pass away. What we are meant to do is fix our eyes on the heavenly city, the one with true, lasting foundations. That, after all, is our eternal home.

If you’ve ever watched a movie with a big reveal the SECOND time, it’s a much different experience. The suspense is gone, and you can be calm, cool, and collected. Why? Because you knew the end before the story even got there. The coming of the Antichrist is a lot like that, as God tells us ahead of time what to expect from the end of history. And because we know the end, we can live today with patience, peace…and even joy.

Judgments. Fire and hail. A beast from a bottomless pit. Taken on their own, quite frankly, these things seem like the stuff of nightmares. In the midst of such frightening images, we might ask, where is hope to be found? In this message from Revelation 8–11, Pastor J.D. encourages us to find hope by keeping our gaze on this glorious picture: Jesus reigns victorious, his mission will ultimately be accomplished, and his Word will triumph.

If you’re like most people, once you make it to Revelation 6, you decide your devotional time would probably be better spent elsewhere. After all, what are those seven seals about, anyway? And the “great tribulation”? Forget it. But as we’ll see in this message from Pastor J.D., Revelation 6–7 is essential to understanding the very culmination of biblical history, when people from all tribes, nations, and tongues will worship God together. It’s a beautiful vision, and it’s one that gives us confidence that the sacrifices we make for Jesus are well worth it.

We were created to worship. Even those who claim no interest in religion will inevitably worship something, whether it’s fame, wealth, family, or another thing entirely. In this message from Revelation 4–5, Pastor J.D. gives us a glimpse of heavenly worship that is motivated by the sovereignty of God and the salvation found in Jesus. This Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb, is the one our hearts yearn for and the only one who can give us life to the full.

“Lukewarm” isn’t really a desirable trait in, well, just about anything. After all, is there anyone who actually looks forward to a lukewarm cup of coffee in the morning? But when Jesus uses this word, what he has in mind is something far worse. In this message from Revelation 3, Pastor J.D. takes us through John’s last three letters to the churches. Though Jesus doesn’t have anything negative to say to the church at Philadelphia, he has plenty to say to the congregation of Laodicea, and it begins with his visceral reaction to their halfhearted Christianity. We, of course, have to be careful not to fall into the same trap: claiming the name of Jesus with our lips but living lives that are in no way distinct from the world.

We may think that making a small compromise here and there doesn’t matter. But the truth is that there is inherent danger in compromising our beliefs or morals, danger that can sometimes lead to disaster. In this message from Revelation 2, Pastor J.D. takes us through John’s letters to the churches at Ephesus and Smyrna, showing us where Jesus both commends and challenges these congregations. Jesus’ warning should serve as a sobering reminder to us today: It’s possible to be faithful to the doctrines and practices of Jesus while having hearts that are cold and far from him.

Ask your friends which book of the Bible they most enjoy reading for personal quiet time, and it’s highly unlikely that anyone will choose Revelation. But the book that we often avoid is the same one that we desperately need to help us live the Christian life in tumultuous times. In this message from Revelation 1, Pastor J.D. highlights how in the midst of tribulation, this book presents us with a compelling vision of Jesus: the one who is sovereign, just, and worthy of our worship.

You’ve probably heard about the spiritual armor Paul describes in Ephesians. But have you ever really thought you needed it? In this message, Pastor J.D. walks through each piece of spiritual armor so that you know how to arm yourself for the spiritual attack happening right now, but also so you understand that you need every part of your body covered—because where the gospel has built you up, Satan cannot attack you.

If your spiritual progress were based on how well you lived out the Bible’s instructions at home, how would you be doing? In this message, as part of the “Love Incorruptible” series, Pastor J.D. walks us through Ephesians 5, a passage that stirs up a lot of confusion about submission, and helps us see that God uses the relationships in marriage, family, and work as laboratories to help us grow in spiritual maturity.

You may think you’re being a good Christian because you’re trying to imitate God. But are you doing it because you adore him? In this message from the “Love Incorruptible” series, Pastor J.D. shows us why, when we experience the beauty of the gospel, we are compelled to walk in love, light, and wisdom—not in order to become a child of God but because as his beloved children, we can’t help but want to be like him.

As the church, we cannot insist that people bow to our preferences when it comes to worshipping a Savior who gave up all his rights to rescue us. In this message, Pastor J.D. shows us as part of the “Love Incorruptible” series that when we are defined by who we are in Christ and not our cultural differences, we are able to lay down our preferences for the sake of others’ salvation.

Believing in the gospel is kind of inconvenient, isn’t it? When we don’t understand how necessary it is in our lives, the demands it makes on us, like giving generously and reaching out to people who are different, can seem pretty bothersome. In this message from the “Love Incorruptible” series, Pastor J.D. helps us see that, until we fully understand the problem of sin, we can never fully cherish the gift of grace.

Have you ever felt like something is missing in your spiritual life? What’s often missing is the difference in knowing something in our head and having it come alive in our heart. In this message from the “Love Incorruptible” series, Pastor J.D. takes us through a passage in Ephesians and shows us why it’s not enough just to know facts. God has to grant us spiritual sight if we want to know him more and see his true glory.

There are a lot of things in the Bible that are hard to understand. In this introduction to the “Love Incorruptible” series from Ephesians, Pastor J.D. explains predestination and helps us see that while some things are not meant to be understood, we can know this: we were chosen for the glory of God. When we embrace that truth, it gives us the power to persist in trials as God works out his good plan in us.

Self-improvement is an American obsession, and the self-help industry churns out an endless supply of books, seminars and training programs, raking in about $10 billion each year! But Pastor J.D. teaches about the real path to confidence and significance, as we continue our series, titled Not God Enough.  

Sometimes when we’re afraid or in a bind, we try to bargain with God. We’ve all been there — trying to get Jesus to agree to our demands. Pastor J.D. helps us get our theology right about prayer as he continues our series titled, Not God Enough.

Remember how frustrating it was when you were in school and the teacher was describing a big concept, but you couldn’t make heads or tails of it? Nobody likes when they can’t understand something. But as he kicks off our series called, Not God Enough, Pastor J.D. shows us there are some things about God that we, as humans, aren’t capable of wrapping our minds around. And that’s a good thing!

At Easter, we consider the cross and the resurrection, of course—but this consideration ultimately demands a response from us. It demands that a choice be made. In this Easter message, Pastor J.D. explains how Luke 23 is the dividing line of history, and the most important decision we will ever make is whether we are on the side of Jesus or not. For those who choose to put their faith in Jesus, we can say with confidence and joy, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!”

Pastor J.D. walks us down the path to Jesus’ tomb. We’ve all walked that lonely path in one form or another over the past 23 months, wondering where life is headed. The bad news? It’s headed to the grave. The good news? It doesn’t have to stay there. Because of the resurrection, the path to true life doesn’t end at the grave. It begins there.

There is no transcript for today’s episode!  When it comes to end-time prophecy, there are some Christians who look at their view as absolutely essential doctrine and spend tons of time trying to map out the last days with charts and graphs. Others see that as a waste of time and prefer to focus on the here and now. So which approach is correct? Pastor J.D. answers that question today as he continues our series, “The Difficult Sayings of Jesus.”

When many of us picture Satan, we think of a cartoon character with little red horns and a pitchfork. But is he really just a figment of Hollywood’s imagination, or is Satan alive and active in our world today? Pastor J.D. dives into Scripture to answer that question as he continues our series, “The Difficult Sayings of Jesus.”

A lot of people use Matthew 7:1 to argue that we should never tell anyone that they’re sinning. In fact, if you’ve ever gotten into a debate about morality or challenged a friend about a sin they were dealing with, there’s a good chance they brought up this verse. But is that what Jesus really meant when he told us not to judge others?

For the most part, everyone likes the Jesus of Christmas, who brings peace on earth and goodwill to men. And they usually like the Jesus of the Sermon on the Mount, who urges us to love one another and turn the other cheek. But uncontroversial people don’t get crucified. On this edition of Summit Life, we’re unpacking more of the Difficult Sayings of Jesus. 

Have you ever felt abandoned? Maybe a spouse left you, a friend betrayed you, or a parent wasn’t there when you needed them most. Pastor J.D. reminds us of the incredible truth that Jesus knows exactly how that feels. It’s part of our series called The Difficult Sayings of Jesus.

There is not transcript for today’s sermon. As Pastor J.D. begins a series called The Difficult Sayings of Jesus, we’re putting aside our assumptions and taking a fresh look at who Jesus really is. A lot of us picture Jesus in a flowing white robe with a purple sash, carrying around a lamb on his shoulder, and smiling sadly. But as we’ll discover, the true Jesus is so much more exciting! 

One of the most painful things to hear from a loved one is the phrase, “I don’t trust you.” It’s especially painful when you didn’t do anything to break their trust! Yet many of us treat God that way. Pastor J.D. explains that when we doubt our own salvation, we’re really doubting God! And not only does it cause us to be anxious, it actually damages our relationship with him. So on this program, we’re learning how we can know with certainty whether or not we’re truly saved.

Please note that for today’s podcast there is no transcript.  Most people get uncomfortable when the pastor starts talking about money. Some of us come from churches where wealth is looked down on as a sign of worldliness or greed. Perhaps we feel a measure of guilt for having a nice house and a robust savings account. Others may have been burned by prosperity teachers who used false promises to manipulate the congregation into giving. So what does the Bible really say about wealth and generosity?

Many believers think ministry is a job for pastors and missionaries, not the work of “ordinary Christians.” But the truth is that there’s no such thing as an “ordinary Christian”! As you’re transformed by the gospel, you’re empowered to do amazing things for God. And whether he’s called you to go across the ocean or across the street, every one of us is on mission. 

If you only have one tomatillo plant in a garden, it’ll never produce any fruit because it needs other plants to cross-pollinate. And Christians are kind of like tomatillo plants in that way. Healthy believers will produce the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But first, you have to be rooted in Christ, and second, you need to have community.

We often refer to the first four books of the New Testament—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—as “the gospels.” But Pastor J.D. reveals that the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is all one story: the story of Jesus Christ. It’s all the gospel! And as we go deeper into it, savoring the truths on every page of scripture, that’s when God transforms our lives.  

On this edition of Summit Life, we’re beginning a new series that gets to the very heart of this ministry. It’s simply titled, Gospel. If you’ve been a believer for a while, you might think you’ve moved beyond the gospel. But Pastor J.D. argues that we never outgrow the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection. In fact, getting deeper into the gospel is the key to the entire Christian life.

In this message from Romans 15, Pastor J.D. challenges us to lift our eyes to the ends of the earth. When Jesus left his disciples, he promised that his gospel would go to every nation, tribe, language, and tongue. That task isn’t finished. And God is calling many of us to follow him to the most unreached parts of the planet. Is it difficult? Yes. Is it dangerous? Yes. Is he worthy of it? Absolutely.

The Summit Church’s journey doesn’t begin when they re-launched in 2002. It didn’t even begin when they were planted in 1962. It began 2,000 years ago, with 11 frightened disciples on a hillside outside of Jerusalem. In the last 20 years, countless saints from our church have gone to be with Jesus. What would they tell us if heaven were opened up, just for five minutes? What would they want us to do with what we have?

If there’s one myth surrounding marriage that has been perpetuated by our society, it’s that marriage is what completes you. Of course, Jesus refuted this idea over and over in his teachings. In this message from Mark and Luke, Pastor J.D. shows us the importance and implications of considering the church as family. When we take this seriously, we will realize that faithfully investing in this family will yield a harvest far beyond what we could ever imagine.

Throughout history, there have been countless songs, poems, and books written about love. Yet, we know that turning to pop culture for advice on finding love is not the wisest course of action. In this message, Pastor J.D. reminds us from Song of Solomon 1 and 2 of some foundational truths about love that are helpful in navigating singleness, dating, and marriage. In the end, these earthly forms of love are intended to be a signpost, pointing us to the much greater love that God has for us.

As we close our journey through the book of Exodus, we come to a seemingly anticlimactic ending—the construction of the tabernacle. You might think it strange, after all of the crescendos in the book, to end here. The burning bush, the 10 plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, Moses meeting God on the mountain … and this is the happy ending? But as Pastor J.D. shows us, the tabernacle functioned as the center of the Israelites walk with God. Not only that, but through Jesus, it can enrich our daily time with God as well.

We tend to read the story of the Israelites making the golden calf and ask, “How could they?” But we fail to realize that what the Israelites were guilty of, idolatry, is the very thing that is behind all of our other sins. Today, Pastor J.D. shows us not only the danger of idolatry in our lives, but how we can escape it. Ultimately, what is bad news for those who reject Christ is actually good news for those who follow him: You become like what you worship.

In a secular, post-Christian society like the one we find ourselves living in, the Ten Commandments aren’t exactly popular. Cries to “live your own truth” threaten to drown out the absolute truth of God’s law. But how can we expect to love each other well without parameters for what that actually looks like in practice? Today, Pastor J.D. shows us how the Ten Commandments are designed to help us flourish, experiencing God’s creation as it was truly intended to be. True freedom, it turns out, isn’t found in the absence of God’s law, but in the embracing of it.

We all have an important role to play in the body of believers. This truth, though seemingly ingrained in us now, was something that God had to intentionally teach the Israelites. Today, Pastor J.D. takes us through three foundational lessons that God taught the Israelites about life in the redeemed community. In showing them that everything wasn’t meant to be centered around one leader, the people were ultimately better equipped to serve the needs of the community as a whole.

You aren’t likely to find many people who genuinely enjoy tests, but they certainly have a way of revealing where we are lacking in knowledge. Today, Pastor J.D. explains three tests that God walked the Israelites through after delivering them through the Red Sea. These tests, along with the lessons learned from them, were so fundamental that New Testament writers would later refer to them again and again. The truth is, we are no less forgetful than the Israelites, and like them, we need to be continually reminded of why God is always worthy of our trust.

The parting of the Red Sea was not only an epic moment in Israel’s history, but an event that would become the most frequent image of salvation in the Old Testament. Pastor J.D. shows us how this defining moment became a marker for the Israelites to look back on when their faith faltered. In the same way, when we are tempted to doubt God’s goodness in our lives, we can remember his faithfulness to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

For many people in the world, believing in God may not necessarily be a far reach. But believing in Jesus? Furthermore, believing that it was necessary for Jesus to die in order for us to receive forgiveness of sins? That, they would say, is a step too far. In this week’s message from Exodus 11–13, Pastor J.D. takes us through the story of the Passover, showing us the mercy of God for the Israelites. Ultimately, this mercy would find expression in Jesus, the true Passover Lamb and our only hope of forgiveness.

Our obedience to God doesn’t necessarily guarantee that things in our life won’t go wrong, or that we won’t fail. And yet, that’s a hard pill to swallow—if we’re obeying God, surely everything will fall into place, right? In this week’s message from Exodus 4–6, Pastor J.D. shows us how Moses faced this very struggle in his first confrontation with Pharaoh. Ultimately, God allowed Moses to fail not because he was cruel, but as a demonstration of his saving power and unmatched glory.

When we are overwhelmed by a particular challenge or even just by life itself, feelings of insecurity can threaten to take over. In today’s message from Exodus 3 and 4, Pastor J.D. walks us through Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush. Though Moses felt completely unprepared for the assignment in front of him, God provided reassurance that was rooted in his unchanging nature. This reassurance addressed what Moses needed the most, and what we need the most in the face of life’s challenges and trials: the very presence of God himself.

Rescue. Salvation. Deliverance. These words characterize the story of the book of Exodus, as God frees his people from slavery in Egypt in an amazing display of power and might. As we begin a new series through the first half of Exodus, Pastor J.D. shows us from the first two chapters what we can learn about God’s work of salvation on a broad scale, as well as in our individual lives. And often, the very aspects of our lives that we consider weak, broken, or useless are what God uses to write a beautiful story of redemption.

In this message from Genesis 32, Pastor J.D. tells the story of Jacob, a man who began his life as a deceiver and ended his life with a limp—but who, right in the middle, wrestled with God and received an unimaginable blessing. Jacob provides a model for all of us who have ever waited on God to answer us, unsure if he hears, he cares, or he will ever act. Through Jacob, we learn that many of the blessings of God are released into our lives only through persistent, unrelenting prayer.

Jesus said we should pray like children. Children don’t think about how they approach, whether they are using the right words, or whether their parents are pleased with them. They just ask. Astoundingly, that’s the beginning of learning to pray.

Hope has a name, and his name is JESUS. For all that you aren’t, for all that you need, for all that you fear, for all that you crave, for literally all that you ever cannot be, he is the great I AM.

The Savior that was promised hundreds of years before Jesus came to earth was the Messiah an army under siege needed … not because they needed to be delivered from their enemies but because they needed to be delivered from their sin. Pastor J.D. continues today in Isaiah 7 to show us how to approach the Wonderful Counselor, who knows our sin but instead of condemnation offers us the righteousness of Christ.

The promise of a Savior that wouldn’t arrive for 700 years might not have been a great comfort to the army that received the prophecy, but God knew what they needed, and what we need today, is a Messiah who would save us from our sin. Today, Pastor J.D. is unpacking the promise of Isaiah 9 from the series “Hope Has a Name” and showing us how we should approach the Wonderful Counselor, who brings light to our darkness and gives us the gift of himself.

Have you ever been in a place of immense darkness, literal or otherwise? If so, then you know how incredibly powerful it is when you see the first rays of light beginning to break through. In this week’s message from Isaiah 9, the last in our Christmas series, Pastor J.D. shows us how Jesus is the light that the long-ago prophet spoke about. Even when darkness threatens to overwhelm this weary world, we can rejoice in the knowledge that the light of Jesus has come—a light that will never be eclipsed by darkness.

While Christmas has inspired the writing of many songs throughout the centuries, one song that is often overlooked is a biblical one—namely, that of Zechariah, whose words were inspired by the birth of John the Baptist. It talks about three ordinary objects and how they can help us better apprehend the meaning of Christmas. In this message from Luke 1, Pastor J.D. walks through Zechariah’s song to explain the first of these objects, the horn. At first glance, it may seem a curious image to use—but its rich symbolism serves to point us to Jesus, the ultimate horn of salvation.

Though the first few chapters of Acts are filled with baptisms and miracles, the pivotal point of the book—the stoning of Stephen—shows how God uses ordinary believers to display his power and accomplish his mission amidst persecution. In today’s message from Acts 7 and 8, Pastor J.D. encourages us to consider how God might be calling us to advance the mission of the gospel. It won’t look the same for everyone, of course. But the worth of Jesus and the truth of the gospel should compel us to share with a lost and dying world, whether here or overseas.

As we finish our “In Step” series through the Gospel of Luke, Pastor J.D. walks us down the path to Jesus’ tomb. We’ve all walked that lonely path in one form or another over the past 12 months, wondering where life is headed. The bad news? It’s headed to the grave. The good news? It doesn’t have to stay there. Because of the resurrection, the path to true life doesn’t end at the grave. It begins there.

As we continue our “In Step” series through the Gospel of Luke, Pastor J.D. takes us along the road to the cross, where we will meet a handful of different people—each of whom has a different response to Jesus’ sacrifice. Luke doesn’t just record their stories because these people were there; he records their stories because in them, we see ourselves. Their stories are our stories. They prompt the question, “How will you respond to Jesus?”

Pastor J.D. preaches about the most famous parable Jesus ever told—the story of the Prodigal Son. There’s a reason this parable is so popular: In it we see the biography of all of human history, the story of every single one of us.

Pastor J.D. preaches about the most famous parable Jesus ever told—the story of the Prodigal Son. There’s a reason this parable is so popular: In it we see the biography of all of human history, the story of every single one of us.

Pastor J.D. teaches about a defining feature of those who follow Jesus: They care for the vulnerable, the weak, the helpless, and the forgotten. Followers of Jesus care for the vulnerable and the helpless because, before God, we are vulnerable and helpless, too.

Pastor J.D. teaches about a defining feature of those who follow Jesus: They care for the vulnerable, the weak, the helpless, and the forgotten. Followers of Jesus care for the vulnerable and the helpless because, before God, we are vulnerable and helpless, too.

Pastor J.D. talks about the cosmic struggle between God and Satan, a struggle that bears on our lives every day. We’ll see that apart from God’s power, even the best attempts to change are ultimately doomed to fail.

Pastor J.D. teaches about a paralytic man and his friends, all of whom were desperate to get close to Jesus. But as we’ll see in this story, as eager as they were to get to Jesus, Jesus was even more eager to extend forgiveness to them.

Unlike so many others who missed Jesus, Anna and Simeon were able to recognize the unexpected majesty of the newborn King. Their story raises the question for us: Will we see Jesus this Christmas?

We are hard-wired to think that our worth is a result of what we do. Do good things, get good outcomes. Do bad things, get bad outcomes. Grace throws this whole system aside. And thank God it does, because without the scandal of grace, none of us would have any hope.

As we continue our “In Step” series through the book of Luke, Pastor J.D. teaches what it means to “live ready” for Jesus’ return. Are we awake to the task Jesus left for his church, or are we asleep at the wheel?

As we continue our “In Step” series through the book of Luke, Pastor J.D. preaches about a sickness that most of us have, but few of us realize—the sickness of greed.

Pastor J.D. dives into one of Jesus’ most recognized parables. It’s a story about two men who built identical houses—with tragically different results. The only difference? Their foundation.

Pastor J.D. encourages us with the truth that no matter where we find ourselves, our faith can be used to glorify God and point others to the gospel.

The beauty of faith is often found in its simplicity. You don't have to possess a wealth of theological knowledge to be captivated by the truth of the gospel. Maybe, like Rahab, you've simply heard what the Lord has done and you believe.

It’s tempting at times to read the Bible through a human-centric lens, as though we are the main character in each narrative. But in so doing, we’re in danger of missing the larger point of stories like Joshua and the city of Jericho.

There is something in each of us that cries out for acceptance, that longs for blessing. And while the culture around us strives for this acceptance to the point of exhaustion, the gospel says that God's acceptance of us is strictly a gift of grace that can't be earned.

What Abraham faced in his final test from God was incomprehensible, and yet he knew that God would remain faithful no matter the outcome. How was Abraham able to display such trust when met with the thought of sacrificing his son?

What Abraham faced in his final test from God was incomprehensible, and yet he knew that God would remain faithful no matter the outcome. How was Abraham able to display such trust when met with the thought of sacrificing his son?

Though widely known, the story of Noah and the ark is one that tends to be misinterpreted by many in today's society. Far from being a tame bedtime story, it gives us a glimpse of the response of a holy God to the depravity of sin.

Who are you, really? In a culture rife with comparison, the question of identity is one that tends to plague many of us. Is your identity anchored in things such as your accomplishments, your net worth, your social media presence—or in God's purpose and plan for your life?

Who are you, really? In a culture rife with comparison, the question of identity is one that tends to plague many of us. Is your identity anchored in things such as your accomplishments, your net worth, your social media presence—or in God's purpose and plan for your life?

Who are you, really? In a culture rife with comparison, the question of identity is one that tends to plague many of us. Is your identity anchored in things such as your accomplishments, your net worth, your social media presence—or in God's purpose and plan for your life?

When you think about the realm of the demonic, perhaps your thoughts tend toward Hollywood depictions of it rather than its real influence in the world around you.

When you hear the phrase "The Great Commission," what is your initial reaction? There can be a tendency in the church to relegate the carrying out of this command to those who are "called," or perhaps to those of a certain personality type.

Whether you make New Year's resolutions or not, you probably have areas of your life that you would like to change. But the path to change, as we all know, isn't always an easy one.

If you consider yourself a follower of Jesus, you probably refer to yourself as a "Christian." But how often do you call yourself a "disciple"?

"Getting back to the basics" is an oft-repeated phrase—and for good reason. Whether you've been following Jesus for 10 months or 10 years, it is always beneficial to be reminded of the essential truths of the gospel, upon which our faith is built.

In this message from Daniel 10–12, Pastor J.D. walks through Daniel’s visions of receiving warnings and capturing hope. We see that hardship, persecution, and suffering have all been decreed, but they’re not the only decree: Jesus will reign forever and judge the living and the dead according to his righteousness. He will renew and restore all things, and his people will dwell with him forever. And as we live in the in-between, Daniel encourages us that though things are dark—and they are likely only to get darker—we don’t despair. It’s all part of the plan.

Have you ever wondered how prayer works? Of course, we won’t ever have all the details, but as we continue through the book of Daniel, this passage gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how prayer works and demonstrates why prayer is so important.

How would you describe your attitude toward the future? Is it an attitude filled with peace, or one full of overwhelming stress at what might happen? As Pastor J.D. moves into the prophetic portion of the book of Daniel, he shows us how it’s Daniel’s prophecy about the future that makes the difference between those two attitudes.

How would you describe your attitude toward the future? Is it an attitude filled with peace, or one full of overwhelming stress at what might happen? As Pastor J.D. moves into the prophetic portion of the book of Daniel, he shows us how it’s Daniel’s prophecy about the future that makes the difference between those two attitudes.

As we continue our walk through the book of Daniel, Pastor J.D. tackles two of the most obscure prophecies in the entire book. Although the imagery can be confusing—lions and beasts and fiery thrones—the message is as timely as ever. What God says to Daniel he says to believers in every generation: If you are going to faithfully shine in the present, you need to have a crystal clear vision of the future. There’s two ways to look at the future--a stress-producing way and a peace-producing one.

What was it that gave Daniel so much courage in the lion’s den? Is there a way to have that same courage in our own lives? Pastor J.D. tells us what the source of Daniel’s confidence was—or rather, in whom Daniel’s confidence was placed in.

The most famous story in the book–Daniel in the lions’ den. Daniel provides an incredible example of courage in the midst of adversity. But as much as we make of Daniel’s night with the lions, his courage was actually forged long before that fateful night. Courage is not summoned in a moment; courage is developed through a lifetime.

Have you heard the phrase “The writing is on the wall?” It usually means that something bad is about to happen; that your fate has been sealed. That phrase actually comes from Daniel, Chapter 5. Belshazzar is hosting a party when suddenly a mysterious floating hand appears and begins to carve a message into the plaster on the wall. Talk about terrifying! It begins etching 3 mysterious words into the wall, and then just disappears? The 3 words were “numbered,” “weighed,” and “divided.” And they brought in Daniel to help interpret what these words could mean.

Today on Summit Life, we come to another story of God taking down a prideful, rebellious, selfish king. You’re like, wait, didn’t we JUST hear this story on the program? Hang on, today we come to Belshazzar, the grandson of King Nebuchadnezzar. We’re going to see that this problem is much bigger than just one king.

Last week on the program we talked about the roots of pride. The first root is the failure to recognize everything—everything, every breath you take—is a gift of God; and the second root is, the foolish assumption that it will last forever.

It’s a tricky thing, pride. Just when we think we’ve overcome it, we’re super proud of ourselves for accomplishing it! In fact, scripture is pretty clear about it when it says, “Pride comes before a fall…” Just when we think we’ve nailed it, it creeps in and can destroy us.

GOD IS BIGGER. It’s one of the most basic principles of our faith that we’re going to dive much deeper into. We’re going to talk about bold faith—faith both for when God delivers us, and faith for when he chooses not to.

Through the famous story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we will see an example of courage that could only come from faith in God. These three young men knew that God was bigger than anything life can throw at us. And more importantly, that God was better than anything death could take away. So what does courage look like in your life right now?

We learn that what was true for Daniel is still true now: “There is a God in heaven.” Where human strategies fail, God begins to work. Don’t you want to be part of what God is up to in your community, in your family, in your world?

As we continue our teaching series through the book of Daniel, we’re walking through Nebuchadnezzar’s confusing dream in Daniel, Chapter 2. Through this wild and startling story, we learn to view our culture the way Daniel viewed his—not through assimilation, not through separation, but through transformation.

The world we live in, like Daniel’s, is often very dark and hostile to the message of God. But thankfully, he doesn’t call us to escape this world. He calls us to transform it.

We begin working our way through the Old Testament book of Daniel--and it’s about a lot more than just lions. This book is about how to shine, how to thrive, in a very dark and hostile world. Unlike most of the other books in the Hebrew Bible, this one is not set in Israel, but in the heart of an enemy, pagan empire where God’s people have been taken captive.

Today, we conclude our series called, Instead of Me. Every message in this series, Pastor J.D. has shown us how Matthew places people in the story of Jesus that give us possible ways we might respond. Which ones describe you?

If you had been present during Jesus’ crucifixion, how would you have responded? There are four different characters and responses Pastor J.D. is going to walk us through to give us pictures of how we might have responded then and how we can still respond to Jesus today.

If you had been present during Jesus’ crucifixion, how would you have responded? There are four different characters and responses Pastor J.D. is going to walk us through to give us pictures of how we might have responded then and how we can still respond to Jesus today.

The events surrounding the trial of Jesus are recorded to show us that we are the ones who are actually on trial. In these stories we should see ourselves—and they should make us consider how we are responding to Jesus. We are Judas. We are Peter. And today, we’ll see we are also those involved in the trial of Jesus.

The events surrounding the trial of Jesus are recorded to show us that we are the ones who are actually on trial. In these stories we should see ourselves—and they should make us consider how we are responding to Jesus. We are Judas. We are Peter. And today, we’ll see we are also those involved in the trial of Jesus.

We are marching toward the cross in our series titled, Instead of Me. Our prayer during this series is that you will see these days that led up to Jesus’ death with fresh eyes. Feel the weight of the resurrection so that you can make Jesus the center of everything in your life. Today, Pastor J.D. takes us through the trial of Jesus in a message he titled, Accused for Me.

Have you ever thought that the cross must have been a scary place? Even for Jesus? But he went, when he could have fled for us. He took it all—all of the suffering for us—because there is only one way for us to have salvation, and that’s through the blood of Jesus. God’s wrath against our sin is like a toxic poison, and Jesus drank it for us. Pastor J.D. is teaching from Matthew 26.

Jesus was well accustomed to getting a clear response from God when he prayed. But there was once where God was completely silent. Pastor J.D. continues our new series, called Instead of Me, and shows us how necessary it was for Jesus to be abandoned for me and for you and to take on the full wrath of God in our place.

What’s your most prized possession? A car? A signed baseball? Maybe a piece of jewelry? Would you sell it? Could you put a price on it? Judas betrayed Jesus for only 30 pieces of silver, but Jesus told the disciples that they would all fall away, sending a message that all of us, even at our very best, still fall short and need a Savior. Join Pastor J.D. as he teaches on the free gift of grace.

By looking at the way Jesus’ friends and enemies responded to him during his final hours, we will see how we, also, respond to Jesus’ shocking, upside-down, precious sacrifice. Pastor J.D. begins a new series titled, Instead of Me.

Today’s culture tends to paint sexual expression, in any context, as a matter of personal choice and simply physical. In movies, magazines, and music, we’re encouraged to follow any path that leads to pleasure. But Paul shows us in Ephesians Chapter 5 that marriage is a divine mystery that points us to something higher—and that is Christ and the Church. Today Pastor J.D. concludes our series, First Love.

Today, we’ll look to Scripture for clarity and direction on intimacy and healthy relationships. Many people get uneasy when the preacher starts talking about these personal issues. But the fact is, sex is one of the few topics that’s addressed in almost every book of the Bible. God has a lot to say about it!

If we’re honest, a lot of us would admit that the biblical view of marriage seems pretty outdated and patriarchal. But God has a reason for the way he set things up, and his design isn’t just to set a cultural norm. It’s to reveal and reflect Christ. Pastor J.D. is talking about what it actually means for a husband to lead and clearly defines what submission does not include.

We’re in a study of Ephesians Chapter 5 called "First Love." Today we’re jumping into the delicate and controversial subject of the biblical roles of husbands and wives. Whether you’re single, married, divorced, or widowed, you’ll wanna listen!

“Sticks and stones may break our bones but words will never hurt us.” We all know that’s not right! Pastor J.D. will give us practical wisdom for how our words can be grace-saturated during conflict. It’s part of our study in Ephesians, Chapter 5 called First Love.

Has your smoke detector in your home ever woken you up chirping in the middle of the night? The smoke detector always seems to need batteries at the worst times in my house! But I’m so glad we have them! Pastor J.D. encourages us to mind the smoke detectors of anger and bitterness before they turn into fires in our relationships.

Young couples plan their weddings with so much excitement, anticipating living “happily ever after”—just like fairy tales promise. But to live happily ever after doesn’t mean you never fight with your spouse. Good couples have learned to fight fairly, to fight Christianly. We’re learning how to resolve conflict—not just in marriage but in all of our relationships—an issue that touches the life of everyone in one way or another.

For many people, our views on love and relationships were shaped by the songs we listened to growing up or the movies we watched as a teen. But there’s only one relationship model we should care about, and it doesn’t come from Hollywood! We’re diving deep into the friendship of marriage as Pastor J.D. continues our study in the book of Ephesians, Chapter 5.

If you were to ask most couples why they got married, they would probably say something about being in love, making each other happy, or physical attraction. And there’s nothing wrong with any of those things! But Pastor J.D. reveals one of the most forgotten and important elements of marriage.

What if every time you saw your spouse, or your friends, or your parents, or boss or your employees, you had a thought, that if obeyed, would radically change everything? Pastor J.D. reveals one simple, transforming question, that if asked and obeyed, will change every relationship.

As we go through our days, we might notice the needs and interests of other people around us, and sometimes we’re empathetic to those things. But at the end of the day, those interests of others are almost always secondary to our own. Pastor J.D. shows us just how important the interests are of those we love! We’re studying Chapter 5 of the book of Ephesians.

Pastor J.D. helps us answer the question, “What are you looking for when you yearn for love and romance?” We’re going to deal with our expectations in marriage and what God’s plan is for singleness as we continue our study of Ephesians 5 called First Love.

Our culture often acts like romantic love is the pinnacle of human existence. From our earliest days, we read about storybook characters finding their “happily ever after” with their soulmate. But, is that really how it works? Pastor J.D. gives us a balanced, biblical view of marriage and singleness as he continues our new series on relationships called First Love in Ephesians 5.

In our series called First Love, we’re dealing with some common pitfalls and struggles in relationships, whether those are romantic relationships, friendships, or anything else! And we’re kicking it off by getting a biblical perspective on the purpose of marriage. It’s a drastic shift from what our culture usually portrays!

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be? Meal time was just as important to the life of Jesus as it is in our lives today. Pastor J.D. dives into Luke 14 in our new series called Come to the Table where Jesus tells several parables comparing the kingdom of God. Lost people are found, broken people are put back together, addicts are set free, lonely people find community, and sins are forgiven at Jesus’ table.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be? Meal time was just as important to the life of Jesus as it is in our lives today. Pastor J.D. dives into Luke 14 in our new series called Come to the Table where Jesus tells several parables comparing the kingdom of God. Lost people are found, broken people are put back together, addicts are set free, lonely people find community, and sins are forgiven at Jesus’ table.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be? Meal time was just as important to the life of Jesus as it is in our lives today. Pastor J.D. dives into Luke 14 in our new series called Come to the Table where Jesus tells several parables comparing the kingdom of God. Lost people are found, broken people are put back together, addicts are set free, lonely people find community, and sins are forgiven at Jesus’ table.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be? Meal time was just as important to the life of Jesus as it is in our lives today. Pastor J.D. dives into Luke 14 in our new series called Come to the Table where Jesus tells several parables comparing the kingdom of God. Lost people are found, broken people are put back together, addicts are set free, lonely people find community, and sins are forgiven at Jesus’ table.

Today we conclude our series on the parables called, Listen. What we’ve learned in this series is that Jesus spoke in parables so that those who weren’t really listening, from their heart, would miss the meaning of his words. All throughout his ministry, Jesus explained that if your heart is in the right posture, and you have ears to hear, then the truth about him will be evident.

Sometimes it’s easy to look at history and assume we won’t repeat the same mistakes. We feel like we’ve learned from the past and look down on the actions of previous generations. But what’s different about our hearts? Pastor J.D. Greear encourages us to look at our own hearts today as he continues our series called, Listen.

Are you a sheep or a goat? Are you a lukewarm person? We all struggle with seasons where we are lukewarm, where we are striving to maintain a commitment to Christ but we falter. Luckily, Pastor J.D. doesn’t just ask these questions, but he shows us how to find the answers

In his parables, Jesus reveals the beauty of the gospel, but only for those who truly listen. Pastor J.D. shares another one of Jesus’ parables. And this one is going to show us what it looks like to be a Christian in today’s world.

Friday, Pastor J.D. covered the first two signs that you might be in a contract relationship with God. And today he’s going to present three more in order for us to see that we must get rid of our contract and embrace the goodness and grace of God!

In our culture, we conduct business by creating agreements or contracts so that we’re sure we know what we’re getting or what we’re owed. It’s a binding relationship between parties. But how many of us extend that same mind-set to our relationship with God? Pastor J.D. teaches about the dangers of believing God owes us something and wanting him to give us what we deserve.

Have you had an encounter with God that you would describe like finding a hidden treasure? Like finding a treasure that brought you so much joy that you gladly left everything else to possess it? Many of us, if we were honest, might choose a different image - something more like a never-ending to-do list or being tied to a ball-and-chain. Today, Pastor J.D. is going to steer us in another direction so that we more clearly understand who Jesus is and what he is offering to us.

Jesus once told a story about two men - both of them come across something of such value that it makes everything else in their lives look worthless by comparison. Today, Pastor J.D. looks at the differences between these two men as he continues our series on Jesus’ parables titled, "Listen."

Yesterday on Summit Life, we began a new series about the parables of Jesus. In these stories, Jesus reveals the beauty of the gospel, but only for those whose heart is in a posture to perceive it—only for those who truly listen. Let’s join Pastor J.D. as he teaches from Matthew, Chapter 13.

Today Pastor J.D. begins teaching through the parables of Jesus, stories so simple a child can understand them, yet so profound that we can never exhaust their wealth of wisdom! Join us as we kick off a new series titled, “Listen.”

Do you ever have FOMO? The fear of missing out? It can even become like a drug—needing a hit of entertainment or distraction to find satisfaction and enjoyment. Sometimes in order to be focused on what we need to be focused on, we have to say “no” to something else. Pastor J.D. shows us that distraction and the feeling of being overwhelmed and hurried often comes from being terribly out of fellowship with Jesus. He even gives us a list of super helpful and practical things we can do today, so make sure you listen to the end.

It’s safe to say that our society deals with more distractions than any previous society in history. Most of us feel like we are constantly pulled in different directions. Today, Pastor J.D. talks about being a distracted people who need focus—mostly away from our phones. He’s going to help us distinguish between good and bad distractions by looking to how Jesus seemed to be entirely in-distractible on the one hand but imminently interruptible on the other!

You know, Jesus promised that for all who came to him, he would give them rest. But in today’s society, where overworking is the new norm, most of us hear Jesus’ invitation as wishful thinking.

Today we begin our teaching series titled, Rest & Distraction. In this short series, Pastor J.D. will show us that those most mature in Jesus are not those working hardest for him but those resting most in him.

We’ve come to the final message in our series on the book of Judges titled “Broken Saviors,” and we’re looking at a collection of stories from Judges, Chapters 17 to 21–accounts that reveal the tragic outcome when a society turns its back on God’s leading.

Most of us have a friend or family member who’d call themself an atheist. But before you write that person off for their godless view of life, it’s possible you may share something in common. This message looks at the final chapters of the book of Judges. It’s a time when the Israelites turned their backs on God’s leading. They still acknowledged him with their lips, but they’d become, in essence, a nation of atheists. And we often fall into that same trap.

Samson’s incredible strength made him seem larger than life, but we’re finding out that we’ve got a lot more in common with him than we think. Just like Samson, we’ve all fallen into the trap of our own desires. So, what’s the answer?

Have you ever been told to “follow your heart?” This philosophy is pushed on us from a young age, showing up in kids’ movies and popular music. I bet you can remember one of those songs right now! But Pastor J.D. reveals that your own heart is usually your worst enemy. This message is the third part of a four-part message on the life of Samson.

Have you ever finished the first book or movie in a series and felt frustrated or anxious with the ending? You’re ready for the next installment to see how everything comes together, right? Today, we’re continuing our study called “Broken Saviors.” As we come to the end of Judges later this week, we’ll find out that the entire book is just one portion of a much bigger story. And it’s all pointing ahead to a glorious ending!

The Bible is filled with fascinating stories about heroes and villains. Some are parables, but most are real-life descriptions of men and women who struggled just as we do. Did you know these stories aren’t intended just to teach us moral lessons or simply to entertain us? They’re ultimately designed to point us to the person and work of God the Father and his son, Jesus Christ! During this message, Pastor J.D. invites us to look at one of the most familiar characters in the Old Testament. His life teaches us that God can accomplish amazing things through ordinary people—when they submit to his leadership.

Man is incapable of constructing, or living up to, the true Gospel. In fact, left to our own devices we tend to twist and misconstrue what God designed as perfect. Our current series is called "Broken Saviors."

This month, Pastor J.D. is walking us through the fascinating book of Judges. In this message, we’ll see how over and over again, God’s people substituted his plan for their own, with tragic consequences.

Do you have a tendency to take a bit too much credit for your success while overlooking God’s blessing in your life? Even with the best of intentions, the human heart always defaults toward pride. Beginning in Judges Chapter 8, we see how Gideon’s victory as a warrior began to inflate his ego. Rather than giving glory to God, he chose to act like a king who deserved special treatment. In a real sense, Gideon manufactured his own “broken savior.”

Being successful can sometimes be dangerous. Once we’ve scored a few victories and our leadership produces notoriety and fame, we’re tempted to give ourselves far more credit than we deserve. Pastor J.D. will show us that even our biblical heroes fell into this same trap. As we trace the footsteps of Gideon, we’ll discover how this successful warrior began to get puffed up and proud.

When God wants to use us he often humbles us. In this refining process, he shapes us into an instrument that can be used for his glory. The Bible often shows us how God uses flawed characters to accomplish amazing feats. In fact, behind every hero in the Bible, we see a God who remains faithful even though our heroes--and let’s admit it--we are often faithless. Good news for those of us who feel unworthy--thankfully God is the one who gives us value!

You know, everyone is a leader to someone, even if you don’t realize it. Whether you’re a mom or dad, a supervisor at work, or you’re volunteering to lead a committee at school, someone somewhere is looking to you for guidance. Pastor J.D. shows us how God can use anyone to accomplish his plan even when we feel stretched and afraid!

It was C.S. Lewis who once said, “Courage is one of the least talked about Christian virtues, but courage is essential to all the others.” Today, we’ll discover how God took a man like Gideon—a man full of fear and doubt--and transformed him into one of the greatest leaders of Israel. And the great news is that when God transforms our generation, he’ll use ordinary men and women just like Gideon; those who are willing to step up and take the lead.

We all know that feeling of being asked to lead a group. It can be a little scary and intimidating, but God assures us in his Word that he can use anyone to accomplish his purposes even when we feel insecure or unqualified. Thankfully, he’s not searching for experts. He’s looking for men and women who are willing and obedient. Today we look at the story of Gideon--one of God’s mighty warriors of the Old Testament--and we see that even he had doubts and struggles as he considered the mantle of leadership being handed to him by God.

In the Old Testament book of Judges, we find a fascinating story about two people named Deborah and Barak. A careful examination of their lives offers a powerful lesson on leadership. Pastor J.D. invites us to follow along as he teaches from the book of Judges, Chapters 4 and 5, as he shares five key points that will apply to both men and women in leadership.

When God inspires a woman to step forward and give leadership in ministry, how can the church help her become all God intended? Pastor J.D.’s response is informed by a fascinating story in the book of Judges.

When we suffer, we look for any means possible to escape. But according to Scripture, sometimes God uses our pain to draw us back to him. Today Pastor J.D. invites us to follow along as we trace the footsteps of an Old Testament character.

Today, we’re venturing into the book of Judges where God exposes the Israelites for their lack of courage. Through their example, we’ll discover how to overcome our fears and choose faith instead.

As flawed human beings, sometimes we get complacent about following God. Our failures defeat us. And before long, we begin to compromise and let things slide. Pastor J.D. explains how we can find power and freedom in following Christ.

On today’s program, we’re launching a new study in the book of Judges called “Broken Saviors.” Over the next few weeks, we’ll discover that we’re a lot like the Israelites who let their fear get in the way of their progress.

We all have days when we feel insufficient, like we’re not smart enough, strong enough, or talented enough to serve God. But the Bible says that in our weakness, God is strong. It’s not our own ability, because it’s all about God’s strength in us!

Throughout history, people have invented and named mythological gods. But the God of the Bible was not invented by mankind, and unlike Zeus or Thor, he chose his own name.

If there’s one aspect of God’s character that most people wish they could erase from the Bible, it’s God’s wrath. In fact, the doctrine of hell is one of the most common answers people give when asked why they don’t believe in God. But as we continue our powerful series called The Name, Pastor J.D. explains that God’s wrath isn’t just something we need to accept; it’s actually a fact we can, and should, rejoice in! 

Thomas Jefferson once famously took a razor blade to his Bible and cut out the parts he disliked. And while most of us haven’t literally chopped up our Bibles in that way, we often cut out certain passages in our minds, skipping past uncomfortable verses that talk about God’s wrath and the punishment for sin.

Verses about God’s love, like John 3:16, tend to get repeated and memorized. They stir up warm, sentimental feelings and make us feel good about ourselves.

Have you ever wondered why so many movies, books, and songs are focused on romance? It’s because every one of us, in the deepest corners of our hearts, longs to feel loved and cherished. But if we’re honest with ourselves, we also know that we don’t deserve that kind of unconditional love.

 If you want to get to know someone, the first thing you do is introduce yourself, because knowing someone’s name is an important part of your relationship with him or her. And you’re never going to feel very close with someone if they always call you by the wrong name. So in this series, Pastor J.D. is helping us know God personally by knowing his name. 

What do you think God’s most appealing attribute is? If you’re like most people, you’re probably attracted to his love and kindness, and you gravitate to verses that describe him as our Father and our shepherd. And God is definitely all of those things!

What is the presence of God like? Is it just a warm, fuzzy feeling, or an emotional worship encounter? For something we all want to experience, why can it seem so elusive? On this edition of Summit Life, Pastor J.D. takes us back to Moses’ encounter with God on Mount Zion. We’ll see how the presence of God changed Moses’ goals and desires forever. And it will change us, too.

Some people imagine God as an absentee “watchmaker in the sky” who set the world in motion and then stepped away. They think he’s probably out there, but there’s no way to know what he’s like. Others think of God as an unknown, impersonal force, without thoughts or emotions. But on this edition of Summit Life, Pastor J.D. kicks off a brand new series that’s all about knowing God intimately. He titled this series, The Name.

Like the disciples, we want to know the “how” and “what” of the Christian life. Pastor J.D. helps us see in this message that the Christian life, from start to finish, is a relationship with Jesus. Whatever you need, whatever you lack, wherever you are incomplete or broken, whatever you are missing in yourself or didn’t get from someone else, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

These days, it's not exactly popular to claim the existence of absolute truth. It's even less popular to claim that such truth is embodied in the person of Jesus, the one who is the only way to salvation. In this week's message from John 14, Pastor J.D. shows us the importance of what is perhaps Jesus' most controversial "I am" statement: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life."

Do you want to know how to find peace when you feel confused or afraid, when you don’t know what to do with your finances or your kids or a big decision? Pastor J.D. continues to teach in this message how, when we fix our eyes on Jesus, the Good Shepherd, we can rest in his promise to give us peace and lead us in the way we should go.

Without shepherds to care for them, the threats posed to sheep run the gamut, from losing their way to being attacked by other animals. Simply put, sheep thrive under the guidance and protection of their shepherd. In this week's message from John 10, Pastor J.D. takes us through Jesus' claim to be the "good shepherd."

Does it feel like you’re in a long “second day” of waiting before resurrection? In this message, Pastor J.D. looks at the story of Lazarus to teach us why sometimes God seems to delay his help or deliverance. One day soon, this whole veil of tears we call life will end in resurrection, and we’ll see that, even when life felt like meaningless chaos, Jesus was never absent in our pain.

If we're honest, most of us have probably experienced disappointment with God at some point in our lives. We question why God didn't cure our friend's cancer, or why he didn't provide for us financially when we really needed it. Pastor J.D. walks us through Jesus' claim to be the "resurrection and the life," from John 11.

Most people think that surrender to Jesus means giving up our freedom. But when you surrender to Jesus and lean on him, it leads to freedom and abundance! Pastor J.D. continues in this message to show us how Jesus is a Good Shepherd who proved his commitment to us on the cross and now promises to use everything he lets into the pasture of our lives for good.

Doors and gates are things that we likely don't give much thought to until they are in need of repair"”and while the truth is that they are usually constructed to keep people or animals out, they can also certainly be opened to let them in. In this week's message from John 10, Pastor J.D. explains perhaps the most overlooked of Jesus' "I Am" statements: "I am the door."

Jesus said in John 8:12 that those who follow him will not walk in darkness, which means that our lives will radiate with his light. In this message, Pastor J.D. continues to share how to look to the light of Jesus to be saved and then live in a way that glows with the knowledge that you belong to Jesus and Jesus belongs to you.

No matter what side of the "daylight saving time" debate we find ourselves on, we all have to at least acknowledge that light is essential for life, for a myriad of reasons. So Jesus' declaration that he is "the light of the world" was truly a bold claim.

If we were to trace some of our worst choices, our bad habits, our addictions, and even some of our emotional problems back to their source, we would find a deep and unsatisfied spiritual hunger.

As humans, one of our most basic needs is food"”when we don't have it, we experience discomfort, irritability, or even sickness or death. And yet, as unbearable as physical hunger can be, it is our spiritual hunger that we often neglect to address, to our own detriment. As we begin a series looking at the seven "I am" statements made by Jesus in the Gospel of John, this message from Pastor J.D. explores the first of these, from John 6. Jesus' claim to be the "bread of life" is a truth that we so desperately need in a world full of people who seek to satisfy their spiritual hunger with anything but Jesus.

Our emotions function like smoke from a fire"”and just like you can follow a trail of smoke to figure out what's on fire in your house, you can follow the trail of your emotions to figure out what is on fire in your heart. Pastor J.D. concludes with the emotion of shame.

We're in the final couple of days of our series on difficult emotions titled, "Smoke from a Fire." Or, to change the analogy"”each of these emotions"”depression, anxiety, anger, envy, and now "shame""”functions like warning lights on the dashboard of our hearts, indicating what is going on in the engine of our souls.

Sociologists say that envy seems to be a bigger problem for our generation than any before us, because social media seems designed to play on it! But when we look at other people's lives on social media, we are seeing a filtered image. Pastor J.D. concludes his message on the difficult emotion of envy.

Envy surrounds us"”and most of us don't realize the deadly poison that envy is. We think of envy as a kind of petty jealousy that just comes from wanting a little more.

People seem queued up and ready to be angry"”in the classroom, at work, on Twitter, and on the freeway. Pastor J.D. teaches how we can be angry like Jesus.

Remember that one time in the Bible when Jesus got angry? And he didn't hide it? And he didn't sin? Pastor J.D. is helping us see how we can be angry like Jesus, too.

When it comes to money, parenting, career, and any of the other litany of things we worry about, God is not telling us to sit back and do nothing. He is saying that we need to do what we can, and trust him with the results.

We worry most about what we are devoted to most. Jesus talks about the difficult emotion of anxiety by first challenging what we are most devoted to.

Whenever we struggle with depression, despair, or doubts about God, we think there's something wrong with us or maybe we just don't have enough faith. And it can be difficult to ask for help because we don't want anyone to see us as broken.

Pastor J.D. shows us that the aim of the Bible's teaching on emotions isn't to suppress them or even to manage them, but to read them accurately, express them honestly, and allow the gospel reshape them completely.

Death is never a comfortable subject, but in the back of our minds, we all know that death is eventually coming. So, what happens after?

Heaven is usually portrayed as this ethereal place in the clouds full of harps and chubby cherubim. But, is that really all we have to look forward to in eternity?

As we walk through the book of Revelation, Pastor J.D. explains how God has pulled back the curtain to give us a glimpse of the spiritual reality.

The book of Revelation has generated more curiosity and debate than any other book of the Bible. So, Pastor J.D. is helping us wrap our minds around the main point of this prophetic book.

In our series called, The Whole Story, we've been traveling from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how every page is pointing to Jesus and revealing the gospel.  

Everyone wants to feel like they've succeeded at life. But, what does "success" even mean?

In this message, Pastor J.D. tackles a subject that can be a bit sensitive, but is vital to advancing the gospel.

Tragically, it's not uncommon to hear speakers and pastors who promise God's blessing in order to manipulate their audience into giving them money.

When asked about their hopes for the future, 96% of teens in a recent survey said they want to make a difference in the world. Clearly, we all crave a greater purpose and for our lives to leave an impact.

In this message, we're looking at a crucial moment that changed"”not just the course of a single life"”but the course of human history. And how you respond to this moment will change your eternity!

In the unfolding story of God's redemptive plan for mankind, we've come to the climax of the story, the moment on which everything else hangs. It's a hope-filled message about the crucifixion.

Pastor J.D. reminds us of the ultimate purpose of prayer and why it matters. And when we catch sight of this vision, it'll give us a fresh excitement for prayer like never before!

Pastor J.D. challenges us to take a bold, public stance for our faith. He's calling us to step out of our comfort zone and make our private faith known to the world.

It's much easier and more comfortable to keep our faith a private, personal thing. But Pastor J.D. is challenging us to get outside our comfort zone and make our faith known.

Even with all the comfort and luxury of modern life, happiness is still hard to come by. And all the self-care and positivity in the world can never truly satisfy our souls. So, what are we missing?

We all crave happiness, and yet, it often seems elusive. So what's the solution? How do we escape the rat race and find true, lasting joy?

When we picture Jesus, we often think of him as our gentle Good Shepherd. But Pastor J.D. is drawing our attention to another aspect of Jesus' character that we don't think about as often!

We don't typically think of fear as a positive thing. However, when it comes to our relationship with God, fear is actually a good, healthy, and even essential emotion.

Have you ever prayed for a miracle? Sometimes, you might get the answer you were hoping for! But other times, it seems like God doesn't respond. So why is that?

Pastor J.D. walks us through the story of two people who came to Jesus looking for physical healing. But these stories are about so much more than just getting your prayers answered!

Whether we're aware of it or not, we all face temptations on a daily basis. So, how do we find the power to overcome and keep resisting the constant enticement?

When you hear the word, "sin," impatience probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. But Pastor J.D. explains that a lack of patience is at the root of a lot of sins.

Baptism is one of those subjects that tends to stir up some lively debate among believers. But what does the Bible say on the issue, and why does it even matter?

There are some things in life you can put off to the last minute with few consequences. But Pastor J.D. warns about something you might be putting off that has much higher stakes!

If there's one part of Scripture most of us skip over, it's the genealogies. It's hard to see how a list of "who-begat-who" is relevant to our own lives. But in this message, Pastor J.D. explains that those lists are actually critical to understanding God's plan.

Recently, there's been a growing interest in studying family histories. In fact, multiple companies have popped up that will trace your family line through a DNA sample. For some people, the results may be exciting, learning about historical figures or even royalty in their line.

If you asked an atheist why they don't believe in God, they'll often say that it's due to a lack of evidence. But is that really the case? Is our faith just based on wishful thinking, or are there logical reasons to believe the Bible?

There's something special about receiving a thoughtful note, especially when it's coming from someone you love. Maybe that's why so many romantic movies center on a love letter! Well, as Pastor J.D. continues our series called, The Whole Story, he's looking at the greatest love letter ever written: the book of Isaiah.

In this message, Pastor J.D. unpacks a lesser-known account from the Old Testament that gives us a powerful picture of God's purpose in our suffering. It's the story of a young girl's faith, a proud man's brush with death, and God's amazing mercy. It's part of our overview of the Bible called, The Whole Story.

Life doesn't always go according to plan. Sometimes, things go wrong because of a reckless or unwise decision, but much of the time, it's due to forces outside our control. And when everything is headed downhill, we might start to wonder if God has abandoned us or if he even exists.

As we continue our series called, The Whole Story, we're looking at a tragic moment in the history of Israel. The people had turned from following God and had given themselves over to worshiping idols.

When life is going well, it's easy to say that we trust God's plan. But what about when everything seems to be falling apart? Does having faith mean we skip along and pretend everything is fine? Pastor J.D. addresses those questions as he continues our series called, The Whole Story. We're looking at Psalm 37.

What kind of memories do you have of your dad? Maybe he was a good father or, maybe your relationship has been strained. Pastor J.D. explains that no matter what our relationships with our earthly dads look like, we all have some sort of childhood wounds. In a series titled, Foretold, we're learning how our heavenly father heals all wounds.

Whether we like to admit it or not, we all wrestle with doubts from time to time. So when those questions start creeping up in our minds and we just can't make sense of God's plan, how should we respond?   Pastor J.D. turns to Psalm 73 to answer that question as he continues our series called, The Whole Story.

The Bible describes King David as "a man after God's own heart." He was the one who fought Goliath and wrote many of our favorite psalms. And yet, even this great hero of the faith fell into the trap of sexual sin.

In Christian circles, King David is often treated as a model of courage and faithfulness. And in many ways, he was that! But he was also a broken sinner. In this message, we're looking at the darkest moment in David's life and learning from his mistakes.

Are you up against a giant today? Maybe you're facing a scary diagnosis or a financial crisis. Perhaps it's a rebellious child, or someone you love has walked out of your life. When your problems seem so big, it's hard not to feel like God has abandoned you.

Everyone likes an underdog story: the protagonist who's up against impossible odds, yet somehow manages to pull through. It's no wonder Hollywood is always doing a take on this theme. So when most of us picture David and Goliath, we think of it as another inspiring story about overcoming obstacles.

As Pastor J.D. continues our series called, The Whole Story, we're looking at a short Old Testament book that paints a beautiful picture of God's redeeming love. Through the romance of Boaz and Ruth, we see a picture of Jesus, our Kinsman Redeemer.

Have you ever come to a point in your life where it seemed like everything had fallen apart? Maybe it was a cancer diagnosis or the death of a loved one. Maybe your business went under, or you lost your home in a natural disaster.

How do you judge success in life? Is it tied to your bank account or the respect of your peers? We all have different things we look to for validation, but Pastor J.D. is reminding us that God has a different way of measuring success. We're looking at the book of Joshua and learning how to find success in surrender. It's part of our series called, The Whole Story.

In military terms, surrender is a bad thing. It means you've failed or given up. But in spiritual terms, surrender is the best decision you'll ever make! As Pastor J.D. continues our series called, The Whole Story, he's describing what it means to submit yourself completely to God's will and direction. We're looking at the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho and learning how to give up control to God's leading.

At the center of any religion, you'll find a list of rules and expectations. But the gospel is different, because it's not about anything we've done!

If you grew up in church, you probably heard a lot of talk about the "heroes of the faith." You maybe have even had storybooks or movies featuring these larger-than-life figures like Joseph, Moses, or David. But when you read through their stories as an adult, you'll start to notice these heroes were far from perfect.

As believers, we know we're saved by God's grace alone, not by any works that we do. But why does the Bible give us so many rules and regulations? Pastor J.D. answers that question as he describes the purpose of these Old Testament instructions. We'll be learning more about the Ten Commandments as we continue our series called, The Whole Story.

Many people think of the Bible as just a book of rules and regulations. And, the Old Testament tends to be especially intimidating, because it appears to be full of impossible standards we can never live up to. As we continue our series called, The Whole Story, Pastor J.D. explains the true purpose behind all of God's standards. It's an important reminder about our desperate need of God's grace.

Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, is the holiest of all the biblical feasts. And traditionally, the activities of this solemn day centered around two goats. One was sacrificed, while the other was sent into the wilderness as a scapegoat, symbolically carrying away the sins of the people. As Pastor J.D. continues our series called, The Whole Story, he explains how this ancient practice points to Jesus!

As we continue our series called, The Whole Story, Pastor J.D. dives into a part of the Bible you don't usually hear a lot about: the book of Leviticus. We're learning how the traditional celebration of Yom Kippur serves as a sign"”pointing us to Jesus!

The story of Joseph and his many-colored coat is one of the more popular accounts in the Old Testament. But it's more than just an interesting story. From being sold into slavery by his brothers, thrown into prison, and then rising to power and being reunited with his family, Joseph's life is a beautiful picture of God's sovereign plan. And that's our subject as Pastor J.D. continues our series titled, The Whole Story.

It's easy to say you trust God. But when things go wrong, and your child gets a scary diagnosis or your business goes under, it's hard to see how that fits into God's plan. Pastor J.D. is tackling those doubts as he continues our overview of the Bible called, The Whole Story. We're getting an important reminder of God's sovereign control in every situation.

Our culture tells us that the key to happiness is finding your soul mate. But then, when marriage gets hard, we start looking for something else to fill us up, like a career, children, or a hobby. But it never really satisfies! Pastor J.D. is pointing us to the only source of lasting joy as he continues our series called, The Whole Story.

The movies often make it seem like romance is the answer to all of our problems. Guy kisses girl, and they live happily ever after. But we all know that real life doesn't work that way! No matter how happy your relationship might be, it's not a guarantee of a happy life. As Pastor J.D. continues our series called, The Whole Story, he's explaining the key to true, lasting joy, regardless of your relationship status.

When you picture "the good life," what comes to mind? Financial security? A happy marriage? A successful career? None of those things are wrong on their own. But Pastor J.D. explains that they will never truly bring you satisfaction. We're discovering the only source of security and significance as we continue our series called, The Whole Story.

What do you do when the thing you've been dreaming about doesn't fulfill you like you thought it would? Pastor J.D. addresses that question as he continues our series called, The Whole Story.

Noah's Ark is one of the most popular stories in the Bible. It's an especially big hit with kids. In fact, you've probably seen picture books and nursery décor with the animals going up two-by-two into the boat. But when you look at the actual story as it's told in the Bible, it's definitely not G-rated! As we continue our series called, The Whole Story, Pastor J.D. explains what Noah's story reveals about our sin, God's wrath, and the plan of redemption.

If you asked a few people to name their favorite aspect of God's character, you'd probably hear things like, "his love" or "his grace." His wrath usually won't be at the top of the list! But Pastor J.D. explains that God's wrath isn't something to be covered up, ignored, or minimized. It's actually an important, beautiful part of who God is! And we'll see why that is as we unpack the story of Noah's Ark. It's part of our series called, The Whole Story.

It doesn't take more than about ten minutes of listening to the news to know that our world is pretty messed up. Between wars, hate crimes, and mass shootings, it can all seem pretty overwhelming! But how did things get this way, and is there any way to fix it? Pastor J.D. tackles those questions as he continues our series called, The Whole Story.

Most people like to think of themselves as a "pretty good person." But Pastor J.D. is challenging that notion as he continues our study in Genesis. He's showing that, if we're honest with ourselves, we know we're not as good as we should be. So why is that, and what can we do about it? It's part of our series called, The Whole Story.

If you grew up in the Western world, you're probably familiar with the Genesis account of creation. But why did this story get included in the Bible? Is it just for the sake of our curiosity, so we know where we came from? Pastor J.D. explains that this story actually has much bigger implications. As we continue our series called, The Whole Story, we're discovering what the creation account reveals about God's design for us.

Almost every culture and every religion has their own creation story"”their idea of how everything started. And that story says a lot about how the people in that culture view themselves. Well, Pastor J.D. is unpacking the true story of creation. He's explaining how we were created"”and what that says about our ultimate purpose. It's part of our series called, The Whole Story.

When you pick up a Bible, you're actually holding sixty-six books, written by more than thirty authors over a span of thousands of years. And yet, it all tells one story! And that's the subject of our series titled, The Whole Story. We're going to go from Genesis to Revelation, hitting most of the major events in-between. But before we get to Genesis, Pastor J.D. kicks off the study with a quick stop in the book of Psalms.

What kind of memories do you have of your dad? Maybe he was a good father or, maybe your relationship has been strained. Pastor J.D. explains that no matter what our relationships with our earthly dads look like, we all have some sort of childhood wounds. In a series titled, Foretold, we're learning how our heavenly father heals all wounds.

As Pastor J.D. continues our series called, Foretold, we're looking at some Old Testament prophesies in the book of Isaiah. As we study the reign of Ahaz, King of Jerusalem, we'll learn more about Ahaz's reign, and an event that pointed to the coming Savior"”700 years before the birth of Jesus.

Around Christmas time, we hear and see the words"”For to us a child is born everywhere. And we know the verse is talking about Jesus. But for most of us, that's all we know about it. Join us as Pastor J.D. dives into the context behind this familiar Christmas passage. It's a message from our series, Foretold.

As a kid, you probably believed a lot of stories about the Christmas season that you later learned were a bit exaggerated or made up entirely. So, is the story of Jesus' birth just another story? Pastor J.D. addresses that question on Summit Life as he continues our series called, Foretold.

In Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman, we are supposed to hear him speaking words of life to us and learning more about who he is. In this message, Pastor J.D. shows how we are all like the Samaritan woman"”searching for something that will satisfy and always coming up thirsty

In this special Christmas message from John 4, Pastor J.D. Greear walks us through a story that demonstrates the beauty of the incarnate Christ, whose coming we celebrate during this Christmas season.

Jesus could have come to earth as the lion, but instead he came as the lamb who conquered death and now offers salvation to anyone who humbly receives it. Pastor J.D. continues to look at our response to who Jesus is by walking through the third question we must answer, after we understand that Jesus knows everything about us and loves us anyway: Will we follow him?

In his incarnation, Jesus personified God's defining characteristics of grace and truth. Yet religion often espouses one without the other, to the point of condemnation and exclusion. In this message, Pastor J.D. continues to walk through Jesus' resume in John 1 to show how Jesus is the glory of God in the flesh and how to respond to his offer of grace and truth and eternal life.

In his incarnation, Jesus personified God's defining characteristics of grace and truth. Yet religion often espouses one without the other, to the point of condemnation and exclusion. In this message, Pastor J.D. continues to walk through Jesus' resume in John 1 to show how Jesus is the glory of God in the flesh and how to respond to his offer of grace and truth and eternal life.

In this message from the Gospel of John, Pastor J.D. takes us through what we can think of as Jesus' resume, to better understand who Jesus was and is. With so many misconceptions of Jesus prevalent in today's world, this is a task that is immensely important. Perhaps you've encountered churches that have embodied grace, but not truth (or vice versa). If so, you can rest in the assurance that the Jesus who took on flesh and dwelt among us is full of both grace and truth.

Jesus said that money is the top competitor in our hearts for God, and what we do with our money reveals who is really the Lord of our lives. In this message, Pastor J.D. concludes a series on opening our hands with our time, talent, and treasure to show just how much the gospel has changed our lives by teaching the two ways Zacchaeus demonstrated that he had been changed by grace.

In today's teaching from the Gospel of Luke, Pastor J.D. leads us through what is likely a familiar story for many"”the story of a tax collector named Zacchaeus whose life was forever changed by a glimpse of Jesus. This man who was despised by many was willing to do whatever it took to see the Savior, and as a result, the grace offered by Jesus changed not just his behavior, but his heart.

We may recognize the time, treasure, and talents God has given us, but have we asked God for his purpose in giving them to us? Pastor J.D. continues to teach in this message about investing our lives in God's kingdom by sharing what keeps so many of us from investing our resources wisely

In this message from the Gospel of Luke, Pastor J.D. looks at the parable of the ten minas, where we see that, likewise, sowing a harvest with our resources can also involve risk. But when the risk is for the building up of God's kingdom, it's always worth it.

The way to reap a bountiful harvest is not by collecting and spending but by giving and trusting. Pastor J.D. continues in this message to show how living like Christ, not money, is what brings happiness by looking at five laws of the harvest.

In this message from the Gospel of Luke, Pastor J.D. looks at one of the most revolutionary principles in all of Jesus' teaching"”the "law of the harvest." It's as simple as it is profound: As you give, it will be given to you. Sounds wise enough, maybe even encouraging.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, we know what's coming, and we know that only what's done for the sake of the gospel will last"”and that's why we can let go of the things that will soon have no value for the one thing that has infinite value.

In this message from the Gospel of Luke, Pastor J.D. walks through the story of a man who missed out on an enormous (actually, an eternal) opportunity"”all because he was too afraid to take a risk.

A lot of people become interested in church because they realize that something is missing from their life. They expect that being a Christian will give them a new sense of purpose, a better family, or comfort during a hard time.

Tragically, there are a lot of pastors out there who have used the Bible to manipulate their listeners into giving, promising financial blessing from God as a result. But that's a far cry from the true heart behind biblical generosity!

Even more than politics, money is usually considered an impolite topic to bring up at parties. But as we continue our series called All-In, Pastor J.D. is diving into this sensitive subject. He's describing the biblical principles for handling wealth, and you might be surprised by a few of them!

Whenever a pastor starts talking about money, people usually start squirming in their seats. It's an extremely touchy subject, and it's also an area where a lot of people have felt manipulated or taken advantage of in the past.

There's a cliché phrase we often use when someone gets saved. We say that they "gave their life to Jesus." But what does that really mean? How will our day-to-day lives look different if we're really surrendered to God?

Everyone wants to experience God's blessing, but how do we really grab ahold of that? What does it take to get the abundant life it talks about in Scripture? Pastor J.D. describes the biblical answer to that question as he continues our series called, All-In.

In our series called All-In, Pastor J.D. is walking through the stories of five Old Testament characters who each give us a picture of what it means to be fully committed to God's mission. This series was originally preached to Pastor J.D.'s home congregation, The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, but the principles apply to every believer and every local church.    

If you ever flip through one of those picture book Bibles for kids, one of the first stories you'll noticed is Noah and the Ark, usually accompanied by a cute illustration of little animals walking two-by-two into the ark. But this account isn't just a nice story about God saving some animals from a flood; it's a powerful foreshadowing of the gospel. That's our subject as we begin our study called All-In.

Did you know that Esther is one of only two books in the Bible named for a woman? It's been a pretty controversial book. But not because it is named for a woman, but because God's name is not mentioned"” not even one time"”in the whole book! Thankfully, however, God has kept it in the Bible for us"”because it really has something important to teach us. Today Pastor J.D. will wrap up a quick trip through Esther and we'll hear the timeless challenge that it is always the right call to risk it all for the sake of Jesus. Jump right into Chapter 4 with us.

Pastor J.D. opens up Esther, a book that surprisingly lacks the name of God, yet is mysteriously full of God at work. We're going to see that God has sovereignly arranged our circumstances, just like Esther's, to be strategically involved in his mission. Grab your Bible, and take some notes as we dive in.

Psalm 91 seems to say that if you trust God, nothing bad will happen to you, and your life will go smoothly. And, well, maybe then if things aren't going well, you must not be trusting God. That's troubling, right? It almost sounds like karma. Pastor J.D. uses Romans 8:28 to show us how the promises of Psalm 91 are still true. Today, we're concluding our series called, Help.

There are some passages in the Bible I'm just not sure what to do with. Well, maybe more than "some". The Psalms of help and protection especially fall in that category of Scripture I'm not sure if I'm really using correctly. It seems like we gravitate toward them, but I have a hard time applying them to my life.

I've started to rely more and more on the different GPS apps on my phone"”not because I don't know my way around, but because they get real-time traffic information and can correct my course. It's more of a guide than just a map. Today, Pastor J.D. lovingly shows us that what we need is a relationship with a constant guide who, at every point, can provide the next piece. Let's join in as he concludes his message from Psalm 25.

No matter how strong our faith is, we all have moments when we come to the end of ourselves. The problem is, if we're honest, we aren't sure if God can meet us in that place. But Pastor J.D. explains that if we offer our desperation to God in prayer, we will find him eager to listen, eager to forgive, eager to heal, eager to step in and help.

Sometimes it's easy to think about missions and evangelism as a task for "elite Christians" who God calls to be pastors or missionaries. But as we continue our series, "Be the Movement," Pastor J.D. shows us that God wants to use all of us to live on mission for him"”yes, God wants to use YOU!

In this message on Acts 7"“8, Pastor J.D. teaches on The Summit Church's fourth core value: "We send every member." Because Jesus sent his Spirit to us, the question is no longer if we are called to join in his mission. It's only a matter of where and how. Living "sent" isn't a special calling for our church planters and missionaries. It's a calling for you.

In this message on Matthew 28, Pastor J.D. teaches on a third core value: "We make disciples, not just converts." Most churches celebrate how many people attend services or "make decisions" or get baptized. But our central commission, as a church, is much simpler"”and much harder: We are called to make disciples.

Believers aren't meant to be stagnant ponds who are always receiving and never pouring into other people. Instead, we're meant to be rivers where gospel water flows through us to others. In this message from our series, "Be the Movement," Pastor J.D. talks about how Jesus wants us to take the good news of the gospel to every tribe, tongue, and nation"”truly pursuing ALL people in our communities with the love of Jesus.

In this message on 1 Corinthians 9, Pastor J.D. explains one of the core four values of The Summit Church, "We do whatever it takes to reach all people." Believers aren't meant to be stagnant ponds"”receiving, receiving, receiving. We're meant to be rivers where gospel water flows through us to others.

In this message on 1 Corinthians 15, Pastor J.D. begins a deep dive into the mission and values of The Summit Church with Value #1, "We prioritize the gospel above all." The gospel alone transforms us, empowers us, unites us, propels us.

We all want to make our lives count. We want to use our gifts and abilities to change things for the better. And as Christians, we've each been given a spiritual gift that we're supposed to use to advance God's Kingdom!

What's the difference between attending a Christian movie and being part of a church? They both involve a bunch of people listening to someone talk about Jesus. But that's not all church is supposed to be! As he continues our series called, Rushing Wind, Pastor J.D. reminds us that we're called to be so much more than just an audience at church.

Take a minute right now to think back to your childhood. What was the best present you were ever given? Maybe it was a new bike one Christmas, or a puppy! Or maybe you were one of the lucky kids who got a car for their sixteenth birthday.

When you sit down to pray, what do you talk about? Maybe you run through a list of people in your life who need healing, or you reflect on everything you're grateful for. Those are all great things to pray about and should definitely be part of your normal routine. But Pastor J.D. is reminding us of the most important prayer request, one that might have slipped your mind! It's part of our series called, Rushing Wind, and we're in Luke 11:11.

How do we become more like Jesus? Is it by reading our Bibles more, getting an accountability partner, or volunteering at church? Those are definitely good steps, but they only deal with surface-level issues. As he continues our series called, Rushing Wind, Pastor J.D. explains how the Holy Spirit works to transform our hearts and our desires, to change us from the inside out.

In our series on the Holy Spirit called, Rushing Wind, we've learned who the Holy Spirit is and why we need him in our lives. In this message, Pastor J.D. gets really practical, explaining how you can experience the Holy Spirit in your own life. We're learning how to tap into the Spirit's power so we can do God's work in the world.

As Pastor J.D. continues our series called, Rushing Wind, we're studying the third person of the Trinity and learning how to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. Pastor J.D. explains what the "filling of the Spirit" is, when it happens, and how it happens. We're in Ephesians 5:18-21.

Some Christians think you can receive the Holy Spirit months or even years after you've been saved. They believe that when he comes, there will be a clear, outward sign, like speaking in tongues or prophesying. Others think you're sealed with the Spirit when you're first saved, and that's your only experience with him!

When we give our lives to Jesus, the Bible says we're sealed with the Holy Spirit. But what does that mean? Is the Spirit just a stamp we get in our spiritual passport to make sure we'll get into heaven? As he continues our series called, Rushing Wind, Pastor J.D. explains that we aren't just sealed with the Spirit. We're also filled with the Spirit!

Cars either run on gasoline or electricity. If you tried to fill your car up with something else, like soda, you wouldn't get very far! For a car to work, it has to be drawing from the right power source. And the same is true of us!

When scientists began experimenting with electricity in the 1800s, a whole new world of possibilities opened up. This incredible power source had always existed, but they'd never before been able to tap into it.

The word "charismatic" has very strong connotations for Christians today, and it can be extremely divisive. But as he continues our series called, Rushing Wind, Pastor J.D. gives us clarity on this issue, revealing what the Bible really says about the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers.

In certain churches, the Holy Spirit is talked about as something you experience during worship, when the music crescendos and you get a surge of emotions. Or, when we're praying about a decision and we feel a warmth in our chest, we think that that's the Holy Spirit telling us which way to go.

In some churches, you'll hear a lot of talk about God the Father and Jesus Christ, but the Holy Spirit seems to sort of get pushed to the side. In other churches, people focus so much on trying to hear from the Holy Spirit, that they'll interpret anything and everything as a sign from him. So which side is more biblical? What role is the Holy Spirit supposed to play in our churches and in our lives? Pastor J.D. unpacks those questions as he continues our new series called, Rushing Wind.

When most people try to picture God the Father, they think of him sitting on a throne in heaven. And when we try to picture Jesus, we imagine a bearded carpenter, maybe holding a lamb. But the Holy Spirit can be a little bit harder to relate with! In our series called, "Rushing Wind," Pastor J.D. gets in-depth with what the Bible tells us about the Holy Spirit: who he is, what he does, and how he's working in our world today.  

Jesus' kingdom is not of this world, and yet there are myths we believe inside and outside the church that make a season of political turmoil feel even darker. In this broadcast, Pastor J.D. continues to look at some of those myths and how, when we look at the words of Jesus as he stood before Pilate, we will be able to replace feelings of anxiety and despair with hope and urgency about sharing the gospel.

In this second message of our "Flags" series, Pastor J.D. explores several myths that are common in our approach to politics, both outside and inside the church. By focusing instead on Jesus' revolutionary claim to Pilate in John 18, we'll see that Jesus' kingdom puts every other earthly kingdom"”and political party"”into stark perspective.

While it is every Christian's responsibility to bring their faith and understanding of God's kingdom into all that they do, the church as an organization has a limited platform. In this broadcast, Pastor J.D. looks at the church's duty to preach righteousness, justice, and compassion and our complementary role as church members so that we can be united by what is most important"”our identity in Christ.

In this first message of our "Flags" series, Pastor J.D. Greear shows us that the hope of the gospel unites the most unlikely of people from all tribes, tongues, nations ... and even political parties.

Chapters 22 and 23 of 2 Samuel felt like an ideal place to end David's story, with a testament to God's redeeming power. In this message, Pastor J.D. explains why 2 Samuel ends with 70,000 Israelites dying because of the sin of their king and how the story"”the whole story of David's life"”points to the real King we've all been looking for and the only right response to him.

In this message, Pastor J.D. Greear focuses on a chapter that, frankly, many of us might find confusing"”if not downright offensive. By walking through David's mysterious census and the massive punishment that follows, Pastor J.D. deals with one of the biggest obstacles many people have to trusting in God: Deep down, we don't think he's really a good person.

It's no wonder David closes the psalm of his life glorifying God's power in redemption, because there is nothing quite as amazing as God taking a life ruined by sin, like David's, and making it new. In this message, Pastor J.D. continues to look at David's life song and shares the three things God's salvation gives us.

A person's last words can often be very telling. In this week's message, Pastor J.D. gives us a glimpse into a song that David wrote during an earlier time in his life, which serves as a summary of both his life and his ministry.

In the tragic story of David and his son Absalom, we're left to wonder what might have happened if David had used his power to protect and heal instead of allowing his power to keep him detached in his palace.

As we near the end of 2 Samuel, this week's message from Pastor J.D. is one that examines the often far-reaching consequences of sin. These consequences played out not only in David's life, but in the lives of many in his family.

After David's sin against Bathsheba and Uriah, he walked through a process of restoration that models for us how to repent and take responsibility for our sin.

What does true repentance look like? This week, Pastor J.D. helps us unpack 2 Samuel 12, in which David is confronted regarding his sin against Bathsheba and Uriah. Following the prophet Nathan's rebuke of him, David pens Psalm 51.

David was Israel's long-awaited and hoped-for king, and he'd started out so well by defeating Goliath and writing beautiful psalms about God. But his sin against Bathsheba and Uriah made Israel ask, if even King David, the man after God's own heart, failed them, what hope was there?

Pastor J.D. helps us process a very difficult passage in 2 Samuel, and a turning point in the life of David"”the story of David and Bathsheba. Could this be the same David who was called "a man after God's own heart"? Though David was indeed forgiven, his sin would affect everyone around him. While this story holds a powerful warning for us today, what it ultimately reveals is a deep longing for another King, a better King"”Jesus.

In this message, Pastor J.D. helps us understand that, before we can become generous like David toward Mephibosheth, we must first recognize the generosity of Christ toward us and how the gospel transforms the way we see others.

If you have believed and been changed by the gospel, what should your response be? In this week's message from 2 Samuel, Pastor J.D. takes us through a story that is perhaps not as well-known, that of David and Mephibosheth.

In any great work of art, every stroke on the canvas comes through a paintbrush, but the real brilliance isn't in the paintbrush but in the hand of the artist wielding the brush.

As we continue in the book of 2 Samuel, this week's message from Pastor J.D. walks us through both King David's desire to build the temple and God's response to him"”one that serves as a good reminder for us even today.

What does your worship tell others about God's value to you? For David, he so valued and adored God that it produced one of the most passionate expressions of worship in the Bible.

In this week's message from 2 Samuel, Pastor J.D. encourages us to honestly evaluate our worship of God. Though different cultures (and different personalities) often exhibit differing styles of worship, our intention should be the same"”putting the worthiness of God on display.

God had promised Israel a king that would bring identity, happiness, and security, but their hearts had been broken with their first king, Saul. Friday Pastor J.D. talks about why David was not the king Israel was looking for either and how, just like God brought David and Jesus to the throne through chaos, he is sovereign in the mess of our lives, too.

In this message from 2 Samuel, Pastor J.D. walks us through a few ways in which David was "a man after God's own heart." And yet, what we ultimately see through the first several chapters of this book is that not even David was the king that Israel was looking for.

In this message, Pastor J.D. talks about why David was not the king Israel was looking for and how, just like God brought David and Jesus to the throne through chaos, he is sovereign in the mess of our lives, too.

In this message from 1 Samuel, Pastor J.D. walks through the tragic last chapter of Israel's first king. King Saul held such promise in the beginning. But the longer he reigned, the more it became clear that he wanted God's blessing much more than he wanted God.

When life takes an unexpected turn, we have a choice: We can take matters into our own hands, or we can do things God's way and wait on him to fulfill his promises. In this message, Pastor J.D. uses Abigail's story of wisdom and discretion to show us why we cannot accomplish the promise of the Spirit in the power of the flesh and how to instead leave vengeance to God and respond with grace.

One day, the story of your life will be told to the next generation. How do you want today's chapter to be told? In this message from 1 Samuel 25, Pastor J.D. shows us King David at a critical juncture, fresh off his faithful response to the murderous King Saul. But when a smaller obstacle meets David, he stumbles and nearly falls. The only thing that prevents David from veering into a pattern of sin and foolishness is an obscure figure"”one of the wisest (and least known) people in the entire Bible.

David did not spend time in the wilderness, running from Saul, so we could believe that if we trust God more, he will accept and provide for us. That's the wrong order"”and the order is critical. Pastor J.D. explains in this message how David's confidence and steadfast faith in God's purpose developed because he believed God had already accepted him and how you can have the same faith.

What do you do when the path you're on takes an expected turn for the worst? In this message from 1 Samuel 24, Pastor J.D. follows King David into an unexpected place"”the wilderness. At this point in his life, David had been chosen to be king. And yet circumstances sent him running for his life. David's temptation in this season echoes our own.

We all need the kind of friendships in our lives that will shield us, strengthen us, and shape us into the person God created us to be. In this message, Pastor J.D. shows how Jonathan's friendship with David modeled this kind of friendship and how friendship with Jesus enables us to be to others this kind of friend"”healthy, complete, trusting, and forgiving.

In this message from 1 Samuel, Pastor J.D. looks at one of the greatest friendship stories of all time"”between the presumptive heir, Prince Jonathan, and the anointed king, David. This unlikely friendship challenges us to choose our own response to the one true King, Jesus. Will we, like Saul, resist him? Or will we, like Jonathan, yield the throne of our life to him?

For anyone who struggles to find courage in adversity, the story of David and Goliath does not give us hope because God promises to help us defeat all of our "giants" if we trust him enough. Pastor J.D. teaches in this message how the story of David shows us that, because of Jesus' victory over death, we can have audacious courage in the face of obstacles.

In this message from 1 Samuel, Pastor J.D. walks through the most famous story in the Old Testament"”David and Goliath. Everyone knows this story, but few truly understand what it's about. Goliath's downfall isn't an encouragement to underdogs or a guarantee that you'll overcome every "giant" in your life. Goliath's story shows us what true courage is, where courage comes from, and what God is up to when the Accuser's voice is all we hear.

Do you ever feel like you're just biding your time doing mundane tasks that aren't really leading anywhere? In this message, Pastor J.D. continues to look at David's ordinary years in the pasture before he became king and explains how the blank spaces"”the sections in the Bible where all the activity seems to stop"”are where our hearts are shaped by God to be faithful in the big and small things.

In this message from 1 Samuel, Pastor J.D. finally introduces us to the person of David. But David's first appearance is hardly a commanding one: He is overlooked before being anointed as king, then seemingly forgotten immediately afterwards.

Most of us don't want to be poor in spirit. We'd rather be upper middle class in spirit, so we can do what we want, when we want. Pastor J.D. helps us understand in this message why God blesses those who are poor in spirit and how a posture of humility leads to dependence, surrender, and ultimately peace and life and power.

There's a fine line between "thy kingdom come" and "my kingdom come." Friday on Summit Life, Pastor J.D. shows us how Saul was a king who at first displayed humility, yet, as time passed his main concern became making a name for himself.

All earthly kings that we demand, whether a literal king or a metaphorical one, like success or money or romance, are going to not only let us down; they are also going to enslave us.

In this teaching from The Life of David, Pastor J.D. shows us how all of us"”religious or irreligious, Christian or not"”seem hard-wired to chase after someone (or something) to make us feel okay. Like the people of Israel, we desire a king.

The stories of the Old Testament often show us what not to do, even through some of its most famous characters"”but every story points to Jesus, who faithfully delivered God's truth to us and refused to forsake us when we rejected his words.

In this teaching, Pastor J.D. highlights the radical difference between God's faithful shepherds and spiritual abusers. Throughout history"”and throughout the Bible"”it is tragically common to find spiritual leaders who exploit and wound others.

It's easy to read Hannah's story in 1 Samuel and think the lesson is that if we ask God for something in faith, he will answer. But Hannah's song of praise and trust in God's faithfulness point to an even greater promise.

Pastor J.D. kicks off our series following the biography of David, Israel's greatest king. A king who began his life as an obscure shepherd boy, but became a warrior who brought rival nations to their knees.

Sometimes, the worst situations in life provide the best opportunities for God to use us. As we conclude our study in the book of Acts, Pastor J.D. reminds us that it's usually during the middle of life's storms that God uses us to make the biggest impact on those around us.

Life doesn't always go the way we want. But even in the midst of those difficult seasons, God calls us to make the most of our time.

Sometimes it can feel like the weight of the world is on our shoulders. But Pastor J.D. explains that there's only one person who is responsible for saving the world, and it's not us!

Have you ever considered what you'd like to have written on your tombstone? Well, death isn't something we like to think about very often.

I bet we all have things we're not willing to give up. And if we're holding too tight to something, it might be an idol! So, Pastor J.D. is helping us to examine our hearts to identify any idols in our lives. J.D. is teaching from the book of Acts as we continue our series called SENT.

When we hear the word "idol," we probably conjure up images of ancient statues and graven images. But idols are still with us today. They just come in different packages. That's our subject as Pastor J.D. continues our SENT series, teaching from Acts, Chapter 19.

Bank tellers don't waste their time looking at counterfeit bills. Instead, they learn to spot fakes by studying the genuine article! As we continue our series titled, SENT, Pastor J.D. explains that if we want to share God's redemptive plan in a counterfeit culture, we've got to start by studying God's Word.

When it comes to cross-cultural communication, there's a lot that can get lost in translation. We're learning that in order for others to understand the gospel, we first need to understand where they're coming from!

In the midst of trials and tribulations, we may not be aware that we're making an eternal impact on those around us. Our reactions can either draw people closer to God or push them further away. Pastor J.D. continues our study in the book of Acts, picking up in Chapter 16.

A businesswoman, a slave girl, and a jailer. What do all these people have in common? No, they're not the punch line for a joke, but three biblical examples that remind us that the gospel message is for everyone! Pastor J.D. is continuing a study in the book of Acts, providing the foundational principles for faith.

From the outside, it might seem like there are a lot of rules and regulations when it comes to being a Christian. But Pastor J.D. explains how to remove the barriers that may keep people from coming to Jesus.

The early Church was anything but vanilla! It was full of people from all kinds of backgrounds and ethnicities. As we study the book of Acts, Pastor J.D. is explaining the power of diversity in the body of Christ.

In the art of war, every strategy and every opportunity should be employed, and it's no different for Christians in the battle to further God's mission.

It's easy to tell someone that you will pray for them, or that you'll be lifting up their needs to God. But is that all there is to a healthy prayer life? Pastor J.D. answers that question as we continue our series called SENT. We're studying the book of Acts, Chapter 12, to learn God's view on prayer.

I'm sure we've all wondered why God works the way that he does. And Pastor J.D. explains that God has a method to what might look like madness! We're continuing to discover God's ultimate plan in the book of Acts, and today we're in Chapter 9 verses 19 through 31.

When most of us think of demons, we picture something from the latest Hollywood horror film. It's just the stuff of fiction to us. But Pastor J.D. shows us that the spirit world is very real, and it affects our lives a lot more than we probably think.

Tapestries are formed by weaving together many different-colored threads to create a beautifully textured picture. And the church is like a tapestry: colorful and culturally integrated. We're continuing our series titled SENT, and today Pastor J.D. is teaching from the book of Acts, Chapter 10.

When you think of racial diversity, what comes to mind? Well, today we're learning that God's plan is a true multi-cultural celebration!

As we continue studying the life of Paul, we're discovering the difference between religion and relationship with God!

When most people think of the apostle Paul, they picture this bigger-than-life, champion of the faith. But before his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul was a pretty undesirable character!

We would never forget to put on clothes before we leave the house in the morning. But often, we forget to get dressed spiritually.

A firefighter would never run into a burning building without their gear. Being properly equipped is important! But often as Christians, we enter the spiritual battlefield without any protective gear.

Some believers tend to forget about spiritual forces like angels and demons, while others obsess over them and are constantly worried about demonic influences. But neither of these are biblical responses!

When most of us think of demons, we picture something from the latest Hollywood horror film. It's just the stuff of fiction to us. But Pastor J.D. shows us that the spirit world is very real, and it affects our lives a lot more than we probably think.

For many people, our views on love and relationships were shaped by the songs we listened to growing up or the movies we watched as a teen. But there's only one relationship model we should care about, and it doesn't come from Hollywood!

If you were to ask most couples why they got married, they would probably say something about being in love, making each other happy, or physical attraction. And there's nothing wrong with any of those things!

When life is hard, where do you turn for comfort? Some people lean on alcohol or sex, while others turn to subtler crutches such as T.V. binges or overeating. But no matter what form our vices take, they're never going to fill us the way we want them to.

Our culture tends to portray Christianity as bland and boring. If you want an interesting life, the last place you're going look is the church. But as he continues our study of Ephesians called Mystery and Clarity, Pastor J.D. reveals that the Christian life is far from boring.

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, and it's something we should aspire to in our relationship with God. But that's easier said than done! Pastor J.D. describes the key to being more like Jesus as he continues our study of Ephesians called "Mystery and Clarity."

Throughout our study of Ephesians called "Mystery and Clarity," Pastor J.D. has been showing us that God isn't just concerned about our actions; he's concerned about reshaping our hearts and our desires.

Most religions share the same basic moral code. We might vary on certain points and nuances, but we all agree that it's bad to lie, steal, or murder. And everyone has met good, kind people from others religions. So if that's the case, then how is Christianity different than any other faith?

For a lot of people, Christianity seems like just a list of rules. But is that really all it is? Does Jesus just want us to live by a certain moral code? Pastor J.D. addresses that question as he continues our study of Ephesians called, Mystery and Clarity. We're in Ephesians 4:17-5:2.

Part of the fun of Christmas morning is seeing all of the pretty packages wrapped up under the tree. But no matter how pretty they are, it would be silly to leave them there! Presents are meant to be opened and used.

When you're a baby, it's okay to wear a diaper and use a pacifier. But at some point, you have to grow up. You can't exactly show up to high school with a pacifier in your mouth! As he continues our series called Mystery and Clarity, Pastor J.D. reveals that the same is true of our faith. We can't be spiritual babies forever!

It's not uncommon to meet people who consider themselves Christians but aren't really involved in a church. They might have been hurt by a congregation in the past, or maybe their Sunday mornings are busy and it's hard to make it out the door. Is it okay to just listen to a sermon online? Is it really any different than going to church? Pastor J.D. answers that question as he continues our study in Ephesians Chapters 2 and 3.

By itself, a single Lego doesn't really do much. You can't build anything or do anything with it. And as he continues our series called, Mystery and Clarity, Pastor J.D. reveals that Christians are kind of like Lego bricks in that sense. We can only accomplish our mission when we're working together!

Everyone wants to know who they are and where they belong, so it's not surprising that ancestry testing is all the rage right now. But does our family tree really define our identity? Pastor J.D. is helping us understand our identity and purpose as he continues our series called Mystery and Clarity in Ephesians 2:11-3:13.

The Bible makes it clear that without Christ, every single person is dead in their sins. But because of the cross, we don't have to stay that way! Pastor J.D. reveals how we can be made alive in Christ as he continues our series called, Mystery and Clarity.

When something goes wrong in the world, we tend to look for someone to blame, like the other side of the political line, corrupt businesses, or the education system. But Pastor J.D. reveals that the blame doesn't lie with one political party or system; it's in all of us. It's part of our series called Mystery and Clarity.

Shakespeare was right when he wrote, "All the World's a Stage." And even though we're not the lead actors of this particular play, we still have an essential role!

Prayer is a personal and intimate privilege in the life of every believer. But is there a way we can add power to our prayers?

A lot of us spend our lives trying to earn God's approval. We're plagued by guilt when we miss church or fall back into an old sin, and we feel like we have to make it up to God.

When considering adoption, there are many costs and factors to take into account, but throughout Scripture, God repeatedly shows us he is willing to do whatever it takes to make us his children!

As Pastor J.D. continues our series called, Mystery and Clarity, he's teaching from Acts 18 to 20 to help us understand the historical context for Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus.

When we first give our lives to Christ, most of us are excited for this new adventure with God. We want to learn more, do more, and grow more! But then, the excitement fades, and our faith becomes part of the routine.

As Christians, we know that the blood of Jesus has completely washed away all our sins. And sometimes when we hear that, we might start thinking of God's grace as a "get out of jail free card." But Pastor J.D. reminds us that being forgiven and justified before God, doesn't mean we won't still face consequences for our actions here on earth.

As believers, we know that, through the blood of Jesus, all of our sins have been completely forgiven. And yet, we still suffer the consequences for our mistakes.

As we continue our series called, "Freedom in the In-Between," Pastor J.D. is talking about a subject that comes up a lot: love. What does genuine Christian love actually look like, and how do we live it out? We're diving into those questions as we continue our study in Galatians 5:25-6:18.

Jesus said that the world would know we are his disciples by our love. As believers, our love for each other and for the world ought to set us apart from any other group. So what does Christian love actually look like, and how do we start to live it out? Pastor J.D. answers those questions as he continues our series called, Freedom in the In-Between.

Next time you're in a bookstore, go take a peek at the self-improvement section. You'll see rows and rows of books promising to unlock the secret to a better life. But no matter how many diets you follow or how much positive thinking you do, none of those tricks are going to fill your deepest needs or fix your greatest problems! As Pastor J.D. continues our series called, "Freedom in the In-Between," he explains the only way for us to truly change and be set free from our own sinful hearts.

Stop and feel your wrist, or put a finger under the edge of your jaw. If you do it right, you'll be able to feel your own heartbeat"”proof that you are alive. So if that's the case, then what does the Bible mean when it talks about our need for spiritual life? Pastor J.D. tackles that subject as he continues the series called, Freedom in the In-Between.

As we continue our series called, Freedom in the In-Between, Pastor J.D. is tackling an issue that's critical to understanding the gospel: the relationship between grace and actions. We're in Galatians chapter 3, and J.D. is answering the question, "If we're saved by grace, then what's the point of obeying God's law?"

It's been said that Christianity is more like a relationship than a religion. Religions are about what you do, while the gospel is about what God did for you. But if that's the case, why do Christians still follow certain rules?

Next time you're in a bookstore, go take a peek at the self-improvement section. You'll see rows and rows of books promising to unlock the secret to a better life. But no matter how many diets you follow or how much positive thinking you do, none of those tricks are going to fill your deepest needs or fix your greatest problems!

Our Western culture is highly individualistic. We all want to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and make our own way in the world. We don't want to be dependent on anyone. But Pastor J.D. cautions us that a self-made mindset doesn't work when it comes to holiness!

Most everyone agrees that freedom is a good thing. And yet, freedom inevitably leads to conflict. If I'm free to have my opinion, then you're free to disagree! But as Pastor J.D. continues our study of Galatians, he's explaining how our freedom in Christ actually leads to greater unity!

If you turn on the news these days or browse through Facebook for a bit, it will be pretty apparent that we're living in turbulent times. Emotions are running high over issues like politics and race relations.

Paul's transformation from a Jesus-hating Pharisee to a passionate Christ-follower is nothing short of miraculous. But if you're a follower of Christ, then your story is a miracle, too! And your testimony is powerful proof of the truth of the gospel! That's our subject as Pastor J.D. continues our study of Galatians called, "Freedom in the In-Between."

The word "gospel" literally means, "good news." It assures us that we're saved by Jesus' blood alone, not by anything we do. But how can we really know if the gospel we find in scripture is accurate? How do we know it wasn't just a clever conspiracy the disciples came up with to gain a following?

On October 31, 2017, Christians around the world celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, when Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the door of the Wittenberg church and called Christians to return to the true gospel.

In a new study of Galatians called, Freedom in the In-Between, we're discovering how the gospel frees us to live with confidence in a world of uncertainty. Pastor J.D. kicks off the study with a message he preached in October of 2017, on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

Plenty of people have high aspirations.But as easy as it is to dream about our goals, it's a lot harder to take the little, everyday steps to reach them.

When most of us pray, we typically spend the bulk of our time telling God about our needs and desires. There's nothing wrong with that, but what does it say about our hearts?

If you wear glasses, you know how important they are for everyday life. And if you ever lose or break them, you're not going to waste any time getting a replacement, because without our eyes, most of us are pretty helpless. And we also miss out on seeing all the beauty around us! As we continue our series called, Something Greater, Pastor J.D. reveals that you might be going through life blind, without even knowing it!

Imagine driving down a windy mountain road and having your headlights go off! When we’re driving blind, we’re asking for trouble. And as we continue our series called, Something Greater, Pastor J.D. explains that many of us are going through life with spiritual blindness.

In Christian circles, we tend to throw the word “blessing” around a lot. And it’s true that every good gift is from God! But even non-believers enjoy the “common grace” of everyday blessings. There’s a big difference between good things happening to us, and God actively moving in a miraculous way.

What do you think a “blessed life” looks like? Wealth? Health? A happy family? Pastor J.D. describes what it looks like to be blessed by God, and explains how we can make room for him to move in our lives! It’s part of our study of the prophet Elisha titled, Something Greater.

Most decisions in life are reversible. Take choosing a college, for example. If you don’t like it after a semester or two, you can always transfer! And the same goes for your major, your career, and where you choose to live.

Most of us would say we want to be used by God. But Pastor J.D. is challenging us to consider whether or not we’re really willing to take up our cross and follow wherever God leads. As we wrap up First Kings, we’re shifting our focus from the prophet Elijah to his protégé, Elisha.

First Kings Chapter 18 records a definite high point in the life of the prophet Elijah, when he faced off against the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. God came through for Elijah in an awesome way, and the people repented and turned back to the One True God!

Depression is stigmatized in a lot of Christian circles. We either avoid the topic entirely, or we talk about it in hushed, shameful tones. We act as if believers are just supposed to be happy-go-lucky all the time.

False gods aren’t always little golden statues. They can be anything, even good things like family, health, and financial security. Pastor J.D. explains how we turn good things into idols, and how to spot false gods that are growing up in our hearts.

Every once in a while, you’re bound to come to some crossroads in life, like a marriage proposal or a new career. And either way you choose, you know your life will never be the same again. The nation of Israel had defining moments like that, too, when they had to choose between serving God or idols.

When most of us think of “false gods,” we picture different world religions, mythologies, and little golden statues on altars. But the truth is, we might actually be worshiping a false god even if we think we’re worshiping Jesus!

Often, we think of people from the Old Testament as primitive and backward because they worshiped idols like the god of the harvest or the god of the sun. But in reality, we still worship idols today. They just look a little different! In fact, we might be worshiping a false god even if we think we’re worshiping the God of the Bible.

Many people these days tend to see religion as a personal choice. It’s not so much about truth as it is about finding a faith that “works for you.” But in our brand new series called, Something Better, Pastor J.D. explains why that attitude doesn’t really work!

Many people these days tend to see religion as a personal choice. It’s not so much about truth as it is about finding a faith that “works for you.” But in our brand new series called, Something Better, Pastor J.D. explains why that attitude doesn’t really work!

Have you ever wanted to take a mission trip but didn’t know where to begin? Or maybe you’re waiting for God to present the perfect opportunity. Monday on Summit Life, Pastor J.D. Greear tells us what it takes to be SENT!

We’ve all seen people who say they follow Jesus. But when you look closely, their lives seem to be a reflection of their own gain, NOT God’s.

Most people say they want peace and unity, but few people will do the work to obtain it.  Because it usually requires crossing cultural barriers to bridge the divide.

Many people are being called on right now to glorify God in their hour of trial or in a situation where it is costly to obey him.

One of the out workings of the gospel is that it will inevitably reorder your value system. This is exactly what we find in the book of Acts, in the life of an ordinary man name Stephen—he realized the value of the gospel and was willing to risk everything to preach it.

As human beings, our natural tendency is to focus on ourselves, as we try to cover up our flaws. But outward appearances can be deceiving, resulting in some serious consequences.

What characterizes a gospel-centered life? Praying? Going to church? Being kind to your neighbor? Pastor J.D. provides the answer as he continues our series titled, SENT.

What does a hero look like? Does they wear a red cape? Do they shoot across the sky like a bird or a plane?

When bad things happen, many of us focus so much on the problem that we lose sight of the solution.

Most of us have no problem telling others about our favorite movie or the latest TV show we’ve seen. So why is sharing the gospel so difficult?

Whether it’s money, fame, power, or even health, it’s human nature for us to want what we “think” will make us happy. But Pastor J.D. shows us that oftentimes getting what we think we want, is not what we need. In our series called SENT, Pastor J.D. is teaching us about God’s greater gifts.

The world today is full of suffering and pain. But is that how it's supposed to be? Wednesday on Summit Life, Pastor J.D. Greear explains that God has a better plan for us—both now and in the world to come.

Is the Bible really the Word of God? The apostles and the first-century believers certainly staked their lives on it! That’s our subject Tuesday on Summit Life as Pastor J.D. Greear continues our study in the book of Acts. Discover the validity of the Bible today when you tune in Tuesday to Summit Life with J.D. Greear!

Crime scene experts often confess that eyewitness testimony is subject to personal interpretation. But Pastor J.D. shows us that the testimony of the first-century disciples all points to the same rock-solid evidence.

The early church grew faster than any other religious movement in history. In fact, after the Apostle Peter’s first message, three thousand people got saved! What made this movement so powerful? Pastor J.D. answers that question as he continues our study in the book of Acts titled, SENT.

When we’re picking a movie theater for an evening out, we usually consider a few different factors, such as which one has more comfortable seats or better snacks.

As Pastor J.D. continues our study of Acts called, SENT, we’re looking at the book of Acts and learning what it means to be a follower of Christ.

If you’re like most people, you probably think that mission work is for someone else who’s more spiritual or more talented. But we’re gaining a whole new perspective and taking a fresh look at what it means to be on the mission field as Pastor J.D. continues our series called, SENT. 

Sometimes life feels like an Olympic event with a panel of judges scoring us on everything we do. We constantly feel the need to be better. In fact, that’s how a lot of people imagine God: as an angry judge who’s constantly disappointed.

Sometimes life feels like an Olympic event with a panel of judges scoring us on everything we do. We constantly feel the need to be better. In fact, that’s how a lot of people imagine God: as an angry judge who’s constantly disappointed.

If we’re honest, we’ve all had days where we’ve messed up big time. Maybe we fell back into an old sin, or we did something we swore we’d never do. And in that moment, maybe you wondered if God could ever forgive you.

Many people who reject the resurrection like to think that their issue is an intellectual one. They say the evidence isn’t convincing, or that they just can’t believe in some ancient myth. Well, Pastor J.D. presents an alternative explanation for their unbelief.

How can we trust a God that we don’t fully understand? Today, Pastor J.D. tackles that question and more as we continue our series called, "Can’t Believe."

Pastor J.D. explains that not making a decision is, in itself, a decision! We might not be actively rejecting God, but are we willing to step out in faith and follow him?

As Easter approaches, Pastor J.D. helps us answer two incredibly important questions by pointing us to two statements that Jesus made to people at his crucifixion and after he had risen.

We all know someone who was involved in the church and believed what the Bible says, but then life went wrong. They experienced some tragedy like the sudden death of a loved one, or a debilitating illness. And suddenly, they didn’t know if they could really believe in God anymore, let alone love him.

When life goes tragically wrong, a lot of people end up questioning their faith, wondering how a good God could allow so much suffering. We start to wonder if he’s even there, and if he actually cares.

If you’ve ever spent much time around toddlers, you know how shortsighted they can be. Waiting in line is agonizing for them, even if they’re waiting for something really cool!

These days, it seems like everyone is always up in arms about something or other. There are so many good causes out there we can fight for that it gets overwhelming!

In parts 1 and 2 of this message, we looked at the story of the woman at the well and discovered how her desire for romantic love had taken her captive and was holding her back from finding true joy and satisfaction in God.

The 1960s are often described as a period of sexual revolution when traditional morality was tossed aside. And while that era definitely reframed the way sex was discussed in the public forum, the truth is that sexual sin is as old as time.

As we continue our series called, Can’t Believe, we’re talking about an important but sensitive topic: sexual sin. Despite what many people think, the Bible isn’t against sex. In fact, God designed it! But sex can easily turn from a good gift, to something that enslaves us and holds us back from saving faith. We’re looking at two different examples from John Chapters 4 and 8.

Immunizations are a marvel of modern medicine. One little shot and you suddenly leave the world’s most dangerous diseases weak and ineffective! Diseases that used to take countless lives are now virtually unheard of. But what if you could be immunized against a good thing, like faith?

In our new series called, Can’t Believe, we’re looking at some of the most common barriers that hold people back from saving faith. And the first one might surprise you: religion. Most of us think of religion as a good thing.

Often, after hearing a powerful sermon, we’ll get excited and make all kinds of promises to God about how we’re going to change and be more like Jesus. But over time, we lose our focus and our excitement begins to wane. If you’ve ever been there, you’re not alone!

A lot of people consider themselves religious. They go to church on Sunday, tithe, and even read their Bible during the week. But that’s not necessarily the same thing as having a relationship with God!

There’s nothing wrong with having a favorite book of the Bible. But we have to be careful that we don’t miss out on the rest of God’s word! As Pastor J.D. continues our series called, Come Back to Me, he’s turning our attention to a book you might not be as familiar with: Habakkuk.

At some point or another, we’ve all asked the question, “Where was God when my life went wrong?” You might have even been angry with God. But as Pastor J.D. continues our series called, Come Back to Me, he’s helping us wrestle with those doubts and find the hope to carry us through the painful seasons.

As we continue our series called, Come Back to Me, we’re talking about a prophet named Amos. He was an ordinary guy who was given an uncomfortable task: to call Israel out on their sin.

No one likes being corrected. It’s always painful, especially when we know that they’re right! And even though it doesn’t feel good, being called out on our sin is often the most loving thing someone can do for us!

In our series called, Come Back to Me, we’re looking at a part of the Bible you probably haven’t thought much about: the Minor Prophets.

Why would a loving God let so many bad things happen in the world? That’s a question nearly everyone wrestles with from time to time, even solid, Bible-believing Christians! But Pastor J.D. is flipping the question on its head.

Sometimes, when we’re struggling with sin, it’s tempting to just pull away from God for a little bit. We feel like we need to clean ourselves up before we go back to him, so we stop going to church for a while and try to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps.

As we kick off a series called, "Come Back to Me," we’re looking at a part of the Bible that most of us probably don’t pay much attention to: the Minor Prophets. As we’re going to see, there’s a lot to learn from these short Old Testament books!

If you think the Son of God never engaged in conflict while he was on earth, then think again! Jesus had lots of interpersonal conflicts, but they were always done from a place of love.

No matter what the structures look like, we all have one thing in common when it comes to family: there will always be conflict.

Sex is no big deal, right? That’s what the world wants you to believe, but God wants us to trust him so that we can view sex rightly and experience his best for us when we wait on him.

Our culture has some deeply held, deeply untrue ideas about sex. To fully understand and respect the sanctity of sex, we have to go to God, who created it, and his Word, which is very clear about how we should view it.

Dating is not easy—whether you’re 16 or 56! When you choose to apply God’s biblical standard to dating, you’re going to stand out, because the world has not figured out how to be successful in relationships without God’s wisdom.

Most people want fulfilling, happy, lifelong marriages, but we don’t get a lot of direction on how to get there. The Bible teaches that if you want something not many people seem to have, then you’ve got to do what few people are willing to do.

Singleness is a gift. That might not be how we’re told by culture to view it—or even what the church sometimes tells us about it. In this message from the “Forever Family” series, Pastor J.D. teaches how to see singleness as a unique opportunity in ministry, relationships, and God’s kingdom.

If you’re single, do you ever feel like the world is telling you that you’re missing out on something because you’re not married? Even in the church, we often equate marriage with completion—but Jesus taught something altogether different and more beautiful.

What does God really think about divorce? In this message from “Forever Family,” Pastor J.D. walks us through Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 19 and helps us see that, though God’s command about divorce is clear, there is no situation that he cannot redeem.

Even if you’re not married, how you think about marriage affects the way you view so much more of life, like dating, sex, conflict, and even singleness.

When it comes to giving, many of us want rules to follow and boxes to check. As Pastor J.D. continues in the “First” series, he helps us see why, though our tithe is a great place to start, God wants our giving to display what is first and best in our hearts.

Have you ever felt guilty about your giving? Many people assume that, because there are still people in need around the world, God’s only purpose for our money is to get the gospel to them.

Jesus doesn’t just expect his followers to give their tithe. He expects us to be out-of-this-world generous! As part of the “First” series, Pastor J.D. helps us understand in this message how being a spender, saver, or steward defines what kingdom we serve and if we have surrendered our finances to God

If we were really living for Jesus’ kingdom, how would it change our giving? In this message from the “First” series, Pastor J.D. explains what our decisions on money reveal about what we love and treasure in this world.

Something is going to be first in our lives, and the Bible makes it very clear that it should be God. Pastor J.D. continues in “Time’s Up” to show us that, while both God and money can be important to us, we cannot serve both of them.

Why does the church have to talk about money? As Pastor J.D. begins this series on why God should be “First” in our lives, he helps us see that to become a committed disciple, we must understand how to have the right relationship with money.

In this final teaching from our series through the book of James, Pastor J.D. Greear reminds us that in the end, we can be encouraged that God does indeed hear the prayers of his children, and it is often through them that he chooses to accomplish his work on earth.

Is prayer actually effective? And if it is, should we still pray even if we have a less-than-robust faith? In this brand new teaching, Pastor J.D. sheds light on a crucial—and often misunderstood—passage about prayer from James 5.