Cornerstone Chapel - Video Podcast: Recent Episodes
Cornerstone Chapel
At Cornerstone Chapel, it is our desire that you see the love of Jesus Christ reflected through the systematic, verse by verse teaching of the Bible and through heart-felt, contemporary worship lifted up to God.
Whether a person comes to faith in Jesus early in life or late in life, the reward is the same—forgiveness of sins and the assurance of Heaven upon a person’s death. Jesus teaches a parable in Matthew 20 to caution those who have gotten saved early in life not to be jealous of those who get saved late in life who receive the same rewards. The “benefit package” is the same for ALL who trust Christ as Savior, no matter when they get saved or what kind of terrible sins they’ve committed. God is generous with His grace and does not give us what we deserve. We should all be thankful for that! Follow today’s study with Pastor Gary entitled, “Grace is Not Fair.”
According to recent polls, the majority of Americans see themselves as “basically good.” But the Bible teaches otherwise. And when people believe the narrative that they are basically good, they will not see their need for God. In Matthew 19 there is a story about a rich, young man who is a picture of the majority of the world—he’s a good guy who thinks that doing good things is the key to getting into heaven. But he was wrong, and so are those who believe the same. Pastor Gary shares the answer to the young man’s questions, “What good thing must I do to have eternal life?”
The Bible teaches us that God has a big heart for all people, but especially for children. Between Matthew 18-19, children are mentioned nine times. In particular, those references teach us (1) the example of children, (2) the warning against harming children, (3) the angelic protection of children, and (4) the eternal reward for children. Have you ever wondered what happens to children when they die before they have a chance to accept Jesus? What happens to the souls of aborted or miscarried babies? What can we learn from children? Join us for a Sanctity of Life teaching as Pastor Gary shares about the value and importance of children.
There are many views about the identity of Jesus. Was he just a good teacher, an enlightened man, or popular prophet? Modern religions think so. But Jesus is more than those things. In Matthew 16, Jesus takes His disciples to a place called Caesarea Philippi to discuss His true identity as the Christ, the Son of God. Join Pastor Gary as he exposes the historical and modern myths about who Jesus is and then takes us to Scripture to prove His true identity.
In the Christmas carol, O Holy Night, there’s a line in the first stanza that reads: “A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices.” If ever there was a time when a weary world needed something to rejoice about, it’s now. 2020 has been a challenging year for many people on many levels. The world is more discouraged than ever before and feeling pretty hopeless. But the source of true hope entered the world 2000 years ago when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. He came to save us from our sins by dying on a cross. In today’s teaching, Pastor Gary invites you to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior—the greatest gift every given to mankind.
At Christmas we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, which is good news for all! For the Christian, this brings great joy. But what is true joy exactly? Is it the same as mere happiness or is it different? How does one experience real, genuine joy? Join our study today as we look into God’s Word on how Joy is something that is not temporal, but eternal.
The CDC put out a report in late August saying that nearly half of American adults reported struggling with mental health or substance abuse due to the pandemic. Having peace is something that alludes many people today. However, the word “peace” is mentioned 420 times in the Bible, and it also appears at all three significant stages of Jesus’ life: His birth, death, and resurrection. Why is peace so greatly emphasized at all three stages of His life? And how can I finally be at peace with God, peace with others, and peace with myself? Join our study today to see exactly why the Christmas season can always be remembered as the time where Peace for the broken human heart entered the world.
Who is “king” of your life? In Matthew 13, Jesus teaches about “the Kingdom of Heaven” where Jesus is king and those who have surrendered their lives to His rule and reign make up the Kingdom of Heaven. “The Kingdom of Heaven” is both a physical kingdom (because Heaven is a real place) and a spiritual kingdom (because it’s about God ruling not just in a “place” but also in a “person”—our hearts and lives). In Matthew 13 Jesus teaches seven parables, six of which are specifically about the Kingdom of Heaven. What can we learn about this Kingdom? Who can be a part of it? How can we be sure that we belong to the Kingdom of Heaven and that we will enjoy all the many benefits as citizens of that Kingdom? Join us for today’s study from Matthew 13.
Every year on the Sunday following Thanksgiving, Pastor Gary Hamrick and Marwan Rifka give an update on how and what Cornerstone Chapel is doing. It is a way to draw attention to the goodness of God and to give Him thanks and glory for all the wonderful ways He has blessed us and used us for the Kingdom. In this service, we highlight the various ministries of the church, give a financial update, and explain how we are endeavoring to impact the world for the glory of God.
Our annual Thanksgiving Eve service of testimonies and giving God praise and thanks for all He has done over the past year.
God has created a “pause” for our work week with what the Bible calls a “Sabbath”. The Sabbath is to be a time of rest and is intended to benefit us both PHYSICALLY and SPIRITUALLY. We need to rest physically—to be “off” and recharge our batteries, so to speak. But even more than that, we need rest for our souls that can only be found in a relationship with Jesus. There are a lot of tired and weary people in our world—tired of running from God, tired of an empty life, tired of the lies, and the shame and the weight of sin. Jesus invites us to come to Him and find rest for our souls. But there are three things that can hinder entering God’s Rest. Join Pastor Gary as he discusses these things and teaches about what it means “to find rest for your soul.”
Many times in life we get disappointed when things don’t go according to what we had expected. When that happens with God—when He doesn’t do what we had hoped or expected—it can lead to a frustration with God. In Matthew 11 we see this happening with John the Baptist when he finds himself in prison and God seemingly ignoring his situation. John begins to question whether Jesus really is the Messiah. Have you ever struggled with frustration or discouragement because God didn’t do what you had hoped He would do? It’s not uncommon. And God can handle our discouragement. In fact, He is the One who can help us through it. Follow along with Pastor Gary in today’s Bible study entitled, “Expectation Frustration.”
Following the 2020 election results, Pastor Gary Hamrick delivers a reminder from Matthew 10 on how we are to live as followers of Christ no matter who occupies the White House. The American Christian life has been too comfortable for too long. But times are changing. Lines are being drawn in the sand. Christians cannot remain silent or complacent. Just look at the early disciples and how they were martyred for their faith! Jesus says that when we live for Him we should expect opposition and hostility even from within our own families. He is sending us out “as sheep among wolves.”
In today’s teaching, Pastor Gary challenges Millennials and GenZ young adults to prioritize their compassion for others and to be guided by objective truth rather than subjective emotion. Is it OK to be a “single issue voter”? Should abortion be more important than other issues in an Election like immigration, health care, the environment, and social justice? Pastor Gary answers these questions and more in today’s study from Matthew 8. He also reminds us that at the end of the day, no matter who gets elected, our hope is in the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth.
In Matthew 8, Jesus heals a man with leprosy. In Biblical times leprosy was a debilitating, deadly disease. It was commonly thought that God would strike a person with leprosy as punishment for sin in his/her life. But that wasn’t true; leprosy wasn’t a punishment for sin but it was a picture of sin. There are several parallels between leprosy and our sin nature. And the cure that the man in Matthew 8 received for his leprosy is the same cure that we need for our sinfulness—a miracle from God. Through his sacrifice on the cross, Jesus offers us that miraculous cure for our terminal illness (our leprosy). We can be cleansed from the disease that is killing us and be made brand new creatures in Christ!
On the eve of the 2020 Presidential Election, Pastor Gary delivers a sermon to challenge the church in America to “wake up!” Our nation is at a crossroads and our only hope is for Christians to stand for righteousness and vote our values! To be disengaged and apathetic will result in the advancement of a liberal, progressive, demonic-inspired agenda that is bent on the destruction of America. Christians need to wake up and realize that we are in a spiritual battle for the heart and soul of our nation and the heart and soul of the next generation. Stand up for righteousness! Stand up for truth! And let your voices be heard for the glory of God!
In the closing verses of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges His hearers about whether they really belong to Him or not. The lengthiest sermon ever recorded that Jesus gave is not just about how to live, but whether or not we will do what He says. Being on “Team Jesus” means we have a relationship with Him and will obey Him. The Sermon on the Mount is not just about words, but a way of life for followers of Jesus Christ. He is the narrow way that leads to life. He is the Rock on whom we build our lives.
We are familiar with the “Golden Rule” that Jesus taught (treating others the way we want to be treated), but there are also some other “Golden” principles that Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount about prayer and about how God rewards those who diligently seek Him. Prayer is a vital part of our walk with the Lord and Jesus has much to say about Asking, Seeking, and Knocking. In today’s message, Pastor Gary focuses on the topic of prayer from Matthew 7.
Contrary to popular belief, Jesus didn’t say that we can’t judge others or even that we shouldn’t; in fact, in Matthew 7:15-16 He says that we should be judging when it comes to certain people like false prophets. We have to be wise and discerning about others. But it can’t be based on assumptions, appearances, or our personal preferences. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us the difference between making right judgments (which is good) and being judgmental (which is bad). Join Pastor Gary today as he tackles this topic in today’s Bible study from Matthew 7.
How are Christians supposed to be responsible for the material aspects of life without the need for material things becoming a greed for material things? The material is certainly not sinful; it’s needful. But how much is enough? And how can we use what God has given us to make an eternal difference in the lives of people? These are questions Pastor Gary answers from the counsel Jesus gives us in the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 6. Join us for today’s study on “Material Management”.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us about three particular disciplines of the faith—GIVING, PRAYING, and FASTING. Spiritual disciplines are NOT religious rituals; they are habits, practices, and experiences that are designed to develop, grow, and strengthen one’s spirit—to build the “muscles” of one’s character as a follower of Christ. So why are we to practice these? And how? Follow along in today’s study as Pastor Gary shares on the topic of “holy habits.”
The standard that Jesus sets about how to relate to others is very different from the world’s standard. Jesus teaches things like: we are to keep the promises we make; we are to “turn the other cheek” when insulted; and we are to love those who mistreat or malign us. The world’s approach is completely the opposite. But as Christians we must follow His example even when the rest of the world lives and acts differently. Jesus is not calling us to be pacifists or to roll over and let people take advantage of us. But He is calling us to take the higher road, to honor Him, and to let God deal with those who might mistreat or malign us.
Jesus had many uncomfortable things to say in His Sermon on the Mount. Among the issues He covered was the topic of divorce. And as uncomfortable as the subject is, as followers of Jesus Christ we must have a Biblical understanding of marriage and divorce. In today’s teaching, Pastor Gary shares the two Biblical grounds for divorce and sensitively discusses the topic with grace and truth.
Unity is challenging to find in today's divisive world. Together we study the unity in Christ that the Church of Ephesus and the Apostle Paul enjoyed, and the fellowship believers today can benefit from.
The story of the Apostle Paul as recorded in the Book of Acts is a great example of the transforming work of God. The story reminds us that a life that is surrendered to God can be transformed by God. In this study, we examine three principles of a transformed life taken from Acts 11-15.
Christianity is not a religion; it’s a relationship with Jesus Christ. We will see 3 characters in Acts 8-10 that will discover this truth - that doing religion without a relationship with Jesus is worthless.
The Holy Spirit can often be a controversial topic in the church. Some spheres of the church seldom talk about the Holy Spirit because it makes them feel uncomfortable; while other spheres of the church put an unhealthy emphasis on the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. In today’s message, Pastor Austin addresses who the Holy Spirit it, what His purpose is in our lives, and how we can be filled with His power.
As we read through the book of Proverbs, we notice that Self-Control and Humility are the hallmarks of Wisdom. But Self-Control and Humility dont come naturally with age. Join us as we learn more about Wisdom so that we can avoid the foolish ways that lead to sin and death.
Many people today wonder what the purpose is for the Old Testament—after all, isn’t it all about rules, regulations, and rituals? Doesn’t it contain a lot of information about bloodshed, wars, death, and disease? And aren’t we under the new covenant now—the New Testament—so we don’t really need the Old Testament, right? WRONG. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that He didn’t come to do away with the Law, but to fulfill it. So how are we to understand the Old Testament and its application to us today? Join Pastor Gary for this study in Matthew 5 for that answer.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uses two metaphors to describe His followers: “salt of the earth”, and “light of the world”. He expects His followers to impact and influence the world for His glory. We are to invade our culture in the way that salt invades food and light invades the darkness. Christians must get off the side-lines and get into the game! We cannot be silent, passive, or irrelevant. We must engage the culture, promote Biblical values, speak the truth, and live for Jesus and tell people about Jesus wherever and whenever we can—this is being salt and light.
The longest recorded and most familiar sermon of Jesus is referred to as “The Sermon on the Mount.” All of Matthew 5-7 is devoted to this teaching and the purpose of it is to explain to us what it looks like to live as a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, motivated by the heart rather than by the law. The first part of the sermon is called “The Beatitudes” (which means “Blessings”). There are eight Beatitudes, and they are all intended to be read and lived as a package, not as multiple choice. Join us today as Pastor Gary begins a series through The Sermon on the Mount explaining the 8 Beatitudes.
In Matthew 4, Satan comes to tempt Jesus. The tactics he uses exposes three common ways that Satan tries to tempt us as well: the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Each time that Jesus was tempted, He responded with Scripture as his “weapon”. In today’s study, Pastor Gary explains who Satan is, what temptation is, and how we can withstand temptation. Since all of us experience various temptations, today’s study is an important reminder to strengthen us in our faith.
In Matthew 3 we are introduced to John the Baptist—the one the Old Testament prophets predicted would come to herald the arrival of the Messiah. In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist spoke of three types of baptisms: water, Holy Spirit, and fire. In today’s teaching, Pastor Gary tells us that all Believers either should or will experience all three of these baptisms. But what does “baptism” exactly mean? And how is it that we may experience these different baptisms? Pastor Gary answers these questions and more in today’s study from Matthew 3.
None of us chose our family of origin. We are born into a family without any choice about that. Sometimes that proves to be a good thing, and sometimes not. There are tragic stories of alcoholic parents, abusive family members, abandonment, divorce, poverty, etc. Children grow up to become adults who sometimes repeat those patterns, and the cycle continues. But what if that cycle could be broken? What if a person could actually live life without their family history defining them? It’s possible in a relationship with Christ! He gives us a new heart, a new start, and a new identity. The heritage we receive is not as important as the legacy we leave. Jesus’ own family tree was littered with human failure, and yet it did not define Him. In addition, God used imperfect people in that family tree to accomplish His perfect purposes. Join us for today’s study from Matthew chapter 1.
In the last in the series “Jesus is the I AM”, Pastor Gary teaches through John 15:1-8 where Jesus says, “I AM the true vine.” Every Christian is supposed to be a fruitful Christian exemplifying the character of Christ. But how do we become more fruitful? Jesus tells us the answer in this passage—when we ABIDE in Christ, when we are LIFTED by Christ, and when we are PRUNED by Christ. Pastor Gary explains all these points today in our conclusion of the “I AM” series.
In John 14:6, Jesus makes a very exclusive claim—that the only way to get to God and the only way to go to Heaven is through Jesus Christ. There is no other process and no other person through which we can be saved. The idea that there is only “one way” to God (instead of multiple paths) leaves some to believe that Christianity is narrow-minded and bigoted. But would those same people believe the same thing if just one cure were found for cancer, or one door led you out of a burning building? Of course not! They would welcome the single way to be cured or rescued without feeling deprived that there were not many ways. So it is with Jesus Christ—He is God’s one way to be saved. Amazingly, God has provided Him to all who would believe and receive. There is room in Heaven for you!
In one of the most beloved scenes in the Bible—the death of Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus,—Jesus shows us his tender, emotional side as He grieves for his friend. But He also shows us His miraculous, powerful side when He defies the grave by raising Lazarus from the dead! And though Lazarus was only raised temporarily (he would die again later), it is a picture of how Jesus has the power over death and the grave. This is the reason Jesus said, “I AM the resurrection and the life.” For Believers, we have the assurance that there is life after death! Heaven is real, but so is Hell. And Heaven is open wide to all who would believe and receive Jesus as the resurrection and the life! You’ll be encouraged from today’s study as we examine three things about death and the assurance of Heaven in today’s study from John 11.
In our on-going study of the "I AM" statements of Jesus through the Gospel of John, Pastor Gary examines the fourth of seven statements when Jesus said, "I AM the good shepherd." In John 10 Jesus uses the illustration of sheep and a shepherd to express His heart toward us -- that we are like sheep and He is like a shepherd who lovingly, tenderly cares for us. There are four primary things we can learn from what Jesus told us in John 10 about Himself and what it all means for us. Join us for today's encouraging word about our Good Shepherd, Jesus.
In ancient Israel, sheep and shepherds were common themes used to communicate spiritual truths. Jesus said that He was “the door of the sheep” in an illustration He gave to help us understand how He is the only way to have access to the sheep pen (which is a picture of the Church, the family of God). At the same time, Jesus warned about “thieves and robbers” who pose a threat to the sheep, and then encourages us about how He came to give us abundant life. Join Pastor Gary in today’s teaching as he continues in the “I AM” series through the Gospel of John.
Light and darkness are used in the Bible as metaphors for good and evil, right and wrong, truth and error. Jesus said, “I AM the light of the world.” He came to illuminate dark hearts, dark minds, dark deeds, and a dark world. He is the contrast to everything that is hidden, secretive, sinful, and covert. And He calls us to step into the light—to come into relationship with Him and allow Him to cleanse our sinful, secretive hearts and deliver us from a dark, covert world. Jesus wants to RESCUE and REPURPOSE us. He wants to take us out of darkness into His wonderful light and then use us to shine His light in a dark world. Open your Bibles to John 8:12 and join Pastor Gary in today’s study about how Jesus is the Light of the World.
Pastor Gary continues with the “I AM” series looking at the words of Jesus from John 6:35 when He said, “I AM the Bread of Life.” Many people try to fulfill certain longings of the human heart with physical or material solutions, only to find that they still feel empty. The reason? Because only Jesus can really satisfy the deepest longings of the soul. Every person has four basic needs for love, acceptance, identity, and security. Unfortunately many people try to get those needs met in ways that don’t really satisfy and that sometimes lead to addiction in the attempt to fulfill those needs. Learn today why Jesus is the only real solution to the deepest needs of the human heart.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes seven “I AM” statements that express who He is and how He relates to humanity. In this introduction to the series, Pastor Gary explains that when Jesus said “I AM” He was actually connecting His words with an event from Exodus 3 when God used the same expression in giving His proper Name to Moses. Thus, Jesus was explicitly asserting His divinity—that He is God. Join Pastor Gary for part one of an 8-part series on “Jesus is the I AM”.
Easter is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead! It is one of the holiest days on the Christian calendar. This year due to COVID-19 we are meeting on-line only as Pastor Gary delivers a message entitled, “Road to the Resurrection”. He outlines three things that pave this road—TEARS, TORTURE, and TRIUMPH—Jesus wept, Jesus was crucified, and Jesus rose from the dead! Every other religious leader who has died still occupies a tomb. Only the tomb of Jesus Christ is empty! Jesus died and rose from the dead conquering sin and death on our behalf, and now through Him we can have a relationship with God. We invite you to listen to today’s broadcast and then open your heart and trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
When Jesus came into Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday, he was met by four reactions from people—some saw him as the Miracle-Worker, others hailed him as King, and still others believed him to be a Prophet. It is true that Jesus was and is all those things—a Miracle-Worker, King, and Prophet… but Jesus is more than that! And the only group of people who embraced Jesus for His true identity were the children! In Matthew 21 when Jesus came into Jerusalem after riding a donkey down the Palm Sunday road, the children exclaimed, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” The title “Son of David” is a Messianic title. In other words, the children were ascribing to Jesus the title reserved exclusively for the One who would come as Savior and Lord! Join us for on-line church as Pastor Gary retells the Palm Sunday story.
Pastor Gary sits down with local pastors, and two of his close personal friends, Brett Fuller and Mike Minter to discuss the at-hand issue of COVID-19. They share encouragement and each of their unique perspectives on how we as Christians can be at prayer for our nation, and how to see the hope of Christ in this difficult time.
In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that our world is facing, Pastor Gary gives a message about how we can have the Lord’s peace in the midst of the world’s panic. The teaching is entitled “Infectious Faith” as a play on words because we are dealing with an infectious disease and the infectious fear that goes along with it. But how can we as Christians have such a trusting faith in God during times like these that our faith is infectious to those around us who are anxious and worried? Pastor Gary first shares an historical perspective on viruses in our world and whether this COVID-19 is somehow related to the End Times. He then teaches a Biblical perspective of how we can lean on the Lord and have His peace during times like these. Join us today for “Infectious Faith.”
Matt Maher presents this question in his teaching, weaving his own story with biblical truth to demonstrate what the Bible has to say about issues such as anxiety, guilt, and depression. In those moments when our hearts are heaviest, God calls us to lean all the more into His Word and that peace that only comes from knowing Him.
In the days of Malachi, the people had become spiritually lazy and morally apathetic about things. They had grown complacent about Ministry (to God), about Marriage, and about Money. These are important areas for us to examine in our own lives as well. What does our devotion to God look like? Are we committed to marriage or do we have a casual view of divorce? How do we manage the resources God has given us? These are all questions we need to face too. Join us for our study in Malachi as Pastor Gary addresses these issues.
The prophet Zechariah tells us more things about the First and Second Coming of Jesus Christ than all the other Minor Prophets combined. The main theme of his letter is the hope and encouragement we have in knowing that our Messiah is coming… as Meek Messiah, as Suffering Savior, and as Coming King. Follow along in today’s study as Pastor Gary unpacks Bible prophecy about the First and Second Coming of Christ from the book of Zechariah and how Jesus is the hope of the Church!
We often treat people or react to people based on what we see “on the surface.” But what if we got to know their story on a personal level and found out about their heart and soul? We would probably be more encouraging and have a lot more compassion for them. We never know what’s going on in someone’s life—the heartaches, the personal struggles, the disappointments, the failures, etc. Those things lay beneath the surface. But what if we could draw out those things in a way that resulted in genuine, Christ-like compassion for them? Wouldn’t that reflect Jesus better than reacting and getting frustrated about someone’s actions or behavior? This is the angle that Pastor Gary takes in our study through the book of Haggai, and he shares his own personal encounter with a woman from Auschwitz whom the Lord used to teach him about these truths.
Have you ever struggled to understand why things happen in life that don’t make sense? Have you ever questioned God about those struggles and felt that He was silent? What are we to do when God doesn’t work in the ways we think He should? The book of Habakkuk has some answers to those questions as Habakkuk shares his own confusion with God. He takes us on a progression of faith from confusion to consolation; from being perplexed to being at peace with God. Life is filled with unanswered “Why’s”, and we can either torment ourselves trying to understand what God is up to, or we can learn to rest in the Lord and trust Him. Find out in today’s study how we can make the same progress as Habakkuk did in a teaching entitled, “When God Doesn’t Make Sense.”
Time can sometimes be our enemy. Relationships can drift apart slowly over time. The same is true about our walk with the Lord. What once was joyful, exciting, and important can, over time, become common, ordinary, and unwanted. This is the case with the Ninevites in the book of Nahum. One hundred and twenty-five years earlier, the Ninevites had repented under the preaching of Jonah, but now the same people are under God’s judgment for forsaking Him. How does the slow erosion of our faith happen over time? Join Pastor Gary as he shares three threats to a sustained walk with God.
The book of Micah ends with a promise—that God is forgiving, merciful, compassionate, and a God who casts our sins “into the depths of the sea” to be forgotten and forgiven. So many people carry around guilt and shame from the past and desperately want to feel forgiven. There is a practice today among Jewish people called “Tashlich” where they stand along the bank of a river or along the coast of the ocean and read from Micah 7:18-19 while casting bread into the water to symbolize their sins being cast into the depths of the sea. As a symbolic gesture, casting bread into the water is fine; but there is a forgiveness that comes through Jesus Christ that cleanses us from all guilt and shame! Follow along as Pastor Gary shares about how our sins are cast into the Sea of Forgetfulness.
“Jonah and the Whale” is no doubt one of the most familiar stories in all of the Bible (although the word “whale” does not appear in any English translation of the book of Jonah… it simply says a “great fish” swallowed Jonah). However some dismiss the story as FICTIONAL (along the lines of Moby Dick), and others argue it’s only ALLEGORICAL (a picture of God’s love and forgiveness of sinners, but not a true story). Yet, Jesus mentioned it twice in Matthew’s gospel (Chapters 12 and 16) as a FACTUAL story. And that’s how we should interpret it too—a real story with real people and real events that illustrate a central theme: the mercy of God. We all need God’s mercy (His love, compassion, and kindness)! Join us for today’s study as Pastor Gary highlights 4 characteristics of God’s Mercy from the book of Jonah that are important for us to understand for our lives.
Christmas is about God's generosity to the world--the gift of Jesus and salvation that is found through Him. In the words of Paul McCartney, life is like a "ong and winding road" that leads to nowhere. That's true without Jesus. But with Him, you can know that your sins are forgiven and that life has meaning, purpose, and contentment. Won't you accept God's free gift to the world and invite Christ to be your Lord and Savior? Join us for this Christmas Eve service as we celebrate Jesus--God's gift to the World.
In the shortest book of the Old Testament, Obadiah pronounces three indictments against the Edomites for their mistreatment of the Israelites. Pastor Gary explains the historical background behind the animosity between these two groups and challenges each of us to not repeat the sins of the Edomites. There is also a Christmas connection in this story that Pastor Gary applies as well in wrapping up God's judgment against them.
In order to understand what is right and what is wrong, we must have an objective moral standard to define those things. Who or what is the objective moral standard in the world? It's not government, or the culture, or any of us. It is God! In the book of Amos, God is described as "the Plumb Line" against whom all things are to be measured and aligned. Only when we align ourselves with the Lord and His Word are we "vertically true", otherwise all things are crooked. Pastor Gary challenges us today from the book of Amos about making sure that we have aligned ourselves with the true standard of God so that we can influence our crooked generation for Christ.
As we close out 2019, we wanted to take some time to tell of all the wonderful works of the Lord (Psalm 105:1-2) in and through Cornerstone Chapel. Listen as Pastor Gary Hamrick and Marwan Rifka review all the things the Lord is doing in our church, our community, and around the world through His provision and His people at Cornerstone. We praise God for His wonderful works and we give Him ALL the glory!
Our annual Thanksgiving Eve service of testimonies and giving God praise and thanks for all He has done over the past year.
The judgment of God is the natural result of our disobedience to Him. The people of Joel’s day experienced a devastating invasion of locusts as a sign of God’s judgment for their sin and disobedience. Joel also looks into our future and sees the time of the Great Tribulation as a sign of God’s judgment for a future generation. But in the midst of God’s judgment for our sin is His mercy to forgive us of our sins. Joel writes about how compassionate, merciful, and loving God is, and that anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Are you saved? Do you know what it means to have your sins forgiven and to be in a relationship with Jesus? Pastor Gary unpacks all that in today’s message from the book of Joel.
Have you ever felt so much shame and guilt about your past that you wondered whether God could ever love you or take you back? The story of Hosea is a love story between a husband and an unfaithful wife. But it is a bigger picture of God’s love for people who are unfaithful to him. You will be encouraged today as Pastor Gary reminds us of God’s unfailing love for unfaithful people.
The book of Daniel is a rich sources of prophecies concerning the End Times. In today’s study from the closing chapters, Pastor Gary discusses the Tribulation, the Antichrist, the Rapture, and the Final Judgment that will come. Daniel 12:1 mentions deliverance for people who are listed in “the book”. The Book of Life is mentioned 8 times in the Bible and refers to those who have surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. Is your name written in the Book? It can be! Follow along in today’s study from Daniel 11-12.
Everybody knows we need to pray more. But few of us actually do. In Daniel 10, we learn some important things about “the other side of prayer”. What happens in the heavenly realm—the unseen spirit realm—in regards to our prayers? Did you know that there are angels and demons who battle in the heavenlies when we pray? In addition to the spiritual warfare in the heavenly realm, Pastor Gary shares four additional things that have the potential to hinder our prayer life as well. Join us in Daniel 10 for today’s study.
What is your view of God? Is he a loving, merciful God or an angry, unforgiving God? How you view the Lord will determine whether you approach Him when you sin or whether you avoid Him. Daniel became broken and contrite before the Lord because He read the book of Jeremiah where God revealed Himself as a merciful, loving Father. That’s who God is, and that’s why He is approachable when we sin too. Find out today about what “repentance” means and how we can draw near to God.
Take a look at our special Outreach Service, where we celebrated what was accomplished for the Lord in 2019 through global and local outreach and missions.
The Bible predicts that a political, charismatic world leader will come onto the world scene known in Scripture as “The Antichrist” (1 John), or “The Beast” (Rev), or “The Man of Sin” (2 Thess. 2). He will unite the world under his influential leadership with a temporary peace plan, only to break it and demand that everyone worship him as God. But the Lord Jesus will return and overthrow him by the splendor of His coming and throw the Antichrist into the Lake of Fire along with the False Prophet. What are some of the signs of our times that Daniel prophesies about the Antichrist? Follow along in today’s study through Daniel 7-8.
In today’s study Pastor Gary takes us to one of the most familiar stories in all of the Bible—Daniel and the Lions’ Den—and brings modern application based on the main characters of the story. What can we learn about jealousy, integrity, loyalty, and the sovereignty of God? You see all these things played out in the story. Join us in Daniel 6 and find out more.
The Bible says that God weighs our integrity and motives; in other words, He weighs the heart (Prov. 21:2). What does God see about our hearts when He weighs us? In Daniel 5, God weighed the heart of King Belshazzar of Babylon and found him “to be wanting” (or lacking). Pastor Gary looks at four different things that were lacking in Belshazzar’s life so that we can learn from his example and take inventory of our own hearts.
From the moment we were born God has been pursuing our hearts because He wants a relationship with us. The faster and farther we run from Him, God runs faster and farther still! King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon understood this firsthand. God had revealed Himself to him in profound ways over a period of 30 years, pursuing Nebuchadnezzar, until he finally surrendered to God as King over his life. What will it take for us to come to a similar place of surrender? What will we have to go through before we finally humble ourselves and submit our lives to Jesus as King and Lord? This is the topic of today’s study with Pastor Gary from Daniel 4.
What hardships are you willing to endure for the sake of your Christian faith? When the rubber meets the road, will you be a person who is bold for the Lord or bashful about Him? These are the kinds of questions that confronted Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael when they were asked to bow down to an image of gold. How will you handle similar situations when your faith gets challenged? We have a lot to learn about FAITH, COURAGE, and UNWAVERING DEVOTION from these three men.
Kings come and go. Kingdoms rise and fall. But the Kingdom of our Lord will be established forever. This is the dream that Nebuchadnezzar has, and Daniel interprets, in Daniel 2. It is a reminder for us that God is sovereign over everything—including the nations of the earth; that He is coming again; that we can entrust our lives and our future to Him! Join Pastor Gary for today’s study about the history and prophecy of world kingdoms.
This is a Biblical principle: if we live a life that honors and glorifies God, He will take care of us, bless us, and use us for His glory. Daniel and his three friends certainly found this to be true. When faced with multiple challenges and difficulties, Daniel remained committed to the Lord. As a result, the Lord took care of him, the Lord blessed him, and the Lord used him for His glory. The same is true for us. Follow along in today’s study with Pastor Gary entitled, “Faithfulness Rewarded.”
Our world is constantly trying to squeeze us into its mold. Our faith, our values, and our principles will be regularly challenged by an environment that is often contrary to ours. Daniel was a young man who was thrust into a different culture with different values that conflicted with his relationship with God. But he never wavered in his faith. He knew who he was in the Lord. He lived in Babylon but he would not allow Babylon to live in him. May the same be true for us in our world!
The last nine chapters of Ezekiel deal with the “Kingdom Age” (also known as the “Millennial Reign”) when Christ returns to the Earth to rule and reign for 1000 years. What will life be like during that time? Where will Christians be and what will we be doing? Pastor Gary unpacks the closing chapters of Ezekiel as we look into the future concerning the Second Coming of Christ and the Millennial Reign.
The Battle of Armageddon is a real war that the Bible predicts will happen in the future. Ezekiel specifically prophesies about the nations that will converge against Israel for this climactic battle, led by a Russian-Iranian alliance. And although other nations will question why these nations are converging against Israel, no one will step up to help Israel… except the Lord Almighty! Jesus will return to strike down the nations that have waged war against Israel (and the God of Israel), and He will establish His kingdom on earth for 1000 years, known as the Kingdom Age. Today, Pastor Gary unpacks the prophecies of Ezekiel 38 regarding the End Times.
In Genesis 18, God speaks his promises to Abraham. But how do we know what God wants to say to us? Guest speaker Stephan Tchividjian takes the ideas from this passage of Scripture and offers three ways we can better have a relationship with God: by listening to Him, waiting patiently on Him, and obeying Him.
For 2500 years (from 586 B.C. until 1948 A.D.) the Jewish people had no homeland, no government, and not even a common language (Hebrew had been replaced by Aramaic and later, Yiddish). How could a dispersed, oppressed, and nearly massacred people ever be reestablished as a nation? Answer—by the providential hand of God. Around the turn of the 20th century, God began moving in the hearts of Jews dispersed around the world to return to Israel (to make “aliyah”). The Zionist movement began, and there was a revival of the Hebrew language, and the British Parliament had partitioned the Middle East to allow a homeland for the Jewish people. On May 14, 1948 David Ben-Gurion declared Israel’s independence and in response every neighboring Arab nation attacked Israel. But when the dust had settled, the State of Israel emerged by the powerful hand of God. It was a fulfillment of Ezekiel 36-37. Join Pastor Gary for the first part in a 3-part series entitled, “Israel and the End Times.”
In Luke 15, we see two very different characters presented through “The Parable of the Lost Son”. Although both the “prodigal” son and the older son have encounters with the Father, the difference between them is simple: repentance. Often, that is the only thing keeping us from God, too. Watch as guest speaker Matt Maher walks through this story, and reveals that whether we identify with the prodigal, leading a rebellious life, or the older son in his stoic self-righteousness, we are all in need of Jesus.
When we are not right with God—when we have unconfessed sin in our lives, or when we are walking in disobedience to God—we will start to feel the weight of our sin. It can be heavy. So much so, that sometimes people feel in despair of life under the crushing weight of sin. But God sent His Son Jesus to lift the burden of sin from our lives and to free us from its accompanying guilt and shame. Join Pastor Gary for today’s teaching as he shares from Ezekiel 33 and Matthew 11 about how we can lose the weight of sin.
In Philippians 1:6, Paul describes God’s promise to carry out His good work in the lives of believers. Guest Speaker Garid Beeler expands on this idea, and how it affects the way we as Christians should live: in full belief and confidence of the Lord’s will in our lives. Even when times are hard, we can rest knowing His plan is unfolding around us.
In 2 Corinthians 12:7 Paul describes “a thorn in the flesh” that was given to him. This affliction was not meant to drag him down, but to keep him humble and in need of God. In this sermon, entitled “Ministry of Thorns”, Matt Maher unpacks this passage to take an honest look at the “thorns” in our own lives and how God can use them to glorify Himself.
How much do you know about Satan? He is determined to wreck your life, your marriage, your family, and your future. The Bible calls him our “adversary” and our “enemy”. Jesus said he is “a liar and the father of lies.” Satan is always trying to deceive us, tempt us, and lie to us. In Ezekiel 28, God describes Satan using the king of Tyre as a picture or a type of the devil. In today’s teaching, Pastor Gary teaches us three simple ways we can stand against the Enemy.
Can one person really make the difference in a situation? The answer is YES! In Ezekiel 22, God is looking for one person who will intercede on behalf of the Jewish people because they have allowed spiritual and moral decay to compromise their lives. But He found no one. In a specific sense, this is a picture of how there is a gap between God and humanity caused by man’s sinfulness. God looked for a man to stand in the gap but He found no one, so He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to bridge that gap. But in a generic sense, this is a reminder about how God has shown favor to a larger group of people because of the faithfulness of one person to stand in the gap and intercede on behalf of those he/she cares about. Don’t discount how you can be the one to stand in the gap for your marriage, your family, your friends, your nation! God often honors the one on behalf of the many.
Forgiveness is a crucial aspect of a Christian life. Because through Christ we have forgiveness of all our sins, we also need to share that forgiveness with others, without restraint. Guest speaker Matt Maher experienced that incredible, Christlike forgiveness for himself, and in this teaching shares just how impactful and liberating it can be in our own lives.
The Jewish people had two objections about God and their relationship with Him: (1) It’s not my fault, and (2) God is not fair. How similar to our own day! Many people have a low view of personal responsibility and a high view of God being at fault for their circumstances. God addresses these two issues in Ezekiel 18, and we come to the clear conclusion that God is better than fair and that we must take responsibility for our own sins in order to experience the mercies of God.
Just as the moon reflects the light of the sun, we as believers are to reflect the light of Christ in our dark world. However, the only time the moon does not reflect the sun’s light is during an eclipse. In today’s message, Guest Speaker, Pastor Tony Clark, tells us how to avoid experiencing a “spiritual eclipse” in our lives, so that we can properly reflect the light of Jesus.
Guest speaker Stephan Tchividjian uses the example of Peter to teach on God’s faithfulness in our lives.
People get hard hearts for a variety of reasons—sometimes because of SIN, and they have become hardened toward God; sometimes because of a DIFFICULT LIFE, and they have decided to build a hard, exterior shell around their heart so no one can get it; sometimes because of the fear of being VULNERABLE, and they have decided that it’s easier to hurt others before being hurt again; and sometimes because of PRIDE, and they have determined to be “tough” and “independent” without the need for God or others. Whatever the reason, God is in the business of healing hard hearts and making them tender again. Won’t you open yours up for God to do a little heart surgery today?
David said in Psalm 13:2, “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts?” Do you ever feel like that? Is your thought life something that is pleasing to God or displeasing to him? God knows our thoughts and desires that we think on things that bring glory and honor to Him. In Ezekiel 8, God gives Ezekiel a vision of what goes on in the dark recesses of the minds of the people of Judah so that Ezekiel can see how justified God is in His judgment against them. He sees vile things, impure images in a dark room. In today’s study, Pastor Gary challenges us about our own thought life and what we should do to guard our minds for God’s glory.
We are living in a time when it is easier to blame others than to take personal responsibility for something. Blame-shifting has been going on since the beginning of human history. When God confronted Adam and Eve about their disobedience, Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. The theology of responsibility is simply this—every person is accountable to God for his/her own life. We cannot blame others or make excuses for our behavior or our lives. “Responsibility” is from two words—response and ability: the ability to choose a response that no longer blames others or makes excuses for one’s actions. Only then can we turn to God with humility and repentance and find His mercy and forgiveness.
On Easter we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! When He appeared to His disciples on that first day, the first thing He said to them was, “Peace be with you!” He repeated it two more times. Why did Jesus choose to emphasize “peace” three times? Because He knew that mankind’s greatest need was the need for God’s peace—to be at peace with God through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Join us for today’s teaching from John’s Gospel as Pastor Gary invites people to receive Christ as Lord and Savior and to experience the ultimate peace of God.
As Jesus approached Jerusalem for the final week of His life prior to His crucifixion, He was met by those who were rejoicing and those who were rejecting Him. Even those who were rejoicing would soon cry out for His crucifixion when Jesus did not deliver the way they had hoped. That’s because Jesus’ mission was greater than providing political peace. Jesus came for the sins of the world to offer us personal peace with God through a relationship with Him. In today’s message, Pastor Gary connects the Palm Sunday story of the past with the present and the future—looking ahead to a time when all the saints will be worshiping Jesus around the throne of Heaven.
Join Pastor Gary as he fields questions about the book of Hebrews and other biblical topics.
The book of Lamentations is a book that “laments” the destruction of Jerusalem in 586B.C. by the Babylonians. Lamentations describes the tragic and terrible results of a people who rejected God—a people who refused to turn FROM their idolatry and sin and turn TO God. The consequences for their sin were devastating. But in the middle of all the sin and destruction and devastation emerges a passage from Chapter 3 about the love, mercy, compassion, and faithfulness of God! When we realize our own sinful condition and how it can leave us feeling discouraged, bitter, discontent, and distant from God, it’s important to remember that we can run to a God who is loving, compassionate, merciful, and faithful. And Lamentations 3:23 reminds us that all those qualities about God are new every morning! In other words, every day is a new day and another chance with the Lord! Whatever might be your past—whether yesterday or years ago—there is a fresh batch of God’s love, mercy, and compassion for you today.
In the closing chapters of Jeremiah, God rebukes the Babylonian Empire for 4 particular sins. Even though God had used the Babylonians as the instrument of His correction for the Jewish people, the Babylonians were guilty of going too far in their treatment of the Jews. Despite these events being about an ancient story, Pastor Gary takes a modern look at how the sins of Babylon can serve to admonish us and help us to live godly lives.
In Jeremiah 48, God uses a wine analogy to describe three major objections he has to the spiritual condition of the nation of Moab. He challenges them about how they are too much at rest, how they have settled on their “dregs”, and how they have lost their aroma. Found out what all that means in a modern application as Pastor Gary uses this rebuke from God to the Moabites to challenge us in our walk with Christ.
Discouragement comes in many forms. Heartache is no respecter of persons. In the book of Jeremiah, a guy by the name of Baruch is experiencing his share of discouragement and describes it with words like “sorrow”, “pain”, “being worn out”, “groaning”, and “without rest.” Could that describe you? Have you ever felt so discouraged that it was palpable and painful? Have you ever been so worn out with grief and sorrow, so exhausted with discouragement, that you couldn’t sleep? Have you ever cried so much that you had no more tears? Pastor Gary brings a word of encouragement today from Jeremiah 45 in a teaching entitled, “Courage for the Discouraged.”
Biblically speaking, a remnant is “a small group of the LORD’s faithful followers who represent Him in a larger setting.” The Church is the remnant in the world to represent God’s righteousness. We have been given that mandate and privilege of being His ambassadors in the earth. Looking at Jeremiah 42 and other Biblical examples, Pastor Gary makes four observations about the role of the remnant in the world today and how we can fulfill our God-given responsibility of representing His righteousness.
The long-prophesied, tragic result of disobeying God has finally come to the Jewish people with the destruction of Jerusalem as outlined in Jeremiah 39. It was all avoidable, but God’s people did not heed the warnings of the prophets, so God’s discipline came upon them in the form of the Babylonian army in 586 B.C. One sad story in the midst of this scene is that of King Zedekiah of Judah whose sons were killed in front of him and whose eyes were then gouged out by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Truth is, Zedekiah had lost his vision long before his eyes were put out. The loss of his physical eyes was only symptomatic of a larger problem—Zedekiah had lost sight of God. Join Pastor Gary today as we see four points from Zedekiah’s life as a warning to us about not losing sight of God.
It’s possible to live principled lives in an unprincipled world. We have a great example of that in Jeremiah 35 among some people known as “the Recabites.” God commends them for the way they live their lives with the courage of their convictions despite how the rest of the world is living around them. God uses the Recabites as an example of principled people who refused to compromise their standards. Join Pastor Gary as he tells the story of the Recabites and how their story applies to our lives today.
Sin separates us from God and we feel estranged and distant from Him. But God is a God of restoration. Like a skilled craftsman who takes an old piece of furniture and restores it to its original beauty is our Lord who takes our old, sinful lives and makes us brand new! Jeremiah 29 describes the hopeful future God had in store for the Jewish people who had sinned and rebelled against Him, and it’s a reminder for us that He does the same for us too. After David had sinned he prayed to God, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me” (Psalm 51:12). He understood that God restores broken lives for His glory. This is the topic of our study today with Pastor Gary out of Jeremiah 29.
We are living in a time when Christians need to stand for what is right and live for what is true without the fear of man. In Jeremiah 26, the prophet Jeremiah was threatened with death at the hands of his own countrymen simply because he spoke the truth and stood for what was right. Nevertheless, Jeremiah remained faithful to God and stood his ground without regard to the personal cost. God protected him that day, and his life was spared. But another prophet by the name of Uriah did not fare as well. While Uriah was a good prophet who spoke the truth like Jeremiah, he ran in fear when people opposed him and threatened his life. In the end, he was killed. It’s a sharp contrast for us between those who stand for what is right and enjoy God’s protection, and those who run in fear and are cut down. Join Pastor Gary in Jeremiah 26 for today’s study, “Stand for What is Right.”
We had the honor of hosting Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer. Ambassador Dermer shared from his heart on the history of Israel, demonstrating just how resilient a nation they are, and offering thanks for the continued support from the United States and the Evangelical community. He and Pastor Gary were then able to sit down and discuss the importance of Christians remaining faithful to Israel, the Lord’s chosen nation.
Sometimes the “bad” circumstances of life are not always bad if God is accomplishing something good. In fact, it’s better to be in a “bad place” WITH God than to be in a “good place” without Him! So often God uses difficult situations to purge us of things we need to get rid of in our lives or to grow us in ways we need to mature. This was the case with the Jews and why God sent them to Babylon for seventy years. Though they saw their circumstances as “bad”, God saw it as “good” because He was accomplishing His good purposes in their lives. God works in a similar way with us, and Pastor Gary explains it from Jeremiah 24 in today’s teaching, “Good Things Out of a Bad Place”.
All human life is precious and valuable to God. The value of human life is not determined by ethnicity, race or gender; nor by age, ability or background. The value of human life is determined solely on the basis that we are all created in the image and likeness of God, and that every person, from conception to natural death, possesses inherent dignity and immeasurable worth. For that reason, we should protect and defend life from the womb to the tomb. On this Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, Pastor Gary tackles the tender topic of abortion with truth and grace, and shares the personal story of a woman whose testimony will encourage those needing to know that there is grace and forgiveness for ALL.
It’s been said before that “the heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart.” This was Judah’s problem. They rebelled against God because they had chosen instead to follow their own stubborn, evil hearts. In today’s study, Pastor Gary looks at the issue of the “heart” and how Christianity is the only world religion that makes the bold assertion that an individual can be miraculously transformed from within—that God can actually alter the human condition by changing the heart.
Two thousand years ago, God stepped into our world. He revealed His love to us in the form of a baby who would grow up to die on a cross for our sins, Jesus the Son of God. Many people don’t understand the real meaning of Christmas and it has become obscured by the cultural and commercialization of it all. But in today’s message, Pastor Gary explains the Christmas story and how the same God who came into a dirty stable as a baby can also come into the human heart as the Savior!
More than 300 prophecies are written in the Old Testament concerning the first coming of the Messiah. All of them were fulfilled by Jesus. Matthew quotes 5 of those prophecies in the first two chapters of his gospel pertaining to the birth of the Messiah and how Jesus fulfilled them. Why is it important to understand these prophecies? Pastor Gary answers that as he explains each of the five prophecies in today’s study in our series “The Road to Christmas.”
The Christmas story involves a miracle—something that is of Divine origin and of a supernatural cause rather than from human ingenuity or natural causes. Christmas is when God made His grand entrance into the human race to be like us to die for us. But what do we know about the conception of Christ? There are many myths and falsehoods about the miracle of Christ’s conception. Pastor Gary walks us through the Bible account of the miracle of Christ’s conception in today’s study from Isaiah 7.
The word “Christian” is more than just a title—it’s an identity for those who know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. When we carry the identity of “Christian” it means that we bear the Lord’s Name. It means that we reflect him wherever we go, whatever we do, and with whomever we interact. But the questions become—what are people learning about Christ through us? What is the glimpse of Jesus that we are giving to people? And what things should characterize those who bear the Lord’s Name? In Jeremiah 15, Jeremiah teaches us 5 things about how we should live as men and women who bear the Lord’s Name. Pastor Gary challenges us about those things in today’s study form Jeremiah 15.
Have you ever wondered why it seems that wicked people prosper and have no difficulties, but people who live for the Lord have adversity and trials? Jeremiah did. He was the target of an assassination plot by his neighbors, friends, and family. He knew what it was to face hardships. But he remained faithful to the Lord despite his trials. How can we face similar difficulties without being overwhelmed by the adversities of life? Pastor Gary takes us through Jeremiah 11-12 to address this subject.
Our annual Thanksgiving Eve service is devoted entirely to worship and testimonies, giving God thanks for all He has done in the past year.
A problem that plagued Israel throughout their history was idolatry. Idolatry is the worship of man-made, hand-carved objects of wood and stone instead of the true and living God. It seems so primitive and senseless to us that people would actually bow down to and worship inanimate objects. Truth is, you don’t have to carve, pray to, or worship something for it to become an idol. Anything that compromises our devotion to God or competes with our affection for God is potentially an idol. An idol is not always something bad itself; it can be a regular thing that becomes an ultimate thing in our lives which we serve with our time, energy, and money. Are there idols in your life that you have elevated above God? Are there things, people, or practices that have stolen your heart and rob God of the glory He is due? Follow along in today’s study with Pastor Gary from Jeremiah 10.
Whenever someone begins a sentence with “I don’t mean to brag, but…,” you better get ready for some bragging! People often have the tendency to talk about themselves—who they are, what they’ve accomplished, how successful they’ve become, etc. But we often forget that the Bible teaches that everything we have, everything we are, and everything we’ve accomplished is from the gracious hand of the Lord! In today’s study from Jeremiah 9, Pastor Gary reminds us that if we are going to boast, boast about the Lord. Brag about who He is—that He exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth; that He is personable and knowable; that He is a good God who loves us and rescues us from sin and death. If you want to boast, boast about the Lord!
All of us will face moments in life when critical decisions must be made; times when different roads intersect and we need to figure out which way to go and what to do. Making the right decisions can lead to the kind of “rest for your souls” mentioned in Jeremiah 6:16, and making the wrong decisions can lead to short term or long term regret, depending on the seriousness of the situation. What do you do when you are at a crossroads in life? In today’s teaching, Pastor Gary takes a look at Jeremiah 6:16 which gives us some counsel and wisdom for the crossroads of life.
There is a lot of evil in our world. We all see it. But often times, we detach ourselves from the evil in the world and quietly, subconsciously whisper to ourselves that we are better than all the “bad guys” in the world. Truth is, we are all “bad guys” and there is only one Good Guy who died for the all the bad guys and girls in the world—Jesus Christ! Only through Him can we have forgiveness and receive a new heart and a new life! Mankind is not the solution to mankind’s problem; Jesus is! In today’s study, Pastor Gary tackles the uncomfortable topic of sin in our world and how we all stand guilty before a holy God. Fortunately for us, that same holy, perfect God sent His Son into the world to make us righteous before God through faith in Christ. Our hope, forgiveness, and peace is found in Christ alone.
There are a lot of people in the world who try many things to find satisfaction and fulfillment, only to end up feeling empty. Does that describe you? Truth is, only God can satisfy the deepest longings of our soul, and without Him, life can feel pretty unfulfilling. This is the situation concerning the Jewish people in the time of Jeremiah—they tried to do life without God, but it was futile and unsatisfying. Pastor Gary talks about this problem that many people face as we make our way through the opening chapters of Jeremiah in today’s study entitled, “Broken Cisterns.”
If you like TV shows and movies about “time travel”, then you should like the Bible. The Bible takes us back in time and into the future as well. It’s about both history and prophecy. Isaiah concludes his book by giving us a glimpse into the future—to a time even beyond our own day. He takes us to a time when all people will live in peace; a time when even the animal kingdom will be tame; a time when joy and laughter will fill the streets instead of weeping and crying; a time when people will live long lives, and there will be blessing and prosperity. Isaiah writes about the time known as “The Millennial Reign of Christ” when Jesus returns to earth and rules and reigns from Jerusalem for 1000 years. Pastor Gary describes what life will look like in the Millennial Kingdom in today’s study from Isaiah 65-66.
Is man basically good? Can we improve our condition by doing good things? Does God “grade on the curve?” Pastor Gary answers these questions in our study today of Isaiah 64. There are myths that our culture believes and there is the truth that God expresses concerning the human condition. If we don’t have a proper, true understanding of the human heart then we will never understand our need for a Savior. God has provided a way for mankind to be made right with Him through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We can’t improve our own condition ourselves, but we can get a new heart from our Father in Heaven.
Isaiah 61 is a Messianic passage about Christ written hundreds of years before Christ that was fulfilled by Christ. In Luke 4, Jesus read from Isaiah 61 when He taught at the synagogue in Nazareth and said that He was the fulfillment of that passage—declaring Himself to be the Messiah. The verses Jesus read speak about the mission of His ministry and how He desires to bring healing, freedom, forgiveness and salvation to all who would believe and receive Him. Pastor Gary connects Isaiah 61 and Luke 4 and shares how God takes broken, sinful people and brings beauty out of the ashes of our lives.
Join us as we celebrate all the God has done through our Global Outreach ministry in 2018.
Generosity, obedience, and forgiveness all take faith that God and His promises are true. So how can we strengthen our faith? God uses a variety of things to grow our faith that will help us represent Him well. Looking into the book of Daniel we see examples of faith despite a fiery furnace and a den of lions that can encourage us to live for Him and impact our world.
Join us as guest speaker Matthew Maher shares his powerful story of redemption and grace.
The topic of fasting—going without food for a limited period of time in order to draw near to God—is one of the least-practiced and least-preached among the spiritual disciplines. But fasting is mentioned more in the Bible than water baptism. The subject is referenced seventy-seven times in Scripture. And although we are not commanded to fast, we are expected to fast and will be rewarded for fasting. Pastor Gary shares five benefits of fasting in today’s study from Isaiah 58.
In Isaiah 56, the prophet Isaiah addresses the problem of exclusivity—that God’s people thought of themselves as an exclusive club to which “foreigners” and “outcasts” were not invited. In addition, God expresses His heart for those who felt excluded. This is both a warning to those who feel exclusive with God, and a welcome to those who feel excluded from God. It is good for us to examine our own hearts in these areas—do we have any prejudice toward people that we have excluded? Or perhaps we think that God doesn’t love us or accept us, and we feel excluded. Both perspectives are wrong and Pastor Gary helps us to align our hearts with the heart of God in today’s study entitled, “All Are Welcome.”
For people who are estranged from God, Isaiah gives a clear invitation: that if we SEEK the Lord and REPENT (turn from our sins and turn to God), He will “have mercy” and “freely pardon” us. So if God is a merciful God and freely pardons all who turn to Him, the only thing that stands between my sin and my forgiveness is my pride. Isaiah 30:18 tells us that “God longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.” Seek the Lord today and find mercy and forgiveness from Him.
In 700 B.C., Isaiah gives vivid details about the suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection of the long-anticipated Messiah. We have the advantage of looking back in time and seeing that all of what Isaiah prophesied was fulfilled entirely and exclusively by Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Messiah of Isaiah 53, and He came to earth to save us from our sins. Why would God announce His coming with such specificity 700 years in advance if not because He loves us and wants us to recognize Jesus and accept Him as our Savior? Join Pastor Gary as he takes a plain look at the plain text of Isaiah 53.
In response to Israel’s idolatry, God emphasizes His reality—that He is the only God and there is none like Him (Isaiah 46:9). Today, there is a plurality of gods among various world religions. It’s the equivalent of modern idolatry. And yet, many Christians remain silent about their faith for fear that they might be offending another religion. But how is it a loving thing to withhold information about the true and living God from those who are caught up in modern idolatry? Christians need to be courageous about their faith so that others may know about a God in heaven—unequaled and incomparable—who loves them and gave His Son, Jesus, to die for them. Join us in the book of Isaiah for today’s study entitled, “The One True God.”
If you have no regrets in life, it’s probably because you haven’t lived long enough. We all have regrets; regrets about things we’ve done or said; regrets about things left undone or unsaid; regrets about what happened to us, or things that never happened that he had wished for. What we do with our regrets is the difference between someone who moves forward and someone who is stuck in the past. God says to us in Isaiah 43:18, “Forget the former things. Do not dwell on the past.” But what does that mean? And how do we do that? This is the subject of today’s study from the book of Isaiah with Pastor Gary.
More than 300 times in the Bible, God exhorts us to not be afraid, or to be worried, or to be anxious. Why? Because we are! Everyone wrestles with some kind of fear in his or her life. No matter how tough we present ourselves, all of us deal with fear to some degree. Just between Isaiah 41 and 43, God tells us to not be afraid five times because (1) He is with us, (2) He will help us, and (3) He loves us. If you’ve ever struggled with fear in your life, you’ll be encouraged in today’s study.
In the 17th Century, English and Scottish theologians wrote what is referred to as the “Westminster Shorter Catechism”. In it, we read this statement: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” What does it mean to “glorify God” and how can we effectively do it? Too often we live for our own glory—our accomplishments, our achievements, our desire for notoriety, etc. But as Christians, God is to be glorified in ALL that we do. Follow along in today’s study with Pastor Gary from Isaiah 39-40.
Join us as guest speaker Stephan Tchividjian teaches from Genesis 5 about the benefits of walking with God and how to do it.
How do we respond when things don’t go our way? The Bible says that in his time of trouble, King Ahaz grew even more unfaithful to the Lord. Studying from the book of Isaiah and the life of Paul, we can learn how to better handle pain and suffering so that we can remain faithful and not lose heart.
Prayer is the most under-utilized gift God has given us to connect and commune with Him! We are often too busy to pray. But we are only doing ourselves a disservice! In Isaiah 38, King Hezekiah gets word from God that his life is about to come to an end. So he prays a simple prayer and, in response, God adds 15 years to his life! What are the benefits available to us through prayer? Why is it important to pray? Join Pastor Gary for a study today on this topic from Isaiah 38.
Life is filled with its share of trials and tribulations. We often describe these times like a “desert experience.” Isaiah writes about this theme in Chapter 35 and how God will once again cause the desert to bloom and cause the redeemed of the Lord to be crowned with joy. In its future interpretation, Isaiah is speaking of the Millennial Kingdom when Christ will rule and reign on Earth for 1000 years. But in its near interpretation, he writes about God’s sustaining grace through the trials of everyday life. In 1925 a wonderful Daily Devotional was written by Lettie B. Cowman entitled, Streams in the Desert. It was inspired by Isaiah 35:6 and it is still published today after more than 90 years! Born out of her own personal anguish, this Devotional speaks of how Christ refreshed her like a Stream in the Desert. Join Pastor Gary for today’s study from Isaiah 35 entitled, “Out of the Desert.”
In today’s study, Pastor Gary examines the problem Judah had of turning to Egypt for help against the Assyrian army instead of turning to God. It wasn’t until they had depleted their resources and exhausted their own efforts that the people of Judah finally turned to God. When they did, God wasn’t angry and did not shame His people. There were no “I warned you” or “you should have listened to me” or “I told you so” comments. Instead God had been waiting for them and eagerly helped them because he is a gracious and compassionate God. And that’s how he treats us too. If you’ve been estranged from God, or if you’ve become exhausted trying to do life without Him; if you have a hard time trusting God and surrendering to Him, then follow along in today’s study entitled, “God is Waiting for You.”
Hypocrisy plagues us all. All of us are inconsistent from time to time with the way we live or talk or evaluate others in relation to ourselves. One of the worst types of hypocrisy is how we relate to God. This was the problem with the Jewish people in Isaiah’s day. He accuses them of honoring God with their lips (giving God lip service), but not their hearts. Did you know that according to a recent survey by the Barna Group that “hypocrisy” is the number one reason Millennials (those in their 20’s and early 30’s) give for why they don’t want to attend church? Hypocrisy is sin. It not only causes God to be dishonored, but it causes unbelievers to be disillusioned. Join Pastor Gary for today’s teaching on hypocrisy entitled, “All Talk but No Walk.”
Seven hundred years before Christ, Isaiah prophesies about the Messiah being a “precious cornerstone.” A cornerstone is the beginning point of a building. It’s the foundational stone upon which all other stones are aligned. Isaiah uses building imagery to describe Jesus this way because He is the foundation of the Church and of our salvation. But in addition, Christ-followers need to ask whether or not He is the cornerstone of every aspect of their lives. In other words, does everything in our lives “square” with Jesus as the Cornerstone, or is He simply only a small brick in the wall of our lives? Open your Bible to Isaiah 28:16 for today’s study with Pastor Gary.
We live in a world of trouble and difficulties. No life is completely sheltered from trials. But Isaiah gives us some verses about God’s perfect peace in Isaiah 26:3-4. Pastor Gary unpacks these verses for us as we learn to receive and rely on God’s peace for our lives by fixing our thoughts on Him and trusting Him.
Everyone understands that there is evil in our world, but what or WHO is behind that evil? God exposes the who in Isaiah 14—namely, Satan. Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 are two of the most descriptive passages about Satan in the Bible. Why do we need to understand his background, his tactics, and his ultimate demise? Because he is “on the prowl” to attack us, discourage us, deceive us, and tempt us. However, God outlines in Scripture how we can take our stand against the devil. Join us for today’s Bible study as Pastor Gary explains who Satan is, what caused his fall, what his ultimate fate is, and how we are to contend against him.
Around 700B.C. Isaiah prophesied specific details about the birth of the Messiah. All of Isaiah's prophecies, as well as more than 300 others in the Old Testament related to the first Coming of Messiah, were ALL fulfilled by Jesus. Find out the details of Isaiah's prophecies and how it applied to Isaiah's day as well as ours in today's study from Isaiah 7-9.
In Isaiah 6, God pulls back the curtain of Heaven and allows us to see God seated on a throne with angelic beings circling above. But it’s also a chapter about Isaiah’s calling into the ministry. Isaiah’s encounter with God caused him to see his own unworthiness. Yet he was willing to serve the Lord if God saw fit to use him. All of us have “ministry”—whether to family, friends, neighbors, or co-workers. But then there are some that God specifically calls into full-time Christian service. Could that be you? Have you ever wrestled with a “calling” on your life and wondered if God was leading you into the ministry, or the mission field, or some sort of vocational Christian service? Listen to today’s teaching as Pastor Gary works through Isaiah 6 and invites people to respond to God’s calling on their lives.
Isaiah describes the people of Judah in his day (740B.C.) as disobedient, ignorant, and defiant towards God and His Laws. As a result, the nation of Judah was guilty of various sins and in danger of destruction by the Assyrian army. Ironically, the way Isaiah describes his generation is not too dissimilar to our own. And yet the same hope and remedy for the people of Judah is available to us as well. Stay tuned to the end of the teaching as Pastor Gary shares a key verse in the book of Isaiah (1:18) to remind us of our merciful Father in Heaven.
While the book of Song of Solomon is a literal love story between King Solomon and his one true love, the story can also be viewed allegorically. An allegory is a literary tool that communicates a hidden meaning in the story. Song of Solomon can be seen as God’s love story for us. Some people have a hard time believing that God loves them. Some find it difficult to receive God’s unmerited, unconditional love. But in today’s study, Pastor Gary unpacks the examples of God’s love in this story and encourages us to believe that God loves us and to receive His love for ourselves.
Join us as Pastor Gary, Dr. Jill Durot, and Dr. Lu Wing answer questions related to the topic of Creation vs. Evolution.
In part two of our study through Song of Solomon, Pastor Gary highlights the romantic relationship between Solomon and the Shulammite woman that progressed from courtship to marriage to sexual intimacy (in that order). Sex is a gift from God to be enjoyed by a husband and a wife in a monogamous, heterosexual relationship. The description of their intimate encounter that follows their wedding ceremony is detailed in Chapter 4, and is the subject of today’s study.
Join us as Pastor Gary answers questions related to the topic of Lifestyles & the Bible!
The book of Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs) is a love story. It’s the romance between a young man and a young woman set to music that describes their courtship, marriage, and ultimate sexual consummation of the relationship. It can be interpreted allegorically (that it is not a factual relationship, but only a picture that symbolizes God’s love for Israel or Christ’s love for the Church), but a better way to interpret it is literally (with a secondary meaning)—that it is a real, historical, love relationship between a man and a woman which also parallels the love of God for us. Sex is a gift God has given us to be celebrated between a man and a woman in a monogamous, heterosexual marriage. In part one of this series, Pastor Gary will examine “Courtship Love”—guidelines from this story for those who are in a courting/dating relationship in preparation for marriage.
In today’s Palm Sunday message, Pastor Gary reminds us of the unmet expectations the people felt when Jesus came into Jerusalem as Messiah. Their idea of “Savior” was not one who would die on a cross for their sins, but one who would overthrow Roman occupation and usher in the Jewish Nation. When that didn’t happen, the people rejected Him altogether and crucified Him. What do we do when God doesn’t do what we think He should do? How do we handle life’s disappointments and heartaches when God doesn’t show up the way we had hoped? Pastor Gary addresses that with some suggestions from Scripture in today’s teaching entitled, “Unmet Expectations.”
Solomon comes to a final conclusion about life and God as he writes the Epilogue to Ecclesiastes. He seems to come full circle from one who tried to live life without God, to one who realizes that life without God is utterly meaningless. After his search for fulfillment through wine, women, work, and wealth, Solomon finally realizes that nothing and no one can bring satisfaction in life like a relationship with the Lord. Join Pastor Gary for today’s conclusion to the book of Ecclesiastes.
For someone who does not know the Lord, this life is as good as it gets. But for someone who knows the Lord, this life is as bad as it gets. One person lives with this world in mind, the other lives with the promise of heaven in mind. Solomon was someone who was living his life with this world in mind because he had lost sight of God. As a result, he writes about how “meaningless” life was; how unfulfilled life was. But it doesn’t need to be that way! Jesus died on the cross to save us from sin and death so that we could spend eternity with Him. Join Pastor Gary as he unpacks more lessons from the book of Ecclesiastes.
The Bible teaches that it’s not only important to worship the right God, but it’s also important to worship the right God the right way. In Ecclesiastes 5, Solomon says that there’s a right way and a wrong way to worship God. Worship is not just about “singing” (though that’s part of it). Worship is living a God-ward life of reverence and devotion to Him, and Solomon explains that there’s a right “protocol” for coming into the House of God. Pastor Gary shares a practical study about how we should prepare ourselves for meeting God when we come to church.
Pastor Stephan Tchividjian shares on the life, legacy, and Biblical characteristics of his grandfather, Dr. Billy Graham. Join us as we remember Billy Graham through the eyes of his grandson and learn how those characteristics can apply to our lives as well.
Have you ever looked at all the evil, injustice, and oppression in the world and wondered where God was in all of that? Solomon did. And many people do today too. It causes some to question the existence of God, or the goodness of God, or the meaning of life. But Pastor Gary offers a perspective that will bring hope and comfort to all who have been impacted by the injustice and wickedness of our world.
Time is divided into 2 aspects—temporal and eternal. There are some things that will expire and come to an end (temporal), and some things that have no ending (eternal). What separates the temporal from the eternal—as far as it concerns us—is a matter of life and death. Solomon talks about all these things in chapter 3—life, death, judgment, and eternity. Listen as Pastor Gary explains how temporal life is and how inevitable death is, but how undeniable eternity is for us who believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior!
Have you ever looked for happiness and satisfaction in different places or different people, only to end up feeling empty or disappointed? Solomon had. And he wrote about it in Ecclesiastes. His latter years were marked by a hunt for happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and meaning. He looked everywhere except up. He eventually realized that life without God is a continual “wild goose chase” without ever getting the goose. Pastor Gary teaches from chapter 2 about the common ways we mimic Solomon’s life with the Pleasure Hunt, the Measure Hunt, and the Treasure Hunt.
The book of Ecclesiastes tackles some hard issues about life. Written from the perspective of an older man looking back at life, Solomon expresses disappointment, frustration, and regret. He became jaded and cynical in his latter years due to bad choices he had made over the course of a lifetime. But Ecclesiastes is not just a depressing journal of an old king, it’s a reminder that someone like Solomon can have everything in life—money, fame, power, success, relationships—and still not be satisfied if God is not in the equation. His story is repeated countless times in our world. But by the end of the book, Solomon comes to a wonderful conclusion. Join us for today’s teaching with Pastor Gary from Ecclesiastes 1.
In our conclusion of the book of Proverbs, Pastor Gary looks at the theme of “VIRTUES”. A Virtue is a commendable quality or trait; moral excellence. Whereas vices are moral weaknesses or character flaws that should be avoided or removed from our lives, virtues are the opposite and we should aspire to make them evident in our lives. Proverbs has much to say about various virtues, and Pastor Gary will look at four in today’s study: Humility, Kindness, Integrity, and Honesty.
Join us for a special teaching from Ronnie Cohen on the significance of Israel's capital, Jerusalem.
Thousands of books on the topic of parenting are available today, but they can confuse and complicate the task of raising kids. Today, we will look into God’s Word for practical instruction and encouragement for parents on how to love and discipline the children that He has entrusted to us.
In our continuing study through the book of Proverbs, today’s theme that Pastor Gary addresses is the topic of vices. The definition of a vice is a “moral failing”, a “character flaw” or a “bad habit.” But in the Bible, vices are actually presented as sins—things we should either avoid or get rid of if they are present in our lives. There are several vices that Proverbs exposes, and in our study today Pastor Gary teaches about four: envy, drunkenness, revenge, and anger.
Current statistics say that nine out of every ten Americans celebrate Christmas, and even most Americans consider Christmas a religious holiday. However, it is possible to be wrapped up in all of the wonderful and joyous feelings that this time of year brings and still "miss" Christmas. How so? Follow along with us as Pastor Gary explains the true meaning behind the Christmas season.
Statistics say that the average man or woman will spend 20 percent of his or her life talking. Each day we speak enough words to fill a 50-page book. But how well do we use our words? Are we careful about WHAT we say, HOW we say it, WHY we say it, and WHEN we say it? There are many important aspects to verbal communication that the Bible challenges us about. Words are so critical that Jesus even said we will “have to give account for every careless word” (Matt. 12:36). In today’s study, Pastor Gary surveys the book of Proverbs drawing out the many verses that address the CONTENT, the TONE, the PURPOSE, and the TIMING of our speech.
In part 4 of our series through Proverbs, Pastor Gary tackles the theme of Friends & Family. Proverbs offers much advice about relationships. It teaches us how to properly treat our family and how to wisely choose our friends. God has wired us to be social beings, and studies show that loneliness and isolation is detrimental to our well-being. So let's take the advice of Proverbs for our relationships.
In our continuing series through the book of Proverbs, Pastor Gary teaches about the topic of Sexuality. Proverbs 5-7 deal extensively with this topic, especially the subject of adultery. But more than just the single topic of adultery, Pastor Gary teaches about marriage (as a covenant) and God’s gift of sex between a man and a woman in the context of marriage for pleasure and procreation. This study will challenge singles and married couples alike as we learn about God’s design regarding sex and what Proverbs has to say about God’s wisdom for us on this topic.
The book of Proverbs deals with many themes that touch the practical aspects of life. Today we are studying the topic of money. In the book of Proverbs, the word “wealth” appears 19 times, “money” appears 4 times, and “rich” or “riches” appears 26 times. Study with us as we glean wisdom from the book of Proverbs on the subject of money.
Our annual Thanksgiving Eve service is devoted entirely to worship and testimonies, giving God thanks for all He has done in the past year.
In the introduction to the book of Proverbs, Pastor Gary lays out the big picture of this book and focuses on its main theme--wisdom. Wisdom is the application of knowledge and understanding. How can we get more of that for practical, everyday living? Find out in today's study.
Join us as guest speaker Emerson Eggerichs, author of the book "Love & Respect", teaches about how to discern the will of God.
In today’s teaching, Pastor Gary answers four questions on the topic of praising God—WHAT is praise to God? WHO should praise God? WHY should we praise God? and HOW should we praise God? You might be surprised to learn just how much this topic affects all aspects of one’s life. Praising God helps us to “verticalize” our lives instead of always looking at the horizontal. It also helps to center our lives—to bring focus to our priorities and to give us the right perspective on life. Tune in for this study on “Ways to Praise”!
Psalm 139 is an intensely personal psalm of David to his Father in Heaven. Though this chapter is not intended to be a theological discourse, David ends up expressing God's Divine Attributes in the course of describing who God is in his life personally. Pastor Gary takes a look at this chapter through the same lens: who is God to each of us personally? Follow along as we look at God's Divine Attributes in light of a personal relationship with Him.
Join us as Guest Speaker Barry Black teaches from Luke 11 during our 10am Sunday service.
Join us as Guest Speaker Barry Black teaches from Luke 2 during our 11:45am Sunday service.
Join us as Guest Speaker Barry Black teaches from Luke 18 during our 8:30am Sunday service.
Join Pastor Gary for a special teaching on location in Caesarea, Israel. Does being a good person get someone into Heaven? What is the Holy Spirit’s role in salvation? Follow along in Acts 10 as Pastor Gary addresses some of these questions in today’s message.
In our conclusion of the Pilgrim’s Progress series through Psalms 120-134, Pastor Gary looks at the final four chapters and their emphasis on satisfaction and contentment, worshiping the Lord, and keeping unity in the Church. Our lives in Christ are a journey of faith as we make pilgrimage to our heavenly Jerusalem, “the city of the living God” (Heb. 12:22). May the study of these “Pilgrim Psalms” encourage us and challenge us to live out our faith until we reach our ultimate reward.
In our continuing study through the pilgrim psalms, Pastor Gary highlights 3 more chapters to encourage us in our journey of faith. God is a God of blessing, a God of healing from our past, and a God of forgiveness from our sins. Join us for today's study through Psalms 128-130.
In our continuing series through the section of psalms referred to as “Pilgrim Psalms” (Psalms 120-134), Pastor Gary explores three more psalms to help encourage us along this journey we call “life”. Remember that as Christians we are only passing through; our citizenship is in heaven. So how do we maintain that heavenly perspective while still here on earth? Join us as we study Psalms 124, 126, and 127 in part two of “Pilgrim’s Progress.”
Psalms 120-134 each have a subtitle "Song of Ascents" because these would be the songs the Jews would sing as they made pilgrimage to Jerusalem three times a year for the major Jewish Feasts. These chapters were also referred to as the "Pilgrim Songs". We are also on a pilgrimage but it is not to the earthly city of Jerusalem, it's to the heavenly Jerusalem--the city of the living God (Heb. 12:22). In a new series called "Pilgrim's Progress", Pastor Gary takes us through these psalms so that we can learn important principles in this journey of life until we reach our final destiny.
In our conclusion of Psalm 119, Pastor Gary looks at the last 4 sections of the chapter that promise more blessings and benefits for those who read God's Word and apply it to their lives. We are reminded about God's nearness, God's peace, God's help for our speech, and God's plan of salvation for humanity.
In our continuing series through Psalm 119, Pastor Gary examines the next four sections that deal with the fear of the Lord, hating wrong paths, gaining wisdom, and finding encouragement--all from God's Word. Join us for today's study on "The Blessings and Benefits of the Bible."
As we continue to see the inherent blessings and benefits for those who read the Bible and do what it says, Pastor Gary highlights three more sections from Psalm 119 that have to do with the topics of TRUTH, resting our MINDS, and discerning God's WILL for our lives. We live in a world that questions absolute truth. We live in a world that often puts stress on our thoughts and minds. And we live in a world where figuring out life’s direction can be a challenge. But the Bible provides us answers and insight! So join us for our study today from Psalm 119:89-112.
Pastor Gary continues in our series through Psalm 119 by examining three more sections that describe the inherent benefits of the Bible when we read it and apply it to our lives. It gives us wisdom and discernment, it reminds us of God's love and compassion when He disciplines us, and it teaches us to wait on God's perfect timing. Tune in to today's study in Psalm 119!
In our continuing series through Psalm 119, Pastor Gary examines four more areas of our lives that can be wonderfully impacted by the Bible. Have you ever struggled with shame and guilt? Have you ever felt like the Bible imposed a bunch of rules and regulations that restricted your life? Have you ever wondered why no one is able to adequately comfort you or bring you hope when you sometimes face the most trying times in your life? Have you ever wanted to have true friends in your life? If you answer “Yes” to any of these questions, then tune in to today's teaching and be encouraged as we learn more inherent blessings and benefits in the Bible for those who read it and do what it says.
Join us as we welcome back guest speaker Stephan Tchividjian, from Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, for today's study in the book of John.
In this series through Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, Pastor Gary draws out 22 blessings and benefits that are inherent in the Bible if we read it and apply it to our lives. It is no accident that the longest chapter in the Bible is about the Bible! In today's study, Pastor Gary takes us through the first four sections of this chapter and shares four things (one from each section) that God promises for those who take His Word to heart.
Psalm 119 is about God's Word, the Bible. It happens to be the longest psalm in the book of Psalms and the longest chapter of the entire Bible. Not that we should judge the importance of a chapter in the Bible based on how many verses it contains, but there is something to be said for the longest chapter in the Bible being about the Bible! Perhaps we should pay attention to what God emphasizes concerning Scripture and learn about all the many blessings and benefits of applying God's Word to our lives. In today's introduction to Psalm 119, Pastor Gary lays out the importance of the Bible— how it is Inspired, Inerrant, and Infallible. In a day when many churches and Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries no longer hold to the authority of God's Word, let us capture a love for the Bible and hold it in high regard as the foundation for faith and practice.
One thousand years before Christ, David wrote Psalm 110 about Christ. It is classified as a Messianic psalm. David prophetically wrote about the Messiah--Jesus--who is King, Priest, and Judge. But how does that specifically apply to each of us? What does it mean that Jesus is my King, my Priest, and my Judge? Join Pastor Gary as we answer these questions in today's study from Psalm 110.
A big objection to Christianity that some people have concerns the goodness and love of God. Their skepticism is posed in a question like this--"How could a good and loving God allow such heartache and suffering in the world?" And yet, the psalmist tells us in Psalm 107 that "the Lord is good; his love endures forever." How do we reconcile those things? Join Pastor Gary in today's study on the "Goodness and Love of God."
All of us can be forgetful at times. But the most serious type of forgetfulness is when we forget God—how good He is and how mighty are His deeds. Israel was guilty of this in Psalm 106. They became discontent, dissatisfied, and disobedient toward God, which are all forms of forgetfulness. Still, God was merciful, loving, and compassionate toward them. He continued to pursue them, love them, care for them, and forgive them. We need this reminder in our own lives for the times that we, like the Israelites, will fail God. Join Pastor Gary for today’s study in Psalm 106.
In Psalm 101 David expresses his desire to lead a blameless life before God. But who can really lead a blameless life since none of us is perfect? The Hebrew word can be translated as "sincere, complete, whole, with integrity." So even though we have faults, we too can lead a blameless life before God as long as we are intentional about living a sincere, whole-hearted life of integrity before God. Noah had his faults; so did Abraham. But both these men we called "blameless" in Scripture. Join Pastor Gary for today's study on "A Blameless Life".
Is it possible that a communication problem is just an indicator of a heart problem? In Ephesians 4, the Apostle Paul urges Christians to remember the example of Jesus and communicate with others in mind.
In Psalm 91 we read about how God dispatches angels on our behalf - to protect us and guard us from harm. Much has been written and discussed about angels over the centuries. People have a fascination with them. We have even named cakes and baseball teams after them! But exactly who are angels? What are their duties? They are mentioned more than 300 times in the Bible and they present sometimes as warriors and sometimes as ordinary people. Join Pastor Gary for today's study entitled, "Angels on Assignment."
Life is a journey. It will have its share of joys and sorrows along the way until we all stand one day before God in heaven. In the meantime, Psalm 84 teaches us some life lessons on how to handle the dark valleys we will sometimes pass through along this journey of life. The psalmist points out three different principles, which if practiced, will bring blessing from God. The word "blessed" is from a Hebrew word that means, "O how happy!" God will turn our valleys into places where we experience His happiness if we would worship Him, lean on Him, and trust Him. Join Pastor Gary in today's study as he takes us through Psalm 84.
A crisis usually drives us to God; trouble in our lives tends to move us toward Him. But what about when life is good? What happens when things are going well? The natural tendency is to forget God when life is good. In fact, the good life is a threat to a godly life. But it doesn't have to be that way. We can learn to enjoy the goodness and blessings of God and still live a godly life. Learn from the mistakes of the Israelites in today's study from Psalm 78.
Have you ever felt that life seemed unfair? Or that bad things happen to good people? Or that followers of the Lord don't seem to have it any better in life than those who don't? If you've ever wondered such things, you are not alone. A man in the Bible by the name of Asaph—an accomplished musician and priest in the Temple of God—thought such things. And we have a psalm that reveals his innermost struggles about how he wrestled with the justice of God and the apparent unfairness of life. But a pivotal event happens in his life to help him reconcile these things and the lessons he learns are shared for us in Psalm 73. Join us as Pastor Gary takes us through this encouraging chapter.
According to a recent survey, while 67% of Americans identify Easter as a "religious holiday", only 42% of Americans identify it with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Less than half of all Americans understand the true meaning of Easter. In today's teaching, Pastor Gary shares how the resurrection of Jesus is historical, powerful, and personal. Join us for today's service as we join with millions of others around the world to celebrate a 2,000-year old story that has eternal significance!
Join us as guest speaker Stephan Tchividjian, from Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, teaches from John 5:1-17.
The Bible often compares God to a "Refiner," and us to "silver or gold." Silver or gold cannot reach is optimum value without other by-products (like zinc, lead, or copper) being burned away. And the only way to separate the by-products is to put the precious metal in a furnace of intense heat. In the process of refining silver, the intense heat will cause all the impurities (dross) to rise to the surface in order to be skimmed off and discarded. Sometimes God will use the intense heat of difficult life circumstances to cause the impurities of our lives to rise to the surface so that we can deal with those things that mar our lives. God wants to purify and perfect us--to make us more into His image and likeness. Through the patience of our Good Refiner, He will make us into the pure vessels for His use.
In this very vulnerable psalm, David writes about his own sin and how he longs for God's forgiveness. He teaches us something important about the human condition in general - how we are all sinners in need of God's forgiveness just like David; and that God is merciful, loving, and compassionate. If you've ever been at a place where you long to be right with God and to know that all the wrong things you've ever said or done can be forgiven by God, then follow along as Pastor Gary shares insights from Psalm 51.
Life has its share of trials and tribulations. Every person goes through seasons of discouragement from time to time - even Christians! Perhaps you find yourself in such a season now. The psalmist writes in Psalm 42 about being "downcast" and feeling like God has "forgotten" him. But he still holds on to hope and he says that despite his circumstances, he will praise the Lord. In Psalm 42 the psalmist shares some practical advice about how he got through his season of despair that Pastor Gary explains in a teaching entitled, "Hope for the Downcast."
If you've ever been hurt or betrayed by another person; if someone has ever gossiped about you, lied about you, or slandered you--welcome to the human race! In Psalm 41 David is experiencing such mistreatment from others and teaches us how to respond to it. But be sure to listen to the end of the teaching because there is a twist to this story that Pastor Gary shares!
We have only been given one life to live. How will we use the time God has given us? Have we prioritized our lives properly? Are we prepared to face God when we die? These are the questions that are raised in Psalm 39, and Pastor Gary addresses the answers in today's study on the frailty and brevity of life.
If you've ever gotten yourself into a terrible predicament and felt hopeless and desperate, you are not alone. In the Bible, David made some bad choices that were motivated by fear and which nearly resulted in his death. But God intervened on his behalf as He often does for us. As a result, David writes Psalm 34 as a song of thanksgiving to the Lord who rescues us from the mess WE create. Learn from David's story and be reminded of God's mercy for our mess.
There's some good news, and there's some bad news. First, the bad news... we are all sinners. The Bible describes the human condition as "sinful"-that none of us measures up to the perfect standard of God. But the good news is that there is forgiveness for all who will confess their sins to the Lord. But what do all these terms-sin, forgiveness, confession-mean? King David expresses these things in Psalm 32 as he opens up about his own failures, and Pastor Gary explains it all in today's study entitled, "The Heart of Confession."
Have you ever been impatient about something because it wasn't happening fast enough or working quickly enough? Have you ever felt that way toward God - like he wasn't making something happen soon enough for you? For most of us, patience is not a virtue. And it doesn't help that we live in a VERY fast-paced world where technology makes everything lightning-fast! Nevertheless, in Psalm 27 David tells us to take courage and "wait for the Lord." God doesn't work on our timetable. It is usually slower than what we'd prefer. But God is not slow, or fast... He is right on time! In today's study, Pastor Gary encourages us to practice the discipline of waiting - learning how to trust God and lean on Him when life seems to be "on pause."
In the conclusion of a three-part series through the 23rd Psalm, Pastor Gary reminds us that we are like sheep and God is like a shepherd who loves us and cares for us. The final two verses of Psalm 23 express David's heart about a God who protects us, comforts us, and wants us to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. David's concluding words are about how he wants to "dwell in the house of the Lord forever." He has an assurance that when he dies he will go to be with the Lord in Heaven. Are you as confident that you will go to Heaven when you die? Find out how to have that assurance in today's conclusion of "The Song of a Shepherd."
Daniel Massieh and Ayman Lolas join Pastor Gary to discuss reaching Muslims with the Gospel.
In part two of our study through Psalm 23, Pastor Gary walks us through the verses about "the paths of righteousness" and "the valley of the shadow of death". If you've ever felt like you were on the wrong path or in a dark valley, this passage will encourage you about how much our Good Shepherd cares about each of us.
The 23rd Psalm is probably the most familiar psalm in the Bible. That's because most people have heard it read at a funeral. But Psalm 23 is about life, not death; about how we are like sheep and God is like a shepherd who lovingly, tenderly takes care of us. Join Pastor Gary for part one of a three-part series on Psalm 23.
Most of us know we should trust God, but how many of us actually do trust God when life gets challenging? The word "trust" appears more than 200 times in the Bible and more than 50 times just in the book of Psalms. The theme of trusting God is a predominant one in Scripture and it's the topic of today's study from Psalms 20 and 21. All of us go through seasons of distress. Perhaps you are in the middle of one of those seasons right now. It's time to trust God.
Matthew writes regarding the place of Jesus' upbringing in Matthew 2:23, "And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene." Join Pastor Gary for a special Christmas message in Nazareth, Israel.
It was a star in the night sky over Bethlehem that God used to lead the Wise Men to the place where Jesus was. It was on that night 2,000 years ago that God came to earth to offer the gift of eternal life through His Son, Jesus. God will still use various methods and circumstances to lead people to Jesus today. What might God be using in your life to shine your way to Jesus?
Psalm 16 is an outline of the path of life that, if followed, will give us a peace about life now and a hope about eternal life to come. David wrote this psalm out of personal difficulty, but by the end of it he was expressing his hope and confidence about life here and life to come.
In today's teaching from Psalm 15, Pastor Gary explores two questions that David asked about how it was possible for unholy people to be accepted by a holy God. The questions came from a tragic incident that occurred 7 years into David's reign as king. Learn from today's study how we can show reverence for God and be accepted by Him.
In Psalm 8, David focuses on the majesty of God. He is overwhelmed by God's greatness and power and glory that is displayed in all the earth! David refers to three marks of God's majesty, but then he shifts to a question that amazes him most - in light of God's greatness, how is it that this majestic God cares so much about us? But He does! Be encouraged from Psalm 8 as Pastor Gary reminds us of this important truth in today's study entitled: "A Majestic God Cares About You".
There are two paths in life -- one that is blessed by God and one that is not. One path leads to life, one path leads to death. Which one are you on? How do you get on the good path that is blessed by God? Find out in today's introduction to the book of Psalms as Pastor Gary teaches through Psalm 1.
Our annual Thanksgiving Eve service is devoted entirely to worship and testimonies, giving God thanks for all He has done in the past year.
On opening day of Cornerstone Chapel's new church building, Pastor Gary lays out the two main principles that have guided our church from its founding days 25 years ago -- that Cornerstone is a church that (1) Worships the Lord, and (2) Teaches the Bible. Everything else about our church flows from those foundational principles. And although God has been gracious to us and blessed us with a new church building, we must continue to do our part in making Him known on the earth and His salvation to all nations.
In the conclusion of our 4-part series through the book of Job, Pastor Gary looks at how we can have a proper perspective of our suffering. We may not be able to understand or control some aspects of adversity in our lives, but we can try to gain the right perspective so that we can persevere in life despite our suffering. In today's teaching, Pastor Gary uses a potato and an egg to illustrate the two different ways people respond to the same adversity. Let's learn from the life of Job how we can cope with life's adversities.
According to a recent survey, the most perplexing question that people have for God is, "Why is there pain and suffering in the world?" For some, this question causes them to doubt the existence of God; for others, this question causes them to doubt the goodness of God. So how are we to face the reality of a world filled with pain and suffering? The book of Job addresses the question of suffering from a few different vantage points. The topic for today is - God & Suffering - where is God in my suffering? Pastor Gary draws on the story of Job to help us understand the answer to that question. Join us for today's study starting in Job 31.
We have all been created with the need for friendship-having friends and being a friend. Friends are especially vital during difficult times. So it's important for all of us to learn how to be a good friend to those who are suffering. In the book of Job, Job is suffering from unimaginable pain-the death of all ten of his children, the loss of everything materially, and even physical affliction. If anybody needed a friend, it was Job! Job had a circle of 5 friends-his wife and 4 buddies-who sometimes proved to be good friends, and who sometimes proved to be not-so-good friends. In today's study, Pastor Gary takes the good and the bad of Job's friends and translates it into three important principles for being a good friend to someone who is suffering.
Suffering is a real part of life. Many people will experience trials and difficulties to one degree or another in the course of a lifetime. What role, if any, does Satan play in our suffering? Pastor Gary answers that in today's introduction to the book of Job and the overarching question of "Why do people suffer?"
In keeping with the example of American pastors for the first few hundred years of our country's history, Pastor Gary delivers an "Election Day Sermon". How should Christians be involved in the political process, especially in view of the current climate with questionable candidates? Pastor Gary offers some options and responsibilities for us to consider as citizens of this great land and as ambassadors for Christ.
Too often we make decisions that reflect our human nature instead of our faith. Looking into Genesis, we see the value of prayer and counsel when making decisions and the consequences and regret when we don't.
From on location in Israel along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Pastor Gary brings a message of hope and restoration at the site where it is believed that Jesus restored Peter following Peter's denial of Jesus. Pastor Gary begins with a summary of Jesus' ministry which primarily occurred in this tiny geographical region between three small towns along the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. If you are burdened by your failures, may the Lord minister His love and grace to you in the same way He did for Peter.
There is an epidemic of missing fathers in our country. Statistics show that 33% of children in America-roughly 24.7 million children-are living in homes without a father. That number has tripled since 1960. The stats are worse for the African American community where 57.6% of black children are being raised by single mothers. Where are all the fathers? Where are the dads who will be the men God called them to be? In today's Fathers' Day message, Pastor Gary looks at six examples of fathers from Scripture (though most are poor examples) so we can learn from the good and the bad what it means to be "Good Dads". There is hope for every father, and there is hope for every child without a father.
In this closing look at the book of Esther, we see God's providential hand intervening to save the Jewish people from annihilation. He puts into motion three great "reversals" and turns the table on the Persian people in favor of the Jews. At the same time, there is wonderful symbolism about God's grace over our lives to save us also. And while this was a miraculous, historic event in rescuing the Jewish people (which Jews still celebrate today with the Festival of Purim), we should celebrate God's miraculous rescuing of us from death as well.
In the book of Esther, Haman's wicked plan to annihilate the Jews backfires in a big way. The gallows he had built on which to hang one of the Jews-Mordecai-end up being gallows on which Haman himself is hanged. His hatred, pride, and arrogance became his downfall...and could be ours as well if we are not careful. Join Pastor Gary in our continuing series through the book of Esther as we look at the providential hand of God in the story of human events.
Have you ever wondered why you are where you are? Why you live where you live? Why you have the job that you do? Why you have the friends that you have? God has a providential plan for each of us that involves the weaving of our life's story. There is no coincidence with God, only providence. Esther was chosen by God for a special purpose "for such a time as this." How might God be working in your life "for such a time as this"? Follow along in today's study with Pastor Gary as we examine this topic from Esther 3-4.
Unlike other characters in the story of Esther, Esther herself is someone who demonstrates quiet obedience to the Lord without a desire to grab the glory. Even though she is promoted to the most influential role as queen of Persia, she never seeks the power, position, or prestige. God providentially promotes her and uses her for His glory and for the saving of the Jewish people. When we seek our own GLORY, we end up with MISERY. That's because all glory belongs to the Lord (Psalm 115:1). Follow along in today's study from Esther 2 as Pastor Gary teaches about the crowning of Esther and the misery of our glory.
Esther details God's providential plan to rescue the Jews from near extermination through the courageous obedience of a young Jewish woman named Esther. The book opens in Chapter 1 with a drunken dinner party thrown by King Xerxes of Persia for his military leaders, nobles, and officials. When he calls for his wife, Queen Vashti, to entertain his drunken guests by parading herself as a sexual object, she refuses. It will cost her the throne. She will be deposed (and perhaps even killed, although the Bible doesn't say so) for refusing the king. Why was she so willing to lose everything-her status, her fame, her fortune, her crown, and perhaps even her life? Answer-to protect her dignity. Join Pastor Gary in this Mother's Day intro to the book of Esther entitled, "The Dignity of Women."
If we are not careful, things can begin to suffer over time-relationships, principles, and convictions. Sadly, things and people we once valued and cherished can become neglected over time. This is exactly what began to happen in Jerusalem during Nehemiah's 10-year absence. When he returned to Jerusalem he found that the Jews had allowed four areas to become neglected over time. In today's conclusion of the book of Nehemiah (and our series through Ezra and Nehemiah), Pastor Gary challenges us about never allowing time to erode our values, convictions, and principles. We must continue to remain true to the Lord and to His Word.
It's easy for us to get so preoccupied with the physical that we neglect the spiritual-we work hard at our jobs, we raise kids, we pay bills, we work out, we eat right-all good things. But what are we doing to take care of our spiritual lives? What are we doing to feed our souls? In today's study from Nehemiah 7-10, we see how the Israelites shifted their attention from the physical (building the wall of Jerusalem), to the spiritual (building up their lives spiritually). There were three key disciplines that the Israelites practiced in order to build up their lives spiritually. Those three things are the topic of today's study with Pastor Gary Hamrick.
When we face outside opposition from others - when people malign us, attack us, lie about us, etc. - what is the proper way to respond? Often times we think that the only two options are flight or fight. But there's another option that Nehemiah modeled for us when the Jews faced strong opposition from their neighbors concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem: patient perseverance. In today's study, Pastor Gary shows us three important things that Nehemiah did when he was under personal attack. Join us for today's Bible study from Nehemiah 6.
In Nehemiah 5, something nearly derailed the rebuilding of Jerusalem-infighting and conflict within the Jewish community. During times of economic hardship, Jews started taking advantage of their fellow Jews by leveraging land and even selling their sons and daughters to each other in slavery. When Nehemiah realized the problem, he confronted it head-on and rebuked the nobles and officials for such actions. In the end, land and children were returned to their rightful families and the building of Jerusalem continued. It's a lesson to us about how we need to serve one another, love one another, and care for one another in the Body of Christ. It's about how we need to "look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Phil 2:4).
In today's study Pastor Gary highlights the words of Nehemiah who instructed the people to "fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes" (Neh. 4:14). The Jews were under assault from enemies who hated them and what they were doing in rebuilding their city. In a similar way, Christians are being persecuted physically, spiritually, and culturally today. We must stand our ground for what is right and defend our families in prayerful and practical ways.
Due to contractual obligations, the worship music is not part of the recorded service.
Jesus said, "Because I live, you also will live" (John 14:19). The resurrection of Christ means new life for us as well! The Bible teaches that we are "dead in our transgressions and sins" but that we can be raised up with Christ and experience a new beginning through faith in Him.
In today's study, we examine the Palm Sunday story as Pastor Gary challenges us to insert ourselves into the scene. Where would we fit? What role might we have had in the story had we been there 2000 years ago when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey? Nobody in this story comes out smelling good, except for Jesus. Everyone else either abandoned Him, denied Him, rejected Him, or crucified Him. And yet, Jesus died for all of us who did that to Him!
As we close out our series through Nehemiah 3, Pastor Gary looks at the last two gates of Jerusalem-the East Gate and the Inspection Gate. The Bible prophesies that Jesus Christ will return to earth and enter the East Gate of Jerusalem to establish His Millennial kingdom. What are the important things we need to know about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? What does it mean that the Church will be "raptured" before the Tribulation that is coming upon the earth? How can we be ready? Find out answers to these and other questions about the Return of the Lord in today's study.
Satan and his demons exist in an unseen realm and their objective is to destroy our lives, our marriages, our families, and even our church. It's what we call "spiritual warfare". In today's study of the Horse Gate, Pastor Gary gives a balanced perspective on spiritual warfare and how we can fight this unseen battle.
The Bible is foundational to all that we believe and practice at Cornerstone Chapel. Sadly, many Christian colleges, seminaries, and denominations no longer hold to the inerrancy of the Bible. In today's study from Nehemiah 3, we come to the Water Gate which reminds us of the cleansing work and importance of God's Word.
There is a thirst in the heart of every human being that can only be quenched by a relationship with Jesus. Unfortunately, before people understand this, they go in search of many things trying to satisfy the longing of their souls, only to turn up empty. In today's continuing series around the wall of Jerusalem, Pastor Gary looks at the Fountain Gate and reminds us that only Jesus can satisfy the deepest longings of the heart.
Sin is what separates us from God. It's a human condition we are born with and which will eventually kill us. But there is a remedy--Jesus Christ who died for our sins! In today's continuing series through Nehemiah 3 about the rebuilding of the city gates, we are looking at the Dung Gate. The Dung Gate reminds us of the sin, filth, and garbage of our lives. Let us confess our sins and get right with God who loves us and sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us! Forgiveness is only a prayer away!
In part 2 of a series on the Gates of Jerusalem, Pastor Gary looks at the gates of TRUTH and TRIALS. We live in a time when "truth" is relative and subjective. Not so with God. He defines and declares what truth is and calls us to live our lives based on His absolute truth regardless of how our culture interprets it. We don't change the truth to keep up with the culture; we keep up with the truth to change the culture! Also in today's study, we will look at our trials and difficulties through the lens of an eternal perspective. Much of life is split between the valleys and the mountain tops. What can we learn during those times in the valleys? Join Pastor Gary for today's teaching from Nehemiah 3.
Ancient city gates were more than just points of entry or exit. They served to be a very strategic center of life where elders gathered to settle disputes and plan for war; where trade occurred; where court was held; where a number of things transpired. Each gate was named and each gate had a purpose. These purposes have a modern parallel for us today. With that in mind, Pastor Gary will be teaching a series of messages about "examining the gates of our lives."
In the opening chapter of Nehemiah, we see Nehemiah weeping, mourning, fasting, and praying. He is heart-broken over the condition of his fellow Jews living in "trouble and disgrace." So he puts his grief to work and rolls up his sleeves to help them in their broken condition. It serves as an example to us about being a church that helps those who are troubled and disgraced. May we be an extension of Jesus' love and grace in our world!
Paul tells the church in Corinth that God has blessed them so that they can be a blessing to others. He wants the church to grow and even excel in their generosity with the goal of meeting practical needs on earth while glorifying God in Heaven.
In today's teaching, Pastor Gary shares the HISTORICAL, BIBLICAL, and PRACTICAL application of Hanukkah. Hanukkah is a Jewish celebration of an event that happened in Jerusalem 165 years before Christ when a group of Jews rebelled against their Greek oppressors. The miracle that occurred is still commemorated today in the 8-day celebration of Hanukkah. How does Hanukkah relate to Christ or Christmas? And what is the real meaning of Hanukkah? Find out in today's study.
In every culture around the world, something that is broken becomes worthless and discarded. Only in the Kingdom of God is something broken of great value. It's a beautiful thing to God when we become broken over our sin--when we humble ourselves and confess sin so that we can be forgiven by God. In the closing chapters of Ezra, the people had committed a grievous sin. But when they responded with weeping and confession and humility, they were met with the grace of God. So it is with our lives as well.
In life, we can expect some opposition. People will not always like us or treat us fairly, especially if we are taking a stand for truth and living a life that honors God. So how does a Christian respond to opposition? Pastor Gary shares 5 principles for dealing with opposition in our personal lives and he also shares examples of opposition that Cornerstone Chapel has faced regarding the church's building project.
Do you ever find yourself dwelling too much on the past that it has affected the present? Bad memories and even good memories can rob us of enjoying the present. We can miss the goodness of God today if we are stuck in yesterday. In today's teaching, Pastor Gary challenges us to build on the good past, give to God the bad past, and learn to see what God is doing in the present.
Our annual Thanksgiving Eve service is devoted entirely to worship and testimonies, giving God thanks for all He has done in the past year.
As our church goes through a season of change with a building program, there are many principles we can learn from the Jewish exiles who returned to Jerusalem to rebuild their city, their lives, and their Temple during the days of Ezra and Nehemiah. Two of the things that will remain constant at our church are the priority of Jesus and the practice of worship. Pastor Gary will show us the parallel in Ezra chapter 3, so take your Bibles and join us there for today's study.
In our series through Ezra and Nehemiah entitled, "Ever Changing, Never Changing" Pastor Gary examines some more principles in preparation for our move as a local church into our new facility. We learn from the example of the Jewish exiles that the work of God will get done by the people of God when they respond to the move of God in their hearts.
When God brought the Jews back to Jerusalem after 70 years of captivity in Babylon, He did it in providential ways because God is a providential God! He works in our lives in ways we cannot always see or appreciate. He has a plan for your life, and He has a plan for our church. Pastor Gary begins a new series through Ezra and Nehemiah entitled, "Ever Changing, Never Changing." Concerning our lives and our church, there are some things that will change, and some things that should never change. Open your Bibles to Ezra 1 for today's study.
The Bible tells us that God disciplines those He loves. It also tells us that no discipline is pleasant at the time, only painful. Can you relate? Is God trying to bring loving correction to your life in some way? In the book of Hebrews, the Bible reminds us that it's a loving father who disciplines his children, and God is acting in the same way when He disciplines us. Join Pastor Gary for today's study as we look at 5 things about God's discipline and how we can tell the difference between when God is correcting us and when we are simply going through hardships because we live in a fallen world.
Have you ever wondered if God gives second chances? Have you ever messed up in life and wished you could have a fresh start? Learn from the life of King Manasseh--considered the most wicked king who ever reigned in Israel and Judah--that God is indeed the God of second chances. Sometimes the turning point for us comes in the form of a crisis as it did in Manasseh's life. But that crisis can often be the best thing that ever happened to us. Join Pastor Gary for today's study about "Second Chances."
We can never do more than what Christ has already done for us, but following Jesus will cost us something--maybe materially, or relationally, or personally, or professionally, or even physically (with our very lives). But it will cost us something.
In today's study, Pastor Gary looks at the story of King Amaziah from 2 Chronicles 25 about how he was willing to forfeit $2 million to be obedient to God. Even still, the prophet said to him, "The Lord can give you much more than that." How true it is that no matter what we give up or sacrifice for God, He can do (and has done) much more than that!
Every Christian has a responsibility to rub shoulders with lost people living in a lost world. We must have contact in a real world with real people to share the real love of Jesus. But how much contact is too much? When does "contact" become compromise? Where is the line between influencing a lost world and being influenced by it? Christians must be distinct and different in our world so that we can offer something that the world needs. If we look like them, act like them, talk like them, and live like them, why would a lost world think we have anything to offer them? In 2 Chronicles 17, Jehoshaphat crossed that line and sets an example for us of what not to do. Join Pastor Gary for today's study entitled, "Dangerous Alliances."
1) Is my life noticeably different from the culture around me (my values, speech, social behavior) such that others might be prompted to ask me about my life? (1 Peter 3:15) 2) Do I sometimes feel out of place or uncomfortable in this world? (Heb. 11:13, John 15:19) 3) Am I intentional about how I can integrate my faith in conversations and social settings? (Col. 4:6) 4) Am I consciously aware of my witness at all times and do I do my best to keep from compromising or causing others to compromise? (1 Tim. 1:16, 1 Cor. 10:23-24) 5) Do I believe overall that I am more of an influence in the lives of people who need Christ than they are with me? (1 Cor. 15:33) 6) Am I more concerned about pleasing God than what my unsaved friends think of me? (Gal. 1:10) 7) Do I limit dating relationships, business partnerships, and other binding alliances or unions to those who are Believers and who share my biblical world view? (2 Cor. 6:14-15, Amos 3:3)
Too many times we try to handle things in our own strength. We consciously or subconsciously think, "I've got this!", only to find out that we don't. Life's challenges demand that we rely on the Lord and turn to Him for His help and guidance; any other approach is simply the sin of self-reliance. A poignant example of this is the story of King Asa in 2 Chronicles, and it's the topic of today's study with Pastor Gary.
God's love is unconditional--that is, it is without limitations or conditions. We don't have to do anything for God to love us. But God's forgiveness is conditional. He stands ready to forgive anyone for anything, but we have a role in receiving His forgiveness. The model for us is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14 and it will be the main text for today's study on forgiveness with Pastor Gary.
The Bible teaches that "the earth is the Lord's and everything in it" (Psalm 24:1). But too often we become possessive over things in our lives that don't really belong to us. We think it's my house, my money, my career, my life, my everything. Truth is, it all belongs to God and we are simply the guardians or managers of it. David had to learn this lesson the hard way, but in the end he acknowledged God's rightful ownership of everything. Join Pastor Gary for today's teaching as we close out the book of 1 Chronicles and learn about three things that are produced in our lives when we acknowledge God's rightful ownership of all.
So often in life we try to do things OUR way, in OUR strength, for OUR benefit. But how different would it be if we did things GOD'S way? What would our marriage look like, our business, our conduct, our relationships, our finances...what would everything look like if we did things God's way? In a tragic story from 1 Chronicles, Pastor Gary shares 4 steps to doing things God's way.
God designed every human being with the need to belong. Relationship and connection with one another is emphasized throughout the Bible. But the greatest relationship and connection we need is with God, which comes by faith. Join Pastor Gary for today's introduction to the book of 1st Chronicles.
Major Amir Tsarfati teaches on location in Alabang, Philippines about the end-times prophecy from Ezekiel.
Do you believe that God will take care of you? If so, you can be generous and concern yourself with God's Kingdom, trusting that He will take care of yours. Everyone else concerns themselves with the temporary things of this world. Jesus wants his followers to concern themselves with the eternal.
On June 26, 2015 five members of the U.S. Supreme Court decided to disregard "the laws of Nature and Nature's God" when they redefined marriage by allowing same-sex couples to wed across all 50 States. How will this change the moral landscape of our country? How will this impact the church? How might this invite the judgment of God upon America? How can we be gracious and loving toward homosexuals and still stand for truth in our day? It's a complex matter, and one which Pastor Gary tackles in today's teaching, "America, Will You Stand?"
Have you felt distant or estranged from God? Sometimes it happens through no fault of your own; just the circumstances of life have left you feeling alone or rejected by God. But sometimes the distance we feel between ourselves and God we create through our own sin and rebellion. The latter was the case with Judah and the reason why God allowed the Babylonians to besiege the nation. But whether we created the distance between us and God, or circumstances beyond our control have contributed to that feeling, the good news is that God has never forsaken His people. He will welcome back the sinner and draw near to the suffering soul! Join us for today's study in 2 Kings 24-25 as Pastor Gary brings home this point.
Pastor Andy Wagner shares how Jesus taught His disciples to strengthen their faith and release their fears.
In today's study, Pastor Gary examines the life of the last good king of Judah-JOSIAH. The one thing that marked Josiah's life and reign was that he made God's Word central to everything. As a result, he experienced the natural effect of God's Word in his life and in the life of the nation. We, too, can experience the wonderful benefits of God's Word if we make it central to our lives as well.
Hezekiah was considered one of the "good" kings of Judah. There were many admirable things he did that honored God and that brought revival to the nation. But at the end of his life he did one thing that would tarnish his testimony. In today's study, Pastor Gary emphasizes the good things Hezekiah did that we should emulate, and he warns us to avoid the one thing he did wrong.
Have you ever thought that God was unjust, unfair, and out to punish you? It's a false narrative that too many people believe. In today's study from 2 Kings 17, Pastor Gary takes us through the story of the demise of the northern kingdom of Israel so that we can see how patient, just, and forewarning God was with the people who had sinned against Him for more than 200 years!
Out of all the 38 kings and 1 queen of Judah and Israel during the Divided Kingdom, only eight were considered "good". But out of those eight, only ONE was good from beginning to end. The other "good" kings had done something to tarnish their life before they died. But not Jotham. This 10th king of Judah stands out among all the other kings of the north or south because he stayed faithful to God all the days of his life. Turn to 2 Kings 15 as we learn about "Principles from a Good King".
Having people in our lives who influence us, encourage us, and who even at times say the hard things to us, is a good thing. We especially need those types of people in our lives to help us in our faith. But what happens when they die? Or move away? Or worse yet, fall away? Will we still stand firm in our faith? Unfortunately, King Joash of Judah failed to stand firm in the faith when Jehoiada the priest died. Joash's life was never the same and he died a disgraced man. Find out in today's study what lessons we can learn from his life so that we don't repeat his mistakes.
Everyone wants peace! No one ever wants more strife in life. Real peace, as distinguished from a non-sustainable, circumstantial peace the world offers, comes from God. But how do we get it? What are some simple truths about how to get God's peace in our lives? That is the topic of today's study from 2 Kings 9. Join Pastor Gary as he teaches about six keys to getting God's peace.
In 2 Kings 7, four lepers end up inheriting an incredible treasure of food and valuables left behind by the Syrian army. What we learn is that God had done a miracle in making the Syrians vacate their camp, leaving everything behind. At first, the lepers hoarded it all for themselves but soon realized that it would not be right to keep for themselves the incredible blessing and provision from God. They needed to share it with those who were dying. The lepers, like us, have been given something amazing from God. We cannot keep the good news to ourselves. We must share it with others so that they too can partake with us of God's amazing grace!
Naaman was a general and commander of the Syrian army. He was a Gentile and a self-made man. He was an accomplished, decorated, valiant soldier. But 2 Kings 5:1 said "but he had leprosy." Leprosy would be the thing that God used to humble Naaman and bring him to a place of surrender. And in the process God would heal him of his leprosy too. Naaman is a picture of all of us--living life without God or seeing our need for God until our "leprosy" happens. This story is a lesson about God's love and mercy and healing grace for all of us.
When Elisha is installed as the new prophet to Israel, he performs a series of miracles by the power of God. Two of these miracles are directed to two women in very different circumstances - one is a widow, one is married; one is poor, one is rich; one has almost nothing, one has almost everything; one is desperate, one is content. But both receive a miracle from God! Whether we are in desperate need or quietly content, God knows what we need and delights to "wow" us with His miraculous grace. Join Pastor Gary in today's study from 2 Kings 4.
What if you knew today was your last day to live? What would you do differently? Who would you make amends with? Who would you tell, "I love you" or "I'm sorry"? How would you get right with God? Pastor Gary takes us to 2 Kings 2 where we read the story of Elijah and how he knew that God was going to take him home to heaven. It's a dramatic story about how God sends a chariot and horses of fire to scoop up Elijah from earth and take him to heaven. And yet, as dramatic as that scene was, we should be more impressed by how Elijah lived his last day - with no regrets. This story will challenge us to live our lives as if today could be our last.
In the opening chapter of 2 Kings, King Ahaziah of Israel injures himself from an accidental fall. But instead of turning to God for his healing, he sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the false god of the Philistines. So God sent the prophet Elijah to rebuke the king and to tell the king he would die because of his foolishness. Elijah said, "Is there no God in Israel that you had to consult Baal-Zebub?" How sad it is that desperate people do desperate things instead of turning to God! Desperate times require desperate prayers. God will help us in our time of need if we would simply cry out to Him for help.
Jesus said, "I am the Living One. I was dead, and behold, I am alive for ever and ever" (Rev. 1:18). His resurrection is what separates Christianity from all other world religions! We serve a RISEN SAVIOR! Join us for our Easter celebration in a 20,000 sq. foot tent as Pastor Gary brings the message from Matthew 28.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, he was hailed by the people as their "savior". But exactly what kind of "savior" were they looking for? Why did the same people turn against him in a few short days crying, "Crucify him!"? Join Pastor Gary for today's teaching on location from the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem, Israel.
Living a Christian life means that we must be aware that there are people in this world who will be constantly enticing us to compromise. They will promise you something "better" in exchange for what you have. Pressure will be put on you to relinquish your values, your principles, your honor, even your walk with God. Learn from the story of Naboth and King Ahab as Pastor Gary closes out the book of 1 Kings with a teaching on an unsung hero from chapter 21.
Ever felt discouraged or depressed? Everyone has at some point in their lifetime! But some people struggle with it for longer periods of time than others. Yet, in some circles of the Church it's taboo to talk about Christians and depression, as if, because we have the hope of Jesus we should always be bubbly, smiling, and happy. But the reality is, even some of the great saints of the Bible suffered through despair-Elijah, Jonah, Hannah, Job, David, and Paul, to name a few. In 1 Kings 19 we see this suffering condition in Elijah's life. His despair was so great, that he even prayed to die. But God did not answer that prayer. Instead, He encouraged Elijah through a "gentle whisper."
After the death of Solomon, there was civil war within Israel and the nation became divided. It was known by two names-the northern kingdom retained the name "Israel", and the southern kingdom was called "Judah". Each kingdom installed its own king as well. But not only was the kingdom divided, so were the hearts of the people. It was a terrible time of idolatry when the people wavered between the worship of idols and the worship of God. The prophet Elijah confronts this indecision on Mt. Carmel. Join Pastor Gary for this teaching which was recorded on location in Israel with the tour group from Cornerstone Chapel.
What poses the greatest threat to potentially turning your heart away from God? For Solomon, it was the influence of 1000 pagan women-700 wives and 300 concubines. Though God had made it clear that marriage was to be exclusively between one man and one woman, Solomon had allowed his own lust and selfish desires to lead his heart away from God. He began worshiping the false gods of his pagan wives. It was a low point in Israel's history and a reminder to us that we must deal with the things that could lead to "heart failure" in our own lives before we would turn away from God.
All of us have a reputation. It might be good or bad, accurate or inaccurate, true or false... but all of us have a reputation. What is yours? How do people perceive you? For King Solomon, his reputation was so good and so far-reaching, that a queen from Sheba travelled more than 1000 miles to see if what she had heard was true. Indeed, she said that his success and wealth and relationship with the Lord had far exceeded what she had heard. Pastor Gary discusses the importance of a good reputation in today's study from 1 Kings 10.
In the Prayer of Dedication that Solomon offers for the new Temple, we learn two important things about (1) God's character, and (2) Man's condition. Throughout Solomon's prayer, he weaves the true story about a loving, forgiving God and fallen, sinful humanity. It teaches us the practical truths about how good God is and how lost man is without Him. Join Pastor Gary for today's study from 1 Kings 8.
Between 1 Kings 5-8, a most important event occurs in the history of the nation of Israel - the building of the First Temple. It will take 180,000 laborers 7 years to build the Temple of the Lord under the leadership of King Solomon. It was a magnificent structure of stone, wood, and gold. But God does not live in houses made by hands. He dwells in the hearts and lives of people and He tells us in His Word that WE are His Temple! Find out more in today's study with Pastor Gary from the book of 1 Kings.
Did you know that God commands us to get wisdom? Yes, in fact, He calls it the "supreme thing" in Proverbs 4:7 because He knows that the circumstances of life demand something far more than knowledge. But how do we attain wisdom? And what is the difference between earthly wisdom and the wisdom from above? Grab your Bible and join Pastor Gary for answers to these and other questions in today's study from 1 Kings 3-4.
In the opening chapter of 1 Kings, David is near death. He dies in chapter two at the age of 70 after serving as Israel's king for 40 years. Just before he dies, there is a battle for his throne between two of his sons-Adonijah and Solomon. Solomon is God's choice, but Adonijah rebels and "puts himself forward" in an act of sedition and self-exaltation. We can learn some things from Adonijah's life by looking at three things that he lacked.
Today's teaching was recorded with Pastor Gary on location in Israel. We bring you the story of Christmas first from Nazareth (where an angel appeared to Mary to announce the conception of Jesus), and then from Bethlehem (where Jesus was born). Join us for today's study beginning in Luke 1.
Angels have a significant role in the Christmas story. Their presence is recorded on six different occasions surrounding the birth of Jesus and events following. But not only do they have a significant role in the Christmas story... they are mentioned more than 300 times throughout the Bible. What does the Bible say about angels? How are they described and what are their duties? Pastor Gary addresses these and other questions about angels in today's study - "An Angelic Christmas."
Mary obviously plays a very special and incredibly significant role in the Christmas story. What was different or unique about Mary that she should be chosen as the mother of Jesus-the one through whom God would enter our world? What does the Bible say about Mary and how should we view her and remember her today? How do our views differ from the views of the Roman Catholic Church concerning the life and legacy of Mary? Find out the answer to these questions and more in today's study from Luke 1 in a message Pastor Gary has entitled, "A Mary Christmas."
In the closing chapters of 2 Samuel, David sins against the Lord by counting all the fighting men of Israel. He was incited by Satan and he was motivated by pride. However, he immediately felt "conscience-stricken" and repented to the Lord. In today's study, Pastor Gary discusses the meaning and purpose of the human conscience-how God has given us the moral capacity to choose between right and wrong-and how we should listen to that conscience before it's too late.
After the attempted coup by his son, Absalom, had ended, David returned to Jerusalem to occupy the palace once again as king. On his journey back to Jerusalem, David is met by three men who were also present when he had departed. What we learn from their interaction with the king are good reminders for all of us. Join Pastor Gary in today's study from 2 Samuel 19.
What makes for a true friend? Do you have a few? Are you one to someone else? When David was broken and beaten over his sin, he needed a friend. 2 Samuel 15 tells us that he had two long-time friends and advisers: Ahithophel and Hushai. Unfortunately, Ahithophel betrayed David and joined the revolt that Absalom led against his father, David. Hushai, however, was a true, loyal friend to David. Find out in today's study what the Bible teaches about the characteristics of a true friend.
Last week's study was about David's sin of adultery with Bathsheba, and today's study is about the aftermath-how David seemed almost unable to function. He became detached and aloof to serious problems within his own family. The courageous, valiant David had been replaced by a cowardly, defeated David. Sadly, there is a tipping point at which some people go from being broken, to being beaten. How can people recover from sin and function again? Is there life after brokenness? There is! Pastor Gary will discuss this in today's study-"Broken, but not Beaten."
Join us as Pastor Gary speaks with Ronnie Cohen about his testimony and current events in the Middle East.
Adultery is a painful topic--painful for those who have committed it and are remorseful, and painful for those who have been betrayed by it and are hurt. But it's the topic of 2 Samuel 11-12 with the story of David and Bathsheba. Pastor Gary shares 4 important lessons from this story, and challenges all of us in the area of sexual purity.
After David had been king for about 15 years he fulfilled a promise he had made to his best friend, Jonathan, before Jonathan died in battle: that he would show kindness to his family as long as he was king. So David sent for Jonathan's only son-Mephibosheth-whom the Bible describes as being "crippled in both feet." He restored to Mephibosheth all the inheritance of his family, and promised him the rights and privileges of the king's family by allowing Mephibosheth to always eat at the king's table. Like a parable, this story teaches us something amazing about the love and kindness of God toward us.
Join us as Don McClure examines the life of Jacob, and the decision we all must make on whether or not to surrender our life to God.
The second important thing David did after he was made king over all Israel was to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. The symbolized the very presence and power of God. David wanted God to be worshiped! But along the way, God was angry with the Israelites and He killed a man who tried to steady the Ark when it nearly fell off the cart that was transporting it. So David took three months to evaluate what went wrong. Out of this come some very important principles about the importance of worshiping God the right way!
As soon as David becomes king he makes two very important decisions. The first one is the subject of today's study: David establishes Jerusalem as the capital city. Why is that particular location an important statement about God and Israel's national identity? And what application does that have for our lives today? That's the subject of today's teaching with Pastor Gary.
Join us for this special teaching from Pastor Gary Hamrick and guest speaker Daniel Massieh as they discuss the topics of Islam,ISIS, and how muslims are coming to faith in Jesus Christ.
The book of 2 Samuel picks up where 1 Samuel left off-the death of King Saul. Ironically, the account in 2 Samuel 1 tells us that a young Amalekite man "finished Saul off" after Saul had been critically wounded in battle. It's ironical because the man was an Amalekit-the very people Saul was instructed as king to destroy. But he didn't. The one thing that Saul was supposed to destroy came back to destroy him! How can we fight the battle of the flesh so that we are not destroyed in a similar way? That's the topic of today's study with Pastor Gary Hamrick.
King Saul dies a defeated man (in more ways than one). The closing chapters of 1 Samuel paint a grim picture of a man who started out well, but did not finish well. In desperation, he even consults a medium-a witch-in an effort to get advice. The life and legacy of Saul are tragic reminders to us of what happens when we break fellowship with God. What will be the legacy you leave?
In an attempt to elude Saul, David mistakenly thought that the best place he could hide was in Philistine territory. It was true that Saul wouldn't look for him there, but it was not true that it was "the best place" to be. No matter how bad things get, it is NEVER best to be in enemy territory. This 16-month period in David's life is a picture of a "compromised life" that some Christians sometimes live. But as we will see in David's story, it is often a painful place to be. Join Pastor Gary in today's study that starts in 1 Samuel 27.
King Saul's jealousy and anger toward David led to a murderous heart toward him as well. For the next 8-10 years, Saul would pursue David all over Israel in an attempt to kill him. But how did David deal with this murderous threat? How did he treat the man who opposed him and who wanted him dead? David sets a good example for us in "dealing with difficult people." That's the title of today's message with Pastor Gary Hamrick.
King Saul was insecure and paranoid and became consumed with jealousy and anger towards David. The once humble, reluctant king was now aggressively trying to defend his throne from any perceived threats. Saul became jealous of David's popularity, David's success, and David's relationship with the Lord. As we open our Bible for today's study, let's also open our hearts to examine whether any jealousy or anger exists within us as well.
In today's all-too-familiar story about David and Goliath, Pastor Gary reminds us that this was an actual event with real people and a real God who fought on behalf of the Israelites. Unfortunately, too often we make this story about us-that we are the underdog (David) facing many of life's big challenges (Goliath). But the real hero in this story is God, not us! In fact, Jesus is the "greater David" who defeated sin and death on our behalf. Learn more as you follow along in today's study from 1 Samuel 17.
There was a 15-20 year gap between the time that David was anointed king and when he was actually installed as the king of Israel. During that time, God grew him, refined him, and prepared him to be king. In a similar way, there are "seasons of preparation" for us too-times between where we are and where we want to be (or more specifically, where God wants us to be). We can learn from some things that David did during those years that God prepared him to be the next king of Israel. Join Pastor Gary Hamrick for today's study in 1 Samuel 16.
Join us as guest speaker Amir Tsarfati teaches about current events in Israel and how they are a fulfillment of biblical prophecy of end times.
Join us as guest speaker Stephan Tchividjian teaches about having a curious hunger for the bible, surrendering to what the Lord is calling you to do, and having accountability in your life.
Join us as guest speaker Tony Perkins teaches from the book of Nehemiah regarding rebuilding the "walls" in our lives.
When King Saul disobeyed God for the second time, Samuel the prophet rebuked him and said that God had rejected him as king and had "sought out a man after his own heart." That reference was about David. But as we know, David had his own sin issues and struggles. Yet God never took away the throne from David as He had done with Saul. What was it about David that made him "a man after God's heart"? Find out in today's study as Pastor Gary challenges all of us to be people after God's heart.
King Saul, the first king of Israel, prefers to live by a 90% rule: Obey God 90% of the time, and that's good enough. But that attitude will be his downfall. And that attitude could be our downfall as well. Will we always obey God 100% of the time? No. And thankfully there is grace! But the goal should never be that 90% is good enough. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (John 14:15).
In 1 Samuel 8, God reluctantly gives the Israelites what they want-an earthly king. They are driven by a desire to be just like the nations around them, but they have no idea how good they have it with God! So Saul is conferred as the first king of Israel. His selection as king is remarkably similar to our journey in becoming a Christian. How so? Find out in today's study as Pastor Gary Hamrick takes us through 1 Samuel 8-11.
Between 1 Samuel 4-7 the Israelites engage in war with the Philistines. The Israelites suffer a humiliating and devastating loss to the Philistines in Chapter 4, but by Chapter 7, the Israelites experience a tremendous victory by the help of God. The difference between these two battles is important for all of us to understand: God is not a "good-luck charm" that you can simply bring out when you need it. God's power and presence are realized through relationship with Him. It is only by God's help that we can experience "victory" in our lives through knowing Him.
Have you ever wondered if God still speaks to people today? Have you ever wondered if God was actually speaking to you? If so, how can we discern the voice of the Lord and by what means does He still speak to us today? Pastor Gary examines these questions as we continue our study of 1 Samuel and look at the story of when God spoke audibly to Samuel. It took him awhile to discern the voice of the Lord, but Samuel quickly developed a "listening ear." Christians need to learn to discern the voice of God as well!
In the opening chapter of 1 Samuel we are introduced to Elkanah and Hannah, the parents of Samuel. For many years Hannah was unable to conceive, and her deep emotional and spiritual pain are revealed to us in this story. But so is her hope. Hannah is a remarkable woman who models for us how to have hope in the midst of deep disappointment and anguish. In today's study, Pastor Gary examines three things Hannah did to maintain hope in the midst of her pain.
In the book of Ruth we see a dual love story: not only does the book of Ruth record the love between Boaz and Ruth, but it also portrays the love of Christ for humanity. In a similar way that Boaz goes beyond the Law to redeem Ruth and marry her out of his love for her, so Jesus went beyond the Law to redeem us from sin and make us His bride out of His love for us. Join Pastor Gary Hamrick for today's conclusion to the book of Ruth in a teaching entitled, "Love and Redemption."
The book of Ruth is a love story-an actual love story between two people, and a love story on a deeper level between Christ and humanity. In today's study, we examine the actual love story between Ruth and Boaz and draw principles for healthy relationships. We also see the providential hand of God at work to unite these two individuals into a loving relationship with an ultimate purpose. Join us in Ruth 2 for today's study on "Romance and Providence".
Life can have unpredictable twists and turns resulting in heartache and hardships. In the book of Ruth, Naomi certainly had her share. Her husband dies, her two sons die, and she is left destitute, homeless, and hopeless. But God has a way of taking our bitter lives and making them better. Join Pastor Gary for part 2 of today's study from Ruth chapter 1.
In the opening chapter of Ruth we find a family dealing with the hardship of a famine in the land of Israel. In an attempt to escape the famine, they flee to Moab. But was that really God's will? When adversity strikes, most people react in one of three ways: flight, fright, or fight. This family opted to flee, but things didn't turn out very well. How do you typically deal with difficulties? Ruth is a beautiful story of love and redemption, but in this first chapter, there are some lessons to learn about handling adversity.
Not everyone understands what Easter is all about. Some are simply uninformed. Others have been misinformed about who Jesus is and about the true meaning of Easter. Still others have been transformed by a personal relationship with the risen Lord Jesus! We serve a LIVING Lord, and He still transforms lives today. Join us as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Join us for a special Palm Sunday message from Pastor Gary Hamrick on location in Jerusalem, Israel.
As we close out the book of Judges, we see a dismal view of the spiritual and moral condition of Israel. It tells us in the closing chapters that the Israelites "did that which was right in their own eyes." In other words, they had not abandoned a sense of right and wrong, but they had rejected God's definition of right and wrong and replaced it with their own. No nation is safe when it operates independent of God's definition of right and wrong. Unfortunately, we are heading that direction in America, and Christians must be willing to stand for God's truth and to do what is right in HIS eyes.
In part 2 about the life of Samson, Pastor Gary teaches on the price that Samson paid for his compromise. It all culminated in his relationship with Delilah who turned him over to the Philistines for a sum of money. One of the saddest verses in all of the Bible describes Samson in Judges 16:20 - "But he did not know that the Lord had left him." Though Samson was a man who demonstrated some faithful deeds (and that's why he's listed in the 'Hall of Faith' in Hebrews 11), he was not a very faithful person. He was physically strong, but morally weak. We can learn a lot from his troubled life.
Many people are familiar with the story of Samson to some degree--that he was physically strong and that he had a relationship with a woman named Delilah. What many may not understand, is that his relationship with Delilah was not his ultimate downfall. His downfall came as a result of a series of smaller compromises along the way. All his life, he made one compromise after another that led to his ultimate fall. As Christians, we must also be aware of the "little" compromises we make along the way that lead to bigger problems and dishonor God.
In the story of Jephthah, the eighth judge of Israel, we read of a man who was a valiant warrior for Israel, but who made a terrible vow to God. What he actually meant with his words and what he actually did to fulfill his vow have been a matter of great debate among Bible scholars. But whatever he did, we can learn some important principles on how much our words matter to God. Turn to Judges 10 as Pastor Gary takes us through the story of Jephthah, Judge of Israel.
Although Gideon, the fifth Judge of Israel, was a valiant warrior and hero of Israel, the last half of Gideon's life was not as noble as the first half. He marred his life and legacy by engaging in IDOLATRY and ADULTERY. Apparently it was easier for Gideon to remain faithful to God during a time of national emergency than it was to be faithful in simple, ordinary, every day ways. The lesson for us-it doesn't matter how well we start; it matters more how well we finish.
The story of Gideon is about courage and a demonstration of God's power against all odds. A small Israeli army of 300 will defeat a massive Midianite army of thousands. But with God, nothing is impossible! In the course of God selecting Gideon to be the fifth judge of Israel, Gideon asks God three important questions. In today's study, Pastor Gary will be unpacking those three questions that are commonly asked today as well.
When the Israelites were oppressed by their enemies due to their own sin, God raised up Deborah to be judge-the only woman judge. Through her oversight and leadership, Israel experienced victory over the Canaanites and enjoyed 40 years of peace. But it was another woman-Jael-who is credited with a great victory when she single-handedly killed the Canaanite general named Sisera. Find out in today's study how Sisera is a picture of our own flesh, and how we must also be willing to put to death some things in our lives.
The people of Israel enjoy many years of peace under the leadership of the various judges. But when the judges die, the people fall back into sin and idolatry. Their faith would rise and fall on the backs of their leaders. It's a pattern throughout Judges that reminds us to keep our focus on Jesus ONLY, not on people. People may fail us or disappoint us, but Jesus never will!
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites began to revert to their old ways of idolatry. It was due in large part to the pagan influences that they allowed to remain in the land. They were unwilling to dislodge the pagan people who led them down a pagan path. The result was devastating. Pastor Gary teaches on the 3 Stages of a Christian's life in today's study from Judges 1 entitled, "Conquer, or Be Conquered."
The last two chapters of Joshua (Ch.23-24) record the final counsel of a dying man. Just before Joshua dies at the age of 110, he takes time to impart final words of exhortation to the nation of Israel. His counsel is timeless and we can learn from his advice. Pastor Gary digs out four important truths from these closing chapters of the book of Joshua.
When the Israelites had settled the Promised Land a rumor started circulating that some of the Israelites were engaging in false worship. Hearsay nearly led to a civil war! Have you ever heard something and jumped to conclusions without knowing all the facts? Sure. We all have. But this story is a good reminder to us that we have a duty and obligation to "believe the best until we know the rest." Pastor Gary takes us on a survey of Joshua 10-21 and lands in Chapter 22 for today's study entitled, "Rumors, Hearsay, and Half-truths."
Have you ever thought your phone was vibrating in your pocket but no one had called or texted? Have you ever smelled something, or tasted something, or seen something that turned out not to be as it appeared? That's because our senses are not always reliable. They can deceive us. And that's exactly what happened in Joshua 9 between the leaders of Israel and the Gibeonites. The leaders of Israel made a treaty of peace with their enemies because they had been deceived by them. But it would be a decision the Israelites would have to live with. Join Pastor Gary for today's study from Joshua 9.
Nothing is hidden from God. He sees and hears it all. So when an Israelite named Achan deliberately, willfully, and secretly sinned against God, God knew. The ripple effect of Achan's sin and the consequences that followed were VERY costly. In today's study from Joshua 7, Pastor Gary unfolds important lessons from this tragic story that will help us in our relationship with God as we examine our own hearts for any unconfessed sin.
Join us for our annual Question and Answer service where Pastor Gary answers your bible questions.
How many people in our world are "celebrating" Christmas, but missing the BIG STORY? They are busy decorating trees, baking cookies, attending parties, exchanging gifts, but all the while are unaware of the true meaning of this holiday (holy-day). God entered our world so He could die for our sins. He came to a sleepy town, was laid in a humble manger, and was announced to a sinful world. Join us as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
As the Israelites prepare to take the city of Jericho, the Lord appears to Joshua and sets the parameters for this conquest. The encounter that Joshua has with God provides some key lessons for us about the character and nature of God, and how we ought to examine ourselves in light of who He is. Join Pastor Gary for the conclusion to chapter 5 and the first part of Joshua 6 in today's study entitled, "Lessons from Jericho."
In the course of our lives we will experience shame and disgrace - either because of what we've done, or because of what has been done to us. Through no fault of their own, the Israelites suffered shame and disgrace as slaves in Egypt for 400 years. But as soon as they entered the Promised Land, God did something to "roll away" the reproach of Egypt. It's a good lesson for all of us who have felt the shame and disgrace of our own past too. Join Pastor Gary in today's study from Joshua 5:1-12.
Join us as Pastor Andy Wagner teaches from Philippians chapter 4 about what it means to find contentment.
Our annual Thanksgiving Eve service is devoted entirely to worship and testimonies, giving God thanks for all He has done in the past year.
After more than 400 years of slavery and wilderness wanderings, the Israelites cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land of Israel. They are finally home! Their experience will be a major transition, to say the least. How they made this dramatic transition is a good example to us for the times when we experience change. Life is full of transitions--some we can control, and some we cannot. Follow along in today's study from Joshua 3-4 as we learn principles for "Making Transitions."
Before the Israelites besiege the city of Jericho in the Promised Land, Joshua sends two spies on a "Recon Mission." They find lodging at the home of a prostitute named Rahab who has heard about the God of Israel. She asks the spies for mercy, and they agree to spare her and her family provided that she ties a "scarlet cord" to the window of her home. This "scarlet cord" would be her "saving grace" and is a picture of the saving grace of Jesus by His blood! Perhaps you've made a mess of your life through bad choices and you've wondered at times, "Could God ever bring something wonderful out of my life?" The answer from a Canaanite prostitute is a resounding, "Yes!"
There comes a time in all of our lives when we have to "own" our faith. We can't always lean on other people for our relationship with God. The time for Joshua came when Moses died. That's when God told Joshua, "Be strong and courageous" adding "for I will never leave you nor forsake you." Those are timeless words for us as well! God tells us two things from Joshua 1 that will strengthen our relationship with Him. Join us for today's Bible study with Pastor Gary Hamrick.
As we close out the book of Deuteronomy, Pastor Gary takes a look at the three songs Moses wrote-one here in Deuteronomy 32, one in Exodus 15, and one in Revelation 15. Taken together, these three songs paint the story of the entire Gospel! Join us as we conclude our study through the book of Deuteronomy with a teaching entitled, "The Songs of Moses."
What is the difference in the Bible between a PRINCIPLE and a PROMISE? Understanding this difference will help to make sense of Deuteronomy 27-30 where God pronounces blessings and curses upon the Israelites for their obedience or disobedience. What can we learn from these chapters that apply to us today? Find out in today's study with Pastor Gary Hamrick.
Join us as guest speaker Dwight Knight teaches from Deuteronomy lessons of learning the law, loving the Lord, living the life, and leaving a legacy.
As Moses continues to instruct the Israelites about "what they need to know before they go", we come to a section in Deuteronomy 26 about "first fruits" and "tithes". Moses told the Israelites that once they crossed into the Promised Land, they should regularly remember to honor God with what they had by giving back to Him a tenth (a tithe). What principles can we learn about tithing for today? Find out in today's study with Pastor Gary Hamrick from Deuteronomy 26.
Before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, one of the things God instructed them to do once they crossed into the land was to establish certain cities called "Cities of Refuge". These cities were intended to provide protection and shelter for someone in trouble-a place of refuge for those who had accidentally committed a crime. In a similar way, Jesus is our city of refuge-One we can run to when in trouble; One we can turn to when in sin. Join Pastor Gary in today's study from Deuteronomy 19-25.
Are you aware of how much the culture around you is aggressively trying to shape you into its mold? Moses warned the Israelites of that very thing before they entered into the Promised Land - that they should beware of the ungodly influences from the pagan people around them. Paul cautions us from Romans 12:2 about this problem as well and tells us to "no longer be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed..." Follow along in today's Bible study as we learn from the book of Deuteronomy.
Hardship has a natural way of moving us closer to God. When life is difficult, we tend to pray more, read our Bibles more, and turn to God more. But when life is good, we tend to forget God. This was God's warning to the Israelites when they were about to enter the Promised Land - "When life is good, don't forget Me!" Many of us can relate to this important truth! How can we remember to stay close to God in the good times too? Find out in today's Bible study as Pastor Gary shares five principles from Deuteronomy 5-9.
As we start a new book study through Deuteronomy, Pastor Gary takes a look at Chapter 4 where Moses begins to restate the Law of God to a new generation of Israelites. Before entering the Promised Land, Moses emphasizes three important reasons to keep God's Word and how it benefits three groups of people-ourselves, our neighbors, and our children. It's relevant truth for today! So join us for today's Bible study of Deuteronomy 1-4.
In the book of Numbers, the word "inheritance" is found 42 times. The inheritance that the Israelites are about to receive is LAND. The Promised Land. God had sworn it on oath to Abraham nearly 600 years earlier (Gen. 15:18). Their inheritance was the motivation they needed to persevere through the wilderness. In a similar way, God has promised us an inheritance in Christ which motivates us through difficult times as well. Follow along in today's study from the closing chapters of the book of Numbers.
In Numbers 22 we are introduced to a man named Balaam. He is hired by King Balak to curse God's people. But every time he opens his mouth, God puts a blessing on his lips instead of a curse. Realizing he can't curse God's people, Balaam resorts to a tactic that will have devastating consequences among the Israelites. It is still the same tactic that Satan uses today to destroy God's people. Find out what we need to learn from this passage in Numbers 22-25 as Pastor Gary teaches, "Beware of Balaam."
Numbers 21 tells us that when the Israelites rebelled against God in the wilderness, He brought venomous snakes against them as judgment. But when Moses prayed on their behalf, God provided a remedy so that they would live. Jesus compares this remedy to His own death on the cross in John 3 when He talks about being "born again." What does "born again" mean and how can you experience it today? Find out in today's study with Pastor Gary Hamrick.
Have you ever felt like you've blown your witness? Moses knows how you feel. He misrepresented God before the Israelites and it caused him to forfeit entrance into the Promised Land. Fortunately for him (and for us), God did not forsake him, but gave him a greater and more glorious "Promised Land" with Heaven. Still, we can learn from his mistake and be reminded of the importance to represent Christ well in our world. Today's study is from Numbers 20 entitled, "Watch Your Witness".
In today's study from Numbers 17, Pastor Gary takes us through the miracle of the budding of Aaron's staff. This miracle was not only God's way of communicating His choice of Aaron as High Priest, but it also expressed some important things concerning God's character and nature toward us. Have you ever felt hopeless and "dead"? Have you wondered if God could ever use you again because of past sin or present pain? Then follow along in today's study for this timely encouragement from God's Word.
In today's message, Pastor Gary Hamrick gives a Biblical response to the recent Supreme Court decisions concerning same-sex marriage. These rulings are being viewed by many legal scholars as landmark decisions that will open the floodgates for same-sex marriage across the country. How should we respond? What are our responsibilities as Christians on this topic? Pastor Gary expounds on three words...LEARN, LOVE, and LIVE. Join us for today's study on this sensitive subject.
Join us for a special remote teaching from Gary Hamrick in the Garden of Gethsemane and the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, Israel.
In Numbers 16 the Israelites continue to complain-and now it is against God's appointed leaders, Moses and Aaron. Korah leads a rebellion, along with 250 community leaders, all of whom will die by the end of the story. It is a harsh but important reminder to us about the evil of a rebellious spirit against authority. Unless the authority we are under is immoral, unethical, or illegal in nature, we must submit ourselves and learn what God is teaching us in the process. Pastor Gary discusses three typical roots of rebellion in today's study from Numbers 16.
Out of the twelve spies who were sent to spy out the Promised Land, only two (Joshua and Caleb) returned with good news. The other ten "spread a bad report" among the Israelites. Unfortunately, the Israelites believed the bad report and it would cost them their lives. They would never enter in to God's generous land-a land "flowing with milk and honey"-because of their unbelief. Only their children, and Joshua and Caleb would enter. God said that Caleb had a "different spirit". Find out in today's study what that meant and how we can have courage like Caleb.
The sister and brother of Moses oppose him because of his "Cushite wife." Then they assert themselves as leaders that God can speak to just like He does to Moses. God hears their pride and prejudice and His anger "burned against them." Their story is a good reminder for us to examine any pride or prejudice in our hearts, confess it as sin, and ask God to give us a new heart toward others. Follow along with Pastor Gary in today's study from Numbers 12.
A group of people living among the Israelites in the wilderness were called "the rabble." They had exited Egypt with the Hebrew slaves, though they did not belong to the people of God. Their bad influence proved to be a snare to the Israelites that resulted in the death of many. In today's study from Numbers 11, Pastor Gary reminds us that there are modern-day rabbles intent on derailing God's plans and purposes for your life as well. Beware of the rabble and stay true to God and yourself.
When the Israelites set out from Mt. Sinai to the Promised Land, they were completely dependent upon the guidance and direction of God. God appeared as a "cloud by day" and "fire by night" to lead the way. Whenever His presence moved, the people moved. Whenever His presence stopped, the people stopped. In today's study from Numbers 7, Pastor Gary uses this passage to remind us to be as dependent upon God for our direction in life too. We will be looking at three ways to "test" the will of God for our lives.
In Numbers 6, the Lord tells Moses to instruct the priests (Aaron and his sons) to pronounce a blessing upon the people. Because this blessing comes through the priests it has been commonly referred to as "The Priestly Blessing." But that's not entirely correct. The priests are just the vessels; it was the LORD's blessing. And He wanted it spoken over each worshiper who came to the Tabernacle for the daily sacrifice. Join Pastor Gary for today's study as we examine "The LORD's Blessing."
In Numbers 6 we read of a voluntary vow that men and women could make to show their separation, consecration, and dedication to God. In today's study, Pastor Gary will take a look at the historical reasons for this vow and offer practical ways that it can still be practiced today.
In the opening chapters of the book of Numbers, God instructs Moses to count the fighting men, age 20 and over. The census reveals a population of fighting men to be 603,550. But when you add older men, women, and children, the total population of Israelites is probably around 2.5 - 3 million people! The miracle of their sustenance every day for 40 years in the wilderness is a lesson for us to learn, as well as a few other principles in today's study entitled, "Life by the Numbers."
According to a recent survey of Americans, only 42% knew the true meaning of Easter-a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! But what does that great event mean for you personally? What did Jesus actually accomplish for you by His death and resurrection? Pastor Gary shares three things from God's Word about what Easter means for you-FORGIVENESS, HOPE, and the promise of HEAVEN! Join us for our 2013 celebration of our Risen Lord!
The crowds that welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday quickly turned against Him a few days later. Their cheers went from "Hosanna!" to "Crucify Him", largely because Jesus did not fulfill their selfish expectations. They were hoping for a political reformer-a king who would overthrow Rome. But Jesus came with a greater mission as a spiritual redeemer to die on the cross for our sins! In today's study, Pastor Gary challenges us from the Palm Sunday story to keep Christ as King even when He doesn't "perform" the way we want.
In the closing chapters of Leviticus, we read about seven Feasts that God implemented for the people to celebrate. These Feasts are both historic and prophetic in nature. They commemorate historic events in Israel's past as well as anticipate future events related to the 1st and 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ! Join Pastor Gary for the conclusion of our study through the book of Leviticus.
The book of Leviticus means "things pertaining to the Levites", and is somewhat a handbook for the priests. They were responsible, in part, for distinguishing between the "holy and the common" and the "unclean and the clean." This affected many aspects of Jewish life-food, skin diseases, hygiene, and sexual relations. But all of this ultimately pointed to the uncleanness of the human heart and our need for the purifying work of the Savior, Jesus Christ.
In the Old Testament, God made a way for man to WORSHIP Him and have FELLOWSHIP with Him through sacrifices and feasts. Today, Pastor Gary starts a 3-part series through the book of Leviticus beginning with the Sacrifices. We will see the parallels between the Leviticus offerings and the sacrifice of Jesus who died for the sins of the world.
Someone or something has probably shaped your view of God. Either a person or a particular event in your life or the way you were raised has impacted your perception of God. However, that perception may not be true or biblically accurate. In Exodus 34, God Himself gives us seven dominant qualities and one lesser quality of His nature. Today, we will explore what God says about Himself and see if our own personal perception of God lines up with the truth.
While Moses was away for 40 days receiving instructions from the Lord atop Mt. Sinai, the Israelites were back at camp engaging in wild parties and the worship of a golden calf. They had quickly abandoned the Lord and resorted to their old ways. What lessons can we learn from this tragic story and how can we avoid similar compromises? Pastor Gary addresses those questions and more in today's study from Exodus 32.
When God gave instructions to Moses about building a Tabernacle and installing a Priesthood, it was for the purpose of God communing with His people, and the people communing with God. And just as the Tabernacle pointed to the ultimate "dwelling of God with men" in the person of Jesus Christ, so the Priesthood points to Jesus as our High Priest. Join Pastor Gary for today's Bible study from Exodus 28-31.
In the Old Testament, God implemented the building of the Tabernacle and the order of the priesthood as a means of connecting and communing with His people. God is a personal God who wants relationship with mankind. In the design of the Tabernacle and its articles, we see a picture of the Trinity and we see Jesus as the One who ultimately came to "tabernacle" among us! Join Pastor Gary as we look into Exodus 25 in today's study.
After the Israelites received the 10 Commandments from God, they remained camped at the base of Mt. Sinai for another year. During this time, God taught them laws and judgments, and various instructions so that they might know Him better. He promised to guide them, guard them, and grow them "little by little". The same is true for us today. Join Pastor Gary Hamrick in today's study from Exodus 21-24.
Pastor Gary Hamrick examines the biblical truth of "fearing God". So often we focus on the "love of God" or the "grace of God", but did you know that the Bible also tells us that we should have "the fear of God"? What does it mean to fear God in a healthy way, and what are the benefits and blessings for doing so? Join us for today's Bible study entitled, "20:20 Vision-the Fear of God" from Exodus 20:20.
Join us for our annual Question and Answer services as Pastors Gary Hamrick and Andy Wagner do their best to answer your Bible questions.
Many of us make good resolutions for the New Year. We want to lose 10 pounds, eat healthier, and get organized. Too often, our focus gets overwhelmed by all of the good resolutions that we make and we miss the crucial lessons that God has for us. Join us as we examine two crucial commands from the gospel of Matthew that can't be ignored if we want to be disciples of Jesus.
Christmas is always a time for us to focus our hearts on the birth of Jesus Christ-when God took on flesh and entered our world to die for our sins. Pastor Gary shares the Christmas story from Matthew's gospel and invites us to open our hearts to Jesus, the one the angel called, "a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
In this final teaching from the 10 Commandments, Pastor Gary Hamrick examines the word "covet" and what it means to "desire enviously that which belongs to another." If covetousness is like a tree, then there are generally 5 roots that nourish it: envy, jealousy, greed, lust, and discontentment. Join us for today's Bible study as we ask the Lord to help us put an ax to the root of covetousness.
Is it ever OK to tell a lie? What if it's one of those little "white lies" to protect someone's feelings? The 9th Commandment is a call to TRUTHFULNESS. God is the "God of truth" (Psalm 31:5) and "it is impossible for Him to lie" (Heb. 6:18). Therefore, God wants His children to walk in similar honesty and truthfulness. We invite you to open your Bible to Exodus 20:16 for our continuing study in the 10 Commandments with Pastor Gary Hamrick.
God has established the rights of individuals to possess property and to be stewards (managers) of all that God owns. When people steal, they not only sin against the one who possess the property, but they also sin against the One who loaned it in the first place, namely-God. Besides the obvious "taking" what doesn't belong to you, have you ever considered the MANY ways that we "steal" from one another? Join Pastor Gary Hamrick for today's study of the 8th Commandment.
According to a recent Gallup poll, 92% of Americans think that adultery is "morally wrong." And yet, not as many people practice what they believe. God values marriage and ordained it as a loving, lasting, binding, holy, life-long covenant between a man and a woman. Adultery violates this sacred bond and leaves countless lives devastated in its aftermath. Still, there is forgiveness and grace for those who have fallen. In today's study, Pastor Gary Hamrick offers 3 things we can do to honor the 7th Commandment.
Our annual Thanksgiving Eve service is devoted entirely to worship and testimonies, giving God thanks for all He has done in the past year.
In today's study from Exodus 20:13, Pastor Gary Hamrick examines Commandment #6 "You shall not murder." What is the difference between killing someone and murdering someone? What are the ethical issues facing our society today about death and dying? Take your Bible and join us for this continuing study through the 10 Commandments.
God defined the family as the foundation of a healthy society. And He calls children in each family to honor, respect, and obey their parents so that they might grow up to be respectful citizens who honor God and others. Unfortunately, some parents are not instilling these virtues in their children, and therefore the next generation is growing up largely devoid of these qualities. Join us today as Pastor Gary Hamrick teaches Commandment #5 from Exodus 20:12.
In light of the 2012 Elections, Pastor Gary Hamrick shares a Biblical perspective on the moral and political issues facing us today. We will be challenged from Scripture to have a VIEW, a VOICE, and a VOTE in this year's election.
God implemented a Sabbath rest for our benefit and for His honor. In today's study of Commandment #4, Pastor Gary Hamrick looks at some of the historical, traditional, and biblical views of the "Sabbath". We will examine the Practice, Purpose, and Principle of the Sabbath from Exodus 20:8-11.
Join us as guest speaker Rob Hoskins, president of OneHope, and author of the book "Hope Delivered", teaches about Paul's Prescriptive Prayer from Ephesians 1.
God reveals Himself in the Bible by more than 350 names and titles besides His proper name, Yahweh. He does this to express the vastness of His character and nature. Thus, when we misuse God's Name (or "take it in vain"), we malign, dishonor, and disrespect the character and nature of God. Pastor Gary Hamrick shares three common ways we might be guilty of breaking the 3rd Commandment in today's study from Exodus 20:7.
The 2nd Commandment is a prohibition against creating something with your hands or your heart that either reduces God or replaces God. In this study, Pastor Gary takes a look at how Israel was guilty of breaking this commandment, and how modern forms of idolatry still exist today.
In the first of the Ten Commandments, Pastor Gary takes us into the historical and practical reasons behind this commandment. Israel was surrounded by pagan gods of other cultures that had, unfortunately, influenced them away from the True and Living God. Today, our culture is similar--very pluralistic and polytheistic as well. We must make a choice that God will be God, and we must examine our own hearts for ways that we have allowed false gods to enter in.
The Ten Commandments (sometimes called "The Decalogue") expresses God's moral standard for human behavior toward God and toward others. They are not antiquated, irrelevant laws, but rather timeless, unchanging truth for every human society. Unfortunately, more and more, their guiding influence in America is being threatened in the courts and disregarded in our culture. Today begins an 11-week series on the Ten Commandments. Join Pastor Gary for this introduction from Exodus 19.
Have you noticed? Life can be filled with its share of battles. What do you do when trouble comes? How do you handle the challenges of life? Exodus 17 details the first battle that the Israelites faced since leaving Egypt on their way to the Promised Land. God gave them the victory they needed, and then instructs Moses to "write it down" as something "to be remembered." Turn to Exodus 17 as we look at the important things to remember about facing "battles" of our own.
When God provided manna in the wilderness as food for the Hebrews on their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, He taught them several valuable lessons on matters like obedience, trust, rest, and satisfaction. These life lessons are still important for us, and Pastor Gary discusses them in today's study through Exodus 16.
The Israelites were delivered from 400 years of slavery in Egypt by the mighty, miraculous hand of God. They rejoiced and sang and danced! But three days later they were complaining, grumbling, and whining about things, and that would characterize their lives throughout the entire journey to the Promised Land. In fact, it would get so bad, that their constant complaining would be their downfall--they would never enter the Promised Land; only their children would. Do you have a complaining attitude or a thankful heart? Pastor Gary teaches on this in today's study from Exodus 15.
The miraculous parting of the Red Sea was the open door the Hebrews needed to escape 400 years of slavery in Egypt. But oddly enough, when they saw the Egyptians coming after them, the Hebrews were so terrified that they wished they had never left Egypt in the first place. It is a sad day when slavery seems a better alternative than freedom; when your past seems brighter than your future. Follow along in today's study as Pastor Gary delivers a teaching entitled, "It's Time to Move On."
The 10th and final plague that God brought against the Egyptians for holding the Israelites in slavery for 400 years was the most severe and grievous-the death of the firstborn sons in all of Egypt. But God made gracious provision for the Israelites and instructed them to mark the doorframes of their homes with the blood of a lamb in order to be protected from this plague of death. In the New Testament, Paul tells us that Christ is "our Passover Lamb." God has made gracious provision for us to be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ! Join Pastor Gary for this study in Exodus 12 and Luke 22.
In order to free the Israelites from their 400 years of slavery in Egypt, God uses Ten Plagues to display His mighty hand. Each of these plagues is a direct assault against a particular Egyptian god so that the Egyptians might realize how illegitimate their gods are and how real the True God is. What would God have to strip away from your life in order for Him to be the last God standing? Is He priority in your life? Have other 'gods' crept in to steal your heart away from the True and Living God? Join Pastor Gary today in Exodus 7-11 for a study on the Ten Plagues.
When God told Moses to approach Pharaoh about letting the Israelites go free from their lives as slaves in Egypt, Pharaoh refused. The Bible said he had "a hard heart" and he's a picture of many people who have become stubborn toward God. What will it take to break us? What will we have to go through before our stubborn, hard hearts are finally surrendered to Him? Take your Bible and join us for today's study in Exodus 5-6.
Parents today are overwhelmed with all of the new techniques that exist to try to help them raise kids. Most of the new ideas are not based on God's Word and are mistaken in their assumptions about human nature, discipline, and love. The Bible makes it clear that parents are to discipline their children with love and prepare them for adulthood and eternity. This weekend's sermon looks at God's example and also examples from the book of Proverbs.
When God heard the cries of the Israelite slaves living in Egypt, He raised up Moses to be their deliverer. God spoke to Moses from a burning bush and He called Moses to go back to Egypt and lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. But Moses had a few questions and objections that are similar to the reluctance many Christians have in serving God today. Join Pastor Gary Hamrick in Exodus 3-4 for today's teaching entitled, "Overcoming the Moses Mindset."
When Moses killed an Egyptian, he thought he was doing God and his fellow Hebrews a favor. He understood God's call upon his life, but he miscalculated the timing of that calling. God would take another 40 years to prepare him to be the Deliverer/Prophet to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land of Israel. Often times, Christians make a similar mistake of wanting to discern the WHAT of God's will, but not the WHEN of God's will. Join Pastor Gary Hamrick for today's study in Exodus 2 entitled, "Timing is Everything."
After 400 years of slavery in Egypt, the Hebrew people raised their cry to heaven and God responded. Their endurance of hardships serves as a reminder to us about how to handle the difficulties of life. And though our lives cannot be compared to the horrible mistreatment of slavery, the story of Exodus 1 helps us to remember that God does indeed hear us and care about us through whatever trials we face.
In the closing chapters of Genesis, Joseph dies at the age of 110, and his father, Jacob, dies at the age of 147. Before Jacob dies, he gathers his twelve sons around him to pronounce paternal and prophetic blessings or rebukes upon his sons that are largely influenced by the lives they have lived up to that point. What we learn is that "the life we live will be the legacy we leave." But there is one exception to this rule that reminds us of the redeeming work of Jesus who gives us a new legacy in Him! Join us today for our Bible study from Genesis 49.
Joseph hasn't seen his family in 22 years. But God is providentially working behind the scenes to reunite him with his brothers who had betrayed him and sold him into slavery. The reunion will be one of forgiving and being forgiven, and will serve as a reminder to us that God calls us to do our part to "be at peace with all men" (Rom. 12:18). Are there people in your life that you need to forgive? Are there people in your life that you need to ask their forgiveness? Join Pastor Gary for today's Bible study from Genesis 42-45.
Between Genesis 40-41, Joseph interprets four dreams from God. The book of Genesis mentions more dreams from God than any other book of the Bible. All together there are more than 100 dreams from God throughout the Bible. Can God still speak to us through dreams today? How can we tell a natural dream from a supernatural one? Join Pastor Gary Hamrick today as we take a look at what the Bible has to say about dreams from God.
Pastor Gary Hamrick concludes this two-part message on the topic of Temptation. Once we understand temptation-how it operates and how we are all subject to it (part 1)-we must then vigilantly fight against it! The world teaches us to indulge ourselves and to cover it up. But the Bible teaches us to resist temptation, then God will be honored and we will be blessed. Join us today as we continue to look at the life of Joseph who modeled some of these fighting principles from Genesis 39.
Everyone is subject to temptation. We all share common struggles. The key to resisting temptation is to first understand what it is and how it operates. The story of Joseph in Genesis 39 gives us some biblical help in this area and shows us a wonderful example of a man who remained true to God in the face of temptation. Join Pastor Gary Hamrick for part one of a two-part series on Temptation.
When we come to the life of Joseph in Genesis 37, we are introduced to a young man of tremendous virtue and character. He is a model of integrity, purity, and holiness. He's an example of faithfulness in the midst of adversity and of forgiveness in the face of mistreatment. We are also introduced to the "Doctrine of Providence" as we see the hand of God working in mighty ways "behind the scenes" to promote His good purposes. Join us today for our Bible study in Genesis 37.
As Jacob returns to the place where he first encountered God, he realizes that he has allowed his life and his home to become compromised. He calls his family to rid themselves of the ungodly influences that have crept into their hearts and into their home. Then Jacob buries the idols once and for all. This passage is a good reminder to all of us that we must regularly assess the sinful things we allow to creep into our lives, or carry over from our past, and bury them! Husbands and fathers must especially fight for their families and be the spiritual leaders God has called them to be.
Join us as Pastor Andy Wagner shares with us from John 13 about how to love one another.
When Jesus died on the cross, His followers thought it was bad news. Three days later, some women, who were followers of Jesus, went to the tomb but found it empty! Two angels told them that Jesus had risen from the dead, just as He had said. When the women reported this great news to the disciples, the disciples thought the women were speaking "nonsense." But after the Resurrected Lord appeared to them, they finally made sense of the nonsense-Jesus had triumphed over sin and death and offers life to all who believe! Join us for Easter 2012 as we celebrate the good news of the resurrection!
Jacob continues to mature in the Lord and become a more surrendered man of God, but he still struggles with being deceptive. God is going to visit him and wrestle with him to teach Jacob something about "submission." There is a point in all our lives when Jesus must be more than "Savior"; He must also be our "Lord." Jacob is learning something about "Lordship", and he will not let go of God! Take your Bibles and turn to Genesis 31 as we study today about "Wrestling with God."
While God is hammering out some character flaws and sin issues in Jacob's life, He is also working on other people in Jacob's family. In particular, God takes note of the fact that Jacob's wife, Leah, was unloved. She will go through the painful realization that only God can satisfy the deepest longings of her soul for love and acceptance. Turn in your Bibles to Genesis 29 for today's study with Pastor Gary Hamrick entitled, "For the Love of Leah."
Jacob is on the run from his angry brother, Esau. On the way to Haran, Jacob has an encounter with God through a dream. The dream is of a stairway, or ladder, from earth to heaven with angels ascending and descending, and the Lord at the top of the stairway. Through this divine dream, Jacob learns a few things about the character and nature of God that remain good lessons for us today about the PURSUIT, the PRESENCE, and the PROVISION of God. Turn in your Bibles to Genesis 28 as Pastor Gary Hamrick shares "Lessons from a Ladder."
After Esau was treated with such deception and dishonesty by his brother, the Bible tells us that he "held a grudge" against Jacob. It was so severe that Esau even had thoughts of murdering his brother. Maybe you haven't been angry enough to want to kill someone, but all of us have had to deal with feelings of anger, resentment or bitterness over the way someone has treated us. Unfortunately, we often become prisoners of bitterness when we hold a grudge. But there is a way to experience freedom from resentment! Join Pastor Gary Hamrick today as we tackle this subject from the closing verses of Genesis 27.
"What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." The story of Isaac's family in Genesis 27 is a clear illustration of this saying. Every person is manipulating or deceiving another member of the family either to hinder the work of God or to hasten the work of God for personal gain. Unfortunately, they serve as examples of how NOT to behave. We will learn more lessons from this flawed family in today's study with Pastor Gary Hamrick entitled, "A Web of Deception."
After twenty years of infertility, God blesses Isaac and Rebekah with twins--Jacob and Esau. Unfortunately, we learn quickly that the entire family is flawed with favoritism, manipulation, deception, and fleshly desires. They are not unlike ourselves. Still, amazingly, this family is part of God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and now Jacob. It's another example of how God uses flawed, ordinary people to accomplish His perfect, extraordinary work. Let's learn lessons together from Genesis 25 as Pastor Gary teaches on "Jacob and Esau: Double Trouble."
The wedding story of Isaac and Rebekah is not only a literal love story, but it's a spiritual picture of Christ's love for the Church. In addition, it provides for us important principles for relationships and marriages that honor God. Divorce rates are high and single households now out number married households in America. Still, marriage was ordained by God and His Word gives us principles for holy and healthy relationships. Join Pastor Gary Hamrick for today's study in Genesis 24.
After twenty-five years of waiting, Abraham and Sarah finally got what God had promised-a baby born to them in their old age. Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 when Isaac was born! God waited until they were past their prime so that everyone would know the birth of Isaac was a supernatural event. But then God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. And just when Abraham was about to carry through with this obedient act, God provided a ram as a substitutionary sacrifice. Find out in today's study how Isaac is a picture of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament as Pastor Gary teaches on "A Sacrifice of Love."
In Genesis 19 we read the troubling account of a city so wicked that God decides to judge it with burning sulfur from heaven. Equally troubling is the account of a man named Lot who lived in that city of Sodom and whose life had become marred with compromise. He had become so immune to the depravity around him that God had to send two angels to forcibly remove Lot and his family from Sodom as an act of mercy. How do we become immune to the sin around us, and in us? And what are the things we lose when compromise creeps into our lives? Learn a lesson from Lot in today's study with Pastor Gary Hamrick.
In today's teaching from Genesis 16, Pastor Gary takes a look at the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Sarah's maidservant, Hagar. Even though God had promised Abraham that his descendants would be numerous, he and Sarah agreed to a fleshly act to "hasten" God's promise-that Abraham should father a child with Hagar. But the conflict, mistreatment, blaming, and fighting that ensues serve to illustrate how bad things get when we don't wait for God's plan. God is faithful, but we must WAIT on Him!
In today's study from Genesis 15, Pastor Gary takes a look at the word "covenant." What does covenant mean? And what does it mean that God is a covenant God? Some people struggle with an incorrect view of God - that He is too far away; that He wants us to take a few steps in His direction and then He will meet us in the middle. But actually, the Bible teaches that God is near to us and He has taken all the steps in our direction. Covenant is about God pursuing US! All He wants of us is faith to trust Him.
God called a flawed, ordinary man to do His extraordinary work. Abraham would be the prototype of faith and the patriarch of our faith. A nation (Israel) and the Messiah (Jesus) would come from his seed. In today's Bible study from Genesis 12, find out how the principles of God's calling and blessing on Abraham's life still apply to us today.
Join us for our annual Question and Answer service where the Pastoral Staff does their best to answer your bible questions.
To many people, Christmas is simply thought of as a commercial event, a holiday "winter pageant", or a legal battle over Nativity displays. But for those who understand the true story, it's a celebration over God's gift to us--the birth of Jesus Christ--when God entered our world, took on our flesh, and would later die for our sins. This gift of God--Jesus Christ--is freely offered to all who would believe and receive Him. May you accept God's Christmas gift for you!
When the angels announced the birth of Jesus Christ, one of the things they proclaimed was "peace to men." But where is all the peace? What were they talking about? Many people are on a constant search for peace, but they often miss the kind of peace the angels promised. Join Pastor Gary Hamrick for today's Christmas message entitled, "Christmas Peace."
The ancient city of Babel (Babylon) is the place where God confused languages. Before that time, people spoke a common language and had a common vision. But their vision was self-centered instead of God-centered. Their worship was of creation instead of the Creator. In today's study, Pastor Gary takes a look at this story and compares it to our own culture with a biblical solution.
After 1600 years of human history, mankind has become so violent, wicked, and corrupt, that God determines to judge them with a Flood and start over with a remnant of eight people-Noah's family. In today's study, Pastor Gary shares four lessons from the Flood and reminds us that Jesus compared His Second Coming to the cultural conditions at the time of the Flood.
Pastor Mike Emerson takes a look at the book of Daniel, and the implications it has for us as we are being modeled after Christ.
Our annual Thanksgiving Eve service is devoted entirely to worship and testimonies, giving God thanks for all He has done in the past year.
Envy, in its extreme, can actually lead to murder. Such was the case with the first murder in human history. Cain killed Abel because he envied him-his offering, his righteousness, and his relationship with God. Envy fueled the fire of rage that exploded in murder. We see modern examples of this behavior in our own day as well. Pastor Gary takes us on a word study through the Bible in this teaching entitled, "Envy Kills".
Cain and his brother, Abel, both brought offerings to the Lord. Both brought them at the same time to the same place. But Genesis 4 tells us that God looked with favor on Abel and his offering but rejected Cain and his offering. What was the reason God accepted one and rejected the other? It's the topic of today's study with Pastor Gary Hamrick. Find out why some people are still trying to approach God by "the way of Cain" and why God still rejects that way.
After Satan deceives Eve and then she, along with Adam, disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit, God pronounces consequences upon them. He starts first with Satan, then He addresses Eve, and finally Adam. But in the midst of the punishment God pronounces upon them, He announces a plan of redemption for humanity too. Jesus Christ is revealed in Genesis 3:15 as the plan of God to "reverse the curse".
When Adam and Eve ate from the one tree that God had commanded them not to eat, they disobeyed God and sin entered the human race. The eventual result was death. Satan had not only persuaded them to believe the lies that God is not good and God is not true, but he also managed to subvert and invert God's order for the family. Open your Bibles to Genesis 3 and join Pastor Gary for today's study entitled, "Don't Eat That!"
Genesis 3 is one of the most important chapters in the Bible. It deals with the "Fall of Man" and explains what is wrong with humanity and why we need a Savior! The serpent, Satan, deceives Eve into disobeying God and we've been living with the consequences ever since. Make no mistake about it, Satan is still subtly seducing people today in ways that you may not have considered. Join Pastor Gary as we take a closer look at Genesis 3:1-4.
Among all of creation, mankind was and is the supreme display of God's splendor. Unlike the plant and animal kingdoms, only man was made in the "image" and "likeness" of God. But when God saw that it was not good for Adam to be alone, God made Eve from Adam's flesh and bone and presented her to him. In so doing, God teaches us some important principles about marriage from Genesis 2.
In today's study through Genesis 1, Pastor Gary Hamrick draws our attention to the preexistence, power, and presence of God in Creation. Join us as we take a look at the first six days of Creation.
Join Pastor Gary as he fields questions about the book of Revelation and the topic of the End Times.
After the Millennial Period, when Christ rules on the earth for 1000 years, there will be a judgment of all those who lived during that time, called the Great White Throne Judgment. And then there will be a new heaven and a new earth that God has prepared as the eternal home for those who love Him. Revelation 21 & 22 give a detailed description of this Holy City, called the New Jerusalem. Follow along in today's study as we get a glimpse of our eternal reward!
Revelation 19 outlines the glorious return of our Lord! He will come to Jerusalem as King and Judge to rule and reign over the earth for 1000 years. The 1000 Years are also known as "The Millennial Kingdom." At that time, life on earth will be marked by peace, joy, and long life. Satan will be bound for that entire time, and it will be a "utopian" society with Jesus Christ as King of the whole world.
Babylon is the second most mentioned city in the Bible (next to Jerusalem). God has a lot to say about this ancient city. Revelation tells us that it will be rebuilt and serve as the center for two things - a false religious system and a world economic system. Both will be destroyed when the Lord returns. Unfortunately, people on earth will mourn its material destruction rather than mourning their own spiritual bankruptcy. Join Pastor Gary in Revelation 17-18 for today's study.
In the last series of God's judgment, seven bowls are poured out with His wrath upon the earth. They increase in magnitude with each bowl, culminating with the Battle of Armageddon-the war to end all wars. And then the Lord returns! Join Pastor Gary in today's study through Revelation 16.
Daniel Massieh, previously named Mohammed Kamel, was born into an Egyptian Muslim family. As a devout Muslim, he was convinced that all Christians were sinners who lived wild, immoral lives. Curious about it, he decided to visit a Christian church where, instead of seeing immoral things, he found Jesus Christ! He was then ostracized by his family and imprisoned eight months by the government for trying to proselytize Muslims to faith in Christ. After his release he immigrated to the U.S. and founded "Open the Gates"--a ministry that informs people about the truth of Islam and reaches out to Muslims with the love of Jesus.
God continues to demonstrate His mercy in the midst of His wrath by sending forth an angel to proclaim the Gospel around the world. No one will be without excuse for failing to accept the Lord as Savior. God gives ample opportunities for all of us to respond to His love.
Two "beasts" emerge in Revelation 13. They are otherwise known as the Antichrist and the False Prophet. Both are empowered by Satan and used by him to achieve a one-world government and a one-world religion. People who refuse to worship the Antichrist or to receive his mark (the mark of the Beast) will be killed. Join Pastor Gary for today's study entitled, "The Demonic Duo."
Through the ages, Satan has been opposed to the redemptive plan of God. But God's purposes have always prevailed and Satan will eventually be sentenced to eternal punishment. In today's study from Revelation 12, find out the identity of three important figures-a woman, a child, and a dragon.
During the Great Tribulation, God's mercy is revealed in the midst of His wrath-"two witnesses" are dispatched to share the Gospel so that people can be saved! But who exactly are these two witnesses? And what is their mission? Find out answers to these questions and more in today's study through Revelation 10-11.
The next series of God's judgment comes in the form of 7 Trumpets. With each trumpet that is blown, additional devastation is poured out upon the earth to awaken unbelievers. Despite God's attempt to reach a fallen world, chapter 9 ends with the sad commentary that many refused to repent. They loved their sin more than God. Join Pastor Gary today in our continuing study through the book of Revelation with a look at chapters 7-9.
God begins to pour out His wrath upon a Christ-rejecting world through a series of Seven Seals that are broken as a Scroll is unraveled. This begins what is commonly referred to as the Tribulation Period that will come upon the whole earth, lasting seven years. In today's study, Pastor Gary shares the events that will mark the beginning of the Tribulation Period.
The next event on God's timetable of End-Times events is the Rapture of the Church-when the Lord will snatch Christians physically, bodily, from the earth to be in Heaven while the Tribulation occurs on earth. It is God's means of rescuing Believers from the coming wrath. But when will this happen? How can we be ready? Let's dig out Revelation 4 with Pastor Gary Hamrick in today's study entitled, "Ready for the Rapture."
The seventh and final letter to the churches in Asia Minor deals with spiritual apostasy. The Bible predicts that there will be an abandoning of the truth and a falling away from the faith in the latter days just prior to the return of Christ. We are seeing that happening in the Church today and must be on our guard against becoming self-sufficient or lukewarm about the things of God. Join Pastor Gary Hamrick as he teaches on the Church in Laodicea.
There is no perfect church. You've heard the old saying - "If you find one, don't join it: you'll ruin it!" There is, however, a model church among the seven churches of Revelation-the church in Philadelphia. Jesus commends them for several things and does not rebuke them about anything. It represents the TRUE Church that will be rescued at the rapture prior to the Tribulation that will come upon the whole earth. Find out more in today's study from Revelation 3.
2000 years ago, Jesus Christ rose from the dead - it was a miracle morning! Jesus said, "Because I live, you also shall live." He promises us new life in Him as a free gift for all who believe and receive. Open your hearts to the resurrection story as Pastor Gary shares from the gospel of Matthew.
People go to great lengths to make sure that they present a good image of themselves. But reputation may not be reality. Such was the case with the church in Sardis-they looked good on the outside, but inside they were spiritually dead. Many people in our world walk around like they "have it all together", when in reality they are falling apart inside. Find out in today's study of Revelation 3:1-6 what God has in store for those who exchange outward reputation for inward restoration.
Jesus commends the church in Thyatira for four things: their love, faith, service, and perseverance. But He has a harsh rebuke for the one thing they were not doing well: they tolerated the wicked influence of Jezebel, which was idolatry. Even though we may not bow down to idols today, idolatry is still all around us. There is a difference between idolatry of the hand, and idolatry of the heart. The latter is still a struggle for most Christians today. Join us in our study of this 4th letter to the Seven Churches.
Pergamum is derived from the Greek word "gamos" meaning, marriage. There was a mixed marriage of godliness and worldliness among some in this church, and Jesus called them to repentance. God is zealous for His honor among His people and He does not want us to tolerate compromise in our lives. Turn in your Bibles to Revelation 2 as we continue in our study of the Letters to the Seven Churches.
Suffering is a part of life to one degree or another. In this letter to the suffering church of Smyrna, Jesus commends them for their faithfulness in the face of difficulty, persecution, poverty, and even death. He reminds them (and us) that our eternal reward far outweighs this present life. Join Pastor Gary Hamrick as we examine what Jesus has to say on the subject of suffering from the letter to the church of Smyrna in Revelation 2.
In the first of seven letters to the churches of Asia Minor, Jesus has three compliments and one major complaint for the church in Ephesus: among several things they are doing well, they have forsaken their first love-Jesus Christ. It can happen. Life gets busy, things become routine, and relationships grow distant. Do you remember a special time when you felt closer to the Lord than you do now? Why not return to your First Love? He's waiting for you! Join Pastor Gary today as we take a look at Revelation 2:1-7.
Join Pastor Gary Hamrick as he filters questions about the first ten chapters of the book of Genesis.
The great majority of the book of Revelation concerns events that are yet to come. The Lord has given us, as revealed to and recorded by the Apostle John, great detail about what will happen in the future to the earth and to humanity. Revelation reminds us that Jesus is coming again and encourages us to be ready. Join Pastor Gary for this introduction to Revelation and review of Chapter 1 entitled, "Unlocking Revelation."
Jude begins his epistle reminding us that we are loved by God and kept by Jesus Christ. In other words, God is actively at work to protect and preserve our relationship with Him. But we have a responsibility in this relationship as well - "to contend for the faith" as Jude says in verse 3. Jude cites three examples of those who lost the battle and missed out on God's best. Join Pastor Gary in today's study of Jude entitled, "It's Worth Fighting For!"
In the conclusion of the "Love and Truth" series, Pastor Gary takes a look at 2nd and 3rd John where TRUTH is mentioned 11 times. Philosophers and scholars through the ages have tried to define and debate truth. What is truth? Is there absolute truth? And if so, who can know it? Find out the answer to these questions and more in today's study through the epistles of 2nd and 3rd John.
Pastor Gary continues through the epistles of 1,2,3 John with a focus on Love and Truth. John addresses four erroneous claims about our relationship with God and with one another. Among them, are the ideas that we can know God without obeying His commands or that we can love God without loving others. Join us today in our study of 1 John.
John talks more about LOVE in this little epistle of 1 John than any other book of the Bible. But it is balanced with TRUTH. He addresses several false claims that Christians make about their relationship with God and with one another. Join Pastor Gary Hamrick as we examine the first two chapters of 1 john in a new series entitled, "Love and Truth."
We see in Peter's second epistle, written one year after 1 Peter, the continuing theme of how we should live until Jesus comes. Peter identifies two threats to our spiritual life-one is external, and one is internal. Grab your Bible and join Pastor Gary as we study the book of 2 Peter.
Peter talks about suffering more than any other New Testament writer. The word "suffer" is found 18 times in 1 Peter, and Peter defines three different kinds of suffering Christians may experience. In light of the severe persecution Christians endured at the time of this epistle (64AD), it is a theme they were intimately acquainted with. Join Pastor Gary today as we understand suffering in the context of 1 Peter 4-5.
Continuing in our series through Peter's epistles, Pastor Gary points out two more ways God instructs us to live until Jesus comes. He focuses on witnessing in chapter 3 and loving others in chapter 4. Join us in today's Bible study from 1 Peter.
The apostle Peter gives us more instruction about how we should live until Jesus comes again - by growing spiritually, and by submitting to authority. Join us today as Pastor Gary takes a closer look at these two exhortations from 1 Peter 2.
In 1 & 2 Peter we are reminded that the Second Coming of Christ is imminent. Therefore, what kind of people ought we to be? How should we live if we are always expecting the Lord's Return? Pastor Gary answers those questions from 1 Peter as we examine chapter 1 today in a new series entitled, "How to Live until Jesus Comes."
At the beginning of each year, we open the floor up to the congregation to ask the Cornerstone pastors Bible questions.
Remember the simpler times when Christmas was embraced by everybody, even those who didn't understand its true meaning? Today, Christmas has become a controversial event plagued by political correctness and lawsuits. Pastor Gary reflects on the Christmas story and highlights three things that have hijacked Christmas, and challenges us to continue sharing its true meaning.
Remember the simpler times when Christmas was embraced by everybody, even those who didn't understand its true meaning? Today, Christmas has become a controversial event plagued by political correctness and lawsuits. Pastor Gary reflects on the Christmas story and highlights three things that have hijacked Christmas, and challenges us to continue sharing its true meaning.
Remember the simpler times when Christmas was embraced by everybody, even those who didn't understand its true meaning? Today, Christmas has become a controversial event plagued by political correctness and lawsuits. Pastor Gary reflects on the Christmas story and highlights three things that have hijacked Christmas, and challenges us to continue sharing its true meaning.
How patient are you? How much do you pray? Pastor Gary concludes his series through the book of James with a final look at two marks of maturity in the life of the believer-be patient; be prayerful. Join us in James 5 for today's message.
Pastor Gary continues in his series through the epistle of James by looking at two more "marks of maturity" from chapter 4. God warns us about becoming friends with the world and He reminds us that life is short and uncertain. Find out in today's study how these two points have significance for us as we grow in our faith.
Join Pastor Andy Wagner on this Thanksgiving weekend as he teaches Paul's secret to contentment from Philippians 4.
Our annual Thanksgiving Eve service is devoted entirely to worship and testimonies, giving God thanks for all He has done in the past year.
How well do you watch what you say? Can you think of times when you have either been affirmed or shredded by someone's words? They can build us up, and they can tear us down. Join Pastor Gary today as we continue in our series through the book of James examining two more marks of maturity from James 3-guarding our tongue, and exercising wisdom from above.
Pastor Gary continues in his series through James by looking at two more marks of maturity in the life of the Believer - put faith into action; and avoid favoritism. Have you ever wondered what the relationship is between faith and works? Have you ever shown partiality to certain people? If so, grab your Bible and join us for today's study in James 2.
The epistle of James is considered to be one of the most practical books in the Bible on the topic of Christian living. James gives more than 50 imperatives in this short letter to help Believers move on to maturity. Over the next few weeks, Pastor Gary will highlight "Ten Marks of Maturity" from the book of James beginning today with a survey of Chapter 1.
In today's study from Hebrews 13:2, Pastor Gary takes a look at the topic of angels. The passage says that we should treat strangers well because we might be entertaining angels without knowing it! With nearly 300 passages in the Bible dealing with the subject of angels, let's undo the myths and let's understand the mission of angels from a Biblical perspective.
In Hebrews 12, the word "discipline" appears 10 times in 7 verses. It's a reference to God's discipline. We usually like to think of God as comforting, kind, and forgiving...and He is all those things. But we need to also understand that God corrects and disciplines His children whom He loves. Join Pastor Gary in today's study about the four-fold purpose of God's discipline in our lives.
Pastor Gary concludes our series through Hebrews 11 with a look at the last few examples of amazing faith. Six men are mentioned by name, along with unnamed "prophets", "women," and "others" who lived their lives with trust and confidence in the Lord. They all demonstrated bravery and courage although some of them died in the process. Find out in today's study why God still commended men and women for their faith even though they did not get what was promised.
As we continue in our study of Hebrews 11, we will examine how the Israelites and Rahab were further examples of people who had faith in the promises and faithfulness of God. The Lord did some pretty amazing miracles on their behalf. He is still a wonder-working God! Join Pastor Gary Hamrick as we take a look at Hebrews 11:29-31.
Continuing in our series on "Faith Lessons" from Hebrews 11, we come to the examples of Joseph, Moses' parents, and Moses himself. Join Pastor Gary as we find out how they exercised such trust and confidence in the promises and faithfulness of God that it earned them a place in the "Hebrew Hall of Faith."
As we continue in our series on "Faith Lessons", Pastor Gary takes a look at the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These three men were such examples of faith that God will become known as "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Join us in Hebrews 11:8-21 for more encouraging examples of people who trusted God against all odds.
Pastor Gary begins a 4-part series today on the topic of faith drawing from the examples of men and women listed in Hebrews 11. We will study their stories and learn what it means for us to be men and women of faith in today's world.
The writer of Hebrews is going to contrast Jesus with the Old Testament system of high priests and animal sacrifices. He will prove that Jesus is superior to that system of works and that He is the only way for us to be saved--through faith in Him as Savior. Many people today have their own modern "systems" for trying to be right with God. But everything fails. It?s only through Jesus that we can be saved.
Life can sometimes be burdensome and challenging. In addition, our own sin can weigh us down with guilt and shame. We need the kind of rest that only God can give. Jesus calls the weary to come to Him and "find rest for your soul." The word "rest" is found thirteen times in Hebrews 3-4 and is the topic of today's study with Pastor Gary.
Have you ever been swimming in the ocean for about 20 minutes only to realize how far you have drifted down the shore line? It happens so quickly and so easily. Drifting. It can occur in a family, a marriage, a church, and even in a relationship with Jesus. One minute things are going so well, and the next minute we have drifted so far from where we once were. As we open up the book of Hebrews, Pastor Gary will be sharing on "The Danger of Drifting."
It's the shortest of Paul's epistles, but it delivers a powerful punch about why we need to forgive and ask for forgiveness. The story centers around a runaway slave, named Onesimus, and his master, Philemon, the recipient of this letter. In this very personal, pithy letter, Paul is used by the Holy Spirit to remind us all that as followers of Christ we are called to sometimes forgive and sometimes ask for forgiveness, You're invited to study along with Pastor Gary today as he teaches from the book of Philemon.
God expects us to live "self-controlled, upright, and godly lives." But have you ever struggled to live like that? Have you ever felt defeated in trying to live a pure life in a fallen world? In the book of Titus, God gives us a tool to help us-it's His grace! Find out in today's study how God's grace actually "teaches" us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions. Join Pastor Gary Hamrick for our study in the book of Titus.
In the closing chapters of 2 Timothy, Paul gives us a list of 19 characteristics that will define the culture in the "last days" just prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. When you read the list, it seems apparent that we must be close to our Lord's return! In the middle of this passage, God tells us that by building our lives upon His Word we will be able to stand firm in our faith and remain unmoved by the shifting sands of our society. Join Pastor Gary Hamrick today in our study from 2 Timothy 3-4.
Pastor Kelley Schroder shares from Mark 14 about how to find our place to serve in ministry.
Every Christian faces times of discouragement in his or her walk with the Lord. Timothy was no exception. He experienced fear, a lack of power, and a lack of boldness in sharing his faith and the Gospel. Paul exhorts and encourages him (and us) with lessons drawn from three occupations or vocations-a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. Pastor Gary shares from 2 Timothy 1-2 in today's study.
Paul's closing comments in his first letter to Timothy include more practical instructions for the local church. God commands us to care for those who are in need, to flee from materialism, and to fight the good fight of faith until Jesus comes! Pastor Gary Hamrick tackles these three subjects as we glean more truth in God's Word from 1 Timothy 5-6.
In God's continuing instruction to the local church through Paul's letter to Timothy, qualifications are listed for those who would serve as pastors, elders, or deacons. And even though few will serve the church in these roles, ALL in the church must see their role as one of setting an example for others to follow. Join Pastor Gary today as we study from 1 Timothy 3-4.
The books of 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus are called "Pastoral Epistles" because they are written to pastors of local churches. These letters serve to be a manual for what defines the church and how its members are to conduct themselves. Join Pastor Gary today as we look at some of the things that God commands concerning the church from 1 Timothy 1-2.
Wes Bentley, the founder of Far Reaching Ministries joins us to glean relevant and applicable truths from the story of Daniel & the Lions Den found in Daniel Chapter 6.
Continuing with his theme from 1st Thessalonians, Paul writes 2nd Thessalonians a few months later about the Second Coming of Christ. He explains three things that will happen when Jesus comes or just prior to His Coming. This letter gives significant detail about the Antichrist as well as a warning about falling away from the faith. Join Pastor Gary today for part 3 of "What Does the Lord's Return Mean?"
The Second Coming of Christ will occur in two phases-the first phase involves Jesus coming in the clouds to snatch Christians from the earth, a doctrine called "The Rapture." The second phase is when Jesus returns with the saints to the earth to reign for 1000 Years. What separates the first phase from the second phase is a 7-year period of Tribulation that will come upon the earth. Join Pastor Gary Hamrick in today's study as we seek to know the signs of the times so that we might be ready for Christ's imminent return!
Jesus is coming again! The Bible predicted His First Coming with more than 300 prophecies, and the Bible predicts His Second Coming with three times that number of prophecies! The predominant theme of 1st Thessalonians is the Second Coming of Christ. Join Pastor Gary Hamrick as we look at what it means for us that Jesus is coming again.
In Colossians 3, Paul continues his theme of warning us about the things that can "pull" us off track and away from the Lord. He reminds us that we must vigorously deal with our "earthly nature". He compares it to a garment-a jacket-which needs to be taken off so that we can put on the virtues of Christ. Join Pastor Gary in today's study from Colossians 3.
Paul warns Christians about two particular "pulls" that will attempt to knock us off course--the Worldly pull and the Hyper-Spiritual pull. Find out the remedy to these particular challenges in today's study from Colossians 1-2.
God in flesh came to earth to humbly die for our sins on the cross. The outline of those events is given to us in Philippians 2, and Pastor Gary weaves that passage with the Palm Sunday story in today's study entitled, "The Great Descent."
Sometimes life can be crushing: weariness sets in-even for Christians! Paul knew what it was to suffer in life, and yet, he experienced genuine joy in the midst of it. How can we have that? How can we deal with the realities of life's hardships but still experience the kind of genuine joy and peace that the Bible speaks about? Join Pastor Gary Hamrick in today's study from the book of Philippians.