Ring of Truth: Recent Episodes
Pastor Dan Sexton
Ring of Truth is the radio and podcast ministry of Pastor Dan Sexton of Calvary Chapel Ellicott City. In each episode Pastor Dan teaches verse by verse through the Word of God.
It seems like folks have gotten so used to life without God that they often don’t even realize there’s a path out there that could save them from eternal damnation. The enemy sure knows how to play his role in keeping folks cozy in their everyday lives. Today, Pastor Dan talks about discovering the real journey to eternal life, and that journey is all about Jesus. Before long, folks will come to see that the world doesn't have much to give them. But what if it’s already too late? Why not welcome Jesus into your life today?
The Bible shares that God’s anger rests on the people, even if we haven’t reached the time of judgment just yet. Have you ever stopped to think, why is that? Even when God shows people that Jesus is the only path to eternal life, some individuals still choose to turn away and follow their own path, ignoring the truth laid before them. Today, Pastor Dan shares a heartfelt message about the importance of developing a humble heart. God’s showing you the way to eternal life. Learn to embrace the truth!
In this world, there's no such thing as mastering something entirely. There’s always a journey of learning and growing that comes into play. In a similar vein, many Christians tend to believe that there's a cap on how much they can grow in their faith in God. Today, Pastor Dan has a little reminder for you: keep nurturing that faith of yours and watch it flourish! There's always something new to learn from God. All you have to do is open your heart to receive it and elevate your spiritual journey with Jesus!
When Jesus arrived in this world, He had a purpose to fulfill. He was fully committed to the mission that His heavenly Father had given Him. During His ministry, Jesus healed the sick and even brought the dead back to life. His ultimate aim, however, was to embrace the cross, bearing the weight of all humanity's sins on His shoulders. Today, Pastor Dan tells you how Jesus fulfilled His mission. Thanks to Him, you now have the chance for eternal life in heaven! Just have faith in Him, and that's all it takes!
When you decide to give your life to Jesus, it’s easy to hold onto the reins yourself, making all the choices and looking to the world for help instead of leaning on God. In today’s message, Pastor Dan guides you to understand the importance of letting God take control of your life. He really knows what’s best for you and has a fantastic plan for your life. Why not shift your focus from the world and put your trust in Him, no matter what? You’ll see a huge change in your lifestyle when God’s in control!
It’s one thing to make a promise, but sticking to it? That’s a lot harder. In Scripture, we see that God took vows and commitments seriously, and there were consequences for backing out. It’s a good reminder for us, when we commit something to God, whether it’s our time, money, or a promise, we must mean it. There’s no going back on it. Pastor Dan shares with us today why our commitments to God matter so much and how being faithful shows we really trust God in all things.
Have you ever found yourself on the sidelines, wondering how you can better serve God in ministry? Maybe you’ve tried a few things, but just haven’t found your niche yet. Here’s the good news: you don’t have to be on a mission trip or lead a ministry to make a real impact. God can use you and your gifts, right where you are. In today’s message, Pastor Dan is talking about how every gift you dedicate to the Lord can make a difference, and why, once you offer something to God, it’s His for good!
We’ve probably all had a moment of desperation, when life feels like it’s falling apart and we pray something like, “Lord, if You get me out of this, I promise I’ll serve you forever.” Sound familiar? The problem with making a vow out of desperation is that when the conditions improve, our commitment to the vow might change as well. Making a vow to God is actually a really good thing, when done the right way. Today, Pastor Dan explains what it means to make a promise to God, and how to do it right.
We’ve all made some bad choices in life, and hopefully, those choices didn’t lead to hard consequences. But sometimes, God allows us to feel the full weight of our decisions and makes us face the music. It’s not because He enjoys punishing us, but because He wants to take us on a path that’s a wake-up call, drawing us closer to Him. Today, Pastor Dan is sharing why God sometimes lets us hit rock bottom and how His love is always calling us back, no matter how far we’ve gone.
When life’s going well and everything feels under control, we start thinking we’ve got it all handled. Pride can start to creep in, and we think we are doing everything right. The truth is, pride can set us up for failure. The Bible reminds us that even Israel had to be humbled when they were at their strongest and most successful. Their pride led them to turn away from God. Today, Pastor Dan is talking about the dangers of pride and why staying humble and dependent on God is the only way.
Think of the last time you had a stressful day at work. How did you handle it? Did you call a friend to vent? Maybe you went out for dinner and ice cream to forget about your bad day. It’s so easy to lean on the wrong things when life gets hard. But to truly find peace and relief, you must turn to Jesus in everything. He’s the only way to overcome life’s daily challenges. In today’s message, Pastor Dan is sharing what idolatry really looks like and how you can keep Jesus front and center in your life.
We’ve all heard this one before: “It’s my life and I’ll do what I want.” We like to think we’ve got everything under control, but the truth is, when we’re left to our own devices, our lives can get messy. The good news is, Jesus offers us something so much better. As our Lord and Savior, He cares for us better than we ever could on our own. Within our message today, Pastor Dan is diving into what it really means to let Jesus take the lead, and why surrendering to Him is the best decision we’ll ever make.
Do you ever wish you could just hit the reset button on life and start all over? The year of Jubilee was exactly that for ancient Israel: a fresh start where debts were erased, and people got a second chance every 50 years. Sounds great, right? What’s even better is that through Jesus, you’re offered that same kind of fresh start, no matter what’s in your past, and you don’t have to wait 50 years for it! Today, Pastor Dan’s going to share how God’s grace gives you the ultimate do-over, and why that’s such good news.
What does real freedom look like? The Bible tells us that the only way to achieve total freedom is through Jesus. Just like the year of Jubilee brought freedom and rest in ancient Israel, Jesus brings us ultimate freedom from our own sin. He cancels the debt of our sin and breaks the grip it has on our lives. If you’ve ever felt stuck or weighed down, this is the message you need. Today, Pastor Dan is diving into how Jesus is like the Jubilee Year in the Old Testament. He brings hope and freedom.
How do we really know we’re making the right decisions? When making big decisions, it’s easy to rely on our own understanding, experiences, or our gut instinct, but God calls us to rely on Him when making decisions. Scripture reminds us that true wisdom comes from seeking the Lord’s direction in all things, and His Word promises to guide us when things feel unclear. Today, Pastor Dan will walk us through how to seek God’s wisdom and let His Word show us the way in every decision we face.
What does it mean to keep our faith fresh? We can all admit there are times when we’re just going through the motions, attending church or reading Scripture, without really being engaged. But the truth is, our relationship with Jesus should be fresh and renewed regularly, just like the showbread in the tabernacle was renewed weekly. A faith that’s fresh changes how we live and how we serve the Lord. Today, Pastor Dan will share how we can keep our walk with Jesus fresh and strong.
Sin has to be dealt with to enjoy the fullness of life God intends for you. You have to deal with the reality of your separation from God because of your sin before you can enjoy eternal life. As you look at the Feast of Tabernacles today with Pastor Dan, you'll get to see what follows when you give your life to Christ. You get to celebrate! The Israelites celebrated their atonement with the Feast of Tabernacles in the Old Testament, similar to how you can celebrate your forgiveness through faith in Jesus today!
It's a heavy issue to deal with your sin. It brings guilt and condemnation. Without forgiveness, it leads eventually to eternal separation from God. Today, Pastor Dan will encourage you to remember what comes after you turn to Jesus for forgiveness of your sins. It's joy. It's eternal life. It's a time to celebrate! The Israelites had the Feast of Tabernacles to remember God's goodness and grace in bringing them out of slavery and into the promised land! Today, it's celebrating what Christ did for you on the cross!
God's love and forgiveness are reasons to celebrate! It's a reason to have joy in your heart! It was the last feast in Leviticus, and it followed the feast of Atonement. Pastor Dan will explain in today's message that the Feast of Atonement was to deal with the sins of Israel, just like Jesus' sacrifice dealt with the sins of the world. Both led to forgiveness and atonement of sins. After that, you're free from the bondage of sin! You don't have to carry that regret in your heart! You have eternity in Heaven to look forward to!
God loves His people. You can see Him bless Israel greatly in the Old Testament when they were faithful to follow His commandments. Even when they sinned, they had a way to be forgiven through sacrifice. Today, Pastor Dan is going to show you how God's love hasn't changed. He gives His people plenty of time to repent of their sins and turn from them. He sent Jesus to make a way to be forgiven today. When the tribulation comes, it will be a time of mourning over sin for Israel, but it's so they can turn to Jesus.
The tribulation is going to be a difficult time for Israel. The faithful in Christ will be separated from those who aren't. The sheep line and the goat line will be formed. One is bound for eternity in Heaven, and the other for Hell. Today, Pastor Dan is going to tell you about the similarities between the day of atonement in Leviticus and the tribulation period that is to come. The Feast of Atonement was the only one that wasn't a joyous celebration. It was serious and dealt with Israel's sin, just like the tribulation will.
Jesus was the final atoning sacrifice for your sins. He lived a perfect life, which the lamb without blemish symbolized in the feasts in Leviticus. The scapegoats on the day of atonement were meant to take the sins of Israel away so they could be forgotten forever. Today, Pastor Dan is going to connect the Old Testament scapegoats to Jesus in the Gospels. Jesus took all your sin on Himself when He was sacrificed on the cross, and it's forgiven forever. He was the perfect sacrifice in your place.
The trumpet sound in the end times is when the church age ends. It's when the believers in Christ will be raptured up to receive their new heavenly bodies. They'll get to see the home Jesus prepared for them in Heaven, where they'll get to spend eternity worshipping and praising God. As you'll get to see today with Pastor Dan, that day could be today. It could be tomorrow. It was pointed to all the way back in Leviticus with the Feast of Trumpets. What's important is that you're ready for that day to come.
Some day soon, Jesus will come back and take all the believers with Him to Heaven. It will be the end of the church age. Sounding of trumpets will signify when it happens, and it's referred to all the way back in Leviticus with the Feast of Trumpets. As you look at the ancient feasts today with Pastor Dan, he's going to show you how they all pointed to events in the future that you can read in the New Testament. Some point to events during Jesus' life, and some point to events after, all to give glory to God.
Jesus came to fulfill the law of the Old Testament. He was what the feasts pointed to. As you look at the celebratory feasts in Leviticus today with Pastor Dan, you'll get to see how they weren't just meant for the Israelites in that time. They're for you today. You can see how they worked together to symbolize the life and crucifixion of Jesus, the church age, and Jesus' second coming. All the books of the Bible work together to tell the individual stories throughout and to tell the overarching story of Jesus.
The celebratory feasts in Leviticus might seem at first that they’re just times of remembrance for what God had done. They were the times to give thanks back to Him, too. Today, you'll get to explore the other meanings of those feasts with Pastor Dan. They mean so much more when you look to the New Testament, too. The traditional feasts point to the church and to Jesus. They symbolize Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and second coming. The books of the Bible work together to point to Jesus.
The feast of passover in Leviticus was to remember the time when all the Israelites, with the blood of a spotless lamb on their doorpost, were passed over by the angel of death. Through the blood sacrifice of a perfect lamb, they were safe. They were saved. Today, you'll get to see the parallels of that day with Jesus Christ. Pastor Dan will show you that the feast celebrating the Passover points to Jesus in the New Testament. He was perfect and without sin, so He could be the final sacrifice for you.
God's Word works together in its entirety from the Old to the New Testament to tell of mankind's history and hope for salvation. It all points to Jesus Christ. Today, Pastor Dan will explain how the feasts the Israelites celebrated in Leviticus are part of that picture. Back then, they were to celebrate what God had done for them and to remind the people of God's goodness. Now, you can see how they point to Jesus and His sacrifice, the first church, and to the day He finally returns to earth in His second coming.
Anyone who thinks they’ve attained a sinless, perfect life in this world has deceived themselves. Likely, they’ve allowed the sin of pride to take over their hearts. It simply isn’t possible in this broken world where we’re surrounded by temptation and our own hearts are still being transformed by the Holy Spirit. As Pastor Dan will remind us in today’s message, while we can’t be perfect and avoid sin completely, we also aren’t okay with sin. We’re covered by the blood of Christ, and our lives should reflect that.
Sin is so destructive. It perverts the blessings God has given us for our enjoyment and His glory. Just as the prodigal son took his father’s inheritance early and wasted it on temporary pleasure, we can do the same with the blessings our Heavenly Father gives us. As Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, we can’t live in sin and live with God. The two are completely incompatible. The good news is that God is eagerly waiting to welcome us home and clean us up.
Jesus seemed to prioritize spending time with those in the margins of society. He hung out with fraudulent tax collectors, talked with prostitutes and adulterers, and He touched and healed lepers and the unclean. Many of His harshest moments of rebuke came when He encountered the religious elites and leaders. As Pastor Dan will clarify in today’s message, the purpose of this wasn’t to show acceptance for their sin, but to meet their need for repentance and salvation.
The Bible never refers to any sexual orientation as an identity in Scripture. Our identity should not be based in heterosexuality or homosexuality, but in our Imago Dei – which means the image of God in us. He created us, and His design should be the basis for who we are. A part of that design is our sexuality, and that part needs to be submitted to Him. As Pastor Dan will warn in today’s message, when we make this behavior the center of identity, it’s making it an idol and rejecting our Creator’s authority.
As Pastor Dan continues our study of the book of Leviticus, we’ll encounter a law that seems especially harsh in our day and age. Anyone who cursed their father or mother was to be put to death. For many of us, we may think back to when we were young and realize we wouldn’t have lived long if this law were still applicable. This law was effective in that it was rarely executed. The men of the community were involved and promoted respect between children and their parents.
Sin is not something we can just ignore. While we may not be held to all the rules we read in Leviticus, today’s passage will give us a clear idea of how God looks at sin and those who ignore it in their own lives and in their community. Thanks to Jesus, we’ve been given grace and can be made righteous in God’s sight, but that doesn’t mean sin can be allowed to remain in our hearts. As Pastor Dan will remind us in today’s message, sin only brings destruction, and we need to deal with it swiftly and firmly.
Some of the rules we find in Scripture seem very strange in our culture. All these rules can seem outdated and like God was just being nitpicky. Many were specific to the culture that God wanted to implement for Israel, but they had a deeper purpose that teaches us about His character. As Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, God wanted to set Israel apart. Not so they could garner attention for themselves, but so they could stand out in a way that would draw the world’s attention to Him.
We’ve turned into a culture of consumers and spectators. As Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, there are countless videos out on social media where people are experiencing an emergency of some sort, and instead of helping, you see bystanders just watching or even taking videos on their phones. It’s a sad state of things. We’re called to participate in the work of God’s redemption. Sometimes this will look like stepping into a situation and trying to help, even if it costs you.
This is such a common struggle… so many of us allow our lives to get busy to the point where God starts to take second place. As Pastor Dan will warn in today’s message, the Gospel can’t properly take root in our lives if our other priorities choke it out. We have to choose to put Jesus first. This is a minute-by-minute, day-by-day commitment. You’ll mess up and miss the mark at times, losing sight of the mission, but don’t let that keep you from re-centering through times of prayer, study, and rest in Him.
We tend to put sins into categories, considering one sin to be much worse than another. In the Church, homosexual sin has often been classified as significantly worse than heterosexual sin. This is inaccurate according to Scripture. God designed us, and He designed us as sexual beings. He also created and ordained marriage as a covenant that honors Him. As Pastor Dan will warn in today’s message, when we compromise on God’s design in any way, it’s sin and requires atonement.
In today’s message, Pastor Dan will examine the rules laid out in Leviticus concerning multiple forms of sexual sin. This can be a very personal and controversial issue. People have attached much of their identity to this aspect of their lives. It’s become an idol for many, and their urges and feelings have been given a position of authority they shouldn’t have. God is the authority, but He won’t force anyone into obedience, and we can expect to experience the consequences when we choose to serve self.
In our culture, we don’t particularly like being told what we should or shouldn’t do. America was founded on the idea of popular sovereignty – meaning that the people, not the president, king, or governing body, are the ones who hold the real power. This is a great concept when it comes to human government, but as Pastor Dan reminds us in today’s message, in God’s Kingdom, we’re subject to a greater authority, and we need to submit to Him to experience His blessing.
Jesus’ life and teachings are a wonderful gift that offers us a model for our own lives, as well as demonstrating who He is and fulfilling prophecy. But as Pastor Dan will clarify in today’s message, Jesus’ miracles, teachings, and life are not what save us. It was His death on the cross – a perfect sacrifice, where all the sins of the world were atoned for by His blood. Without this sacrifice, the debt has not been paid, and we can’t be made righteous in God’s sight, leaving us hopeless for eternity.
We like to do things our way when we think it’s an option. If you look at the history of religion, this becomes more and more clear. The big ones are Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, but how many countless branches, denominations, or sects can you think of? Not to mention innumerable cults and smaller religious movements. As Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, God gave very specific laws that all point back to Him – He’s in charge – we don’t get to just do our own thing.
Many believers, pastors included, would prefer to just skip over Leviticus. What applies to us today, and what only falls under the old covenant? Why did God require these things? These are some of the questions that may pop up as you study this book. The old Law was so complex, and what did they get for it? They just had to go through the same rituals over and over. As Pastor Dan will remind us today, we have it so good because of Jesus, who has given us access to God and righteousness in His sight.
As we’ve studied the book of Leviticus with Pastor Dan, there have been a few things that’ve been abundantly clear – God has high expectations of His people, we’re incapable of living up to them, and the old covenant was extremely nuanced and complex. Only a few people were allowed to commune directly with God, and only after performing specific rituals. The consequences were dire if they failed. Because of Jesus, every human being has access to God. His perfect sacrifice has torn down all of those barriers.
We often think the best way to convert someone to Christianity is to give them all the proof of Jesus and explain to them all of the theology of sin and Jesus’ death and resurrection. However, the most powerful proof of the existence of Jesus is a changed life. Pastor Dan will encourage you in his message today to share with others how Jesus changed your life. How have you been transformed? What difference has Jesus made in your life? That is the most compelling proof of Jesus that cannot be denied.
Why is Good Friday good? It’s good because of the resurrection. The gospel, the good news, is good because Jesus rose again. If Jesus stayed dead, it wouldn’t be good news. Today, Pastor Dan will proclaim in his message that the resurrection of Jesus is what all of your faith hangs on. Without it, you have no hope. You would be dead in your sins, but because of the empty tomb, you can be made new. You can be transformed from death to life–transformed into a new creation that is alive to proclaim the good news.
Some people try to poke holes in the account of Jesus’s resurrection. They say that the disciples only thought they saw Jesus alive again or that they made it up. The problem with those accusations is how close and personal their interactions with Jesus were and that so many people saw Him. Today, Pastor Dan will reassure you of how trustworthy the biblical accounts are. Many of Jesus’s followers were put to death for what they believed. They wouldn’t have done that if they had made it up.
When we listen to the Easter account every year, sometimes it’s hard to truly engage with new ears, isn’t it? We think, “We’ve heard this before.” Going to church on Easter has become a tradition, and we’re just going through the motions. In his message today, Pastor Dan will encourage you to let your mind and heart be impacted by the message of Easter. Jesus didn’t just die for sin in a general sense. He died for you, and He rose from the grave. That’s incredible! Don’t let it become ordinary.
Faith is important, but we often think people need to accept Jesus on blind faith. That’s not true, though. There are compelling historical truths supporting our belief in Jesus and that He lived, died, and was resurrected from the grave. You don’t have to throw logical thinking out the door to believe in Jesus. Pastor Dan will encourage you today to put your faith in Jesus. It’s not blind faith, but since you didn’t see Jesus come back to life 2000 years ago, there is a step of reasonable faith involved.
That’s such an important question. Where do we find peace? It’s something we desire greatly, even if we can’t articulate it. Some try to find peace through worldly meditation. Others self-medicate to get some peace from inner demons, but things of the world won’t bring us real and everlasting peace. Today, Pastor Dan will urge you in his message to seek peace from Jesus. Jesus defeated death and the grave to bring you life and peace. You can cast all your cares on Him and let Him be your peace.
What would happen if a man with the keys was locked in a prison cell? Well, he’s going to just use the keys to get out. That’s what it was like when Jesus was crucified and locked into a tomb. He is the Author of Life. He held the keys to death all along, so of course, He was going to come back to life! Pastor Dan will share with you today insight into the identity of Jesus. Jesus is eternal and brought the world into existence. He can’t be held down by death. Rejoice today in the awesome power of your Savior!
An alternate world in which Jesus died on the cross but didn’t rise from the grave is a pretty hopeless world. Praise God that we don’t live in that world. We know that Jesus rose from the grave. He is our Living Hope! Today, Pastor Dan will encourage you with his message about the awesome truth of the resurrection. Have you ever felt hopeless? Maybe you’ve gone through sickness or some other kind of pain in life. Jesus's resurrection means you don’t have to live in that hopeless place.
In the old covenant, the people of God had to come to Him with their sacrifices to a place that was set apart and holy. Even then, only a select few could actually approach God. It was complex but incomplete. The sacrifices made weren’t perfect and they really only symbolized the atonement that God had promised to bring. As Pastor Dan continues our study in Leviticus today, we’ll be reminded that in the new covenant, we are made holy, and the sacrifice of Jesus completely covers our sin.
The woman with a permanent issue of blood who touched Jesus’s garment was breaking the rules, and according to today’s passage in Leviticus, she should have made Him unclean. It was quite a risk. She had also likely touched numerous people as she approached Him. But she believed it was worth the risk, and He rewarded her faith. As Pastor Dan will point out today, that’s the amazing thing about Jesus – He is the fulfillment of every law, and when we trust in Him, He makes us clean.
Nothing is hidden from God’s sight. He’s not limited by time or location – He’s everywhere, all of the time. We don’t see Him or hear Him, so we tend to ignore His presence. Because of this, we allow ourselves to be deceived into thinking that no one sees the sins we commit in secret. As Pastor Dan will remind us in today’s message, God sees all of it. He even sees our hearts and the sins that are below the surface. It breaks His heart and dishonors Him, all while destroying you from the inside out.
Sin is not something to take lightly. We tend to categorize sin into various levels. A white lie, for instance, may be easily forgiven if it was made with good intentions, while adultery or theft are considered much more serious. Some sins do cause more harm to others, but all sin leads to destruction and dishonors God. As Pastor Dan will challenge us today, we need to flee from sin and when we catch a glimpse of it in our own families, we need to deal with it graciously but quickly.
Sin comes in many forms, but ultimately it comes down to the attitude of your heart towards God. When you focus your life on serving yourself, your heart is pointed away from your Creator, leading to a life full of sinful actions. As Pastor Dan will explain in today’s message, the Levitical system outlines the need for a sacrifice to atone for our wrongdoing. The animal sacrifices were not enough though, only Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was capable of atoning for the sin of all of us.
If Jesus fulfilled the Law, do we really need to worry about entire books of the Bible that are almost exclusively dedicated to it? As Pastor Dan continues our study of the book of Leviticus in today’s message, we’ll be reminded of the importance of studying these rules and rituals. Not only do they highlight our incompetence as sinful humans, desperately in need of a Savior, but they offer beautiful symbols of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross and the way that He cleanses us of unrighteousness.
As Pastor Dan will remind us in today’s message, leprosy in the time of Leviticus was a death sentence. Not only was it incurable, eventually leading to a slow, uncomfortable death, it caused instant death to your social life. You were kicked out of your community and prohibited from contact with the clean. This is what sin does to your soul. It’s an eternal death sentence and it isolates you while it destroys every part of your inner being. But Jesus wants to touch you and make you clean for eternity.
Sin is inescapable in this broken world. Jesus offers salvation and redemption for those who trust in Him, but as long as we walk in these earthly bodies, we’ll be burdened by the consequences of sin and its entanglement. As Pastor Dan points out in today’s message, we can experience joy and hope in the life that Jesus provides, but we can’t expect sin to completely go away until the day He makes all things new. One day, He’ll restore things to the way the Creator intended them to be.
Leviticus is complex. The rules we find here can be confusing. Today’s chapter is focused on dealing with lesions on the skin. It fell to the priests to determine whether it was just a surface-level issue or a deeper issue of leprosy. Many would assume God’s guidance on this matter was for the sake of protecting the community from contagious disease – which is a good byproduct of these rules - but as Pastor Dan clarifies in today’s message, the primary focus was on their relationship with God.
Sometimes the pastorate can appear glamourous. You get to be in the spotlight, up on stage with everyone listening to you and your vote seems to count for more than the average churchgoer. There are some pastors who take advantage of this and bask in the limelight, but for many, it’s a different story. As Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, many of those pastors you see up on stage are likely to be found clearing a clogged toilet or vacuuming up a mess in the foyer when the congregation clears out.
Most of us have pointed the finger at God and wondered how a benevolent Creator could allow the pain and suffering we endure in this world. Depending on your circumstances this may have introduced some doubt into your heart, and for some it creates a rift that they can’t overcome, leading them to reject the very idea of God. As Pastor Dan examines today’s chapter in Leviticus, he’ll remind us that God didn’t want this for us – He created a perfect world, but He gave us free will and we chose sin.
God designed the Old Covenant – a covenant based on placeholders and intermediaries – knowing it was incomplete. His part was complete, but we could never measure up based on its requirements. Our behavior would always fall short and the sacrifices we could offer were never perfect. God knew this, and as Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, His plan was always to send Jesus to fulfill these requirements. Now all we have to do is place our faith in His sacrifice to be made clean.
Our culture pushes the idea that we’re all good by nature. If we seem to naturally feel a certain desire, it can’t be wrong, and we should seek to fulfill that longing. This philosophy goes directly against what Scripture teaches. As Pastor Dan will clarify in today’s message, every human is born into sin. From the moment we’re capable, we choose to behave selfishly. Being born with a certain desire does not make it good or acceptable. We all need salvation from this destructive path.
We tend to tense up when people put rules on us. They might be completely reasonable and sensible policies, but just the fact that someone’s telling us what we can or can’t do causes us to bristle up like a porcupine. This tendency to rebel against all forms of authority is a product of our selfish, sinful nature. As Pastor Dan will explain in today’s message, as believers, we have to admit that our sin is pervasive and destructive and then submit to Jesus as Lord over every part of our lives.
God often uses the completely unexpected to carry out His will. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will draw our attention to the story of Elijah when he was in hiding. Scripture tells us that ravens brought him food – ravens and the food they eat are both unclean based on Levitical law. God also led him to the home of a widowed Gentile woman, where he was sheltered and fed through the miraculous provision of unending flour and oil. God can’t be put in a box – He does as He desires, and His will is perfect.
There are quite a few laws in Leviticus that are surprising and confusing to us today. There’s been speculation through the years that His rules were based on preventing illness or maintaining personal hygiene. That may have been a benefit of some of the laws, but for others, it doesn’t add up. As Pastor Dan will explain in today’s message, we don’t have to understand these laws, and neither did the Israelites – the Law presented an opportunity to exercise faith in God.
Humility is required for all Christ followers. To come to Him, you have to realize how broken and helpless you are. From the moment He comes into your heart and begins to transform you into His likeness, your focus needs to shift from bringing glory and attention to yourself to pointing others toward Him. As Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, anytime a ministry becomes focused on the preacher or the singer or any individual besides Jesus, it loses focus on its true mission.
God knows our hearts intimately. He sees potential and weakness that we’re incapable of seeing in ourselves. As Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, the sacrifice Jesus made – taking our sin on Himself – was a complete work of redemption. It wasn’t just for our spiritual being. His salvation is for the whole being – physical, mental, and spiritual. Our whole self belongs to Him and should be used for His glory. We won’t be perfect yet, but He’s shaping us to be more like Him.
Before Jesus, we were unable to interact directly with God because of our sin. God wanted His beloved Creation to be restored back to Himself, and He gave Israel the Levitical priests as a temporary mediator until the time when He would send a complete solution in Christ. As Pastor Dan continues our study of the book of Leviticus in today’s message, we’ll dive deeper into our understanding of this complex system of sacrifice and ritual that focused the heart of Israel on their God.
When we hear that there’s going to be a sermon series in Leviticus, how many of us start thinking it might be a good time to catch up on things around the house rather than go to church? Let’s be honest, the Old Testament can be hard to understand. But Pastor Dan walks you through some incredible – and relatable – truths in today’s message that you may not have heard before. The Old Testament is full of pictures and examples of God’s love and what Jesus’s sacrifice truly meant.
When life gets busy – and, let’s face it, it’s always busy and only getting busier – it’s difficult to make time for things like reading our Bible, praying, and fellowship. We think that if we could just skip church on Sundays, we might actually get a day off each week. But in today’s message, Pastor Dan encourages you to keep the fire going! It’s imperative that you take your faith seriously, especially in today’s culture. If you feel like you’ve lost your passion, dig into the Word each day and rekindle your fire.
God is Holy, and we are not. We hear this often and know it, but how often do we consider what it means? It means that since God is perfect, we must also be perfect to approach Him. Hopefully, this doesn’t come as a surprise, but none of us are perfect. So, how can we approach God? In today’s message, Pastor Dan tells you that before Jesus came, people had to bring sacrificial offerings to be accepted by God, but when Jesus came, He took all your sins on Himself so that you could be reconciled.
Have you ever stopped, taken a minute, and looked at the culture around you? Like really thought about what’s being constantly presented? We’re surrounded by death. Opportunities and products promising life outside of God, ads featuring more and more revealing styles. Then in the news, there are wars, rumors of wars, disease, disasters, and on it goes. There’s no way to avoid it all. So, today, Pastor Dan reminds you that you must be in the Word daily and allow God’s Truth to wash over and renew you.
Imagine being a leper in Jesus’ day. Imagine walking through town and having to announce your presence by shouting, “Unclean!” People scurry out of your way to avoid you, shielding their children. They give you looks and talk openly about you. Even if someone wanted to touch you, they couldn’t. Imagine going years without feeling the touch of another human. Then Jesus comes along, reaches out, and touches you. In today’s message, Pastor Dan invites you to rest and to feel Jesus’ touch.
We’re bombarded with more information every day than we can process. Even if we dedicated the rest of our lives to it, we wouldn’t scratch the surface of understanding all that we have access to. Amid this firehose of information are countless voices clamoring for attention and asserting that they have the truth. So, what can we do? Today, Pastor Dan tells you that you have a responsibility to stand for the Truth. Not to just add to the noise but to spend time in the Word, receive God’s Truth, and share it.
Sin looks like so much fun from the outside. Partying, getting drunk, and having sex can look so enticing and pleasurable, so why does God warn against it? Today, Pastor Dan will remind you that sin feels good for a season, but in the end, it’s going to lead you down a path of death and destruction. It’s all fun and games until you have one too many drinks and end up making a life-altering decision. Don’t let sin ruin your life, but take charge and let Jesus open your eyes to the reality of what sin entails.
Being a perfectionist can be exhausting! Even if you think you’ve hit perfection in doing something, there always seems to be someone who can do it slightly better. Today, Pastor Dan will challenge you to stop striving for perfection but instead strive to be closer to Jesus. He isn’t looking for you to never make a sinful choice or a wrong decision because that’s not how He created you. He knows that you are going to sin, but it’s your response that matters. He is looking for you to repent and turn back to Him
There were different types of offerings in the Old Testament and each had a specific purpose depending on the situation. Today, Pastor Dan will talk about what the sin offering was used for and how it contrasts with how we atone for sins today. The sin offering was primarily used for sins that were done unintentionally. If you were to go and sin against God knowingly, there was no atonement for it. You had to live with the consequences and guilt instead of being able to bring it to Jesus.
If we call ourselves Christians, we must be representing that title well and representing everything God is well! That is a high responsibility that we cannot take lightly! Now, that is not going to be easy, we need the strength and help of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ every day! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will show you how easy it can be to just simply speak about Jesus in your day-to-day life! Talking about Jesus and His love everywhere you go is an easy way to show people who you’re really living for!
God’s ways are unlimited and immovable. Nothing we do can ever change His plan. His ways are nothing like ours. Our plans are made by our human minds with limited knowledge, God’s plans are made with ALL the facts! He knows everything that has happened, is happening, and ever will happen; His decisions are made with everything taken into careful consideration! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will encourage you to trust God’s plan over your own! Allow Him to lead you into godly living!
Before Christ died on the cross, to defeat our sin and give us the opportunity to be with Him forever, we had to try and defeat our own sin…without the power of the Holy Spirit living in and through us. Every time we sinned we had to offer something to God in return for forgiveness. Now, we automatically are forgiven and loved if we have surrendered our whole life to God! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will remind you of the old ways so you can be thankful for the new ways! God’s way!
Jesus died for us publically…He didn’t die in a small mundane way, He died the worst death possible…in front of everybody! He died so YOU could live! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will teach on the importance of living a public Christian life! Just as Jesus died for you in a public way, you need to live and represent Him publicly! Whether that is talking about Him at work or in your home, or praying over a meal at a restaurant, you have opportunities to show people who you live for!!!
Living as a Christian isn’t easy and it’s not going to be easy. Being a Christian means identifying as a Child of God! That is a high responsibility that most people in our world maybe aren’t prepared for. We have to live as Christ lived…and if we remember all that Jesus went through…that won’t be the most pain-free life. We have to choose to listen to God over ourselves just like Jesus did! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will remind you of the life Jesus lived and what that looks like and means for you.
A lot of times, Christians get caught up in doing the right Christian things rather than being with God. Our actions do not, and cannot mess up God’s plans, we just don’t have that kind of authority or power like God does. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will encourage you to prioritize your relationship with God and watch how easy it will be to obey His commands! When you truly love the Lord and follow after Him with everything you’ve got, living righteously in God’s love isn’t that difficult!
If you had to choose, would you rather watch a movie or a TV show? Many would choose a TV show because the story dwells with them much longer. However, one of the worst feelings known to man comes with choosing TV shows… the dreaded void left inside after completing the show. Well, what if there was a story that kept on going? Today, Pastor Dan teaches all about that story… the story of Jesus. The best part is that you get to be a part of the story. You get to share Jesus with the world.
What has God called you to do? Has He called you to share the Gospel with your neighbor? Has He called you to sign up for that mission opportunity? Well… what are you waiting for? Today, Pastor Dan teaches that the Lord will protect and equip you to do the mission at hand. You don’t need to be afraid, because the Lord of the universe is on your side. Of course, seek wisdom, but seek courage as well. God has placed you here for a reason, and He wants to do amazing things through you. Get to it.
There’s a common belief that “I’m a nice guy… I’ll get into Heaven!” Some people believe they can be generous enough, helpful enough, or smile enough and be good to go. However, Pastor Dan teaches that that’s not exactly the case. The only surefire way that they will get into Heaven is by placing their faith in Jesus. Today, if you’ve been thinking your kindness will be your Get-Into-Heaven-Free card, you need to think again. It’s not about what you do, but what Jesus did for you.
Are you feeling so overwhelmed that it might just be easier to stop following God altogether? If only you could just forget about your morals and live like the world does, it would be so much easier for you. Today, Pastor Dan will encourage you that it’s not worth it to jump out of God’s love for you. The only way to true salvation and eternal life is to keep clinging to God. When you decide to turn your back towards Him, your life will only get harder. Don’t abandon the life that God has planned for you.
Have you ever had a moment where you don’t understand why God is allowing you to endure a storm in your life? You are reading your bible, going to church, praying, and yet your life still feels like it’s falling apart. Today, Pastor Dan will remind you that enduring hardships is part of being a follower of Christ. Even if you do everything that God has called you to, there will still be trials that you face, but you will have hope. You can lean further into Jesus when you face uncertainty and know that He is with you.
Life is busy and our schedules are busy so how are we supposed to make time for God? We have to go to school or work. Hang out with our friends or take the kids to sports. The list goes on and on of the potential things that you have to do during the day. So how do we have time for God? Today, Pastor Dan will encourage you that it’s your job to make time for God. That might mean rethinking your priorities to make sure you are putting God first before anything else takes up time in your day.
Are you in a place of spiritual darkness? You’ve tried to find joy and peace in all of the wrong areas. Relationships, drugs, alcohol, and many other addictions can lead to a false sense of happiness. All of these things only lead to temporary satisfaction that can only be filled by more drugs more alcohol and more relationships. Today, Pastor Dan will remind you that there is only one answer to true fulfillment in life and His name is Jesus. Only Jesus can truly fill the peace that you are searching for.
If you are trapped in a situation that is making you feel uncomfortable, what is your first thought? For most of us, you probably want to get out! The same is true if you are caught up in sin. The more that the Holy Spirit prods and convicts your heart, the quicker you are going to want to confess and repent of your sin. Today, Pastor Dan is going to encourage you to pray so that you will feel convicted if you are living in sin. Paul was so miserable that Jesus was the only answer to turn around his hopeless life.
Your personal testimony matters more than you think. It can be hard to talk about what God has brought you through, but it can also bring another person closer to Jesus. When you share things that God has done in your life, it can be an encouragement to someone struggling to find hope in their circumstances. Today, Pastor Dan will encourage you to be like Paul. Don’t shy away from talking about what God has done in your life, but be bold and share your faith in any way that you can.
When a Christian utters the phrase all things work together for good, he or she is referring to a portion of one of the most quoted, claimed verses in the New Testament, Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” As Pastor Dan continues his teaching series through the book of Romans, he’ll be reminding you that regardless of your circumstances, God is turning everything out for your ultimate good!
Today, Pastor Dan will be explaining how Jesus was very angry with the religious hypocritical leaders of His day. They were drawing people away from God rather than drawing them near to Him. Sadly, as a Christian, you too could cause people to draw away from God because of hypocrisy. It’s better to be real with people and minister to them with the realization that you too are a sinful human in need of a Savior. If you’ve been living in hypocrisy, today is the day to repent!
The best thing you can do for someone is to make sure their salvation is secure. Imagine having a disease, and receiving the cure to that disease- and never letting others know about it. Today, Pastor Dan will be exhorting you to preach the Gospel and to make disciples since you yourself have received this free gift. Don’t allow the enemy and your flesh to discourage you from ministering to the lost. You have the Holy Spirit living within you and you have supernatural boldness available to you.
As Pastor Dan continues his teaching series through the book of Acts, he’ll be explaining that the Christian life isn’t easy, but it’s significantly better than living for the devil. The world, the flesh, and the devil are constantly trying to lure you into sin, bondage, and death. You can either be a slave to sin or a slave to righteousness. One will lead you to eternal Hell and destruction, and the other path will lead you to an abundant life and eternal Paradise. The choice is up to you, and the Lord won’t force you to follow Him.
There is no doubt that persecution is a stark reality of living the Christian life. Today, Pastor Dan will be encouraging you to continue preaching the Gospel regardless of any persecution. Christian persecution is to be expected: the apostle Paul warned that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”. Jesus said that, if they persecuted Him, they would also persecute His followers. Jesus also made it clear that those of the world will hate Christians because the world hated Him first.
I wonder how often Paul questioned his choices as he endured house arrest under Roman oppression. Maybe he didn’t, but it’s not hard to imagine the thoughts that may have crossed his mind: Is this God’s punishment? Did I miss God’s will for me? What good can I do here? As Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, Paul was right where God wanted him. There aren’t any mistakes in God’s sovereign will. He orchestrates and works all things for His own glory and the good of those who love Him.
You can sense the disgust in Paul’s tone as we read this account of his encounter with the religious elites in today’s passage. His response isn’t a blueprint for how we should treat others – it offers us a glimpse into Paul’s human nature. He was angry over the injustice and hypocrisy he was witnessing amongst these men who claimed to be in the service of God. As Pastor Dan examines this story, we’ll be challenged to allow God to guide our hearts, not our anger or even our desire for justice.
If you ever find yourself in a place of pride, believing that you’ve attained a sinless life of good works – it’s time for some serious self-examination and time in prayer. None of us will ever reach that point in this life – even the apostles, men who Jesus handpicked to establish His Church, never reached that point in their earthly life. As Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, Paul openly acknowledged his sinfulness but knew that in Christ, he had been made righteous in God’s sight.
Today’s passage recounts a great opportunity that Paul had to share the Gospel. Paul knew his audience well. He’d grown up in a community of people who held tightly to similar beliefs and practices as these Jews in the temple court. Paul could relate to them, and he had an amazing story to share. As Pastor Dan will encourage us in today’s message, many of us have a similar group of people – people we can relate to more than others, and our stories can be very effective in convincing them of the truth of Jesus.
Have you ever heard a dramatic testimony and all you could remember was all the awful things the person did before they were saved? These are good reminders of just how far-reaching the grace of God is, but as Pastor Dan will warn in today’s message, we need to be careful not to glorify the deeds of the flesh. As we share our stories of salvation, we need to paint an accurate picture of our sin – yes it may have felt good at times, but it was a destructive path full of emptiness and pain as well.
Your testimony is one of the most powerful tools God’s given you. You could invest heavily in learning Scripture and doctrine, mastering apologetics and how to defend the Bible but find yourself struggling to win anyone over. Those can be good tools as well – there are times when they can be very effective – but as Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, nobody can argue with your testimony. It’s what you personally experienced and it can connect with the hardest hearts.
Paul’s example in today’s passage is both inspiring and challenging. Few Christians can claim to have this level of compassion. We may desire to see the lost saved – especially good friends or family members – but what about complete strangers? As Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, Paul had a deep desire to see his fellow Jews come to Jesus. He was so passionate about it, that he was willing to give up his own place in God’s Kingdom if it meant they would come in.
There’s been a deceptive idea going around Christian circles for some time, teaching that the Law of the Old Testament is irrelevant to the modern Church because of Christ’s work on the cross. Many might label themselves as “New Testament believers”, implying that they don’t need the Old Testament at all. As Pastor Dan will remind us in today’s message, the Law God gave in the Old Testament was fulfilled in Jesus, not abolished. It still offers us a reminder of our need for a Savior.
We have nothing to boast about in and of ourselves. God didn’t call us into His family because we had so much to offer – He loved us despite the selfishness in our hearts. We’re all made in His image, and He wants to redeem and restore us – that’s why He sent Jesus. As Pastor Dan will remind us in today’s message, whatever path God calls you down, be intentional about giving the glory back to Him. Anything good that comes out of your ministry is because of His goodness and sovereignty.
This may come as a surprise, but sometimes Christians get it wrong… forgive me for my sarcasm, but it’s worth being reminded of this truth. God designed and built the Church, and we need the accountability and advice of our brothers and sisters in Christ. But there are times when they get it wrong. As Pastor Dan will remind us in today’s message, ultimately the Holy Spirit and the Word of God need to be the final authorities in your decision-making – not the voice of the crowd.
As parents, we sometimes try to protect our kids in the wrong way. We may try to protect them from hardship or even boredom when those things can be great opportunities for growth. As Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, it’s extremely important that our children witness us living out our Christian journeys. They may get a little bored sitting through a church service, but they’re seeing you invest your time in God’s Word, and when you take that out into your life, it will make an impact in their hearts.
There are times when some in the Church will feel led in one direction while others feel led in another. Even in your own heart, God may give you a sense of awareness that harm may come to you, as He did for Paul in today’s message, but that doesn’t mean God is telling you to stop moving forward. As Pastor Dan examines Paul’s journey to Jerusalem and the stops he makes along the way, we’ll be reminded that following God’s call isn’t easy, but we find joy and peace as we live out His purpose for us.
One look at the news or the social media feed makes it obvious that the enemy is working to steal, kill, and destroy. The overt attacks are easy to spot – but what about the more subtle ways the enemy works to deceive? Today, Pastor Dan tells you that the enemy sneaks in with false teachings – not to get you to renounce your faith, but to deceive you and keep you in darkness so that you’re ineffective in your faith. It’s critical for you to be in the Word daily and on guard against these attacks.
Sometimes it’s hard to remember that we’re stewards of what God has given us. Our jobs, our finances, even our family – these don’t belong to us. They belong to God, and we are tasked with stewarding His possessions. Today, Pastor Dan reminds you that if you’ve accepted Jesus as your Savior, then you belong to Him. And when you lead believers - at work or at church or your family - it’s important to remember that they also belong to Jesus, and you need to treat them as His possession.
There are a LOT of opinions and ideas flying around in the world today about our faith. We see them on social media, hear them in conversation, even get them from the pulpit. They all have Bible verses attached and come from people claiming to be reputable. So how are we to know what’s true and what’s not? Today, Pastor Dan tells you about the danger of false teachings. He warns that the enemy is subtle, and you need to stay on guard by reading God’s Word and keeping a close daily walk with Him.
Imagine you are at work and your boss gives you a set of instructions then asks you to pass them on to the rest of the workers. You know the workers may not like some of the instructions, but what happens if you don’t pass them on? Who will be held responsible if the work doesn’t get done? You or the workers? In today’s message, Pastor Dan explains to you that God has given you a responsibility to share His Word. It may seem overwhelming, but He also promises to help you through.
Have you ever been in a situation where you give someone instructions on how to complete a task only to find they’re doing it a different way and producing poor results? Maybe it was an employee at work or a kid at home. You set the expectations and timeline, but the task never got done. What do you do about that? Pastor Dan tells you today about stewardship and how Jesus has assigned you tasks to fulfill. He has entrusted you with the Gospel and He has expectations for what you do with it.
The Bible says to consider it all joy when you come up against trials, but can it really mean all? Surely, when that car backed into yours, that wasn’t all joy. It certainly didn’t feel like joy when you lost your job. What about when your family member got sick? Where was “joy” then? When you look around, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of joy anywhere. Today, Pastor Dan tells you that, no matter what happens, Jesus is working in and through it. So fix your eyes on Jesus and He’ll give you joy.
We’ve all had those times when we stop, look out the window, and think, “Is this all there is?” There’s this gnawing feeling that we were meant to live for more than what we’re experiencing. It’s hard not to feel guilty or defeated when those thoughts come up. Shouldn’t we be content with where we are and what we’re doing? Pastor Dan reminds you today that you are meant for more. God created you, specifically you, ON purpose and FOR a purpose. God wants you to find and fulfill your calling with joy.
Have you noticed how people change in different social settings? For example, most people don’t talk the same way in front of their grandparents as they do their friends. It’s normal to adapt to who we’re talking to. But we need to be careful that these minor adaptations don’t become things that undermine our character. In today’s message, Pastor Dan tells you about how Paul was consistent in every aspect of his life and how you, too, can be Godly in everything through constant focus on Jesus.
We’re constantly bombarded with ideas, opinions, beliefs, social rules, and norms. They come at us on our phones, computers, inboxes, billboards, and even our churches. It seems everything and everyone is trying to influence us in one direction or another. The problem is that many of the directions are conflicting. So how do you choose which one to follow? Today, Pastor Dan tells you that it’s dangerous to judge anything based on what’s popular rather than on the character of the source.
Remember when you were a kid, and you asked for a snack before dinner? What was the answer you always got? “Not right now, you’ll spoil your appetite.” It seems it’s a hard lesson to learn because, even as an adult, it’s hard not to fill up on those breadsticks before the meal comes out. Today, Pastor Dan tells you that your spiritual life is just like your appetite. If you find that spending time in the Bible is a struggle, it may be that you’re satisfying your life with things of this world and not with God.
When you miss a meal, do you ever think, “Oh no, I missed lunch! I’ll eat two lunches tomorrow to make up for it.” Of course not! When you miss a meal, you feel hungry. What happens when you miss your time with God? Do you feel guilty and try to make up for it? Or do you feel hungry? Today, Pastor Dan tells you that if you’ve lost your appetite for God, then you’ve likely filled your life with other things. They may not even be bad things, but you still need to evaluate how you spend your time.
Have you ever known about a party that you really wanted to go to but weren’t invited? You struggle with being left out but then one day, someone gives you an invitation, and everything changes. Do you have that same feeling when you’re invited to a Bible study or church event? It's probably not a comparison you’ve made before, but in today’s message, Pastor Dan reminds you that walking with Jesus is an invitation to be a part of something big, to belong, to be encouraged, and to encourage others.
Imagine the beginning of autumn. You’re walking through the neighborhood, and all the flowerbeds seem to have a nice, fresh batch of pine straw. However, the more you look, the more you realize that the pine straw isn’t just in the ground… it’s woven within the plants themselves. That must mean that the shedding trees are pine trees! Today, Pastor Dan teaches that people know who you are by what you produce. Will you be identified as someone who produces the love and grace of God?
For many of us, the idea of stepping out in faith can be daunting. Sure, some of us are a little more free-spirited and like to act first and think later, but the vast majority of people need to have some sort of plan in place before they take action. Today, you will learn that, sometimes, action needs to be taken before all of the answers are known. There may be some unknowns in your life that are weighing heavily on you, but as Pastor Chuck Smith said, “Just start walking, and the stone will be rolled away.”
What do you do when everyone around you tells you to do one thing, but your conscience tells you to do another? Will you allow your morals and code of ethics to be compromised by what is convenient, trendy, or comfortable? Today, Pastor Dan teaches that you have a calling in your life. Jesus has called you to follow Him, which might mean giving up some things. It might mean going against the grain of society. In the end, when Jesus calls you to “Go,” there can only be one response… “Where?”
Nothing can stop God's plans from coming to fruition. When it came to Jesus' birth, God really wanted that to happen. It was His act of love to send His only Son just to be destined to die for your sins. Today, Pastor Dan will show you that when you look back at the prophecies about Jesus' birth, you can clearly see how God's plan did ultimately come to pass. This means there's a way to have eternal life through faith in Jesus. The real story behind Christmas is Jesus' birth which started it all.
The real story behind Christmas is often lost behind the hectic Christmas season. It's not reindeer or Christmas trees, and it's not even dinner around a warm table. It's the story of the birth of Jesus: when His earthly ministry began. Today, Pastor Dan shows you how prophecies from hundreds of years before pointed to Jesus' unique and miraculous birth. Everything in God's Word is accurate, and you can be sure when you read it that it's true. The real reason for Christmas is to remember Jesus' birth.
Jesus came to the earth with a plan. He came to the earth just as God willed it. What was that plan? It was to make a way for you to come directly to The Father and be forgiven of your sins. It was all made possible by Jesus. Today, Pastor Dan's going to show you that every part of Jesus' life gave glory back to God, and that included His birth. He was born of a virgin, fulfilling centuries-old prophecies. The day Jesus was born is the day you remember now when you celebrate Christmas. That's where it all started.
Even though you might celebrate Christmas every year, do you know the reason? Do you know where it all started? Today, Pastor Dan's going to show you that the very first Christmas was an act of love towards you. Jesus was sent to the earth, destined to live a perfect life and die as a sacrifice for your sins. The first step of Jesus' earthly life for your salvation was His miraculous birth. That day is what we celebrate on Christmas today. It mustn't be overlooked in all the hustle of the holiday season.
You can do anything you want in order to achieve or earn eternal life, but you won't find it without Jesus. Without Him, you can't find true peace for your soul. Today, Pastor Dan's going to show you where that peace is found. It's through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. He came to earth and died for you. His whole ministry started with His miraculous birth through His virgin mother. That day is why we celebrate Christmas. That's the true story behind all the hustle and bustle and celebration of Christmas today.
God became a man the day that He sent Jesus to the earth. Jesus was God in human form. He lived a perfect life as a man, so He could be the perfect sacrifice for your sins. Today, Pastor Dan's going to point you back to where it all started: the first Christmas. While it wasn't like we see it today, with the lights and wrapped gifts, it was important. It was miraculous. That's the true story behind Christmas. That's where it all started. And all of it came in God's perfect timing, according to His plan.
Jesus came to the earth for a reason. At the exact time God had planned, He sent Jesus to the world to be born of a virgin on the first Christmas night. That's the reason we celebrate Christmas. That's the true reason behind the lights, the presents, and the Christmas trees. Today, Pastor Dan will remind you that the first Christmas started the events of Jesus' life that would eventually lead to his sacrifice and resurrection. Jesus made a way for you to have eternal life by dying for your sins. In Him, you don't have to fear death or eternity. In Him, you're secure.
Through Jesus's resurrection, you have salvation. His controversial but perfectly lived life leading up to it all started on that first Christmas through the virgin birth. That's the miraculous event we celebrate at Christmas: the real reason for the season. Pastor Dan's going to remind you in today's message that it's a story of love. It's The Father's love for you that was so great, He sent His only Son to the earth to be a sacrifice for your sins so you could be forgiven. That first Christmas in Bethlehem started it all.
Do you believe that Jesus can change your city? Today in Pastor Dan's message you'll hear about the Apostle Paul's time in Ephesus. It was a major city of the Roman Empire that was known for being a stronghold of demonic power and as the site of the goddess Diana's temple. During Paul's time there, the city was transformed. People were hearing the Word of God and learning the truth of who Jesus was. Pray for revival in your city, share the Good News about Jesus, and invite the Holy Spirit to work.
We cannot be at peace with both God and the world. Today you'll hear Pastor Dan share about Paul's time in the city of Ephesus. Ephesus was home to the temple of Diana, a very popular goddess at the time. Yet this pagan culture did NOT deter Paul from sharing the Gospel, quite the opposite. He shared the truth about Jesus BOLDLY. As a result, many came to the saving knowledge of Jesus. Don't be afraid to stand out in today's culture! The world needs to hear the Good News of Jesus.
Is there something that the Lord has put on your heart that has not yet come to pass? Today in his teaching, Pastor Dan encourages you to trust in God's timing. He always keeps His promises. Just because you can't see Him at work does NOT mean He isn't working. You can trust that His timing is best and He sees things more clearly than you do. Continue to walk in obedience as you pursue His plans for your life. Remember that God is always faithful and He is working all things for your good.
Have you burned down the bridge to your old sin or is there something in the way of your relationship with God? Maybe it's an addiction, or an attitude, or a lifestyle choice. You'll hear Pastor Dan in today's message, plead with you to repent of your sin. Parts ways with whatever it is that's separating you from the life God has for you. Let today be the day that you break free once and for all from what is holding you back. You will discover that true freedom is found when you choose to follow Jesus.
A day is coming when you will meet Jesus. He will either say “Welcome in” or “Depart from me, I never knew you”. In today's teaching, Pastor Dan implores you to get to know Jesus. Get in right relationship with Him by repenting from your sins and placing your faith in Him. You owe a debt that you can never repay. Jesus loves you so much that He chose to die on the cross as the payment for your sins. His grace made it possible for you to receive eternal life. Put your trust in Him, today!
God wants to use YOU to spread the Gospel! It's the way He designed the Good News to be shared. Today in his teaching, Pastor Dan urges you to take part in the Kingdom of God by sharing the message of Jesus with people. It's not just a job for pastors and ministry leaders-- it is the responsibility and privilege of ALL who know Jesus as their Savior. It doesn't make sense for you to keep this news all to yourself! So... don't! Make it your mission to tell someone the Good News about Jesus today.
Have you ever gotten something and thought it was complete, but then you realized an important part was missing? Sometimes you don’t get the whole thing at once, the parts are sold separately. In today’s message, Pastor Dan proposes that you can accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, and even have the Spirit living within them, but still not be baptized in the Holy Spirit. You could live your whole life as a believer and never receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit unless you are baptized in the Spirit.
If you’ve ever planted anything you know it takes some specific things for something to grow. You could use the best soil in the best sunlight, but without water, nothing will grow. Likewise, if you have solid and water but no sun nothing will grow. As Pastor Dan points out in today’s message, you can plant seeds of God’s Word in people’s minds, you can even water it by sharing more knowledge and helping with study, but without God, there will be no increase. Nothing and no one can grow or move forward if God doesn’t provide the increase.
If you are like most people you strengthen yourself physically through working out, or lifting weights; you strengthen yourself mentally by reading and studying, but do you know how to strengthen yourself spiritually as a Christian? In today’s message, Pastor Dan explains that the main way you strengthen yourself as a Christian is through the Word of God. Just like you read and study to better yourself mentally, you must continually study the Word of God, even more so if you share and teach others.
Have you ever been in a situation that made you afraid to speak up? Maybe you are not scared to talk, but you hesitate to stand your ground on certain issues. In today’s world, it can be intimidating to stand up for what you believe, especially for Christian beliefs. Well in today’s message, Pastor Dan reminds you that you don’t need to be afraid if you are standing on Christian values, God is with you! Always remember as a believer you don’t have to be afraid to stand for God because He is on your side!
As an adult can you remember how you learned to do most of the things you do daily? Some things are second nature now that you have to learn from somewhere. Well, in today’s message, Pastor Dan suggests that you learned how to be an adult from your parents. You may not realize it but most of what you know how to do probably came from your parents or a parental figure in your life. As a Christian, it is part of your duty to teach children how to be an adult as well as a follower of Christ.
Have you ever moved to a new city where you didn’t know anyone, or even started a new job where you hadn’t met anyone yet? Until you met someone with similar interests it was probably difficult. In today’s message, Pastor Dan explains that when a believer goes to a new place, the first thing God does is make sure they find other believers. You are never intended to go through life alone, always make one of your priorities to find other believers. Fellowship is an important part of the Christian life.
Isn’t it wonderful to know that God is not far away? He’s not sitting on a distant throne looking down on us. God is near if we look for Him. In his message today, Pastor Dan will challenge you to seek after God. God wants you to find Him. He’s not hiding. You just have to reach out for Him. Spend time looking for His nature in scripture. Spend time praying to Him and listening to what He says back. Talk to other believers in a small group or bible study about Him. Seek and you will find Him.
Why does God involve us in accomplishing His plans? We know God is all-powerful. He could accomplish anything, and He doesn’t need us. That makes it all the more humbling that He chooses to use us. In his message today, Pastor Dan will remind you that God has chosen to invite you into His Kingdom. Isn’t it great to be wanted even when you’re not needed? It means you’re chosen. God cares about you and wants you, so as you serve Him, don’t think you’re proving your worth. Do it out of thankfulness.
We are bombarded by so much information in our world today, aren’t we? The internet, social media, and television mean we can learn so much information that can be useful or useless. Even good information is useless if we don’t apply it in some way. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will teach about Paul’s sermon to the people of Athens, and the people of Athens loved hearing new knowledge, but didn’t really do anything with it. Don’t be like them, seek after God’s truth and apply it to your life.
“I get plenty of Bible study in. I listen to my Pastor at church and I watch lots of teachers on social media. That’s all I need.” Some Christians get fooled into thinking that’s all they need to deepen their faith in Christ. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will challenge you to take your spiritual development into your own hands. Pastors are imperfect humans, so don’t depend solely on their teaching. You should check what they're saying against what the Bible says. The Bible doesn’t make mistakes.
“Why would I need to read the Old Testament scriptures? All I need is to read about Jesus.” There are some who get caught in that temptation. They think the Old Testament doesn’t really apply to them, because Jesus came to abolish the old things, right? Wrong. In his message today, Pastor Dan will teach that Jesus didn’t come to abolish the old teachings but to fulfill them. Don’t neglect to read the Old Testament. You’ll find so much in there that points to Jesus and makes your faith deeper.
Has God ever used tragedy or difficult circumstances in your life to draw you closer to Him? He seems to work that way often. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will teach about how Paul and Silas’ jailor was ready to take his own life, and God used that situation to save the jailor’s life. When you’re thrown out of your normal routine, and you can’t seem to handle getting through each day, that’s when you have to depend on God. If you’re going through a dark time, turn to God. He is the light.
“I don’t feel like singing today.” Have you ever heard that? Have you ever said that? Culture would tell you to follow your feelings, but that’s not true. When Paul and Silas were thrown into prison, they sang and worshiped God. Do you think they felt like singing? In his message today, Pastor Dan will challenge you to choose to worship even when you don’t feel like it. You’re not a slave to your feelings. You can choose to be obedient to God’s calling. Worship is not about you, it is about praising God.
There are many things in this world that can lead us astray. We are desperate for wisdom, direction, and answers for our lives. Needing these things, people look to anything they can get their hands on. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will warn you to be careful and steer clear of things like astrology and fortune-telling. You don’t have to use those things. You have the Word of God. You have the Holy Spirit. He will guide you. He will provide any answers you need. Just ask and seek God’s wisdom and direction.
In the church world, sometimes we can get sidetracked in wanting to see tangible results, can’t we? We want to see more people coming to church, more people coming to events, and more people being saved. However, God can work wonders through what we think are small results. In his message today, Pastor Dan will remind you that one person being saved can have great results. Don’t worry about the numbers in your ministry. Focus on people growing in faith, and let God do wonders.
Have you ever had a great idea to serve God, but it just seemed like you were coming up against roadblocks? You keep trying and trying, but doors seem to be closing. That may be because God is closing those doors. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will explain that a closed door could be God sending you a message. God speaks in many ways, and if He wants you to share your faith with your neighbor or start a new ministry, He’ll open that door. However, if He closes the door, don’t try to force it open.
Sometimes we can get ahead of what God wants for us, can’t we? We see some good that needs to be done, and we think we should do it. However, just because something is a good plan, doesn’t mean we’re meant to do it. In his message today, Pastor Dan will remind you to listen to the Holy Spirit. Are you busy doing good things that God doesn’t want you to do? Maybe you’ve got your life overfilled carrying out your own plans, but God has a greater plan in store for you if you would stop and listen.
Far too often we try to maintain a self-serving approach to life as we follow Jesus. Instead of the mindset of, “What can I get away with and still maintain good standing with God…” we should desire to live a life that expresses deep gratitude for the love and grace He’s given. As Pastor Dan will remind us today, God’s forgiven us of so much, and to try to find exceptions or loopholes in His law and design is an insult to His grace and we’ll severely miss out on His greater purpose for our lives.
Ministry has to be super uncomfortable and challenging right? God does often call us into situations that challenge us – that’s true – but ministry can happen in your everyday exchanges with the people in your life. As Pastor Dan will encourage us in today’s message, you can minister to others simply by checking in on them. This may be as simple as asking how they’re doing, and if you really listen to their answers, it can evolve into a much deeper conversation that feeds both of your souls.
All it takes is faith. What you do can’t save you. Who you are, or who your parents are means nothing in the Kingdom of God. As Pastor Dan continues our study of the book of Acts in today’s message we’ll be reminded of this core truth. There are many different denominations and factions within the Church, most with just slight variations in doctrine. As long as we agree on the core truth of who Jesus is and allow Him to guide us, we can find unity and work through our disagreements with love and grace.
At its foundation, the Church is built on Jesus Christ. The belief that we’re sinful and need saving from the destruction of sin, along with the belief that Jesus is the Son of God and He died on the cross for our sin, freeing us from its oppression and destruction, is central to who we are as Christians. As Pastor Dan will encourage us in today’s message, it’s important that we don’t compromise on core doctrines, but in all things, we can approach disagreements with the grace we’ve been given.
You might hear that statement from Pastor Dan and recoil with the thought that you would never act that way… But, for most of us, we easily slide into a similar legalism with our faith. If someone came into our church wearing that particular outfit, or we saw their car parked at a certain type of establishment or heard them talking about the show they watched last night, we might make some judgments that aren’t ours to make. We just tend to be more subtle about our legalism.
The Bible says that everyone knows there’s a God, but not everyone believes. Today, Pastor Dan says that the complex things around us can show us that God’s real. Many things are unexplainable and that’s on purpose. It’s to show us that God’s greater than us. He’s a God who is powerful and graceful, loving and caring, while also being a judge. When you see a flower, think of how complex it is. Be in awe of what God has done and what He can do through you. He loves you and has plans for you.
It’s hard to deny someone when they have a witness to what they’re claiming. In today’s message, Pastor Dan talks about common grace which is God showing good not just to people but to everything. We can see the grass growing and the birds being taken care of and because of this, we should be able to say there is a God. There are things in this world that are unexplainable. The only one who can explain it to you is God. His sacrifice is worth more than we can ever imagine.
Can we all agree that rejection is one of the worst emotions to feel? In today’s message, Pastor Dan says that when we share the gospel of Jesus with others, we should expect opposition. Sharing the gospel is offensive to some because it shows them that they need something greater than themselves. When you trust in God, you’re recognizing that you’re not enough. In humility, you must run to Jesus because He’s the only one who can give eternal life. He loves you and can’t wait till you choose Him.
The saying goes “We are our greatest critics”. It can be really easy to tear ourselves down especially when we’re alone with no one to run to. Today, Pastor Dan says that you aren’t alone, you’re redeemed by Christ and promised eternal life through Him. God cherishes you as a child of His and wants you to trust in Him fully so He can have a relationship with you. You’re valuable to God. Even when you don’t feel valuable or great about yourself, remember that God loves you and thinks highly of you.
How do Christians know that Jesus is the son of God and that we are forgiven? Today, Pastor Dan says we know this because Jesus rose from the dead. Because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, you’re redeemed. You’re loved by a God who knows all and desires a relationship with you. He loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you. Jesus’s resurrection guaranteed victory over your sin. Believe in Him today and you’ll be saved from your past and given an eternity with Him.
As a believer in Christ, it can be scary to share the gospel with others. In today’s message, Pastor Dan says that when God opens a door to share the gospel, we must walk through it. Sharing the gospel doesn’t guarantee salvation to others, but what it does is give others a chance at receiving the good news of Jesus. Have you put your faith in Jesus? If you haven’t you must! The gospel is for everyone. The beauty of it is that God desires a relationship with you. He loves you and wants what’s best!
It can be hard to say something harsh but needed to be said to someone. The reality is, sometimes when we’re authenticity is what someone needs to hear. In today’s message, Pastor Dan says that we must listen to the Holy Spirit for discernment on what to say and when to say it. It’s not easy but it’s necessary when the Holy Spirit tells you to share it with someone. Next time you feel a nudge to share something with someone, ask yourself if it's the Holy Spirit or your selfish ambitions guiding you.
Sometimes churches can go into places and seem to be copies of each other. In today’s message, Pastor Dan says not every church should be the same. Churches should be unique because they should serve the community they’re in. What works for one church won’t necessarily work for another church. Do you go to a church? It’s important to find a church that is right for you. Not all churches are the same, therefore you might need to try a couple of churches before finding the one for you.
Sometimes it can be hard to figure out why the church exists. Today, Pastor Dan says that the church is used to equip the saints of Christ for every good deed. When we go to church it’s so we can be prepared for whatever comes our way throughout the week. Do you go to church? If you don’t you should start going so you can walk in community. The church community will help you feel lifted up when you’re feeling down and guide you back to what really matters which is the gospel of Christ.
What’s the smallest thing you can think of? Maybe it’s the eye of a needle or those tiny ants that seem to be everywhere during the summer. Today, Pastor Dan says that when you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains with God. A mustard seed is small but that’s all it takes when you have God on your side. God wants you to trust Him so He can do miraculous things. He loves you and desires a relationship with you. Have faith in who He is and watch Him work through you!
It can be hard to stand firm in something we believe in when the people around us don’t believe the same thing. In today’s message, Pastor Dan says when Christians are feeling persecuted by the things around them, they should pray. If you’re a believer, you must be reminded that the only one who can save is Jesus. That’s why you must pray to Him. He’ll give you comfort and also fight the spiritual battles you don’t see. God’s for you, trust in Him through prayer and He’ll comfort you.
Can we agree that it’s hard to trust someone when there’s a little bit that’s bad about them? In today’s message, Pastor Dan says that even though we can’t explain the things of this world that seem bad, we will understand more when Christ returns. It can be hard to trust God if you don’t believe in Him. He does everything for a reason, even unexplainable things. Trusting in God is the best decision you’ll make. It’ll give you hope when you feel hopeless and comfort in times of stress. Choose God today!
Do you rejoice with those who are coming to Christ? In today’s message, Pastor Dan compares Barnabas's encouragement to the new believers in Antioch to the critical spirits of the self-righteous who witnessed Zacchaeus's conversion. He also reminds us that grace is free but not cheap. It does not mean we can do whatever we wish. Instead, grace motivates us to live lives of obedience because we love the one who died for us.
Individuals from various backgrounds come to Christ. In his message today, Pastor Dan reminds us of the different groups of people who came to know Christ in the New Testament. God accepted them regardless of how wicked or good they were when they repented and called on Christ for salvation. Whether they were from Antioch and had worshipped idols and lived immoral lives or were like Cornelius and had a foundation of belief in God, they were all saved when they accepted Jesus.
Is the Bible an actual historical record? While many religious writings contain some references to real places and people, the Bible is filled with hundreds of them. In his message today, Pastor Dan emphasized the importance of all the times, places, and people mentioned in Scripture. Throughout the Bible, events, rulers, and places are documented in other historical books. The Bible is not a fairy tale of made-up stories but a book of fact and history. It is the reliable and infallible Word of God.
In many instances in the New Testament, people are described as being filled with the Holy Spirit. In today's message, Pastor Dan explains the distinction between being filled with the Holy Spirit at salvation and an additional empowering experience that can occur separately. There are times when the Holy Spirit takes total control, and the believer becomes consumed with the presence of Jesus. This was not always something sought out by the New Testament believers but rather ordained by God.
Does God still provide visions today? In today's message, Pastor Dan asserts that visions are still grounded in the Bible. However, he advises us to ensure that these directives originate from God and are not merely our own ideas. In the New Testament, some believers claimed to have visions and received guidance from the Holy Spirit that was not from God. God will never go against His Word. We must be confident that our vision aligns with the Bible and is not just a reflection of our personal desires.
When individuals share a meal, they consume elements that become a part of their bodies, creating a sense of similarity and fellowship. The fact that Jesus shared meals with everyone holds great significance. In today's message, Pastor Dan emphasizes the importance of Christ's willingness to eat with regular people. Even after Peter denied Christ, Jesus prepared a meal for him on the shore to demonstrate his forgiveness. In the Bible, sharing a meal with someone showed great acceptance.
It is amazing how unifying the gospel can be. The world puts labels on every group, but God sees us equally. In today’s message, Pastor Dan emphasizes God’s impartiality. In the New Testament, we see Peter dealing with this issue. Peter comes to realize that every nation and people are accepted by God when they respond to him in faith and follow Him. The gospel is not just for one group. Jesus came to seek and to save all. When we come together in faith and follow Jesus, He unites everyone.
Why did Peter say the Gentiles in Cesarea were “far from God?” Aren’t all people the same distance from God until they believe? The problem was their culture. In today’s message, Pastor Dan explains the reason Peter said this. The Romans did not even have a word for “repentance” in their vocabulary. They had no concept of repentance. Even today, some cultures and people see “repenters as weak.” People are not able to turn away from their sins if they do not see themselves in need of salvation.
Are you ever surprised to see Christians and Jews working together? Some of the strongest preachers and teachers of the Christian faith are Jews. In today’s message, Pastor Dan explains how Jesus reconciled these two groups of people. In Jesus’ time, these two groups of people hated each other, but Jesus removed this hostility. The church was established to make these two groups one. He reconciled them as one body on the cross. Jews are welcomed into the family through Christ.
What do you do in a crisis? Where do you turn when you encounter a situation you have never dealt with before, and the circumstances are unfamiliar? In today’s message, Pastor Dan gives helpful advice. He recommends looking at similar situations in scripture. You can search for examples of how Jesus, the disciples, or the prophets dealt with the same circumstances. By studying their reactions, you can find answers. When faced with a new crisis, search the scriptures.
What is man’s greatest need? In today’s message, Pastor Dan referred to Jesus’ healing of the lame man. Jesus immediately said, “Your sins are forgiven.” The Pharisees criticized Jesus for claiming to forgive sins, saying that only God could forgive sins. They did not understand or want to believe that Jesus was God. Jesus’ response was logical. It is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” than to heal someone. Jesus addressed man’s biggest need. It is not physical healing but spiritual cleansing of sins.
The Holy Spirit gives different gifts to believers in the body of Christ. One of those gifts is the gift of Faith. In today’s message, Pastor Dan describes this gift and its purpose. He says every believer is given a portion of faith in order to believe. This gift of faith, however, is an extra portion given to individuals who are able to believe with certainty something commanded by God is going to happen. He shows the apostle Peter demonstrating this gift. Like all gifts, the credit and glory are always given to God.
Have you ever watched a news report where a person or a group commits terrible crimes and wondered how people could be capable of those things? Does Jesus really love them? Would he forgive them? Have you ever looked at your own mistakes and wondered, “How can Jesus love ME?” Today, Pastor Dan tells you about how evil Saul was and how his life was turned around and he became Paul. You can know that, no matter what you’ve done, Jesus loves you completely and will forgive you.
Remember when you were a kid and to block someone out, you stuck your fingers in your ears, closed your eyes, and kept repeating, “I’m not listening, I’m not listening!” As kids, it was innocent enough. As we’ve grown, the tendency to ignore truth has grown as well and more and more people are sticking their fingers in their ears to block out the truth. Today, Pastor Dan tells you that, not only are people ignoring the truth, but they’re working to silence it and it’s more important than ever to stand.
Have you noticed that we often aren’t aware of changes in our lives? Even after getting that drastic new hairstyle, after a short while, we forget about what was so transformational just days before. But then we run into someone we haven’t seen recently, and we’re reminded of the change. Today, Pastor Dan tells you that, when you accepted Jesus, your whole life was changed. And that change is evident to people around you. Whether you’re aware of it or not, you are evidence of Jesus’ love and salvation.
Have you ever looked back on your life and regretted all the wasted time, mistakes, and missed opportunities? It can feel like an unbearable weight. How many times have you cried, “I wish I could go back and change things!” Today, Pastor Dan encourages you to look at your life through Jesus’ perspective. Jesus loves to work everything – everything – out for your good. Nothing is wasted. Even before you were born, He knew where you’d go and what He would do to redeem your life.
How would you feel if someone was mistreating your friends or family harshly? You’d probably take it personally. I know I would. “If you mess with them, then you’re messing with me.” I don’t think any of us would feel good about our friends and family being treated that way. Today in his message, Pastor Dan tells you that Jesus takes it very personally when people talk about or attack His people. Anytime that someone messes with His people, then it’s really Him that they’re messing with.
It seems that everyone today has a right to shout anything they believe and we’re supposed to accept their truth as equal to our own. We’re told everyone’s truth is as valid as anyone else’s. Today in his message, Pastor Dan tells you about how Saul was convinced of “his truth” and ended up working against God when he thought he was working for God. It goes to show that even with good intentions, if what you believe doesn’t line up with what God says, then it simply just isn’t true.
God knows what you need before you even ask Him for it. He'll provide those needs, too, if you let Him. When you seek out God and spend time in His Word to know Him more, He'll reveal Himself to you more and more. As you're with Pastor Dan today, he's going to show you that God knows exactly how to communicate with you in the ways that you need to know it's Him and to make His will clear to you. You just have to be faithful in seeking God out and being ready to move when He calls you to go.
God will reward you when you diligently seek Him. When He seems distant or foreign to you, or you feel like you don't hear from Him when you want to, it may be time to just get to know God better. Seek Him in His Word and stay attentive to His voice. Today, Pastor Dan's going to be with you in Acts to show you that no matter how much or little you have at your disposal, God's work can be done, and you can be the instrument He uses. But it starts with seeking after God and knowing Him more.
What may seem right or logical in your mind or even in any person's mind isn't necessarily always what God wants. Sometimes His leading can be completely illogical, but if that's where He's calling you to go, that's where you need to go. Today, Pastor Dan's going to encourage you to always seek after God's will and to know His voice more and more. You never know when you might have to go against what's obvious because God wants something else. That's why it's important to know His will.
It may be scary or intimidating at first to share with others about your faith in Christ. They may not react well or it could be awkward. However, God's Word and The Good News of Jesus Christ are news that's meant to be shared so more people can experience eternal life for themselves! Today, Pastor Dan's going to remind you that back when Stephen and Paul were preaching God's Word, it could even cost you your life. Are you that bold in sharing your faith with others, even if it means facing death?
Even though Paul had a past of persecuting Christians and watching them be killed for their beliefs, his heart still wasn't so hard that God couldn't reach him. As Pastor Dan's going to show you today, Paul's life was completely turned around when he encountered God. He got a second chance, and look what God eventually did through him. God can reach just as many people through you, too, if He wills it. He just wants you to be faithful when He does call you, just like Paul and Stephen were.
The Christian life is never guaranteed to be easy. Living out your faith may take more effort than what you intended to give or it may just be uncomfortable. But, as Pastor Dan's going to show you today, no matter what you face, you always can rest assured that God will give you whatever you need when you're completely sold out to living for Him. You'll get to look at Stephen and his boldness in sharing God's Word, and in the miraculous ways God used Him and Paul to get The News out about Jesus Christ.
It's amazing what can be accomplished through the life of someone who's completely sold out to following Jesus and full of the Holy Spirit. With God, anything is possible. Even in the middle of an angry mob, and despite all he had to lose, Stephen remained faithful to serving God and telling others about Jesus Christ, no matter what it would cost him. No matter who heard what he said. His heart was focused on what our hearts should be focused on: Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for you on the cross.
God can forgive anyone of any of the sins they've ever committed, no matter how bad they seem or how long they went on. Anyone can accept God's grace and be forgiven. But, Pastor Dan's going to be with you in Acts today, looking back at the life of Moses and the miracles God has been so faithful to work out for His chosen people throughout history. He's the same God that we serve today, and just as powerful and awesome. All we have to do is have faith to trust God and His Word.
When people see you and think of you, the first thing that should be evident is that you serve Jesus. It should be a priority in your life. Today, Pastor Dan's going to encourage you to have faith that when you step out in faith, God notices and He'll work in mysterious ways through you. Other people should see God when they see you, and you should grow to be more and more like Jesus every day. In Him is your identity, and that's what others should see when they look at you: a life loving like Jesus.
Jesus is going to return to the earth someday, and when He does, everyone is going to see it. He's going to come whether you're ready or not. He's going to take those who believe in Him to Heaven to spend eternity with Him there. In the meantime, we must stay busy doing His Work and sharing The Good News of Jesus with everyone we can while we're here on the earth. We need to be bold, and Pastor Dan's going to encourage you to be just that as you look at the example Stephen left for us in Acts.
Abraham was totally sold out to God working in his life to fulfill the promises God made to him. He had faith that God would provide all the needs to face anything God led them to. As you'll get to see today with Pastor Dan, Stephen knew Abraham's story well. And just like Abraham, Stephen trusted God even when it didn't make sense. He was so bold in sharing God's Word with others so they could trust God, too, that he didn't even stop when faced with death. He remained faithful to the end.
Stephen left no doubt about where his hope was set for eternity. He boldly spoke The Good News of Jesus and that He rose from the grave no matter who was listening. Today, Pastor Dan's going to encourage you to have the same boldness in sharing God's Word, too. There's a whole world full of people who need the same hope for eternity that you have, and it's news that's meant to be shared with everyone! When no one steps out in faith to tell others about Jesus, how are they supposed to know?
In the Old Testament, the people of Israel had to make sacrifices to have their sins forgiven. Do you ever wonder why you don't have to do that anymore? In today's teaching, Pastor Dan discusses how Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb. When Jesus died on the cross, He took all of your sins upon Himself, allowing you to be free from your shortcomings. He removed the barrier that kept you from knowing and developing a relationship with your heavenly Father. Only Jesus can save you from eternal damnation!
There may be times when you wonder why everyone outperforms you in everything. You may even feel worthless at times and lose confidence. But are you aware that God values you above all else? In today's message, Pastor Dan explains how God has a plan for you. Despite his expertise, Saul of Tarsus found himself outmatched by Steven, who was filled with the Holy Spirit. Even if you believe you are useless, God can help you transform your life and accomplish His purpose through you!
Do you have the tendency to allocate precise time to everything you do? You may have a propensity to stick to a tight timetable for everything, including ministry. You might believe that serving God in a specific way and for a certain time is sufficient. But is that the truth? In today's message, Pastor Dan describes how you can start serving God at all times. In everything you do, you can be an example of His love and serve Him through your lifestyle. How can you start serving God at all times?
Have you ever noticed how, when you buy an electronic device, you typically use it without first reading the instruction manual? As a result, the equipment usually malfunctions. Even in your walk with God, you often presume things or signals are from God and begin heading in that direction, only to wind yourself on the wrong path. Today, Pastor Dan explains how you can start following God's Word. He speaks to you and teaches you the right way through His word. All you have to do is read God's word!
There may be moments when you find yourself in a terrible situation, unable to find a solution, and completely alone. You may seek help from others, only to discover that nothing works for you. But do you know who can help you? Today, Pastor Dan outlines how you could begin to believe in Jesus. You may find yourself at the breaking point, only to discover that Jesus was the solution to your problem all along. Today, you can take a step of faith and trust Jesus, for He's the only one who can save you!
We tend to complain about a variety of things. We tend to whine about even little setbacks for a long period. But are you aware that your murmuring attitude can cause division in your church? In the message for today, Pastor Dan explains how you can start to be more polite. Complaining about things in your church can cause others to feel disrespected, create a division among the members, and even grieve the Holy Spirit. You can seek the guidance of God's spirit to help you keep your actions under control!
We all make mistakes. Sometimes we are too proud to admit our errors and instead counterattack when confronted by others. But do you know how you can come back to Jesus? In today's message, Pastor Dan shares how you can repent of your sins. When you accept your shortcomings and recognize that you are a sinner, Jesus can start working in your life. Instead of going alone, start walking with Jesus, who has loved you and can guide you in every moment. All you need to do is repent and return to Him!
We often disagree with the government's policies and even criticize its rules. You may frequently feel compelled to disregard your government's rules in favor of living on your own terms. Is it what God wants from you, though? Today, Pastor Dan outlines why you should follow the rules of your leaders. God desires that you follow those in authority. However, if you come across policies that are contrary to God and His word, you could choose to disregard the rules and instead follow the path that God desires for you.
You may frequently confront problems in your life and ask why God isn't helping you or guiding you out of them. You may even believe that He has abandoned you. But is that the case? Today, Pastor Dan discusses how you can start having faith in God. He sometimes allows you to go through particular challenges so that He can accomplish a greater purpose in and through your life. Instead of relying on temporary solutions, you can put your complete trust in God, knowing that He will show you the right path!
You might ask how God begins working in someone's life. Today, Pastor Dan shares how God works in the lives of others through the church. As a member of Christ’s family, you have been assigned to share the gospel with others around you. You, as a part of your church, can set an example for all the non-believers by caring and helping individuals in need. You can start loving others in the same way that Jesus loves you. Through you, Jesus can start making an impact in the lives of others!
You may become sick or find yourself in a difficult circumstance. Your initial impulse is often to seek temporary answers. But have you ever tried putting your complete trust in Jesus? In today's message, Pastor Dan outlines why it’s vital to have outstanding faith. The world can frequently fail to help you in times of need, but God’s the only one who can cure you and guide you through your challenges. Instead of relying on people, start putting your trust in Jesus and seeking His guidance in all circumstances!
The enemy often attempts to divert our attention away from our spiritual journey by bringing distractions and temporary pleasures into our lives. He may even push you to hide your lies from your loved ones and attempt to stir up conflict inside you. He also uses jealousy and pride as weapons against you. But, do you know how to fight back? Today, Pastor Dan explains how to face the enemy with the power of the Holy Spirit. He can help you identify the enemy's plans and walk in the direction that God desires!
There may be instances when you believe God is calling you to a particular task, but you are unable to find the necessary resources. When in need, you may feel tempted to decline the assignment and go your own way. But is that the right decision? In today's message, Pastor Dan shows how God provides for you in His perfect timing. You may think He has abandoned you, but you can be confident that He will supply every need you have so that you can serve God and accomplish His purposes!
The enemy frequently attempts new tactics to ruin and destroy you. When you receive salvation, he has an even more difficult time reaching you because you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit. But do you know how he discovers your weaknesses? In today's message, Pastor Dan discusses how Satan uses your loved ones to expose your weaknesses. The enemy exploits your weak points and tries to destroy you. But the Holy Spirit can help you remain calm at all times and discern the enemy's plans!
Sometimes the government or others may direct you to do something that contradicts what the Bible teaches. What can you do about this? Pastor Dan shares today, how you can apply God's Word to every aspect of your life. The enemy can change people's minds and turn them against the principles you stand for, but you can always choose to obey God and follow the methods laid out in the Bible. God can help you see the right way and even work in the lives of those around you through your actions!
We normally go through a training session before starting a new job. We learn how things are done so that we can work efficiently. Is it the same when you want to serve God? In today's message, Pastor Dan reveals how you can start serving God. You may believe that you lack a deeper knowledge and grasp of the Bible, and hence are not eligible to serve God. But you can ask the Holy Spirit to work in your life. He can teach you and help you say the right things as you share the gospel with others!
You may often sense reluctance in you while accomplishing something essential, or perhaps feel like you are losing confidence. Even when you serve God or share the gospel with others, you may stutter and struggle to find the appropriate words. In today's message, Pastor Dan explains how the Holy Spirit can help you gain confidence. When you seek His help and ask Him to assist you, you can be sure that God's spirit will help you become bold and speak words that are right in every scenario!
Have you ever observed that in some situations, you tend to lose control of your words and end up saying nasty or harsh things to others? You may even fail to recognize your faults. But do you know who can help you? In today’s message, Pastor Dan describes how the Holy Spirit can help you control your words. When you're in a disagreement with someone, the spirit of God can help you stay calm and speak the right words. He can guide you through your daily life and help you make the right decisions at all times!
In your spiritual journey, you may frequently seek opportunities to serve God and spread the good news of the gospel to those around you, only to be met with limited success. What can you do about it? Today, Pastor Dan outlines how you can start sharing the gospel. When you ask the Holy Spirit to work in your life, you can be sure that He will help you communicate the Word of God, and bring conviction into the lives of people through you. You can share the gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit!
Have you ever noticed that there is nearly always some resistance when serving God? You may frequently feel pressured and may even choose to back down and give up. Today, Pastor Dan describes how the enemy makes things tough for you. When you seek to serve God, Satan works constantly to destroy you and prevent you from doing so. But you can be assured that every plan of the enemy will be foiled because God is looking over you. How can you begin to serve God with all your heart?
There may be times when you find yourself trapped in the grip of sin. But, do you know how to repent? In today's message, Pastor Dan discusses how you can come back to Jesus. When you have a change of heart and need someone to save you from the mess you have created, you can call out to Jesus. When you turn away from your sins and instead choose to turn to God, you can be confident that Jesus will bring about positive changes in your life. He will rejuvenate your heart and give your life new meaning!
You may have noticed that when you are successful in serving God, many around you frequently begin to praise you for the great work you do. You may often feel tempted to accept all of the praise on your own. In today's message, Pastor Dan explains how to start giving God credit for everything. When you serve God, you can give Him all the praise because He deserves it. You are simply God's instrument, through whom He accomplishes all of His work. How can you start serving God with your whole heart?
Much like the leper man, we have certain sins or addictions in our lives that prevent us from receiving God's spirit and His blessings. But do you know who can save you? In today's message, Pastor Dan teaches how Jesus can set you free from your chains. When you are in a circumstance where you have nowhere else to go, you can turn to Jesus and ask for His help. He's the only one who can perform miracles in your life and help you break free from the bonds of sin. Are you willing to put your faith in Him?
You may frequently feel compelled to assist someone you notice or to offer them some words of encouragement. You may believe your brain is overthinking the topic and end up keeping your thoughts to yourself. Today, Pastor Dan explains how the Holy Spirit uses you to encourage and bless those around you. He can give you specific thoughts and even assist you learn things about individuals that you never imagined. You can, however, be obedient to your spiritual calling because that's what God desires from you!
You may ask why God isn't using you for His purposes. You may try to serve God on your own, but may not be successful. Do you know what God's criteria are? In today's message, Pastor Dan reveals how you can start serving God. He uses people who have strong faith in Him. When you start reading His word, praying to Him in spirit, and trusting in Him in every difficult situation, you can be confident that He will use you for His purposes. All you have to do is trust and obey Him at all times!
We can often have the mindset of retaining everything wonderful for ourselves while allowing others to suffer. We tend to behave selfishly in many aspects of our lives, doing what's best for ourselves. But do you know who can change your mind? Today, Pastor Dan explains how the Holy Spirit operates in your life. He helps to comprehend your weaknesses and become a better person. He can inspire and encourage you to help those in need. Are you willing to allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life?
You may dispute the importance of reading your Bible because you find it uninteresting and even perplexing at times. Today, Pastor Dan shows how reading God's word can benefit your daily life. When you read the Bible, God begins to speak to you through His word, guiding you through every step of your life. God's Word can even help you develop maturity in every decision you make for yourself. His word can help you be prepared to confront whatever challenges the enemy throws at you!
We're all aware that the Bible is divided into two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. You may find the Old Testament tedious to read. In today's message, Pastor Dan explains how you can start meditating on God's word. The apostles didn't have the New Testament, so they spent their time learning more about God's word. When you devote yourself to God's word and ask the Holy Spirit to help you comprehend it, you can be confident that God will speak to you through it!
In the Old Testament, the priest was continually required to make a sacrifice on behalf of the people of Israel since they were always sinning. The priests did not have time to sit and rest. But do you know how Jesus turned everything around? Today, Pastor Dan describes how Jesus sat on the Father's right side. When Jesus died on the cross, He took all of humanity's sins upon Himself and settled the debt once and for all! Because of Him, you can now rest assured that all of your sins can be forgiven!
How fantastic would it be to know what was going to happen in the near future? But would you believe me if I told you that Jesus knew about His sacrifice on the cross before the world was created? In today's message, Pastor Dan tells you how Jesus was destined to die on the cross. God is all-powerful, and He knew that humans would eventually fall into sin. Jesus is the only way to be forgiven of your sins, reunited with the almighty Father, and enjoy eternal life! Are you willing to receive Jesus into your heart?
We frequently encounter situations or obstacles in our lives that make us lose hope of being saved. But when we seek God's assistance, He always comes to our aid and gives us the appropriate path. Even when humanity was steeped in sin, do you know who came through as your last hope? In today's message, Pastor Dan outlines how Jesus is the world's living hope. He's the only one who can deliver you from the grasp of sin and eternal damnation. Jesus is the only hope for the world right now!
You can often find that hearing God's message is uninteresting and does not have the intended impact. Even when preaching to others, you might not often feel as if you are reaching out to your audience. Does this mean that preaching is a waste of time? In today's message, Pastor Dan clarifies why speaking the word of God is essential for a believer. Faith in Jesus can only come by hearing the word and believing in the Bible. The only way to share the good news with others is to preach God's word!
People are frequently divided into two types: those who always encourage you and those who mock and let you down at every opportunity. Even within the church, you may encounter people who promote your spiritual gifts while others discourage you and drag your spirit down. Today, Pastor Dan discusses how you can begin to surround yourself with individuals who always encourage you. Instead of becoming disheartened by specific people, you can start being with those who enjoy God's presence!
You may frequently encounter another believer praying in tongues and wonder if you can do the same. You may attempt your method of speaking in tongues but discover that nothing works for you. Today, Pastor Dan explains how the gift of languages is restricted to some people. God grants this ability to select persons. However, you can be certain that God has a special gift in store for you. All you have to do is ask the Holy Spirit to disclose His gifts to you so that you can embrace and develop them.
God bestows various talents on us when we receive Jesus into our lives. You may frequently encounter another believer praying in tongues and then pray for the same gift for yourself. Does it actually work that way? In today's message, Pastor Dan explains how God has already bestowed a spiritual gift onto you. Instead of looking at others and trying to find the same gift for yourself, you can simply ask the Holy Spirit to disclose the gift that God has already given you, and help you rebuild your connection with Him.
The book of Revelations reveals how God's anger and judgment are upon the world. Those who did not put their faith in Jesus will face the consequences. But do you know what will happen to people who trust in Christ? In today's message, Pastor Dan explains the rapture. Before the beginning of the judgment era, Jesus will appear and take everyone who has believed in His name, with Him to heaven. However, you can come back to Jesus and put your trust in Him today before it's too late!
When God brought judgment on Egypt, He instructed the Israelites to cover their doorposts with lamb's blood to ensure their safety. Similarly, death is upon us because we are under the influence of sin. But do you know who saved you? Today, Pastor Dan teaches how Jesus is the Passover Lamb. When Jesus died on the cross, He took all of your sins upon Himself. You are no longer under God's judgment because of Him. Because of Jesus, you can now have a relationship with your heavenly Father!
You may frequently question whether everything contained in the Bible is true. There may be moments when reading God's Word seems overwhelming or even dull. But did you know that even Jesus relied on the Scriptures? In today's message, Pastor Dan demonstrates why the Bible is the real Word of God. When Jesus was in this world, He always taught people from the scriptures, which He regarded to be the ultimate truth. How can you begin to read the Bible and follow God's Word?
There are instances when you may find yourself debating with people about an issue in particular. You tend to believe that your opinions are superior to those of others. But do you understand why it's necessary to be united with your fellow believers? In today's message, Pastor Dan emphasizes the significance of unity. The enemy often employs church members to cause division, but when you believe in God's word and serve Him with a united heart, you can be confident that every plan of the enemy will fail!
We often fall for the enemy's plans. He leads us into temptations, and we often succumb to sin. But do you know who continually delivers you from the wrath and judgment of the heavenly Father? In today's message, Pastor Dan explains how Jesus intercedes on your behalf with the Father. When you make a mistake, He begs the Father for forgiveness on your behalf, reminding Him of His death and sacrifice on the cross for your life! Jesus alone can save you from the Almighty Father's wrath and retribution!
When someone superior to us is watching our every move, we are more likely to be on our best behavior and feel safe. A few days after rising from the grave, Jesus chose to leave the world and rejoin His heavenly Father. But did He just leave us without necessary supervision? In today's message, Pastor Dan shares how the spirit of God is constantly present to lead you. When Jesus ascended to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to everybody who believed in His name. Jesus will never leave you alone!
God's primary focus has always been on Israel. The Bible briefly narrates how God chose the people of Israel and His love for them, even though they defied Him on numerous occasions. But do you know where Jesus will set up His kingdom again? Today, Pastor Dan explains how Jesus will revitalize Israel. When the judgment time is over, God will create a new earth to reside in the newly built Jerusalem temple with His people, the Israelites. Even when Israel rejected God, He did not give up on them!
Have you ever had the desire to inspire or benefit others in any way? You may use worldly means to help others, but do you know how you can truly touch the lives of those around you? In today's message, Pastor Dan describes how the Holy Spirit can help you impact those around you. He not only cleanses your soul, but He also flows like a river out of you, influencing people around you. Sharing the good news of the gospel can help others receive the same peace that you have, thanks to the Holy Spirit.
When we receive Jesus, we may believe that we are capable of doing anything. We have a tendency to be overconfident in ourselves, believing that we have received authority from God, yet this often leads to a disastrous situation. In today's message, Pastor Dan outlines how to start leaning on the Holy Spirit at all times. Relying on yourself can often lead to spiritual exhaustion and frustration. Instead, you can begin to rely on God's Spirit to guide you and help you discover your spiritual strength in Him!
We tend to do things our own way, whether in business or our personal lives, and it often leads to disaster. Similarly, you may frequently choose to serve God on your own and do what you believe is the proper decision. Today, Pastor Dan discusses how you can rely on God's guidance and the power of the Holy Spirit. Instead of doing your own thing, you can submit to God's will and seek the guidance and power of God's Spirit, who will eventually show you and direct you down the path that God has for you!
You may have a strong desire to serve God and help others, but you may be unsure of what God wants you to accomplish. You may try to do things your own way, but you may not be able to make an impact. In today's message, Pastor Dan explains why it is so important to be filled with the Holy Spirit. When you welcome Jesus into your heart, He offers you His spirit, Who can always lead you and show you the right path. When you accept the Holy Spirit into your heart, He will reveal the plans that God has for you!
Investing time and effort consistently is vital to nurturing any relationship, whether with a significant other, God, or others. Just as God showers you with His unfailing love daily, Pastor Dan reminds you that you must intentionally show God’s love in your relationships. Getting complacent or taking relationships for granted is easy, but proper depth and connection come from staying committed and dedicated. This means showing up when it's convenient and consistently, even when things get tough.
The depth of our connection with God often reflects how we relate to others. If our relationship with Christ lacks that vibrant, alive quality, it can impact our interactions and connections with those we love. Today, Pastor Dan reminds you that refreshing your soul with God's eternal mercies, which are new every day, is crucial in reigniting your romance with Him. Foster healthier relationships with others, like filling your spiritual cup until it’s overflowing with God’s love, grace, and understanding.
As we can see in the book of Song of Solomon, a godly person will defend the honor and respect of their friends. It makes no difference whether it is your friend, family member, or co-worker, anyone you know or who knows you deserves respect from you and others. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will share about the characteristics of a godly wife and husband. As you listen today try and think of just one way you can actively work at being a better husband, wife, friend, or family member!
The impact of a compliment in society has such power! Compliments between two people, no matter the relationship carries SO MUCH weight! Whether we give a kind word or receive one, we feel good! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will stress the power of giving and receiving compliments in a marriage! Between a spouse, a compliment can change the mood and course of their whole day! Just by simply speaking a few kind and thoughtfully placed words YOU can make a positive impact on someone’s life!
No matter what type of relationship you may be in, the devil wants to destroy everything good about it. He uses our ego and creates conflict to make a mess out of nothing. Though particularly through marriage, he fabricates mayhem. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will encourage you to be aware of that strategic attack and work tirelessly to solve any and all conflict with grace, mercy, and most importantly…love. Invite the Holy Spirit into those situations to create peace within you and the other person!
When was the last time you were lying awake at night? Not able to sleep. It can be exhausting when we’re troubled with worry. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will give some comfort to those difficult situations you may face. Whether you’re married, a parent, a family member, or just a concerned friend, it can be extremely draining and agonizing, but even in those circumstances of the unknown, we can still have hope! We can trust that God will keep them safe and He will still our worrying hearts!
Christ, the Bridegroom, has sacrificially and lovingly chosen the church to be His bride. Just as there was a betrothal period in biblical times during which the bride and groom were separated until the wedding, so is the bride of Christ separate from her Bridegroom during the church age. Pastor Dan will be reminding you that your responsibility as the church during the betrothal period is to be faithful to Him! At the rapture, the church will be united with the Bridegroom, and the official “wedding ceremony” will take place!
In his vision in Revelation, John saw and heard the heavenly multitudes praising God because the wedding feast of the Lamb—literally, the “marriage supper”—was about to begin. Today, Pastor Dan will be explaining how the concept of the marriage supper is better understood in light of the wedding customs in the time of Christ. The angel told John to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb”. The marriage supper of the Lamb is a glorious celebration of all who are in Christ, and Jesus is eagerly waiting!
Today, Pastor Dan will be explaining the correlation between the marriage of husband and wife, and Christ and the church. Marriage is a picture of the union between Jesus and His church, and this is why the enemy seeks to destroy the sanctity of marriage every chance he gets. The church—the Bride of Christ—is not one specific local church or denomination but the entire body of believers throughout the ages. All who have trusted the Lord and received salvation by grace through faith are collectively His Bride.
As Pastor Dan continues his teaching series through the book of Song of Solomon, he’ll be reminding you that if you sow to the flesh you will reap corruption, but if you sow to the Spirit you’ll reap life. God gave man and woman the joy and pleasure of sexual relations within the bounds of marriage, and the Bible is clear about the importance of maintaining sexual purity within the boundaries of that union between man and wife. The world will always go contrary to the Word of God, don’t be deceived!
In today’s society marriage is often ridiculed, broken, or redefined, but the principles found in the Song of Solomon offer a godly perspective on the importance of marriage, romantic love, communication between husband and wife, and the value of a marriage that endures. Today, Pastor Dan will be challenging you to focus on keeping your vertical relationship with the Lord good, so that your horizontal relationship with your spouse remains good as well. A three-cord strand is not easily broken!
As Pastor Dan continues his teaching series through the book of Song of Solomon, he’ll be explaining how important it is for a woman to find a godly man who will help her become the best version of herself. This woman had poor self-esteem and didn’t realize her worth at first, but Solomon came alongside her and helped her realize her beauty and value. Be very careful who you end up marrying because your future spouse will have the power to help build you up or help tear you down.
Today, Pastor Dan will be starting his new teaching series through the book of Song of Solomon. An overview of the contents of the Song of Solomon reveals many important aspects of romantic love. Always remember that there is a proper time and place for romantic love to begin to grow, and that romantic love involves a longing between a man and a woman. Whether you're newly married or have been married for many years, you should always be looking to keep romance alive and well.
There are a lot of things in this world that can change who you are. In today’s message, Pastor Dan says that prayer will change who we are inside and out. When you pray, you allow God to enter into your life and allow Him to work within you. He wants to mold you into the man or woman that’s best. Praying to God allows Him to guide your life. Praying is powerful and works wonders. Allow God to change who you are today. Allow Him to speak to you and shape you into the person you’re meant to be.
It can become really easy to be tired and not do anything. Today, Pastor Dan asks, “What do we do when we’re exhausted?” When Jesus was tired, He ran to prayer. He knew the Father was the only one who could bring Him true satisfaction. When you’re tired, consider praying to the one who saves. When you pray, you give God a chance to speak to you. He desires a relationship with you and wants you to trust Him in everything. That starts by speaking to Him regularly and running to Him for all things.
There are plenty of things in this world we can desire. In today’s message, Pastor Dan says we can often think of prayer as a chore and not desire it. The reality is that Jesus desired prayer. It was in every aspect of His life. If Jesus desired prayer, so should you. Your life should revolve around prayer because when it does, you’ll see revival happen in your heart. Prayer is vital to your life because it’s your outlet to talk to God and give Him a space to talk to you. Where in your life can you pray more?
When given a school assignment, we must finish it because it’s a requirement for the next day. Today, Pastor Dan says we must fulfill God’s word in everything we do. God’s word will never go void. It stands truthful in every circumstance. If you’re a follower of Christ, you must follow His word to the fullest because He’ll bring you true joy. Following God’s word means telling others about Jesus and what He’s done for you and I. Follow God’s word fully and you’ll never be disappointed in the outcome.
Have you ever been shocked by something? Maybe it was getting that promotion or finally doing a task you’ve been trying forever. Today, Pastor Dan teaches that preachers must always be shocked about the responsibility God’s given them. Here’s the reality, whether you’re a preacher or not, you have a similar responsibility. The great commission is to make disciples of all nations, which means you too should be shocked. God’s given you all the power to make His name known to all people.
A common question we all ask is what’s our purpose in life? This question comes when deciding where we’re going and planning our futures. Pastor Dan teaches today that when someone’s called to ministry they must stay firm in that calling. We are all called to ministry when we follow Jesus. As a follower of Jesus, you must make His name known to the nations. He desires to use you to further His kingdom so that all may know Him. Whether you’re a preacher or not, you must share Jesus with all!
Why do you do the things you do? The things you do at work are for your employer, but your reason may only be the paycheck you get. But why do you volunteer? It could be your time, your money, or both, do you do it for the satisfaction of “doing good”, or is it deeper than that? In today’s message, Pastor Dan reminds you that whatever you do, you should do for the Lord. The things you do are your ministry even if you don’t realize it, and your ministry should always be for God.
Have you ever wanted to help someone, or donate to a good cause, but felt like you didn’t have enough to give? Maybe you only had a few minutes, or just a little change to offer so you decided it wasn’t worth the time. Too many people will hold off on donating time and/or money because they think it requires some grand amount. Well in today’s message, Pastor Dan reassures you, that when it comes to God, no offering is too small. God will accept anything you give with a willing heart.
Do you ever take the time to rest and recharge? You may be someone that’s constantly working, or doing something. The things you’re doing may be good and they may be necessary to support yourself and your family, but without rest, you will eventually get burned out. As Pastor Dan reminds you in today’s message, God created a Saboth day, or day of rest, to not only spend time with Him but to recharge your spiritual batteries and spend time with your family. God allows you a day to rest even if you don’t.
When a scientist is experimenting with different chemicals the measuring devices must be sterilized each time a new substance is added, or the solution may be contaminated. If you use the same instrument to draw out two different substances, a little piece of the first one ends up in the second ruining the entire batch. As Pastor Dan explains in today’s message, you cannot continue to hold on to ungodly things or compromise with the world once you become a follower of Christ.
Have you ever caught someone doing something they shouldn’t? Maybe they were stealing from you or someone you know, or in some way harming you or someone else. Were you able to forgive them? Even if you said you did, did you really? In today’s message, Pastor Dan explains how no matter what you do against God, He will always forgive you without question. That doesn’t mean you can go around sinning and committing atrocities with no repercussions, God will forgive, but He also punishes.
Have you ever made a mistake at work and then had to swallow your pride and ask your boss for a second chance? There may have been a time when you asked and didn’t get one. How many times have you asked God for a second, third, fourth… tenth chance? He must’ve given it to you or you wouldn’t have the opportunity to ask for another. In today’s message, Pastor Dan explains how even when the Israelites messed up and didn’t ask for another chance, God extended one to them!
There are people who seem to never get enough of God’s word or His presence. They live their lives with a committed focus on serving Him and knowing Him. In today’s message, Pastor Dan reminds us of Joshua, who did not want to leave the presence of God. He says most people do not have a desire to seek God or to enjoy His presence, but Joshua did. We can be as close to God as we desire. The depth and closeness of the relationship we have with God is up to us. We have unlimited riches in Christ.
There are people who are intrigued with religion, or have questions about the Bible but do not have a real desire to know God. In today’s message, Pastor Dan shares instances from scripture where men were spiritually dead and had no desire to really know God. They would not even leave their tents to seek to know God more. Moses, however, met with God daily and God spoke to him like a friend. God desires to have a personal and intimate relationship with us. Meet with Him daily; He is there.
When Israel sinned, it affected their relationship with God. What happens when we sin today? God is still faithful to keep His promises, but He cannot be in our midst or empower us when there is sin in our lives. In today’s message, Pastor Dan reminds us from the story of the Israelites that God is holy. He cannot dwell in the midst of sin, but He will still keep His covenants to us and direct our lives. Unlike man, God always does what He says. Sin always affects our personal relationship with God.
It’s our sin nature that causes us to blame others and not take responsibility for our own actions. Adam blamed Eve, and she blamed the serpent. Today, Pastor Dan reminds us of the story of Aaron who allowed the Israelites to make a golden idol during Moses’ absence. He should have been a real leader, restrained the Israelites, and not given into them. He tried to put blame on the people and on Moses for staying gone too long. He should have confessed and acknowledged his sin and been forgiven.
Isn’t it amazing how people who have experienced God’s power and presence can drift away from His truth? In today’s message, Pastor Dan teaches us from the story of the Israelites, about the dangers of seeking things that are not God’s will for our lives. God had provided everything they needed, yet they still asked for an idol. They were in the very presence of God’s power, yet they still sought the ways of the world. It is shocking how quickly and easily man can turn away from God’s glory.
What qualifies us for a task or job? Is it experience or skills? In today’s message, Pastor Dan reminds us that being filled with the Spirit of God is the most important characteristic of a person God uses. It is not just a qualification for pastors or ministers. It is a requirement for all His followers, regardless of career or occupation. We should be filled with the Spirit throughout the week, not just on Sunday. Skills are secondary. Being filled with the Spirit of God is the main criterion for success.
Have you ever washed your car and the windshield immediately gets sap, mud, or something on it making it hard to see clearly? You wouldn’t go back and rewash the entire car, would you? You would just wash away what is obstructing your view, the car is still clean it's the window that got dirty. As Pastor Dan explains in today’s message, once you accept Jesus you are cleansed, but your hands, feet, and mind will need to be washed regularly, that is why you need to read your Bible daily!
Have you ever noticed how much something like smoking can affect every aspect of someone’s life? They always have to be able to step outside every few minutes. Not only does it impact their ability to socialize and be a part of things, but everything they have smells like smoke, there’s no escaping it! Today Pastor Dan explains how your sinful nature is much like smoking, it affects everything… even your prayer life. That is why you must constantly atone for, or repent of, your sin.
Ministry is defined as the spiritual work or service of Christians. That being said, what do you think is the highest form of ministry? Could it be serving people in a soup kitchen, or going on a missions trip to a third-world country? While those are good and worthwhile ministries, they aren’t the highest form according to Pastor Dan. In today’s message, he proposes prayer is the highest ministry for a follower of Christ to participate in. Prayer is the only thing the disciples asked Jesus to teach them.
If you’ve ever tried to start a new workout plan or change the way you eat, you know it’s not a one-time decision, you have to make a consistent effort. Eating healthy and working out one day is a good start but won’t really make a difference. As Pastor Dan reminds you in today’s message, following Jesus is the same way. You have to decide to follow Jesus daily! You have to decide to be the “burnt offering” every day, not once a week or a year. That creates a pattern of sacrificing for the Lord.
Have you ever had someone do something for you completely unsolicited? You may have had someone pay for your meal unexpectedly, or buy you a gift for no particular reason. When there is no expectation of repayment or reward of any kind, that can turn a bad day around in an instant. In today’s message, Pastor Dan explains how when you willingly submit to God and follow Him because you actually want to, not because you feel like it is required, is like a sweet aroma to Him.
Some people think they can live in such a way that makes them holy or makes up for past sins. Sure you should try your best to avoid sinning on a daily basis, but it is impossible to avoid sinning altogether. As Pastor Dan explains in today’s message, there is no way you can make yourself holy, only God can do that! You can make yourself available to be consecrated by reading your Bible regularly. Prayer and fellowship with other believers are other ways to make yourself available to God.
Can you imagine what it would have been like to be scared of getting struck dead when you came into God’s presence? Aaron and his sons had so many rules to follow to make sure they were holy and acceptable to God when they came into the Tabernacle. In his message today, Pastor Dan will encourage you to come into God’s presence boldly. You don’t have to worry about being struck dead. Jesus, by his death on the cross, has made you holy in God’s eyes. Now you can have an intimate relationship with God.
It’s a pretty amazing truth to know that God chooses us! There’s nothing we did to earn being chosen. In fact, the Bible says we were active enemies of God, and He still chose us. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will teach about Moses and Aaron. They weren’t deserving of being chosen; they were flawed and seemingly unfit for the job. In the same way, you might not think you’re fit for the job, but God wants to use you. You don’t have to have all the Bible knowledge in the world, God will give you the words.
Can you imagine having to work that hard to appease God? The people of Israel continued to sin, and sin had to be dealt with. They had to bring sacrifices and offerings to keep themselves in a right relationship with God. In his message today, Pastor Dan will encourage you with the knowledge that you don’t have to work at earning a right relationship with God. Jesus died once and for all as the perfect sacrifice. You don’t have a bunch of rules to follow that will make God love you. Just put your faith in Jesus.
Aren’t the connections between the Old Testament and the New Testament amazing? In today’s message, Pastor Dan is teaching about the tabernacle that God instructed Israel to build. There’s some wonderful meaning in the details. Even in the metal that the sockets were made out of! The tabernacle is a foreshadowing of God’s plan to redeem us. Are you resting in the redemption that Jesus provided for you? You can celebrate today that God had a plan long ago to make a way for you to be redeemed.
Have you made your home in the Rock? It is essential that we understand just how weak and vulnerable we all are. We are in need of a strong home, a refuge. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will challenge you to put your complete faith in Jesus. Don’t trust in your own power or wisdom to save yourself. It is so important that you acknowledge that you are in need of something greater than yourself to build your life upon. Jesus is the only Rock that will protect you. He is a sure foundation that will never fail.
The Bible is so rich in meaning, isn’t it? We can find so much application of the parables to our lives. That’s why it’s so important to read and reread scriptures. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will encourage you by teaching you about how your sin is covered by Jesus. You are just like the prodigal son who ran away from the Father and was covered in the filth of your sin. However, the Father has welcomed you back, because He loves you so much, and He has covered your sins with the blood of Jesus.
Are you filled with the fuel of the Holy Spirit? If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you have the Holy Spirit living in you. All we have to do is remember that the Spirit is our fuel and rely upon Him. In his message today, Pastor Dan will remind you to let your light burn brightly. Just like a candle needs wax or oil, you need the Holy Spirit, so stay connected. Read your Bible, and pray constantly. Tap into the spring of life that is already living in you, then God’s love and truth will spill out of you and shine.
Are you living in the darkness or in the light? We all have sin in our lives, and it’s easy to be ashamed of that sin. We want to cover it up, so people will think we’re good Christians. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will challenge you to walk in the light. Don’t keep your sin in the darkness. Jesus has cleansed you from your sin. You are a new creation, and you are seen as pure in God’s sight. If you try to hide your sin, you’re giving it the power to grow. Live in the light, so you can have honest relationships.
Are you trying to reach God or let Him reach you? We often think the work of “finding” God is done by our own power and our own ability to be pure and perfect, but the truth is God has done all the work. In his message today, Pastor Dan will teach about God’s tabernacle in the Old Testament and how even the layout of the tabernacle was a picture of how God is moving out from His dwelling place to encounter us. God wants to encounter you. He is reaching out and pursuing you. All you have to do is let Him in.
When was the last time you spent extended time with God? When did you last just rest in His presence? Sometimes we’re embarrassed to say it’s been a while. We think maybe it’s been too long and God isn’t waiting for us anymore. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will teach you that God is always available. His table is always set for you to join Him. If it’s been too long, God is not going to reprimand you. God is going to be happy that you are taking time to be with Him. Have some quiet time with God today.
Are you trying with all your might to hold onto God? Are you working on doing religion perfectly? We can try and try to follow the rules, but that isn’t how we earn God’s love. In his message today, Pastor Dan will encourage you to see things differently. You can try to hold onto God, but the truth is that He’s holding onto you. Does that make you relax your grip a little bit? Rest in the knowledge that you don’t have to work so hard to earn God’s love. Let God hold on to you and transform you into the image of Christ.
Aren’t you glad that you are continually forgiven, that your mercies are new every day? In the Old Testament, the priests would go once a year into the Tabernacle, into the holy of holies, and atone for Israel’s sins, so that the people’s sins were forgiven. Then they had to wait a whole year for their sins to be forgiven again. In his message today, Pastor Dan will remind you how amazing it is that Jesus has made the sacrifice for your sin and is always in the Holy of Holies in heaven, constantly making atonement for your sin. You don’t have to wait a year to be forgiven.
As much as we tend to look at the Old Testament as bloody and judgmental, God displayed His mercy and grace in ways that are often overlooked. While there were times when He carried out judgment on wicked men - He is a just God after all - He also showed kindness and patience repeatedly as He worked with Israel and their inclination to rebel. As Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, even in the structure of His tabernacle, God points to His merciful, forgiving nature, not His judgment.
What a fascinating parallel. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will help us see the connection between the design of the Tabernacle - prescribed nearly fifteen hundred years before Jesus’ coming - and His divine nature. He was a humble, common man, and you wouldn’t have thought anything of Him just from looking at Him. He wasn’t wealthy. He wasn’t a model a bodybuilder or a politician. He was a carpenter and there was nothing remarkable about His appearance. Yet, He was the incarnation of God.
God had very detailed requirements for the building of the tabernacle. He chose materials and designs that were meaningful to Himself and His people. Yet, as Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, despite the ornate, valuable items found inside, the exterior was kept much more simple. Apart from its size, it would have looked like a tent. Yet, God dwelt in it. It offers us a symbol not only of Jesus, who came in the humble form of a man but of the way that the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts now.
Even in the age of frozen dinners, fast food, and eating in front of the TV, most of us still value sitting down to dine with the people we care about. Whether your everyday meals are given this reverence or not, you can likely think of special times each year when you make it a priority to slow down and eat a meal with your loved ones. As Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, this practice bore a lot more significance in ancient culture, as does Jesus’ promise to serve us and eat with us when He returns.
As we study the book of Exodus with Pastor Dan, we’ll be frequently reminded of just how complicated and messy the Old Covenant was. It was a work of mercy and grace that God allowed the Israelites an opportunity to commune with Him, but it was all indirect, through priests, offerings, and temples. But because of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the cross, we now can approach God - the Creator of the Universe - on a daily basis and He wants to listen and speak to our hearts.
Why has mankind, from past to present, routinely gone against what God commands of us? Today, Pastor Dan will highlight the Lord’s expectations of the Israelites as they acquire land. So much of our walk with the Lord simply comes down to trusting and obeying Him! No matter what enticing alternatives we come across, or what may seem “best,” God’s ways are always best! Are you quick to trust and obey the Lord in your life? He wants to guide you in a manner that is perfect and true!
Does it sometimes feel like those who do evil in our world are either celebrated or “given a pass?” In today’s message, Pastor Dan will teach about God’s Law given in Exodus, and how it rewarded the righteous. What a concept - living righteously is the best standard for a government! We know that our calling as a Christ-follower will always trump our status as a citizen of this world. What is your guide for righteous living? The Lord gave His Word as the perfect roadmap for life now and eternal!
Who actually rejoices when they are slandered? In today’s teaching, Pastor Dan will show where Jesus said that false accusations can come with being a Christ-follower. Sometimes in our world, it can feel like truth is scoffed at, while lies are celebrated. Jesus knew that the Truth of the Gospel would contradict the patterns of this world. Even in the midst of performing great miracles, Jesus was still rejected! How can you continue to live boldly for Christ, even when others don’t approve?
Premarital sex is very much a norm in our culture, but Scripture makes no mistake in its stand against it. Today, Pastor Dan will teach on The Lord’s standards about this topic for those in the Old Testament. There can be a ripple effect of emotional consequences as a result of sexual sin, but there were real practical consequences in the Old Testament as well. God knew that even though our flesh may desire such sins, His Will for us to abstain is what is best. You will never regret obedience to God!
Our culture is quick to assume the worst of others, but Scripture states that love believes and hopes. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will encourage listeners to give people the benefit of the doubt, when applicable. Of course, we know that some situations are scarred by previous sins, but even in our worst state, Jesus still loves and desires relationship with us. This is a high calling that can only be made possible through the Holy Spirit! How can you show greater love, by your hope and belief of others in your life?
Are you often looking to deflect blame for your own sins? In today’s teaching, Pastor Dan will walk listeners through God’s Law given in Exodus 22, and how the core principle is taking responsibility for our actions. While we don’t live according to the Old Testament Law, it still provides valuable lessons for us to learn. The Lord knew back then, and knows now, that personal responsibility is a huge part of restoring what may have been broken. Where might you be able to confess and correct in your life?
Have you ever lost something important to you? I know that for me… I have probably lost more things than I’m willing to admit. Whether it be your car keys, wedding ring, or wallet - we all know the feeling of finally finding that lost item… it’s one of the best in the world! In today’s message, Pastor Dan takes us through a familiar story of the prodigal son. Throughout today’s message, you will hear the characteristics of Jesus and how incredibly much his love is for you and me.
When we hear the word “slave,” we usually think of it with a negative connotation; however, what if we thought of being a slave to Christ? You see, when we as Christians truly begin to understand and grasp just how Holy God is, we begin to want nothing for ourselves anymore. In today’s message, Pastor Dan reminds us that this life here on Earth is not our own - WE are not our own. We were bought with a price and should only live our lives for the purpose and mission of Jesus Christ!
Have you ever attended a church service where you felt as though one of the leaders or something else was stealing the spotlight from what we were truly there to focus on? Unfortunately, there will be people in our lives and instances that we face where the significance of Jesus Christ will be replaced with something else. In today’s message, Pastor Dan reminds us of this and encourages us to be on guard for these things. The enemy is out to distract us in any way that he can!
It would be easy to be content if you had everything you wanted, right? Today, Pastor Dan shows that this isn’t the case at all. It’s not what you have or don’t have that allows you to be content and satisfied with your position in life. It starts with godliness. When you have God’s perspective on His goodness, and on His sovereign control over everything in the world, you will find contentment. It doesn’t matter what your neighbor has, or what you don’t have. You have God and His love, and that’s enough!
Of the Ten Commandments, which one is the most important? How would you organize them? Would you put the most important one first, or in the middle, or at the end? Today, Pastor Dan shares that the Tenth Commandment, “Thou shalt not covet” has a very important meaning at the end of the list. It casts its shadow over the other Nine. When you are grateful for the kindness that God has shown to you personally, you can be free from this most dangerous tendency to covet what other people have.
Have you ever been given a task to do, perhaps at your work, but without much explanation? You can probably do an “okay” job, but you could do much better if you had more details. Today, Pastor Dan shares that God wanted to make sure we didn’t miss the “thou shalt not covet” commandment. He didn’t leave wiggle room for “what about this?”, “what about that?”. It’s important to your heart, and to your relationship with God, that you live a life of thanksgiving, and this commandment is your first step.
How popular is the Christian worldview today? How popular is it with your friends, at your job or school, or in your neighborhood? As Pastor Dan shares today, our culture is no friend of Biblical truth. Throughout the day, you may be almost completely surrounded by messages, values, and maybe expectations, that don’t align with right and wrong as it’s taught in the Bible. Therefore it’s crucial that you know the Word of God, and when challenges come, that you stand strong and remain faithful to Him.
Is the Bible “old-fashioned”? Is it “out of date”? Wouldn’t it be possible to build your life, or build a society, on some more “modern” foundation? As Pastor Dan shares today, the Ten Commandments are the bedrock foundation designed and communicated by God. Since God is our Designer, He is the only One qualified to tell us what that foundation is. You can be confident that if you build your life on God’s unchanging Word, you’ll be able to live a successful, Christ-honoring life.
We all know: “Thou shalt not steal”. But other than driving off with someone’s car, or lifting their wallet out of their pocket, does it apply to anything else? Today, Pastor Dan shows that God is very specific about how we are to treat other people fairly. God’s Word goes into great detail about using honest weights and measures, and ultimately, treating others as you would want them to treat you. You can have a clear conscience, and good relationships with others when you thoroughly follow God’s way.
How terrible would it be to live in a world, or in a country, where anybody could take anything from anybody else, and nothing would be done about it? It’s hard to imagine how that could possibly work. Today, Pastor Dan shows that our laws, as well as our own moral consciences, incorporate that very short commandment: “Thou shalt not steal”. All of God’s laws are for your good and the good of others. By examining yourself, in the light of God’s Word, you can be honest with yourself, others, and God.
We live in a culture where pretty much anything goes when it comes to human sexuality. Things that used to be sins are now not only overlooked, they’re celebrated. But today, Pastor Dan shows that God defined human sexuality for the ultimate good of the individual, and of the human race. Your culture is not going to tell you to do the right thing, nor will your own desires. But by committing yourself totally to Christ, you can honor God, be at peace with yourself, and have right relationships with others.
It’s an age-old question: are all sins the same, or are some sins different from others? Today, Pastor Dan shares that both answers are true when you understand the context. From the standpoint of the forgiveness of Christ, His grace knows no limits. There is nothing you have ever done, and nothing you could ever do, that His death on the cross won’t cover. But there are different consequences to different sins. You can’t go by what our culture says – you must know and trust God’s Word.
When people think about “The Ten Commandments”, they mostly think of negatives: don’t do this, don’t do that. It can seem like a bunch of rules to stop us from doing things we’d like to do. But as Pastor Dan shares today, God’s commandments are given for our good. Everything that God made is good and has its proper use. And it’s improper use. You can be confident that by living in harmony with God’s Word, your life, your relationships with others, and your relationship with God, will be God’s best!
If you were asked how much society values God as an example to help shape policy and worldly values, what would you say? Is there a high priority placed on God’s will, or is it ignored completely and replaced with worldly preferences instead? If you need help with this question, then today Pastor Dan will provide a crystal clear response. And not only about this question of value but also how it translates to the sixth commandment and illustrates a complete disregard for the blessing and frailty of life.
If you ever needed proof of the Bible being a perfect handbook for practical life application then today’s lesson is for you. Pastor Dan speaks to an undeniable relationship between scripture and current issues that you face as a Christian in the 21st century. How could God have gotten it so right concerning how little we value life you ask? He’s God! He knew before the dawn of man that the gift of life would be beyond your ability to understand and value, and so He included this commandment to protect it and you.
Today’s subject is not an easy one. The consequences of something as serious as murder are not just difficult to discuss, it seems obvious to most. But Pastor Dan is going to do something interesting as he teaches through this chapter to help you better understand the context of this commandment in a way that is more relatable to our modern time. Self-defense, for example, has become a gray area in the law that can be exploited to help defend someone’s actions, but man’s law is not God’s law!
Today Pastor Dan helps to provide clarity to those of you who don’t know your biological parents. He is teaching about the expectations God has for all His children to obey their parents, but admittedly some will never meet their real mom or dad. So, if this is true, then who should those children obey? Of course, everyone is to obey God, but more specifically, some of you will be blessed as mentors, leaders, role models, and guardians in the lives of those who are displaced from their families.
Do you find yourself asking your children how you should parent them? Maybe in the name of helping them grow and make better decisions you have taken a backseat and given them control they are not yet ready for. How is that working out? Today Pastor Dan speaks sternly to those of you who have, quite accidentally, become hostages to your children. You don’t have to let this be your reality. Even if you don’t feel like it, you are in charge and responsible for them. Leading isn’t going to be easy, but it is required of parents.
Have you ever disagreed with your parents? Of course, you have, but did you know that God expects you to obey them no matter what? Today Pastor Dan shares this well-known verse and helps unpack all the relevant details that make this scripture applicable to your life. If you’re still living with your parents and starting to think you should skip this episode - don’t! The applications you will hear are equally as valuable for you as they are for your parents. After all, we are all children of God and must obey!
How do you grow as a Christian? Is reading your bible and having a daily prayer routine enough? Certainly, those aren’t bad habits, but today Pastor Dan adds one more critical ingredient to the growing and becoming a strong Christian recipe. He says you must be active in church life. You will benefit from regular reading of scripture and prayer, but without the reinforcement of other Christians and the opportunity to be led and to lead, you will be missing out on a necessary part of the Christian life.
No matter how you feel about your job, or just work and manual labor in general, it is not part of the penance we pay for the fall of man. Yes, the life of man is imperfect because of the original sin committed by Adam and Eve in the garden, however, work is something God admires. Today Pastor Dan shares God’s words as they relate to work, and how it is viewed through His eyes. When you think about the work you are doing, no matter how great or how small, know that God favors those who choose work over laziness.
What day of the week do you identify as Sabbath Day? Today Pastor Dan says there are a few ways to view this. Many people believe that Sunday is the biblically accurate Sabbath day. Others have differing opinions on this, and still others say there is no specific day, just the need for one day every week to be dedicated to rest and God. There may never be a generally accepted answer to this question, but whatever day you choose, Pastor Dan says God is pleased that you have chosen to obey His command.
Have you ever said something you wish you hadn’t? You may have called someone a name or made a promise you know you can’t keep. Maybe you’ve used the Lord’s name in vain. In today’s message, Pastor Dan explains that using God’s name in vain has some very serious consequences. Just like any of the other commandments, saying God’s name in vain could land you in hell when you die. Luckily you can repent and confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to help you control your tongue.
Sometimes people will do something with great kindness, with no expectation of reward or accolades. They possess the character to be kind and love others. On the other hand, some people are mean and wouldn’t ever lift a finger to help. Someone’s character is so much a part of them that you can predict how they will act solely based on it. Today Pastor Dan explains how you can expect kindness and protection from Jesus simply because of His character and who He is!
How do you show your love for others? There could be several different ways to show your love, you might give gifts, or maybe you clean the house for your spouse. It could be as simple as just sitting in the room with someone. How can you show Jesus love? Luckily in today’s message, Pastor Dan addresses just that. Jesus says if you love Him you will keep His word. To do that you must learn and study the Bible so you know how God wants you to live your life, which in turn shows your love for Him.
Have you ever been judged or punished for something a family member did? Many times people assume that children will do the same things the parents have done, or have the same issues. Sometimes simply having the same last name will make you guilty by association. Today Pastor Dan explains that the Bible says you are not to be judged or punished for the actions of anyone but yourself. There may be some consequences of your parent’s decisions that carry into your life, but there is no lasting curse on you or your family.
When you read a book, do you picture what you think the characters look like? If you watch a movie based on a book you’ve read, do the actors match what you imagined the characters to look like? Does it change your thoughts about the characters? In today’s message, Pastor Dan explains why God doesn’t describe His appearance in the Bible. God does not want anyone to worship any particular physical form, but to listen and obey His voice and worship Him in Spirit.
You have probably heard that you should not make any images of God or other creatures, but do you know what that means? In today’s message, Pastor Dan explains what is meant by the statement to not make any images of any living creatures or God. He explains art is fine, and it is fine to admire art, the problem comes when you start to bow down to a piece of what should just be art. When the painting or sculpture becomes a physical representation of God that is when it becomes a problem.
You have heard that the Bible says you are to have no other gods than Jehova or the God of the Bible, but have you considered what is meant by “other gods”? There is the obvious like Baal from the Bible, or maybe even the Greek gods, however as Pastor Dan points out, anything can become a god to you. Anything or anyone that you give your time and devotion to. If you aren’t careful the things you are passionate about could take the place of God in your life. It’s ok to have passions, just make sure they aren’t your god.
How do you show someone you love them? The way you show love to your spouse is probably not the same way you show love to your parents or friends. Some people show love by giving gifts, or through acts of service. In today’s message, Pastor Dan suggests the way you show God love is through obedience. Because keeping the commandments is not required for salvation, being obedient to them is the way you show your love and gratitude for what Jesus has done for you.
Have you ever tried to live up to someone else’s high standards and failed miserably? Maybe you fell short of the standard and expectation because you didn’t know what the standard was. If only you had someone who could explain the expectations and then help you reach them. In today’s message, Pastor Dan explains how The Law helps to drive you towards Christ. It does that by giving you the standards and expectations required, but then also helping you realize you cannot meet the standards alone, you need Christ!
Do you remember when you learned how to properly act as a decent person? Probably not, you would have watched your parents and other adults as you grew up. Many people believe Christians do not have to give The Law of the Old Testament a second thought, however as Pastor Dan points out, The Law acts as a “Tudor” to teach you how to get to know Jesus. Without first learning and understanding God’s Law, you might never know how to develop a relationship with Jesus.
Have you ever taken the time to think about how you know what is morally right versus what is morally wrong? Can you remember a time before you just knew when something was “wrong”? In today’s message, Pastor Dan explains you have a general understanding of right and wrong because God has written His moral law on the hearts of all people. This is what most people know as their conscience. That small voice in the back of your head that tells you when you are about to do something wrong.
Have you ever given any thought to why you follow laws? The obvious reason is so you don’t go to jail, but is that all there is to it? What about God’s laws, or commandments, do you follow those laws, or do you only focus on the laws concerning other people? In today’s message, Pastor Dan explains you should follow God’s commandments out of reverence for who God is. You cannot properly follow laws concerning your fellow man without also following the ones that concern your relationship with God.
How do you prepare when you know you have an important meeting, like an interview, or maybe a date? You probably prepare very differently for those two scenarios, but either way, you prepare in some way, you don’t just “wing it”. In today’s message, Pastor Dan challenges you to take some time to prepare yourself for church. Don’t just phone it in and show up to check off a box. Actually, take some time and prepare your mind and heart to come to church and hear from God.
When you’re out in your neighborhood, do you talk to the people you see? What about when you are out shopping going to school, or even at work? Would you warn people you see of a potentially bad storm, or maybe to be careful of a bee’s nest? Would you share about God? In today’s message, Pastor Dan reminds you that your mission is to share about the Lord. If you would warn people about potential bad weather, or bees, you must share The Gospel, it is so much more important!
To get a degree or certification, there is a process you must follow. If you don’t follow each step correctly, you won’t pass, or become certified. The way the world works, you always have to do something before you receive compensation. Sure you could be paid upfront for a job, but you still have very specific criteria to follow. Today, Pastor Dan will point out, that God gives His grace without any prerequisites, it is given freely. It is implied that because you’ve received grace you will follow His commandments.
Have you ever tried your hardest to accomplish a difficult task, and no matter how much you tried you couldn’t get it done? You may have created a plan of attack and organized everyone you could find to help you, but you just couldn’t reach your goal. As Pastor Dan will remind you in today’s message, no amount of planning or effort can even come close to the power of the Holy Spirit. The key to accomplishing your goals is to pray and ask that God give you the Holy Spirit as your guide and strength.
Have you ever had a job where you were asked to do something that you were not qualified to do? How did you handle it? Sometimes when that happens the company will provide the training you need to do whatever it is. In most cases, an employer will only hire you if you possess the right qualifications. As Pastor Dan explains, when God calls you to do, or be, something, He will equip you to be successful. It is your weakness, or lack of qualifications, that allows God’s true power to shine through.
When you have accomplished something meaningful in your life, do you take sole credit for it, or do you acknowledge others who may have helped you along the way? As Pastor Dan points out in today’s message, most people tend to give credit to those who helped in a way that boasts of their abilities. That is one thing Moses did not do, he gave glory, honor, and thanks to God for keeping him from danger. Although Moses could have bragged about his part in delivering them from the Egyptians, he did not.
Many times you may try to handle things on your own because you don’t want to burden others with your struggles. That only works so many times before you realize you can’t always do it on your own, you need people who will support you. Today Pastor Dan will show you how even Moses needed the support of his brothers to hold him up during a long tough battle. You need at least one person to hold you up in times when your strength is failing, be it literally holding your arms up, or through praying for you.
Sometimes God will lead you to a place where you must learn to depend on Him for even the basic necessities. In today’s message, Pastor Dan explains how God did just that with the Israelites. God leads them to a dry place so they will begin to thirst for the “water” that only He can provide. Often times that is what God will do in your life even if you don’t realize it. He will lead you to a place where the only way to survive is to learn to stop depending on yourself and learn to lean on Him!
How do you handle people complaining to you… what about when they are complaining about you? For most people the response is not pleasant, even if they give the complainers what they want, they do so sarcastically or begrudgingly. Now think of all the times you complained to God, aren’t you glad He doesn’t respond that way? In today’s message Pastor Dan tells of a time when, even though the people were complaining to and about God, God showed grace and provided what they were asking for.
There’s one in every bunch. That one friend that never seems to be happy with anything, no matter how good they have it. There are a lot of names that are associated with these folks - Grinch, Scrooge, and SpoilSport to name a few. But today pastor Dan is talking about a different kind of skeptic. This variety views the worldly offerings to be superior to those of God. They look for anything they can find to cover the taste of God’s Word with the spices of the world, but that temporary pleasure has eternal consequences.
If you opened the fridge in your home right now, how many items would you find that are expired? It’s important to check those dates now and again to make sure you’re replacing them with safe food to eat. Today Pastor Dan compares this to your faith. How many expired goods are there in your spiritual refrigerator? When was the last time you spent quality time in God’s word and stocked up on the day’s supply of nourishment? Take some time today to refill your tank and refuel your soul with the Holy Spirit!
Why is it that when things get hard we have a propensity to develop selective amnesia? Think back to when you were first saved and very eager to begin this new life. Everything seemed better. Then a few years later you find yourself tempted to go back to a habit you had before you found Christ. Today Pastor Dan says this isn’t uncommon, but it’s also not acceptable to God. You must exercise discipline to continue to walk in faith each and every day. It won’t always be easy, but it is always worth it!
Have you ever had to learn something the hard way? It can be very humbling to be the only one in the group that struggles with an assignment or an activity. Sometimes you’ll go years without a bump in the road and then, like a light switch, nothing seems to go right. Well, today Pastor Dan says this is normal, and it's all part of God’s plan for your life. Everyone needs to be reminded of their limits and that they are not in charge. Humility will go a long way to soften your heart toward others and deepen your faith in God.
When you hear or read through the book of Exodus, do you think about where you are in your 40-year journey through the desert? Are you still following God’s lead in steadfast faithfulness, or is there doubt? Do you look to your Moses for guidance, or have you started to question his judgment? Today Pastor Dan reveals something extremely important about God’s plan for His children. You will see the story of the Exodus through a renewed lens once you accept the truth that God is leading you through the desert.
Modern worship has certainly changed over the years. What was once simply voices and rudimentary instruments is now a fully rehearsed performance. In many cases produced by professional paid musicians. It has transformed the worship experience. Today Pastor Dan reminds you who to focus on when you participate in worship. It’s tempting to get lost in the amazing sounds and skill of the band, or the story being told by the pastor. But don’t forget that when you worship, you worship God above all things.
Do you believe in a BIG God? Today Pastor Dan defends God against those who try to dispute His existence. God has left us clues and breadcrumbs throughout time to demonstrate His power. There is no doubt that He is truly a powerful God. So when you hear mention of the facts in the Bible being something that can easily be explained away, have confidence in your God! For He is Bigger, and powerful enough to outlast all the critics and attempts to disprove Him throughout history and in the future.
Have you ever been in the midst of something and asked God to just take it away, or fast forward you to the other side? It could be something as simple as running late for work, and you wish that you could simply ask God to teleport you to your office so you wouldn’t have to face the consequences. But today Pastor Dan reminds you that there are things that can only be taught, and learned the long way - no shortcuts. God knows you and is faithful to provide everything you need in His perfect time.
When was the last time you tried to learn a new skill? How long did it take? If you’re still using your new skill, how has it evolved? Are you better at it now than you were when you started? Today Pastor Dan says that God understands you and knows that sometimes you need to take the long road. There is always another way to get there, wherever there is, but God has a purpose in everything. So when you see a shortcut remember that God has placed you on this path for a very specific reason.
What does it mean to be free? Depending on the context, this could mean many different things. In some cases, it could mean the freedoms we enjoy as citizens of a democracy. It could have a financial meaning like ‘free from debt’ for some. But today, Pastor Dan offers another meaning with some additional context from scripture. Freedom doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. It means you can do what you should! You’re free to live a life that pleases God because of the promise of redemption from your sins.
Do you believe that one day you will stand next to Jesus and enter into an eternal life with Him in Heaven? Most believers would have no trouble answering this question with a resounding “YES”. But what if that wasn’t the whole question? Today Pastor Dan introduces the conditions that are in place for anyone who chooses a life with Christ and wishes to receive the promise of Heaven. So the second part of this question, which is more convicting than the first, is “Are you ready for Him to come today”?
What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see all your faults and failures, or do you see the promise of Jesus and the sacrifice God made for you? When you look at others, do you see them through a lens of judgment or one of mercy and forgiveness? Today Pastor Dan encourages you to start training your eyes to see yourself and others as God does. To remember the sacrifice and the blood that was shed for you! Only then can you begin to appreciate the gift of life given to you and all who believe.
Have you given much thought to the significance of the periods of time in history that B.C. and A.D. designate? It’s no secret that there has been a consistent effort to disprove the very existence of God and the accuracy of the Bible since the beginning, but these date codes are somehow accepted worldwide. Today Pastor Dan makes a bold statement about how you should view time in both of these date ranges. Your very existence is significant because of these designations and is only possible in Christ!
Are you worshiping Jesus with your whole life or do you hold anything back? Sometimes we don’t even realize that God wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives. “You can have my life God, but I’ll keep control over my finances, thank you.” In his message today, Pastor Dan will challenge you to store up treasures in heaven. God wants you to be focused on Him completely, and you can’t do that when you’re concerned about how much money you have in your bank account. Let him take over.
Are you sharing your story of redemption with your children? Teaching kids about all the Bible stories is important, but we can sometimes forget to share our own stories with them. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will encourage you to tell the next generation about how God transformed your life. Your story has power, and it can connect the truth of Jesus and what He’s done with a person your kids see every day. They don’t know what you were like before Christ. Let them know how He’s changed your life.
We sometimes think the God of the Old Testament is an unforgiving God of judgment, but God is the same yesterday as He is today. If we look closer we can see the evidence of His grace and mercy all throughout the Bible. In his message today, Pastor Dan will show you how, even in God pouring out the plagues on Egypt, His desire was to give opportunity for repentance. Remember that God could have wiped you out for your sin, but He gave you the opportunity to repent and be saved.
The world is a tempting place, isn’t it? When we become Christians, it’s tempting to engage in the pleasures of the world, but the Bible says that we are not of this world. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will remind you that if you are in Christ, you are a new creation. You still need to engage with the world, but your lifestyle should be different. Does your life look different from a non-believer’s life? If the only difference between you and a non-believer is you go to church, there’s something wrong.
We can get tricked into thinking our sin problem isn’t a big problem. Just a little bit of sin can be pleasing. What’s wrong with that? But sin never stops at a small amount. Like yeast, it continues to multiply and grow, taking over our lives. In his message today, Pastor Dan will compare the sin in your life with the plagues of Egypt in the book of Exodus. Don’t let sin get a foothold in your life even on a small scale. It will grow into a plague and invade your life. Stop sin as soon as it starts.
Have you ever heard a pastor or even a friend try to explain a miracle in the Bible by giving it a natural explanation? It can be tempting to imagine how those miracles could be explained through science, but that’s a dangerous road. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will warn you to not listen to those interpretations. When you believe that God’s miracles have scientific explanations, you are robbing Him of His power. God’s Word is true, and you can trust that His miracles really happened.
We want to make sense of the troubles we have in life, don’t we? We think, “Things aren’t going my way. I must have done something wrong.” It’s possible you are experiencing a natural consequence of your sin, but often that’s not the case. In his message today, Pastor Dan will teach you that Moses had the same inclination to think he had done something wrong when Israel wasn’t being freed by Pharoah, but that wasn’t true. Don’t make the mistake of over-spiritualizing what happens to you in life.
Isn’t God’s grace amazing? God knew that Israel would be unfaithful. He knew that they wouldn’t keep any promise to Him, and God chose to save them anyway. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be teaching about how God freed Israel from slavery and promised to bring them to the promised land. If you have put your faith in Jesus, God has freed you from the slavery of your sin. There was nothing you did to earn it, and even though God knows that you will be unfaithful, He still died for you.
Do you ever wonder why God is letting hardships and pain continue in your life? Why doesn’t He just snap His fingers and make them go away? Because God loves you. In his message today, Pastor Dan will remind you that God doesn’t want to make your life easy; He cares for you and He wants to make you a better follower of Jesus. He could have just saved you from sin and immediately taken you to heaven to be with Him, but God has work for you. He wants to transform you into the image of Christ.
It’s always darkest before the dawn. You may have heard that phrase before, but it can be so true. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will remind you that if you are going through a difficult situation, you need to put your trust in Jesus. You may be in a situation that feels completely hopeless, and if it was up to you to save yourself, it might be hopeless. That’s when God shows His hand. When you have no other hope, and you’re ready to rely on Him, God will deliver you. Don’t give up. Put your trust in God.
Are you busy? Do you feel like you just don’t have time for prayer or Bible study? The pace of life can easily get away from us sometimes, but in his message today, Pastor Dan will encourage you to remain focused on the most important part of your life, your relationship with God. You have an enemy that wants to get you off track. He’s already lost your soul to Jesus, so he’ll try to distract you from being an effective Christ follower. Don’t let him. Remember to prioritize Jesus first in your life.
When we don’t make honoring God our number one priority in our lives, let alone in our jobs, families, and hobbies, we can cause destruction. We can cause serious damage when we don’t allow God to govern and rule our lives over everyone and everything else! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will encourage you to put God first! Even over friends, pastors, and family! When we value God’s opinion and we value honoring God, our friendships, our church lives, and our families will strive, because YOU put God first!
As people in a society, we leave an impression everywhere we go whether a good or bad impression…that’s up to us. The way we live our lives tells people exactly who we are and what our intentions are. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will remind you of the fact that you have an impact on people wherever you go! You have the opportunity to make that a big gracious, Jesus-filled impact or a big hurtful, and meaningless impact. As Christians, we always want to leave knowing that people saw Jesus through us!!
Before we ever met Christ we walked by our own strength and wisdom. Generally, we would end up walking straight into trouble…trouble that would leave us broken and hurt. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will point out that when we surrender our lives to the Lord, we no longer have to walk by our own strength! When you surrender your life to Jesus, giving Him FULL power and authority over you, you also give up that burden and weight of having to carry yourself through life ALL on your own!
If we go by our own strength and just pure determination we will never succeed. No matter how hard we try or how much we might want it, we can’t do anything out of our own willpower. It is by GOD’S strength that we accomplish anything and everything! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will share some reasons that God chooses those with no evident strength or natural talent. When the Lord works in and through those people, it is He whose strength and talent are seen through them and HE who succeeds!
Often times we’re so concerned with the things of this world, Whether our possessions or our busy schedule and social life, we are completely blinded by ALL the distracting factors. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will encourage you to look to your eternal future instead of the earthly things. When you set your heart on the Lord and the things He provides and offers you will find happiness! True happiness isn’t having the nicest car, house, or job, it’s knowing that you have the Son of God, Jesus Christ!
Since the first time Jesus came down from Heaven, He has had compassion on His people! He sees us and meets us exactly where we’re at. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will remind you of that gift! The selfless, generous, thoughtful gift of compassion from the Son of God! Whatever situation you’re in right now, Jesus is concerned for you! The true meaning of compassion is “to suffer together” that is entirely what Jesus does for you! He takes that heavy load from your life and gives you rest in return!
We are faced with difficult decision-making situations all the time. There isn’t a day that goes by where we don’t have to make a decision, Whether simple or life-changing, we have choices. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will reassure you that you are not alone while finding these answers! Not even one of these situations, do you have to rely on your own strength and wisdom to come to a conclusion. You can go to the Scriptures and the Lord and He will give you the answers and wisdom you need!
Difficult physical or mental pressure helps things grow. Whether a church, a person, or even natural elements! When people are under heavy and demanding pressure from society, busy schedules, or plain old life, we grow into strong and independent beings! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will remind you as you go through strenuous events in life, to view them as opportunities! Opportunities to grow and learn to be a better person to better society! To be able to share the love of Jesus more effectively!
God has MANY great acts of redemption, of performing miracles, of simply just saving His followers. The second book of the Bible has the first great act! The first time we as Christians see the kind of God we’re serving directly! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will encourage you with the words from Exodus, to behold who our God is! The Lord shows up in multiple areas of the Bible and multiple areas of your life, but the first time He even introduced to all Christians what redemption is and who He is, is extra special!
As we see all these terrible things happening, like the Hamas war in Isreal, we stop and wonder if these are the signs of Jesus’ return. Are the things happening right now, the signs the Bible shows us? Are these events we see in the Bible being fulfilled and lived out? In today’s message, Pastor Dan will answer these questions and any other questions you may have about the events going on right now. Having questions is a good thing, but also need to remember that this is ALL a part of the Lord’s plan!
We are warned here in the Scripture of just a few of the signs that we will see as the tribulation period arrives. There will be complete chaos and the anti-Christ will reveal himself as “God”. He will deceive and lie and try to put himself in the center to be worshipped instead of the true King Jesus. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will remind you of these signs and warnings we will see when that time comes. As Christians, we must be aware and ready for this time of deception, so as to not be fooled by the man of sin.
There are going to be horrible things that happen during our time on this earth, the Hamas war in Isreal is just one of them. There will always be some sort of war or political dispute going on…until Jesus returns! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will encourage you with the fact, that even though we are facing huge problems right now with the Hamas war and everything else going on in the world, we can still have hope even in these difficult and confusing times! Jesus is that hope! Jesus will ALWAYS be that hope!
No matter how many possessions we have, there’s always room for more. It’s human nature to want more and more, but what do we do when it starts to take over our lives? Do we embrace a life of worldly pursuits? Or should we leave it all behind? Today in his message, Pastor Dan wants you to know that no matter how alluring or logical it they may seem, the world’s ideals will always fail. When you leave this earth, nothing is coming with you. Invest in what matters most: eternity with Jesus.
Have you ever felt stuck between your faith and the world? Have you ever felt like your feet are planted in two different places at once? Today, Pastor Dan wants you to know that there’s nothing more dire to your faith than keeping yourself firmly rooted in God’s kingdom. The world will always try to tell you that it’s okay to bend your morals, but this will only serve to destroy you. Leave the wisdom of man in the dust and embrace God’s perfect love. The world offers nothing but pain. God gives life to the broken.
Have you ever found yourself coveting? Have you ever been jealous of something that someone else has? In today’s message, Pastor Dan wants you to know that even though it may seem harmless, lusting over the possessions of others will only tear you down. The more you focus on the things of others, the less you thank God for everything that He’s blessed you with. Remain committed to God’s commandments and be blessed by your endurance. Finish the race of life strong and give your all for Jesus.
If you are a Christian, you have put on the new man. You aren’t the same person. God is transforming you to be like His Son! Today, Pastor Dan advises us not to lie to one another. We change when we put our trust in Christ. We once were liars, but now, we have been born again. Our identities are in Christ. We can put off the old things that defined us and step into the future with confidence in who we are. Build your foundation on the Truth and embrace who God says you are!
All forms of lying are wrong in the eyes of the Lord. The ninth commandment, Bearing false witness against your neighbor, is a form of deception. Today, Pastor Dan warns us that our society won’t survive without Truth. God commands us to honor one another above ourselves. Deceiving others is not respecting and loving others! If we stay in the Word, the Truth will strengthen our faith and save us from guilt. Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. Stay close to Jesus and the freedom only He can give.
Nothing good comes from taking what doesn’t belong to us. Thievery will only bring us trouble. God gave us the commandment, do not steal, to protect us and show us the right way to live and treat others. Today, Pastor Dan gives us the remedy for stealing…Working! Would you rather go to jail or go to work? There are always consequences for our actions. We can choose to be generous and do good to others. Work to honor God, and give to show His love in the world!
Have you ever taken something that wasn’t yours? You probably didn’t even realize you were stealing at the time. The office supplies that you took home from work were specifically purchased for use at your job. Today, Pastor Dan warns us that stealing can take on many different shades. Theft can span from human trafficking to things that seem minor, like taking a bag of chips from a convenience store. Though the 8th commandment has various levels of corruption, all stealing is a sin forbidden by God.
Have you been toeing the line with adultery, either physical or emotional? In today’s message, Pastor Dan challenges listeners to do whatever is necessary to protect themselves from sexual sin. We are called to be held above reproach, and often that requires extra layers of accountability. How can you put safeguards in place to ensure that the enemy has no foothold in this area of your life? Don’t give him any room to roam. You will never regret making extra efforts to protect your family!
In today’s teaching, Pastor Dan will unpack the seventh commandment - thou shalt not commit adultery. Sexual activity of any kind is to be preserved strictly for marriage. Unfortunately, in our world today, it is promoted in all forms outside of marriage. As Christ's followers, we must be the voice against such sin! Not only in our words but through our actions for others to see. As a married man or woman, are you protecting the covenant that you made on your wedding day?
Have you seen the positive impact of a vibrant, healthy marriage, or family unit, in your life? Pretty cool that God is the One who designed marriage! Today, Pastor Dan will teach about the history of marriage, why God instituted it, and why we must work to preserve it. Like all things, God knew what He was doing when He created woman for man. This design is to be the foundation for how society flourishes. How can you be an advocate in your life for the restoration of marriage and family?
Jesus holds your thoughts and words in the same standing as your actions. In today’s teaching, Pastor Dan will continue to unpack the sixth commandment and show listeners why Jesus cares most about the heart. It is within the heart that evil feelings can begin and often lead to sin. We must guard our hearts and minds, constantly filling ourselves with the things of God to protect us from evil. Have you allowed the enemy to bring bad thoughts to your mind? Ask the Lord to cleanse you today!
God created all of us in His image. No matter what defects the world may tag on some individuals, the Lord values ALL. Today, Pastor Dan will speak to this powerful truth as he challenges listeners to view all of life the same way that God does - sacred. Never should we want to destroy what God created. When we view all living beings as image bearers of God, this should inspire a greater heart of love for humanity. How can you be a better advocate for life in your community today?
Is the sixth commandment really as simple as “Do not kill?” In today’s message, Pastor Dan will show listeners that we have a moral responsibility that stretches beyond the act of murder. We know that God looks at the heart. Jesus made this clear during His time on earth. Is your heart one that promotes life? The Lord wants to rid your heart of all malice, anger, and envy. He wants to use you as a vessel to bring more lives to know Him! How can you guard your heart from evil intentions today?
What example did Jesus set for us in honoring His parents? In today’s teaching, Pastor Dan will continue to unpack the fifth commandment to honor your father and mother. God the Father sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross and save the world from their sins. Even in a task such as this, Jesus obeyed. As God in human flesh, Jesus still honored His parents on earth. We can always look to Jesus as our greatest example of how to live. How can you use His life to inspire your own?
When the Bible commands us to honor our parents, what role do the parents play in that? Today, Pastor Dan will encourage parents to embrace this important responsibility that we have. As a parent, each day brings its own challenges, but each day also brings its own opportunity to leave a lasting impact on children. How can you be more engaged with your kids? Are there things you have let slide because it is too difficult to address? The Lord has placed you in a pivotal role in your child’s life!
The Bible commands us to honor our parents. That can be easier said than done sometimes. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will challenge listeners to honor their parents, not because they are always deserving, but because by doing so, we obey God. Most of what God asks of us is not easy to do on our own strength because He wants us to rely on Him! Does your relationship with your parents need to be restored? How can you seek the Lord’s help today in accomplishing that?
Worshiping and fellowshipping together with the body of Christ in a church setting is so valuable! Today, Pastor Dan will provide more context on why respecting a Sabbath day is still important to believers. As parents, it is our responsibility to build habits and create a culture of consistency when it comes to this. Those who have experienced the blessing of a church family can attest to God’s Wisdom when he included this in the Ten Commandments! Are you prioritizing corporate fellowship in your life?
Does the thought of preserving one day a week to rest scare you? Perhaps it sounds impossible! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will encourage listeners with the truth that God commanded us to rest. In a society with hundreds of things going on every day, rest is often the last thing on people’s minds. However, it is often in our most quiet and still moments that we can better hear the voice of God, and sense His presence. How might you adjust your weekly schedule to create more rest?
What is the Sabbath day, and why was it included in the Ten Commandments? In today’s teaching, Pastor Dan will walk listeners through the history of this commandment, and how various people have interpreted it over time. In relation to the Sabbath, what rules were inspired by God, and which were inspired by man? It is a dangerous game to play when we begin taking God’s commands and putting our own spin on it! How can you be more in tune with the voice of God today?
What comes to mind when you hear your own name… your parent’s name.. how about your boss’s name? We all have a person’s name in mind, and when we hear it, it makes us cringe just a little. There are also those names that evoke joy. What about God’s name? What should you feel when you hear the name Jesus? Is your first thought of joy or of anger? What should God’s name mean to us? In today’s message, Pastor Dan describes what God would want us to think when we hear His name.
Have you ever done something that hurt someone, and you don’t know if they will ever forgive you? The Bible says we all sin against God, so how do we know He will forgive us?? In today’s message, Pastor Dan shows how knowing God’s name tells us all we need to know about His nature to forgive. No matter how much you or I sin, it’s in God’s very nature to forgive us. By really knowing His name, we can be sure He will always forgive us. All we have to do is ask for forgiveness and praise His name!
People show love to each other in many different ways. It could be a hug, a high-five, or even a gift. There are a multitude of ways people show or express love to one another. When it comes to showing God love, what could you possibly do to express a proper amount of gratitude to the Lord? Well in today’s message, Pastor Dan shows you the simplest, and possibly the hardest, way to express love to the Lord. This expression of love may not be in the way you expect.
Have you ever been falsely accused of doing something bad, simply because of who your family is? On the other side, have people ever assumed you were better than you are because of who your family is? Have you ever worked hard to accomplish a task, only for someone else to get the credit for it? In today’s message, Pastor Dan shows us how, in God’s eyes, we all receive credit… or punishment… based solely on our character, not the character of those around us.
Would you rather read a book, or watch the movie version of the book? To read a book and understand what it is trying to tell you, you must pay attention to every detail. That is not the case when you watch the movie. The person who created the images for the movie may have left out or added to what the words actually say. In today’s message, Pastor Dan shows us why the second commandment tells us to read, or listen to God’s Word, rather than be distracted by an image that is someone’s idea of what He says.
All too often, once someone becomes a Christian and starts to follow Christ, they think there is this massive list of rules that must be followed, or that they need to be perfect. Sure, there is a way we as Christians should live, and should strive to live, but when it comes down to it, what does all that mean? Well… in today’s message, Pastor Dan shows us how Jesus responded when asked what is most important. On the surface, it may seem overly simplistic, but so many people struggle to follow such simple guidance.
It is said that on average, every human being makes almost 35,000 decisions a day. That’s a lot of choices to make! But how many of those choices reflect our walks with Christ? Every single day as Christians we must make a conscious decision to choose God. Today, Pastor Dan is going to be talking about putting God above everything else in our lives. It’s not a bad thing to have other hobbies and interests; however, we must always make sure that our priority is set on God and His Kingdom!
Do you remember when you were a kid and you stole a cookie from the cookie jar? Of course, when the adult came to discover who was at fault you pointed at everyone else except yourself. Now though this seems silly, this isn’t far from how a lot of people respond to consequences! In today’s message, Pastor Dan is going to be talking about taking personal responsibility. In a world where so many people blame others for their own actions, it’s important that we remember that our actions have consequences.
Have you ever been reading a book or possibly even the Bible and felt convicted? This is when we realize something in our lives that isn’t in alignment with the way we know we should be living. This is how the Holy Spirit speaks to us. Well today, Pastor Dan is going to be talking to us about how the biblical scriptures are profitable for us. He reminds us that they provide us with doctrine, reproof, and correction. As Christ’s followers, we are called to live out the ways God called us to live; furthermore, we must study God’s word to understand those commandments.
Have you ever ridden in a really nice car and thought to yourself “Wow?” Nine times out of ten we get back into our car and think about how old or unluxurious it is. This is an example of what we’re going to be talking about today. Pastor Dan is going to be sharing a message with us about how good our God is! Furthermore, when we recognize how good He is, we not only see Him for all His glory, but we see ourselves for all of our filth. God’s goodness reveals how undeserving we are of His love.
In the Bible, it tells us that other people in this world will know us Christians by our love. You see, so much of Christianity and the way we serve God comes down to how we love. It’s quite possibly the most important aspect of our lives. Well today, Pastor Dan is going to be sharing a message with us talking about the 10 commandments. In this message, he will explain to us that all of the 10 commandments could be summed up with one word - love. If we aspire to live lives that are pleasing to God and resemble the free gift that Jesus has given each of us, we must first love.
A law is a system of rules that a particular community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which may be enforced by the result of penalties. Most of us are familiar with all kinds of laws in our country, but what about the biblical laws? Today, Pastor Dan is going to be sharing a message with us regarding the Old Testament laws given by Jesus. There is much debate as to whether these still apply to us today or whether they don’t. I believe that as believers it’s important for us to be familiar with these passages as we strive to live a more Godly life.
It can be difficult to talk to people about Jesus. Non-believers might think you're trying to tell them some fairy tale, or they might even get angry at you for trying to push your “religion” onto them. Jesus dealt with these kinds of people all throughout the Bible, so why shouldn’t we? If you’ve never talked to someone about Jesus before, it’s not too late. You never know the impact you could have on someone’s life. Today, Pastor Dan is going to encourage you to speak up about Jesus!
Would you consider yourself outgoing or extroverted? If your answer was yes, then you should use that gift to your advantage, to bring people to the Kingdom. If you are on the other end of the spectrum, and consider yourself an introvert, well you are still required to talk to people and share the Gospel! Whether you are a people person or not, God calls all believers to go and make disciples. In today’s message, Pastor Dan is going to remind you that following Jesus involves being obedient to what He commands.
How are you meeting with God? Do you know how to talk to Him? What do you ask Him? These are all questions that every believer has struggled with in their walk. It’s hard to talk to someone who isn’t physically next to you, but the Bible says that we have direct access to God. You can have a conversation with Him, even if He isn’t sitting across the table from you. In today’s message, Pastor Dan is going to talk about three ways that you can meet with God. Through the Bible, through prayer, and through the Church.
Have you ever received love from someone even when you treated them poorly? It feels unfair right? It feels like you should be attacked, not loved. This is exactly how God loves you! His grace is unimaginable. When you sin, God already forgives you. In today’s message, Pastor Dan is going to remind you of the power that God’s grace holds. You can feel free from the bondage of sin because of a gracious and heavenly father. Don’t take advantage of it, but rejoice in the gift of God’s grace.
Are you running after Jesus? It can be easy to get relaxed in your walk with Him, especially when things seem to be going your way. Why obey God when you have everything under control? In today’s message, Pastor Dan is going to remind you that it’s so important to be quick to listen and obey what God has asked of you. You may not like the plans that God has for your life, but they are there for a reason. God has placed you here for a reason and it’s your responsibility to trust in His plans.
When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they separated all of mankind from God. Throughout the Old Testament, people had to sacrifice animals and make offerings in order to be right with God. Luckily, you don’t have to sacrifice an animal to have a right relationship with God. Jesus came and sacrificed His body for your sins so that you can have a relationship that isn’t based on your mistakes. Today, Pastor Dan is going to remind you that everyone sins, but your sin doesn’t dictate God’s love for you.
Jesus gave us many things during his time here among the people, but the most significant of those came from His death. The prophecy of the sacrifice for all of man’s sins dates back hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus. His time here while miraculous and amazing, was only a small part of His purpose for you and for me. In today’s message, Pastor Dan reiterates the importance and the purpose of Jesus. He was created to be the only living thing pure enough to fulfill God’s promise of salvation!
Can you imagine living under the rule of the Roman Empire? Have you ever thought about what that would have been like? They were the definition of zero tolerance and enforcement was done through suppression and brutal mortality. The crucifixion of Jesus together with the 2 thieves has been immortalized in history, but today Pastor Dan explains just how popular this execution style was to the Romans. The Bible documents invasions by Roman troops that resulted in thousands of people suffering this fate.
You know the Golden Rule, right? “Do to others, what you would have them do to you”. Nothing complicated about it, except maybe actually doing it. Today Pastor Dan uses Jesus Christ Himself as a living example of this in the most extreme example imaginable. He offers additional texts as well that reinforce this expectation for you to live in kindness with your enemies. Jesus forgave those who mocked and murdered Him and did so as the act was taking place. Who do you need to show forgiveness to today?
You've heard it many times… ” Take up your cross daily”, but what does it mean? Put another way, you are to deny yourself daily. In today’s message, Pastor Dan explains how denying yourself, is not the same as self-denial! This is not to say that both don't have value when the goal is self-improvement. You have practiced self-denial many times whether you know it or not, but to become one with Christ you must deny yourself. The key to this is that you must make the decision to put God first in everything you do.
It’s hard to imagine what it was like to live during the time that Jesus walked with man. There were so many activities then that are inconceivable today and many that would be illegal. The description read by Pastor Dan today of how the Roman soldiers treated their prisoners - in this case, Jesus - is difficult to listen to, much less participate in. Back in those days, this was common and even done for entertainment purposes. The details of this experience only begin to offer a glimpse of God’s sacrifice for you!
Can you remember a time when you knew exactly what to do and took action without a moment's hesitation? Not only did you ensure a positive outcome, but you may have developed trust in a friend or colleague and strengthened your confidence as well. In today's message, Pastor Dan says that is exactly how you should approach “doing the right thing”! You can’t hesitate even for a second. He says that if you hesitate, then one second becomes two and three, and before you know it the opportunity is gone.
Have you ever been around someone who wasn’t afraid of the awkward silence in the room? They sit there and allow the discussion to come to a complete standstill and still say nothing. In extreme cases, they even leave the room after several minutes of contemplation, but still say nothing. It takes great discipline and confidence to do something like that. Today Pastor Dan says this discipline is why Jesus acted in this manner when He was being accused. He remained steadfast and silent because there was nothing to say.
Have you ever tried to argue with a child? You try to help them understand that what they did was wrong and why they shouldn’t do it again. The child very confidently explains several reasons why in their mind it was fine, and they don’t see why they should stop. You quickly realize that this is a losing battle, and in some cases, you may resort to pulling rank because there is just no other way. In today’s message, Pastor Dan describes a similar scenario but with a much greater impact on the people of Jerusalem.
Everyone loves a good murder mystery or a televised court case. The drama and the evidence as it is presented cause an emotional tug of war as the case is built by the prosecution and then dismantled by the defense. That is until that one piece of evidence is presented that no one could possibly deny. Today Pastor Dan presents this final piece of compelling evidence against the religious leaders who had sentenced Jesus to the cross, as they respond with what could be described as a full confession.
Do you believe in prophecy? It could be said that faith in God is to believe in the prophecies of old and yet to come. Still, do you believe it? In today’s message Pastor Dan reveals details surrounding the crucifixion and death of Jesus that are small, but also surprisingly significant. You may already know that the foretelling of Jesus’s death was documented hundreds of years before it happened, but to remove even a shadow of doubt in the fulfillment of this prophecy the details included in the text are irrefutable.
Have you ever been in a situation where you could see so clearly that the decisions being made were just wrong? You watch as the decision-makers ignore the facts in favor of their own agenda. Maybe you even find the courage to say something, only to be met with cleverly crafted responses that justify the action. Today Pastor Dan holds the religious leaders accountable for this very same thing during the sentencing and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. They knew exactly who Jesus was, and they rejected Him anyway!
Pastor Dan talks about something in his message today that’s super common with anyone who’s ever wanted to share what they believe. There are these whisperings that we hear that halt us in our tracks. But, as Christians, we’re not to fear them. We’re not to fear rejection, humiliation, condemnation, or whatever. Do you want to know why? All of that comes from mankind, not Jesus. Keep Him close. Don’t fall into the same trap that Peter did. Don’t be afraid! There are lives that depend on your BOLDNESS in sharing Jesus!
An orange is just an orange. It can’t be an apple or a banana. It can’t be something that it’s not. In the message today from Pastor Dan he explains how the apostle Peter was trying to fit in with the same people that arrested Jesus. It’s an odd picture, isn’t it? But pride and fleshly desires took Peter where he never intended to go. Right down to denying that he knew Jesus. Before you start thinking the worst of Peter, or anyone else, remember this truth…Satan is sly. He’ll do whatever it takes to drag you down.
A baby doesn’t learn to walk all in one day or by taking one big step. Instead, the baby walks through taking small, multiple steps over a period of time. Unfortunately, the same could be said about the lack of faith that’s sometimes found in the Christian’s life. Slowly, but surely, there’s a movement away from Jesus. Pastor Dan’s message today outlines those steps of the apostle Peter that caused his denial of Jesus. It’s a dangerous thing when you start believing more in yourself than the Creator of the universe.
The arrest of Jesus in the garden. His multiple trials and convictions, for lack of a better word, were all done under the table. It was completely against all laws. It was done at night, in secret. The actions and words of the religious leaders showed their disdain for Jesus and the degree of sin in their own lives. Pastor Dan explains this in more detail today. Jesus could have easily gotten out of the mess he found himself in and not died on the cross, but He didn’t. And it was for you and for me.
As Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested, Peter gets so worked up and emotional that he cuts a man’s ear off. Have you heard that story before? Did you know that Jesus picked up that man’s ear and healed it? Pastor Dan makes a very reassuring remark in his message today about Jesus who’s always with us, changing what needs to be changed. You know, we hurt people. Intentionally and unintentionally. But, thank heavens for Jesus who comes behind us and heals what we’ve ruined.
Oh no! Someone’s threatening us and our image, so we have to act fast before it’s ruined! What a downright fleshy thing to think, right? I wonder how many of us would be courageous enough to admit that, at one time or another, we’ve thought exactly like these religious leaders. Do you know who was upsetting the apple cart? Yep! Jesus. It mattered so much to them to protect their societal ranking, that they ignored their own rules and laws concerning arrests and trials. Pastor Dan expands on this in his message today.
There will always be instances in our lives where we will face a trial or a difficult situation with no way out. When you are alone, you may want to cry and express your pain and sorrow. But did you know that Jesus experienced the same emotions? Pastor Dan explains in today's message, how Jesus experienced a range of emotions before being arrested. Before the soldiers came to arrest Him, Jesus was crying because He knew that the sin of the world would befall Him, and separate Him from the Father.
As humans, we frequently take the wrong path. We fall into the enemy's trap, whether in joy or sorrow and end up in the grip of sin. Even as Christians, we are prone to falling into Satan's traps. But do you know who always gets you back on track? In today’s message, Pastor Dan clarifies how Jesus is the good shepherd. When you get off track, Jesus is the one who always brings you back from every trial and difficult situation of the enemy, and puts you back on track. Jesus loves you and will never abandon you!
There will always be someone who does not like you. Be it at work, where your coworker may despise you, or at home, where your neighbor is envious of you. But do you know why everyone seems to hate you? Pastor Dan explains today, how Jesus affects your life. When Jesus was on earth, the people of Israel despised and rejected Him. When you receive Salvation, Jesus lives in you, and as a result, people begin to hate you as well. But you can be in peace, as Jesus has given you the Holy Spirit, who comforts you.
When it comes to following instructions, we are constantly falling short. Even in the Old Testament, the Israelites frequently disobeyed God and had to go through a process, in order to be forgiven and save themselves from God's wrath. But do you know how you are saved? Pastor Dan describes today, how God made a new covenant with us through Jesus. Following your salvation, Jesus bestowed upon you the Holy Spirit, who not only guides you in your daily life but also assists you in keeping God's covenant.
We always end up hurting those we love, no matter how hard we try to impress others. It could be at work, where we are jealous of a coworker, or in a relationship, where we may betray their trust by hurting them. We try to do our best to be nice to everyone around us, but we often end up hurting them. In today’s message, Pastor Dan talks about how you can always be good to others. You may be hurtful to others at times, but with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, you can change your inner self.
We all have someone in our lives who we consider a friend. We share everything with our best friend and even expect their support in every decision we make. However, friends frequently fall short and fail to have our backs at all times. Most of the time, the people you place your trust in are the ones who betray you. But do you know who you can trust? Pastor Dan describes in today’s message, how you can always rely on Jesus. You can make Jesus your best friend and share everything with Him.
Have you ever seen that one person who is constantly on the greeting team at church week after week? Do they ever get a break?! Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with serving God and our ministries every single week, but what about when ministering FOR Jesus takes priority over ministering TO Jesus? In today’s message, Pastor Dan is going to be talking about the importance of ministering TO Jesus. You see, it’s great to serve, but without giving our adoration to God, our service is useless.
Have you ever been asked to give up your most prized possession in exchange for something else? Most of us have luckily never had to face that kind of situation, but if we did, it would be incredibly difficult! However, that is exactly what God calls us to do. In today’s message, Pastor Dan is going to be sharing a story about a woman who gave up everything for Jesus. She offered a bottle of perfume that cost nearly two years' wages! How much of myself can I give up for God today?
Have you ever wondered what God is looking for when He looks at the lives of His people? Is He looking at what we say, how much we tithe, or even what we do? Today, Pastor Dan will be sharing a message with you about the Passover. During this time people would put blood over the doors of their homes as a way to show God the sacrifice for their sins. As we listen, we are informed that when God looks at us, He looks to see if we have applied the blood of Christ to our sins and to our lives.
In the world we live in today, everyone gets a trophy! You don’t have to make a solid decision about something or even win to receive the reward anymore; however, as we’ll learn today, this is not how God operates. In today’s message, Pastor Dan is going to be talking about how there are two and only two groups of people at the end of the day - those who are saved by Jesus and going to Heaven, and those who are not. It’s black and white, and Jesus is calling us Christians to be ready for when that time comes.
Have you ever found yourself feeling very remorseful for a sin you committed that nobody even knew about? Or have you ever felt joyful from a time that you honored God with something you did? There is a reason for that! As we’ll hear about today in our message from Pastor Dan, when we make decisions in our lives they affect more than just us. Sinning against ourselves or someone else is not only affecting the people involved but also the heart of God. The same goes for honoring others.
The world we live in today is packed full of chaos! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, just turn on the news for more than 5 seconds! Things are crazy! But what if I told you that there will be a day when 100% of the world will be in direct unity with God - No violence, no crime, no chaos at all? Well today, Pastor Dan is going to be sharing with you just that! God tells us that there will be a day when He will bring Heaven to Earth and restore all of the broken things of this world. What a day that will be!
As Christians, we live by faith in God. He is 100% reliable all of the time. God always does what He says and He always keeps the promises He’s made in His Word. Today, Pastor Dan encourages us to stay faithful. If we remain faithful, we can trust that we’ll receive the promise of heaven. Are we using what God has given us in our talents, gifts, and resources, as though we can depend on Him? Though we cannot see Him or hear His voice, we can trust that He is there and eager and able to care for us.
We are made in God’s image and have been given unique abilities and gifts. How marvelous to be made in the image of our awesome God! In Pastor Dan’s message today, he encourages us to use our special talents to build God’s kingdom. What can we give back to God, using our distinct abilities? As we spread the good news of Jesus, let’s reflect on the character of God. We can be an example of His love and compassion by extending kindness and forgiveness to people we see throughout our day.
There is work to do for the kingdom. Spread the good news. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Give yourself fully to God’s work. Pastor Dan reminds us in today’s message to serve faithfully until the Lord comes. The time we spend giving to the Lord’s work is never wasted. It is the most important job that comes with eternal benefits. Nothing can compare to the reward we will receive in heaven, for using our gifts to win souls for God’s kingdom.
You are responsible for your own salvation. One day, each person will stand before the Lord. Each person’s faith will become evident, as faith will become sight. Today, Pastor Dan’s message gives a warning that you can’t enter into heaven on someone else’s coattails. Your entrance will be determined by your own faith in Christ. There will be no one else to blame for losing the promise of eternity with the Lord. Believe in Christ today, and accept his righteousness. The choice is yours to make.
You might go to church every week, read your Bible every day, and give your money and time to God’s kingdom, but do you have the Spirit of Christ? Today, Pastor Dan advises you to take account and make sure you’re ready for the return of Jesus. You can’t rely on your good works to get you into heaven. It’s wonderful to do good things, but it isn’t enough. You must be born again to enter the kingdom of heaven. Do you have the Holy Spirit? You look ready for the coming of Jesus, but are you?
Are you ready for Jesus’ return? He could come at any moment and you don’t want to miss this opportunity to accept Him. In today’s message, Pastor Dan cautions us to be ready to meet Jesus! Only God knows when Christ will come back. The day of His reappearance will be unexpected. Will Christ find us pursuing holy living and becoming like Him? Be wise and prepared, making sure your salvation is secure. Keep serving the kingdom of God and stay watchful and expectant for the Lord’s arrival.
If Jesus came back for His church today, are you ready? Today, Pastor Dan will ask you this important question because Jesus’ return is sure and certain. Are you doing God’s work here as you wait for Him to come again? Are you faithfully seeking Him and surrendering to Him every day? Are you living a life set apart for God? Don’t get so caught up in this world that you’re ashamed and unprepared when Jesus comes to take believers to Heaven. Pastor Dan will challenge you to live alert, ready, and excited for Jesus to return.
The world today is full of pleasure-seeking, desire-filling, truth-denying people. They live only for today. Most ignore the warnings of God’s faithful servants declaring that judgment is coming and that now is the time to put their faith in God. Today Pastor Dan will explain the truth that Jesus could return any day. And when the Lord returns to earth again, He’ll judge the wicked on earth. When He comes to earth to take believers to heaven you want to be sure you’re in the group going to be with Jesus.
Sometimes, the things that feel most real are the tangible things on earth. There are pleasures to enjoy, possessions to earn, and places to go. You’ll be tempted to strive for these things above everything else. However, as Pastor Dan will teach you today, this world and the things of it aren’t what you should strive for. Instead, you should pursue the things of God and His Kingdom here on earth. Nothing else will last. This world will fade, but God will last forever. Live your life in light of this truth.
Jesus declared that in the last days, rumors will run rampant that He has quietly returned to earth. But His return to earth will not go unnoticed by anyone. Today, Pastor Dan will explain that Jesus’ return will be seen and known by the entire world. It will be unmistakable. And at His return, many on earth will rejoice for their savior has returned to conquer sin and death forever. But there will be many who mourn His second coming, knowing that judgment and condemnation have finally come for them.
Many churches and bible teachers avoid talking about prophecy and the end times. It may feel confusing or unimportant compared to other parts of scripture, so many simply avoid it. But, as Pastor Dan will explain today, it’s important to understand what’s to come. Scripture is full of prophecy about end times. Jesus himself taught about the signs of the end of the age and gave warnings for believers to heed. It’s good to be prepared, to know what’s coming so you aren’t taken by surprise or led astray.
You have to be hiding under a rock to not know about the cultural war going on in our society. There are news reports that cause you to stand with your jaw dropped almost to the floor in disbelief. You find yourself saying, “Did he really just say that?” The world seems more and more upside down every day. Today, Pastor Dan explains how the Word says Godly beliefs and Godly values will come under attack with more frequency than ever before. And short of revival, Christians will be under attack, too.
There is a lot of discussion about what will happen during the tribulation, and who will be on earth during that era of trials. Many scholars have different opinions on who will be here and who will suffer the tribulation described in the Bible. There are several passages that state specifically who will escape the tribulation. Pastor Dan explains these verses in Scripture today. He gives much detail of what will take place before the tribulation, and who will be left during that time in history.
There is conflict all around us in almost every direction we turn. We hear about this war and another war in a foreign land; a disaster over here, and an uprising in another country. They seem to be endless, and they seem to be happening more often. Every conflict becomes a global conflict and a global problem. Jesus said there would be wars and rumors of wars, and famines, and starvation. Today, Pastor Dan takes us through what Jesus said would be happening in the world before the end times.
There’s a famous comedian whose by-line is, “Here’s your sign.” It just means there is something very obvious you have realized. We all know about signs the Bible talks about, showing the end of the age, or the second coming of Christ. There are people who say the world will end on a certain date, or that the Messiah has already come. Jesus told us not to believe it. Today, Pastor Dan takes us through a very detailed explanation of what things will happen, and what not to expect before Jesus’ return.
Are you clean on the inside? Is your heart pure before God? In his message today, Pastor Dan declares that appearing good externally doesn't make us good internally. Doing good doesn't mean we are good. A clean and pure heart comes after Jesus cleans up our hearts. We can't make ourselves good, but Jesus can. He puts His goodness within us, which makes us want to do good things. This is how God designed it to work. Let's allow Jesus to come into our hearts today and clean up the trash found there.
Why should God let you into Heaven? Is it because you are doing everything your church tells you to do? Today, Pastor Dan teaches us that we can be doing everything our church tells us to do and still end up in Hell. Jesus told the people in the Temple that they were headed for Hell because they listened to the religious leaders. What a terrifying thing to think that we’re going to Heaven when really, we’re headed toward Hell. Let's remember that salvation comes from a real relationship with Jesus and not from works.
Are you feeling burdened in your life? Do you try to do everything right, but you just can't? Is the weight too heavy to carry? Pastor Dan, today, reminds us that Jesus removes burdens from us. He doesn't add heavy weight to our lives. His burden is light when we lean on Him. He carries our heavy weight when we trust Him. Some folks say we must do a lot of work to get into Heaven, but Jesus says to lay your burden on Him. Let's remember that it's our relationship with Jesus that gets us into Heaven.
Great question! Do you have the same view of the Bible as Jesus does, or do you think you know more about The Bible than He does? Today, Pastor Dan points out that Jesus had a very high view of the inspiration of Scripture. Jesus is in the Godhead. He participated in creation. He knows all, sees all, and has all power. When He interprets Scripture, it's beyond human debate. We don't have the authority to interpret The Bible differently than Jesus. Let's read The Bible with the same high view that Jesus had.
Did you know that you will rise from the dead? Hard to imagine, isn't it? But it’s true. Today, Pastor Dan shows us where Jesus specifically talked about the resurrection as a matter of fact. It doesn't matter if we believe it or not. We will be raised from the dead one day. The question is, where do we go from there? Believers will rise from the dead and go to eternal life, everyone else will rise and go to eternal contempt. Amazingly, God left our destiny up to us. Let's aim for life by surrendering ourselves to Jesus today.
We aren’t Jesus. We follow Him, but we can’t expect ourselves to deal with the attacks of the enemy with the same caliber of wisdom or knowledge. The Holy Spirit can enable and equip us, but we’re still susceptible to the weakness of the flesh. Jesus dealt with the Pharisees and religious leaders on a regular basis and they were very clever in their attacks. They did their best to back Him into a corner and manipulate the situation, but as Pastor Dan will explain in today’s message, they were no match for our Savior.
It’s amazing how inflated our egos can get. If you look at the world around us, the violence, the broken relationships, and entire nations devastated by our lack of wisdom and limited intelligence, you’ll feel more of a sense of despair at the state of humanity than of pride in our accomplishments. Yet, as Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, men have conspired since the very beginning, with the influence of Satan, as to how we can become gods and remove the One True God from the picture altogether.
Jesus loves all people and He invites everyone to His wedding banquet. If we’re honest with ourselves, there are some people we’d rather He would just pass by… Maybe they’re too far on the other side of the political spectrum. Or they’ve been entrenched in a sin that you find especially offensive. Jesus doesn’t love any sin, whether it’s yours or someone else’s, but He loves that person, and He loves you. Today, Pastor Dan will remind us that the wedding supper of the lamb will be a diverse event.
Our culture likes to paint Christianity as exclusive and unwelcoming… sadly there have been many instances where Christians have misrepresented Christ in these ways. But that’s the thing when we genuinely represent Christ - we’ll be inclusive and welcoming on a level that will seem strange to the world around us. As Pastor Dan will clarify in today’s message, Jesus invites everyone to His table, no matter how dirty or broken - it’s our choice whether we accept that invitation.
We live in a world where skepticism and doubt often overshadow faith. Many people question the relevance of God and struggle to find meaning and purpose in their lives. They may have heard countless arguments, read numerous books, and engaged in endless debates, but what truly captures their attention is a life that has been radically transformed by the touch of God's grace.
In today’s message, Pastor Dan will show you that a transformed life is a powerful tool for evangelism in God’s hands.
In today’s message, Pastor Dan teaches us that God values our actions over our words. He invites us to a genuine and authentic faith that manifests itself in tangible acts of kindness, mercy, and repentance. In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, Jesus paints a vivid picture of God's expectations for us. He tells us that on the day of judgment, we will be evaluated not on our eloquent speeches or grand proclamations, but on how we have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and cared for the least among us.
Are you in a spiritually dry season? Maybe things are hard at work or home and you just can’t seem to find the joy and peace that the Bible says is yours to claim in all circumstances. If that’s you, let me ask, what does your personal time with Jesus look like? What I didn’t ask was how much you are volunteering or even how often you are attending church. Spiritual health begins where no one sees but you and God. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will teach you how to keep your roots planted in Jesus.
In today’s message, Pastor Dan invites us to examine if our lives are bearing fruit. Spiritual fruits are things like repentance, belief, worship, and love. Not to mention the many fruits of the spirit like self-control, joy, and peace. A healthy spiritual life that produces fruit begins where no one but us sees, our roots. Our roots are our hearts, truly. It’s easy to fake being religious, but real spiritual fruit can’t be manufactured. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will teach us how to keep our hearts rooted in Jesus.
Have you been hurt by other Christians? It's not fun, is it? In his message today, Pastor Dan reminds us that Jesus is trustworthy. He’ll not steal from us or cheat us. Sometimes, God's people fail us, but Jesus never will. He's faithful. He may bring us trials but don't confuse trials with unfaithfulness. Dark times come upon us, but Jesus walks us through all of them. He delivers us from our troubles as we cry out to Him. Don't blame Jesus for what others have done, but, instead, learn to trust Him in everything.
It sounds so easy, doesn't it? Simply trust and obey Jesus. Today, Pastor Dan reminds us that walking by faith means trusting Jesus with all the details of our lives. Sounds so simple, but it’s not that easy. God purposely puts us in tough situations to stretch our faith. If we never experience seemingly impossible situations, we’ll never see God's deliverance. We’ll never know what it feels like to overcome. The next time we get into a jam, let's remember our past situations where God came through for us.
Have you applied the blood of The Lamb over your life? In his message today, Pastor Dan tells us that we'll avoid God's judgment if we apply the blood of Jesus over our lives. The blood of Jesus covers all our sins and allows us to spend all of eternity in Heaven. That's God's requirement to get into Heaven. That's God's way to be right with Him. We don't have the authority to make up our own way to get into Heaven. Let's do it God’s way and apply the blood of Jesus over our lives today.
Have you ever tried to work for God in your own strength? How did that turn out? Pastor Dan shares with us today that we can't produce in our strength what God can produce in His. The Holy Spirit is key to Kingdom success. Sure, we can do some things without Him, but we are building on sand. The guidance of The Holy Spirit is so precise that success is inevitable. Let's remember that The Holy Spirit can see into our future, and He directs us supernaturally to accomplish His goals.
How long have you been a believer in Jesus? Does it bother you that you get the same reward as someone who accepts Jesus on their deathbed? Today, Pastor Dan teaches us that God is fair and that we all get our due rewards in Heaven. No one gets less rewards than they are due. Sometimes, God grants extra rewards to some folks. This shouldn't bother anyone because being with Jesus in Heaven is so awesome. We don't compete in Heaven. Let's remember God looks at each of us with the same loving eyes.
What do you think? Are you blessed or are you distressed? Pastor Dan teaches us, today, that our stress level is directly linked to our obedience to God's Word. If we trust God enough to know that He will do what He promised us, then our stress level will be very low. If we can't trust God, then our only alternative is to try to make it happen ourselves. If we truly have given our situations over to God, then we can be at peace. Let's simply do what God says to do and watch Him bestow His blessings upon us.
Does it make sense to you that since God is good and you are mostly good that you will go to Heaven when you die? Pastor Dan, today, says that is false. Yes, God is good, but we aren't even close to being good without Jesus. Without Jesus, we are rotten sinners that have no hope of being allowed into Heaven. Our best day, without Jesus, is still so far away from meeting God's requirement to enter Heaven. Let's remember that God requires perfection to get into Heaven. Jesus is our perfection!
Do you know why God hates unfaithfulness in your marriage? Pastor Dan, today, points out that God equates the relationship in our marriages with our relationship with Jesus Christ. Human marriage is a picture of the spiritual marriage between Jesus and His bride. It would be totally contrary to Jesus' character to be unfaithful to His bride. Can you imagine Jesus deciding to unite with the spiritually impure? How revolting! Knowing this, let’s treat our spouses in the same way that Jesus treats His bride.
Great point! In today's message, Pastor Dan reminds us that Jesus witnessed the Earth's creation, so we can trust His testimony of the event. Jesus declares that Adam and Eve were real people and were created by God. They didn't evolve over millions of years. They weren't part of a story made up by man to explain the existence of mankind. Since Jesus doesn't lie, Creation is the truth, and evolution is the fairy tale. Let's remember that Jesus didn't believe in evolution, and neither should we.
If you and a friend argued over an issue, would you forgive them? Chances are you probably would. But what if a brother in Christ seriously wronged you? Would you still forgive them? When we enter uncomfortable situations, sometimes it might feel like we will never get over it. And while it hurts now, you should never get to a point where you can’t forgive your neighbor. In today’s message, Pastor Dan reminds you to forgive your brothers in Christ, just as Christ forgave you of your sins.
If you have siblings, then you understand what it’s like to get into a disagreement. Your parents will get involved to help keep the peace in your family, and the conflict usually goes away. Like your siblings, brothers and sisters in Christ can sometimes get into disagreements too. But it’s not as complicated as it’s made out to be. For starters, if you have a dispute with a brother in Christ, how do you deal with it? Today, Pastor Dan gives you advice straight from the Bible on how to approach and deal with conflicts.
What’s keeping you from strengthening your relationship with God? For some, these challenges may include struggles with drunkenness or sexual immorality. But for all people, it’s their company. Do the people in your life talk you into sinning? Cut them out. In the Bible, Jesus said “It is better for you to enter life with only one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fiery hell” So how can we keep our eyes on God? Today, Pastor Dan reminds you to remove everything from your life that causes you to sin.
As Christians, one common flaw in our hearts is a lack of humility. Sometimes we can judge nonbelievers and be overly prideful. We are all sinners, and without humility, we cannot fully experience the love and mercy of Jesus. So how can we as believers learn to be humble? In today's message, Pastor Dan explains that embracing humility means acknowledging our limitations and recognizing that we depend on God for everything. When you humble yourself before the lord, He will lift you up.
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where the odds seem insurmountable - perhaps a sudden illness or a financial crisis? It's easy to feel alone in those moments, but it's important to remember that Jesus Christ is always with us. In today's message, Pastor Dan reminds us that God's plan for our lives is intentional, even when we can't see a way out of our struggles. Despite feeling trapped and hopeless, we can trust that God is present with us and will guide us through our challenges.
As Christians, we are to love one another. But sometimes, the people we care about can cause us harm. If you find yourself in this situation or know someone in it, you understand how hurtful it can feel. In the Bible, Jesus was betrayed by one of His closest friends. And, despite knowing that His disciple would betray Him, Jesus loved and served Judas. So, how should we handle betrayal? Today, Pastor Dan encourages you to extend forgiveness in the same way that Jesus did. Turn to God and seek His guidance.
In our world, getting caught up in social status comes easy. A society that floods us with messages telling us happiness comes from having more money, more power- more everything. But the truth is, all of those things are temporary. They will eventually fade away or be left behind when we die. What matters is our relationship with Christ. And in today’s message, Pastor Dan reminds us that God is the one who gives our life purpose and fulfillment. Without Him, we truly have nothing.
Have you ever had that feeling when you get something you don’t deserve? That’s what it’s like to receive the love of Jesus Christ. Because we’re born into sin, we don’t deserve His love or grace. But because He loves us, He blesses us with it. When we give our life to Jesus, we don’t just receive His forgiveness but accept a new identity in Christ. And in today’s message, Pastor Dan tells you that everyone who comes to Christ will receive a new life. Regardless of past mistakes, God accepts all who come to Him.
Do you ever feel beaten down by the world? Do you ever get discouraged? Do you think the powers of darkness may prevail in your life? God is more powerful than anything that comes against you! No power on earth or from the spiritual realm can defeat God and His church. In his message today, Pastor Dan will encourage you by reminding you that God will be victorious. You can trust and stand firm on that truth. No matter what you’re going through today, remember that your almighty God is in control.
Jesus was simply one of many wise, spiritual teachers in history. Jesus was a prophet. Jesus was crazy! Jesus was a hoax. Just like there was in Jesus’s own time, there are many opinions in our world today of who Jesus is, but there’s only one view that is true. Today in his message, Pastor Dan will encourage you to hold tightly to the truth of who Jesus actually is. He is the Son of God, who died for our sins, and rose from the grave so that we might have new life in Him. That is the solid rock that your faith stands on.
Do you ever feel like you’re just going through the motions of your faith? Have you lost a little of your passion for Jesus? It’s something that can happen so easily. In his message today, Pastor Dan will challenge you to be on the lookout for the times when your faith is feeling like a routine. Like yeast spreads through bread, little by little a disregard for your spiritual journey can spread in your life. You must take up your cross daily to follow Jesus and remain diligent in seeking after the heart of God.
Is your lack of Biblical knowledge keeping you from sharing your faith? Do you think you need to understand the whole of Christian theology before you can tell someone about Jesus? No, you don’t! All you need to do is share what Jesus has done for you. Today in his message, Pastor Dan will share about a man who didn’t have any answers to theological questions, but he had the story of what Jesus had done for him. The most powerful way to tell someone about Jesus is to tell them how Jesus changed you.
If you want to get stronger, you need to discipline yourself with a workout routine. If you want bigger muscles you need to work at it regularly. Do you work on developing your prayer muscles? Today, in his message, Pastor Dan will show you an example of Jesus helping to push someone to grow her prayer muscles, and what a great example of perseverance it is! God may not answer your prayer the first or the second time. He may not be saying no; He wants you to persevere. He wants you to ask, and you will receive.
Does God stop caring about you? It’s an interesting question because sometimes it can feel like God has left you alone to deal with your sins, but he will never stop caring about you. No matter how far gone you are, no matter how bad you feel like you’ve messed up, God will always be there when you call on Him. Today, Pastor Dan is going to remind you that even though God might let you mess up, He will always be there to catch you. Not out of anger or disappointment, but out of compassion and love.
Are you using God as an excuse for unbiblical behavior? It can be dangerous to misuse the word of God. Phrases like “we’re married under God’s eyes” or “God knows my heart” can become justifications for you living in sinful behavior. Just because you follow one part of the bible doesn’t mean you get to turn the other way to the parts you don’t agree with. In today’s message, Pastor Dan is going to remind you not to spiritualize your own transgressions to make them easier to deal with.
Have you ever felt like you’re not equipped to do what God has called on your life? Well, you aren’t! Today, Pastor Dan is going to remind you that Jesus is the one who equips you to do ministry. Everybody wants to sin by nature, and nobody wants to follow God. You have to choose to follow Him. You’re going to feel like you aren’t worthy of His love, but you are. God doesn’t ask for a lot, He just wants a little bit of faith. He can take your little bit of faith and multiply it like you couldn’t imagine.
Are you standing up in the face of cancel culture? It’s easy to say one “wrong” opinion and get yelled at over social media, or looked down upon because you stood up for your beliefs. Maybe it’s the fear of losing your job, losing your relationship, or looking like the odd one out. It’s hard to stand up for beliefs that the world thinks are wrong, but don’t live in fear! God will protect you and give you the right words to say. Today, Pastor Dan is going to encourage you to remain true to what God’s word says.
Am I the only one that’s ever been so familiar with a route I drive every day that I actually miss a turn due to daydreaming? I never thought of familiarity as being dangerous before. But it can cost time and energy. Maybe even mental and emotional strain. Pastor Dan explains today that the ultimate price tag could be one’s own salvation. You see, the people of Nazareth watched Jesus grow up as a small boy. They thought they knew Him. Sadly, they were blind to the true nature of Jesus. Friends, don’t let this be you!
God knows what we go through and He’s experienced similar situations to what we’ve walked through. Now, this may be old news for some, while new news for others. But today’s teaching from Pastor Dan brings a fresh reminder of the steadfastness of Jesus for those that believe in Him. Many were surprised and questioned His teachings. Thankfully, the number of times they rejected Jesus didn’t equal the number of times Jesus kept at it. Hallelujah for that! Like them, we also need a Savior who’s everlasting!
How do you say I love you? Do you use words like these? Or maybe you use a combination of words and actions? Perhaps just actions? Imagine a man selling all he had to FINALIZE a purchase. Envision Jesus PAYING with His life, therefore procuring a relationship that could compare to NO OTHER! So that you and I could experience Heaven. Because we’re that important to Him. Jesus wanted to be with us that bad! Pastor Dan talks about the joy we bring Jesus. His love doesn’t FADE, my friend!
Talk about a little bit of chaos! If you’ve ever had another moving, breathing thing in your house that doesn’t belong, you know what I’m talking about. It can be quite the scenario, can’t it? At least until it’s out of the house. This is also true when it comes to people who discredit and distort God’s truth. Before anyone really realizes it, seeds of confusion are sown. And questions threaten long-standing beliefs. In Pastor Dan’s message today we see how Jesus confronts this issue within the Nazarene community.
Do you long to do right in God's eyes? Does your heart ache when you hurt God? Pastor Dan, today, explains the difference between the people of God's Kingdom and those who only pretend to be of God's Kingdom. Both confess to following Jesus. Both acknowledge that God is supreme. But the true believer seeks to live God's law, while the pretender seeks ways to get around it. From the beginning, Satan tricked mankind into questioning God's Word. Let's resist Satan's tricks and watch him flee.
Are you wheat, or a tare? Are you a Christian in name only? Today, Pastor Dan teaches us the difference between a true believer and one who pretends to be a believer, by using Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares. Wheat and tares look the same, but the wheat produces a crop, and the tares don't. The wheat practice God's Word and the tares practice lawlessness. The wheat hates sin, while the tares continually embrace sin. Let's examine ourselves considering all of God's Holy Word.
Did you hear that? You decide what kind of reception your heart gives to the Gospel message. What kind of heart do you have? Pastor Dan, today, teaches us about the four ways we receive Jesus’ gift. Is our heart so hard that we reject the gospel outright? Or is our heart open to the gospel at first, but rejects it when others ridicule us? Did our heart accept Jesus, but then it chases other things more? Or is our heart fertile ground that accepts Jesus' message and flourishes in God's Kingdom?
Have you heard the Gospel and refused it? Do you figure that God's morally good and I'm morally good, so God will accept me into Heaven? Today, Pastor Dan implores us to hear Jesus' warning. If we willfully close our eyes and ears and ignore the Gospel, then God will remove the small amount of spiritual sight, hearing, and understanding we have. These are strong words. This is a strong warning. Let's heed Jesus' warning and intently focus our eyes, ears, and hearts on the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We have easier access to the Gospel than ever before in history, yet it seems like we’re moving farther and farther away from Christianity in our culture and throughout the world. What’s going on? While Satan has ultimately lost the war for this world, he’s fighting hard to take as many people as he can with him. He knows the pain it causes to God’s heart, and He’s battling with everything he has to deceive as many as possible. We can’t give up at this moment, we need to share the Gospel more than ever before.
What’s man’s greatest need? World peace? To stop hunger? Equality for everyone? Those are certainly nice ideas, but all of them, along with any other problem that burdens humanity, arise out of the brokenness of our hearts. That brokenness is because of our sin against God. As Pastor Dan will explain in today’s message, while it’s good for us to address the more temporary needs of the people we encounter, our most important calling is to share the truth that Jesus wants to save their eternal souls.
Are you following Jesus or not? We like to think that we can operate on a sort of spectrum in Christianity… you may even tell lost friends that while you’re a Christian, you’re not a Jesus freak. You don’t want to be seen as a radical after all. The thing is, following Jesus doesn’t really work like that. You either are following Him or you’re not. As Pastor Dan will warn in today’s message, if you’re trying to just take Jesus along on your way, you’ve greatly misunderstood what it means to follow Him.
In our scientific age, where mysteries of the spiritual realm are often labeled as myths, we have a hard time acknowledging what’s happening on a spiritual level in this world. We’d much rather treat sinful behaviors as an illness - blaming our genetics or biological dispositions. That’s a lot easier to take than the idea that a demon or Satan himself is having an influence. As Pastor Dan will explain in today’s message, we need to be aware of this spiritual battle. Ignoring it makes us more vulnerable to attacks.
Did you know that the Bible is often referred to as the sword of truth? I don’t know about you, but it sure seems like the world could use some truth. Every day objective truth is being traded for opinions and feelings. But you don’t have to be confused, because God has revealed the truth in His word. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will teach you how to rely on God’s word for truth in a culture that has lost sight of it. The world is depending on you to cut through the lies with the sword of truth.
If you are a believer, how would you describe your faith life? Is it primarily focused on rules, do’s, and don'ts? Or do you have a relationship with the person of God? The Bible talks a lot about people who are just religious, and it distinguishes them from those who know Jesus. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will show you that Jesus died to set you free from superficial religion so that you can instead have a real relationship with God. If that sounds pretty amazing, it’s because it is! Which one are you?
Life can be heavy. The longer you walk through life, often the harder it can seem to get. God’s word says that you don’t have to walk around with a heavy burden. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will show you that when you put your hope and trust in Jesus, He lifts the burdens that people so often choose to walk around with. What are you carrying today? Jesus is calling all of those who feel the weight of the world to put their trust in Him. What are you waiting on? Jesus is waiting to lift your burden.
Do you ever wonder if you have the ability to make a real impact on the kingdom of God? Is evangelism mainly for those who can travel the world and cover as much ground as possible? Well, the simple answer is NO. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will show you that you can have a major impact on God’s kingdom by sharing the gospel with just 1 or 2 people. You may be surprised to know that Jesus focused most of his miracles and teachings within a 5-mile radius. And now look at how it's spread.
If you’re not a believer, do you have an open mind when it comes to God? When Jesus came, he ran into people who didn’t. If you don’t want Jesus to be the Lord of your life, you can always find a superficial excuse. If you’re listening to this, right now, God is calling you to believe in him. Jesus came and died for your sins so that you can be a CHILD OF GOD. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will show you that God’s ways are higher than your own and that it’s not too late to put your hope and trust in God.
Have you ever found yourself wondering where God is? Everyone goes through times when they don’t understand why God has either not done something or let something happen. John the Baptist had similar questions while imprisoned, wondering why Jesus hadn’t set him free. Jesus’s response was one that we can learn from. Are you focusing on what God has yet to do in your life, or what he’s doing? In today’s message, Pastor Dan will teach you that God’s ways are higher than ours.
The world is becoming increasingly hostile to the message of Christ. While it used to be embraced in America, many now look down on believers. The message of Jesus is proving to be too narrow for our culture. Are you surprised? Well, you shouldn’t be. God’s word says that believers sent into the world are like sheep sent among wolves. Even with increasing hostility, God’s charge to believers hasn’t changed. His word is clear that Christians are sent to be lights in the world. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will help you find the courage to live a life of faith.
Do you ever talk to others about Jesus? It can be hard to talk to others, especially nonbelievers, about something as personal as a relationship with Christ. If you aren’t sharing the message of Christ with others, what’s stopping you? If you’re afraid that you won’t know what to say, then you can rest assured that God planned ahead for that. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will show you that God has given you the Holy Spirit to empower you and literally give you the words to speak when they are hard to find.
Do you ever struggle with being a “Philip the Calculator”? The world that we live in today has given us so much control over our lives. We don’t have to pray for rain or for a place to stay at night. Unfortunately, it can make us forget how dependent we are on God which can make us forget how big he is. I wonder what Jonah would’ve thought if God had told him that he was going to catch a ride to Ninevah in the belly of a fish. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will show you that God’s calling IS His enablement.
Are you prioritizing your desires over what God wants you to do? A good way to find out is to take a look at your schedule. Are you taking time to ask God what he wants you to do, or is your schedule too full? The life of Jesus’s disciples was one of constantly seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance. They were focused not on the things of this world, but rather on eternal things. They were on a mission for God, are you? In today’s message, Pastor Dan will show you how to live a life of faith.
Wow, I don’t know about you, but that’s a relief to hear! Have you ever felt inadequate to do what God is asking you to do? Maybe he has called you to go into the mission field, start a new job that you don’t feel equipped for, or become a parent. The good news is that you’re supposed to feel inadequate and depend on God. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will show you that God’s calling is his enablement. The power that God gives when you rely on him will always be far greater than your own strength.
The more you seek God’s face the more you will find Him! In today’s message from Pastor Dan, he encourages you that whoever seeks God will find Him. He is not some mystery God that doesn’t want to reveal Himself to you. He is God who can be known and seen. And the best way for you to see God is to see Jesus Christ. Pastor Dan explains, that when you’ve seen Jesus the Bible says you’ve seen the Father. The more you press into the heart of God. The more of His heart you will find and will receive.
Have you been called out of darkness into marvelous light? As you listen to today’s message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you the importance of sharing with others the wonderful things that God has brought you out of. Tell people about the blessings, hardships, and darkness that the Lord has been faithful to you in. Pastor Dan explains, that when we’ve been set free from sicknesses or darkness we don’t want to keep it to ourselves. Tell others about all the good that God has done for you in your life!
Are you struggling during this season of hardship? In today’s message from Pastor Dan, he encourages you to not stay isolated if you’re experiencing difficulty in this season. God doesn’t want His children to walk alone. Be sure to surround yourself with a godly community that can breathe life into you. Pastor Dan also urges you, to draw near to the Lord. God promises that He is with those who are broken-hearted and downcast. Cry out to the Lord and He will meet you where you’re at.
Don’t confuse the Bible with man-made rules and traditions! As you listen to today’s message from Pastor Dan, he encourages you that God’s Word is the Truth. Anything or anyone that adds or subtracts from His Word is contributing to false teaching. Pastor Dan encourages you, to stay on guard against false teaching by studying the Bible regularly for yourself. Make it a daily and weekly habit to study the Scriptures. This way, you’ll know the Truth And the Truth of God’s Word is what sets you free.
Have you ever struggled with a label that culture has put on you? Maybe you’ve made some mistakes and that is all you’re known by. Maybe the world has said you’re not good enough and you actually begin to make that part of your identity. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about our identity in Christ. Jesus can look past the things that we’ve done and see our hearts. Jesus sees us for who we are and he can help rip off the labels that the world puts on us. He helps us step into our true identity.
Have you ever been so desperate for someone you love to know about Jesus, that you start doing crazy things for them? In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing a story about a group of people who did everything in their power so that their friends could meet Jesus. It looked unconventional and maybe even a little crazy, but there was desperation that drove them. They knew that Jesus was the only person who could heal their friend. Not only did Jesus heal this friend, but he also saved him!
There are many stories we read in the Bible where certain people are in situations that are . . . less than ideal. As people, we tend to gravitate towards safety and security, because we fear the unknown and our ability to handle it. Many times God will bring people into situations where they are not comfortable so that they may experience Him in a new way. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about the many different situations that God places His people in, and how He uses them to sanctify us.
When we first get saved we may use a phrase like, “Lord I surrender my life to You.” As we grow in our faith we start to realize just how much Jesus gave, and just how much we still have to give. There is always a deeper level of surrender that we can experience with Jesus. We can always find another thing that He will call us to give up for the sake of Him. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about the cost of following Jesus and what it looks like to live a life of surrender toward Him!
When Jesus started his ministry he was disrupting 400 years of Pharisees taking advantage of the Law. They taught that salvation was only for the Jews. However, when Jesus came, He preached salvation for everyone! This included Jews and Gentiles. It went against so many teachings of the day, but that’s just who God is. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about how Jesus came for everyone and not just a select few. The salvation He offers is for everyone no matter where you come from!
Have you ever experienced rejection in your life? Maybe it was a rejection letter from a school you wanted to attend or a job you were really hoping to get! Maybe it was even rejection from someone you wanted a relationship with. When we read through the Gospels, we can see that Jesus never rejected anyone who came to him. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about the Love and acceptance that we experience from Jesus Christ.
When we read the New Testament, we can see the Pharisees getting upset with Jesus quite a bit. They were waiting for the coming messiah and the law had given them clues to look for that would point to him. As soon as Jesus came and fulfilled these signs, the Pharisees denied him. They couldn’t see the truth right in front of them. The truth is that Jesus is God, and he came as the Messiah that they read about. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about how Jesus was fully God and Fully Man.
Whenever we read something in the Bible there is always a deeper level! When we read about Jesus cleansing a man of leprosy there is an amazing parallel between the disease of leprosy and that of Sin. Sin is the worst disease we can suffer from. It has killed us spiritually and has nothing good to offer us. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing the amazing news that Jesus came to deal with Sin once and for all! Because of what Jesus did on the cross we can all be healed of the sickness of Sin!
There are many people who say that they believe in God or that they go to church. Sometimes these people think that being a “good” person and going to church will be enough for them to get into heaven. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus made a way so that we could know God personally, as a friend and a father. Knowing who Jesus is and believing in his death, burial, and resurrection is the only way we can be saved.
When was the last time you took a few minutes to consider your prayer life? It’s really amazing that God has given us the ability to freely communicate and ask Him for things. Some people have misunderstood some of Jesus’ teachings and made it seem like God is a genie and will give us whatever we want. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing how we are supposed to pray and ask God for things. We must remember that He is a loving father and won’t give us things that aren’t good for us!
In most American Cultures, people are fixated on the results. There is a strong sense of pride in doing a work project well, or finally accomplishing your financial goals. When it comes to evangelizing and telling people about Jesus we have to remember that the results aren’t up to us! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing the fact that some people will deny Jesus and the message that we share with them. We are only responsible for sharing the message, it’s God's responsibility to change a heart!
Have you ever met a fellow believer and noticed a clear Sin in their life? Sometimes we can get really judgmental and start thinking or even talking about them in a negative way. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about how we should judge people. The Bible says that we are to evaluate ourselves and our sins before we come at other people. The main motivation for pointing out a sin in someone's life should never be to shame them. Rather we should be calling each other up to a higher standard.
You already know you can't serve God and money, but do you surrender your daily latte to God's direction? Do you use your fancy car to bring food to the elderly or to take you to the football game? What makes you more angry, when someone injures a child, or when someone scratches the paint on your car? All of these things show a lot about who you truly serve. Jesus has a lot to say about where your treasure is, and in today's message, Pastor Dan is going to share it with you!
What's the safest investment these days? Stocks? Bonds? Burying all your money in the backyard, or hiding it under your mattress? Maybe it's investing in gold! In today's message, Pastor Dan is going to use the words of Jesus to show you that there is no safe space on earth for your wealth. Instead, Jesus offers a better investment! Let go of the treasures of this world and invest your time, your money, and your talents in the kingdom of God. There, nothing can steal it away from you!
What situation in your life is pressing in on you until you feel like you can't even breathe? Maybe it's next month's rent and you're not sure where it's going to come from. Maybe it's diapers for your newborn that you just can't afford. Maybe it's uniforms for the new job you just got, but you don't know if you can pay for them! In today's message, Pastor Dan is going to highlight one of the most comforting verses in the Bible, where Jesus says your Father already knows everything that you need!
When you grow up in America, it's easy to adopt the attitude of America—the independent, do-it-my-own-way philosophy of life. But when it comes to following Jesus, it's time to lay down the independence. There are certain things that Jesus doesn't even command us to do; he just expects it! So how about it, are you fasting, praying, and doing charitable deeds? Come along with us today as Pastor Dan shares the instructions Jesus gave for when you fast, when you pray, and when you do charitable deeds.
Have you ever felt like an enemy of God? Have you ever felt like everything in your life is going wrong and there’s no one to blame but Him? In today’s message, Pastor Dan wants you to know that if you want to start making real changes in your life and quit dwelling in the past, give your life to God. When He is in your heart He will never be your enemy and will work everything for your good. Make an impact on others around you by letting God’s love pour out of your life. Use His grace to love your enemies.
Our society loves to value the outward appearance of people. Whether it’s social media, the news, or television, we are constantly bombarded with a physical standard for success. Today, Pastor Dan wants you to know that God only looks at you inwardly. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in your past or how unworthy you feel, God seeks only after hearts that are yearning for Him. Don’t let the world’s idea of success fool you. God has a place for you in His kingdom. Accept His gift of grace and be saved.
As Christians, we are called to be salt to the earth, but do we truly live it out to the fullest? Our society loves to make us think that it’s okay to accept certain beliefs of the world, but is it really harmless? In today’s message, Pastor Dan wants you to know that you should never compromise your faith based on what the world says. No matter how harmless a compromise may seem, it will only serve to destroy you. Stay committed to God’s truths and never back down from keeping others accountable.
In our walk with Christ, it’s easy to grow disillusioned as to where we stand through Him. Sometimes we think that we’re doing everything right and start to get lazy, while other times we blatantly do what’s wrong and numb ourselves from it. Today, Pastor Dan explains that you need to remain steadfast in God’s Word in order to stay true to who you are in Christ. The more you avoid the Bible, the more disconnected you get from who you truly are. Keep your accountability and be closer than ever to God.
In our walk with Jesus, it’s easy to let the issues of the world cloud our witness. Whether we let worldly ideas start to influence us or abandon the spread of God’s Gospel altogether, the world’s influence can have a huge grip on us. In today’s message, Pastor Dan wants you to know that you need to ignore what the world has to say and keep preaching the message that you know to be true. Just as Jesus never stopped spreading His good news, you can’t let the world shut you down when the going gets difficult.
When we do something wrong, many of us love to just sweep it under the rug. If we can find a way to quietly move on with our lives without having to face the brass, we choose to go down that path. In today’s message, Pastor Dan wants you to know that the only way to move on from your past mistakes is to confess them to God. If you want to experience change in your life and stop living with guilt, give it all to God and be set free. It’s as simple as bringing it all into the light and letting God do the rest.
Have you ever felt consumed by darkness? Have you ever felt stuck in your toxic thoughts with seemingly no way out? Today, Pastor Dan wants you to know that the only way to get rid of the darkness in your life is through Jesus. Give your life to Him and experience serenity like never before. Darkness doesn’t have to have a hold on your life and God wants nothing more than to change you from the inside out. You’ll never be able to fix it all on your own. Give your burdens to God and be set free.
No matter where you’re at in your walk with Christ, one of the most difficult things to overcome is temptation. Every day we are confronted with easy opportunities to sin and how do we overcome it all? Today, Pastor Dan wants you to know that the only way to overcome sin is by the power of God’s Word. When Jesus was tempted in the desert, He got through it by quoting scripture and keeping it fresh in His heart. Hide God’s Word in your heart and be ready for temptation when you’re at your weakest.
In our faith, many of us are apprehensive to share God’s good news with others. Whether it’s a lack of Biblical knowledge, a penchant to fit in, or simply laziness, we find excuses to not follow through on God’s calling. Today, Pastor Dan explains that if you want to impact others for God’s kingdom, you need to hide His Word in your heart and share it with others. No matter how unequipped or out of place you may feel, God’s Word will always give you the right things to say at the right moments. Further His Kingdom.
In your faith, have you ever felt tested by the Lord? Have you felt like you’re doing everything right, only for trials and tribulations to come your way? In today’s message, Pastor Dan wants you to know that sometimes God does test you, but it shouldn’t be discouraging. He tests you to draw you even closer to Him and make sure you know where you’re faith really stands. When the storms of life are hitting you hard, never give up. God will always be by your side to get you through the most difficult times.
The Holy Spirit is upon you. The same Spirit who led and empowered Jesus to fulfill His ministry is with you today. Jesus didn't do anything outside of the empowering of the Holy Spirit. He didn't rely on being God. He relied on the Spirit. And by doing that, He showed you and me how to live. In today's message, Pastor Dan is going to show you that your life can be one that is filled with power and loves through the work of the Holy Spirit. All you have to do is the same thing that Jesus did—rely on and listen to the Spirit.
When it comes time for baptism at your church, who would you be shocked to see getting baptized? In today's message, Pastor Dan is going to show you that even Roman soldiers who heard John's message were going into the water to be baptized by him. It was so unlikely for them to be doing that—unheard of, even. Why would a great military power be moved by a Jewish prophet? God was doing mighty work through John the Baptist. And He's still moving today! Ask Him to work through you today!
In today's message, Pastor Dan is going to share from the end of the Old Testament, when God promised a coming Messiah and told of the man who would come before Him preparing the way. What followed was 400 years of silence from the heavens. Can you imagine when the people began talking about John the Baptist and his message? The stir must have been caused among the ones who were faithfully waiting. How eagerly are you waiting for Jesus to return today? Are you watching for the signs of his coming?
For years I did what I knew I was supposed to do. I followed the rules of Christianity without ever really knowing the personal, relational Savior. Once I heard the voice of the Spirit, however, I took off running after Him and I have never looked back. What kind of relationship do you have with God today? Is it a life of rules and regulations? Or is it a living, vibrant relationship where you listen and respond to the Spirit like Joseph did in today's verses? Today Pastor Dan is going to show you life in the Spirit!
In today's message, Pastor Dan is going to bring you into a very familiar story—The Christmas Story! He's going to talk about the Magi traveling from far away to come to see Jesus. These foreigners were watching and waiting for the Messiah to come, unlike the religious leaders of the time. If you put yourself into that story, where would you fit? Do you faithfully attend church out of duty and religion? Or do you eagerly watch and wait for Jesus to come again, because you have fallen in love with Him?
Life is filled with decisions every single day. Some of them are simpler, like what to wear or what to make for dinner. But some are harder. Do I take that new job? Do I propose to my girlfriend? In today's message, Pastor Dan is going to remind you that in every decision you face, you have access to the God of the universe. The one who made you and has a plan for you has made himself available to you every moment of every day. So, what difficult decisions are you facing? Bring them to the Lord right now.
Think back to the day before your wedding. Can you remember the frantic last-minute preparations? Maybe even the panic as you try to make sure everything is perfect? Think, too, about the joy and anticipation you felt as you waited to make your vows. I love picturing Jesus preparing a place for His bride—the church. He's getting everything ready and He is filled with anticipation of becoming one with His bride. In today's message, Pastor Dan is going to show us the heart of Jesus through the traditional Jewish wedding.
Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Jesus turned all of society on its head. He valued the least of these. He elevated women and foreigners. He showed the world that it doesn't matter who you are, He loves you. Today, Pastor Dan is going to show us the influence of Jesus on Matthew's writings right from the first chapter, where Matthew surprisingly includes women in a genealogy.
Today, Pastor Don is going to begin a new series in the book of Matthew. This book was written to show the Jews that Jesus is indeed the Messiah they have been waiting for. There's a heavy emphasis on the messianic prophecies of the Old Testament and how Jesus fulfills every one of them. In Matthew chapter 1, you are going to see that even His birth and His family line are fulfillments of the Old Testament prophecies. So come along as we dive in together to see how God worked out His salvation plan.
What does the word “buffet” bring to mind? Are you already thinking of the endless food options for you to choose from? As a follower of Jesus, we cannot pick and choose the parts of the Bible we like and don't like. Pastor Dan magnifies the realization that the Bible is already the complete Word of God. God didn't miss any words in the instructions that He has for us in those 66 books. Why do some feel the need to add or subtract to His Word? Today, study your Bible as it is and how God intended for you to see it – complete.
Do you like surprises? Perhaps you'd accept a good surprise, but there are few people in this world able to stomach a bad surprise. It's like getting caught with an article of clothing haphazardly undone, so to say. Pastor Dan urges us to remember that Jesus's return will be a surprise to the whole earth. Jesus even uses the parable of the wedding party to bring familiarity to His return. It gives us a practical and clear picture of the return of Jesus. Today, would you be ready for the triumphant return of the King?
How serious is a sin to you? Did you know that sin is a curse? A curse that Jesus bore on our behalf. He literally became the sins of the world for our pardon. Pastor Dan reminds us because of Jesus's atonement for our sins we don't even have to comprehend trying to earn our way into heaven with miles and miles of good deeds. Any sin separates us from God but Jesus stepped in and took up our debts so that ultimately we might have a place in Heaven. Today, how are you using that gift given by Jesus?
Sports, soft, or even bottled drink ads incessantly remind us to quench our thirst! Or perhaps you remember the cartoons that animated the intrepid hero wandering aimlessly in the desert, dying of thirst, only to be fooled by the mirage of an oasis. No matter how hard we try in this life - nothing will truly satisfy us like Jesus. Pastor Dan illustrates the unquenchable realization that Jesus is the water of life and our perfect source of continued sustenance. Today, don't go another minute thirsting for the living water of Jesus.
Do we ever really grow out of keeping a nightlight in our room – or even the house? Nightlights, or even flashlights, are a good way to pierce the darkness and reveal what might be obscured or hidden. After all, this world is filled with both physical and spiritual darkness overcoming the light. Today, Pastor Dan explains the Bible only uses darkness to point out the evil that lurks within it. In heaven, there is no need for the absence of light. Jesus will be our forever light, brighter than any nightlight we have right now!
Jesus really did change everything for us. In the Old Testament, the only way to get close to God, who is without sin, was to be blameless in your life - or a sacrifice that was blameless. Jesus helped us do away with messy animal sacrifices. Pastor Dan further explains that the sacrifice of Jesus's life on the cross has forever bridged the gap between us and God. The Bible states that He is the lamb slain for the sins of the world! He simply beckons us to follow him as He prepares our eternal home today!
Your brain is programmed to expect things to come to an end. Each day comes to a close, a person’s life ends in death, and there’s much grieving that happens here on earth, with a finality that seems like it wasn’t meant to be. Today, Pastor Dan reminds you that death and sin weren’t in the original plan. Mankind took what was perfect and pure and allowed sin to tarnish all that was beautiful. But God has a plan to restore all that was meant to be. Isn’t that exciting to think about?! Heaven and eternity have no end!
You were enjoying just having a cell phone that wasn’t the size of a brick. You thought you were pretty current, and up-to-date, with your flip phone, able to make calls from wherever. But then came the era of the iPhone, and there was no going back! What you knew before - paled in comparison! In today’s teaching, Pastor Dan makes a point that the world and life you know are like having a flip phone. Heaven has more in store for you than you ever realized or imagined! And there’s no going back!
Surely you’ve encountered the “bad boys,” or the “edgy girls.” No matter how good a situation is that they’re in, there’s a craving for what’s wrong, what’s off limits. Human nature trends in this direction by default, because of sin that entered the world. Today, Pastor Dan expresses the hard reality - that even in an ideal situation, where God’s reigning and Satan are bound, people have an urge inside of them to rebel against God. It’s happened in the past, and it will happen again. History repeats itself.
No one likes being put in jail when you’re playing a board game that sends you there. Sometimes, you draw a “get out of jail free” card, and so you have a pass. But as you’ll hear from Pastor Dan, God doesn’t offer one of those cards to Satan during the thousand-year reign. Satan’s bound in the bottomless pit for that entire time, and the world’s free of all the troubles and heartache that Satan and his demons bring on. Wouldn’t that be an ideal scenario? You’ll hear more about this today!
You know it’s a special case when you see those who are in the military wearing their dress whites. It’s an occasion that’s unique, and marked as special! Pastor Dan clues you in today that when the army from heaven comes with Jesus, they’ll be dressed for a special ceremony, not armed for war. You see, Jesus is the One coming, proclaiming war on the world that so stubbornly rejected Him. But those with Him are dressed for a ceremony, inaugurating Jesus as King, once and for all!
When you’re in a relationship with someone, you hope and pray that they’ll remain faithful to you; that they won’t break your heart, and leave you in a state of abandonment. What Pastor Dan relays today is that Jesus is this very Person! He won’t leave you, forsake you, or abandon you! That’s not in God’s nature! If you struggle to believe that God is who He says He is, may today’s passage wash over you, in reminding you that God is faithful and true. He’s the One who won’t let you down!
There’s something about when a man pursues a lady, making things special for her. It comes to a culmination at a wedding, where things have been done, or prepared so that his bride will be well-taken-care-of. In today’s message, Pastor Dan brings some beautiful things to light, as he explains the Jewish traditions and ceremonies that were done when it came to a groom and his bride-to-be. Interestingly, Jesus is doing the same for His bride, the church! He’s preparing something special!
Have you ever been by a rushing stream of water, and it’s going past you so forcefully that it’s nearly deafening to your ears? It’s quite an incredible experience! The passage that Pastor Dan is reading today, talks about a multitude of voices being like the sound of many glasses of water. Wouldn’t that be an even greater thing to be a part of? If you know and follow Jesus, you get to be a participant in this event! Don’t let this experience pass you by! Instead, choose to be part of what’s to come, in God’s promises!
When you look at the immorality in our world, “restrained” isn’t the first word that comes to mind. Even just watching a half hour of so-called family-friendly TV or a couple of videos on YouTube, the content will inevitably assault your moral values in some way. This world is permitting new evils every day and it’s hard to watch. But, as Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, according to the book of Revelation, the wickedness we see is being restrained and will be unrestrained during the End Times.
The way of our world brings destruction. Billions are living in poverty, while others enjoy massive wealth and hoard it for the sense of security it brings. Debt is out of control from a personal level to a national one, and socially we’re just as bankrupt. Satan is wreaking havoc and doing as much damage as he can in the short time he has left. It’s heartbreaking to watch, but Pastor Dan will encourage us to stay steady in our mission of sharing the Gospel with everyone who will listen because there is still hope.
We’ve seen a big push for this kind of unity already in our world, haven’t we? The message is that your truth is your truth and all that really matters is that you believe in it and yourself. This has become a unifying doctrine amongst well-meaning, but lukewarm branches of Christianity, and it’s touched other religions as well. As Pastor Dan will remind us in today’s message, this doctrine is very alluring because it sounds good on the surface, but it rejects the truth of who Jesus is.
That really is shockingly common, isn’t it? As believers, we should be good citizens, and that means doing our civic duty of voting in a way that we believe lines up with our values. But, it’s far too easy to compromise on some values for the sake of others and we need to be careful. As Pastor Dan will warn in today’s message, all too often when a politician cozies up to a specific religious group or leader, their top priority is getting more votes, and it’s simply a means to an end.
You either want to die to yourself and receive life. Or you want to live for yourself and die for God. Which will you choose? In today's message from Pastor Dan, he challenges you to choose wisely. Don't be fooled by the ways and customs of this world. This world is not all that there is. Its current state is broken and dark. However, in Christ, there's redemption for all of creation. In Him are life, hope, and everlasting light. Pastor Dan encourages you, to not live this life for yourself, your ambitions, and your goals. Live unto the Lord.
Jesus is our conquering Savior! As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he teaches you about the coming reign and rule of Jesus. He will return to this earth. And when He does everyone will know Him as King of kings and Lord of lords. He has complete authority and power, and He will establish His kingdom. Pastor Dan explains that Satan's time will be up. And every creature will bow to Him and to His rule. Jesus told us that in this world we will have trouble. But to take heart because He's overcome the world.
Have you surrendered your life to Jesus? Today, you learn from Pastor Dan's message that the end is near. Jesus' return will come soon. Examine your heart with God today. Ask Him to help you to see His face. Pastor Dan explains that Hell is a real place. It's not a made-up fable. God's Word is true. Anyone that doesn't confess Him as Lord and Savior will be cast to Hell. God desires for no one to perish. But for all to come to the saving knowledge of Him. Receive Him and His loving grace, kindness, and forgiveness today.
God is a God of justice and righteousness! In today's message from Pastor Dan, he explains that in the end times, mankind will reap what they have sown. Therefore, it's important that you plant good seeds in the hearts of others and tend to the soil of your own heart. One day every knee will have to bow to the authority and rule of God. Pastor Dan encourages you, to live your life sold out for Jesus Christ and His coming Kingdom. Do all that you can to shine His light in this broken and dark world.
The Bible will never be considered old or outdated by God. As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he explains to you that God's Word is steadfast, unmovable, and abounding in hope. Despite what the culture or the world says, it's God's Word that will be used in the judgment of mankind. His standards, His truth, and His rule. Pastor Dan urges you, to submit yourself to God's authority before it's too late. Receive Jesus as your Savior today. Today is the day for salvation. Tomorrow might be too late.
Do you feel like who you are and what you've done is too shameful to come to God? In today's message from Pastor Dan, he explains to you that the opposite couldn't be more true. Understand this, God loves sinners. He loves you. His love for you does not sway depending upon your behavior or actions. God desires for you to receive Him as your personal Lord and Savior. Pastor Dan encourages you, that nothing can separate you from God's love. So come into His loving embrace today.
You might think that the people that love you are always going to go along with your patterns and values. However, as you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you the love of the Bible. The love that's found in the Bible is one that will confront and challenge your values and ways. True love is not simply agreeing with every single thing. True love that's found in Christ is one that says I love you too much to let you stay where you're at. Jesus invites you to come and follow Him and His ways.
Would others around you know that you're a Christian if you didn't tell them? In today's message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you the coming example of witnesses for Jesus. They are bold in their declaration of Him as Lord and Savior. They do not waiver within their loyalty and confession of Him. Pastor Dan encourages you, to grow deeper in your walk with Christ. Each day finds more ways to connect with Him and to seek His face. Jesus desires to have an intimate relationship with you.
Do you realize the weight that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord? As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he explains to you that Jesus' return is near. No one knows the exact day or hour of His return. But we know it's coming. And all these things of earth will pass away and be made new in Him. Keep your eyes focused on Jesus, the author, and finisher of your faith. He is our conquering King who has defeated all principalities and powers.
One of the most heartbreaking things that we read about in the Bible is that there will be some people who will actively oppose Christ. In the book of Revelation, there will be people who will willingly take the mark of the beast in opposition to Christ. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing more about how this will play out in the end times and what will end up happening to these people who side with the Antichrist. We know all things work out for those who love God and are called by him.
We can often forget that Satan is not a physical being, but a spiritual one. That means that he has the ability to impact the spiritual realm and use those things to distract and deceive people. In the New Testament John gives us a warning to test every spirit because not all of them are from God. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about the reality of Satan’s influence over the spiritual realm and how it can affect us. Even though Satan operates in this area it doesn’t mean that we are defenseless.
The Bible is clear that one day Jesus will be coming back. However, the Bible doesn’t give us a specific time frame or even an estimate on when he will be! The temptation would be to fall into complacency and assume that it won’t be anytime soon. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will make it clear that we are living and looking for Christ. Even though we don’t know when he’ll be coming back, we don’t want to find ourselves living in a way that is compromising. We want to be pure and blameless when he returns!
Have you ever thought, “How did we get here?” If someone is trying to lead you astray, they won’t tell you that they are trying to lead you astray. The whole point of Satan’s tactic is for us to not know we are being deceived. As soon as we do realize it, then we can pivot and lean on the truth of God. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing some insights on how exactly the Antichrist will rise to power. The Bible says that he will be sneaky about it, gaining favor with people and deceiving them.
Have you ever wondered how Satan works? There are many ways that he tries to wage war against us but in the end, none of them are original. In fact, the only thing Satan can do is try to sell us a counterfeit of God's truth. He doesn’t have power against us, but rather he will try to deceive us or distract us. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing some of the lies that Satan tries to use to get us off track. However, if we know the truth of who God is then we can easily spot and ignore the counterfeit.
Have you ever looked forward to something for a long time? If you were a kid in high school, there came a time when all your friends would get their licenses. There was an anticipation of the time when you would finally be able to take the test yourself and then call yourself a licensed driver! There has been so much anticipation building up over time when Satan will finally be defeated, and Jesus comes back to reign! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing the moments leading up to Christ’s Victory!
Right now, Satan is roaming freely around the world. He is our enemy, and he is very real. However, of the great things that we read about in revelation is that there will be a time when Satan is dealt with for good. He will no longer be able to interfere, tempt, and persecute people who love God. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing more about what that will look like when Satan is finally cast out of heaven and Jesus deals with him for good! It will be an amazing day of great victory for the people of God.
Have you ever wondered what the timeline of the end times will look like? There is no way of knowing for sure but there are many different beliefs and schools of thought on it! We know that there will be a tribulation for everyone who is on earth who rejected Christ for seven years. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing more about the tribulation and the seven-year period. It can be easy to think that this might not affect us, but there is always something to learn from God and his character in this book!
The Bible is clear that we are all guilty of sin. When we look at what it takes none of us can measure up. When Jesus was born, he lived the perfect life that we never could. When he died on the cross, he died in our place, and if we believe and put our trust in him, we can have eternal life. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing that Jesus offers this to everyone, but it is up to us to make the decision to accept Jesus. Otherwise, our names will not be written in the Lamb's book of life, and we will be separated from him.
Satan has a claim to this world. God had given dominion over all creation over to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and Sin entered the world, they inadvertently handed over the reins to Satan. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing that in the end times, Jesus will come back and take back everything that Satan had stolen at that moment. Jesus will restore things back to the way they were supposed to be, with us living with him in a perfect peaceful eternity!
When Jesus died on the cross, he saved us from our sins and brought us back into a relationship with God. An amazing part of God’s grace is that now he allows us to partner with him in furthering the Gospel. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing that we all have a specific call on our lives from God. If God has given each one of us a call on our lives, he will be sure to equip us along the way! Like Paul, we go from being enemies of God to being the people who carry the banner of Christ into the world!
Leading up to the end times there will be a lot of deception. People will not be believers of truth, but rather adopt and live by lies. One of the main people who will be leading the opposition to the Kingdom of God is the Antichrist. In the book of Revelation, he plays a big and significant role in those days. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing more about what this Antichrist will be like. As real as the Antichrist is, we must remember that Jesus is still King, and he ultimately wins in the end!
Some people look at the world and wonder why Jesus just doesn’t come back now. They can get overwhelmed with what the world looks like, and they think that Jesus needs to come back now! The reason he doesn’t is that God is patient so that more people can know the gospel and be saved. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about God's heart for everyone to be saved. He is withholding coming back because he wants more people to know that Jesus died on the cross for their sins!
Have you ever been around someone so much that you begin to act like them? Maybe you start adopting their mannerisms or you start saying the same things that they do! God's desire is that we would be more like Jesus. That we would walk, talk, look, and act like him! After all, he lived a perfect life that we couldn’t! If anyone knew how to live it was him! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will share that as we get to know Christ more and spend more time with him, we will begin to look like him!
One of God's most notable characteristics is his patience. He was patient in the Old Testament when it came to the Israelites and their wandering in the wilderness. Jesus was patient with his disciples throughout the three years he did ministry with them. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be talking about how God's patience plays out in the book of Revelation. God is a God of mercy and grace, but he is also a God of justice. He says there will be a time when he must exercise his justice over all of creation!
Often when we read the book of Revelation, it can seem like things are kind of out of control! There are a lot of crazy things that we can read that are just hard to believe at face value. We can take comfort in the fact that all these things are moving according to God's plan. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing how exactly God's plan is being laid out through the book of Revelation. We can trust that God's plan for our life is good, we can also trust in his plan for how and when he will return!
The book of revelation offers us great insight into what the end's days will look like. The book also should serve as a warning as to what life will look like for non-believers during that time. Many people think that they have time later to “Get right with God.” The Bible is clear that our days are numbered, and we can’t be certain what tomorrow will bring! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about some of the things that non-believers will have to go through because they never acknowledged Christ.
When Jesus sent out his disciples, he told them to go out and preach the Gospel and perform miraculous signs and wonders. Understandably they were excited about how they were able to impact the spiritual realm, but Jesus wanted them to rejoice about their salvation. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about the importance of realizing how great our salvation is! Sometimes in our lives, we can get so consumed with how God makes our life better, that we forget the eternal life we have!
Right before he ascended Jesus said that he would eventually return to get his church. He said that it would be soon and many people in the early church lived as if he was coming back at any moment! While no one can know the exact time, the Bible does give us some signs that the days are getting closer. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing some of the examples that the Bible gives during those times! Although there will be signs, we must always be aware and ready for Jesus to come back!
In the Old Testament, only the priests and prophets were able to communicate with God and it was very conditional. But thanks to Jesus all of the Old Testament conditions for communicating with God went out the window! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing how our prayers and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross make a way for us to be able to talk to God! If we believe in Jesus and are saved, then the Holy Spirit, who is God, dwells within us and we are able to always be near God!
The idea of all nations coming together in unity can be a hard concept for us to grasp. There is so much division that we see, it can be hard to believe that anything can bring unity. However, in today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing a passage in Revelation where we see all nations and people standing before God in worship! If there is one thing that can bring reconciliation and a restoration of unity between all things it is the God of the universe who created and sustains all! And we get to be a part of it!
One of the most talked about characteristics of God is his faithfulness. We can see it throughout the Old Testament with Israel. No matter how many times they turned their back on him, God always stuck with them. This is evident in the New Testament as well as with Jesus and the disciples! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about the faithfulness of God when it comes to the nation of Israel! There is a promise in the book of Romans, that the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable!
There is a lot of danger that can come from not knowing what the Bible says. There have been many people throughout history who have twisted what the Bible says in an attempt to grow their following or influence! This isn’t just a modern-day dilemma, but this happened back in the early church times as well. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about the deception that can surround some of the book of revelation. As we learn the Bible, we will be better able to distinguish between truth and lies.
What does it look like in heaven when someone repents and puts their faith and trust in Jesus? Jesus said himself that there is more joy in heaven when one person repents than ninety-nine just people who don’t need repentance. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about the Joy that heaven experiences when people get saved! If heaven is willing to rejoice when a person repents, how much more should we rejoice? One of the best things we can do is learn to rejoice for other people!
When God made creation, he made it to be enjoyed by man! There are so many things that God has given us that we can appreciate, even though this world is corrupted by sin. While this world can be redeemed, Paul mentions that death for the believer is far better than anything we can experience on earth! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing how death is a doorway to eternity in the presence of Jesus! When we come face to face with Jesus, we will finally have the fulfillment of everything we long for!
Are you someone who always needs a plan or are you more of a “Go with the Flow” kind of person? One of the biggest comforts that we can have in our faith is knowing that God has a plan! He is not haphazardly letting everything pan out! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be reminding and encouraging us to trust in God’s plan! The hard part is when it comes to waiting on God to bring his plan to fruition. God doesn’t always work in regard to our timeline, so we must learn to trust his timing!
When Jesus ascended back into heaven, he left us with a great commission. That was to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in his name! Sometimes we can get discouraged when we share the Gospel and there is no immediate return. However, we planted a seed and we must have faith that God can make it grow! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be encouraging us that while we may not see the fruit, God is always working. The fruit could come to fruition years later!
The Bible says that when the tribulation comes there will be violence that the world has never seen. This is a sobering truth in the book of Revelation. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing more about what this will look like when it comes. As Christians, this should move us to compassion for the people who don’t know the Lord. Since we know what is coming to those who don’t know the Lord, we must have an urgency to go out and share the Gospel and fulfill the great commission!
There are so many questions that people have when it comes to the end times. One big question that most people have is when will it happen? There are many clues in the Bible that show when the time is coming near, but no one can be certain for sure. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing some verses out of the revelation that can help give us clues! There are some things that the Bible points out clearly and others that will just remain a mystery. We can take comfort in knowing that God won’t be surprised!
There is always a consequence for our actions. We don’t need many examples and you can probably think of a few off the top of your head. In the Bible, there are many times in the Old and New Testaments when people had to answer to God because of their actions. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about God's judgment in the book of revelation. There are people who will hear the Gospel, know about God, and still openly reject him! God is merciful but he is also just, and we will all be judged by him!
When you look around at the world have you been discouraged because it seems so bad? It can be easy to fall into that trap. Sometimes it can be hard to see exactly what God is doing at the moment. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about a time when Jesus will be moved to action. He will stand up and finally finish the spiritual war that we are currently waging. Once Jesus steps in and takes over he will redeem all of creation and then we will finally experience eternity in perfection with a perfect God!
Jesus was anticipated for a long time. At the time of the New Testament, the Jewish people had been waiting hundreds of years for the savior! Jesus just didn’t come as they had planned. Jesus came through the line of David and was the only one who could have paid the price for our sins. Later in revelation, he is also the only one who is worthy to open the scroll. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about how worthy Jesus is of all worship because of what he did on the cross for us!
Have you ever had a hard time admitting that you were wrong or needed help? When it comes to our salvation that is one of the first things that we must come to terms with. We realize that because of our sin, we had gotten ourselves in such a bad spot that we couldn’t get ourselves out of it. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing what it means to be redeemed by Jesus Christ. Thankfully Jesus was willing to take on the penalty for our sins and pay the price that we couldn’t, because he loves us!
When Jesus died on the cross, he made a way for us to have a connection with God! Not only do we have a relationship with God, but he also actually adopts us into his family! We can now be called sons and daughters of the God of the universe! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be talking about the availability that we have with God! We can boldly enter the throne room and communion with him. There’s no longer a separation from God, but he actually invites us into a fellowship with him!
When we read the Bible, we must note what our inflection is like when we read it! When the writers were making these letters, they wrote them with emotion. Sometimes it could be anger, somberness, joy, or any other emotion you can think of! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing a phrase that Jesus states about a church in the end times. At first glance, it could seem like he’s mad or disappointed. But today Pastor Dan will bring us a different perspective and it’ll help us understand Jesus better!
There is a phrase in the chapter of Revelation where Jesus refers to a church as “Lukewarm.” This phrase can be a little hard to understand at first, but in today’s message, Pastor Dan will be helping us understand what this means! This church wasn’t being true to the great commission. They were offering people all the things except for Jesus! When the church falls into the temptation of just helping people have better lives and not preaching the Gospel that will save souls, then they get off track.
Have you ever had a friend that wouldn’t tell you the truth? Sometimes people will just tell us what we want to hear because they might not want to hurt our feelings. The beautiful thing about our relationship with Jesus is that he will always tell us the truth! He will tell us the truth even when it hurts! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing why it’s so important that we learn how to receive the truth that Jesus has for us. As much as it might hurt to hear our flaws, we know that the truth will set us free!
Jesus only did ministry for a short time while he was on earth. He had only three years to do ministry, and in those three years, we still talk about what he did and what he taught! He also said that he will be coming back very soon! Even though that was two thousand years ago we should all live with the expectancy that he could come back at any time! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about how quick Jesus’ return will be! We won’t have time to prepare for it and it will be without warning!
When Jesus came to preach, he made a point of noting that what he was teaching was true. People are constantly searching for truth. Some believe that it is subjective, personal, or even absolute. One thing is clear when we read the Bible, and that is that everything Jesus taught and did was true! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be walking us through the things that Jesus taught and how it relates to this chapter in the book of revelation! We know that absolute truth can be found in Jesus Christ!
After Jesus was resurrected, he spent some time with the disciples, and then he ascended back into heaven with God! According to Jesus, it was actually better for us that he goes and be with the father so that he could send us a helper. This helper was the Holy Spirit. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be talking about the power, purpose, and role of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life! There are many things that God calls us to do that we can only do by the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us!
The third person who is most neglected in the trinity is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the helper that Jesus sent down after he had ascended and returned to the right hand of the Father! The Holy Spirit is an instrumental part of a believer’s life! He helps us grow, comforts us, and counsels us. He also gives us wisdom, understanding, and revelation of who God is! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be talking to us and helping us understand the importance of knowing the power and the ministry of the Holy Spirit!
The older we get the more we tend to realize the consequences of our actions. Someone who is younger may not know the value of this lesson until they are older, but the same principle can apply to our spiritual lives as well. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about the consequences of Sin. Often the repercussions go far beyond what we can immediately see. There are Physical, emotional, and spiritual consequences that can affect us directly and the people closest to us indirectly!
We are very good when it comes to procrastination. Most times it comes in the case of putting off dishes, or maybe a homework assignment until the last night! It could even be something more serious like forgiving a family member. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about the time that we have left. There are a lot of people who will wait to seek after God. But the reality is we don’t know how much time we have left. This story in the book of revelation speaks of a church that waiting too long to repent!
Have you ever felt like God isn’t paying attention or doesn’t know about you? Sometimes it can feel like that because we get so overwhelmed with what the world is throwing at us! But there is a truth that God has never taken his sight off us. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about God's vision, he sees everything. There is nothing that we can hide from God. This can be comforting and confronting! This means that he sees our sins and gives us a chance to repent but he also sees our trouble and comforts us.
In the ancient world, and even today, people are looking for something more. Once they realize that the things of the world won’t satisfy, they go on a spiritual journey! People came to the city of Pergamos in searching because of all the temples. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing with us the same encouragement that the church in Pergamos had. They held fast to the truth and were able to share that truth with people even under intense pressure. There was a spiritual battle that they were fighting!
Have you ever tried to find satisfaction and joy in the things of this world? Everyone has a longing for something bigger in their soul. Some people think that it can be filled with the things of this world or desires of the flesh! We know that the only thing, and the only person, who can truly satisfy what we are longing for is Jesus. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will be sharing about why the things of this world won’t satisfy us. Sin is fun for a season, but the Joy that Jesus brings to us will always be with us!
As Pastor Dan continues his teaching series through the book of Revelation, he'll be explaining how there's a place for suffering in the life of a believer. Jesus, Himself had to endure suffering, and He focused on the joy that was set before Him as He went to the cross. Jesus focused on eternity, and how His suffering would produce salvation for anyone who would believe in Him. When you're going through trials and suffering here on Earth, the best thing to do is focus on Jesus and how He's working it out for good.
It's possible it goes to church every Sunday, and even possible to lift your hands up during worship and still not have a good relationship with Jesus. As Pastor Dan continues his teaching series through the book of Revelation, he'll be explaining how this lukewarm church of Laodicea had material wealth and comforts yet Jesus saw them as miserable, blind, and naked. Jesus warned this church that He would vomit them out of His mouth if they continued to remain in a lukewarm state, neither hot nor cold.
As Pastor Dan continues his teaching series through the book of Revelation, he'll be exhorting you to return back to your first love. The church of Ephesus was no longer doing anything out of love for the Lord, but out of habit and ritual. At first glance, this church looks perfect. They were doing everything correctly outwardly, but inwardly they were lacking in their personal and intimate relationship with Jesus. Love must be the motivating factor in all that you do as a Christian!
The letters to the seven churches were not just written to those specific churches during that time period, but they are also being written to you as an individual. The commendations and rebukes mentioned throughout these letters can also be applied to you personally and specifically. Today, Pastor Dan will be encouraging you to take a personal inventory as you study the letters to these churches and see if there's anything you should be encouraged by or even repent of.
As Pastor Dan continues his teaching series through the book of Revelation, he'll be explaining how the lamp stand mentioned in the text today is speaking of the church's influence. Jesus said that he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life. Jesus is the Light and your job as the church is to be a lampstand and display the light of Jesus. Are you displaying Jesus to the world? Are you obeying the Great Commission and being used by the Lord to make disciples?
Regardless of what takes place on this Earth during the End Times, God is still ultimately in control and on the throne in Heaven. Even right now in your life, things may seem out of control, but God is still sovereign and in control. What the enemy intends for evil, God will work out for your good in the end. Just like God worked out all the trials Joseph went through, he was beaten, left for dead, and kidnapped, God ultimately made him one of the most powerful men in Egypt!
As Pastor Dan continues his teaching series through the book of Revelation, he'll be reminding you of the great call that God has placed on your life. You've been called to be a royal priesthood, and in the future, you will be in a place where you'll even be in charge of judging the angels. Focus on what God has commanded you and watch how He gives you greater responsibility if you've been faithful in the little things here on Earth. Don't allow the enemy to distract you from your calling!
Today, Pastor Dan will be starting a new teaching series through the Book of Revelation, and he'll be encouraging you to not be hesitant in studying this great book. This is the one book of the Bible that promises a special blessing to those who read it! This book is first and foremost the revelation of Jesus, everything else such as the anti-Christ and the bowls of judgment are all secondary. When you focus on who Jesus is, and what He's done in the past and present, you'll better understand what He will do in the future.
God, through Malachi, had a rebuke for His people. They gave no effort to knowing and following His word and they lost interest in knowing, loving, and serving God. And today, Pastor Dan will challenge you to, instead, cling to God, don’t lose your faith, and stay in His word! His word will give you understanding, guidance, hope, and truth to navigate through life. We’re close to Jesus’ second coming. It’s so important in these last days to abide in Jesus and treasure His word to you.
When you look at our culture today, it’s hard to ignore the wickedness prevailing. Do you wonder if it’ll ever get better? Well, today, Pastor Dan has encouragement for you with the reminder that God will do away with all sin, judge all wickedness, and restore the world completely. He’ll remove evil from the world. And, as believers in Christ, take comfort. He’ll save you from this judgment and you’ll enjoy His new Heaven and new earth forever. Hold onto faith in God and persevere until the end!
Generally, most people grow uncomfortable when a pastor begins to talk about giving and generosity. But, God talks of it frequently in His word. And today, Pastor Dan will encourage you to remember that God sees financial giving as an act of worship and thanksgiving. All you have is from God, and He asks you to give a small bit back to Him in order to use it for good in the world. Yes, it requires trust, believing that God will provide for your needs. But, God is faithful and He’ll reward those who trust in Him.
God’s people often turned away from Him, scorned and mocked Him, and completely rebelled and rejected His word. Yet, instead of forsaking His people, God sent messengers with the call to return to Him. Prophets sent by God brought these messages to repent, walk away from sin, and turn wholeheartedly to God. Today, Pastor Dan will describe God’s kindness and love through how offered forgiveness to any who’d return to Him in this way. No matter what you’ve done, turn to God today and He’ll receive you and forgive you!
What God calls sin is not only being tolerated today but is often celebrated and taught to others. But, this is nothing new to God. The priests in Malachi’s day told the people that God tolerates sin and delights in those who do evil. Yet, today, Pastor Dan will explain that God doesn’t delight in your sin. He actually grieves your rebellion. It breaks His heart that His people sin, especially when they teach others to sin as well. He will judge that. But, there’s forgiveness and mercy for those who confess and repent and believe in Christ.
Sadly, one practice that was happening in Israel, was that people were easily divorcing their wives. But, God is clear throughout His word, He hates divorce. His design was for 1 man and 1 woman to commit to each other in marriage and be united to them for life. Yet, as Pastor Dan teaches today, God’s people were dismissing the wives of their youth simply to experience something else. And today, divorce is even more acceptable, even within the church. God doesn’t want you to end your marriage. It’s worth fighting for!
God addressed the priests in Malachi’s day with some convicting truths. They were leading God’s people astray. Most significantly by devaluing God’s word and teaching it was ok to be disobedient to it. The priests were the leaders of the nation of Israel. And the bad examples they set influenced the whole nation in terrible ways. And today, Pastor Dan will challenge you to be aware of the influence you’re having on other believers. Do you esteem God’s word and allow it to be your guide in life so others can see it?
So many times, among those who follow Christ, you’ll hear grumbling about having to serve here or there or having to go to this worship or that study. That was the view of God’s priests – they were tired of serving God and felt burdened by leading people toward God. Today, Pastor Dan will challenge you to view serving God as a privilege and an honor, instead of a burden and hassle. You may grow tired of God’s work, but don’t ever grow tired of God’s work. He’ll strengthen you as you serve Him faithfully.
God’s people, before Christ, would sometimes sinfully offer their worthless animals, they're left over bits and pieces as a sin or praise offering to the Lord. Yet, as Pastor Dan will teach you today, God is deserving of our very best in life. He has given you life, grace, forgiveness, mercy and so much more. Show Him the honor and respect He deserves. Prioritize Him above all things in life. Give Him your best. And He will bless you for that. He will be with you in all things and He will provide for every other area of your life.
No one really likes being confronted with wrongdoing or being told they’re sinful. It’s easier to live in denial. Yet, as Pastor Dan teaches today, God often confronts people with their sins. He does it, not to be hurtful, but to restore people back to Himself. He does it to redirect people back to the best life He has for each of us. When God confronts and convicts you of the wrong you’re doing, accept it, listen and believe it, and then change your life and behavior to what God desires.
What is the longest you have gone without feeling any pain? Even if you don't experience emotional pain, you probably feel some level of physical pain every day. A stubbed toe, a headache, or even hunger pains are just commonplace for each of us. But today Pastor Dan shows us a promise in the Bible. A day with no pain. No disappointment, no striving, no danger, or fear or hurt. This promise is not to dismiss the pain that happens to you on earth. Rather, it should give you hope for the future.
Do you have a friend that is always there for you, no matter what? It doesn't make a difference the time of day or how far away they are, they will make a point to help you out in your time of need. The Bible says that God is even closer to you than that. He will come the moment you call on him. Today Pastor Dan shows us an amazing truth from the book of Zechariah. In the last days, God won't just be there for Israel spiritually, he will actually physically come and intervene for them as soon as they call!
When you turn on a faucet, you expect water to come out. Whether it's a water fountain, the bathtub, or your kitchen sink, you never wonder if water will flow or not, it's just a given that it will be there. Well, when you come to Christ, you can always expect that the water will be flowing. He's ready to wash your sin clean. As Pastor Dan looks at the book of Zechariah today, remember that God is always available for you. He never shuts down, goes to sleep, or steps out for a breather. He's always near!
If you've ever been on the receiving end of an insincere apology, you know how worthless it is. Just saying the words “I'm sorry” doesn't indicate any heart change has taken place. True repentance doesn't come from the words you say, it comes from the posture of your heart. Today, Pastor Dan looks at the book of Zechariah and what it looks like when a nation experiences true repentance. A half-hearted apology leaves you feeling no different. But after true repentance, you will never be the same again!
Have you ever watched someone fight a losing battle? Maybe it's a kid begging their parent for a new toy right up until the time they leave the store. Or maybe you've watched your favorite sports team play hard until the end, even when there was no way they could win. Humans are stubborn, and they will choose to fight God until the very end. Pastor Dan shows us today that even at the end of the world, man will still be fighting for control from God. But as we know, that fight has always been a losing battle.
God can't be surprised. No matter how good or bad you are, he's not shocked by any of it. You can't pull the wool over his eyes or manipulate him. He knows all the days of your life before you were even born! Even the future is history in God's eyes. And in the Bible prophecy, we get a sneak peek into some of that future. Today Pastor Dan shows us some of the amazing things prophesied in the book of Zechariah. Some events have already come to pass, proving the book's authority. Others are still to come.
We all long for freedom. We want to be able to do whatever we want whenever we want, without worrying about finances, time, or other obligations. But what happens when it feels like God's will is hindering your freedom? Today, Pastor Dan shows us that just like Jesus, a shepherd has to lead his flock. He has to guide them on the path that he has set out. A sheep may want to go a different way, but it will ultimately lead to its demise. It's in following the guidance of the shepherd that the sheep find true freedom.
“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” You've probably heard that phrase before. It's the practical thing to do, to make sure you don't get burned by the same person multiple times. You've got to look out for yourself and do what you gotta do to take care of yourself....right? Today, Pastor Dan shows us that God doesn't operate that way. His mercies are new every morning. Because of Jesus, we can come to God just as if we have never sinned before. He doesn't hold your sin against you!
God is in the business of redemption. He can take the lowly and lift them high. He takes the outcast and gives them a home. He turns mourning into dancing and a spirit of heaviness into a song of thanksgiving. No one would ever choose a sheep to ride into battle. But as Pastor Dan teaches today, God will turn that timid sheep into a fierce war horse, ready to charge the enemy. God wants to transform us all into his image. On our own, we are all just sheep, but in him, we find our full potential as war horses.
The world's peace is always temporary. Nations may draw truces, but they aren't forever. Someone might be nice to you if it's your birthday, but you can experience hostility from that same person a week later. We really can't fathom an eternal end to conflict and war. But as Pastor Dan teaches you today, that is exactly what you can expect when Jesus comes again. Peace and joy aren't just nice things to sing about at Christmas time. They are real, tangible experiences that you will have in the future!
The best chess players can see several moves ahead. Every movement of every piece serves a purpose in the overall strategy of the game. And when the time is right, the checkmate is delivered. All throughout history, God has been moving pieces into place. Generation after generation, everything came into alignment until the time was right to send Jesus into the world. Today Pastor Dan shows you that history is God's plan playing out. He knows exactly what he's doing, and he never makes a wrong move.
A tapestry makes no sense from the back. It's just a mess of thread and knots, with no indication of what is being depicted. It looks chaotic, and it may even seem like the weaver messed up their work. But when viewed from the front side, it all makes sense. Every thread and knot is placed in exactly the right place, coming together just the way the weaver intended. This world may seem like a mistake. It may all feel like a lost cause. But today Pastor Dan reminds us that God has a plan and a purpose for it all.
When you are just a small part of a big plan, it can be difficult to see how your work matters. What does one life matter in the span of all human life? How can one person's 70, 80, or 90 years of life make a difference for eternity? It's easy to become discouraged when you have a short-term vision. But today Pastor Dan encourages you: the work you do for the Lord does matter. Every day is an opportunity to move the mission of the Lord forward. Run your race well! Don't just start strong, finish strong.
Have you ever been on the receiving end of an insincere apology? An apology for show or to appease someone else doesn't really mean much. In fact, it may have been better if the offender never offered any apology at all. In today's teaching, Pastor Dan shows us that Israel gave God an insincere apology. They put on a good show, fasting and lamenting for 70 years. But ultimately, they weren't sorry for the right reasons. God wanted their heart more than their apology.
Jesus’ work on the cross was so profound. Most of us are members of that “far off” group – Gentiles unfamiliar with Judaism and God’s chosen nation. We don’t quite fathom just how big of a deal it was for Jesus to do what He did. His death on the cross was a sacrifice for all people – He made way for Jews and Gentiles to be rescued from sin and made righteous. As Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, for the Jews, the Messiah was for them, not for the Gentiles, but Jesus tore down that barrier.
Jesus’ work on the cross was so profound. Most of us are members of that “far off” group – Gentiles unfamiliar with Judaism and God’s chosen nation. We don’t quite fathom just how big of a deal it was for Jesus to do what He did. His death on the cross was a sacrifice for all people – He made way for Jews and Gentiles to be rescued from sin and made righteous. As Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, for the Jews, the Messiah was for them, not for the Gentiles, but Jesus tore down that barrier.
A lamp, powered by oil, gas, or electricity, requires fuel. Without the oil, the plug in the wall, or some power source, it serves little purpose other than decoration. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will draw our attention to this illustration in the book of Zechariah. As believers, we are lampstands – designed to project light in a dark and lost world. But, we need fuel. As hard as we try, without the Holy Spirit’s infilling, we can’t light up the dark under our power.
As a believer, you aren’t saved, filled with the Spirit, then left to just coast on the power of that one event till you join Jesus in Heaven. When you accept Jesus, you’re stepping into a life of nearly constant repentance and renewal. As Pastor Dan continues our study of the book of Zechariah in today’s message, he’ll explain that filling the Holy Spirit is something we need daily. It’s not a one-time thing. It requires diligently seeking Him with an open heart.
We all want to earn our place. This desire is rooted in our pride. Our culture highly values the drive and ambition in individuals. You can likely think of a few examples of influential, famous people who have a rags-to-riches story – people who “pulled themselves up by their bootstraps.” Pastor Dan will explain in today’s message that this isn’t a value in God’s Kingdom. In His Kingdom, we must rely on Him to pull us up, and we’re encouraged to lean on each other for support.
Building a complete, livable house is far too big a project for one person. It can be done… but it’ll take a long time, and most likely, several things will not be done correctly. Trying to live a righteous life in your own strength is an even more daunting and impossible task. You may be able to establish an upright life, but as Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, you can never achieve complete righteousness on your own – and you don’t need to – Jesus already has done the work for you.
God works in mysterious ways. He’s over and above human reason and authority. It can be challenging for us to identify from our point of view. Still, as Pastor Dan will explain in today’s message, God has the vantage point of eternity, and He’s ultimately in control of the outcomes we see throughout history and everything that’ll happen in the future. The enemy tries to subvert Him and cause destruction and pain, but in the end, God has already secured victory for those who love Him.
That’s a truth that all of us need to hear at times. Like most believers, you’ve probably prayed for God to draw near you. The heart of that prayer is good, but in reality, God is as near to us as we let Him be. When you open your heart in humility and honesty, He’ll rush in and fill you to the deepest part. As Pastor Dan will explain in today’s message, when you feel far from God, it’s you who’s moved away, not Him. Seek Him earnestly, and you’ll find He’s closer than you ever realized.
How much of an influence do people have on you? Pastor Dan talks about the influence Christians have within the world in today's edition of Ring of Truth. You cannot give someone salvation; the only way someone can be saved is through putting their trust in the Lord. But is your influence causing someone to stray away from Christ? Attitudes are as infectious as smiles are. As Christians, we are called to be examples of Christ's love in the world. Our influence needs to put the spotlight on Christ.
Do you sometimes feel like your work for the Lord is insignificant? In today’s edition of Ring of Truth, Pastor Dan talks about the significance of working toward the Lord’s Will. It can sometimes feel like our work is unseen when pursuing the Lord. But, when the Lord is present, the fruits of your work are significant. The devil will try to deceive us into becoming discouraged, but when we pursue the Lord and His presence, all the work we put toward the kingdom is worth it.
Like any family, God's household also requires work on the part of every family member. Today, Pastor Dan brings the words of the Old Testament prophet Haggai to life in his insistence on returning to God's plan. Maybe you feel like it's too late for you. God's not asking for an extravagant assignment before you can return to his good graces. Scriptures say that God throws our transgressions as far away as possible. He simply welcomes them with open arms and gently assures them, "Let's get back to it."
Israelites are always getting a bad rap for their weak faith. Pastor Dan shows us in Haggai that the children of Israel were so passionate about returning to Jerusalem and rebuilding the temple. Yet, the fire burned out as quickly as they arrived – they had more important things to do, right? Today as followers of Jesus, we may also experience this departure from doing the tasks for which God has called us. He might not be asking you to build a physical temple, but perhaps rededicate your life as a living temple to Him.
What does true worship look like? You may have an idea, but it gets better after Jesus' return. Zephaniah, and even the book of Revelations, signifies a time on the Earth when God will reign over the Earth, and people that love him will TRULY worship Him. It's unlike our hearts today, which are stretched in every other direction as we try to focus on worshipping God in our daily lives. Today, Pastor Dan continues to illustrate the blessed hope and future that followers of Jesus can anticipate at the end of the day.
Have you ever heard the phrase - “I'll believe it when I see it.” - often promising the completion of something? For example, as a Christian, a follower of Jesus' commandments, are we just giving lip service? Or are we believers in word AND deed? Today, Pastor Dan brings forth the urgency of Zephaniah's words that God will know his people by their actions. It can be a hard pill to swallow but a significant obstacle to remove before it's too late. Is there an area of your life that can step up with faith in action?
Did you know as Christians that there is a joy of expectation when Jesus returns for the ones that love him - it's called the blessed hope? God knows exactly the day and the hour that he will come back for his people in this world. He also gave wisdom to prophets in foretelling this return. Pastor Dan outlines and brings a prelude to this coming in the book of Zephaniah. In today's message, the prophet Zephaniah gives an incredible revelation relevant to us as believers not only in his time but also in his time.
The saying goes that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But sometimes those covers can tell you a lot about the book. In today’s study, you’ll find that the Israelites had given up what made them distinct from the cultures around them. They stopped following God and worshipped idols. They even started dressing in the same styles as their neighbors. Pastor Dan urges you to stay alert so that you don’t start looking and acting like everyone else because you’ve lost sight of who you are because of Christ.
The Israelites were God’s chosen people. He called them His own when they weren’t anything special. They had the privilege of hearing from Him and watching Him intercede on their behalf in miraculous ways. God treasured them and brought them into the land He promised them. But, as you’ll see today, that wasn’t enough to keep their hearts tied to the Lord. Pastor Dan walks you through how the Israelites turned from God and started worshiping idols, even to the point of setting up alters in the Temple itself.
Today, Pastor Dan invites you to join in on this new study in the book of Zephaniah, one of the minor prophets of the Old Testament. Zephaniah begins by setting the stage, letting the reader know who he is and what’s going on at the time he’s writing. Pastor Dan points out that God wants to use each of us to do His work. It doesn’t matter if you’re royalty like Zephaniah or a farmhand like David. It’s all about having a heart that is soft toward the Lord and a willingness to follow Him even if it’s hard.
Most people make lists to help them remember what they need to do. Lists encourage you to focus on what’s important at that moment. They help orient you. Well, in today’s passage, you’ll see that Habakkuk is making a list. But it’s not about the day’s activities. It’s actually a list of the ways that God has come through for His people in the past. Pastor Dan shares that remembering God’s great faithfulness in the past will help you to walk forward with hope, encouraged that God will continue to show up for you.
When you’re running a race, you’re aware of your footing and what’s going on around you, but you focus ahead, further down the course. You run with the end in mind, pacing yourself so that you can finish well. Well, today, Pastor Dan encourages you to live your life with the end in mind, setting your heart on things above, not on earthly things. You’ll be reminded that since you can’t take anything with you when you die, you should invest your time and energy in loving the people around you and pointing them to the Lord.
It always seems to happen. Your kiddo asked and asked for that certain something and they’re finally going to get it. They open their present, thrilled with what’s inside. They play with it for a while, but quickly lose interest over the next few days. Today, Pastor Dan shares that this is a picture of the human condition. Like the rest of us, you have an emptiness in you that you try to fill on your own terms. But nothing works for long. That’s because the fulfillment you’re longing for can only be found in the Lord.
Have you ever seen a photomosaic picture? It’s one large image that’s actually made up of hundreds of tiny photos. If you’re too far away, you don’t see the individual moments represented. But if you’re too close, you miss the big picture. Well, today, Pastor Dan urges you not to worry so much about seeing everything or understanding all the details of what’s going on. Instead, you can choose to trust in the Lord and walk by faith. Then, no matter what see, you know that He’s with you and His plan will work out beautifully.
Humility and teachability go hand in hand. And in today’s passage, you’ll see how Habakkuk is a great example of someone who is wanting to learn from the Lord. Habakkuk doesn’t understand the answers that God has given him. He’s having a hard time making sense of the way God is going to move. But, as Pastor Dan explains, Habakkuk knows that the problem lies with him, not with God’s answer. We can all learn from this prophet’s humble response of “God, show me where I’m wrong.”
Do you feel perplexed like Habakkuk? You just don’t understand why God isn’t doing anything about the broken and unjust things that you see. You wonder where He is and why He’s allowing this stuff to continue. Maybe, like this prophet, you’ve been praying for a long time but are still waiting on an answer from the Lord. Well, today, Pastor Dan helps you process your experience as you study the conversations between Habakkuk and God. There’s much to learn from these verses…
That’s a hard reminder from Pastor Dan today. What are you putting too much trust in? Is it your retirement fund or finances? Is it your position at work or your role in the church? Maybe it’s your relationships? None of these things are bad on their own, but they become idols when you elevate them over the Lord. Well, the Assyrians thought that their fortified cities and military might be enough to protect them from anything that came their way. But, as you’ll see, God is the ultimate power. Nothing will stand in His way.
Not everything in life is a “once and done”. Though your children may not agree, you don’t take a shower one time and then expect to never have to do it again. It’s something you have to keep doing to stay clean. Well, today, Pastor Dan explains that your connection with the Lord also requires continual attention. It doesn’t matter how closely you walked with Him ten years ago, it's all about what things are like today. The prophet Nahum said this exact thing in regard to the Assyrians, whose demise he foretold.
Some days it’s all you can do to put one foot in front of the other. It feels like you’re being hit from all sides, swamped by the storms of life. Well, today, Pastor Dan reminds you that don’t have to be swept away by the hard things that are going on. Today’s passage reminds you that God is your refuge, a safe place to run to in times of trouble. It’s His hand that’s reaching out as you’re sinking. He wants to pull you out from the darkness and the danger and give you the peace and hope that come from being tied to Him.
Where does your hope lie? Does it lie in politics? Does it lie in the next election cycle? Putting your faith in anything in this world will lead you to false hope and false promise. You will be disappointed if you trust in worldly people to bring peace and restoration. But, you can put your hope in Jesus. Jesus has the power to bring healing and grace. Today, Pastor Dan will remind us about where our hope should lie. It should only lie in the fact that Jesus will return and He fulfills all of his promises.
Have you ever sinned before? The answer for anyone is yes. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But luckily God has spared you from the Judgment of your sins through his mercy. It isn’t just enough to love God’s mercy for ourselves. We are called to extend this Mercy to others as well. God’s calling on our lives is to love others as He loves us. To treat others how we want to be treated. Today, Pastor Dan reminds us of how great God’s mercy is and how we should pass it on to others.
Are giving God what He really desires? Or are you just offering God worship without a relationship? It isn’t enough to lift your hands, tithe, or do other religious practices. God wants to have a personal relationship with you. God wants your love and your obedience. Today, Pastor Dan will use the book of Micah to help teach you about what kind of worship God is looking for. Micah reminded the people of Israel what God wants from us. To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.
While many of us might think it's rather bizarre that Jews are in part blind to The Gospel, all we have to do is look back to before we were saved. Now that you have that thought in mind, all you have to do is add spiritual blindness brought on by The Lord. However, as Pastor Dan discusses in his message today, this blindness is only temporary, and will one day be lifted. In his study, you'll learn about the coming shift in the ages, from the Church age to the tribulation, which will result in the salvation of many Jews.
Whether we care to admit it or not, many of us can easily consume way more information than what we'd normally consider healthy. From politics, pop culture, fashion, or otherwise, the world is constant feed distractions and nonsense. In today's message, Pastor Dan will both encourage you and remind you that we're called to look ahead for The Kingdom. In his study, you'll learn the importance of setting your mind on things above, rather than the things of that will perish.
The saying goes that the only things certain in life are death and taxes. But another one that could be added to the list is war. Even though you might not hear about them, war has been going on continually, someplace on the earth, for nearly a century. People have tried – unsuccessfully – to make the world a war-free place. But according to the Bible, as you’ll hear in Pastor Dan’s message today, the world will continue in its warring ways until Jesus comes back and establishes His kingdom on earth at the end of time.
In Micah’s Judah and Israel, the people who were supposed to be the most humble were the least humble. The men who were charged by God to be the most even-handed were open to being bribed. And as a result, of course, the common people had to live under injustice. Although they thought they were getting away with this, Pastor Dan’s teaching will show you that they didn’t. God was watching and He wasn’t happy about what was going on. He was about to drop the hammer, and Micah was letting them know.
You’ve heard the saying, “There’s nothing new under the sun”. that’s true of many things; it’s certainly true of how governments treat their citizens. Loading them down with taxes, abusing them through unfair regulations, and more. And this was Israel’s situation at the time of Micah, too. You’ll learn in Pastor Dan’s teaching that the mistreatment of the people didn’t escape God’s notice. He sent many prophets like Micah to warn the people and the leadership that God was going to judge them, but it didn’t do any good.
Do you dig deeper into the news where you live? How about national or world news? Things seem to be getting worse and, like running down a hill, harder to bring to a stop. People have said for years that things are the worst they’ve ever seen, and they might be right. It’s hard to conjure up any hope. But as you’ll hear in Pastor Dan’s teaching today, God gave a hopeful message to the Israelites even as they were on the path to being taken into captivity. Like them, God has a word of hope for you, too.
Sometimes you’ll see a family with two different parenting styles. One parent is telling their kids to toe the line, and sit up straight; the other one is wanting to be their child’s friend and lets the kid do what they like. And while the child will tend to gravitate toward the permissive parent when they’re young, many times as an adult they’ll regret not listening to the more disciplined parent. In Pastor Dan’s teaching today, you’ll be hearing these two sides represented in the prophet Micah and the false prophets of the time.
There are people who say that God’s a bully, that He forces His will on people. If you read the Bible, though, it becomes pretty clear that God is far from a bully. He’s always willing for you to have what it is you think you want. The Israelites of Micah’s time basically told God they didn’t want to hear from Him. And while He did send a few prophets to keep warning them, you’ll hear in Pastor Dan’s teaching that God gave them what they wanted. It’s the same today – God will be only as involved in your life as you want Him to be.
The Israelites had a history of turning away from God. Even at the beginning, when God delivered them from slavery. While they were happy to be free, at the first sign of danger, they were blaming God for their difficulty. Then for hundreds of years, there was a cycle of following God and then turning away from Him. God sent messages – warnings, really, through prophets. One of those, Micah, and Pastor Dan will be teaching about today. Micah was one of the last prophets before Judah was conquered and taken into captivity.
When you look at the leadership in this country, it’s easy to say, “Well, that’s how they’re going to be, but it doesn’t have much effect on my life.” But they do affect your life. The attitudes they convey trickle down into the way regular people act towards each other, too. And this was some of what the prophet Micah was addressing, as you’ll hear in Pastor Dan’s teaching today. As you listen to what was going on in the two kingdoms at Micah’s time, you’ll learn that how nations treat God matters to God.
Israel was a unique country in that the God of the universe had chosen them as His special people. He gave them dietary and other rules that made them different than all the countries around them. He gave them victories over the stronger nations and made them feared by others. But as you’ll hear in Pastor Dan’s teaching today, God also gave them strong warnings to stay true to Him. And as they drifted further from Him, He sent prophets like Micah to try to get them to change their direction.
There’s an epidemic of depression in America these days. Suicides and drug abuse are at all-time levels. The Church hasn’t been immune to these problems, either. In the story, Pastor Dan’s going to be teaching, Jonah was depressed, too. But you’ll find out that the reason for his depression was kind of a dumb, self-centered one. But you’ll learn that God didn’t just strike him dead; God tried to bring Jonah around to His point of view. Getting God’s perspective on things can help ease the down times.
Have you ever heard someone be upset that someone people consider ‘bad’ – a murderer, for instance – came to saving faith? Or if someone lower on the social scale had a miraculous event in their life? You probably don’t think much of that person, do you? Instead of rejoicing, this person’s complaining about the character of the person that received God’s grace. And the story Pastor Dan’s teaching covers today is kind of like that. Jonah had a bad attitude towards Nineveh, and he couldn’t see why God would love them.
One of the tough things about being a parent is having your kids let you down. They do something you and they know they shouldn’t have, or they make a promise and fail to keep it. Even knowing that they’re fallen people (just like you), it still hurts just a little bit. This should give you some insight into how God feels when you let Him down. But as Pastor Dan will be teaching, God is always there, ready to pick you up. The other thing, as you’ll see from Jonah’s story, is that God’s plans for you never change.
“I need you to save me from me!” Do you relate to that sentiment? Have you ever pleaded with God to change your heart and make you new? In today's message, Pastor Dan teaches about the prayer that Jonah prayed for from the belly of a whale. He declared, “Salvation belongs to the Lord!” before he was saved from his perilous situation. The salvation he was declaring was so much greater than his current circumstance. He first was saved from himself, from the path of destruction he was on.
Can a man survive three nights in the belly of a whale? Is there any truth to this well-known Bible story? In today's message, Pastor Dan will argue that the story of Jonah not only really occurred, but that it also was representational of the future death and resurrection that Jesus would experience. Jesus himself connected his story to Jonah's and so doubting the validity of the Jonah story would naturally cause doubt of the resurrection story. Keep listening to hear why you can't believe one without believing the other!
Disobedience leads to consequences. Either you are following the Lord and receiving His grace and blessings, or you are disobeying His commandments. Today Pastor Dan shares, that no amount of good luck, open doors, or internal peace means your disobedience is okay. Realize that Satan can give you favorable circumstances, the green light, or just the right excuses for not following God's will. But the truth is either you are contrary or submitting to the Lord. Have you been making excuses for your sin?
Jonah is primarily known for spending three days in the belly of a fish. But what Pastor Dan wants you to remember is what happens when you go against God's will. Jonah was the only profit in the Bible to go against God's call, and then he ended up in the belly of a fish. What's going to happen when you go against the Lord? You probably won't be swallowed up, but you will face consequences. The truth is you don't know better than God. You can't pick and choose what to believe in the Bible.
Pastor Dan shares a hard truth in today's study. The Lord wants everyone to come to Christ and be saved. No matter how evil the individual is, salvation is available to them. Every adulterer or murderer; any sinner can come to Christ and receive forgiveness for their transgression. Anyone who judges these people and believes they don't deserve salvation is self-righteous. God doesn't wish for any to perish, even the wicked. No matter how large the sin is, anyone who comes to Christ can be set free.
As a Christian, living in a sinful world will be a challenge for you. Humans consist of both flesh and spirit, and if our spirit and our flesh duke it out, the flesh will win. The spirit may be willing, but the flesh is weak. Well Today Pastor Dan will continue reading through the book of Obadiah, where you will learn that because our physical bodies can perish, but our souls cannot, we can still go on to live forever with Christ if we are believers. It is the Spirit of God that gives spiritual life to our human spirits!
It's better to be humble than to have a superiority complex. Pride not only brings your downfall but also makes you look foolish in the process. But proud people realize this too late, only when they face a grave situation in life and the experience teaches them a valuable lesson. Well Today Pastor Dan will continue reading through the book of Obadiah, where you will see Obadiah's prophesy come true. When God dealt with Edom, God keeps His promise to His people, “Whoever curses you I will curse”
Edom was a wealthy and powerful nation. With so many traders passing through their well-defended territory, the Edomites saw themselves as "untouchable" in the region. And in their arrogance, they defied God at every corner. And when the Israelites needed their help, they turned them away. Well Today Pastor Dan will be reading through the book of Obadiah where he prophesies the destruction of the Edomites. This destruction was a consequence of their pride and their mistreatment of Israel.
Today God’s Word is so widely available, that it’s hard to understand how rare it was in the past, or how scarce God’s Word might be in the future. What can you do In preparation for a future where you can't access a bible so easily? Well Today Pastor Dan will be reading through the book of Amos, where you will see the people of Israel suppress the truth and reject God's Word, and so God gives them exactly what they ask for. God says that He will soon send a peculiar famine. A famine of hearing the Word of God.
Sometimes when a project or a job is too distorted and crooked, the only option left is to take it apart and start from scratch. Today Pastor Dan will be reading through the book of Amos, where you will see the prophet Amos being given a vision of a plumb line which would become the symbol of the standard by which God's people would need to live. The people of Israel were so deep with sin, so far away from The Lord, that He had no choice but to tear down Israel, wipe away the sin, and start a new one.
The fact that God disciplines those he loves seems to go against what we want. Why on Earth would you want to be punished by God and how can God love you if He wants to punish you right? It seems like an oxymoron. But remember that God chastens in proportion to His love. And Today Pastor Dan will be reading through the book of Amos, where you will see that God Disciplines and chastises those He loves, to make them better. He corrects you because He has accepted you as his child.
The idea of rest isn’t all bad. Jesus wants to give you rest. Rest is waiting for the people of God in heaven. But there is another kind of rest, a sinful kind of rest connected to indifference, laziness, and indulgence, and it should be avoided at all costs. Today Pastor Dan will be reading through the book of Amos, where you will see the Israelites laugh at the so-called Judgment of God because they had become lazy in their faith. God calls us to always be prepared in season and out of season. Are you?
Patiently keeping silent does not mean passive quietism, it may mean active resistance to evil, or non-cooperation with evil. Today Pastor Dan will be reading through the book of Amos, where you will see that it's important to remain prudent in times of great evil. In such times your voice might be more actions instead of words. You have to seek the good and live it out, in order to reestablish justice and righteousness around you. But remember to seek God over all else, and He'll have your back.
What does it mean to seek God? To truly seek God means seeking good, doing justice and righteousness, worshiping Him in the right way, and seeking His word. Today Pastor Dan will be reading through the book of Amos, where you will see examples of God’s justice and judgment for the Israelites. And how Amos had a particular message for Israel that God assigned him to preach among them, which was “Seek God, and live”. but Israel doesn't seek God, and His Judgment comes just as He told them.
If you’re given a warning about a tornado that’s been sighted, but you disregard it, it’s only natural that you’re in the path of destruction. It would be foolish to ignore the warning signs and assume you’ll be just fine. In a similar way, Pastor Dan talks today about God’s warnings of judgment, and how God’s people continued living in their wicked ways, not taking what God promised seriously. This is so common for human nature to kick in, and for people to think they know better than God.
As a parent, you don’t enjoy giving consequences to your children. You don’t delight or get pleasure in seeing their pain or their disappointment. But there are times when it’s necessary for something to sting, to get their attention, and to turn their hard heart back to a soft, moldable place. This was God’s intent with the judgments that came for His people. It didn’t give God enjoyment to see them suffer and become prisoners of exile. Today, Pastor Dan explains God’s reasonings for what He allowed.
If you were taken by force and were in bondage to human trafficking, you’d never forget the person or the organization that rescued you out of that lifestyle and set you free in a new kind of life, apart from that horrible existence. Did you realize that it’s exactly the same way when God rescues you from your sinful lifestyle and sets you free from that bondage? Today, Pastor Dan helps you see that the bondage of the Israelites was released, similarly to the bondage of your sin that you’re freed from.
When you look at your nation today, do you feel like it has fallen into the same trap as nations before? You’re not far off from the truth! Today, Pastor Dan mentions that when a nation falls away from appreciating and following God and His Word, there’s sure to be a downfall. It’s happened time and time again. So history tends to repeat itself. Today, you’ll hear about how God’s own people were judged, because they followed after the world and the ungodly things that other nations sought after, to their demise.
Have you noticed in current times, but also in the course of history, that nations that don’t value human life also don’t follow the God of the Bible? It’s a recurring pattern that when the One true God is not even a thought in a nation’s mind, they end up devaluing human life. How sad! In today’s teaching, Pastor Dan helps you see that whether or not a nation or a person believes in God, they will still be judged by God. God’s ways and God’s Word are the standards that you’re measured on.
When you throw someone from the back-woods and insert them into an urban, thriving, fast-moving setting like New York City, that person would feel like a fish out of water. Have you ever been in a similar situation where you feel so out of place? In today’s teaching, Pastor Dan will help you understand what this was like for a prophet named Amos, called out of his comfort zone, to the other kingdom. He had an unpleasant message to give, which made it even more difficult, but He followed God anyway.
Sometimes in a book or a movie, you just want to get past all the bad stuff and get to the ending, where it hopefully resolves or makes everything else make sense. But it takes going through those difficult things to further appreciate the resolution. In today’s teaching, Pastor Dan gets further into the details of what the day of the Lord means and what God’s purpose is in bringing justice to the world. But the story doesn’t end in doom and gloom. When you turn to the next chapter of the story, there’s hope!
There are situations where you’re not looking for a fight. But if someone breaks into your home, looking to hurt your family, there’s no question that you’re going to fight, and maybe even kill someone in self-defense. Well today, pastor Dan’s teaching is an interesting one, where it’s talking about God being in this position, where He’s going to fight the enemy. He’s defending His people, and He’s not going to cower and let the enemy take over. He’s going to say, “Bring it on….I’m ready for the fight!”
Many tragic events have occurred to the Jewish people over the centuries. It started with them being slaves in Egypt. Then there’s that infamous situation with Haman and Esther, where they were plotted against, to be annihilated. One can never erase the fact that the Holocaust of the 20th century was deplorable and inhumane. Why is the world out to get the Jews? Today, Pastor Dan explains that this is part of Satan’s plan in history. He’s aiming to take out the Jews, and he keeps trying.
When you go to a county fair, there are mazes or “fun houses” that have all kinds of crazy routes of confusion. You start to see things through distorted mirrors. People might start jumping out at you and startling you, breaking your train of thought. Well today, Pastor Dan expresses something that may be unpopular with some. But he’ll give you a good understanding of Scripture about the purpose of some of the spiritual gifts that God gives to people. It’s never for show, and it’s not confusing!
When you overhear some people speaking in Chinese, you can appreciate such a different sounding language, but you have no clue what they’re saying! So it doesn’t really help you out in communicating with those people, because you’re excluded in a language sense. Now think of a special spiritual language that’s spoken, but you still don’t understand. It really does you no good! Today, Pastor Dan speaks about the benefits of having the gift of tongues, and where it’s most useful to express it.
Have you ever been in competition with someone and you feel like you have to “one-up” them by doing something even better or stronger than what they can do? This seems to creep into the church too when it comes to spiritual gifts. Today, Pastor Dan helps you see that spiritual gifts are not something you achieve; they’re given to you by God! So if you happen to have a gifting that’s different than the person sitting next to you, that’s ok! In fact, it’s good and healthy for there to be a variety of gifts!
Do the gifts of the Spirit make a difference in your life? Have you thought about them at all in, say, the last week? Pastor Dan reminds us today that our attitude toward the gifts of the Spirit should be to earnestly desire them. We are to burn with zeal for the gifts of the Spirit. Why do you think that is? When we are desiring the gifts of the Spirit, we move closer to the Spirit. We move in step with him because we want to learn from him. Look for the Spirit today and ask him for more of his gifts!
Stop a moment and let these words sink in: the Spirit of God wants to talk to you. He has things to say about the problems you're facing. He has things to say about who you are and why you're on this earth. He has things to say about the way you're living. And Pastor Dan is going to show us today that one of the ways the Spirit wants to speak to you is through the gifts he has given to the people around you. And he wants to use you and your gifts to speak to them! Listen for his voice today!
Does your church emphasize becoming part of a small group, but you're not really sure why? This is why. Pastor Dan shows us today that God works through the people around us to lead and guide us. He has given gifts to the people around you to build you up and strengthen you. It is through the body of Christ that we grow closer to Christ. So jump in today. Spend more time at that fellowship hour or join that small group and see what fellowshipping with the people around you does for your spiritual life!
Last time you headed out to church on a Sunday morning, were you anticipating God speaking to you through the people you would see there? Or, were you wondering how long the sermon would be and if you'd have time for a nap later that day? Pastor Dan is going to encourage us today to be open to hearing from the Lord through the gifts he has given the people around us. Next time you head to church, remember that you're meeting with the body of Christ and he might have something to say through them!
Talk about a power nap! Peter took a nap on the roof of the house and God entered into that space. And because he was receptive to the work of the Spirit even in his dreams, he made a different choice that day. Pastor Dan tells you today that Peter chose to go with the Gentiles who were asking to know God. And because of one power nap on a roof so many years ago, you now know salvation and you now have the Spirit within you! Next time you nap, thank God for his Spirit and listen for his voice!
One of the most extraordinary things about the early church was what Pastor Dan is talking about today—the radical and sacrificial love the people had for each other. The Spirit was working in their hearts and minds to create the unity of believers, and people saw the pain and the need of the others. Not only that, they allowed the Spirit to move them to do something about it. Ask the Spirit to move in your heart today as he did in the early church. Ask him to move you into greater compassion.
Pastor Dan is digging into the work of the Spirit in the individual and in the church today. And when you look at the early church you will see that the Spirit of God filling the disciples made them bold to declare the good news. When they were in the upper room they weren't busy having a pep rally to get everyone's gumption up to go share the news. They were being filled with the Spirit and the boldness flowed out of them like fountains of living water. Soak up the Spirit today, and become bold for God!
Do you ever look at the instructions in the Bible and feel like you'll never measure up? Maybe you're the husband with a drive to succeed but you keep forgetting to give up your life for your wife. Maybe you're a kid trying to honor your parents but you've got a temper! Pastor Dan has some really great news for you today. Because you can't make the holy life happen on your own, God has given you his Spirit to help you. You can, when you are filled with the Spirit, grow to be more like Christ.
It is only by the Spirit of God that we are being made perfect. He is working in us to create the fruit of the Spirit. We can't manufacture any of the fruits on our own. We can't be more patient, more loving, and more joyful, without the Spirit at work within us! Pastor Dan is going to talk about the work of the Spirit today. Do you want to become more like Jesus? There's only one way, and it's not by trying harder. Let go of the reigns today and let the Spirit of God do his perfecting work in your life!
The Father promised to send the Spirit and Peter said on Pentecost that the promise is for all who are far off, and that means you. The Father has promised you the Spirit. You have the greatest secret weapon in the war against the enemy. When he comes against you with lies and accusations, the Spirit of God is within you declaring the truth. He is there to tell you that you are covered in the blood of the lamb and there is no condemnation. Join Pastor Dan today to hear more about your secret weapon!
When people talk about living life in the Spirit, do you automatically think of those super-spiritual people who spend hours praying and reading the Bible? Maybe you picture the people who stand on the stage, leading worship or preaching. It may feel like your life doesn't have anything that requires the Spirit, but Pastor Dan tells us today that that's not so! The smallest task can be and needs to be done in the power of the Spirit. Invite him every day and watch how your life changes!
Pastor Dan is working through the book of Joel, where it says that the Spirit of God will be poured out on all flesh. Can you imagine the joy in heaven as the Spirit is sent out? God is looking at you and saying, “I'm not going to leave you alone like an orphan. I'm going to send my Spirit!” You will never be alone again. You have a constant companion who is there to comfort, guide, and teach you. In your loneliest moments, you can hold onto the promise of God's Spirit and know you aren't alone.
Have you royally messed up your life? Did rebellion and wild behavior seem like a good idea at the time, but now you're seeing the devastating effects? Pastor Dan is going to show you today that God isn't waiting for you with a switch in the back shed. He is waiting for you with healing and restoration in his wide-open arms. Turn toward him and take one step, and watch him come running down the road to meet you. Let him bring his healing and restoration to meet you in your brokenness.
It can be frightening to look at all of the horrible things the bible says are going to happen in the time known as, “the great and terrible Day of The Lord.” But, we shouldn't forget what it says about God's character, about His grace and His mercy. Pastor Dan reminds us in today's message about the goodness of God. About His desire for us to turn to Him with all our hearts, because of His mercy and His grace. The Bible says that God is willing that none should perish but that all should come to repentance.
In today's society, things are not always what they appear to be. It's easy for people to present an image of themselves that is completely different from who they actually are. But we know that God sees who we truly are on the inside and that's what He cares about most. In today's message, Pastor Dan show's how important it is for us to have a humble heart before God. He is not fooled by or impressed with whatever show we can put on outwardly, but it's what's on the inside that He is looking for.
Everybody knows what it's like to try and do... anything in the dark. You can't see where things are, or what's around you, so you end up constantly bumping into things and knocking things over. And if you're to trying to find something that you're looking for... Good luck! In today's message Pastor, Dan shows us how scripture is the light we need in this dark world that we live in. As Christians, we see the things that are taking place in the world and then look to the word of God to understand them.
Different people have many different opinions on everything that is going on in the world today. Some people panicked, while others can't see the big deal. There are those that are preparing for difficult days ahead, while others still, talk about the best days being yet to come. In today's message Pastor Dan, tells us that no matter what things look like at the current moment, what we all really need, is to get right with Jesus. To turn from anything that would keep us from Him and all that He has to offer.
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where things just seem to be going from bad to worse? A place where you don't know up from down or left from right? Where does everything seem to be falling apart? In today's message Pastor Dan shares about a time like this in Israel's history. The good news was that God was using their situation to get their attention. He wanted them to see the trouble they were in so that they would repent and cry out to Him with complete sincerity in their hearts.
Have you ever experienced a crisis in your life? Where you didn't know what to do or where to turn? A time when you really needed help and you were at the end of your rope? In today's message, Pastor Dan shares about a time when the nation Israel was in a tough spot and God sent His word to them through His prophet Joel. Israel really needed the refreshing that came from God's word in that season they were in. The same refreshing that His word can give you today, in whatever season you're in.
One of the hardest things in the world can be to admit when you've done something wrong. Even if you see the error of your ways and know that things aren't going to end well if you don't change course. Today in this message Pastor Dan gives us good reasons for giving in and confessing our faults. The apostle John says if we confess our sins, that God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In order to get right with God, first – we must admit what we've done wrong.
Have you ever tried to do things your own way and you just end up making a big mess out of things? You're not alone. In today's message, Pastor Dan is taking a look at the nation of Israel and the big mess they got themselves into. Israel insisted on doing things on their own, But God sent His prophets to call them to repent, to make things right. Only He could get them out of the trouble they were in, if only they would turn to Him. The same is true for us if we turn to God when we find ourselves in trouble.
God is never pleased with the destruction of his own creation. He doesn't take pleasure in punishing the wicked, but rather in showing mercy to those who would turn to Him. In Today's message, Pastor Dan shows us how gracious God is and how He loves His children. Even when Israel had turned its back on God and was spiritually dead, He reminded them that they could still turn to Him. Just like when we were lost in our sins, He sent Jesus to rescue us from the path of destruction we were on.
And if you know someone like that, whether it be a rebellious child or a friend, you understand how frustrating it is to watch them constantly go against God. So you pray and you talk to them when you can and you hope that they pay attention to God before it’s too late. Now, in Pastor Dan’s teaching, it’ll become clear that God was done with this particular generation of Israelites. And it broke His heart to have to carry out His judgment on them because He loved them so much.
And although it’s easy to lose sight of the grace of God when you read the Old Testament, it’s still there. Kinda like an undercurrent, flowing beneath the more obvious stuff. By Hosea’s time, the people of Israel were completely off the rails as far as their relationship with God. But as you’ll hear in Pastor Dan’s teaching today, even though God said that there was nothing they could do to keep the Assyrians from taking them captive, God showed them that there was hope for their country’s future.
Sadly, some parallels can be drawn between the history of Israel and many countries in the world today. The moral decline combined with the increase of opposition to Biblical standards can easily be seen. Fortunately for the world today, the remedy’s available, as you’ll hear Pastor Dan teach about. It’s the same solution that was reachable for the ancient Hebrews: turn to God. Although they didn’t heed Hosea’s advice, it’s still possible for the people of today to pay attention and dodge their own destruction.
God loves everyone – even the people who openly defy and hate Him. He doesn’t want to see them go into eternal punishment, but His character says that people get what they want. Not in a vengeful, “get back at them” way, but as the natural consequences of the decisions, they’ve made. Pastor Dan’s showing you in his teaching today that it was the same way for the Israelites on the day of Hosea. You’ll see that even as the day of judgment was approaching, God was trying to get their attention.
People who come to Christ often talk about having the feeling of a load being lifted, of a great burden being removed. Having been living under the guilt of the things they’ve done wrong, of the people they’ve hurt, with no way to make it right. Thankfully, God makes it possible to get free from the weight of sin, and this is what Pastor Dan’s teaching about today. The Israelites knew this but they’d chosen to do their own thing, which left them with their guilt and sin and was about to end with their going into captivity.
And that’s the challenge, isn’t it? To do what you do, for God’s glory and praise rather than for your own? As you read the Old Testament chronologically you can see the rise of Israel from really nothing to this great power under David and Solomon, then their decline to eventual exile. Pastor Dan’s teaching is taking you through the time before Israel is conquered by Assyria and taken into exile. It’s a sad story of God trying to get their attention and get them to change before it’s too late.
And everybody has…that…family member, don’t they? We’ve got to invite Uncle Ralphie to the family picnic – after all, he’s family. Even though he’s obnoxious and is sure to do something stupid while he’s there. And so it’s easy to transfer the same sense of obligation to God. But as Pastor Dan will be teaching today, that’s a completely wrong view of God. Even though He’s about to lower the boom on His people, He’s still reaching out to them, trying to get them to listen and repent and avoid exile.
And you can see the same thing around the world these days. Those who choose to follow Jesus unapologetically get given a hard time. In some countries, the harassment rises to outright persecution and martyrdom. While there may not have been the killing of the devout Jews during Hosea’s time, they certainly weren’t liked among the idolaters. Pastor Dan’s teaching will show how the people of Israel seemed to be happy to go into captivity as long as they got to do what they wanted.
You’ve heard the saying, “The grass looks greener on the other side”. And it’s true that many times the things someone else has or is doing look more attractive than what you’re experiencing. The people of Israel had been living this way for generations – turning away from God Jehovah and serving the gods of the countries around them. Well, doing that has consequences as you’ll hear in Pastor Dan’s teaching today. Going your own way and living your life without God will have disastrous results.
It’s so sad to watch people look for meaning and purpose in all the wrong places. They stumble from job obsession to chasing money, to drugs or sex or a combination of all the above, and doing nothing except burning their lives and relationships out. The people in Hosea’s time were doing much the same thing, with the same results. Pastor Dan will show in his teaching the futility of what the Israelites were doing, as well as the solution that God offered them – the same solution He offers today.
Actions have consequences. You know that if you hit your thumb with a hammer that there’s a good chance that unpleasant words will jump out of your mouth. On a more serious note, you also know that bad business leadership will eventually produce a bad business culture. It’s no different for national leadership, and God had warned the people of Israel to stay right with Him. But as Pastor Dan will teach today, the Hebrews chose their own path, and you’re going to learn about the consequences of their actions.
Living your life for Christ requires sacrifice, self-denial, and the possibility of persecution- the list could go on. Why would you turn away from all the World has to offer? Today Pastor Dan shares some benefits of following the Lord's path for you in today's message. Those who walk in righteousness will experience peace, joy, guidance, an eternity in Heaven- and the list continues. When you lay out the pros and cons, the decision to follow Christ will always win because it lasts forever.
Light is where healing and restoration can be found. However, as Pastor Dan shares in today's message, you must be willing to give up the darkness. Darkness is where you try to hide your sins. In the darkness, we fulfill fleshly desires, live in our pride, and delight in all things evil. But the light of Christ offers freedom from your sin. The shackles of your temptation can be broken with the redeeming love found in Christ. What does it take to experience this freedom and love? Give up the darkness.
Many of us are more than capable of noticing whether or not someone is genuine in their remorse when facing the consequences of their actions. But can we recognize it when we're not being genuine in our own suffering from poor choices? In today's message, Pastor Dan reflects on the importance of true contrition when suffering the effects of sin in our lives. In his study, you'll learn the importance of grieving over the sin itself, as opposed to grieving over the results of our sin.
Have you ever felt as though you could keep your sin hidden from The Lord, or at the very least, other believers? As much as many of us would care not to admit it, we all too often fall into the trap of thinking we can keep our sins hidden from The Lord. However, as Pastor Dan will teach you in his message today, this is one of the worst traps of oppression that we can fall into. In his study, you'll learn both the importance and power of bringing your sin before The Lord regularly so as to receive liberation.
Perhaps one of the greatest mistakes we can make as believers is to approach the Old Testament as if it's been outdated by the New. Unfortunately, some will go so far as to suggest that we should only read the New Testament. However, as Pastor Dan discusses in his message today, they actually both play a role in giving us a broader picture of The Gospel message. In his study, you'll learn that just as with the priests of the Old Covenant, we too are called to be messengers of the truth to the lost.
Many of us can scarce imagine a world where evil is completely unfettered and free to have its way all across the world. As evil as the days may look now, they don't even come close to the days in which the restrainer, The Holy Spirit, is removed along with the Church. In today's message, Pastor Dan reflects on the contrast between the desires of Israel, and the world today. In his study, you'll learn how Israel's desire for the removal of God ultimately led to their downfall and all manners of evil.
Imagine being in the peak condition of any given nation, or “golden age” so to speak. Life is great, the economy is thriving, and there isn't a single concern about what you'll eat the next day. Now imagine an odd individual constantly warning about judgment. In today's message, Pastor Dan reflects on the state of Israel leading up to its sudden destruction, as warned by The Lord. In his study, you'll gain a better understanding of the arrogance and pride of those who refused to heed the warnings of Hosea.
Many of us would be quick to agree that it only takes a few minutes of scrolling through social media to see the division in our society. What used to be topics we could cordially disagree with and move on have become incredible points of tension and strife. In today's message, Pastor Dan reflects on the amazing unity that Christ offers, where all who come to Him are one. In his study, you'll learn about the healing, unifying, love-inspiring unity that the Gospel brings, and how society desperately needs it.
Chances are you've heard it said that unless there's a choice, it isn't love. If we were to somehow have control over someone's emotions towards us, it'd be more like having a relationship with a robot! Thankfully for us, God absolutely respects our choice. In today's message, Pastor Dan reflects on the free-will nature that God designed us with and how He desires that we choose to love Him. In his study, you'll gain a better understanding of God wants nothing more than for us to love Him, seek His will, and follow His ways by choice.
Have you ever heard the term “minor prophets”? The term by no means insinuates that they're “lesser” of any of the other prophets, but that the books themselves are shorter in nature. While Hosea is considered one of these minor prophets, its message is huge. As Pastor Dan will teach you in his message today, that message is a message of God's amazing love. In his study, you'll gain a better understanding of the nature of God's love for His own, even when His own live in rebellion.
Do you feel guilt? There are some people who take on things that aren’t even their fault and end up being so riddled with guilt that they can’t even look at themselves. Today, Pastor Dan reminds us that, when we sin, we need to ask for forgiveness from whoever got caught in the mix…But beyond that, we need to ask for forgiveness from God, because at the end of the day, His thoughts and opinions matter more. Don’t be riddled with guilt, simply repent and ask God for the forgiveness He gives so freely.
Do you ever find it hard – as a Christian – to be true friends with unbelievers? There’s always going to be a gap, things left unsaid. Today, Pastor Dan reminds us why that is: we aren’t meant to yoke ourselves with people who don’t follow Jesus. That doesn’t mean you shun them! it just means your relationship doesn’t look the same as it would if you both followed Christ. You need people in your life from whom you can confide and receive advice… and as a Christian, that will never be with an unbeliever.
We all alter our speech or actions, depending on who we’re around; it’s a social rule of adapting to your audience. But Pastor Dan reminds us in today’s message, that we should never adapt or change or water down the Words of God. Every word written in the Bible is intentional and deliberate. You’re not offensive, but there are people who will be offended by Jesus; that doesn’t mean you alter the message to tickle their ears. People need to hear the truth – no matter how hard it may be to swallow.
Do you ever feel like a failure? Life can be so difficult and unpredictable, and we don’t control of our circumstances… just our reactions. Pastor Dan reminds us today how important it is to be rooted in Jesus. If you trust God to take care of you no matter what, your anxiety and fear no longer have a home in you. Dig deep into God’s Word and spend intimate time with Him; the more you grow in Him, the more you’re bound to trust Him. And when He’s on your side…what can possibly intimidate you?
Have you ever been caught off guard? It doesn’t usually feel good! We don’t know what to say or how to even feel. Today, Pastor Dan urges us to pay attention to the signs of the times. Jesus is coming soon, and if you know anything about the book of Revelation, you’ll know that these signs will only grow in size and frequency. When Jesus returns, you don’t want to be caught with unfinished business or unresolved hurt or anger. Live like Jesus is coming today. And look up – because soon, you’ll see Him coming.
Do you ever struggle to find people that you really connect with? For Christians, it’s arguably harder to find those people, because many believers just seem to be going through the motions. Pastor Dan reminds us today that we’re called to pay attention to the times we live in, because, as we get closer to Jesus’ return, the signs become clearer and more frequent. And we don’t want to be caught asleep! Don’t be like the majority of the people in the Bible who weren’t watching for Jesus, even though it was His time.
Do you ever hesitate to share the gospel because you don’t feel adequate for the task? Or perhaps you’re facing a very resistant audience and just have a feeling no one will listen? Well, today, Pastor Dan will encourage you to simply share what God has done for you. Just start there. One man, healed by Jesus shared his own story of redemption with an entire region of resistant unbelievers and changed a nation. Many came to believe in Jesus for salvation because of one man’s courage to share the gospel!
Often, the things you see can cause you to lust after them and lure you in, thus abandoning what God has for you. Today, Pastor Dan explains that the tribe of Gad saw good land on their journey to the Promised Land. They chose what was pleasing to their eyes and ceased following God completely. And though it wasn’t instantly terrible, it wasn’t God’s best for them. They were more vulnerable to attack by the enemy. As you will be if you make choices based on your worldly desires instead of being obedient to God!
The tribe of Dan left the will and plan of God to pursue an easier life. After that choice, their lives were a series of big and tiny decisions, made out of comfort, convenience, or pride that eventually led to their destruction. Today, Pastor Dan will challenge you to diligently examine your life and rid it of sin, even if it’s just a bit. Don’t compromise and allow sin to remain in your life. It’ll eventually grow and spread throughout your life. When you see sin, repent of it and get back to the life God intends for you!
Sometimes, following the call of God in your life, and living obediently to Him can be tiring. It’s not easy to stay faithful and obedient. But, that doesn’t mean you should give up. Today, Pastor Dan will explain how the tribe of Dan grew weary of fighting off enemies and left where God had placed them to follow their own will. But, that decision was a great mistake that had ramifications for entire generations. Don’t lose heart! Staying in God’s will, even if it’s a challenge is far better than staying away.
It’s interesting that many of the traits prophesied of these twelve sons of Jacob can be found in Jesus’ character. And one of the prophecies about Judah specifically refers to the Messiah, Jesus. As Pastor Dan teaches about Jacob’s prophesying over each of his sons, you’ll learn about the qualities that God’s looking for in you, too. You’ll find out what the descendants of these men did in the history of the nation of Israel, and how they fulfilled the God-inspired prophecies spoken by their father.
Isn’t that amazing? Not only was the land not divided up, but the people of Israel also wouldn’t even be there for another five hundred years! How could Jacob know what would happen to his kids? It was because he had a really tight relationship with God, and he had a prophetic gift. And you’ll hear more about the remarkable things Jacob had to say about his sons in Pastor Dan’s teaching today. You’ll be encouraged to become the kind of parent whose relationship with God will enable you to speak powerfully into your kids’ lives, too.
It’s tragic that Reuben and his direct descendants had no positive legacy – surely God had more for Reuben and his kin to be known for than rebellion. You probably know people like this, too – no ambition except to do as little as possible, trying to get away with as much as they can. And those people are missing out on what God has for them. You’ll hear in Pastor Dan’s teaching today God’s warning against this kind of behavior, and encouragement to obey God and do your best for God’s glory.
And predictive prophecy is one of the places where critics or skeptics of the Bible have problems. How could mere mortals predict what would happen even three days in the future, let alone hundreds, or thousands of years from their time? So, they invent excuses, like the books were back-credited after the fact. But as you’ll hear in Pastor Dan’s teaching today, the declarations made by Jacob about his sons were clearly fulfilled. History affirms the words spoken by Jacob and confirms the truth of God’s word.
And you know that’s true. People fight to get credit for whatever small part they had in a successful venture. Have you ever done that? Most likely so, if only in a small way. This is how most people are raised, to take credit for what they’ve done right. But as Pastor Dan will be teaching, that’s not how God works things. Because He wants the credit alone, He picks the most unlikely people to accomplish great things for His kingdom. He enjoys working this way, so let Him work His wonders through you.
The tendency for people is to talk about what they’ve done in their lives, or with their lives. To trumpet their accomplishments, and remind everyone else how great or successful they have been. But as you’ll hear Pastor Dan teach today, those people miss the point of their lives. What your life should be about is serving God. Listening to God, and being obedient to God. And you’ll learn that this is what Jacob, for all of his life successes, was focused on telling his son and grandsons at the end of his life.
And that’s the same question that every human being – from the Aboriginal without a written language to the Harvard-educated philosopher who believes that the concept of God is a myth – will have to answer one day. As Pastor Dan will be teaching today, how you answer that question will determine your eternal destiny. All of the trappings of fame and power didn’t keep Pharoah from having to deal with this issue. And in the same way, you yourself will have to give an account of Who Jesus is to you.
So, do you think you would’ve been as charitable towards your siblings if you’d been Joseph? They had done him wrong! They’d even thought of killing him! And yet, he forgave them and introduced them to Pharoah in the best light possible. As Pastor Dan will be teaching today, Jesus does the same thing for you, when you decide to follow Him. He presents you to His Father, your King, in the best light possible – with Jesus’ own righteousness. What a wonderful thing He’s done for you!
We can all love to have junk food. Potato chips, cookies, etc. junk food can taste so good. But a short time later don’t you want more? There is something about junk food that never truly satisfies. Paster Dan shares that, unlike junk food and the things of this world, there is only one thing or the person who completely satisfies. Jesus. You often seek answers to questions and look for solutions to problems by looking to the world for answers. But the world can never satisfy as Jesus can.
Don’t you hate to stop and ask for directions? Especially when you are late or really want to get somewhere? Well, Pastor Dan shares that we should always stop and pray and ask God for guidance and direction. Even when you think you're doing the right thing and going in the right direction, you should turn to God so you can align yourself with His plans and purposes. Because as you know it’s frustrating getting lost when all you needed to do was stop and ask.
We are bombarded with all kinds of messages every day. But how can we believe them? What is a lie and what is truth? From tv and radio commercials to newscasts and podcasts it can be tough to discern what is true. Pastor Dan shares in the case of God and his word He can be trusted. What He says about you is the absolute truth. Satan can lie to you and feed you all kinds of doubts about God. But you can believe God, because of his word and the gifts and blessings which confirm that word.
There is NO WAY I can forgive them for that! Have you ever said that? It’s hard to forgive especially when we can’t forget the pain it caused us. Today Pastor Dan shares about how Joseph not only forgave his brothers but showed grace and mercy toward them as well. This is something Jesus commands you to do. And yes, there are still consequences for sinful behavior, and you won’t forget how you were wronged. But Pastor Dan shares that just as Jesus forgave those who wronged him you are to forgive.
Have ever been to a class reunion or family reunion and said to yourself “Wow that person has really changed!” or “That person is exactly as I remember them!”. In part of today’s message Pastor Dan shares about the change, you go through when you accept Christ as your Lord and savior. An inner change that other people can notice through your behaviors and choices. And then at your next class reunion or family reunion, you’ll hear “Wow! you have really changed! what happened?
Have ever been through a “hall of mirrors” at an amusement park or county fair? Which direction do you go? Left or right? Straight ahead or backward? Well, Pastor Dan shares that in you is the God-given ability to know which direction to go and to do the right thing. But we are living in a “hall of mirrors”. And that can confuse you and distort the true path to take. So, yes you can get off track and have difficulty knowing how to navigate this world. But God is always wanting to show you the way.
Remember middle school? Did you find it hard to fit in and make friends? Most of us can relate to that experience. What about you as a Christian? Do you find it hard to “fit in” with those around you? In today’s message, Pastor Dan shares what it’s like to be a Christian in today’s world and how that relates to the Hebrews in Egypt during Old Testament times. Pastor Dan also shares how God uses our life experiences to prepare us for our eternity with Him in Heaven.
We can all probably remember a time or times when we have been deeply hurt by someone. What was your reaction? What would be your reaction to them years later? Well, Pastor Dan shares how one man in the book of Genesis reacted after much pain, suffering, and disappointment. You may have suffered or are still suffering from the results of a relationship. But God wants you to know that when you put your faith and trust in Him, He can turn broken relationships around for good.
How many of us can attest to that? Deep down we know we need to make a decision or take action, yet we let the problem fester and grow into something we knew would become unmanageable. So why do we continue to ignore such pressing matters? In today's message, Pastor Dan will teach you the importance of prayerfully taking initiative as soon as you see a problem. In his study, you'll learn just how crucial it is that you confront each issue, big or small, with prayer, the counsel of others, and action.
Whether it's our own upbringing, the society around us, or otherwise, many of us feel as though we need to carry our own burdens. As you've probably experienced several times in your own walk, carrying the burden can end up being overwhelming. However, as Pastor Dan will remind you in his message today, we as believers have no need to carry such burdens. In his study, you'll learn the importance of casting your burdens before The Lord, who willingly takes them from all who would bring them.
Many of us have experienced our fair share of various offenses, betrayals, and other grievances that leave us with two choices. Forgive and forget, or bitterness and resentment. If you think back to some of the major offenses you've experienced, what was it that you chose? In today's message, Pastor Dan reflects on the importance of forgiving others and moving on. In his study, you'll learn how forgiving others not only benefits those who we forgive but removes the burden of unforgiving bitterness.
Whether we care to admit it or not, many of us struggle with maintaining a healthy perspective regarding the sovereignty of God. It's all too often that we find ourselves in a state of concern, worry, or sometimes even flat-out panic. However, as Pastor Dan will remind you in his message today, one of the best examples of God's sovereignty is none other than the life of Joseph. In his study, you'll gain a better understanding of how God works in and through the trying times of life that seem otherwise hopeless.
Many of us would agree that one of the most enjoyable parts of studying The Bible is when we come across examples or metaphors of Christ. As you're probably well aware, Joseph is perhaps one of the most prominent individuals that point us to Jesus. As Pastor Dan discusses in his message today, the life of Joseph and his role during the great famine allude to many things. In his study, you'll gain a better understanding of how Joseph not only points us to Christ, but the famine speaks of the end times.
Many people are often impressed when someone offers solutions to a problem on a whims notice, particularly difficult problems. As believers and followers of Christ, we often rely on the guidance of The Spirit for our problems and should let them be known. In today's message, Pastor Dan reflects on how Joseph's humility played a role in witnessing to Pharaoh about God. In his study, you'll learn the importance of letting others know when it's God who provides, rather than taking credit for it yourself.
Many of us can scarce imagine being a prisoner one day, only to go on to be the second most powerful individual the next. If you're familiar with The Bible, chances are you're well aware that this could be none other than Joseph, who was wrongfully imprisoned. In today's message, Pastor Dan reflects on the sovereign will of God as he covers the account of Joseph. In his study, you'll be reminded that what might seem absolutely impossible, is one hundred percent possible with God.
Have you ever felt down, discouraged, a lack hope, or even flat-out depressed? Of course, you have, you're human just like the rest of us. As common as these emotions can be, the rather uncommon suggestion is to focus on others, rather than your own miseries. In today's message, Pastor Dan will teach you about one of the most powerful ways to fight a heavy heart. In his study, you'll learn how investing your time and energy in others is one of the quickest remedies to a heart weighed down woes.
Each and every one of us has gone through inconvenience or even suffering due to the inconsideration or selfishness of others. Whether it's selfish ambition or complete disregard for others, it can be frustrating, to say the least. However, as Pastor Dan discusses in his message today, it's times like these that it's all the more important that we don't allow ourselves to be given over to bitterness. In his study, you'll learn from the powerful example of Joseph, who suffered greatly, yet did no wrong.
We all know that sinking feeling of knowing that we've done something wrong. At first, we could be filled with shame and guilt... And we know in our minds that we can reach out to the Lord but it feels like we're too long gone, too broken, or too unlovable... But in today's message, Pastor Dan will remind you that the sacrifice Jesus made was for all sin. Not just the small ones or the ones we don't feel so bad about. Christ died for every sin so that we might have the boldness to approach Him for forgiveness.
Have you ever been tempted to do something you know you shouldn't do? We've all been there a time or two... The important thing is how we respond when we're tempted. For many of us, there's a bit of an internal dialogue. An argument back and forth with ourselves on what we'll do and what we should do... And in today's message, Pastor Dan will remind you there isn't a single temptation that God doesn't offer a way out of. We can't say we didn't have other options, we always have the freedom to defeat temptation in Christ.
When we go through hard things, and we all do, it's easy to feel alone. Maybe the people around you have chosen to distance themselves in the time of your need or you've distanced yourself... But no matter the situation, Pastor Dan will remind you that God is always with you. There is no struggle, fear, or trial in that God is not with you in. He promises to never leave us nor forsake us... And when it feels like we're all alone, we have to remember that our savior is near and only a prayer away from us.
Have you ever done something wrong by accident? We've all been there before, maybe you accidentally went too fast on a road that a speed limit changed or you parked in a no-parking zone without looking for the sign... But in today's message, Pastor Dan will remind you that there is a clear difference between an accident and willful sin. If there is something in your life that you know is a sin against God, you need to ask for forgiveness and the strength to overcome whatever is hindering you.
In today's message, Pastor Dan will encourage you to model the same grace and mercy that God has given to you. Often times when we hear of someone making a mistake, we can be quite angry. We can get frustrated and demand the worst possible punishment... But what if the tables were turned? What if it was you who was looking for mercy? You might not be so adamantly demanding the worst punishment. As believers in Christ, it's important to remember that we're all the same, in need of grace and mercy.
In today's message, Pastor Dan will remind you of an important relational truth. The Bible tells us that Christians shouldn't be unequally yoked with an unbeliever. So what does that mean? It simply means that for a Christian, being in a relationship with someone who isn't a Christian, is a recipe for heartbreak. Without aligning values and a mutual pursuit of the Lord, a relationship can't truly blossom into a Christ-centered union. While this may be hard to hear, it's important to know before saying, “I do”.
In today's message, Pastor Dan will share with you about grief. Nobody wants to talk about grief. Nobody wants to acknowledge grief, especially their own... But when we choose to ignore our grief, it can take control of us. Our grief can drown us and pull us far away from loved ones and the Lord... So if grief comes your way, push back. Make time to spend with loved ones and with Jesus. Volunteer in the church, go to every Bible study that you can... Invest in the Lord and He will comfort you.
In today's message, Pastor Dan will share with you about envy and how it can creep into our lives nearly undetected. The important thing to note about envy is that envy is not the same as jealousy. Jealousy says “Wow I wish I had what they have” while envy says “I want what they have and I don't want them to have it because I can't have it”. These types of feelings can be extremely dangerous to ourselves and others... When you begin to feel envy work its way into your heart, pray for gratitude.
In today's message, Pastor Dan will remind you that the Bible should be every Christian's one-stop-shop for wisdom and guidance. The Bible is the infallible word of God... What better way to know God's will and character than the book that He left for us? But for many of us, we don't really take the time to read God's word. We make excuses about how we don't have time or we're too busy... The truth is, we have to make time for reading the Bible. It needs to be a daily priority, even if it's only a few minutes.
In today's message, Pastor Dan will remind you of just how dangerous sin in our lives can be. Oftentimes, we don't think of our sin as dangerous, we just think of it as an area we need to work on or something like that... But the Bible says that we need to flee from sin! Sin is what ultimately brought death and separation from God. When we live in unrepentant sin, the only thing our lives will lead to is destruction and eternal torment... But we can be redeemed and washed by Jesus!
In today's message, Pastor Dan will remind you that the whole Bible has a purpose. Genesis 36 might seem like just a list of names and history but there is so much we can learn! Esau and his family could be interpreted as the sinful nature that all people have... This sinful nature is the result of the fall of humanity in the garden of Eden. But for all those who will accept it, the salvation of Jesus Christ can free us from the sin that separates us from God... So that one day might see Jesus face to face.
Does making a definite decision help you feel good? Kind of like, this is how it is and nothing will change my mind. It took an awful situation for Jacob to lead his family, getting rid of everything that shouldn't have been there in the first place. We learn from Pastor Dan today that God was there for Jacob. Can you imagine how discouraged Jacob might have been? He needed to hear reassurance from God and know that his actions didn't change God's promise to him. Folks, Jesus is faithful!
I have something important to tell you! God in His goodness looks past your mistakes and wants you to come to Him, or if you've wandered away, come BACK to Him. We see this desire in the life of Jacob. Jacob allowed his daughter to hang with the wrong crowd and the whole family paid for that decision. BUT God, in His love, told Jacob to go back to where they first met. To remember how much He's loved. This message is no different for you and me! This is what Pastor Dan talks about today.
Fooled into believing they would get the better end of the deal, the Canaanite men agreed to circumcision just so they could be like pirates and plunder all of Jacob's goods. We learn today from Pastor Dan that it didn't work out like that for them. Their greediness lost their lives. Literally. Folks, if we don't deal with our own offending acts how can we think we'll be o.k.? It took Jesus DYING on the cross so we can be forgiven. You and I have to DEMOLISH what we know to be wrong, and turn from it.
Jacob was caught between a rock and a hard place when he learned of an awful event that would ultimately tempt him to forfeit his faith and join up with a people known for their many sins. This group was called the Canaanites, and Jacob was a stranger living right outside their city gates. What happened? What did he do? Pastor Dan answers these questions today. If you call yourself a Christian, you're challenged to be SEPARATE from the world's way of doing things. Every decision, bad or good, counts!
I never really believed the truth of this phrase until I was in the thick of it...you become the company that you keep. Mixing with those that don't value what you do is a potential breeding ground for moral compromise. In today's message, we see this as Pastor Dan outlines a horrible incident in Jacob's family that couldn't be ignored. As humans, we all make conscious decisions to ignore or be aware of what's happening. Jacob knew what was going on and didn't address it until it cost his daughter pain.
FINALLY. That was a long time coming. Maybe you've felt this way before. Jacob settled in Shechem which was part of the promised land that God told him he'd have. This is the same place that Jesus meets a woman at a well...Jacob's well to be precise. The Israelite's promise had been fulfilled. They returned safely to this area. Not only that, but out of Shechem came Jesus' first proclamation of who HE IS. Pastor Dan's message today reminds us that God keeps his promises to those He loves.
Obviously when you make decisions, usually you miss out on something because you chose to do A instead of B. Follow me? This is where we find Jacob today according to Pastor Dan. He decided to live right outside of the place God promised him. He missed out on everything God wanted to give him. Missed out on the BEST because he did what he wanted. Friends, Jesus wants to give you the best! Will you accept that? Time's precious! Don't pull a Jacob and lose what good things the Lord has for YOU!
Let's lay the foundation for a moment. Esau and Jacob are brothers. Esau hated Jacob because of something he did. They haven't seen each other in forever. Today, Pastor Dan tells us that they're about ready to come eye to eye. However, Jacob is trying to placate his brother. Trying to get back in good graces. Why? He's super afraid that Esau will still be extremely angry. The meeting didn't happen at all as he imagined. Do you get worried about possible outcomes, just as Jacob did? Just as I do?
Father. child. There are times when stubbornness rears its ugly head and needs to be dealt with. We see this today as Pastor Dan relates the story of Jacob. He has everything in the world that matters to him on a journey with him. Jacob tries to protect them from danger in his own way. A struggle happens. A lesson's learned. Now, Jacob is completely broken in spirit and realizes he can't do anything WITHOUT GOD! Friends, this is a beautiful thing! Are you at this juncture in your own life? Give God control!
Jacob's about to meet Esau who's headed in his direction with a ginormous group of men. He has his whole family and livestock move to the other side of the river. Yes, he prayed to God to save him from what was coming. BUT what was the point? Jacob forged ahead anyway and did what he thought was best. Pastor Dan proposed today that it could've been a lack of faith. He was trying to alleviate Esau's anger and his own fear. Jacob didn't believe that God would do what he asked. He was, as some say, wishy-washy.
You and I do the wrong thing sometimes. That's just a fact. But what you do following that error is what's talked about today by Pastor Dan. Geographically speaking, Jacob isn't really anywhere near his brother Esau, yet he sets out on a journey to try to make things right. To seek forgiveness in meekness. When trouble comes due to a poor choice, you're reminded to pray...in the beginning. NOT after you have a plan of attack. This order of things makes a difference, saving you from a lot of anxiety and worry.
To be a godly and ethical leader of your family, God needs to come first. Every decision, every move, every word: it should all be through inspiration from God and not your own heart. As Pastor Dan’s going to show you today, if your family knows that you seek The LORD’s will and guidance for all your decisions, it becomes so much easier for them to feel confident following you. Any godly leader should be directed by God and should have an open and attentive heart to hearing His voice.
God promised Jacob big blessings would wait for him in heaven because of his faithfulness to God, despite false accusations and persecution coming to him at the moment. It was just like Jesus, too, Who was persecuted for what He said and did. Today, as you look at Jacob’s example with Pastor Dan, you can be sure that reward awaits, you, too, if you’re faithful to God even in the face of persecution or opposition. Anyone can oppose you, but no one has the power to truly stand against God and be victorious.
There’s nothing that’s too big for God to handle. Today, as you look at Jacob’s example in his life with Pastor Dan, you can see God’s hand working in him. Even his master became blessed through his faith and work ethic. God’s powerful hand can move anyone through your example, and you never know where or when. That’s when it’s worth looking at Jacob’s example: at all times, live as though everything you’re doing is for The LORD, and you’ll start to see Him move in and through your life lived.
The ministry you can have even just by how you live can have an impact on people that you might not expect. As you look at how Jacob served Laban today, remember that it was his faith in God that set him apart. He was mistreated by Laban but still went all out in his service to him, even to the point where Laban knew that God was blessing him because of Laban. Pastor Dan is going to encourage you to adopt the same work ethic yourself, always doing your best, because you’re representing God with your life.
Jesus gave everything for you to be saved, and God promises to bless you incredibly if you follow Him wholeheartedly. There are more reasons for a Christian to be overflowing in joy in their relationship with God than anyone else has about anything. Pastor Dan’s going to show you how Leah, Jacob’s wife, found solace in God’s presence when it seemed like the whole world was against her. She knew where to direct her focus, and the peace God gives is greater than anything else the world can offer.
Just because you might have a broken heart, and sorrow is strong in your life, it doesn't mean God doesn’t care. He’s always there when you need Him and calls out to Him. As Pastor Dan’s going to show you today, God’s near to those who have a broken heart. And you’re no exception. God will mend your heart if you let Him, and you’ll see the joy and the abundance Good has planned for you at the end of the tunnel. He wants you to call out to Him in all you’re going through, so He can guide you through it.
Jacob’s example that he set in The Old Testament of a man of faith is one that anyone can learn from. He was a devoted follower of Christ, and sought after Him with life, walking step by step by faith. Pastor Dan is going to show you how you can learn from Jacob’s example today, and encourage you to look at how great his joy was from following God. How he treated the woman he wanted to be his wife, how he worshiped God, how he loved his enemies, and how nothing could take away his joy in Christ.
There’s no greater joy than what you’ll find in a close, intimate relationship with God. Pastor Dan’s going to show you what a difference Jacob’s relationship with God made in his life. Jacob sought after God and stayed faithful to Him, and what Jacob got to see in his life proved his faithfulness. He had a “spring in his step,” from his encounter with God, and his heart was full of joy after God spoke to him. Even in the midst of his life being in danger, and other hard times in his life, his joy from God was greater.
Jesus will bless everyone. Everyone who comes to Him, repenting of their sins. Jacob had a first-hand experience with God’s grace, and was promised the family into which Jesus would someday be born! And the God of Jacob is still the God you know today. As Pastor Dan will show you, God’s still the same today, and so are His promises of blessing and comfort to everyone who turns to Him. Commit to serving God with everything you have, and watch Him start to move and work in your life.
God’s calling on you to live out your life for Him will lead you down a path of many blessings. You’re called to leave the ways of the world and the old sins you used to live in, and to pursue a relationship with God and a life lived for Him. Pastor Dan’s going to show you the calling on Jacob’s life today to encourage you to be attentive to God’s voice, and to follow where He calls you to go and what He calls you to do. You have an amazing testimony of His amazing grace in your life just like Jacob had so long ago.
When you don’t keep God first in every area of your life, things will start to fall apart. When a whole household leaves God out of their lives, it can be messy. Finger-pointing, unforgiveness, pride, and arguments are just the beginning. Today you’ll see Jacob and Esau’s family in the Old Testament, and how Satan had a serious foothold in them from their lack of reverence to God. Pastor Dan’s going to show you how behavior can get out of hand and eventually lead to destruction when God’s not in the picture.
Deception only breeds more deception. In Genesis, as you hear the story of Isaac’s wife and his sons, Jacob and Esau, Pastor Dan’s going to show you the havoc that deceit wreaked on their family. When God isn’t the priority, Satan creeps in and tries to even further separate you from God. Today, you’ll see how the people near you can even influence your own decisions and good judgment. The important thing to remember is that God needs to always be first, and the basis of every decision you make.
Nothing should ever be more important to you in your life than God and maintaining a close relationship with Him. As you look at the poor example of Isaac today, putting his son in a place of higher importance than God, Pastor Dan’s going to encourage you to make sure your heart keeps God in the place He should have: number one. The world is full of things to take your attention from God, but He needs to always be most important to you. Nothing should stand between you and Him.
Sometimes in the midst of our own pain, we might wonder if God sees us, we wonder if He sees the hurt that we're experiencing... And the truth is, He does. God is omniscient and omnipresent, He knows all things and He is always present. He knows your hurt and He is with you in it... And in today's message, Pastor Dan will encourage you to seek hope in the Bible. The Bible is full of examples of God's love, faithfulness, and compassion. Meditate on these portions of scripture and let Him sustain you.
It would be safe to say that the last few years have been very difficult. With loss seeming to be lurking around every corner, it's been hard... But in today's message, Pastor Dan will remind you even through the worst of circumstances, God remains the same. Our God remains the one who has promised to never leave, never forsake, and to work all things out for our good. His promises can be trusted... And while we may not always see His blessings, we can rest assured that He is there, working on our behalf.
In today's message, Pastor Dan will share an important message for Christian husbands. The Bible exhorts men to serve their wives the way that Jesus served the Church. So how did Jesus serve the Church? He left His home and sacrificed Himself. Jesus left what was comfortable and He gave Himself up for the Church... And as husbands, you can do the same for your wives. You can leave behind what might be known or comfortable... And sacrifice your energy, time, strength, and more for your bride.
In today's message, Pastor Dan will remind you of God's consistency. For all of time, God has proven over and over that He is faithful to do what He says. He saved the Israelites, He gave Abraham a son, He provided for Jacob... In all things, God is our great provider and that takes trust. We have to trust that He will provide for us... So take a moment to think over every area of your life, where do you need to let God provide? Where do you need to let go, give Him control, and trust Him for your needs?
In today’s message, Pastor Dan will remind you that everyone has responsibilities within the family unit, no one is left out. As fathers and mothers, you’re called to care for and lead your family towards Christ. As husband and wife, you’re called to care for one another. As children, you’re called to be obedient to your parents. We all have our own responsibilities, this models the body of Christ. In the body of Christ, each part is different but works together for the good of the greater whole.
In today’s message, Pastor Dan has a special call to husbands. In this portion of Genesis, we find the story of Abraham and his wife Sarah. Sarah had been barren for many years and Abraham prayed fervently for her… And as husbands who cherish and honor our wives, we too can pray for them unceasingly. While your wife may not be barren, there are struggles present in her life. As her husband, you can help to intercede with her. Praying for and with your wife is a wonderful thing to grow your relationship.
In today’s message, Pastor Dan will remind you that in Christ Jesus, there is fullness and a joyful life in store. Since the garden of Eden, life has been set for us. There are a set number of days that we get on this side of eternity… And what matters is how we choose to use those days. Many people come to the end of their life with regrets about broken relationships, past sins, or unfinished forgiveness… But in Christ, all of our sins are forgiven, and we can enter into eternity with a clear mind.
In today’s message, Pastor Dan will share some wisdom that we can learn from Abraham. Abraham lived a long and fulfilling life and as his life drew to a close… He had a clear plan of what would be given to his children. Abraham had many children and so he divided up his earthly possessions and gave them to them. There would be no fighting, no legal action, everyone knew what Abraham gave them… And as parents, we too can have a set plan for what happens after we pass on to make our families lives’ a bit easier.
In today’s message, Pastor Dan will remind you that you always have free will. God won’t ever force you into a relationship with Himself, He won’t ever guilt you into spending time with Him… He patiently waits for you to want to have a relationship with Him. He wants you to want to spend time with Him. There can’t be any kind of in between. You’re either all in or all out, there’s no halfway… So when you make the choice to commit to Christ, you have to keep choosing each and every day.
In today’s message, Pastor Dan will share with you about ways to see if your potential spouse is right for you. In the story of Abraham’s servant going out to find his master’s son a wife, the woman whom God places in His path has many qualities. She has a servant’s heart, she’s kind and she’s generous… So take note of how your future spouse treats strangers… Are they kind? Do they give generously of their resources and of themselves? These are all wonderful qualities that any good follower of Christ would hope to have.
In today’s message, Pastor Dan will talk about God’s provision when we obey and step out in faith in what God has called us to do. In this portion of scripture, we find the story of Abraham’s servant being sent to find a wife for Abraham’s son. The servant asks Abraham many questions and Abraham tells his servant that God will go before Him… And in our lives, this is just as true. When we go out, walking in the will of God, He goes before us. He provides the path, the means, and everything we could need.
Today, Pastor Dan will share an interesting passage from the Gospels that can teach us about worship. In this story, Mary came and poured expensive oil on the feet of Jesus. When she does this, the disciples of Jesus scolded her and asked her why she poured the oil on His feet… They said could’ve sold the oil to benefit those in need… But what the disciples didn’t know was that this was an act of worship for Mary. Our worship doesn’t have to be singing or prayer, it can be anything we do for God.
Losing someone you love is absolutely heartbreaking. There are a few more painful things to go through in this life. Death is a result of the fall of humanity in the garden of Eden… It’s a result of sin… But in today’s message, Pastor Dan will remind you that while it can be devasting to lose a loved one, in Christ, we’ll all be reunited one day. For those who’ve placed their trust and faith in Jesus Christ, we have the hope of eternity in heaven. We’ll get to see those loved ones again and be with Jesus.
Woven throughout the stories of the Bible is a single common story. It's the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. And if you listen carefully, you'll hear that message on every page. Today's message with Pastor Dan is no different. Abraham is about to physically sacrifice his son Isaac on an altar of worship when God stops him in his tracks. Abraham believed that God would have to raise Isaac from the dead after this act. Thankfully, ANOTHER LAMB...ANOTHER sacrifice is provided by God. Sound familiar?
We read the stories of the Bible and the pages just keep turning...sometimes we forget that these are REAL events that actually happened to REAL people!!! What would YOU do if God removed the blessings He's poured out in your life... As He allowed in Job's life? How would you respond? Would you still worship God? Would you still serve Him? Sadly, there are folks out there that seem to only want a connection with God for what He can do for them. God wants to enter into a LOVE relationship with you.
The idea of planting trees...not for yourself...but, for others is a fascinating idea. For those of you listening that have any experience as orchardists, you know that when you first receive that “nursery whip” from the fruit tree nursery, it's hard to imagine anything coming from it. And in fact, it takes about 7 years for the fruit to be edible. Our lives are much like the tamarisk trees in today's message...we plant ourselves here and there and build for the next generation all while hoping to leave a lasting impact, a legacy.
We all have those people in our minds that Pastor Dan just mentioned a moment ago...when we think about our last conversation or interaction with them, we cringe. Well, today you'll see that Abraham and Sarah had one of those people in their lives. King Abimelech. Abraham tried to deceive Abimelech and it didn't go very well. Perhaps as you listen today, the LORD will bring that person to mind in your life that you're not quite at peace with. Maybe after listening, you'll be prompted to go and have an open and honest conversation with that person?
Are you in a wilderness season? In today's message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you that sometimes the wilderness can be hard. Often times it's pretty isolating and rough. However, God promises to always be with you and to never leave you. There are great tools to be gained in the wilderness seasons. Tools of faith that will help you later in your life. Pastor Dan encourages you, that in the wilderness you learn that Jesus is your Shepherd. Jesus is your strength and the Rock on which you can depend.
Did you know that God is in the business of forgiving sinners? As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you the beautiful truth that God loves sinners. He loved the world so much that He gave His only Son. That whoever would believe and surrender their life to Jesus would live eternally with Him. Pastor Dan explains that legalists hate grace. But it's by God's grace that we have been saved through the blood of Jesus Christ. Not by works, only by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Trust the Lord and His timetable for things! In today's message from Pastor Dan, he encourages you to keep trusting in the Lord for your life. God holds and knows the future. You do not. Therefore, don't worry and wonder if He hears your prayers. He hears you. God has a time and a place for everything. If there is something that He has for you. He will bring it about in His timing. Pastor Dan urges you to keep surrendering your cares to the Lord. He's got you and your future. And His timing is perfect.
God is faithful to His Word! As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he teaches you that God's character is never changing. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Therefore, anything He has promised to you is going to come to pass. You don't have to wonder if God will come through. Pastor Dan encourages you, that God always keeps His promises. They might not be on your timetable. But He will be faithful to them. Keep trusting that God has your promises and He will complete them.
Throughout the book of Genesis, we read about men who had great faith and men who had great doubts. Though Abraham had great faith, sometimes he gave into his fears. He let his doubt lead. So when God said “Go”, Abraham did…but he also had a backup plan just in case God’s didn’t work out. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will encourage you to not give in to your fears. Trust in the One who made you for He goes before, preparing a place. The way may not always be easy, but in Him it is sure.
Abraham, though a man of great faith, didn’t have perfect faith. Sometimes he doubted and that doubt lead to terrible decisions. But God still loved Abraham and still chose him for a greater purpose. And like Abraham, God’s opinion of you doesn’t change…even when you make a mistake. He still loves and has greater purposes for you. Today, Pastor Dan will encourage you to remember that nothing can separate you from the love of God. Acknowledge where you went wrong, seek the Lord, and move forward.
One of the saddest stories within the book of Genesis is the story of Lot’s wife. When they were being rescued from Sodom before its destruction, they were told to not look back. But Lot’s wife looked back and then turned into a pillar of salt. Can you imagine what that must have been like?! In today’s message, Pastor Dan will encourage you also to not look back. When the Lord rescues you from dark and sinful places, it’s for a reason. So don’t go back there. It will only lead to pain and destruction.
Today Pastor Dan continues teaching through the book of Genesis. The story of Abraham and Lot within this book is an intriguing one. Though neither were perfect, they held differing views when it came to living in this world. Abraham pitched a tent knowing that this world was not his final home. While Lot bought himself a house and settled into a sinful city. If you were asked if you were either Lot or Abraham in this scenario, who would you say that you were? Are you living for Heaven or for this world?
Just because something is familiar and legal doesn't mean the Lord approves. There are plenty of examples of this in society today, but this idea is not new. The Old Testament was full of socially accepted practices that were displeasing to the Lord. As Pastor Dan encourages you in today's lesson, you must test what is conventional against the Word of God. There are also a few questions you could ask yourself. Such as, does this bring glory to God? Am I loving my neighbor with my actions?
Your relationship with the Lord is much bigger than your own salvation. If you're a parent, your alliance lays the foundation for your children's relationship with God. As Pastor Dan shares in today's lesson, you can change the trajectory for your whole family tree. Kind of makes it a big deal, hu? Use this message to encourage, deepen and solidify your walk. Don't let the Devil discourage or overwhelm you. There will be grace, and ultimately your children's salvation is in the Lord's hands.
A common misconception of the phrase, wait upon the Lord is that you are passing the time before He comes. But as Pastor Dan shares in today's study, it's actually that you are to serve the Lord. In this service to the Lord, He will guide you with His eye. To be directed by the Lord, you must have your eyes fixed upon Him. What are you concentrating on today? Chores around the house, work deadlines, or school projects? Instead, turn your eyes to your Maker. Ask and seek His direction for your life.
If you go through life completing the bare minimums, you can expect a mediocre life. If, however, you stretch your abilities, you will experience more bounty. In today's message with Pastor Dan, you'll see Abraham's extraordinary obedience to the Lord. Going above the minimum requirements of church attendance, tithe, and prayer will result in a deeper, more prosperous relationship with the Lord. Move beyond mediocre and start building up treasure in heaven with a steadfast devotion to the Lord.
How would you do if you were to measure your faith based on your obedience to the Lord? In today's study with Pastor Dan, you'll see how great Abraham's faith was by his obedience to the Lord. Additionally, Abraham went above and beyond the call of the Lord. When asked to feed some travelers, he prepared a feast. He jumped up to travel with migrants when asked to show the way. While it will be hard to beat Abraham, you can likely increase your compliance for the Lord.
It's not only through faith that you can inherit the promises of God but, as Pastor Dan shares in today's message, also patience. Patience is often the downfall of the faithful. What is the longest you've waited PATIENTLY on the Lord? Abraham had to wait 24 years for the Lord's promise to be fulfilled. Why 24 years? After such a long time, one could only point to the Lord, as the provider of the miracle. This wasn't a marvel of nature. Are you in need of a miracle? Continue to wait patiently.
Changing your circumstances won't solve your problems. Neither will running away. The Lord has you in this season of life for a reason. The only way to change is to accept what the Lord has for you and follow His path. In today's lesson, Pastor Dan shares that the Lord is the one who can transfer your life. If you want to learn the hard way, go ahead and try running away. But the path of least resistance is to follow the Lord's will. Lean into what He is doing. Find the light in the darkness.
Waiting on the Lord's timing is hard! In today's message with Pastor Dan, you'll see that taking matters into your own hands can lead to disaster. Abraham was promised offspring, but when it wasn't happening on Sarah's timeline, she forced her maid-servant upon her husband. While it's easy to see this was a bad idea, you've probably acted on behalf of the Lord in ways you shouldn't have. Since waiting upon the Lord is hard, you'll need to lean upon the Holy Spirit for patience, knowing His timing is perfect.
Why are you worried about your life? In today's message from Pastor Dan, he encourages you to put your trust in the Lord. Before the foundations of the earth, the Lord had a purpose and plan for you. Don't you think that He cares more for your well-being than you do? Pastor Dan reassures you, that God knows exactly why He has you here. He's destined you for this time and space. Trust that even if you don't understand where you're life is going, that He does! So, trust Him with all of the little details.
What has the Lord brought you out of? As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he encourages you to reflect on all that the Lord has brought you out of and through. Maybe He's brought you out of addiction, despair, anxiety, or pride. Whatever it is, thank Him for it. Take the time to count all of the things that He has delivered you. And has been faithful towards you. Pastor Dan urges you, to be sure to thank the Lord for all He's done. The Lord is never-ending in His kindness and goodness.
Don't miss out on the exceedingly abundant plan of God, because you're too impatient! In today's message from Pastor Dan, he encourages you to stand firm within your waiting on the Lord. God's timetable isn't our timetable. The way of the world is instant everything. Instant messaging, instant online purchases, and so on. However, Pastor Dan urges you to wait upon the Lord and His timing. God has far better plans for your future than any plans that you could come up with. Wait on Him.
Be kind. For everyone that you meet is struggling with a battle that you know nothing about. As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you that oftentimes what looks to be one thing on the outside, can be something completely different on the inside. Pastor Dan explains, that sometimes people can appear happy, strong, and fully healthy on the outside. However, on the inside, they could be battling obstacles that you would never think they battle. Treat everyone with kindness.
Come boldly to the throne of grace! In today's message from Pastor Dan, he encourages you to enter the throne room of the Lord with boldness and assurance. When you've received Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you're able to call the Lord “Abba.” This is an intimate calling because the Hebrew word means “Daddy.” Pastor Dan invites you, to come to the Lord like you would with your Dad. With the boldness and the assurance of knowing that you're loved. He desires to hear all of your cares.
How can anyone stand righteous before the Lord? As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you that no one on their own merit can stand before the Lord Almighty as righteous. We have all fallen short of the glory of the Lord because of our sins. However, Pastor Dan explains, that those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ, will be able to stand. Not because of their own righteousness. But because of the righteousness of Jesus that has been transferred to them.
Do you tithe to try to earn God's blessing or favor? In today's message from Pastor Dan, he encourages you through the model of Abraham within the Bible. Abraham would tithe to the Lord after he had been blessed. He knew he was already blessed by God and offered His tithe because of it. Pastor Dan explains, that sometimes people will only tithe because they want to get something from God. Realize that God has already blessed you. And offer Him gratitude and praise for what He's already done.
Be on guard against the attacks and schemes of the enemy! As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you the importance of keeping on the armor of God. It's vital as a Believer to always keep your defenses up. Even after a victory or a success. Pastor Dan urges you, to stay on guard and alert. The enemy is like a roaring lion seeking whom he can devour. He is always looking for an opportune time to attack. Stand firm in the Lord. Take everything to the Lord in prayer and walk in His light.
What was the price that God paid to save you? Today, you learn from Pastor Dan's message that God gave the most priceless gift of all for you. God gave up His one and only Son so that you might believe in Him and have eternal life. He did that for you! Pastor Dan encourages you, to let that sink deep into your mind and heart. Don't put off another day of receiving salvation. Why put off to tomorrow, what could be yours today. Jesus died for you. Receive Him as your personal Lord and Savior today!
If you know certain groups of people or a location is bad for you, then separate yourself! In today's message from Pastor Dan, he encourages you to not stay in relationships and environments that are bad for you. It's okay to have a healthy distance from what is toxic for you. Pastor Dan explains, yes it's good to stay faithful to whatever the Lord is calling you to. But if you know something isn't good or is toxic for your health, don't stay. Separate yourself for the good of yourself and for what God has in store for you.
Do you feel like you're up against a giant battle? As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you that nothing is ever too hard for our God. What seems like Mt. Everest to you, is nothing to the Lord. He can take what seems gigantic in your life and turn it into a pebble. Pastor Dan encourages you, to turn all of your worries, cares, and concerns over to the Lord. He has you right in the palm of His hand. You are safe and secure within Him. Rest knowing that your God fights for you.
When you make decisions, do you factor the Lord in them? In today's message from Pastor Dan, he encourages you to do so. This might seem like a no-brainer. But many Christians will make very important decisions for themselves, their families, or for others without ever going to the Lord in prayer. Pastor Dan urges you, to take everything to the Lord in prayer. Even the smallest things bring God into the equation. Let Him guide your life by the power of His Spirit. Not by your limited flesh and understanding.
Are you experiencing a season where you've found yourself far away from the Lord? As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he encourages you to get back to God. There are times in life when a season of Egypt can happen. A time where you feel distant and barren in your journey of faith. But Pastor Dan explains that you can get back to the Promised Land. Go back to doing the things that you know brought you closer to the Lord. Go back to those things and regularly commune with God.
Let your light shine before others! Today, you learn from Pastor Dan's message the importance of shining your light within this dark world. People need to see the light of Jesus that you carry from within. Don't hide it. Shine it brightly for all whom the Lord has placed you around. Pastor Dan encourages you, that now more than ever people need to see the hope of the Lord. Keep sharing the love, hope, and light of Jesus Christ to all you see. Let others know the Good News of a Savior who cares for them.
Are you trusting the Lord with your pain and the tears that are being shed? In today's message from Pastor Dan, he encourages you to keep trusting in the Lord. God doesn't miss a single tear that your eyes shed. He sees and acknowledges each one that falls. Pastor Dan invites you, to remember that God is faithful. Your tears will be turned to joy in time. God will give you a garment of praise again. And will turn your mourning into dancing. Keep trusting Him in every season of your life.
Do you realize that everything that's written in God's Word will come to pass? As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you that God means every single word He has written. All of His promises are true and remain true. All of His prophecies will be fulfilled in time. Pastor Dan reminds you, how comforting this truth is. You can rest in the knowledge that the Lord is faithful and completely trustworthy. Every promise will come to fruition. Keep a firm hold on the Lord's promises!
The life of faith is contrary to the life of science! In today's message from Pastor Dan, he teaches you that the life of science is exact and that everything has a cause and effect. However, as you journey on the life of faith, that is not always the case. Sometimes there are no exact plans, but you trust the Lord with His plan. Pastor Dan explains, that sometimes you will have to journey like Abraham and trust that God will reveal the land He's taking you to. You won't always know the plan, but trust that God will reveal it!
Did you know that Abraham was called out of darkness into marvelous light? As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you that the patriarch of the faith within the Bible wasn't always walking in the light. Pastor Dan explains that Abraham didn't know God right away. God called Him and revealed Himself to him. Just like He does with you. Once you were walking in darkness and didn't know God. But now you do and you walk in His light. God is so good and worthy to be praised!
In today's message, Pastor Dan will share with you about salvation and the incredible sacrifices that Jesus made to be able to offer it to you. Jesus left His place in heaven, to be born of a virgin. He grew and became a phenomenon to the local people, healing and sharing about His Father in heaven. He would later be mocked, beaten, and crucified on a cross. This humiliating death would be the start of salvation as we know it today. The gift of forgiveness, grace, and mercy is yours to reach out and take.
Since sin entered the world in the garden of Eden, mankind has tried to become like God. The serpent lied to Eve and said that she would be like God if she ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil... And the same is true today. While our mindset may not be that we want to be like God, but our actions would convey that type of feeling... But in doing so, we forget who God is. God is perfect, loving, holy, and kind... We can rest in the knowledge that God is God and He will take care of us.
In today's message, Pastor Dan will remind you that Christians are citizens of the kingdom of God. You may be an American or a Canadian or from some other country... But what really matters is are you a citizen of heaven, or of the world. As Christians, we're here in this life to serve the Lord and share the good news of Jesus Christ, we have no allegiances to our earthly home. Our home is in heaven... God has created a perfect place for us to spend eternity with Him... With no more tears or pain.
Today, Pastor Dan will share with you about how different nations and people groups came to exist based on the historical account given from the book of Genesis. When God chose to flood the Earth, He left one family to repopulate the Earth. Noah and his sons and their respective wives were responsible for repopulating the Earth... And from this point in time, all people can trace their lineage. We all come from the same family... This is just one of many reasons why we must treat people with kindness.
In today's message, Pastor Dan will remind you that the God of the Bible is the God of every nation. While the United States might be a nation founded on Christian principles and Israel is the nation of the people of God, God cares for each and every nation! And in caring for all nations, God cares for all people. No matter your nationality, race, ethnicity, political allegiances, or anything else... God loves you more than anyone has ever or could ever love you. His desires for you are good and perfect.
Your sins and transgressions are not to be displayed to the public, but rather are to be forgiven and moved on from. Today, Pastor Dan talks about Noah’s drunkenness after the flood and the actions his sons took after discovering him that way. Just like Noah, you have fallen short of God’s glory. However, God has given you the opportunity to come back into fellowship with Him and to have your sins and transgressions covered and taken away by simply repenting and asking forgiveness.
Today, Pastor Dan elaborates on Noah’s fall after the flood. We as Christians can fall AFTER the tests and trials come our way, and that’s exactly what happened to Noah. He did not falter before the flood, nor during the flood, but after the flood was over was when Noah fell back into man’s old ways. His story is a reminder to us that we ALL can fall short of God’s glory, but we have the promise that because of Jesus dying on the cross, we can be forgiven of sin and receive redemption through Him.
God is The God of new beginnings. God sent a flood to destroy the earth, and in doing so He established Himself anew with Noah. Today, Pastor Dan talks about the covenant God made with Noah after the flood. Everything was new, and so was God’s new promise to him, which was to never wipe out the earth again with a flood. Even though God made a covenant with Noah thousands of years ago, you as a Christian are still in that covenant, and you can trust in that same promise, too.
We all get a clean slate when we receive salvation through Jesus. Before Jesus came, however, the entire earth had to be wiped clean so man could start anew. Today, Pastor Dan discusses the new beginning that God gave man after the flood. All descendants of man came through Adam first, but after the flood, we became descendants of Noah as well. As God set new life in motion through Noah, He established new rules and instructions on how they were to live their lives on the earth.
Are you someone who takes initiative, or are you someone who waits patiently for instructions, no matter what? There are pros and cons to both; Pastor Dan reminds us today that – no matter what category you find yourself in – we need to be careful to not trample over God’s plans. Oftentimes, it seems obvious – the path that we should take, but even so, we need to learn to be patient and pray, and wait on the Lord and His instructions, even when we think we know what’s best, or what the right way is.
Do you ever feel like the people in your life forget about you? You have a lot going on in your life, but so does everyone else. Even so, it can feel like you and your needs fall to the wayside. Today, however, Pastor Dan reminds us that, even when it feels like we’ve been forgotten, God is always thinking about us. His thoughts for you are never-ending. And unlike humans – who get distracted and are inherently selfish – God is the epitome of love; you won’t fall to the wayside when God is your best friend.
Does it ever seem like, when the going gets tough, everyone turns away? A lot of people can’t handle the pressure. But do you know who can? Jesus. Pastor Dan reminds us in today’s message, that God is with us always, especially when we’re going through hardships. Don’t think that you ever have to go it alone, because, while you may be alone on earth, your Heavenly Father is always with you and He’ll never leave you. In fact, when you’re too weary to carry on, He’ll pick you up and carry you.
Do you ever feel like you can’t do a job if you don’t understand it? Often, we feel like we have to have all the answers before we jump into anything. But today, Pastor Dan reminds us that that’s not really the case. If you have instructions, you can complete a task, even if you don’t know what that task is for! When it comes to the Lord, He will often give instruction without reason, but it’s our job to obey Him no matter what. When you know God is calling you, don’t wait around until you understand why, simply obey.
Have you ever learned a word, and then you hear it everywhere? We think it’s a word we’d never heard before, but the reality is, we just weren’t privy to it. Pastor Dan reminds us in the message today, that our walk with the Lord often looks similar to learning that new word; we can be familiar with a passage – even know it by hear – but it doesn’t mean anything until it does. Until you’re going through a trial and that verse is everything, you don’t fully understand. If you rely on God and let Him lead you, He’ll direct you to the very information or encouragement that you need to hear.
As a Christian, it’s hard to not make every conversation spiritual. You can be talking with an unbelieving friend when they’re in need of help, and the only advice you can give, is Jesus… but they don’t want to hear that. Today, Pastor Dan reminds us what we were all like before we met Christ – blind to our own immorality. We walk in corruption and wickedness without even realizing it! But once you see it, you can’t unsee it. Recognizing sin for the first time can be scary, but it’s also liberating! Take joy in it!
Have you ever been so unhappy with a project that you just scrap it and start over? It’s the curse of the artist to live so near to their creation, they can’t help but take it personally. Today, Pastor Dan reminds us that, when God starts over, He starts all the way over. Of the entire world, there were only eight people that He deemed worthy of grace. All else, He blotted out. God was grieving His creation because He wanted more for us; He wants more for you. Don’t ignore His grace and His grief.
We’ve all heard stories of a prophecy, about a hero on the horizon, and a villain, who does everything in his power to change the circumstances. Well, Pastor Dan reminds us today, that it all started with God and Satan. A savior was to be born, so Satan makes his move; he tried to corrupt humans by altering our very DNA. Demons mated with humans and created a whole new race! We can be thankful that God knows all and had the foresight to destroy the world before it and we became unsavable.
Does it ever feel like, no matter how hard you try, you still fall short? We can all relate to failure because we’ve all been through it; we can’t even imagine a perfect life. But today, Pastor Dan reminds us that it wasn’t always that way; there was a time when sin and death weren’t a part of this world. But we all inherit qualities from our family – whether we like it or not – and Adam passed on his sinful nature to all his descendants…including you. Even though sin is rooted in you, there is always hope in Jesus.
Does it ever feel like there’s not enough time in the day? The older we get, the faster time flies. But what if the first hundred years were just the start? Pastor Dan reminds us in today’s message that, in the beginning, humans lived much longer; try 10 times longer. So why has our average life span gone down so significantly, even though we’re more technologically advanced? Because of sin. When sin entered the world, death did as well. No matter how well you live your life, sin is still your nature.
Are you one of those people that feels the need to implement justice when necessary? Many times, we witness things that upset us: people can be rude but successful, they can be cruel but still be popular; sometimes it feels like people never get what they deserve. But today, Pastor Dan reminds us that people DO reap what they sow, but not according to your timeline. God tells us that vengeance is His! All those people that seem to get away with murder…they’ll get what’s coming to them, but you are not the one to dish it out. “Give to the Lord what belongs to Him.”
Does it ever feel like life keeps moving forward, even when you don’t? We tend to ‘go with the flow’ rather than be intentional about our actions and words. There’s a sense of indifference… but that should change once you know Christ. Pastor Dan reminds us today, that everyone has a life before they know God, and that life usually looks unintentional and indifferent, even hopeless. But after meeting the Lord, that indifference falls away. For the first time in your life, you know what it feels like to have hope.
Signs about runaways are plastered everywhere. It is sad to think that the people in the pictures can't...or maybe won't return home. The Bible tells that as Christians we are pilgrims...we are heading home to be with Jesus Christ. In today's message, Pastor Dan describes the punishment for Cain in the Bible. He was condemned to living as a vagabond... a man without a home...Isn't that a terrible thought? It would be awful to be in his position...choose now to follow Christ and always have a home.
Gifts don't always look the same. Some gifts are elaborately wrapped and tied up with ribbons and bows. Other gifts are held out in tiny hands, no wrapping needed. It is not the size that determines a gift's value...the concept is simpler than that. The Bible says every child...every life...is a gift from the Lord. Every person has a purpose and value. In today's message, Pastor Dan teaches about sin and murder takes away the gift of a life. Choose to forgive and reconcile to defeat sin and envy.
Have you ever been completely exhausted only to go to bed and not be able to fall asleep? Maybe you're worried about finances, or parenting decisions, or work-related issues...You've allowed worry and anxiety to creep into your time of rest. Today, Pastor Dan teaches that God doesn't want you to worry. He doesn't want you to be crippled by anxiety. He knows and understands your situation. He's ready to carry your burdens for you. When you feel anxious, pray and trust that Jesus is with you.
A consequence is a result of an action. If you're speeding on the freeway...you get a ticket. If you sleep past your alarm...you miss out on eating breakfast. If you eat junk food...you're sluggish and tired. In today's message, Pastor Dan explains that Adam and Eve faced consequences for disobeying God's command. They ate fruit off the tree that God said never to touch. Their initial blessings became a curse. Instead of enjoying their blessings in the presence of God, they struggled to survive the curse.
People instinctively try to cover their sin. Today, Pastor Dan explains that from the very beginning...after Adam sinned for the first time...he tried to hide his sin from God. Now generation after generation...man's instinct continues to be...to hide their sin. The opposite of that is to confess. In prayer, confess your sins to God. It is impossible to hide from God. He already knows your sin, but still wants your confession. It is crucial for your soul to let evil out and allow it to be replaced with goodness and mercy.
Most movies have a good guy battling against an evil villain. Often life feels like that too. There's an evil villain out to destroy the good in your life. Satan is called the Father of Lies. He has a bag of tricks that he keeps reusing again and again. In today's message, Pastor Dan teaches that one of his most often used lies is to convince mankind that there is no consequence for their sin. God is a God of MERCY and LOVE... BUT He is also just and wants us to live a healthy and God-honoring life.
Most inventors protect their inventions with a patent. It gives the original creator the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling the invention. God is a creator, an artist, a scientist, and an architect among many other esteemed titles. He is the creator of the institution of marriage. He has a very clear design for it. Pastor Dan describes God's plan for marriage as one man and one woman joined together for a lifetime. Don't listen to the world as it tries to warp and change the design.
At a very young age, children are taught to look for “helpers”...people in the community like police officers, firefighters, and teachers. They need to know who to reach out to for assistance and guidance. It is comforting to know that there is always someone to count on. In today's message, Pastor Dan explains that God is described as a helper throughout scripture. There is another helper in Genesis. From the beginning, wives are given the vitally important job of helper to their husbands.
Some people see God’s limiting Adam from eating fruit from one tree in the garden as mean and tempting. Yet, as Pastor Dan teaches today, God was actually abundantly blessing Adam in this huge, perfect, verdant garden. He forbid one thing, and it was for their protection, but that is the one thing Adam and Eve focused on. Similarly, we desire what God seems to hold back. It’s easy to ignore the blessings in front of us. Look to His goodness and recognize everything is for your blessing and protection if you obey.
There are many religions out there and many names for their various gods. But, only the Lord, Yahweh, God Almighty is the one true God. He has always existed, brought all things into existence, and gave mankind his name. And, as Pastor Dan teaches today that since God is creator, sustainer, almighty, and holy, He’s still the one true God. He’s in control over all the tremulous circumstances going on right now. And He will one day eliminate all opposition and reign and rule forever.
This world is full of things that can cause worry and burden your soul. A weariness may even be settling in on you right now. The temptation is to work harder to solve the problems or to simply carry the burdens you’ve got as you move through life. However, Pastor Dan has a better way today – come to Jesus. Give Him your worries, burdens, fears, and weakness. He’ll carry it all and give you rest. He’s able to do what you can’t. The peace you need and desire is found only in Him.
Did God rest after creation because He was tired or worn out from what He’d just done? Today, Pastor Dan explains that God rested to show people the importance of rest and to demonstrate a way to stay connected to Him in the busyness of life. It’s important to rest from your striving in the world and remember who God is and what He’s done. And this, above all things in the world, will give you the rest and the peace your soul longs for. God didn’t get tired, but everyone on earth does. We need to rest in Him.
You’ve heard the saying about rose-colored glasses. The reality is that how you see the world around you changes depending on what you’re looking through. This is true not only for what you see with your eyes but also for what you believe in your heart. Today, Pastor Dan shares that you should evaluate the things that culture tells you through the lens of the Bible and what God says is true. In this study of Genesis, you’ll learn that God created people in the His image, infusing their lives with value and purpose.
It should come as no surprise to you that the creation account in Genesis is controversial. Well, in this message, Pastor Dan explains that this isn’t a new thing. From the time it was written, the creation account has flown in the face of the prevailing cultural beliefs. It challenges the popular worldviews about the origins of the universe and the earth, as well as the origin, value, and purpose of people. You’ll see that God has always been about confronting crooked beliefs and drawing people to Himself.
Imagine summarizing everything you do in an entire day into a few words. It would be hard to do! In today’s message, Pastor Dan invites you to take a deeper look at what God did when He created the world and everything in it. You’ll discover that Genesis describes the third day of Creation as being doubly good. On this day, God created three different categories of vegetation. Pastor Dan will look at what they are and explore how God designed these plants to yield fruit according to their kind.
A building needs a solid foundation to stay upright. It can’t withstand storms and stresses without a strong base. Well, today, Pastor Dan explains that the book of Genesis is foundational to the rest of the Bible. It gives you a framework to understand what comes later. He shares that it was written as a historical document and can’t be mistaken for poetry or a metaphor of how the world began. Genesis shows you that God intentionally created the world and infused value and purpose into the things that He made.
Earth's full of cracks and crannies. Pitch black. According to Genesis, in the beginning, it all started with God. HIS making of everything. Do you ever feel like you're in the dark? It's time to say goodbye to heart cloudiness. Jesus is ready to shine His cleansing light on all the crevices of your life, whether they're good or bad. He made every good thing to be enjoyed by all as Pastor Dan explains today! Humankind is the cherry on top of His creation! God IS the only one who brought this world into existence.
Pastor Dan raises awareness today that culture is systematically moving away from God's very order of creation. What's right or wrong? Who says you're male or female? What about marriage? All these things God already commanded into being and said what He said about them. It's His prerogative, not ours. Yet, people are still trying to shift those characteristics that speak of His creation. Friends, sin steals all the good that is meant for you through Jesus. Don't blur the lines, follow God's order!
The very first words of the Bible are about how God created the world and everything in it. And while this is amazing to think about, it doesn’t really make a difference in your everyday life… does it? Actually, this has a huge impact. Today, Pastor Dan explains that the fact that God created people in His image means that your life matters. You have purpose because a purposeful God made you. Understanding this reality helps you settle into the meaning and value that God has given you.
When you’re learning how to play a sport, you start with the fundamentals of the game. You develop the basic skills first. Well, today, Pastor Dan explains that the book of Genesis is the foundation that the rest of the Bible is built on. He shares that you need to understand the truths in Genesis so that you can grasp what comes after it. The fundamental truths you find in Genesis will give you the basis to better comprehend who Jesus is and why He chose to go to the cross on a rescue mission.
People have opinions about everything. No matter what the issue, you will have a variety of different views. So how do you know what’s true? Well, in this message, Pastor Dan shares that when it comes to the things in the Bible, it’s all about if you believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God- infallible and without error. If this is your foundation, then you can trust that the things written about in the book of Genesis or any other part of the Bible really happened. You can know that His Word is true.
Did God actually create the world in just a few days? Were Adam and Eve real people? What about Noah and the flood? Did that really happen? Many people have doubts about the book of Genesis. But, if Genesis isn’t literal, how will that impact what we believe about Jesus? Today, Pastor Dan answers these questions by looking at what Jesus and the Apostles said about the events of the first book of the Bible. You’ll find that throwing out Genesis will leave your faith and doctrine on shaky ground.
When you’re at the beach, you have to keep an eye out for rogue waves. They seemingly come out of nowhere and sweep you right off your feet. Well, sometimes, life can knock you down just like those waves. Today, Pastor Dan reminds you that, as a follower of God, you don’t have to be surprised by the things that happen in the world. The Bible gives you a framework through which to process what’s going on. God tells you what to expect and gives you what you need to stand firm when hard times come.
People sometimes talk about your legacy, what you’ll leave behind when you die. This is because everyone wants their life to matter. In today’s message, Pastor Dan shares that God has clearly laid out what you can do to make the biggest impact of all. He says that if you want to make a difference, share the Good News of God’s great love and grace with the people around you. From here until the end of time, God wants you, His follower, to tell others about who Jesus is and what He’s done for them.
We all have special people in our lives, family or friends who you’d do anything for. Well, today, Pastor Dan explains that God’s chosen people, the Israelites, are precious to Him. As you dive into what the book of Daniel says about the end times, you’ll see that God wants His people to realize that Jesus is the Messiah and be rescued. Pastor Dan shares that God’s chosen people are the focus of the end times. God will use the events of the last days to draw them back to Him because He will never give up on His people.
Gold and silver are more valuable when they are pure. In today's message, Pastor Dan talks about what will happen to the Jewish nation of Israel during the end times. He explains that only one-third of the people of Israel will remain during the second half of the tribulation period. They will be refined...like silver...any remaining impurities will be removed. Believers in Jesus Christ will not be on the Earth during this difficult time. You can place your trust in Jesus Christ NOW by accepting Him as your Savior.
End-time prophecy can be difficult to understand. In today's message, Pastor Dan talks about when Satan will try to be the ultimate tattletale...reporting to God all your wrongdoings...If you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior... He will intervene...Jesus will say that he wiped your sins clean when He died on the cross. There will be nothing to condemn you... This is wonderful news for believers. With a grateful heart, you can rejoice that Jesus has already paid the price and set you free.
Don't you love to cheer for an underdog? It's exciting to watch someone win who wasn't predicted to win. Maybe they're smaller or disadvantaged by not having the best training or equipment...BUT they persevere...In today's message, Pastor Dan describes a small group of Jewish people that fought back and took a STAND for God. They were victorious, ONLY because of GOD... not because of training or weapons. It is the story behind Hanukkah. You can be brave like these people too.
Do you hate it when your friends give away the ending of a movie?... Even if they say SPOILER ALERT first, it doesn't make it any better. In today's message, Pastor Dan explains that in the Bible...spoiler alerts are GOOD... Fulfilled prophecies confirm that the Bible is TRUE. Ancient rulers were described BY Daniel even before they ruled. Some prophecies have already been fulfilled while many others will be fulfilled in the end times. You can trust in the Word of God and choose to follow Christ NOW.
How can you know the Bible is TRUE? How can you know the Bible is the inspired Word of God? In today's message, Pastor Dan teaches that you can know the Bible is true because of fulfilled PROPHECY. Events were foretold and then happened...specific rulers were described like reading the back of a baseball trading card. Victories and defeats were described in detail in the book of Daniel...and then really happened. You can find more prophecies yet to be fulfilled in the book of Daniel.
When you think of weapons, you might picture guns, knives, and artillery... There is an even greater weapon...PRAYER. There are dark forces at work in the world and the most effective form of protection is PRAYER. In today's message, Pastor Dan uses the example of Daniel to show you how to effectively pray, fast, and seek the Lord in every situation. Follow Daniel's example of repentance and then the Lord promises a blessing. Trust Him enough to practice this...pray, fast, seek, and repent.
Do you ever feel like you're having a day when nothing goes your way? Does it feel like there's an unseen force at work...determined to ruin your every move? In today's message, Pastor Dan talks about how there is a spiritual battle happening now. You COULD be fighting an evil force... There are powers of the dark world trying to stoke the fire of chaos... they are trying to tip the scales towards darkness. Your defense is found in Jesus Christ. He can be your defender and source of strength.
Do you remember being afraid to be ALONE as a child? As an adult... it's another story...Being alone gives you an opportunity to relax and reflect. In today's message, Pastor Dan explains that alone time is another opportunity to hear from God. In the Bible, God revealed Himself to people when they were alone! Be sure to carve out some time to be alone and study God's word...to wait patiently for Him to speak to you and reveal Himself to you.
Every year on Palm Sunday, Christians celebrate the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. It was during the time of Passover and the streets were crowded. People cheered for him and put their clothes on the ground before Him. They waved palm branches as a sign of victory. This fulfilled several prophecies. In today's message, Pastor Dan talks about the prophecies of Jesus' second coming. You can count on Him to return exactly at the end of the 7 year tribulation period.
Throughout history, you can read about many different countries that have existed at one time OR another. There are also many different religions described over the centuries. BUT... nations CRUMBLE and many religions FADE AWAY. In today's message, Pastor Dan describes Daniel's prophecies taken from the Old Testament. In the end times, the country of Israel will keep its identity....and the Jewish nation will still worship Yahweh. You can find many truths and encouragement in the words of Daniel.
In the old testament, God made a covenant with Abraham. The Jewish people would receive God's FAVOR and PROTECTION. In today's message, Pastor Dan talks about how Gentiles, non-Jewish people, are grafted into the Jewish nation of Israel through belief in Jesus. You can be a part of the blessing too by your faith in Jesus Christ! When a plant is grafted to another, it grows and thrives on the root system of another plant. You can GROW and THRIVE by receiving the blessing too!
It is hard to watch the news. It’s difficult to digest ALL the bad things happening in the world. Nations are at war...people are sick... and natural disasters are wreaking havoc. However...there is a message of HOPE in the Bible. Jesus will return...He WILL RETURN and there will be peace on Earth. It's not a band-aid for our broken world. It is a promise of perfect peace. Today, Pastor Dan talks about how YOU can place YOUR trust in that promised peace that only Jesus offers.
Bruises can linger...changing from dark blue to green and yellow. They are a visual reminder that an injury occurred. Jesus was bruised for iniquities ...immoral acts of wickedness. Today, Pastor Dan talks about how Jesus was wounded for transgressions...people going against God's laws. The Good News is this...Jesus ROSE from the grave. He suffered and died BUT did NOT stay defeated. He rose! A bruise may linger but Jesus wipes away sin and offers forgiveness.
Forgiveness can be very difficult sometimes. It's easier to hold on to a grudge than to do the HARD thing...rebuilding a relationship. It's even harder if history keeps repeating itself...you have to keep forgiving someone...again...and AGAIN. You might even ask yourself "How MANY times do I HAVE to go through this"? In today's message, Pastor Dan teaches about when Jesus was asked this question. He answered 70 times 7. He really wants YOU to keep forgiving others until HE returns.
It’s respectable when people speak the truth, even if we don’t like what they’re saying. It’s a hard thing to speak when you know it won’t be popular or easily accepted. Pastor Dan reminds us today how God always keeps His word, even when no one believes Him! God told the children of Israel that He would curse them if they didn’t keep His statutes and what did they do? They turned away from Him and yet, they were surprised when He did curse them! God isn’t secretive; take Him at His word because He IS truth.
We tend to make excuses a lot. Even when we’re confessing our faults, we try to give reason to help someone understand why we did what we did. But today, Pastor Dan reminds us of Daniel, and how – even though he didn’t participate in the sins of his country – he still prayed to God for them, as though it were himself who committed the sin. He didn’t try to differentiate or make excuses, he simply asked for mercy for himself, and for the nation. Let’s take a lesson from Daniel and quit making excuses for our sins.
They say that the tongue is the strongest muscle in the body, but how much weight do our words really hold? Can you change the course of someone’s life with just a few phrases? Pastor Dan reminds us today that our word only holds weight when we keep it - when we speak the truth. Otherwise, it’s just a string of meaningless remarks. But God on the other hand… HIS word is action. His word is truth and it brings about His Will. Dig into the Bible and you’ll see exactly what God desires for you and your life.
Be about the King's business now more than ever before! Today, you learn from Pastor Dan's message that the world is lining up Scripturally to the last days. That means that as disciples we are to be ready and on guard for the Kingdom of God to arrive. Pastor Dan encourages you, to stay faithful in sharing the Good News of Jesus with others. Stay in community and fellowship with other Believers. Stay encouraged in the fact that the Lord is coming soon. Partner each day with Him and His Kingdom work.
Ever feel like you try and try to read Scripture, but have a hard time understanding it? In today's message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you that in the Book of Daniel, you learn that it's a great thing to ask the Holy Spirit for revelation. When you don't understand, instead of getting frustrated with yourself, ask the Lord what it means. Pastor Dan encourages you, that God will reveal to you and give you understanding if you seek Him for it. You have the best instructor and guide residing in you, the Holy Spirit.
Are you regularly studying the Word of God? As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you that there is no other book like the Living Word. Scriptures say the Bible is living and active, and it's sharper than any two-edged sword. Pastor Dan encourages you, to be in it as much as you can. You serve a God who knows the end from the beginning. In His Word are wisdom and Truth. God's Word is a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path. Walk daily with the Lord through its teachings.
God will prevail in the end! Today, you learn from Pastor Dan's message that being a Christian will become harder as time progresses. The opposition, oppression, and persecution will become worse. However, Pastor Dan encourages you, to take heart. Jesus says that He has overcome the world. You don't have to fear the outcomes, because God's already got it. Jesus has already won. His Kingdom will come and He will reign forever. Take all of your worries to the Lord and know that in Him is victory.
And He shall reign forever and ever! In today's message from Pastor Dan, he encourages you that God's Kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Although leaders, governments, and kingdoms of this world come and go, Christ's reign will not. His dominion is eternal. It will never pass away and it will never be destroyed. Pastor Dan urges you, to continue to study about Jesus and His Kingdom. You have so much to look forward to as a disciple of Christ. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords!
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind! As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you the importance of being led by the Holy Spirit within your walk with the Lord. The world is constantly wanting your attention and conformity. However, as disciples of Jesus, we aren't to pattern ourselves based on this world. Pastor Dan explains that you are to pattern yourself based around the Kingdom that is to come. Keep your gaze on the Lord.
Did you know that greater is He who is in you than he who is in this world? Today, you learn from Pastor Dan's message to stand firm in the Lord. If you've been experiencing a lot of spiritual oppression and darkness, stand firm in the Lord. The Bible says to resist the devil and he will flee from you. Pastor Dan explains that the fleet of the enemy is a promise from God. That when you draw near to the Lord, He will draw near to you. When you stand firm in the Lord, the enemy has to flee.
Always remember that you are a citizen of Heaven. You belong to the Kingdom of the Lord. In today's message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you that you're allegiance is always to the Lord. It's good to follow the rules and regulations from the leadership that God has put in place. However, when that leadership goes against the Word of God, you must follow after the Lord. Pastor Dan explains to you that when human government goes against God's Word, you have to obey the Lord. He is the Sovereign ruler of all.
Is the fruit of the Holy Spirit evident within your life and walk with the Lord? As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you that when you have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit it is evident to all. Daniel had the Spirit of God within Him. That's what distinguished him from others. He had the Holy Spirit guiding Him. Pastor Dan encourages you, that if you have been born again, you have received the Spirit of the Lord. The Holy Spirit is with you to produce good fruit in your life for the Kingdom.
Have you celebrated the fact that Jesus has died in your place for your sins? Today, you learn from Pastor Dan's message to rejoice in the Good News of Jesus Christ. He has come to take away the sins of the world. No longer are you judged by your righteousness, but by the perfect righteousness of Jesus! Pastor Dan explains that when you've received Jesus as your Savior, His righteousness makes you have right standing before God. Take the time today to give thanks to the Lord for what He's done.
Have you repented from your sins? In today's message from Pastor Dan, he explains to you what it means to repent. Repent means to turn away or to abandon your sins. Repentance is choosing to turn away from the sins that have been entangling you and to return back to the Lord. Pastor Dan encourages you, to put your trust in Jesus as your Savior from your sins. You can't receive entrance into the Kingdom of God if you haven't repented from your sins and haven't received Jesus as your Savior.
Be careful when it comes to alcohol consumption. As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he teaches you about what the Bible says about alcohol. There are many warnings in the Scriptures about drinking. Alcohol is considered to be a strong drink that can lead to brawling and mockery. Someone who lets themselves be controlled by it is considered to be not wise. Pastor Dan urges you, to be wise and thoughtful when it comes to drinking. Be sure to stay sober-minded and with clarity of thought.
The Lord is sovereign over all things! Today, you learn from Pastor Dan's message that God is in total and complete control. Whether you can see it or not. Whether it seems like it or not. God reigns. Your life might feel like utter chaos right now. But Pastor Dan encourages you, to not worry. Instead, place your fears at the feet of the Lord and watch what He will do. He is on the throne and He has your chaos handled. Keep trusting and leaning into Him. God's mighty sovereign hand is over your life.
All exaltation comes from the hand of God. In today's message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you that the Lord is the One who puts down one and raises the other. People placed in leadership and who are promoted, are there because of God. It's important to realize that God will sometimes strip away certain things within your life to reveal to you that He is in control. Pastor Dan reminds you, that God doesn't want you to become prideful and arrogant of your self-reliance. He wants you to rely on Him.
Are you making yourself available to listen to what the Lord has to say to you and for your life? As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you the importance of having humility. Sometimes people can become so prideful that they close themselves off from the work that God wants to do through them. Unfortunately, this sometimes means that God will have to knock you down, in order to gain your attention. Pastor Dan encourages you, to recognize your need for the Lord now.
There are always multiple lessons to be learned from Bible stories. Today, Pastor Dan recounts the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These three were thrown into the fiery furnace because of their loyalty to God. But we also learn that while in the fire, walking with Jesus, they were at peace and unharmed by the flames. They would have never experienced this closeness with Jesus had they not gone through this fiery trial. So, often is the case with us; through the trial, we grow closer to Jesus.
This may be the first time in our nation’s history, where Christians have been called to stand up for God over the norms of our culture. In the name of inclusivity, political correctness, open-mindedness, loyalty, and patriotism, people are forgetting who their true God is. In today’s message, Pastor Dan encourages us to remember what we believe and Who we stand for. As time marches on, it won’t be easy, and being a Christian may even come with a cost. But isn’t eternity with God worth it?!
We’re living in unprecedented times in our culture. Where Christians are being called by God to stand up for their beliefs and the truth of the Bible over government, schools, workplaces, or other bodies of authority. Pastor Dan encourages us today to be bold for our faith. You may be called one day to go against the grain of our culture which is straying further and further from God. You may be called, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, to stand for Christ even while others kneel to false gods.
There are so many things we can learn from the life of Daniel but one of the biggest things to note was that Daniel knew God was in control. He understood that it didn’t matter who the earthly ruler was, what mattered was that the God of the universe held him in the palm of His hands. As Pastor Dan teaches today, allow this truth to sink into your heart: God has you. He’s in control and knows just what you need. He has a plan and it is for you, and it is good. So let Him in and let Him do what He does best.
How often do you think you hinder God from working in your life because you refuse to give Him control? As you’ll learn in today’s message with Pastor Dan, Daniel knew the importance of allowing God to move. Allowing God to speak. Allowing God to reveal. So when Daniel was given a task, He prayed about it first. He let God in and gave Him the space to do what only He can do. Likewise, open your hands and let God do what only He can do. If the Lord is in it, He’ll move. If He’s not, He’ll shut the door.
Can you imagine what it must have been like to live during the Old Testament times? During the time that Daniel lived and prophesied of the coming Messiah? Today Pastor Dan will teach on the life of Daniel and how God used him to declare an incredible thing to come. Jesus. God would send His one and only Son to walk the earth as flesh and blood. He would be Emmanuel, God with us. God with you. What a gift!
As you continue to listen to today’s message with Pastor Dan, you’ll learn that Daniel and his friends were the only ones in their group who refused to compromise who they were. They trusted the Lord as their God and resisted the need to fit into the culture around them. As a believer in Jesus, you too should resist the need to fit into the culture around you. As tempting as it may be to conform to the things of the world, it’s not worth it. Like Daniel, trust that the Lord is in control…because He is!
Have you ever been tempted to give in to the worldly culture around you? Perhaps you can vividly picture a time when you did conform? As you listen to today’s message with Pastor Dan, allow yourself to be challenged. If you’re living in the world, you’ll find it hard to live in the Word of God, because you can’t serve both. Daniel was a great example of someone who didn’t conform to the culture around him. He understood that honoring God was more important than fitting in with an ungodly culture.
In today’s message, Pastor Dan will teach on the life of Daniel. Now Daniel and his friends were courageous teenagers who didn’t allow themselves to be corrupted by the culture around them…even if that meant risking their lives. Just like Daniel, you too may face certain times when the culture will try to twist your thinking. When you’ll be tested to compromise and give in to the worldly pressures. But take a page from Daniel’s book and trust in the Lord. No compromise is ever truly worth it.
Imagine being promised land, and not having it yet. EVEN to this day. That describes the Jews. The Lord promised them specific land. Pastor Dan will remind us today that in the end, Jesus will not have forgotten His promise. He will also speak more about the land during this time and who will occupy each area. A name change will happen. Jesus will dwell with all of us that have accepted His gift, turned from our sin, and lived for Him! It's what He has desired from the beginning...to be with YOU!
Let go and let God seems to be a popular saying in today's Christian culture. Have you contemplated what this could mean in regards to the Spirit of God? Pastor Dan will continue his message today describing more about the river and the landscape around it. He also explains how and why some things will be brought back to life because of this river! The Lord promises the Israelites that there will be a recovery of all things good. Be continually filled with Holy Spirit and see what amazing journey unfolds!
At some point in your life, you come to a place where something happens that just sticks with you. Can you relate? In today's message, Pastor Dan will explain a vision that Ezekiel had about water that flowed from the newly built temple. LIVING water. In his vision, the flow of this river emptied into the DEAD sea. No living thing is in this sea. Pastor Dan also talks about three different kinds of experiences we can have with the Spirit of God. He is with you. He is in you. He comes upon you to give you power.
Debt. One word in our vocabulary that brings such a weight. To have the debt paid off can be so freeing! This is what Christ did for you! Another word to celebrate this in the Bible is called JUBILEE. Today Pastor Dan will explain more about Ezekiel's visions and this word jubilee. Worship can be a time to gather together and remember all the blessings of the Lord. Pastor Dan also expands on more acts of worship and what that looks like in the temple when Christ has returned.
Isn't it great to know that you are changed after being with Jesus? When you take the time to be with God you give Him the opportunity to support you. To build you up. To convict you. Today Pastor Dan encourages you to make time to worship God as a daily activity. He references that in Hebrews we need to get with other Christians. He also describes a certain order in which people enter and exit the temple. Somewhere in that temple, of spending time with Jesus, there is a change that occurs!
Imagine BEING with Jesus! Worshiping Him in His house with all your heart and soul! This is what you and I can look forward to when the Lord returns and sets His Kingdom on earth! Pastor Dan will talk today about Ezekiel focusing on how it looks to worship DAILY. He also explains the significance of the new moon and what it meant to Israel. It was celebrated by Jews because it was a sign that God's faithful! He hasn't forgotten them. When you see the moon, remember He's never left you!
Believers who profess Jesus sometimes fall, fail. We have good intentions, and then BAM! We sin. Sometimes intentionally, other times unintentionally. Pastor Dan explains today how we, as Gentiles...as Christians, were implanted into the blessings of Israel. God's GRACE is the reason why we have salvation from our sins! Pastor Dan also speaks about the many different offerings that will be presented during the Lord's reign on earth. We are reminded that all these offerings point to one person. Jesus!
Do you see people being a lover of money? Proud? Unloving? Ungrateful? Many will fall away from the faith, hating what is good. In today's message, Pastor Dan will paint a picture of Jesus contrasting the leaders of Ezekiel's day to the leaders that will rule in the kingdom age. God WILL RULE with fairness, honesty, and righteousness. Remember that it blesses the Lord when we worship Him freely! Meditate on the Word of God and recognize the signs concerning the last days. Be ready!
It could be said that the amount of effort you put into your relationships is how much you get out of them. Do you want to be CLOSE to your Savior? Spend time with Him...serve Him. This will allow you to draw NEAR. Today Pastor Dan will explain the Israelite's home after being in captivity. Jesus is very specific about what's built and how the land will be divided. You will realize the importance of preparing your heart before you enter into the Holy place of Jesus. Serve Jesus! See how close you find yourself!
Today's culture teaches us that we should do what we want. You're allowed. Go ahead. Just do it. This mentality actually disguises harm. In Christ, we have the freedom to not engage in these behaviors, to say...NO! This way we can serve Him better! Today, Pastor Dan will continue clarifying the priest's job during this age when Christ sets up His kingdom. He reminds us also that they lead by example. Think of ministry simply as SPENDING TIME with Jesus. It's meant to be a BLESSING, not a burden.
Forgiven. Accepted. Jesus fulfills this when you turn from your sins. Pastor Dan will talk today about LIPS that honor God with words, about EARS that are willing to listen, and about a HEART that loves. How are your lips? Ears? Heart? He also speaks about Paul encouraging Timothy to be ready anytime to teach the people. Sadly, there will come a time when the truth isn't desired. When this happens, you can be assured there will be consequences. Don't be led astray, hold fast to the TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE!
"I will never leave you. Nothing can separate you from my love!" Do these sound familiar? They are Jesus' PROMISES to you! Today, Pastor Dan tells more about Ezekiel's vision of the Lord promising to return through a gate, never to leave...only to establish His Kingdom. Ezekiel sees Jesus' glory fill the temple...and falls down at such greatness. If you desire to enter into God's kingdom you must REPENT. CHANGE. TURN from sin. Friend, train your ears, lips, and heart to cut out sin to love Jesus wholeheartedly!
Does your heart long to be in fellowship with your Savior? Invited in? Jesus initiates this, not you. He came to save us from our sin to make this happen. Continuing in Ezekiel, Pastor Dan speaks today about God's temple and this invitation to dwell in a relationship with Jesus. Know that there is always a price to pay when you decide to sin. You will always lose something, feeling shame and guilt! BUT...you will learn in Ezekiel of the great preparation of the altar of God! HAVE HOPE! There's the cross!
Walls. Built to keep things out and hold things in. Did you know that the Bible talks about a gate that was bricked shut to stop Jesus and the prophecy of what will happen before He returns? Pastor Dan continues his message in Ezekiel teaching that when the Jewish people decided to sin and not repent, the Lord left. The gate was shut. Bricks were placed. However, in Ezekiel's vision, he saw Jesus return to the temple in all His glory. Dear one, have faith...His Kingdom will come!
Do you ever feel like the Jewish people when they were in captivity? Abandoned by God. They had news that the best was yet to come through Ezekiel's vision. You see, JESUS sets Ezekiel's and the Jew's minds on the future with Him. Today Pastor Dan will note that Ezekiel had a detailed vision of what the temple will look like when Jesus returns. There is a temple that will stand during the tribulation that the Bible mentions. This structure is NOT of God and it will house devastation. Set your mind on Christ!
Did you know that the Lord stores your prayers to Him? In today's message from Pastor Dan, he encourages you that every single one of your prayers is stored by God. Every prayer you've ever prayed is considered precious and valuable to God. Pastor Dan reminds you, that even when you feel like God doesn't hear your prayers, He does. Your prayers rise to Heaven before Him. No matter where you're at in your walk with the Lord, keep seeking and pursuing Him. Keep on praying and asking for what you need.
Everything that has been lost by sin, will one day be restored! As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you that ever since the Garden of Eden sin came in and caused death. Death of people, relationships, and animals. However, God promises that one day all will be restored by the finished work of Jesus Christ. Pastor Dan encourages you, to hold onto that truth. If you feel broken or have lost something, know that the Lord has good plans for you. Jesus will provide restoration.
Better is one day in the Lord's courts than a thousand elsewhere! In today's message from Pastor Dan, he emphasizes how wonderful it is to be in the courts of the Lord. How great it is that as Believers, we get to be in the presence of God. One day, you will stand in those courts worshiping the Lord. Pastor Dan wants you to soak that in, of how marvelous that will be. But also, have gratitude to Jesus for making that possible. Because of the finished work of Jesus, you get to be in the presence of God.
Keep looking forward! As you listen to today's message from Pastor Dan, he shares with you that the Bible is always pointing to what lies ahead. God desires for you to look forward to the coming Kingdom. Pastor Dan explains, that the Lord's return is near. No one knows the day or the hour of His return, but it's coming. That is something to celebrate and look forward to. You will have eternity with the Lord. Keep looking ahead to eternity with Him. And keep sharing the Good News of Jesus with others.
In today's message, Pastor Dan will remind you that the Lord is glorious! Now, that probably isn't a word that most people would use in an everyday conversation. The word glorious means that something or someone is illustrious, splendid, and resplendent. These are all things that can describe the Lord our God, He is full of glory! He is illustrious, splendid, and resplendent, and so much more! As followers of Christ, it's our responsibility to display the glory of the Lord in our lives and in our actions.
In today's message, Pastor Dan will remind you that God is a just God. The Bible tells a prophecy where Israel is unjustly attacked by several other surrounding nations... In this prophecy, God will enact justice. He will defeat the oppressors of His people the Israelites and He will save the nation of Israel. While the injustice of our current world can seem incredibly overwhelming at times... We can rest in the fact that God loves justice. He fights for those who love Him and need His help when they're treated unjustly!
In today's message, Pastor Dan will remind you that the Bible is a book filled with prophecy! The Bible has prophecies about many things. The Bible's prophecies have been proven true over and over again throughout the Bible and in our own time. One prophecy in the Bible says the nation of Israel will be attacked by many nations... But the nation of Israel will be saved by God. God saves His people, He saves whom He loves! Just as He has saved people from their sins, He will save His people the Israelites.
In today's message, Pastor Dan will remind you that God intends to save the nation of Israel from her enemies. The Bible says that the nation of Israel will be attacked but miraculously saved by an earthquake sent from God. God saves those He loves from destruction. He offers salvation to those who are willing to take it... He wants good things for the people that He loves and created. He chooses to fight for those He loves. Like any good father, He keeps His children safe from anything that could bring harm.
In today's message, Pastor Dan will remind you that the prophecies found in the Bible are found to come true time and time again. Throughout both the old and new testaments, prophecy is a prevalent source of writing. There are prophecies about Jesus, His death, His resurrection, and His return for the Church. The Bible also has a prophecy about the nation of Israel. The Bible says the nation will be attacked but miraculously saved by God! What a great and powerful savior that we get to serve!
In today's message, Pastor Dan will help you to understand how the Bible divides history into two distinct sections. The two sections of history according to the Bible are “this age” and the “kingdom age”. This age refers to the present time when Christ has yet to return for the Church. The kingdom age refers to the time after Jesus has returned for His bride the Church. The Bible is a historically accurate text, even those who don't believe in Jesus agree that the Bible is a historically accurate document.
We’re living in a time where God is fulfilling prophecies found in the scripture. It’s a privilege to be living in these days and to be a part of what God is doing. Pastor Dan will remind you today that you can find the truth within the word of God. He’ll challenge you to be watchful and ready for the Lord’s return. As you’re looking more toward God and less toward the world, you’ll find yourself living with a sense of expectancy. There’s so much to be looking forward to as followers of Christ.
Is there evidence of God in your life? Or are you living like the rest of the world? It’s hard to swim against the current when the majority of society is headed in the other direction… fulfilling their fleshly desires. In the message today, Pastor Dan will challenge you to walk in the spirit and experience His grace and blessings. As the Lord changes you from the inside out, it will be evident to others the change that has taken place. All of a sudden, you will no longer be interested in fulfilling the desires of the flesh.
God’s grace covers your sin. It’s not anything that you can earn or deserve, it’s a gift given to you freely by God. What a blessing to be known and loved by the one who created you. He sees your every quirk and downfall and He loves you still. In today’s message, Pastor Dan will unpack what it means to be covered by God’s grace. He’ll challenge you to live all-in for the Lord as we approach these last days. There can be distractions coming from all sides but remember what matters most is eternity.
Have you messed up recently? Maybe you’ve slowly slipped farther away from the Lord or you’re struggling with the same temptation over and over again. Well, in the message today, Pastor Dan reminds you that God responds to your sin with grace. Perhaps you feel like you don’t deserve that kind of grace and blessing in your life… Pastor Dan will encourage you to remember that He gives it freely. All you have to do is respond to the Lord’s call in your life.
In today’s message, Pastor Dan will teach on some of the prophecies found in the book of Ezekiel and how they are being fulfilled before our eyes. What a gift we’ve been given to have the Word of God at our fingertips. As followers of Jesus, we’ve been given the scripture to grow closer to God and to learn the truth. Now days, there’s confusion whirling around when it comes to right vs. wrong and truth vs. lies… know that God’s truth is found in the Bible and it’s available to YOU today.
Are you holding bitterness toward someone in your life? You may have noticed that pent-up hatred and anger toward others will only end up causing harm to yourself. In the message today, Pastor Dan will discuss how the Edomites had a long history of hate for the children of Israel. Hating the Israelites didn’t get them anywhere, in fact it got them destroyed. There’s much to be learned from the scripture and this is yet another lesson that we can apply in our lives today.
There’s a certain freedom in the reality that you’re responsible for the things you do and say. No one else gets to decide how you’ll respond to the situations you face every day. Today, Pastor Dan explains that you’re on the hook for your choices, no matter what your leaders or the people around you do and say. Even if you have the worst leaders in the world, you’ll still be held accountable for the choices you make. It’s up to you how you respond. No matter how bad they are, you can’t blame others for your choices.
Parents and teachers have been using the buddy system for years to help keep kids safe and where they’re supposed to be. Well, just like kids are better off when they stick together, Pastor Dan shares that people who follow Jesus need the buddy system too. Today, you’ll learn you need to stay connected to other believers. Pastor Dan explains that people who are off on their own are at risk of being picked off by God’s enemy, Satan. That’s why it’s so important that you invest in personal relationships with other believers.
What makes someone a good spiritual leader? Well, on today’s edition of Ring of Truth, Pastor Dan looks at Ezekiel 34 to find some of the answers to this question. He points out the contrast between the examples of a bad spiritual shepherd described in this chapter and the Good Shepherd, who is Jesus. You’ll see that Jesus leads with love, kindness, and wisdom. He heals those who are hurting and broken and provides shelter and safety. He lays his life down for his sheep. Jesus is the leader you should follow.
In a culture that’s always busy, we rarely take time to stop and reflect on what happened to bring us to where we are. And when life breaks down, it’s easier to just plow ahead and try to fix what’s been damaged than to pause and think. But, as you’ll learn in Ezekiel, pushing forward doesn’t solve your root problems. Ezekiel urged the people to consider why their land had been destroyed, but they didn’t want to hear it. Today, Pastor Dan urges you to do things differently and make space for reflection and change.