Calvary Nexus Sunday Sermons: Recent Episodes
Calvary Nexus Teaching Pastors
This podcast includes series of messages teaching through various books of the Bible taught by the teaching Pastor team at Calvary Nexus in Camarillo, CA.
To be amazed is to encounter something so impressive, unexpected, or extraordinary that it shifts your focus entirely. As we contemplate Jesus we should be amazed.
Believers will experience the beauty of the Spirit-filled church as they gather together and scatter together. When we commit to this Spirit-filled community, we will experience belonging, find a place to use our gifts, and thrive as we are transformed.
Because the Father has given us His own presence through the Holy Spirit, we are empowered by His Spirit, rather than our effort, to live as witnesses of the Gospel who make disciples.
Although a community of faith has diverse gifts, passions, callings, and ministries they are one united body.
Although a community of faith has diverse gifts, passions, callings, and ministries they are one united body. As believers mature in their faith they use their gifts to benefit others in the body (community of faith).
Because Christ holds all authority, commands every follower to make disciples, and promises His Presence to the end of the age, we are empowered, commissioned, and sustained as Jesus-followers to be disciples and make disciples.
Spiritual disciplines are a means to grow as disciples of Jesus. Today, we learn about the spiritual disciplines of Bible learning, contemplation and prayer and their value in our spiritual growth.
Calvary Nexus’ mission flows from the Great Commandments: to love God supremely, love neighbors as self, and the Great Commission to make disciples (who do likewise). Today, we will learn a process that will allow all of us to engage in this mission and grow in Christ.
Because salvation is accomplished by Christ rather than earned through human effort, believers are transformed by the Holy Spirit to bear spiritual fruit, do good, and boast only in the cross of Christ. This is how true freedom is experienced.
Believers who walk in step with the Holy Spirit will increasingly display the fruit of the Spirit that reflects God’s character, reject the sinful desires of the flesh, and live in the freedom that Christ offers.
The way to be right with God is through faith in Christ. Followers of Christ will not abuse their Christian liberty as license to sin. Jesus’ followers know God’s love, love God and love and serve others. Today, we’ll discover the value of serving God by serving others.
The way to be free in Christ is to stay grace centered, keep trusting Christ and loving God and neighbors, and keep running free and well. Today, we discover how together.
The gospel of grace and the law of legalism cannot coexist. Paul makes an appeal to the Galatian believers that is aimed both at the heart (feeling) and the head (logic). Let’s discover how we experience the grace of God that Paul is teaching about.
When we seek acceptance from God through performance-based religion, it results in bondage, but through the Gospel we are adopted by our Heavenly Father on the basis of Christ's righteousness. The result is sonship and heavenly inheritance, which frees us to glorify God through our experienced adoption.
The New Covenant of grace is superior to the Old Covenant of law. It is a better promise, better purpose and better blessings. Let’s discover the answer to the question, “How do people receive God’s blessing?”
The widely accepted worldview ingrains performance-based thinking from the time we are young. We are told that good behavior and hard work yield rewards, which provide feelings of accomplishment and superiority. However, this is opposed to God’s economy of grace. Faith in Jesus grants redemption, the gift of the Spirit, and unity with all who believe. Let’s explore how faith in Jesus provides freedom.
When we seek acceptance through performance, it damages unity and love within our families and community of faith, but the Gospel transforms our relationship with God and others through grace in Christ.
D. James Kennedy published "Evangelism Explosion" in 1962 as a resource for God's people to
engage in personal evangelism. Therein he poses two primary questions paraphrased below:
-
Are you certain that if you died today you would go to heaven?
-
Why are you worthy of God's heaven?
Pastor Alistair Begg walks us through this passage where Paul is clarifying that salvation is through faith in the saving work of Jesus alone, and not the cross plus something else.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship gathering you can find it by clicking the available link.
Trust is the foundation of all relationships. However, in a culture where there is growing mistrust of politicians, institutions, media, and people there is a likely sense of fear, apprehension, looming disappointment or fear of pain associated with the vulnerability required to trust. Yet, in trusting Jesus and His gospel we discover the freedom we yearn for. Today we discover how…
There is in the heart of man a yearning for freedom. We resist arbitrary and abusive authority; and there is a tendency in our culture to desire independence. Ironically, the pursuit of freedom from God enslaves to values that don’t satisfy. What we really need is freedom in Christ. We need to discover the grace of God in the gospel that frees us through Christ from the world’s influence, liberalism and legalism, and frees us from the penalty, power, and ultimately presence of sin. So that you can be free to experience contentment in Christ (rest for your soul). Let’s explore the gospel of grace and find freedom in Christ…
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
As Genesis 50 closes the narrative arc of Joseph’s life, we observe three factors that can be potentially destabilizing in life: grief (at Jacob’s burial), fear (as the brothers face Joseph), and death (as Joseph’s life ends). However, Jacob and Joseph’s hope in God to fulfill His promises remind us that we can be assured of His faithfulness: that He remains faithful, judges rightly, and gives us hope for the future.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
In Genesis 49 God speaks a final blessing through Jacob to his 12 sons. In this blessing, we see that God’s grace is greater than our failures, God’s plan is greater than our present challenges, and both are demonstrated by His promises. God is trustworthy.
Jacob and his clan had left the land of promise and were now settled in Egypt. God foretold that the family would remain in Egypt for 400 years. Will the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ever redeem the promised land? Jacob’s blessing upon his sons and grandsons shows his unwavering faith in God’s promises. Jacob learned to trust God, and today we are encouraged to do likewise.
Life is a journey. The start is physical birth, but the true beginning is regeneration (spiritual rebirth); and the goal is Christlikeness and eternal life with your Savior.
Genesis 46 shows God bringing His people back together, restoring what sin and brokenness had fractured. He restores faith, reunites family, and reassures the future. This points to Jesus, who reunites us with God, restores our faith and gives us hope for eternity.
Epic tales of redemption and revenge, like the Count of Monte Cristo, Shawshank Redemption (a Stephen King short story) and of course The Princess Bride resonates with us, because God hardwired humanity towards redemptive narratives. The Bible is a meta narrative of God’s redemption and restoration of humanity after the fall in Eden. Here, we see a picture of that redemptive plan in the account of Joseph and his brothers.
Genesis 44 shows us a clear picture of God’s transformative power in the lives of Joseph’s brothers - especially Judah. As we examine our hearts, we quickly see how selfishness, pride, and other sin is far too prevalent, which ultimately leave us empty and unfulfilled. As we grow as followers of Jesus, our hearts are transformed to become more like His, and it is this transformation that provides true fulfillment.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Grace relates to unmerited favor (you get something good that you don’t deserve). The greatest expression of God’s grace is the gospel, the good news that salvation is available through faith in Christ. God graciously offers forgiveness, restoration, spiritual life and Himself through faith in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and resurrection.
This chapter reveals a picture of this process of renewal as Joseph is a picture of the savior and his brothers are a picture of humanity, sinners in need of restoration. Let’s discover together and appreciate our restoration even more…
Genesis 42 demonstrates that through confrontation, conviction, and correction God restores what is broken by sin by bringing us to repentance, reconciling us to Himself, and rebuilding our relationship with others.
God’s plans triumph, despite difficult circumstances. However, when things don’t go our way, we tend to become anxious and/or impatient, whereas, trusting in God’s timing and sovereignty over circumstances demonstrates humility, wisdom, maturity, and faith. God blesses these qualities in our lives.
We all reach points in our lives when we realize that our circumstances are beyond our control. In Genesis 40, we learn that we do not find purpose because of our circumstances but because of our willingness to serve God and others, even amid those circumstances.
The tendency to single out one form of sin as particularly worthy of condemnation is common. That tends to generate self-righteous hypocrisy from comparison. In essence, “that sin” is horrible, and I don’t struggle with that so I’m a better moral person. Drug abuse, alcohol abuse, gluttony (food abuse), gambling abuse, and pride are all serious forms of sin, but the Bible gives great emphasis to the subject of human sexuality and the dangers of sexual sin.
The reason is that sexual sin is an obstacle to intimacy with God and a spouse which is a foundation for a marriage, a family and a community. Thus discovering a biblically high view of sexuality and overcoming temptation is beneficial to self, marriage, family and a community. So, let’s explore this subject and discover how together…
In Genesis 38, Judah’s spiritual drift, moral compromise, and failure to disciple his family lead to dire consequences. Yet through Tamar (who is mistreated, forgotten and pushed aside), the Lord preserves the family line that will lead to David and ultimately Jesus, the Messiah. This story reminds us of the need for intentional discipleship in our homes and communities and reveals the grace of God in redeeming even the most broken situations to weave them into His purposes.
As you consider the lives of Job, Moses, Daniel, David and Jesus you discover the reality that suffering precedes glory, but also the paradoxical truth that suffering prepares for glory.
What might it look like for thriving generations of faith to transform a community for eternal good? What might it look like to be passionate about God and His kingdom rather than indifferent? What difference might it make for you and those you love?
It’s easy for us to question God when we face challenging or hard seasons in our lives. At times, we may even tend to think that if we are obedient to God, then our lives should be void of pain and suffering. In Genesis 35, we see Jacob’s obedience to God and the incredible challenges that follow. We learn that we can find hope and peace in our challenges because God is faithful and trustworthy.
The Lord has called every believer to live on mission, participating in making disciples. This includes making disciples across the globe. When the local church is mobilized to participate in global missions through prayer, encouragement, giving, and going onto the cross-cultural mission field, it creates a tremendous impact for the Gospel as followers of Christ walk in obedience to His will internationally.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
n this world we are going to experience tribulation. We are likely to experience injustice, oppression, abuse and we are likely to be wronged by others and do wrong to others. This reality reveals our need for a Savior, and causes us to yearn for peace (wholeness) in this life and yearn for the life which is to come. Despite their status as patriarchs or the children of Israel they are not immune to this human condition, and this chapter puts a spotlight on this predicament.
Today, we see reconciliation between brothers Jacob and Esau, whose relationship was devastated by sin. We understand that, though we constantly sin against God, He is always faithful to forgive and reconcile. As we better understand the grace that God shows us, we better understand the benefits of living according to His plan.
All of humanity is engaged in a proverbial cosmic wrestling match with God. God’s desire is that we yield ourselves to Him. When you yield, you grow in faith, cultivate a deeper relationship with your heavenly Father and become more like Jesus! Today, we discover how…
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Conflict is inevitable in this life. Sometimes it can feel hostile, and at times there is uncomfortable confrontation. In the midst of this dynamic can we experience peace? Today, we discover how…
Genesis 30 reveals the damage envy, rivalry, and manipulation cause within Jacob’s family but also reveals God’s covenant faithfulness to keep His promises despite human failure, reminding followers of Christ to trust God’s faithfulness and grace, rather than our own methods and motives in our families and relationships with others.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Jacob, like king David and you and I, is a flawed moral character, however, God in His infinite grace, mercy, and magnificence is preparing Jacob to influence God’s redemptive plan as he learns to follow God, and is transformed to be more like Jesus. As result, Jacob’s life will have eternal significance, and the same is available for each of us. Let’s discover how.
One of the great catalysts for faith and growth in Christ is personal experience with God. Consider Paul on the Damascus Rd. (Acts 9), Isaiah’s vision of God seated on His throne (Isaiah 6), Joshua’s call to lead (Joshua 1), Moses and the burning bush (Exodus 3), and God appearing to Abraham (Genesis 12), Isaac (Genesis 26) and in this chapter Jacob. And God wants you to experience Him!
Our world and our lives are impacted by the mess of sin and its repercussions. Oftentimes, we struggle to trust God and seek to take matters into our own hands. Today, we will discover that God is trustworthy; He redeems, He blesses, and provides us with hope in this life and the life that is to come.
As we experience relationship with God our faith grows as we discover the trustworthiness of God, and experience His peace. Yet, new challenges will reveal areas where we need to grow. And as we grow in trust of God, we discover more of His peace (rest for our souls). Today, we discover how…
Genesis 25 portrays God’s blessings and human stewardship through the transition from Abraham to Isaac and Rebekah, to the births of Esau and Jacob. Believers receive the ultimate blessing of life in Christ and are called to steward that blessing well for the Gospel.
Contentment in marriage (or singleness) can be a very elusive experience, but today we’ll discover some considerations and the key for marriage contentment, and contentment generally.
Mourning, grief, and loss are unavoidable realities of our fallen world that we will each experience. Today, we’ll learn that during difficult seasons, we will only find comfort in God’s provision and the hope of His promises.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Jesus declared that all of the Old Testament, beginning with Moses’ writings related to Him (Luke 24:27). Throughout our study of Genesis we have sought to reveal Jesus and His gospel. The better we see Jesus throughout the Bible the more we understand God’s love and respond with love and worship. Today, we have one of the most beautiful pictures of Jesus painted in the Old Testament narrative that makes us want to join the heavenly host in worship.
Genesis 21 shows God’s sovereign grace turning conflicts into peace and reconciliation through faith, compassion, and peacemaking, as seen in Isaac’s birth, Hagar and Ishmael’s rescue, and Abraham’s covenant with Abimelech, pointing to the New Covenant where Jesus’ sacrifice reconciles us to God.
The life of faith is like a trapeze where we are tested to step off a platform of self-confidence and reach for a bar that God provides that brings us to a platform of God-confidence. In that dynamic there often appears to be no net, and that is where we discover the grace of God. Today we discover Abraham’s journey from fear to faith, a journey we’re invited to join.
God is merciful, loving, gracious, and just. He offers all a chance for a relationship or rejection. Those who choose Him through Christ are declared righteous and avoid the judgment of the unrighteous. Only by His grace can we be counted righteous. Genesis 19 shows clear examples of God’s mercy, grace, love and justice.
The term “intimacy” refers to close familiarity, friendship, and relationship. It relates to mutual affection, companionship, understanding. However, the term can also refer to a cozy atmosphere (e.g. An intimate bistro), and of course there is the euphemistic reference to sexual behavior. Which is why the idea of intimacy with God can seem nebulous. Today we discover what the Bible is all about … (Haven’t you ever wanted to know what the Bible is about?).
God’s covenant with Abraham reveals His pattern of grace: the Lord gives us a new identity, secured by His promises, which produces wholehearted obedience. We are secured, and God’s promises are certain for us, not because of our performance, but through faith in Christ.
Thesis: The challenge with waiting is that it confronts our expectations (i.e. It is longer than we expected). Waiting can challenge our sense of well-being and can produce anger, apathy, anxiety or actions contrary to God. On the other hand, the response of worship characterized by yielding to God’s direction and confidently trusting Him produces peace and hope in God’s people and glorifies God. Today, we discover how…
We all experience doubts at different stages in our lives. Our doubts may change our perceptions of God, but they don’t change who God is. God is bigger than our doubts, God is better than our doubts, and He will always remain faithful to us. He is deserving of our faith and trust.
Humanity’s biggest battle is to see our need for rescue, and to keep honoring the One who rescues …
This world has a certain gravitational pull (literal and figurative). That pull can cause us to drift from God, unless we learn to seek first God and His kingdom, to worship God and not this world. Today we learn how and the benefits.
God’s call to Abram demonstrates that following Him requires faith, obedience, and steadfast trust in the Lord’s promises, even amidst uncertainty, trials, and human weakness. God’s call not only establishes Abram as the recipient of His blessing but also positions him as a pivotal figure in God’s redemptive plan, through which all nations will ultimately find restoration in Christ. This passage reveals that responding to God’s call requires a reorientation of our sense of security, embracing a future formed by God’s purposes, and relying on God’s steadfast faithfulness, teaching followers of Christ how to obey God’s calling over our lives.
Today, we discover how to move from rebellion against God to following Him, from foe to friend, from confusion to blessing…
Contemplating the scope of conflict around the globe, let alone within a home, can be discouraging. Since 1948 there have been 72 U.N. peacekeeping missions. The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law is presently monitoring 110 armed ethnic conflicts around the globe. UCLA’s Anderson Review published September 2023 observed: polarization by cultural values, not by ethnicity, is related to human desire to associate with like-minded folks (homophily), and tends toward maximum antagonism towards those on the other side of the cultural divide. Political parties have become closely aligned with entrenched polarized values leading to the perception of greater polarization. In the midst of this cultural moment of conflict and polarization how did we get here, and is there meaningful hope of unity?
God’s promises are faithful. Mankind’s problem is our nature to rebel against God. God has intervened to provide a means to deal with our sin, guilt, and shame. Today, we learn to appropriate and appreciate God’s provision.
Inevitably, we will all experience seasons of waiting, uncertainty, and challenge. If our hope is built on the things of this world, we will recognize that it is fleeting, temporary, and easily lost. But instead, we can find true hope in the new life that Christ offers.
As a Calvary Chapel, our family of churches was at the center of the Jesus Revolution of the late 1960s and 1970s, the last great revival to sweep across this country and globe. A key characteristic of our family of churches is the characteristic of being gospel-centered or full of grace and truth. As Pastor Chuck opened the doors to the hippies of his day, people of the prevailing secular culture were welcome to consider the claims of Jesus, and the practical and moral implications of His gospel. This radical culture is part of our past, present, and Lord willing future.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Pastor Bruce Zachary leads us through the traditional Passover Seder showing us how the entirety of the Old Testament points to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
God’s judgment is certain, complete, and wholly justified in His righteousness. Yet, because of His exceeding mercy, He provides a means of rescue from judgment for those who place their faith in Jesus. Through faith, bearing fruit in obedience, the Lord preserves us from His righteous judgment and brings us life.
The existence of evil and wickedness in the world is undeniable. Its inception is Satan, and man’s rebellion. Yet, God has promised to judge evil, and offers grace to those who believe Him. Today, we learn about the judgment of evil, the grace of God, and God’s prescription for refuge.
Early in the Old Testament, The Bible records the genealogy or family of Adam; and the New Testament begins with the genealogy or family of Jesus. You experience contentment, and please God, when you become part of His big family; and learn and live His family values. Today we discover how…
Being able to worship God freely without fear of death or condemnation because of the work of Christ is a wonderful privilege; however, God still desires that He be worshipped in the way He deserves, and so we should seek to worship Him in that way. When we do, He promises that whatever we sacrifice will be nothing compared to what we gain in return.
Life compels us to contemplate some pretty challenging philosophical questions that are at the heart of our existence. Why is there pain and suffering in the world? Why is there aging and death? Why is there hardship if God is good? Is this present reality what God intended? Is there hope of a plan to make it right? Today, we discover the answers…
God creates marriage (and family) and describes an ideal that produces blessing for the individual, the couple, a family and a community. Marriage is to be a picture of the relationship between Jesus and His Church. Today, we discover how to experience unity with God and your spouse…
We were created by God, in His image, to commune with God and be used by Him. When you are in a relationship with your Creator and accomplishing the work He’s created you for, you will be most satisfied and fulfilled.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
The great existential question is, “Why am I here?” (I.e. What is the purpose or meaning of life). The related question is, “How did I get here?” (I.e. What is the origin of life?). Unless you get the right answer to the origin question, you cannot get the right answer to the meaning/purpose question. Today we discover answers to both.
The great existential question of life is why am I here (i.e. What is the purpose of life)? The related question is how did I get here (i.e. What is the origin of life)? In the beginning of Genesis (Ch. 1-2) we learn the answers to those questions. Genesis is either a foundation for the entire word of God and is reliable, or it is merely a collection of stories. Today, we discover abundant evidence so that you can know the Bible is reliable. Truly, if Gen. 1:1 is reliable then there is no problem with the rest of the Bible.
In 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, seven of the eight chapters refers to the Lord’s return. Knowing that Jesus could return at any moment, how should His followers navigate the challenges of providing income, planning retirement, and being about His business until He comes. Let’s discover how together…
In our lives, we will encounter seasons that require a patience that is beyond us. Through prayer, the Lord transforms our hearts and minds towards effectiveness, obedience, and direction, building our patience to the glory of God and the furtherance of His Word.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
We all face seasons of fear and uncertainty, and those tend to be the times that it’s easiest to doubt God. Today, we will discover that even in the most trying times, we can stand firm with confidence in our salvation and experience comfort.
The purpose of Bible prophecy, especially related to end times events, is to offer comfort, confidence, and forge Christlike character as we prepare for His Coming. The purpose is not to set dates, nor try to solve mysteries related to news and prophecy per se, but to get our hearts and minds focused on God. In the fullness of time, God sent forth Jesus (Gal. 4:4), and at the right time He will return just as He promised (John 14:1-4, Revelation 22:12). Let’s prepare…
There is an Arab proverb, “Too much sunshine makes a desert.” Your faith is tried and tested in order to reveal your growth in Christ, and also reveal where you need to grow. God allows trials and uses them to conform us to the image of Jesus. Let’s discover how to grow in faith and rest in Christ during trials.
What are some resolutions that will most transform your life for good? Today, we consider Paul’s closing exhortations to the Thessalonians that provide some great transforming resolutions as we begin a new year (or any time).
Life is marked with God’s faithfulness, grace, and blessing. And yet, life in a world broken by sin is still wrought with difficulty, pain, and injustice. It is a sobering reminder that the state of the world (as it exists now) is not how God intends it to be for eternity, and that Christ will return to set all things right. We are closer to Jesus’ imminent return than ever before. As God’s people, we are called to be prepared for His return by living in faith and love, and continually hoping in the salvation we have in Jesus. By relying on the sufficiency of the Gospel, we can live today being ready for Jesus’ return.
This time of year is often referred to as the “Season of Lights.” Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Homes, businesses, and streets are decorated with lights (Gemini Street). Christmas cards and manger scene, the nativity, and baby Jesus with a glowing head. Jesus is depicted as radiating light, the glory of God manifest. Is Jesus the light or one of many lights? What difference does it make? Consider a light at the end of a long tunnel, it makes a world of difference whether the light is your desired destination or an oncoming train! So, let’s consider the birth of Jesus and discover the light of the world.
I have been blessed to travel to Israel, and visit the shepherd’s fields of Bethlehem, and the Church of the Nativity – the traditional birthplace of Jesus. It is an incredibly moving experience to see, touch, and contemplate the place where God entered our world as Child. Worshipers cry, kiss the ground, and tremble at the idea that it is there our Savior was born. There are three responses people have to Jesus: adoration anger, and apathy. Nevertheless, only the attitude of adoration will produce contentment in this life, and the life to come.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
This life will have unavoidable pain, sorrow and grief. In light of this universal truth, it is an interesting philosophical, ethical, moral and existential matter to contemplate whether bringing a child into the world is “right, just, or good” in light of the relevant balance of happiness and heartache. Nevertheless, there is a reality that can tip the scales towards a conclusion that it is right, just and good. The transcendent hope of the universe that provides true comfort despite the hardships of life in our world is found in Jesus’ resurrection and return.
Paul encourages the Thessalonian believers to continue growing in their love for others. As we grow in our love for God and love for neighbors, we will grow in the fulfillment we experience. Today, we will discover that when we live a life characterized by love, we can experience fullness in this life and for all eternity.
In Eden, Adam and Eve experienced unity with God and one another; and a pure love unadulterated by sin. When they rebelled against God, they and all their offspring (including you and I) now have a sin nature (the flesh) that is an obstacle to experiencing pure love. And humanity is searching for that pure love to experience true contentment. But, it is hard to be pure. Sexual temptation is seductive, access is everywhere, and there is little cultural incentive towards purity. Yet, today, we discover a way to redeem this dilemma and experience pure love.
According to 1 Corinthians 13:13, love is the greatest of all Christian virtues and is the method by how we love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. God is the source of our love, and the purpose of that love is to make us holy and blameless at the Lord’s return. Let's learn how to join God in His mission to make us more loving.
In the midst of affliction, Paul encourages the church at Thessalonica to be established in their faith. As believers, we long to have a faith that can withstand the seemingly ever-changing tides of life. Yet, in the face of adversity, we can be tempted to seek our encouragement and comfort through means apart from the Lord. However, no source of encouragement or comfort will be as steadfast and fulfilling as our relationship with Christ, and the fellowship of His people. Through this passage, we will discover how to be encouraged in our faith, so we will not be shaken, even in the face of trials.
God has given us the Bible to reveal His nature, His plan of redemption, His moral perfection, and His eternal faithful love. God uses His word and Holy Spirit to transform us, and to prepare us for persecution and opposition. We need to experience the effective work of God’s word to be transformed, prepared, and built-up in Christ.
The purpose of God’s mission is joy, and He calls us to participate by becoming a redemptive, compelling, and missional people.
God uses people to help others become mature disciples. We are called to serve one another in humility and love (Gal. 5:13). Jesus’ disciples embrace the blessing and responsibility to serve others, and learn to serve with right attitudes and actions.
Today we will see the example of the believers in Thessalonica who were faithful because of the transformative work of the gospel. Because of their faithfulness they were used mightily by God. In the same way, God desires to use each of us, so let’s continue to be transformed by the gospel and live lives that characterized by faithfulness.
The shortcoming of moral reformation is discouraging, because it does not produce the restoration we yearn for. Yet, this reality should lead us to a better way to be restored.
The rebuilding of Jerusalem, that began with the wall and has progressed to the city, was not just a physical restoration. It was a call towards transformation in the attitudes and actions of God’s people that brought about reform. As we commit toward reorienting our attitudes and actions towards following God, we experience His transformation in our lives.
Those who know, or are reminded of, the greatness, goodness and grace of God desire to enter or renew a covenant relationship with Him.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
This is Israel’s national prayer, and the longest recorded prayer in the Bible. It reviews Israel’s history, God’s greatness, goodness, grace, mercy, and faithfulness. It also reveal’s the community’s confession, repentance, and renewal.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
There are countless thoughts and opinions on who God is and how human beings can find joy. However, apart from God’s word, we will never find the truth. Today, we will discover that by learning, loving, and living out His word, we can find true joy in the one true God.
A local church should seek to reach their community for Christ. A yearning to impact the community for Jesus, and expand His kingdom such that lives are transformed for eternity. A local church should impact a community such that if it were to vanish it would be noticed, and missed. Today, we learn how we can reach our community for Christ.
Jerusalem’s walls have been in ruin for a century and a half, but overcoming tremendous obstacles, Nehemiah and the people approach completion of the work that began construction just 52 days earlier. In an attempt to halt the work, opposition now aims their sights personally on Nehemiah, and Nehemiah is in a position where he must continue even in the midst of obstacles right before completion.
Those who are in a right relationship with God will seek to be in right relationship with others.
In Judaism there are two related terms that are extremely important to understand: Mispat + Tzedakah
These terms are related to righteousness or justice. Not in the sense of crime and punishment, but justice in the sense of doing what is right (Micah 6:8). In a Judeo-Christian worldview there is an obligation to God to help alleviate wrong. It compels us to confront our selfishness and discover the selflessness of God, and the transforming work of Jesus, the gospel, and the Holy Spirit.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Whenever you work to advance God’s kingdom (e.g. personal life with God, marriage, family, service, sharing your faith, cultivating Christ-centered community) or rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem expect conflict. There may be opposition from circumstances, people, or the enemy of men’s souls . Whenever God moves to bless the enemy moves to oppress! Today, we discover how to overcome opposition to God’s work.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
God called Nehemiah to lead His people in the rebuilding of the walls of the city of Jerusalem. God called His people to a specific work in a specific time, and God equipped His people for that work. God is still calling His people to a specific work today, and He has equipped you (and us) for that work. And God has brought us into community to accomplish a far greater work together than we could as individuals.
Nehemiah felt that God had put in his heart to do something (12). God works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).
Have you ever sensed God calling you to do something (e.g. Bible learning, prayer, serve, share faith, give resources, small group)? How might people respond to God’s call? Don’t reply, reply when convenient, or respond in faith and go do what God has called you to do. If you want to grow you got to go!
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
How should we respond to the needs of others? Clearly, we can’t care for all the needs, however it is equally clear that we cannot ignore them all either. Nehemiah helps us to understand that God uses people in His work of restoration. We discover greater contentment when help care for others. Let’s learn how together.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
What is prayer? Prayer is intimate communication with God, and a means to draw close to God. Prayer expresses adoration, praise, and intercedes on behalf of self and others. It is hearing God speak and responding with faith and obedience. It is an expression of your desire to see God’s will done on earth as it is in heaven (Mt. 6:10). Prayer is worship, because through prayer we acknowledge God and our dependence upon Him.
When we think about what it means to be a follower of Christ, a multitude of interpretations can come to mind. We can think about serving the Lord, Loving Him supremely and loving our neighbors. We might think about sharing the Gospel and making disciples. We may think about caring for our families- our spouses and our children. What often escapes our thoughts is the Truth that all of this is happening in the context of a spiritual battle. The reality is that the Devil opposes every good work that the Lord has called His people to participate in. However, rather than be tempted to fear, anxiety and despair, by looking to Jesus, we find that the Lord in Christ has given us both the power and means of grace necessary to enter into this spiritual fight. As His followers, by being aware of this spiritual battle and equipped with the armor of God, we can experience victory.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Most of us will spend more time in connection with work or school than any other environment, or group of people. Prior to the fall in the Garden, God had given man work to do in the Garden and declared that it was good (Gen. 2:15). After the fall (Gen. 3), work became more difficult and burdensome, but can still be rewarding (emotionally, spiritually, physically, and financially). And work can be redemptive as Christ is reflected in your work. Let’s consider God’s plan for work, how to reflect Jesus in your work, and how to experience contentment in work.
Every parent desires to see their child thrive. We invest to see them succeed in academics, athletics, creatively, socially, and so many other ways. But the most important (and eternal) investment we can make is to equip them to succeed and thrive in Christ.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
A Spirit-filled Christ-honoring marriage reflects Jesus’ relationship with His Church, glorifies God, and provides true contentment to a couple. Today, we discover how.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Every human has a desire to fill the void in their life created by our separation from God. Some try vainly to fill that void apart from God. Others look to God, but all still struggle with the flesh and the temptation to satisfy the longing for wholeness outside of God. The hope is discovering the Spirit-filled life, and today we learn how.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Think of all the different words we use to describe how one walks. The different words show that there are many ways to walk, and each of them says something. Jesus' followers walk (I.e. have a lifestyle) characterized by walking in God's light and love. Today we discover the wisdom to do it.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Christ offers a new and better way of life. As we put off our old ways and put on the new way of life Christ has made available, we will enjoy the benefits of living in love and unity with God and others.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
The best version of you is the version that looks more like Jesus and most like Jesus. God provides everything you need to equip you to grow to be like Jesus. Today, we learn how.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
In Ephesians 3:1-13 we learn that divergent followers of Jesus are united in Christ to proclaim Him, His gospel, and His glorious redemption. In chapters 4-6, he will reveal how we are to live as followers of Jesus.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Followers of Christ are part of the most amazing entity ever imagined – The Church, and are to experience Jesus together. When a diverse group of people display God’s love to one another it reveals His love to others.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Christ came to unite individuals in relationship with God, but He also came to unite His people in relationship with one another. Those who are in Christ demonstrate this by loving God and loving one another.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
In this section we have a vivid picture of what humanity is by nature, and what you can become by God’s grace. Today, we discover how to how to experience spiritual life in Christ and how to live that life by God’s grace.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Imagine trying to describe the most beautiful sunset that you have ever seen to a blind person. No matter how rich and nuanced your vocabulary is they could not see what you experience. Similarly, without God’s enlightenment you are unable to know and experience God, nor appreciate your identity in Christ. Today, I pray that we will know the goodness and greatness of God.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
God promises every spiritual blessing to those who are in Christ. Trust in Christ, receive the promises of His blessings, and give glory to God!
Have you ever hoped for a new beginning? I know that I have. There are things that I’ve done, or said, or failed to do that I should have done that I wish somehow could be erased or transformed. It would be amazing to receive favor anew from the most important person in your life. Today, this Resurrection Sunday (Easter), we will discover together how to have a new beginning. To live for Christ anew, afresh, once more.
Jesus’ death and resurrection make new affections, new identity, and new purpose in Christ a reality.
The term passion is used to describe Jesus’ suffering associated with the crucifixion and His powerful zealous love for us. Good Friday is good because of what Jesus did for us. Jesus gave His life so that you could be restored to God, forgiven of sin and experience life with God in this life and forever in the life to come. The work of redemption was accomplished at the cross, it is finished. Two-thousand years ago things did not seem good, as Jesus hung on the cross, but 7 recorded statements that He made, in light of His Resurrection, give us reason to be passionate for God.
The family of God, which consists of all believers, should seek to intentionally build up all generations with the power of God’s love through the gospel.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Marriage is the most complex, but also most potentially rewarding of human relationships, because if marriage is done God’s way it thrives and reflects Jesus’ relationship with His Church (Ephesian 5:21-33). Today we learn how…
Pastor Doug Posey teaches the second part of our Family Life series focusing on raising Children in the ways of the Lord. God’s people are to make God’s word a real and prominent part of their lives, not only to have it in their hearts, but also to pass it on to the next generation by making it a part of their daily discussion. It is to be an obvious part of their reality. The goal is to raise children of faith.
Today, we begin a 4-week series on “Family Life” and begin with the theme of flourishing in relationship with God. To flourish means to grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as a result of a particularly favorable environment. The most significant positive impact that you will make in your marriage, children, family legacy, friends, neighbors, work, school or worship community is to flourish in relationship with God. Let’s discover how.
The book of Titus is a letter written by Paul to Titus. Titus was a Gentile believer who traveled and served with Paul, was trained by Paul, and was instructed by Paul to stay in Crete (the southern island of Greece) to serve and minister. He was stationed there to appoint godly leaders and encourage believers to live counter-culturally to ensure the beauty and purity of the Church (God’s people) to the culture around them.
Jesus uses intentional relational leadership to make disciples who make disciples of others. Let’s discover how.
Titus 1:1-15 :: “Gospel Centered Leaders”
Pastor Jeremy Einem
There is a need for healthy godly leadership within the church, and we should all aspire to be healthy godly leaders.
God is working in you so that you honor God, and as you honor God His work in you is manifest. Let’s discover the dynamic of Jesus’ greatness working in us to transform us for good.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Here, we find some of the attitudes and actions inspired by Jesus’ greater love. To the extent that we seek to live these virtues we discover whether we’ve been inspired by Jesus.
The way citizens of a specific place live is influenced by their culture and community ideals. As we draw near to Jesus and spend time with Him, we should be known as citizens of His heavenly kingdom through the way we live.
The goal of the gospel (and of life) is to commit to Jesus, follow Him with growing faith, and become like Him.
Life with God is a life of faith. Jesus inspires greater faith. Your commitment to God will be tested, and as you choose to follow Jesus your faith will inspire others too.
The patriarchs were not morally or spiritually perfect, but trusted God to fulfill His promises; let’s discover how to live by (and die in) a faith that pleases God regardless of our imperfections till the end like the patriarchs.
Our greatest yearnings are to experience real life, real relationships, and real joy. This Christmas, we’ll discover the greatest gift, because Jesus satisfies those longings, and today we’ll discover how.
A life characterized by faith in God experiences peace with God and the peace of God. Nevertheless, the life of faith can seem nebulous. Yet, Jesus inspires greater faith for us to apprehend, appropriate, and experience. Let’s discover how…
In the midst of trials, persecution, questions, and doubt, God wants us to have confidence in our faith. Today we’ll discover how the perfect sacrifice of Jesus gives us the assurance to stand before God and worship Him.
We all reach moments in our lives when we realize that our best is simply not good enough. We are a fallen people who fail to live up to the standard of perfection that God has set. Today we will discover that Christ came as our once and perfect sacrifice to sanctify us with His perfection.
In understanding the OT tabernacle and sacrificial system, God’s people can better understand and appreciate the greatness of Jesus’ sacrifice. Those insights should motivate us to prepare for Jesus’ appearance.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Throughout history, God has been leading humanity to better places. As our better High Priest, Jesus offers us new life through a better covenant. Today, we will discover how we can experience the blessings of Jesus’ better priestly service and the benefits of the new covenant.
In the first century, prophets represented God to man and priests represented man to God. The Levitical priests mediated on man's behalf to God with prayers and offerings. But Jesus is superior in every way compared to anything else, so go to Jesus rather than any other mediator.
Life in this world can be very discouraging, but today we find a hope that will be sure, steadfast, and provide encouragement and comfort for your soul!
No human mediator or intercessor can represent you to God like Jesus. So, come to Jesus and receive God’s mercy and grace.
Hebrews 4:1-13 :: “Jesus Offers Greater Rest” All people have a deep longing to experience true rest. Only by placing our faith in Jesus and growing in obedience to His word, will we experience greater rest.
God delivered the Jews form bondage in Egypt, a picture of the world, and sought to quickly move them through the wilderness into the Promised Land. Nevertheless, the Jews wandered in the wilderness and a generation failed to enjoy God’s blessings in the Promised Land. In Christ, God offers a better promise, but you can wander in the wilderness without appropriating the blessings. This valuable case study of the Exodus reveals how to experience the greater promises of God available in Christ.
The great existential quest is to be delivered from the weight of this fallen world, and be delivered to a better or even ideal Promised Land. If someone doesn’t feel that Jesus is doing the job (or will do the job) they will be tempted to seek another deliverer. Yet, Jesus is a unique Deliverer, better than any other. So commit to Christ.
The gospel message of Jesus Christ is unlike any other message we have heard or will ever hear. The more we understand and appreciate the greatness of it, the more we will experience the transformative life God desires for us. Today we will discover how Christ’s message reveals He is greater than all.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
There is a fascination with angels. There are over 50,000 titles available on Amazon, and over 115 million hits on Google. A Gallup poll (2023) reported that 69% of people in the U.S. believe in angels, 55% believe they have been protected by a guardian angel, and 20% of that group identify as non-religious. The fascination with angelic beings is not new. Here, we discover that Jesus is superior to angels. Thus we should follow Him rather than angels.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
In C.S. Lewis’ classic Chronicles of Narnia Lucy sees Aslan the lion, a picture of Jesus the Lion of Judah and declares, “Aslan! Aslan! You’ve grown so much bigger.” To which Aslan replies, “No Lucy, you’ve grown so much bigger and the bigger you grow, the bigger I’ll seem to you.” The more you grow the more you appreciate the greatness of Jesus.
The night that I came to faith in Christ, I walked into the gym at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa for the College + Career Study. The pastor was doing an overview of the Book of Hebrews. He spoke about how Jesus is greater than the prophets, angels, Moses, the Promised Land, Old Covenant, the high priest, and Levitical priesthood. Jesus offers a better sacrifice, covenant, assurance, kingdom, love, and inspires greater faith. That night I received Jesus as Lord and Savior and began my journey knowing and growing in the greatness of Jesus. Through the study of the Book of Hebrews we’ll discover together the greatness of Jesus.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Have you ever wondered what would happen if our church no longer existed? Would the community around us realize we were gone? Would they mourn the loss of the love that our church poured into them? More than anything we would love to make a genuine difference for Christ in our community (and beyond).Many of us had the opportunity to travel to places this summer that we love. Perhaps it was the culture, architecture, food, natural beauty, escape from routine or rigors that we loved. Yet, God has called each of us to love the community where he has brought us to live in the sense of sacrificing our comfort to see that community reached for Christ. As a local church, we love this community by being a solid foundation for teaching sound biblical doctrine and proclaiming the gospel, and by engaging our neighbors with the love of God and good news of Jesus. We also leverage our resources to plan large scale initiatives to serve our community and proclaim Christ.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Message Notes (upload Message Notes .pdf to field)
This week's full worship service https://live.calvarynexus.org/
You were created intentionally by God to be part of a community. Even He modeled that for us by the very nature of His being: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We benefit greatly from being part of a community, but also benefit greatly from contributing to our community. Today we will discover how we can love our neighbors within our community.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Growing in love for God is made evident in the way we love others. God not only calls us to love those near to us but to demonstrate His redeeming love to those outside the community of faith. Today we will unpack how we can share the missional love of Jesus.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
The great paradox of the universe is where can one discover true contentment? The essence of our problem is that we often love the wrong things, or the wrong prioritization of our loves. The mystery of contentment is a growing love for God. Today, we will discover how. Jesus was asked, which is the greatest commandment of the 613 recorded in the first five books in the Scriptures recorded by Moses, and known to Jews as the Torah,
Jesus replied, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-39).
How can you grow in your love for God so that you love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind? How can you know if you are growing in love for God, and what difference does it make?
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
What if there was a community where all the people loved God supremely and loved each other as themselves [Matthew 22:39]? A place where all were characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control [Galatians 5:22-23]. Who wouldn’t want to experience that? Let’s discover today the vision of how God has called us to saturate our community with gospel-centered Neighborhood Groups to help transform our community for Christ.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
The life of faithfully following Jesus begins with, is sustained by, and looks forward to continually abiding in God. As we seek to honor God in this life and await the life that is to come, we must remain connected to Him. Today we’re going to discover how we can abide in Christ and what we can look forward to in doing so.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
The Book of Acts begins with Jesus’ promise that He would send forth the Holy Spirit who would empower and guide believers to proclaim Christ and His gospel (Acts 1:5-8). The Book of Acts records the fulfilling of that promise.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Storms can be a metaphor for the difficulties, struggles, crises, and challenges of life in a fallen world. How do we feel in the storms of life? At times hopeless (20), afraid (Mark 4:35), and overwhelmed (Psalm 107:23-31). Yet, God the Father has provided God the Son and Holy Spirit so his people can experience His peace in the midst of storms.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Storms can be a metaphor for the difficulties, struggles, and challenges of life in a fallen world. These include: physical and emotional, familial, relational, financial, and existential. In the midst of storms it can be challenging to trust God and experience His peace. Yet, God has given us His Spirit to help us to navigate storms and appropriate and appreciate His peace. Let’s discover how to trust God in the storms of life.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Each one of us has a completely unique life story. But more important than your life details is the story of your relationship with God. For believers, the God of the universe has forgiven you, adopted you, and given you an eternal inheritance. This part of your unique story has cosmic implications and is worth sharing with others. Let’s learn from Paul as he demonstrates how to share our own testimony with others.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
God has called us to be His ambassadors to urge people to be reconciled to God through faith in Christ (2Corinthians 5:18-20). As you contemplate your story (testimony) of God’s transforming work in your life there is ample opportunity to represent Jesus and his gospel to others (friends, family, and neighbors where you live, work, study, play and worship). God has given us the Holy Spirit to guide, and empower us to represent Jesus and His gospel as we tell His story and ours. Today, we will consider how.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
As we endeavor to live on mission for Jesus, we will face times of uncertainty. In these moments, God is still working even when we can’t see it or don’t understand how. Let’s discover the peace found in trusting God through uncertainty.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
The gospel offers us life with God through faith in Christ. Life with God is experienced through commitment to follow Jesus. Yet, in a culture that may be opposed to the gospel, and in many respects encourages the pursuit of this world as a means of experiencing contentment, it can be difficult to commit to Christ. The Holy Spirit has been given to believers to empower us to commit to Christ (Acts 1:5-8) and experience real life. Let’s discover how as we consider Paul’s defense before Roman leaders.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Living by Christ’s promises means knowing what those promises are and working with Him rather than in spite of Him to see those promises fulfilled in our lives. When we do this, we are living life to the fullest and bringing His kingdom to Earth.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
When your share your faith in Jesus and His gospel, it might feel like the gospel is on trial. Nevertheless, we want to share the gospel so people can receive Jesus, experience His life and a hope that transcends circumstances.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
The essence of your story in Christ (testimony) is: what it used to be like, what happened, and how it is today. Five times in the New Testament Paul’s testimony is recorded (Acts 9, 22, 25-26, Philippians 3, 1Timothy 1), because your story is a powerful tool to reach others for Christ. Learn to share your story with others as we consider Paul's testimony.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
God has always proven himself trustworthy. Though we may not always understand our circumstances, living our lives in humble obedience to Him and His plan will always lead to peace.
Standing for Jesus and His gospel in a country that is increasing secular, relativistic, and pluralistic is challenging. All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (2Tim. 3:12). If you are seeking to represent Jesus to neighbors where you live, work, study, play and worship, you will face some opposition, ridicule, or scorn. Jesus sent His Spirit so we can represent Him in spite of opposition. Let’s discover the power to stand for Christ.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
The Spirit-empowered life is characterized by a growing love for God and neighbors; and actions to help others grow as Jesus’ disciples (The Great Commandments and Commission). Today we discover how.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Message Notes
This week's full worship service https://live.calvarynexus.org/
The Spirit-empowered life is characterized by a growing love for God and neighbors; and actions to help others grow as Jesus’ disciples (The Great Commandments and Commission). Today we discover how.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
The God we serve is distinct, and as His followers our worship and our lives should be distinct from the world around us. Let us reorder our passions to seek God’s glory as we worship Him.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Imagine the very first Easter. The tomb is empty, and you wonder, “Where is Jesus, where’s the Lamb of God?” It could feel hopeless. Yet, from Genesis to Revelation we see God’s plan to restore humanity and all Creation revealed to give us hope. A key to understand God’s plan is to consider the question, “Where’s the Lamb?” When you find the Lamb, you will find hope.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
God is seeking those who worship Him in Spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:23-24). We need both the Holy Spirit and the truth of God’s word to be the worshipers God desires, and to represent him to a world that needs to know God.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Continuation is key to on-going development. We would describe healthy people as those who continue to grow (in learning, strength, skill sets, discipline, etc.), as opposed to remaining stagnant or regressing. As followers of Jesus we must continue to grow as disciples and do what the Lord calls us to do.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
The essence of the Christian Life is to be disciples who live the Great Commandments to love God supremely, and love neighbors as self: and the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20). Today, we discover that this is God’s plan to reach our community, and His world with the gospel.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
As followers of Jesus, we want to be disciples who make disciples of Jesus. Engaging people for Christ, as empowered by the Holy Spirit, can be the first step in making disciples. Let’s discover how.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Through the truth of His Word and with the help of our community of faith, God wants us to grow as disciples who have assurance in what we believe. Disciples with confident faith help others learn about and receive the gospel of Jesus.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
The gospel message of Jesus is distinct and unlike any other message the world has to offer. We must not stray from that message and we must live it out if we desire to see our community saturated and transformed by the gospel.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Jesus foretold a Spirit-empowered advancement of His people, His gospel and His Church (Acts 1:8). What might it look like to advance the gospel into new territories in your life?
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Ministry and life generally are done in relationship with others. Human relationships inevitably experience conflict as a result of differing values, perspectives and philosophies. How we deal with conflict can reduce or escalate it, and either hinder or advance the gospel. Let’s discover how to resolve conflict and advance the gospel.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
God has given His Spirit and His word (the Bible) so that we can be followers of Jesus (disciples). Today, we discover the process, purpose and proof of becoming gospel-centered disciples.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
At some point, most people will struggle with feeling like they’re not “good enough” (work, relationships, school, etc.). The gospel tells us that in our shortcomings, God extends to us grace upon grace: The grace to draw us near to Him in salvation, and grace to transform us into His image. Together we’ll be reminded of the power of God’s grace that saves, sustains, and sanctifies His disciples.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
The first of the Ten Commandments declares you shall have no other gods before me (Ex. 20:3). Idolatry is worship of false gods or excessive devotion for some person or thing. In essence, anything that is your master passion other than God is an idol: possessions, people (relationships, celebrity, your prominence), hobbies, recreation, entertainment, career, social media. Idolatry flows from the desire to worship, but refusing to yield to God. God empowers us to overcome idolatry because only He can restore heart, mind, body, and soul. Let’s discover how.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Sharing Jesus with people who have little to no knowledge of a biblical worldview seems daunting. Our culture is becoming increasingly post-modern, relativistic, pluralistic, humanistic and materialistic (i.e. denying a spiritual realm as well as consumerism). Yet, just as the early church reached a Gentile world with little to no knowledge of the God of the Bible, we likewise will reach those who don’t know God where we live, work, study, play and worship. Let’s discover how.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Believers and unbelievers alike suffer from a lack of exhortation, which is the art of gentle, inspiring, and firm instruction; we will learn how to exhort and be exhorted for the salvation of unbelievers and the sanctification of believers.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Christmas should be the most wonderful time of the year. It can be a special time for family, traditions, and giving and receiving of gifts. Most of us have at least a few gifts that we’d like to receive, and most of us realize that none of those gifts are likely to bring real satisfaction. Yet, is there a gift that is so amazing that you could discover true contentment that would not depend on your circumstances? Why is Christmas truly so wonderful? What is the gift that brings true contentment? How can you receive that gift? The prophet Isaiah, helps us to discover the answers with these familiar words:
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Is. 9:6).
God sent His Son into our world to fulfill a mission of reconciling man to God. Christ came to dwell with us to model how to live this mission; and sent the Holy Spirit to lead us to fulfill our part in this mission. Today we discover how to reach our world for Jesus by experiencing a Spirit-empowered mission.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Prayer transforms your life and world through intimate communication with God. Prayer is a means to an intimate relationship with God. Failing to pray to the true and living God is just as futile as praying fervently to a false god. Almost everyone prays to some degree to some perceived god, but few find fulfillment, satisfaction or transformation. The problem is we often approach prayer as only a means to get something good or avoid something bad, rather than to develop an intimate relationship with God. Relationships require time. Prayer is rooted in a biblical understanding of God as a personal being who hears and responds to His people.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
A Spirit-empowered believer, and a Spirit-empowered church, begin by the Spirit and are to remain faithful to Christ through the power and leading of the Spirit (Cf. Gal. 3:1-3). Today we consider some characteristics of a Spirit-empowered life and church.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
The gospel is playing out in each of our lives in truly amazing ways. We are given the opportunity to be witnesses to what God is doing in our lives which encourages those around us with the truth of the gospel and the saving work of Christ.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
God sends forth His Spirit to draw people to Christ. God’s people join in that work, as we receive and are led by the Holy Spirit.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Jesus’ followers have been called to engage those who don’t know Him, and to help make disciples (Matt. 28:18-20). We are likely to feel inadequate, intimidated or perhaps unable to do so. So, Jesus has given the Holy Spirit to empower believers to represent Him and His gospel where we live, work, study, play and worship (Acts 1:8).
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
"God's Heart for Missions"
Pastor Mike Vincent
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in #1-Jerusalem, and in #2-all Judea and #3-Samaria, and #4- to the end of the earth.” -Acts 1:8
People are wired to model themselves after others they observe. Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus modeled for us the Spirit-empowered life. As we are transformed by the Spirit, our lives should better reflect the image of Jesus as we make disciples who make disciples.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
One of the great blessings of the Spirit-empowered life is experiencing transformation! We are being conformed into the image of Jesus, progressively becoming more like Him in our attitudes and actions. One of the ways that we know that we are part of God’s family (saved) is the transforming work of God’s Spirit.
Paul’s conversion is one of the most inspiring events in the Bible. Paul was probably the least likely person to come to faith in Christ. He described himself as the worst sinner, and declared that God used him to be an example of the grace of God (1Tim. 1:12-17). So, there is hope in the transforming work of God’s Spirit!
Our world is fallen and in darkness; the way we advance the kingdom and topple the gates of hell is by obeying the call to preach Jesus and make disciples. Preaching is simply passionately and persuasively talking about something you love, enjoy, and believe in.
All people’s actions and desires change as they grow. As followers of Jesus grow the more their actions and desires will change to be in line with the Holy Spirit.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Those who are yielded to God, reflect upon where they need to grow to be more like Jesus. They consider where their attitudes or actions may be misaligned; and when God reveals correction they repent and yield to God’s Spirit rather than resist. We can minimize regrets in this life and the life to come by yielding to God’s Spirit.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
God has generally given humanity the freedom of choice. You can thus choose to reject God, you can also recognize and receive Him. Yet, there is also the condition of recognizing and receiving God, but then resisting His leading in your life. The best way to limit regrets in this life, and the life to come, is to yield to God’s Spirit.
Sharing Jesus and His gospel is intellectual, emotional, and spiritual. In this section of Scripture, and the one that follows, we discover how the Spirit was manifest in Stephen’s life. Stephen’s ministry and his message remind us of the reality that we can receive and also resist God’s Spirit (v.51). The best way to limit regrets in this life, and the life to come, is to yield to God’s Spirit.
As disciples we are individually called to serve together in unity. When this happens we will see communities reach for Christ.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
It is in the nature of the Spirit of God to bring about transformation wherever He is. As believers, we must understand the significance of seeing our personal lives transformed as well as experiencing the power of God at work through the Church.
It is in the nature of the Spirit of God to bring about transformation wherever He is. As believers, we must understand the significance of seeing our personal lives transformed as well as experiencing the power of God at work through the Church.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
The Spirit inspires God’s people to share their faith and their lives graciously and generously. As we grow in understanding and appreciation of the gospel, that we are made right with God through faith in Christ, our affections are transformed. God’s Spirit inspires love for God and others, triumphs over selfishness and anxiety, and produces boldness and unity.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Most of us would like to share our faith in Jesus with others: family members, friends, and neighbors where you live, work, study and play. Nevertheless, many Christians don’t share their faith in Christ. The most common manifestation of being filled with (controlled by) the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts is boldness to share the gospel. Today, we’ll discover God’s gift of Spirit-empowered boldness to share Jesus and His gospel.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
We must remember and be rooted in the truth that the gospel we proclaim is a gospel of healing, grace, mercy, and a free gift offered because of Jesus’ sacrifice.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
We are empowered by God’s Holy Spirit to bring God glory not to pursue personal gratification.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
The early church flourished, and God moved mightily. In order to experience the flourishing work of God it is vital to be involved in church gatherings, invested in the Church body, and be inwardly transformed.
The Church was birthed from, is sustained by, and realizes her full potential through the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we hold fast to, and share, the good news of salvation we can trust that God is at work. Today we’ll unpack the glory and power of the gospel in our lives.
All believers in Jesus Christ should expect to be led by the Holy Spirit to speak His Word, our testimony, and Jesus’ gospel.
It’s easy for those who believe in God to approach Christianity, church, and their faith in a very passive way. [This mentality that you’ve made the team or been accepted into the program, and now we can relax.] However, followers of Jesus will find the greatest fulfillment when we actively seek to know God and act in alignment with His will.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
The Spirit empowered life exemplified in the book of Acts isn’t simply descriptive of what once was, but is prescriptive for how the believer should live on mission now. Just as God used the disciples in the early church in incredible ways, God wants to use us today. Together we’ll see how we can step into the Spirit empowered life and live as witnesses for Jesus and His gospel.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
In Luke’s sequel to his gospel, he continues the account of the ministry and teaching of Christ, as carried out through His disciples. Jesus promised them power to do this, and He provided many convincing proofs of the power He promised. The same power, through His Spirit, is offered to us. His clear proofs give us confidence and evidence to answer skeptics.
All people benefit from being discipled by others to love God and love neighbors. Those who are disciples have been given the command and opportunity to disciple others to help them grow in their love for God and neighbors, and make disciples who do likewise.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
All people benefit from being discipled by others to love God and love neighbors. Those who are disciples have been given the command and opportunity to disciple others to help them grow in their love for God and neighbors, and make disciples who do likewise.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Only when we understand that all believers share the same identity as part of the body of Christ will we be able to care for and honor one another as ourselves.
Every human was designed for spiritual growth. In the Garden of Eden, God established a model where Adam and Eve could walk with God and learn from Him as they grew. Jesus Himself modeled spiritual growth in His humanity (c.f. Luke 2:40). Our desire for self-improvement through self-discipline is a fragmented picture of God’s original intention of spiritual growth through the power of the Spirit. True transformation that leads to contentment comes only through the Holy Spirit working in our lives. Today we will continue to unpack how we can experience the joy of growing in our faith.
We are going to discover how we as branches can grow and bear fruit simply because we abide in Christ.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
We frequently hear the term “salvation” or “saved” in connection with Jesus and His gospel, but what does it mean? There are several common questions we will answer including: Why does God save? What are you saved from? Who does the work to save? How can you be saved? What difference does it make? How can you know? Let’s explore the doctrine of salvation and learn to experience life with God.
The truth of the gospel finds many parallels in every culture on earth; Paul demonstrates how to use the culture to preach the gospel.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
The truth of the gospel finds many parallels in every culture on earth; Paul demonstrates how to use the culture to preach the gospel.
The Church is to make disciples of Christ: mature followers of Jesus who love God supremely, love others as themselves; and make other disciples who do likewise. The power of the Holy Spirit in the context of Christian community is God’s ideal means to equip and give evidence of the transforming work of Jesus and His gospel. We are called to experience Spirit-empowered community and be Jesus’ disciples! Let’s discover how…
Have you ever noticed that people love redemptive stories? We love The Lord of the Rings, The Count of Monte Cristo, Star Wars, and The Princess Bride. We love the battles between good and evil (often within the same person), despair and hope, tragedy and ultimate triumph. What if those stories resonate with us, because God has designed us with a redemptive hope. What if the message of the gospel is exactly what it claims to be: God’s epic redemptive love and restoration of humanity? Does the idea of a close relationship with the true and living God in this life and the life to come sound too good to be true. What if you could know that it is true? How might that impact your life forever for good?
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Jesus declared, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Ac. 20:35). Contentment flows from trusting God, and produces charity and generosity which produce more contentment. Receiving is good and provides blessings. Yet contentment and charity produce greater blessings. Let’s discover how…
All people have a deep longing, craving, and desire for peace. Trusting in Jesus is the only way we can experience true peace.
Eternal life is more about quality of life than quantity of life. Eternal life begins as soon as you receive Christ (Jn. 3:36, 17:3). When you discover how to experience eternal life, you will enjoy the most satisfying life in this life and the life to come.
The most satisfying life is the life that discovers all that Christ has called you to be and pursues that objective passionately.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Our confidence only has as much power as the object we place it in. All of us have at one point, or are presently, placing our confidence in the flesh (what we can accomplish). New life can only be experienced when we know Jesus by placing our confidence in what He has accomplished. Today, we’ll discover the joy found in knowing Christ.
It is a paradox that the key to our contentment is to put the needs of others before our own as we seek to do God’s will. It is counter-intuitive in the sense that the natural response of the flesh is to focus on self and the pursuit of our pleasure, desires and interests. Yet, that life never satisfies. Conversely, the life that imitates Jesus’ example of humble selfless service to God and others produces unity and contentment in this life and the life to come.
Early in the Model Prayer, we are instructed to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:10). This answers the great existential question, “What does God want to do in and through my life?” You apply your life to the great purpose of God - to do His will like Jesus. Let’s discover how.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
Modern culture encourages an individualistic mentality that is fueled by a self-seeking, self-reliant, egocentric life style. At the root of this mentality we often find a heart driven by selfish ambitions. Yet; Paul reminds us that as Jesus shapes our lives, our hearts should be motivated by a servant like, unifying humility.
The true test of endurance and perseverance comes through adversity over time. As believers, we should be filled with a desire to enter our perfect heavenly home, while also acknowledging the work that God is calling us to during our time on this earth. When we face difficult circumstances, whether external or internal, it can be easy to allow our desire to be with Christ in heaven to block our view of how God would use us on earth. Today we will discover the joy in confidently continuing to live for Christ.
Difficult circumstances and people can discourage Jesus’ followers from His mission to advance the gospel. Yet, like Paul, we can be confident that God is working to produce good fruit and advance the gospel.
We’ve all grown spiritually in different ways over this last year. We should celebrate that progress! Yet, undoubtedly there are plenty of ways we still have to grow. As we enter into a new year, contemplate the ways you can grow as a follower of Jesus. We can experience accomplishment and satisfaction in our lives that is far greater than meeting non-spiritual goals. So that we can sense accomplishment and satisfaction that is truly meaningful.
Calvary Nexus’ Mission: “We are a movement of Jesus’ followers devoted to loving God and our neighbors and making other disciples who do likewise.”
Calvary Nexus' Vision: "At Calvary Nexus, we are in the middle of a 10-year vision to saturate our community with the gospel through Christ-centered Neighborhood Groups where people grow in their love for God and neighbors."
Our primary methods are through: 1. Neighborhood Groups 2. Schools - Love Our Neighbors Community Impact (LONCI) Show God’s love to our neighbors by caring for needs related to students and their families of every elementary school in Camarillo
Our core values: 1. Follow Jesus 2. Love the Bible 3. Create Margin 4. Go Together
This time of year is often referred to as the “Season of Lights.” Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, and Kwanzaa. Homes, businesses, and streets are decorated with lights. Is Jesus the light or one of many lights? Jesus’ light is true and gives life, illuminates, reveals, warns, warms, and attracts. Jesus’ light is like the light at an end of a tunnel that shows the desired destination. Any other light is like an oncoming train that results in tragedy.
The greatest gift that God could ever give is His presence, being with us. What makes heaven so heavenly is the constant presence of God without sin and imperfection to obscure God’s love, holiness, glory, mercy, compassion and majesty. Yet, even now you can experience life with God and His presence. This Christmas let’s discover how…
All of us have been entrusted by God with His resources of time, talents, and treasure. We are to steward or manage those resources to honor God and advance His kingdom. God has promised to reward all that we do that is motivated by love for God and others. Every perceived sacrifice of time, talents, and treasure will be replaced with something better in this life and the life to come. Your contentment in this life, and the life to come, flows from honoring God. Let’s discover how to honor God as we manage His resources.
Each of us is tasked with the responsibility to steward (manage) all that we have in our possession – our time, talents, and treasures. It is often our circumstances that dictate how we perceive the best uses of these resources. While God calls us to set our minds on things above, present needs can often to lead us to worry about our immediate needs. In part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shares with us how we can experience peace by trusting in God so that we can steward our resources for His glory.
How can God’s people navigate difficult seasons? In the midst of hardship, and with further struggles on the horizon, our emotions can be overwhelmed. Yet, there is hope for God’s people. Let’s discover how to rejoice in God in all seasons.
The key to this book, and the key to God’s dealings with humanity is, the just shall live by his faith (Hab. 2:4). In the midst of difficult circumstances, and despite the awareness of our fears and failures, God’s people experience profound hope and peace in trusting Him.
With wickedness and evil all around us, it’s easy to think that God isn’t listening or in control. God is in perfect control, His plan is perfect, and He has proven himself trustworthy.
Even though we have all chosen death over life which disqualified us from eternal life, God continually presents us with the choice to choose eternal life over death. This passage is a model of temptation, sin and its consequences that we can study in order to avoid making the wrong choice and to consistently choose life.
We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.
All of God’s commands can be distilled to their essence: to be followers of Jesus who love God supremely, love neighbors like self, and make disciples of Jesus who do likewise (The Great Commandments and Commission). This is how you will grow closer to God, find meaning in life, and discover true contentment. Let us consider how to put our faith into practice, and become disciples who make disciples to reach our community for Christ.
All of God’s commands can be distilled to their essence: to be followers of Jesus who love God supremely, love neighbors like self, and make disciples of Jesus who do likewise (The Great Commandments and Commission). The context for doing this is a place. The Bible is written in the context of place. The Old Testament focuses on the Promised Land as the place, the Gospels also focus on Israel as the place. The Book of Acts records the spread of the gospel from the Jewish place of Israel to the Gentile places of the Roman Empire in fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy in Ac. 1:8. The New Testament letters are written primarily to places: Rome, Galatia, Thessalonica, Ephesus and Corinth. God has appointed a time and place for all peoples (Ac. 17:26) to see those place reached with the gospel of Jesus. Let’s consider the Great Commission in the context of Paul’s ministry at Corinth and discover how to reach a place for Jesus?
The life of a follower of Jesus is marked both by what we are saved from as well as what we are saved to. In His death, Jesus saved us from our sin and freed us from its power over us. In His resurrection, Christ offers us eternal life with Him where we can live in glad submission to Him. To fully appreciate what God has done for us, it is imperative that we identify with Christ in both His death as well as His resurrection. We have the joy of not only saying the our God laid down His life for us, but also to declare the He is risen! Today, we will see the events immediately following His crucifixion and, most importantly, we’ll celebrate His glorious resurrection.
Each of us must make a decision regarding Jesus. It is the most important decision impacting this life and the life to come. The benefits of the right decision produce contentment, purpose and life with God! The rejection of Jesus, and the refusal to receive Him (i.e. delay decision) results in unnecessary pain, heartache, and regret. So, as we consider Jesus’ Roman trials, let’s be sure to choose Jesus.
Many of us have confidence in what we believe, and that what the Bible says is true. We have faith in Jesus. But at times we find ourselves making decisions out of our own pride and what we think is best. These decisions are often misaligned to God’s desires. We must humbly trust in Jesus.
R.A. Torrey observed, “One of the great paradoxes of the Christian faith is that God wants us to talk to Him about everything that is going on in our lives, even though He already knows everything.” So why pray?
The life of Jesus is a life of prayer. His prayers are characterized by intensity and intimacy with the Father. He reminded us that the gathering of God’s people is to be a house of prayer (Mk. 11:17, Is. 56:7). His prayer life is intended to comfort us as He intercedes for us (Heb. 7:25); and to inspire us to grow as a people of prayer. So, let’s learn about prayer from Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane?
As believers it’s really easy to see the faults of those who we are in contact with on a regular basis. We can easily see the faults in our family, our fiends, the people we go to church with, our co-workers, but miraculously we rarely see any faults of our own. As we neglect to see our own faults and tend to have a hyper focus on others’ faults we start to condition our hearts to be less than desirable. Today we will discover that no matter the condition of our heart, Jesus’ sacrifice is sufficient to cover all our faults and failures.
Worship of God speaks of a life characterized by adoration, honor, and devotion. God is seeking worshipers who will worship in spirit and truth (Jn. 4:23-24). Those who worship in spirit and truth are inspired by God’s Spirit (more than mere emotion); and understand and yield to God as revealed in the words and works of Jesus. There are typically three responses to Jesus and His gospel: anger, apathy, or adoration. Mary’s anointing of Jesus is a picture of adoration or passionate worship. Let’s discover how to be true worshipers…
The Second Coming, or return of Jesus, was foretold in the Old Testament, promised by Jesus, and described in the New Testament. Just as the events concerning His First Coming happened just as foretold, the Second coming is likewise certain.
The study of the End times (eschatology) tends to spark curiosity and speculation, however, God’s primary purpose(s) in predicting events to come is to encourage His people and their preparation. Let’s consider the Great Tribulation and get ready.
Since Jesus’ ascension into heaven till now, there has been no shortage of false teachers pointing to false signs that Jesus is returned or is about to. Don’t be deceived by false teachers or troubled by false signs; seek understanding and follow Jesus.
There are great existential questions: Is there life after death? What is the meaning of life? Can you know that you love God and that God loves you? The right answer to these questions provides clarity, comfort, and contentment. Let’s discover together the life-transforming answers to some of the most important questions.
True worship requires sacrifice. We are called to give to God our whole person, our time, talents, and treasure. Our attitudes and actions regarding the idea of giving to God reflect our love, devotion, gratitude and worship.
What are you putting your faith in? Jesus exhorts us to have faith in God [22]. Faith in God provides contentment and confidence in this life and the life to come. On the other hand, people who put their confidence in something or someone else: self, society, science, family, friends, and finances discover those objects of faith will fail in this life and the life to come. They simply cannot and will not deliver eternal life, a quality of spiritual life that God offers in this life and the life to come. Faith is only as good as the object it is placed in. So, have faith in God.
At Calvary Nexus, the first of our four Core Values is “We are followers of Jesus: He is our King.” What does it mean to you for Jesus to be king over your life, and how does that influence the way you respond to Him? In the beginning of Mark 11, Jesus is preparing to enter Jerusalem where He will allow His disciples to do something He has thus far discouraged: To create a public demonstration in honor of Him. As we look at Jesus’ triumphal entry, let’s discover how we can exalt Jesus as the King of our lives.
Imagine Jesus asking you, What do you want?” How might you reply? It is a fascinating thought to consider. Presumably our answer(s) reflect our present challenges, concerns, aspirations, and our relationship with Jesus. In this section, Jesus asks that question twice [36, 51] and the responses are insightful to the nature of God and people. Insight is a deep understanding of a person or thing. When King David’s son Solomon ascended to the throne, God invited him, “Ask! What shall I give you?” Solomon requested godly wisdom to rightly lead God’s people rather than wealth, power, influence, or pleasure. The request pleased God, and He granted Solomon’s request such that he was the wisest man to walk on the planet other than Jesus [1Ki. 3:1-14]. In addition God blessed Solomon in ways that he had not even asked for.
God offers humanity Himself, and promises that anything that you sacrifice for Him will be replaced with something better in this life and the life to come. Trusting Jesus is the way to overcome pride and materialism and experience God’s goodness.
Mark 10:1-12 :: "God-glorifying Marriage"
God’s design for marriage is best for individuals, families, and society to flourish. God’s plan for marriage is unchanging. However, our culture is always adapting. Culture defines things differently depending on the generation we are in, or the events that surround us. While our culture may attempt to dictate what is right and wrong, that does not make it accurate or true. God’s plan for marriage is the best way to find contentment and joy in a life-long covenant.
Mark 9:30-50 :: "True Greatness"
Greatness in this world is usually associated with people who do great deeds and gain great power and prominence. Greatness in God’s kingdom is quite different. It is not a matter of human power or prominence but God’s recognition and approval, and is open to all. Thus, every Christian should aspire to greatness in God’s kingdom.
Mark 9:1-29 :: "Behold and Become Like Jesus"
God desires so much more for His children than just deliverance from sins; His intention was always that we would be partakers of Jesus’ glory and power by gazing at and meditating on Him.
Mark 8:27-38 :: "Who is Jesus?"
Identity is one of the most important factors impacting a person’s life. How a person identifies who Jesus is and their identity in relation to Jesus is the single most important factor impacting your present and eternal life.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday Service. To view the full service, visit Vimeo.com/calvarynexus
Mark 8:11-26 :: "Seeing Jesus"
Any reasonable person who sees Jesus clearly will passionately follow Him. Seeking signs, rather than seeking Jesus, and false doctrine obscure the true Jesus of the Bible. The more clearly you see Jesus the more you’ll want to follow Him.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday Service. To view the full service, visit Vimeo.com/calvarynexus
Mark 7:24-8:10 :: "Serving God"
Jesus cares for the marginalized, oppressed and those in need. Jesus’ example of sacrificial service is not simply to be praised or admired, but we are to serve God by serving others as Jesus does. Each of us was created to represent God and His kingdom to others (i.e. image bearers). Thus, we are to have attitudes and actions that represent Jesus to others. So, let’s consider Jesus’ example of serving so that we can serve God by serving others like Jesus does.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday Service. To view the full service, visit Vimeo.com/calvarynexus
Mark 7:1-23 :: "Jesus Can Make You Clean"
One person’s idea of what it means to be spiritually clean can vary greatly from another’s. And greater still is the difference between how mankind might define spiritually cleanness and how God defines it. As Jesus talks about traditions and defilement, we’ll discover how each one of us can be made spiritually clean in the eyes of God.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday Service. To view the full service, visit Vimeo.com/calvarynexus
Mark 6:30-56 :: "Jesus Can Make You Whole"
Where can you find contentment, a sense of wholeness? All of humanity yearns to fill the hole, and become whole. The Greek sozo at the end of this passage, is translated: save, deliver, restore, heal, make well and make whole. When you are in a right relationship with God, self, others, and Creation you discover true contentment. Today, you’ll learn how Jesus can make you right and whole.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday Service. To view the full service, visit Vimeo.com/calvarynexus
Mark 6:14-29 :: "Dealing with Our Doubt"
We all face realities in life that cause us to struggle, wrestle, and potentially doubt. When we ignore, suppress, or try to manage our doubts ourselves it inevitably causes us to stray further from the Truth. We see this play out in the life of Herod. However, if we look at John the Baptizer, imprisoned and facing death, we see that when we honestly and earnestly lay our doubts before Jesus, He reassures us of the Truth and strengthens our faith.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday Service. To view the full service, visit Vimeo.com/calvarynexus
Mark 6:1-13 :: "Amazing Jesus"
Jesus’ followers discover how amazing He is as they grow in their relationship with Him. As they grow and discover how amazing He is they want to help others to know Jesus. Let’s discover how to grow and help others to know Jesus.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday Service. To view the full service, visit Vimeo.com/calvarynexus
There are times when God’s transformed people can become tired, worn-out or even feel broken. Encounters with Jesus renew and restore our hope in Christ, His resurrection, and our mission on earth. Let’s discover how to be transformed and renewed.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday Service. To view the full service, visit Vimeo.com/calvarynexus
The term passion is used to describe Jesus’ suffering associated with the crucifixion and His powerful zealous love for us. Good Friday is good because of what Jesus did for us. Jesus gave His life so that you could be restored to God, forgiven of sin and experience life with God in this life and forever in the life to come. Two-thousand years ago things did not seem good, as Jesus hung on the cross, but seven recorded statements that He made, in light of His Resurrection give us reason to be passionate for God.
We live-streamed service at 4:30pm on Friday. We hope you enjoy this week's worship service. Please share this video with any of your friends who would benefit from joining us in worship. If you want to check out our next service live-stream please join us on Sunday morning on our website: http://calvarynexus.org
Mark 5:21-43 :: "Faith Gives Hope"
It’s easy to find hope in things when the circumstances around you seem optimistic. But as we’ve learned over the last year, that hope can disappear quickly when the events of life are challenging. Faith in Jesus is the only thing that gives hope that transcends circumstances because He gives us a future.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday Service. To view the full service, visit Vimeo.com/calvarynexus
Mark 5:1-20 :: "Freedom in Christ"
Is doing whatever you want to do the key to true freedom and contentment? Could it be that true freedom resulting in contentment is discovered by doing what God has called you to do? Today, we discover how to experience freedom in Christ.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday Service. To view the full service, visit Vimeo.com/calvarynexus
Mark 4:35-41 :: "Storm of Life"
It has been one-year since we began restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic. This crisis has magnified all of the typical storms of life like a hurricane or a tsunami. What are some “storms” that God’s people have experienced during the last twelve months? Consider some of the storms of life: health challenges, relationship struggles, isolation, death, loneliness, economic insecurity or hardship, escapism ... Wouldn’t you like to have peace of mind and soul in the midst of struggles? Jesus calms a storm so that you can learn to trust God and have peace in the midst of your storms.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday Service. To view the full service, visit Vimeo.com/calvarynexus
Mark 4:21-34 :: "Parables of the Kingdom"
When Jesus comes as the Messiah, He didn’t meet the expectations that many had. He didn’t come with great political power or military strength or plans to overthrow governments. He came in humility to love and serve others. Jesus comes as the King of a kingdom that is different from any other. Jesus doesn’t want us to agree to follow Him under false pretenses or misunderstandings. He wants to clearly define what His kingdom looks like and how we’re called to live as Kingdom citizens.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday Service. To view the full service, visit Vimeo.com/calvarynexus
Mark 4:1-20 :: “Growing in Christ”
The Parable of The Soils reveals four responses to God’s word. Only one response results in spiritual growth. Spiritual growth produces spiritual fruit which confirms maturity, brings contentment, and glorifies God. Let’s discover how to grow in Christ.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday service. For the full service please visit www.vimeo.com/calvarynexus
Jesus was misunderstood by relatives, friends, and religious people. Misunderstanding Jesus has adverse consequences for you and those you influence. In contrast, those who seek to do the will of God and believe in Him, are likened to Jesus’ family, and have the opportunity to enjoy family life.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday service. For the full service please visit www.vimeo.com/calvarynexus
Jesus came to transform lives. Whether we are struggling with hard hearts, are ready to follow Him, or are already following, we are all in need of transformation. His desire for you today is to transform you more into His image.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday service. For the full service please visit www.vimeo.com/calvarynexus
Does Jesus advocate anarchy, maintenance of the status quo, political upheaval, or is He perhaps a revolutionary of a different sort?
This is the message only portion of our Sunday service. For the full service please visit www.vimeo.com/calvarynexus
Receive forgiveness of sins from Jesus by faith, experience restoration as you obey Him, and walk by faith in Him.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday service. For the full service please visit www.vimeo.com/calvarynexus
Physical illness, disease, and death are a result of man’s original rebellion against God in the Garden of Eden [Gen. 3]. These woeful conditions are not God’s fault, and it is not God’s job to end human suffering at this time. Yet, due to God’s grace, mercy, and love He offers restoration. Literally, the greatest restoration! Let’s discover how.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday service. For the full service please visit www.vimeo.com/calvarynexus
There is an expression, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” It is the idea that generally the more you know about a person, the more likely you are to lose respect. On the other hand, the more you know about Jesus the more amazed you will be. You will be motivated to follow Him for who He is and what He has done.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday service. For the full service please visit www.vimeo.com/calvarynexus
Mark 1:1-13 :: "Preparation"
Preparation is the action or process of making ready or being made ready for use or consideration. In this portion of Scripture, we are going to hear God the Father say to God the Son, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” [11]. The Father spoke and affirmed Jesus’ identity as God’s beloved Son whom always pleases God the Father. Consider this idea, you can be prepared so that you too can bring great joy and be pleasing to God. What a wonderful reality. Today we discover how to be prepared to live for Jesus, and thus please God.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday service. For the full service please visit www.vimeo.com/calvarynexus
This is the "message only" portion of our service. For the full service please visit www.vimeo.com/calvarynexus
As Jesus’ followers, we need to identify a local church community where we can root, grow, and bear fruit in community to advance God’s kingdom. By considering the mission, values, and vision of our church we ideally create better alignment among us, and have a united focus.
Colossians 4:7-18 :: “Jesus Is Your Ministry”
Jesus calls us to minister on His behalf as if those we are serving are Jesus. Let’s see how the people in Paul’s ministry either demonstrated this or failed to do so.
This is the message only portion of our Sunday service. For the full service, visit vimeo.com/calvarynexus
There has been only one Christmas, all the rest are anniversaries. Christmas celebrates Jesus. We celebrate God’s greatest gift to humanity – Himself. Tonight we’ll discover that Jesus came into our world so that you could relate to God, be restored to God, and receive the inheritance of God.
Jesus entered our world to reveal God’s love. God entered our world and became a man to redeem humanity to Himself. Redemption is taking action to save from error or evil. God’s love has an ultimate redemptive purpose. Without Christmas, there would be no Good Friday, and no Resurrection Sunday. Our culture tends to equate “love” with sentiment, attraction, and random acts of kindness, but Jesus reveals a love that is so much more, so that we can become so much more.
This is the message only portion of our service. For the full service video please visit www.vimeo.com/calvarynexus
We are offering the message only version of this week's worship service on the app. If you would like to view the entire service please find it on our Vimeo page here: vimeo.com/calvarynexus
How can you be an example of Jesus in your home, and workplace or school? God has called us to bring Jesus into our family and work (school) relationships. Today, we consider how to represent Jesus in your family and work (school).
We are offering the message only version of this week's worship service on the app. If you would like to view the entire service please find it on our Vimeo page here: vimeo.com/calvarynexus
Put off the characteristics of the flesh, and put on the characteristics of Christ. The best way to become more like Jesus is in a community of Jesus followers.
This is the message only portion of our service. For the full service please visit our Youtube and Vimeo pages.
At the moment of salvation, God no longer sees us through the lens of our sins, but rather he sees us through the lens of Christ and His righteousness. Although we are no longer identified by our sins, we will continue to wrestle with the temptations of sin. Today we will discover how we can experience a renewed heart through passionately pursuing Christ.
This is the message only portion of our service. For the full service visit our youtube channel:
youtube.com/calvarynexus
How can you live a life that is pleasing to God? Are rituals, and severe self-discipline the way to be right with God? If not, is there spiritual value in rituals and self-discipline? Today we’ll discover how to truly worship and please God; and the benefit of ritual and spiritual discipline.
A philosophy is a particular system of principles for the conduct of life. All philosophies or religions promise contentment in this life and/or the life to come. Is biblical Christianity just another philosophy among many other ways to choose to live? Does it matter what philosophy you choose as long as you don’t hurt others? What difference does it make?
Download this week's Study Guide by going to: studyguide.calvarynexus.org
Post service worship music used by permission from Adam Cappa. Find his music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
The most loving thing that we can do for neighbors is to share Jesus and His gospel. The ideal is to proclaim Christ so that people can receive His forgiveness, salvation, and experience life as a follower of Jesus (disciple) who love God supremely and love neighbors like self.
Download this week's Study Guide by going to: studyguide.calvarynexus.org
Post service worship music used by permission from Adam Cappa. Find his music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
As a follower of Jesus, the essence of how to please God is summarized in the Great Commandments (to love God Supremely and love neighbors as self), and the Great Commission – to make disciples. When you contemplate your role of making disciples in the context of global missions, awareness is a critical beginning step. An awareness of your commission, an awareness of opportunities to go and or support, and an awareness of God’s leading will help you fulfill the Great Commission. Today, we’ll consider how you can fulfill the Great Commission globally (as well as locally).
Post service worship music used by permission from Adam Cappa. Find his music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
Jesus is the ultimate Creator to believe in and the perfect Savior to trust in; continue to place your faith in Him till the end.
Download this week's Study Guide by going to: studyguide.calvarynexus.org
Post service worship music used by permission from Adam Cappa. Find his music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
Your desire to live for Christ flows from an understanding and appreciation of what God has done for you through Christ. Let’s discover what Jesus has done for us and respond with an attitude of gratitude and live for Christ.
Download this week's Study Guide by going to: studyguide.calvarynexus.org
Post service worship music used by permission from Adam Cappa. Find his music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
Try to imagine your life if you knew God’s will, and could do His will by His strength. Do you imagine that your life would be better, worse, or stay the same? Do you trust Him enough to seek to know and do His will? Doing God’s will, by God’s strength, is not always easy but it will produce joy, and will minimize regrets. Let’s discover together how to know and do God’s will by His strength.
Download this week's Study Guide by going to: studyguide.calvarynexus.org
Post service worship music used by permission from Adam Cappa. Find his music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
There are many things in this life that cause us to feel as though we’ve lost all hope. And if we find our hope in the things of this world, we may even lose our hope. But God is offering you everlasting hope. Not by your own merit, but by receiving His grace through faith.
Download this week's Study Guide by clicking the Neighborhood Group Study Guide button.
Post service worship music used by permission from Adam Cappa. Find his music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
The double-portion life, is a life that knows God intimately and is experienced in proximity to Him. It is a life that is characterized by contentment produced through communion with God, by continuously responding to His gospel. The gospel reveals the way to experience the double-portion life; and coveting and greed are revealed as obstacles to the double-portion life.
Download this week's Study Guide by going to: studyguide.calvarynexus.org
Post service worship music used by permission from Adam Cappa. Find his music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
God delights in mercy, grace, and provision. As we see the “Double Portion” displayed in miracles of God through Elisha we see God supply needs resulting from the fall. We live in a fallen world resulting from man’s rebellion. God is Sovereign, and His job is not to fix our problems; yet, we see His love as He cares for the poor, the hungry, the barren, the grieving, and famine and poisoning victims. Thus, we are encouraged that we can trust God to provide for our needs too.
Download this week's Study Guide by going to: studyguide.calvarynexus.org
Post service worship music used by permission from Adam Cappa. Find his music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
Elisha’s ministry to the people (demonstrated by his first 3 miracles) are evidence of his obedience to God and understanding of his calling.
Download this week's Study Guide by going to: studyguide.calvarynexus.org
Post service worship music used by permission from Adam Cappa. Find his music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
When Jesus ascended to heaven, He sought to pass the mantle to His disciples by providing His Spirit [Ac. 1:5-8, Jn. 7:37]. Jesus seeks to fill those who surrender their lives to Him such that they experience a “double portion” relative to those who are content to follow Him at a distance. The double portion life, is a life that knows God intimately and is experienced in proximity to Him. It is a life that is characterized by contentment produced through communion with God. In this brief four-week series we will consider part of the life and ministry of Elisha the prophet of God, who experienced the double-portion life.
Download this week's Study Guide by going to: studyguide.calvarynexus.org
Post service worship music used by permission from Adam Cappa. Find his music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
God gives us opportunities to reflect on his grace towards us through revealing our sin, preparing blessings and trials, and having compassion for lost people. Join us as our Middle School Director teaches through the last chapter of Jonah, where we see the conclusion of the well known tale of the prophet and the fish.
Download this week's Study Guide by going to: studyguide.calvarynexus.org
Post service worship music used by permission from Adam Cappa. Find his music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
The Book of Jonah is a foreshadow of God’s plan of redemption by grace through faith in Christ (the gospel of grace). As Jonah was three days and nights in the belly of the fish, so too was Jesus in the grave prior to His resurrection. As Jonah was called to reconcile non-Jewish sinners to God, so too was Jesus called to reconcile the world [Jn. 3:16]. As Jonah delivered a message of future judgment, so too did Jesus [Matt. 25]. Similarly, both Jonah’s and Jesus’ ministry results in: reconciliation, repentance, and revival. Let’s consider Jonah’s recommission and proclaim God’s message.
Download this week's Study Guide by going to: studyguide.calvarynexus.org
Post service worship music used by permission from Adam Cappa. Find his music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
Jesus followers are called to make disciples who love God supremely and love neighbors like they love themselves (Matt. 28:18-20, 22:37-39). These are the great commandments and commission which are the essence of our mission. Today, we discover how to please God, be content, and impact eternity by living on mission.
Post service worship music used by permission from Adam Cappa. Find his music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
Drawing close to God and yielding to His authority is where you will experience your greatest contentment. It is likely that as events unfold in our lives and we encounter different challenges and seasons that some will drift from God, and some may find themselves in a season of rebellion to God’s authority. Once we realize our spiritual condition, how can we discover God’s restoration and renewal?
Post service worship music used by permission from Adam Cappa. Find his music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
When we consider God’s ultimate plan for our lives, for the lives of those around us, and for creation at large, we need to realize that it’s quite different than ours. God plan is perfect. It cannot be altered, hindered, or undone. God wants to assure us that His plan will be accomplished to His great glory and the good of His people.
Pre and post service worship music used by permission from Adam Cappa. Find his music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
The fulfillment of predictive prophecy, as foretold, proves God’s existence, the truth of the Bible, and encourages us to trust God during difficult times.
Daniel records a life of prayer and Bible learning characterized by a desire to know God. Through prayer and God’s Word, Daniel is strengthened to thrive despite living His life as an exile in difficult times. Let’s consider God’s revelation and learn how to be strengthened through prayer and God’s word.
Download this week's Study Guide by going to: studyguide.calvarynexus.org
Post service worship music used by permission from Adam Cappa. Find his music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
Daniel 9 and the prophecy of the 70 Weeks is one of the most important chapters regarding biblical prophecy. Today, we will learn about prophecy and prayer. I expect that we will be strengthened, comforted and prepared to trust God’s plan of redemption.
God’s revelation gives us the strength and humility to be about our Father’s business in the midst of conflict, controversy, and confusion.
About one third of the Bible is predictive prophecy. One of the primary reasons is to encourage God’s people in regard to fulfilled prophecy to cultivate a confident trust resulting in peace. God has a plan and redemptive purpose for everything under heaven. Events in our universe are moving along a linear path towards God’s restoration and His eternal kingdom. As we consider prophecy regarding the times of the Gentiles and God’s kingdom, let’s trust God’s plan to restore.
You can download the current week's Neighborhood Group study guide by heading to: studyguide.calvarynexus.org or get one of the past week's guides by going to our website at: calvarynexus.org/neighborhood-group-resources
Post service worship music used by permission from Adam Cappa. Find his music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
The testing of your faith tends to reveal what you truly believe about God. Daniel’s faith had been cultivated for decades spent with God. He had learned not to run from God during hardship, but to run to God in prayer. To speak, to listen, and to trust. So that he obeyed God in faith despite the intense testing. Daniel was dedicated to God.
One of the great existential challenges to faith is the paradox of why the ungodly seem to thrive and, God allows His people to suffer. God reminds His people that they only suffer for a relatively brief time and then enjoy eternity with Him in Paradise. On the other hand, God will ultimately deal with the wicked and bring righteous judgment. The reality that God is righteous and just, and the wicked are punished should comfort us. We don’t take pleasure that the wicked will suffer, but rejoice that God is just, and righteousness will be restored. The reality of God’s coming judgment should also motivate us to live on mission.
Our faith is easily misplaced, but true faith is humbling ourselves before God and seeking His honor before our own.
There are people who will walk on hot coals for the rush to see what they can do. Daniel’s three friends have their faith tested by fire not to see what they can do, but trusting what God can do. Today, we discover the God who will deliver us, and the benefit of trusting Him.
God doesn’t need you to be perfect in order to be used by Him. By simply choosing faith and desiring to glorify Him, God can use you in your present circumstances. Let’s discover the blessing of being used by God.
Pre and post service worship music used courtesy of Adam Cappa. Check out Adam's music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
How can you live for God in the midst of a culture that pressures you to conform to values opposed to God? Let’s begin our study through Daniel and discover how.
We learn from reflecting upon experiences and applying the right lessons to change. The story of Ruth and Boaz is the story of love and redemption; and is a wonderful picture of the love and redemption of Jesus and His Bride the Church. Let’s reflect on our redemption and grow in Christ.
Today you’ll discover where, how and in Whom you can find true restoration and redemption.
Redemption stories resonate with humanity, because we are all aware that there is something wrong in our world, and we have a desire to see our lives and world restored. Unfortunately, we often look in the wrong places and to the wrong people to make us whole. Where can we find a true hope of redemption and direct others there?
In the midst of a very challenging season of our lives, the Book of Ruth, paints a beautiful picture of God’s redemptive work in the midst of suffering and uncertainty. In the first chapter we discover our need for redemption, and the way back to God. I hope and pray that this teaching provides comfort and direction for such a time as this.
In the midst of a health and economic pandemic, our sense of hope can be challenged. Nevertheless, Jesus’ followers have the greatest reason to be full of hope. Since Jesus rose, we have a confident hope, even as we experience all the struggles of COVID-19. Let’s consider Jesus’ resurrection, our living hope, and experience a living hope together.
As we contemplate this day, we can call it “Good Friday” because it is the day we commemorate Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. It is “good” not because of the suffering that our Savior endured, but because of what it accomplished. Jesus gave His life so that we can live.
There are two primary narratives in our world. The first, says that there is no true and loving God, and thus scarcity, and each one needs to hoard and watch out first for themselves. The second says that God is real, He loves, and will provide for your needs so that you don’t need to worry. He has proven which narrative to believe by sending His Son to provide for us just as the prophets foretold. And because He is good, gracious, and generous, we too can trust God to provide, and be good, gracious and generous as we live within a community of faith and a community generally. Which narrative is guiding your life? Let’s consider God’s provision and care.
Jesus speaks to His followers so that in Him you can have peace. In the world we have tribulation or troubles, but we can be of good cheer or encouraged, because Jesus Has overcome the world. There are many storms in life. The current coronavirus is a particularly bad storm. Today, we are reminded that Jesus is the way to peace and overcoming as we trust Him in the storms of life.
With restrictions on gathering, we have decided to film our service and make it available on multiple video services. We hope you take time to worship, and learn from the Word, together. Please reach out to us with any questions or needs you may have. We are available for you.
The COVID-19 pandemic has closed several doors in our community and world, and there is a great and effective open door for Jesus’ followers for such a time as this. This is a time for us who love God to share his love, hope, and peace with our neighbors as we live the Missio Dei (mission of God).
This world can be a very hopeless place. Yet God offers a hope, joy and peace that transcends our circumstances. God’s hope is experienced in a united community of faith so that God is glorified. Let’s discover how.
The Christian life is like walking a tightrope. The object is to navigate this life, and reach the desired destination, without falling into the twin perils of legalism (adding rules beyond those imposed by God) or liberalism (neglecting the limits created by God). The means to balance well is to learn the Bible, live it as empowered by the Holy Spirit, and follow Jesus. This challenge is magnified, however, when you imagine multiple people on the tightrope and their ability to follow Jesus well impacts others on the rope. Let’s consider our Christian liberty and responsibility to others and learn to exercise liberty with love.
Every Christian comes into the Church with presuppositions regarding conscience, convictions, and commandments. As we desire to unify in love in Jesus’ name, tensions will rise between believers on account of these things. How do we navigate Christ-given unity without offending the consciences of others? The answer is love that suspends its own rights, as Jesus suspended
As a follower of Jesus, we are called to live in relationship to the government and the people of the culture that God has placed us so that we represent Him as ambassadors. What does it look like to be a Christ-like citizen?
As you appropriate and appreciate the gospel, and discover God’s love, forgiveness, restoration and life in Christ it stirs you to yearn to be transformed to be more like Jesus. In this portion of Scripture, Paul is teaching Jesus’ followers (at Rome) how to live their faith, and describes several traits of Christlike love. Living and loving like Jesus glorifies God, satisfies you, and blesses others. So, let’s discover how.
In light of God’s forgiveness, restoration, and life in Christ, it is only reasonable that God’s people would choose to live for Him. We serve God by serving others. When you engage in spiritual service, you’ll grow, others grow, you are satisfied, and God is glorified.
What comes to mind when you think of the “Christian Life”? If someone said, “What does it look like to be a Christian”, what would you say? -Perhaps for some, this looks like going to church on Sunday, sharing a meal after service, then relaxing with family the rest of the day. As one gets older, this may look like getting married young, having children, buying a house and doing the Sunday routine with their own, growing family. While these are enjoyable ideas, they aren’t distinct from the lives those outside the church seek: Dreams of close community, healthy families, security of a home, comfort of routine, etc. But the Bible tells us that God wants more for His people. He doesn’t simply want our Sunday mornings. What does God desire for our lives in salvation?
God’s plan to restore the Jews shall be accomplished. Since God’s plan and promises to Israel are sure you can be encouraged about the certainty of His promises to the Church. As you apprehend and appreciate God’ plan for restoration you’ll want to praise God and participate in His plan.
Do you ever feel discouraged about the state of your world, and difficulties spreading the gospel? Does it ever feel like God has neglected His promise to restore? Be encouraged, God’s plan to restore shall be fulfilled. In the interim, the faithful God will preserve a faithful remnant. Let’s discover the importance of God’s faithful remnant, and how to be part of that remnant.
Man has a responsibility in God’s redemptive plan. The reason why God doesn’t generally bring people to heaven once they get saved is because He has a mission for us to fulfill on earth. In essence, your mission can be distilled as follows: Live the Great Commandment(s) to love God supremely and love neighbors as you love yourself; and live the Great Commission to make disciples of Jesus. This is the remedy for any culture that has rejected Jesus, and this is where you’re going to experience the greatest satisfaction and purpose in life. You have the unique opportunity to impact eternity by living on mission. Let’s discover how you can live on mission.
The theology of Jesus’ gospel, and who will be saved, is never simply an intellectual issue. There is an emotional and spiritual layer to be navigated to get to a healthy destination. Let’s discover insights about God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility to help produce a healthy understanding of this tension so that we, and others we influence, can better navigate life.
God chose Israel, but Jews generally rejected Jesus as Messiah, how will this work out? In Romans 9-11 we will discover God’s righteousness and Israel’s restoration. Here, we see God’s sovereign redemption plan shall be fulfilled. Since God’s promises to Israel are sure, you can be secure in your salvation [8:39]. The Bible teaches both the sovereignty of God and the free will of man, “All the Father gives me will come to me (sovereign) and the one who comes (free will) I will by no means cast out” [Jn.6:37]. The concepts of God’s sovereignty and man’s free will are a paradox, and it appears wise not to overemphasize one to the exclusion of the other. Before seeking to resolve tension, it may be good to remember that we need not reconcile friends – man’s free will and God’s sovereignty are not enemies.
What comes to mind when you think of suffering? Typically, it’s a word with negative association. No one builds suffering into their schedule. I’d venture to guess that many of us would choose to bypass suffering altogether if given the option. Yet, as much as we avoid suffering, everyone can be categorized into one or three buckets: (1) Those who are coming out of a time of suffering, (2) those who are currently suffering, and (3) those who are about to enter into a time of suffering (whether they know it or not).
The Christian life is the Spirit-filled life. It is a life empowered by, directed by, and yielded to the Holy Spirit [Acts 1:5-8, Ephesians 5:18]. When you receive Christ, you receive a spiritual birth, and now have the power of the Spirit to live a life that is pleasing to God. There is a profound contentment that flows from appreciating and appropriating your new life in the Spirit.
C.S. Lewis observed, “No one knows how bad he is until he has tried to be good. We never know how hard it is to stop sinning until we try.” This is the reality for every follower of Jesus. Each of us have areas of our life that we have yielded to God, and each of us have aspects of our attitudes and actions that are not yet set-apart to God. This is the unpleasant reality: we do things that we know we shouldn’t, and fail to do things that we know we should. In the midst of this epic struggle, how can you live for God? The good news is that the way to please God is not burdensome, but is a blessing.
When you are united with Christ, you no longer have the burden of trying to be perfect to measure up to God’s standard. In addition, you actually are more productive in God’s kingdom, because the Spirit’s work in you causes you to be more bountiful in serving God than any efforts to follow rules apart from Christ could ever produce. Let’s discover the joy of bearing fruit for God through union with Christ.
Everybody serves somebody. Either we are slaves to sin, or slaves to righteousness (God). Before we are born again through faith in Jesus Christ, we’re all slaves to sin, and unable to serve God. But, by placing our faith in Jesus, we’re set free from our sin, and are now able to live as servants of God. Even as followers of Jesus, however, we must intentionally, continually choose to serve God. Living as servants of God results in eternal life; living our lives as servants of sin ultimately leads to death.
Most factors that influence our sense of identity are unreliable and cause us to struggle. Everyone struggles with the existential questions, ‘Who am I?” and “Who do I want my future self to be?” Nevertheless, the question that can provide clarity, stability, purpose, meaning and direction is, “Whose am I?” Today, we’ll discover the satisfaction of identity in Christ, and living for God.
Consider an employee benefit package. Many of us may not be aware of the benefits we are entitled to. Furthermore, if you have a great provider, you’d likely be more appreciative of the relationship if you had a better understanding of the benefits. Also, we would consider it to be ridiculous to expect the benefit package if you didn’t actually have a relationship with the company. Similarly, when you contemplate the benefits of salvation and a relationship with God, many of us may not know or appreciate the benefits; and some of us are expecting benefits when you don’t really have a relationship with God the provider. So, let’s discover, appropriate and appreciate the benefits of salvation.
Have you ever wondered how people got saved in the Old Testament? If Abraham is the father of the faith, how did he get right with God? Abraham was saved from God’s judgment, which in and of itself is an incredible blessing; but Abraham is called, “the friend of God.” Contemplate that idea. Consider that ideal. What can we learn from Abraham so that we too can be a friend of God?
Throughout history, Christians have made attempts to establish God’s law through legislation and conquest. While sometimes carried about by a sincere desire to see the world worship God, these experiments all failed and miscommunicated the heart of God. What does it mean for us as followers of Jesus to establish God’s law God’s way? In his first letter to the church in Rome, Paul the apostle has been building a case for the judgement of God and man’s need for a Savior. At the start of Chapter 3, Paul is persuading his audience that no one can pass the judgement of God by doing any amount of good deeds. Let’s discover together how God desires us to fulfill and establish the law by placing our faith in the redemption of Jesus Christ.
Earning your way in life is usually seen as a positive value in the human condition. However, in the Kingdom of God, we see that there is no possible way to earn your way in. The foot of the cross is level and all humanity is equally in need of a Savior. Through this study, we will discover our need for Jesus to be our Savior.
In the first chapter, Paul established how Gentiles (non-Jews) had a responsibility to yield to God because God has been revealed to humanity. The Jew was also guilty before God, because although they received the Scriptures (Bible) they did not keep God’s commandments. Would their religion and rituals save them from God’s judgment, or do all people need a Savior – who is Christ the Lord? Today, we will learn the benefits and the limitations of religion and ritual, and the importance they can play in helping you to cultivate a satisfying relationship with Christ.
Some of the hardest people to share the gospel with are those who are truly trying to be a good person, live a moral life, and do good. Is it fair that God would judge a person who tried to be good? Why would God judge someone who tells the truth, is politically correct, gives to charity, help strangers, and walks to find a cure for cancer and save whales? If the moralist is guilty before God, where can anyone find hope? It is not until you appreciate God’s promised judgment is perfect fair and right that you seek to receive and begin to appreciate the gift of salvation through faith in Christ. Judgment is part of the gospel message. You don’t appreciate the good news until you understand the bad –God’s judgment is deserved, but salvation is a gift of God through faith in Christ.
As people contemplate the news of their world, it is essentially impossible to avoid recognizing that there is something dreadfully wrong. In a post-modern, post-Christian, post-everything world, can people find real hope? Today, we learn what the problem is, and where you can discover hope.
The apostle Paul‘s life had been radically changed by the gospel- the good news about Jesus Christ. His sense of identity had been altered, as he recognized he had been set apart for the gospel. How he lived was also radically changed, as he understood he was called to share the gospel with others. Finally, what he believed was forever transformed, as he experienced the power of the gospel at work in his life and the lives of those around him. Just as the gospel had a life-changing impact upon Paul, so it also does on everyone who believes it.
Jesus is a revolutionary! He is not an anarchist, but God’s kingdom is revolutionary, and is greater than any other earthly alternative. Every revolution is fueled by a distilled idea, the essence of which is so captivating, and compelling that people will forsake their desire for personal comfort for the hope of realizing the ideals of the revolution. The revolutionary idea behind Jesus kingdom is simply: love God supremely and love neighbors as you love yourself. Although it is a simple idea, it is remarkably profound, and powerful. Who is your neighbor, how should you love them, and what difference does it make?
Jesus gathered His disciples for the Passover, hours before the cross. That night, Jesus would give them, and us, a new commandment, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” [Jn. 13:34-35]. What does it mean to love one another as Jesus loves? What difference does it make?
When Jesus was asked, which is the greatest commandment, Jesus replied, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment.39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” How can you grow in your love for God so that you love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind? How can you know if you are growing in love for God, and what difference does it make? Let’s discover together ...
We are the Church, the body of Christ, and we are called by God to live in community with other followers of Jesus. In Acts chapter two we see a prescription for how church community should operate. We see the First-Century Church engaging one another in a way that causes others to be curious. What would it look like if the modern Church adopted this first-century prescription?
James, was nicknamed “camel knees” because of the callouses on his knees from countless hours of prayer. James was a man dedicated to prayer, who knew the significance of passionate prayer by a person who is yielded to Jesus. Seven times in these few verses, James refers to prayer. Let’s discover together the connection between prayer and restoration, and the benefits are likely better than you expect…
Your attitude about money reveals your attitude towards God. James cries out against using wealth for self-indulgence and luxury. The failure to use resources to advance God’s kingdom, relieve suffering, and honor God reveals a lack of faith and spiritual maturity. Genuine faith in Christ is revealed by attitudes that trust God, and actions that honor God with your money. Someone might have a distrust of institutions generally, or the Church specifically. If that is the case, ask questions. You’re likely to get very reasonable answers. However, don’t use a claimed distrust of institutions as a smokescreen for not trusting nor honoring God.
Every day each of us makes decisions, choices, and plans for our lives. Some are minor, like what restaurant to go to for lunch. Others are major: whom to marry, which house to buy, what job to take. Oftentimes, regardless of the scope of the decision, we neglect to consult God to determine His will. Living life without considering God’s will is choosing to be in charge of our own lives, and is essentially placing ourselves in His role. Instead, we should seek and submit to God‘s will in every circumstance, knowing that it is always best.
Judgement is a controversial topic, both inside and outside the church. Thankfully, our Lord Jesus taught much regarding the subject of judgement, including how to experience freedom from and overcome it. James contributes to His teachings by instructing all believers to rid themselves of self-righteous judgement in light of God and who we are before Him.
God stirs us to want to draw closer to Him, and discover what we really want and need in this life and the life to come. The key to drawing close is to believe (faith), and humility (a proper view of God and ourselves). Let’s discover how to experience unity with God
If you could ask God for anything, what would it be? When Solomon, King David’s son, became king, God offered him anything he wanted. Solomon asked for wisdom. God was pleased that Solomon sought wisdom rather than riches, fame, or glory, and Solomon enjoyed God’s abundant blessings [1Ki. 3]. Solomon understood that God’s wisdom truly is better than gold [Prov. 16:6]. So, where can you discover true wisdom that will yield guidance and contentment in your life?
Words empower, encourage, edify, but can also cut, crush, and discourage. Words reflect how we see life, what is in our heart, who we represent, and spiritual maturity. There are three precious commodities that you can’t get back: time, opportunities, and spoken words. Let’s learn the importance of words, how to glorify God, and bless others with our words…
God’s people should be at the forefront of any social phenomenon to model a culture without partiality. Yet, the problem of prejudice continues, in and out of the Church. What is God’s perspective on prejudice, and how can we overcome prejudice so that we love without partiality? Let’s discover together...
God’s people should be at the forefront of any social phenomenon to model a culture without partiality. Yet, the problem of prejudice continues, in and out of the Church. What is God’s perspective on prejudice, and how can we overcome prejudice so that we love without partiality? Let’s discover together...
The Bible is your true north compass that directs you how to live a life that is satisfying to you and glorifying to God. It reveals origins, explains what is wrong with the world, helps you navigate the challenges of this life, and prepares you to experience life with God today and through eternity. Thus, we neglect the Bible and its truth at our own peril. The Bible is a cohesive collection of 66 books written over 1500 years by 40 authors. They agree internally and externally (e.g. archaeology), are consistent with science (except miracles), are filled with fulfilled predictive prophecy, and attested by thousands of manuscripts. Thus, it proves God inspired the writings and the Bible has not been altered by man. The skeptics’ concerns can reasonably be addressed, and the faithful can rejoice. Those who learn the word, love it and live it have discovered that that this book, by God’s Spirit gives a better life. Today, we will discover how…
James exhorts us not to be deceived about temptation [16]. Temptation offers something it never delivers. What’s the truth about faith and temptation, and does it matter? Knowing the truth about temptation and sin, and truth about God, can help you to make wonderful progress in your lifelong battle with temptation. This is practical sanctification that glorifies God and satisfies man! Let’s discover how together …
Trials in life are inevitable for all of us, and will come in many forms. James encourages us to “count it all joy” when we encounter trials, and reminds us that God can use them to test our faith, which can produce in us the valuable characteristic of patience. He also instructs us that God can give us the wisdom we need to navigate our trials, and that He can lift us up when we’re feeling down because of them. Responding to our trials in faith with this knowledge will not only help us get through them, but will also allow us to experience God as He works in and around us.
Real faith in Christ is manifest by actions that glorify God. True followers of Jesus experience transformed lives so that we do the Word of God, rather than simply hear it. James compels us to consider, what are you doing with your faith? Through this study in James, we’ll discover how to live our faith so that we glorify God, and know that we have real faith in Jesus.
This life brings hardship and crisis, but Jesus gives comfort, and a better life. Once you’ve discovered that Jesus is the Resurrection and Life, you can know real life in Christ. You can experience the satisfying life you yearn for. Let’s discover how
God has entrusted us with resources of time, talent, and treasure. These resources are to be used to advance the gospel. Using resources to advance the gospel doesn’t make you right with God, but is convincing evidence that you are right with Him. We do good for God’s glory, because we have been made right with God through faith in Christ. Let’s discover how to keep doing good for God’s glory ...
Paul encourages us to bear one another's burdens. Through abiding in God's steadfast love and examining our hearts before Him, we can keep our intentions pure. Together we will discover what it means to have God-glorifying relationships with our fellow believers and have a transparent community that seeks restoration from sin.
Jesus’ followers are called to “bear fruit” or manifest Christ-like character and behavior [Jn.15:16, Mt. 3:7-8]. The fruitful life is a life of meaning, purpose, and contentment. What is fruit, and how do you bear it? How can you know whether you are bearing fruit? Let’s discover the answers together ...
The way to be right with God is through faith in Christ. Followers of Christ will not abuse their Christian liberty as license to sin. Jesus’ followers know God’s love, love God and love and serve others. Today, we’ll discover the value of serving God by serving others.
There is a tension between Jesus’s followers being free from the burden of the Mosaic Law, and the danger of abusing our freedom by treating God’s grace as a license to sin. How can we experience Christian liberty and glorify God with our lives? Let’s discover how to let faith work through love…
True believers in Jesus Christ have been set free from the bondage of the Mosaic Law. No longer do we need to strive to obey the Law in order to be accepted by God. Instead, our relationship with God is secure because of Jesus Christ, and what He accomplished for us on the cross. Continuing to live by the Law divides and enslaves us; living by the promise of God sets us free. Every believer has the choice of whether to be a child of the Law, or a child of the promise.
As a parent, it brings me great joy and happiness when our sons are living our family values. Yet, their identity, and my love is not conditioned upon their performance. Similarly, my identity as God’s child, and His love is not conditioned upon performance. If God has adopted us into His family, our inheritance is amazing and sure. Let’s discover it together…
Pastor Mark Chua preaches on the subject of the Mosaic Law and how we are free in Christ.
We are made right with God through faith in Christ, and enjoy being right by yielding to His Spirit. Let’s discover the benefits and how to do it together…
Is the way to be made right with God through faith in Christ, performance of the Mosaic Law, or both? Until you appropriate and appreciate your identity in Jesus, you are likely to conclude performance of the law, or performance and faith. Today, we’ll discover the way to please God is through living by faith in Jesus, and how to do it …
Once you’ve confirmed that Jesus’ gospel is true, you enter into a dynamic relationship with the true and living God. As you discover your freedom in Christ, you also begin to appreciate that God desires all people to experience freedom in Christ; and each of Jesus’ followers have been commissioned to communicate and convey the good news. The challenge is to actually fulfill our commission. Let’s discover the blessings of fulfilling our commission…
The gospel is the good news about Jesus Christ. This wonderful message isn’t man-made, but instead revealed by God through His Son. It is perfectly true and complete; therefore, nothing should be added to it or taken from it. The true gospel is the power of God to change people’s lives and eternities. All believers are called to share the gospel, and as we do, God is glorified.
There is in the heart of man a yearning for freedom. We resist arbitrary and abusive authority; and there is a tendency in our culture to desire independence. Ironically, the pursuit of freedom from God enslaves to values that don’t satisfy. What we really need is freedom in Christ. We need to discover the grace of God in the gospel that frees us through Christ from the world’s influence, liberalism and legalism, and frees us from the penalty, power, and ultimately presence of sin, so that we can be free to experience contentment in Christ. Let’s explore the gospel of grace and find freedom in Christ…
Community is all about relationships. And we understand that it can be challenging to forge meaningful relationships in a new community of faith. Today, we’ll discover how to build community in Christ that transforms lives and the community where we live, and beyond as we consider Calvary Nexus’ mission, values and vision.
How should Christians respond to people who experience same sex attraction? What does the Bible say regarding monogamous, consensual, gay marriage? Does the Bible affirm or not? Then, we'll consider are people born gay? Can gay people change? Should they change? Is same-sex attraction sinful or just same-sex behavior? Is it unloving to require celibacy from same-sex oriented believers? Our goal is always to determine what the Bible actually says and means about issues. We don’t want feelings to control our conclusions. And discovering sound doctrine, we must not neglect to be Christ-like or Christian in how we interact, respond, and engage gay (and straight) people. Our aim is to be like Jesus, full of grace and truth [Jn. 1:14] who displayed compassion without compromise [Jn. 8]. We are called to radically love people.
The person and the work of the Christ are described by two names: Jesus, and Immanuel. These names describe His mission. He has come to save us, and to be God with us. Understanding and responding to His mission can give you everything you want this Christmas and beyond…
Parents want their children to enjoy a better life. We might hope to provide love, a comfortable home, good education, safe environment, nice clothes and stuff, extra-curricular activities, and more. Yet, the most important thing that we can do for our children is to prepare them to follow Jesus well. That should be the priority, because it will have the greatest impact on their lives on earth and for eternity. And more than simply understanding values or a plan, we need the Holy Spirit to empower us to honor God in family. Let’s discover how...
If happiness is your motive or expectation for marriage you’ll rarely be satisfied, but if honoring God is your motive you’ll likely be content, experience a blessed marriage, and God will be glorified. Today, you’ll discover the keys to a God-honoring marriage.
The Church is a very diverse place. One area of diversity comes in the form of varying marital status. Churches are full of both married and single people. These are broad categories, and even within each one there is much diversity. As God’s children, we are meant to honor Him in all relational seasons. We are also called to support one another as we grow in Christ-likeness together. It is essential that the Church develops a theology of singleness that speaks to both singles and marrieds. This will empower singles to honor God in their present season while also equipping marrieds with an understanding of Christian singleness in order that they might be supportive in the holistic growth of Jesus’ Church.
A panel discussion where helpful answers are provided to relevant questions regarding sex, sin and sanctification. This is part one of our “Honoring God” series.
I hear a lot of people describes themselves as spiritual as in, “I’m not into church or religion, but I’m spiritual…” That might mean almost anything or almost nothing. So, what does it mean to be spiritual like Jesus? What are some characteristics of the Christian life? Today, we will discover how to be spiritual like Jesus…
One of the beauties of belonging to a family or community is that you are part of something bigger than yourself. As part of this “belonging”, there is usually a sense of duty to support fellow members of that family or community. As believers in Jesus, we have been adopted into God’s family and therefore share a responsibility to be spiritually supportive of one another. This responsibility isn’t intended to be a heavy burden, but rather invites us to experience a joy-filled life as citizens of God’s Kingdom.
Although at times it may seem as though God isn’t doing anything about the evil in the world today, the Bible reveals He does indeed have a plan to return to judge the world and pour out His wrath in punishment of all sin. This event is referred to as “The Day of the Lord” numerous times throughout Scripture, and although no one knows exactly when this day will come, we can be assured it will. This knowledge should motivate all believers to be ready by being aware, being different, and being comforted.
Each of us has experienced despair, discouragement, disappointment, sorrow and grief. Jesus’ followers have discovered a hope that transcends difficult circumstances. In this study, you’ll discover this hope, and be encouraged to share it with others, in your family, your NG, and your neighbors where you live, work, study, play and worship.
Join us as today we have a special guest speaker, Aaron Snyder who is a missionary to Germany. He teaches on the importance of transforming love, work, and being an example for outsiders.
Throughout the ages, sexual temptation and sin have been a snare to God’s people that can keep them from experiencing God’s best, and inflicting unrecognized harm upon themselves and others. The moral values of the prevailing culture often influence perception of sexual morality. The 1st Century Roman Empire, especially Greece where Thessalonica was located, was characterized by sexual immorality. Diana, the goddess of fertility was worshipped through prostitutes who served as temple priestesses. Exploitive sexual activity including men with boys, men with slaves, and men with male and female prostitutes was common. Suffice it to say that it can be difficult to be sexually pure in a world full of immorality, strong temptation, and access. Today, the United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the developed world. And an estimated fifty percent of High School students will have intercourse before graduation (CDC 2018). Nevertheless, God has called His people to a high moral standard to abstain from sexual immorality, and experience pure love, and today we discover why and how.
Most followers of Jesus are aware that love is an essential aspect of Biblical faith. But what does authentic Christian love look like? The Apostle Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians in 1 Th 3:11-13 reveals a heart that has been profoundly shaped by Jesus’ love and gives us a window into what to looks like to live a life of receiving and showing the love of Christ.
This week, we will continue to study the foundations of our faith in Jesus through 1 Thessalonians 3:1-10. In this passage, we are reminded that although trials and difficulties are a reality we all face, we can be encouraged to stand firm in our faith in Christ. We will also learn how important it is to encourage each other to be firmly rooted in our common faith.
God has given us the Bible to reveal Himself, His plan of redemption, His moral perfection, and His eternal faithful love. God uses His word to transform us, and to prepare us for persecution and spiritual opposition. We need to discover the effective work of God’s word, and be transformed and prepared.
God uses people to help nurture Jesus’ followers to maturity in Christ. We have freedom in Christ, but that freedom is not so that we can indulge our flesh; rather we are called to serve one another in humility and love [Gal. 5:13]. Every true follower of Jesus will embrace the blessing and responsibility to serve others, but the challenge is how to serve God by serving others with the right mind and heart.
How can we be an example of Jesus in our homes, schools, workplace, churches, communities and beyond? Jesus’ followers have received Christ and want to reflect Him to others. And today, we will discover how
Join Pastor Robb Oram as he talks to people who have gone into the missions field and some videos from some of our church plants.
Is there truth about God and thus a true moral reality? Or is it merely a matter of subjective opinions? Are all religions the same? What difference does it make? Honest questions about the Christian worldview deserve thoughtful, respectful, intellectually robust answers. So, what’s the truth about truth and Jesus?
The presence of evil and suffering can be an obstacle to God. If God is all knowing, all powerful, and good why does He allow evil, hardship, and suffering? How can you reconcile God, evil and hardship?
How can you explain God? Is God capable of being known? Can someone have a personal and practical relationship with God? Is God some distant, impersonal, unconcerned cosmic genie, policeman or grandpa? Today we’ll discover how you can explain God.
Pastor Vince Nardi continues our 7 part series on Apologetics with the Creation story and how science points towards God as our intelligent Creator.
The Bible is the most influential writing in all of human history. It has the ability to heal hearts and change lives because it is the inspired word of God. How did God go about making His words available to us? Together we will discover How we Got the Bible.
Is the Bible simply the work of men? Has it been changed through the years? Is it in fact what it claims to be, the Word of God? How can you know?
In this first part of our apologetics series we’ll consider what it means to love God with all of your mind. Through the series, you’ll be strengthened in your faith, encouraged, and equipped to know the reasons for the hope of Jesus and His gospel.
There is truth about God as revealed by the words, works and gospel of Jesus. Leaders, and people in general, can hinder or help advance the truth. All of Jesus’ followers recognize the privilege and responsibility to promote the truth. Although 3rd John is the shortest book in the Bible, as you study it you’ll discover how to promote truth.
We’re in the midst of a spiritual war. There are many false teachers in the world, deceiving people by spreading false beliefs about Jesus Christ. As believers in Christ we must be discerning about what we’re taught, making sure our faith is in the true Jesus as revealed in the Word of God. Only those teachers who teach and obey all Jesus said and did can be trusted. As we encounter false teachers, we must speak the truth in love to them, while at the same time making sure we don’t do anything to support them.
The existence of a moral God creates a moral responsibility to God and others. The essence of that responsibility is to love God supremely and to love others as we love ourselves [Mt. 22:37-39]. The idea is so simple, but so deeply profound, and truly revolutionary. Our lives, the lives of our loved ones, and our communities will be transformed for good if we practice this truth.
Four times in this section we read, “we know.” John wants you to know and be confident that you have received the truth about God and rejected the false. John reveals three tests of transformed relationships that allow you to know.
Does prayer really matter? If you were confident that prayer would change you, your circumstances and/or your world would you pray differently? In the preceding section(s), John has helped us to understand how we can be confident that we have eternal life [5:6-13]. Confidence in your relationship with God produces confidence in prayer.
For a rocket to escape the earth’s gravitational pull it must travel about 25,000 mph. The earth has a tremendous pull in the gravity realm, and the world has a tremendous attraction in the spiritual realm. God’s children overcome the world through faith in Christ evidenced by love and yielding to God. What does it mean to overcome the world, and what difference does it make?
Trust is essential in any meaningful relationship including relationship with God. Growth in assurance of love = growth in trust
One of the primary characteristics of God is love, and in His mercy He has chosen to love us. God proved His love, once for all, by sending His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. God’s love is available to all; however, each of us must personally receive His love by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. As we grow in our understanding of God’s love, our love for Him, and for others, will also grow. This growing love for others is proof we're in God’s love, and His love is in us. Also, our love for others is a powerful witness of Him to the world.
John is providing a list of traits so that you can know that you have eternal life [1 John 5:13]. In this section, we discover that those who know God’s love show God’s love to others.
"Through Jesus, the Word and the Holy Spirit we can gain discernment about false prophets and false teachers."
Are you your brother’s keeper? What is your responsibility to neighbors where you live, work, study, play, and worship? What difference does it make? Let’s discover together …
Pastor Vince Nardi preaches out of 1 John 3 on the subject of purity and why it's so important.
Those who learn God’s word and apply it to their lives will experience life transformation, and will have assurance of their relationship with God and eternal life. Discover God’s greatest promise ...
Highlights from Calvary Nexus Resurrection Sunday service at the historic Camarillo Ranch House in Camarillo, CA.
All of us are searching… We long for a life that has contentment. We seek for a sense of wholeness that transcends our circumstances, experiences, relationships, possessions, achievements, past, present, or future. We yearn to be free of worry, anxiety, and fear. We want real life and real peace. And today we will discover what we’re looking for and how to experience it as we consider Jesus’ resurrection
Two of the great dangers to a relationship with God are love for the material world and false teaching. An earnest desire to stop loving the material world, and to yield to sound doctrine reveals a genuine love for God. Let’s consider our need to love God and His truth ...
Living organisms grow. Similarly, spiritual growth is evidence of your life with Christ. Spiritual growth is a test of salvation. If you’re not really growing in Christ, you want to make a decision today to respond to God’s love and accelerate spiritual growth. You’ll discover greater satisfaction in this life, and as you grow you’ll have greater assurance of your salvation.
Throughout this letter, the apostle John sets forth tests so that you can know that you have real life with God. The first test, living to please God, is described in this section. When you know that you are living to please God, you know that you have a relationship with God and have assurance of salvation.
God is “light” - perfectly holy, true, good and just. Yet, He desires to have fellowship with each of us. However, we’re not perfect; we all have darkness (sin) in our lives. If we claim to have a relationship with God while continuing to live in sin, we’re deceiving ourselves. The only way to be cleansed of our sin is to place our faith in Jesus Christ. When we follow Jesus, His sacrificial death cleanses us and enables us to have relationship with God. Because we still occasionally sin, we need to regularly confess our sins to God, or our relationship with Him will be inhibited.
John’s three epistles could be called love letters, because in studying them you’ll discover the status of your relationship with God. Join us as we contemplate the benefits of God’s love. Ideally, all of us will intimately know that love.
This week we are learned about the Spirit-filled prayer life. There is much that we can learn about a proper theology of prayer, but perhaps the most important need is to be people of prayer. Knowing about prayer without praying is as ineffective as praying passionately to a false god. Join us as we discover the elements of a Spirit-filled prayer life.
The Christian Life is a battleground, not a playground. If you try to live for Jesus, you will have struggles with your flesh, conflict with the culture opposed to God, and spiritual battles. There is a danger in blaming all of your responses to temptation on the devil (e.g. "The devil made me do it"), and there is an equal or greater danger to neglecting or ignoring the reality of spiritual forces aligned with God for good and those opposed to God for evil. How can you be aware of the existence of this battle, and how can you experience victory?
The problem with work has less to do with our ability to save money for retirement, paying off debt, benefits, feeling under appreciated by our employer, but has everything to do with a wrong perspective and understanding. Paul wants us to see that there is a greater purpose and motivation at work underneath an employee and employer’s relationship. In this section, we discover what a Spirit-filled perspective on work looks like and how we can find true purpose and meaning in our work. What does Christ-centered work look like?
Parents want their children to enjoy a better life. They hope to provide love, a comfortable home, good education, safe environment, nice clothes and stuff, extra-curricular activities, and more. Yet, the most important thing that parents can do for our children is to prepare them to follow Jesus well. That should be the priority, because it will have the greatest impact on their lives on earth and for eternity. And more than simply understanding values or a plan, we need the Holy Spirit to empower us to reflect Jesus in family. Let’s discover how …
The largest problems impacting marriage include: unreasonable expectations, inadequate spiritual and emotional preparation pre-marriage, and lack of meaningful spiritual and emotional support once married. God has made abundant resources available so that we can enjoy thriving marriages. These include the Bible, prayer, pastors, counselors, and godly examples. Yet, the most significant resource for a Christ-like marriage is the Holy Spirit. We simply cannot walk-worthy of Jesus without the Holy Spirit. In this section, we discover what a Spirit-filled life looks like in the context of marriage. It is a life that brings true contentment to a couple and glory to God. So, what does a Spirit-filled marriage look like?
The key to following Jesus, obeying God, and living as the Lord has called us to live is to be filled with the Spirit. This is a critical truth all believers need to understand. If we don’t recognize this fact, we’ll be tempted to try to live for God in our own strength, and we’ll experience frustration, discouragement, and failure. The Spirit is a Person who lives in us and is at work in us to make us more like Jesus. We’re filled with Him as we surrender to His authority and control in our lives. Allowing ourselves to be under the control of other influences inhibits the Spirit’s work in and through us. Being filled with the Spirit transforms our relationships with God and others.
Welcome to Calvary Nexus! We hope that this video message will help you to know our mission, values, and vision so that you can discover your place in our community of faith.
The purpose of prophecy is motivation not speculation. Understanding the times and the prophecies should be a source of hope that produces perseverance, purity, preparation, and proclamation of the gospel. How do recent events align with Bible prophecy? What might it reveal about the 2nd Coming of Christ? And how should the thought of Christ’s return impact your life?
Christmas should be the most wonderful time of the year. It can be a special time for family, traditions, and giving and receiving of gifts. Most of us have at least a few gifts that we’d like to receive, and most of us realize that none of those gifts are likely to bring real satisfaction. Yet, is there a gift that is so amazing that you could discover true contentment that would not depend on your circumstances? Why is Christmas truly so wonderful? What is the gift that brings true contentment? How can you receive that gift? The prophet Isaiah, helps us to discover the answers with some familiar words...
Where can you find contentment? This is the great philosophical quest of the ages. The world’s two primary paths are: The pursuit of sensual pleasure (e.g. food, drink, sex) or indifference to pleasure and pain. Neither way provides contentment, but there is a way to experience true contentment that we’ll discover…
Following Jesus changes everything. You are a new person in Christ [2 Cor. 5:17]. As soon as you receive Jesus, your position with God changes. Yet, in practice it takes time to stop living like unbelievers and start living like followers of Jesus. Today we learn what that looks like, and how to do it.
As followers of Jesus, we have each been given a unique calling and have been equipped to fulfill that calling through distinct gifts He has given us. When we discover our calling and use our gifts, the Church is edified and we are satisfied.
Followers of Jesus need to grow in their appreciation for their position in Christ which will impact how they live for Christ. This appreciation is related to experiencing the love of Christ. In this study, we discover how to experience the love of Christ.
Followers of Christ are part of the most amazing entity ever imagined – The Church, and are to experience Jesus together. When that position is experienced in practice, the love displayed by God’s people for God, other believers, and neighbors generally is incredibly attractive.
Spiritual life is to be lived in community. God created us for community with Him and others. We are hard-wired for community, but our culture is disconnected from God and others. Jesus removes barriers between you and God, and you and others so that you can experience community with God and others. Today we’ll discover how and why to experience true community in Christ.
God’s Word reveals there are two different kinds of life: physical and spiritual. Because of sin, every human being is born with physical life, but comes into this world spiritually dead. Only God can make a spiritually dead person alive, and the only way to spiritual life is through faith in Jesus Christ. God has a plan for those He makes alive in Christ.
This week we focus on the blessings of being in Christ. We are reminded that it is God’s nature to bless His people so that they will be content. There are many people who aren’t content, or are only content when their material circumstances appear favorable. This study help us to appropriate and appreciate our blessings in Christ, and be content despite circumstances.
“In Christ” is used 27 times in the book of Ephesians. Christ is in us and we are in Him. Believers reside in the world and in Christ. Like a scuba diver in an alien environment, the world can be a challenging environment, and a wonderful place. How can you grow in Christ in a place like Ephesus or your community?
Overview video of Ephesians created by: thebibleproject.com
The King’s commission, or Great Commission, provides the essence of the mission for all of Jesus’ disciples. Throughout Matthew’s gospel we’ve discovered Jesus’ invitation to become citizens of His kingdom. The values and benefits of the kingdom of heaven, or kingdom of God, have been contrasted with the values and benefits of this world. God’s kingdom is available to those who choose to make Jesus their king. Today, we’ll discover three traits of Jesus’ disciples, or those who’ve made Christ king.
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the sign that He said would confirm that He is the Messiah. As we consider the resurrection, we can respond in different ways. God desires that we respond with devotion and faith so that we can experience joy.
Imagine the disciples in the midst of Jesus’ arrest, trials, and crucifixion. All of Jesus’ promises, all the prophecies, and all the anticipation related to the Coming Messiah was likely forgotten or obscured. They were frightened, confused, grieved, and hopeless. Similarly, we face difficult circumstances that seem hopeless. As we contemplate Christ crucified we'll discover five reasons to have hope in Jesus.
Learn from experienced practitioners about the importance of rediscovering the Great Commandments to love God and your neighbors, some of the blessings, and the challenges and ways to overcome those obstacles.
Rick Rusaw is the Lead Pastor at LifeBridge Church in Longmont, Colo. During his leadership, LifeBridge has become a strong community partner both locally and globally to provide mentoring for at-risk kids, foster care, and serving opportunities. These partnerships have increased community engagement and grown the church to more than 3,500 in attendance. Through his experiences, Rick has been led to assist churches and denominations worldwide develop an external focus for their church. These opportunities have allowed him to author several books along that theme, including Externally Focused Church, and The Neighboring Church.
Learn from experienced practitioners about the importance of rediscovering the Great Commandments to love God and your neighbors, some of the blessings, and the challenges and ways to overcome those obstacles.
Bruce Zachary has been a Jewish believer, Bible teacher, and pastor for more than a quarter century. Bruce is the author of sixteen books, and has served as director of the Calvary Church Planting Network [CCPN] a global church planting initiative. Since 1996, he is the founding and lead pastor of Calvary Nexus in Camarillo, Ca. He and Karen, his lovely bride have been married since 1991, and are blessed by their sons Joshua and Jonathan. They have a desire to see their community reached for Christ.
Learn from experienced practitioners about the importance of rediscovering the Great Commandments to love God and your neighbors, some of the blessings, and the challenges and ways to overcome those obstacles.
Tom has experience as a church planter, founding senior pastor, neighborhood pastor, executive pastor and now serves as the architect of Community Life at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio serving on the senior staff with Max Lucado. He is also the founder of the Neighborhood Collective (www.neighborhoodcollective.org). Tom was married to his bride, Cami, in 1991, and they are the proud parents of eight children and two amazing daughters-in-law. They are about to add their first son-in-law in the fall.
Learn from experienced practitioners about the importance of rediscovering the Great Commandments to love God and your neighbors, some of the blessings, and the challenges and ways to overcome those obstacles.
Lynn Cory leads Neighborhood Initiative, which brings together pastors and congregations to show the love of Jesus in neighborhoods where they live. He is author of Neighborhood Initiative and the Love of God and The Incarnational Church (with Lyle Randles). He served as the associate pastor of the Valley Vineyard in Reseda, California, from 1987 until April of 2015. Before that, he pastored a house church and was the college pastor at Grace Community Church in Panorama City, California. He and his wife, Jo, live in Porter Ranch, California and have three sons, two daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren.
Learn from experienced practitioners about the importance of rediscovering the Great Commandments to love God and your neighbors, some of the blessings, and the challenges and ways to overcome those obstacles.
Regrets in life are inevitable. Yet, there is a way to reduce the number and scope of our regrets in this life, and more importantly the life to come. Today, we discover how…
In Matt. 22:36-39, Jesus distilled all the commandments to their essence: love God supremely and love your neighbor as you love yourself. These are the Great Commandments. Although I did seek to love my family, friends, co-workers, and those I pastored, I neglected loving my neighbors where I lived. When I realized that I didn’t love my neighbors where I lived, let alone love them like myself, it was sobering. For it meant that not only was I rebelling against God, but if these were the greatest commandments, my neglect was the greatest sin. In the midst of a thriving but very busy ministry and life I had neglected to love my neighbors. To be a follower or disciple of Jesus you must obey His commands. Thus, we need to learn to live these values of loving God and loving our neighbors. When I chose to love neighbors who actually lived near me in obedience to Jesus, it began what has been the most enjoyable and fulfilling season of my Christian life. Today, I want to share with you how we can become better followers of Jesus.
Our culture is becoming more and more hostile to Jesus, Christianity and Christians. Being a follower of Christ in the U.S. is rapidly becoming a dangerous commitment. A time may soon be coming when it will cost us dearly to publicly acknowledge Jesus; when we’ll face great pressure to deny Him. Have you ever asked yourself, “Will I still be able to openly proclaim my faith in Jesus Christ if I know doing so will cause me, or my loved ones, suffering, loss, imprisonment, or death?” Even now, do you openly proclaim your faith in Jesus under the current pressures in our culture? The apostle Peter found himself in circumstances like these, and failed. What can we learn from his experience?
There is a struggle to remain submitted to God as pressure increases. Imagine a volleyball on top of the surface of a pool. It is easy to control the ball on the surface. The further the ball goes under water, the greater the pressure, and the ball wants to pop out. The Greek term hupomone (hupo under + meneo remain) relates to steadfast, constant, endurance. In the NT it is the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and righteousness by even the greatest trials and sufferings. It is the example of Jesus.
The apex of the Last (Passover) Supper is the Lord’s Supper or communion. Communion is not only a ceremony or ritual, but is a symbol of an intimate union with Jesus. Today, we will discover how to experience communion with Christ.
It was days before the cross, and the feast of Passover. Passover commemorates God’s deliverance from bondage in Egypt. It is critical to know that the Jews were not simply being set free from slavery, but were being set free to worship God [Ex. 5:1]. It is not only, “Let my people go” but “Let my people go that they may worship me.” We to can be set free from slavery to sin, and set-free to worship God. What is worship? Worship is more than songs of praise, although they can be a great expression of worship. Worship involves passionate devotion, reverence and adoration. What does true worship look like? How do you become a worshiper? Today we’ll find out…
The Bible teaches that God is sovereign. This means that He is in complete control of human history because He writes it. When we face this reality, we can respond in different ways and our motives are often revealed. We may respond with resisting His authority, seeking personal gain or submission to His authority which will bring great joy and abundant life.
In order to be judged righteous in God’s eyes and be given eternal life, you must receive the righteousness of Christ. When you are righteous in Christ, it is revealed in your outward actions and your love of others as you seek to walk in the righteousness Jesus has given to you.
What does it mean to serve God? We serve and glorify God by sacrificially serving others. We are called to serve our spouse, children and parents, our fellow-workers or students, our neighbors, and in a local church or ministry. God has entrusted you with resources (time, talents, and treasure) not only for your pleasure but to advance His kingdom by serving others. Through the years that I’ve been a follower of Jesus, I’ve discovered many reasons why we should serve the Lord. Today I want to share a few with you…
What does it mean to serve God? We serve and glorify God by sacrificially serving others. We are called to serve our spouse, children and parents, our fellow-workers or students, our neighbors, and in a local church or ministry. God has entrusted you with resources (time, talents, and treasure) not only for your pleasure but to advance His kingdom by serving others. Through the years that I’ve been a follower of Jesus, I’ve discovered many reasons why we should serve the Lord. Today I want to share a few with you…
Knowing that you have eternal life, and why you have it, can give you peace, joy, love and hope that is different than the atheist who doesn’t believe in God, heaven, or hell. And is different than the misguided experience of the person who assumes everyone goes to heaven, but has no meaningful reason why. But can you know that you have eternal life. Today, we will discover how to be sure of your salvation…
I would never trade serving God for anything else. And today, I want to share with you why, and I hope that you also (if you haven’t already) discover the blessings of faithfully serving God.
After Jesus told His disciples the temple would be completely destroyed (Matthew 24:2), they pressed Him for more details. Jesus responded by describing a number of events and circumstances which He said must occur prior to His return. The information He shared reveals much about when He is coming back, why we can have confidence that what He said will indeed happen, and what we should do while we’re waiting.
“Let not your hearts be troubled …” Jesus offers these words of comfort, because our hearts are troubled. Life in this fallen world is overwhelming, and without Jesus physically present it seems even more difficult. Let’s discover why we should not lose heart.
This week we begin to consider Jesus’ teaching regarding His Second Coming. His words are intended to prepare us for hardship, comfort us, and encourage us. Knowing that Christ will return, and knowing why He has delayed has inspired me this week, and I hope that you are inspired too.
Jesus sorrow reveals love for lost but also justice for rejection. His example teaches us to have compassionate sorrow for lost. Also process emotions in healthy and holy way that doesn’t lead to sin but rather to love God & neighbors.
The problem of hypocrisy and empty ritual in the Church, through the ages, has tended to be an obstacle that can push people away from organized religion. The unintended consequences: people that are often stunted spiritually, and churches are hamstrung. So, what’s the answer?
Our mission is, “We are a movement of Jesus’ followers devoted to loving God and our neighbors.” Our mission and values flow from the Great Commandments. As we consider the values of loving God and neighbors they flow from yielding our lives to Jesus. What is your next step(s)?
The resurrection is the foundation of the Christian faith. The resurrection provides hope in difficult times, meaning, purpose, and value in all times, and certainty in an uncertain world. The resurrection gives hope of: forgiveness of sin, relationship with God, and eternity in heaven. Let’s discover what difference believing in Jesus and His resurrection can make…
As followers of Christ, we are dual citizens. We are subject to a heavenly Sovereign and an earthly sovereign. What is your responsibility to God and government? What would your community look like if you tried to be the best citizens of heaven and earth for Christ’s glory?
God invites each of us to the greatest event in history- the wedding of His Son. He's arranged an eternal plan to make it happen. He invites everyone to be part of it. And, He's provided the only way to attend. Have you said "yes" to His invitation? Or, are you ignoring it, waiting to decide, or rejecting it? Are you telling others about this wonderful event and inviting them to come?
God’s people are called to experience transformed lives through Christ. We are to repent and bear fruit for the kingdom. Repentance involves changing your thinking about God and your sin so you turn from your sin and yield to God. It is to be an on-going experience of the Christian-life. Yet, religious people often struggle to repent. How can you repent and bear fruit for God?
Who is Jesus to tell someone what is true worship or faith? What authority does Jesus have to tell you how to live your life? What right does Jesus have to declare something wrong or right, good or bad, moral or immoral? What about areas where you might disagree with Jesus: e.g. there is only one true God, only one way to heaven, sexual sin, love your neighbor, love your enemy, don’t lie, don’t covet, don’t gossip, care for the poor, the orphan, the widow, the stranger, serve, give, worship, pray …? Why should you yield your life to Jesus?
A short highlight reel of all that went on during this year's annual Resurrection Sunday service at Camarillo Ranch, in Camarillo CA.
All of us want the good life. We want to find something that can satisfy. We yearn to be whole and be able to rest our mind, body and soul. We want our loved ones to share that experience and have hope. Well today my friends we have some good news for you - great news! Today you will find what you are looking for…
Ps. 118:24 This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. It is not referring to your birthday. Nor does it refer to every day as a gift from God. But it refers to the specific day that Messiah would enter Jerusalem. A specific day that was predicted through the prophet Daniel over 400 years before [Dan.9:24-26]. It is the day we celebrate as Palm Sunday. Let’s discover why you should rejoice, be glad about that day, and worship Jesus.
When we contemplate Jesus’ sacrifice for us, His example to us, and restoration of us, it is only reasonable that we will want to sacrificially serve God. Join us as we consider three more reasons to serve God.
Following Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler, Peter asked how Jesus’ disciples would be rewarded for their sacrifices to follow Him [19:27]. Jesus promised eternal life and hundredfold eternal reward. The Parable of the Vineyard Workers amplifies the teaching on eternal life and rewards. Let’s discover how Christ rewards justly, generously and graciously.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke record the rich young ruler’s quest for eternal life. Despite abundant possessions, prominence, position, and practical religion he is aware that something is lacking in his life. Thus he desperately pursues Jesus to ask, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Let’s discover what’s lacking.
What would your life look like if you simply rediscovered the Great Commandments and did them? We are called to love God supremely and love our neighbors as we love self. If we do it our lives and community will be radically transformed.
This Sunday was Missions Sunday at Calvary Nexus in Camarillo. Our Missions Pastor - Robb Oram spoke regarding the opportunities in Missions Ministry to have a global impact for God's Kingdom through supporting, sending, and going on short and long term Missions opportunities. The many Missionaries that we support were highlighted through video reports, testimonies, and a number of our missionaries sharing individually with their own displays at each of our campuses. If you would like to know more about our Global Impact please visit the calvarynexus.org website.
God’s view of marriage, divorce, singleness, and children is very different than the unbelieving culture that we live in. Jesus wants you to know that if you do life God’s way you will discover the contentment that you seek and bring glory to God.
Christ’s disciples must confront sinning believers to encourage repentance, forgiveness, and restoration. The unity and health of a community of faith depends on it. Let’s discover how together.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Jesus’ disciples are to love the least and the lost. What we need is humility. We discover our level of humility in how we treat the least and the lost, and how we deal with our sin.
What is faith? Faith is responding to God with an attitude of dependence and actions of obedience. Faith involves confidence in Christ, rather than faith in “faith.” A growing faith is evidence of a growing relationship with Jesus. A growing faith results in increased trust in God’s power, promises, and provision. And produces increased peace in Christ. Would you like more peace in your life?
Calvary Nexus Youth Service for January where Revive - Young Adult Ministry Director Mark Chua teaches a message of God's love and how we can live in it.
Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan to help God’s people understand whom our neighbor is and how we are to love them. Let’s discover together how we can love God and neighbors outside of our group better.
Acts 2:42-47 is descriptive and arguably prescriptive of how the Church is to love God and neighbors better. The early church created the rhythms (practices) of life that are needed to grow as followers of Jesus. It reveals how we can learn to love God and neighbors in our groups better. These are simple practices that produce profound transformation. Do you want to learn to love God and neighbors better?
When Jesus was asked to identify the Greatest Commandment, He quoted Deut. 6:4. What’s so important about this passage? How does it help us to love God better? Join us as we discover how to love God better.
A video showing all that God did in 2016 in and through Calvary Nexus in Camarillo, CA.
Join us as we share our ten-year vision to saturate our community with Christ-centered Neighborhood Groups [NG] where we learn to love God and neighbors better.
At Caesarea Philippi, the disciples had just affirmed that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God [16:1-12]. Jesus wants them to understand that He is more than a mere mortal man like Moses or Elijah, but is in fact God in the flesh. The reality of the glorious God who dwells with man can transform your life forever.
Jesus asks, “But who do you say that I am?” It is the most important question that any human can contemplate, and the most consequential answer of your life and eternal life. Our culture and environment shape our view of Jesus. But who is Jesus really? What’s the benefit of following Him, and what will it really cost you?
Discernment is the ability to judge well in regard to spiritual direction and understanding. The most important truth to discern is properly identifying Jesus and His gospel. And we need to discern sound (good) doctrine to know and grow in Him.
Compassion is concern for the pain of others that moves to action to relieve. Compassion is the most frequent expression of Jesus’ emotions. Jesus models compassion to those in relationship with God and those who are not as an example for us.
Religious rituals can be a great benefit to the worship of God. They can also be obstacles to worship. Can rituals make us right with God? How are we made right with God? What is the place of religious ritual in the worship of God?
Jesus teaches the disciples a lesson about faith on the Sea of Galilee: (1) We must prioritize prayer so we can be prepared for storms, (2) Jesus invites us to trade our fear for faith in the midst of a storm & (3) Jesus provides healing for us when we have been wrecked by a storm.
Our Teaching Pastor for this morning's sermon is Hunter Poulson. He's one of our Youth Ministry Directors that assists with Haven, Journey, and the bridge. Hunter is continuing the Matthew series teaching about Jesus miracle of feeding of the five-thousand.
Calvary Nexus Youth Pastor Vince Nardi teaches through the next section in our study through Matthew.
Warning labels: there are some that we pay no attention to. For example a coffee cup that warns the contents are hot – I hope so. Sometimes we push the warning boundary (e.g. 25 MPH curve). Sometimes we ignore the warning and experience consequences (Wash only in cold water or it will shrink). Sometimes we respect the warning because we understand the risk (e.g. Don’t walk on thin ice over cold lake). (bruce re: bike on treadmill in garage). What are some of the reasons why people reject warnings? Today we’ll discover the benefits of heeding the warnings.
Jesus uses a series of three parables to help you understand: God’s great love for you, to warn unbelievers of God’s judgment, and to encourage us to understand, apply, and share what we learn.
True believers, who experience true growth nurtured by good doctrine, are blessed by God and a blessing to others. On the other hand, false believers, false growth, and false doctrine are like plastic fruit - it may look nice, especially from a distance, but don’t nourish soul. Discover the importance and benefits of being true believers committed to Christ...
We are called to bear fruit for God [Matt. 7:17, Jn. 15:16] What is it? What difference does it make? How can I bear fruit?
Have you ever wanted a sign or sensed that God gave you a sign? What if God gave you the ultimate sign, would you want to become a healthy member of God’s family?
Each of us realizes that we’ve done wrong. We may have done some things that seemed so bad that we wondered whether we committed the unforgivable sin. No reasonable person wants to commit the unpardonable sin. Today, we discover how to avoid committing the unpardonable sin.
Jesus always does the right thing. In this text we see the word “justice” repeated. It means, to do what is right. What can we learn from Jesus about doing right, and how should we follow His example? Let's learn from Jesus how to do what is right.
Man’s greatest desire and need is rest for the soul. True rest for our souls is fulfilled through Jesus [Matt. 11:28-30]. The purpose of Sabbath: God’s desire for His people to rest their soul and be refreshed in Him is fulfilled in Jesus. The Sabbath is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar except Yom Kippur, and is a symbol of the covenant between God and Jews. But Jesus’ ministry conflicts with rabbinic tradition about Sabbath, and also reveals true rest that satisfies. Let’s discover how together…
Our souls never have peace until we are reconciled with God. You either try to repress the awareness of God, and eternity (heaven and hell), or you have to contemplate your eternal destination, and wrestle with the basis of why + how you get to where you want to go. But if you knew your eternal destination is heaven, and is certain, it will radically change for better your experience of this life. Let’s discover how to have rest for your soul...
In seasons of great blessings, we can neglect God, but in difficult seasons we can doubt God and struggle in our faith. Discover how to follow Jesus even when you struggle in your faith.
In making major decisions it can be helpful to consider the burdens and the benefits – to count the cost. The most important decision that anyone will ever make is whether or not to follow Jesus. Jesus said that choice will cost you plenty. But He also assured you that the benefits so clearly outweighed the costs that you would gladly choose to follow Him. Do you want to know the costs and benefits of following Jesus?
The fourth message in an four part series through the book of Malachi for Calvary Nexus Wednesday Night Service. Pastor Bruce Zachary teaches through the fourth chapter.
Calvary Nexus Core Pastors share the history of the church and how we got to where we are today.
How can Jesus’ disciples be effective at reaching a community that is resistant, opposed, or hostile to Jesus and the message of the gospel?
How can Jesus’ disciples be effective at reaching a community that is resistant, opposed, or hostile to Jesus and the message of the gospel?
The third message in an four part series through the book of Malachi for Calvary Nexus Wednesday Night Service. Pastor Robb Oram teaches through the third chapter.
Watch our annual Church at the Park outdoor service as we celebrate our 20th Anniversary, and share our 10-year vision for our church and community.
Watch our annual Church at the Park outdoor service as we celebrate our 20th Anniversary, and share our 10-year vision for our church and community.
The second message in an four part series through the book of Malachi for Calvary Nexus Wednesday Night Service. Pastor Bruce Zachary teaches through the second chapter.
Calvary Nexus Mobil Ave. campus Youth Pastor Hunter Poulson teaches the next passage in the Matthew series for July Youth Sunday.
The first message in an four part series through the book of Malachi for Calvary Nexus Wednesday Night Service. Pastor Robb Oram teaches through the first book.
Jesus came to give us life and life more abundant [John 10:10]. Yet many of us don’t feel that we are experiencing an abundant life. Would you like to know how to have an abundant life in Christ?
The last message in a seven part series on the Foundations of the Christian faith taught by our pastoral teaching team. This message discusses: "The Return of the King" by looking to Matthew 24:3-8 & 32-35. Calvary Nexus lead pastor Bruce Zachary is the teacher for this message.
How has the truth that Jesus forgives sin impacted your life? The reality that you can receive forgiveness from God for your sin is reason to rejoice if you have received Christ.
The sixth message in an eight part series on the Foundations of the Christian faith taught by our pastoral teaching team. This message seeks to answer the question: "What is the Church supposed to be and do?" Calvary Nexus teaching pastor Robb Oram teaches this message.
Christ’s disciples experience true freedom as they worship God, and all the benefits of a relationship with God. Being Christ’s disciple involves sacrifice and learning to trust Jesus. In light of the benefits and costs will you choose to follow Jesus?
The fifth message in an eight part series on the Foundations of the Christian faith taught by our pastoral teaching team. This message continues to answer the question: "How Can I Grow in My Faith?" Answered by looking to Galatians 5:16-25. Calvary Nexus lead pastor Bruce Zachary is the teacher for this message.
Jesus heals and restores to demonstrate that He is the Messiah; and to display God’s plan to bring restoration to our lives. We tend to focus on the physical, but the Lord prioritizes the spiritual and the emotional. How are you in need of healing today? Discover how Jesus can restore you.
The fourth message in an eight part series on the Foundations of the Christian faith taught by our pastoral teaching team. This message continues to answer the question: "How Can I Grow in My Faith?" Answered by looking to Acts 2:42-47. One of Calvary Nexus pastoral team, Armando Garza is the teacher for this message.
When you’re expecting your first child there are two books that people recommend: “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” and “I’ll Love You Forever.” Both are great but the “forever” of “I’ll Love you Forever” is a lifetime. We need to think about forever as an eternal perspective, and prepare our kids for forever. Thus the Bible is the best book on parenting. I’m now a parent with two adult sons. I’m grateful to God for them, and to my wife Karen who has been an amazing mom to our sons. There are no perfect kids, there are no perfect parents, and there are no perfect people. Yet we have a perfect Savior. Our primary job is to equip them to know Him, submit their lives to Him, and to follow Him as mature adults. As a follower of Jesus, parent, and pastor, I’ve discovered some essentials for Christian parenting. Would you like to know them?
The third message in an eight part series on the Foundations of the Christian faith taught by our pastoral teaching team. This message begins to answer the question: "How Can I Grow in My Faith?" Answered by looking to 2 Peter 3:18. Our lead pastor Bruce Zachary is the teacher for this message.
Everyone I know that is either married or wants to be married wants to know how to have a thriving marriage. Join us as we consider four essentials for a Christ-honoring marriage that will help you experience a thriving marriage.
The second message in an eight part series on the Foundations of the Christian faith taught by our pastoral teaching team. This message answers the question: "What is Salvation and Why Do I Need It?" Answered by looking to Romans 3:23-24. Our junior high youth pastor Vince Nardi teaches this compelling message.
When a husband or a wife says, “I want us to be intimate” their expectation may be substantially different whether it was the man or the woman who spoke. God desires a husband and wife to become one [Gen. 2:24]. To be intimate emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Do you want intimacy in your marriage?
The first message in an eight part series on the Foundations of the Christian faith taught by our pastoral teaching team. This message starts at the beginning and core of our faith with the question: "Who is God?" Answered by looking to Genesis 1. Our lead pastor Bruce Zachary is the teacher for this informative message.
Looking back at your life, you discover how God has been faithful to prepare you for different seasons. God has a plan to prepare you for life, marriage, and family. Discover how God wants to prepare you.
The nineteenth and final study in the book of Hebrews during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by Pastor Robb Oram.
Calvary Nexus Youth Sunday Service. High School and College Pastor Bryan Carver teaches on having the truth of the Gospel make a significant and lasting impact on our hearts in order to make Jesus King in our lives.
The eighteenth study in the book of Hebrews during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by Pastor Bruce Zachary.
Jesus presumes that everyone who understands His kingdom would desire to enter. But He makes it clear in the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount that access is limited. Join us as we discover how to enter the kingdom of God.
There are many paths, but different destinations. If you know the benefit of being on the right path, and know someone will guide you, help you make it, and know the journey will be epic, you’d want to take it. Jesus presents a choice of paths and encourages us to choose life with God through Him.
The seventeenth study in the book of Hebrews during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by Pastor Bruce Zachary.
It is difficult to have a high biblical standard (holiness) and demonstrate love. How can we love, without judging, and without compromising God’s holiness?
The sixteenth study in the book of Hebrews during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by Pastor Robb Oram.
What percentage of people would you estimate worry about money specifically or the future generally? God offers a life without anxiety or worry based on trust in Him. Join us as we learn to trust God, lay up treasure in heaven, and experience satisfaction, hope, and peace beyond any you could imagine.
The fifteenth study in the book of Hebrews during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by Pastor Nick Ross.
The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Jesus’ prayers are intimate and passionate. Who wouldn’t want to talk with God like a conversation between a beloved child and a perfect Father. Let us learn from Jesus how to be people of prayer.
The Christian life is a giving life, because we are the children of a giving God. We seek to honor God by denying our own desires so that God is glorified. Charity and fasting are holy behaviors but must be done with right attitude. So, join us as we learn to do what is right with the right heart.
The fourteenth study in the book of Hebrews during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by Pastor Bruce Zachary.
Who is your enemy? An enemy threatens your person, possessions, plans, provisions, or peace. How we treat our enemies says much about our re with God. Unlike the world, kingdom subjects overcome evil by good. How can you truly love your enemies?
The thirteenth study in the book of Hebrews during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by Pastor Robb Oram.
The culture that we live in tends to dishonor commitments whether in the form of marriage or other promises. When Christ’s followers honor their commitment to Him, and others, it not only glorifies God, but they discover other benefits too.
The twelfth study in the book of Hebrews during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by Pastor Bruce Zachary.
I love our community, and love having our Resurrection Sunday service at this beautiful and iconic Camarillo Ranch House. But this house wasn’t always this beautiful. We are the beneficiaries of an epic restoration project. While this house has always been amazing, upon close inspection there was need for restoration.
Whenever there are cracks in the wall there is an issue with the foundation. I also love this community, it is amazing, but upon closer inspection it is in need of restoration. We are disconnected from God, family, neighbors, and even self [Cf. Nexus means a connected group or place of connection]. I dream of a community where Christ restores lives: individuals, marriages, families, schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods. Would you like to know how that could happen, and what you can do to make it a reality?
The eleventh study in the book of Hebrews during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by Pastor Robb Oram.
The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart. Even if your behavior complied with all of God’s commands you would still not measure up, because our attitudes are not perfect. So how can you be right with God?
Jesus’ followers are to influence the world for Christ and advance His Kingdom. Every life influences others – positively or negatively. The world system or prevailing culture is corrupt, immoral, and dark. The problem is that the church is more influenced by the world than vice-versa. But today that trend can change right here and now: in marriages, families, workplaces, schools, and communities. Would you like to know how?
The tenth study in the book of Hebrews during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by Pastor Bruce Zachary.
The Sermon on the Mount is the greatest teaching that man has or ever will consider. This is Christ’s kingdom manifesto where he declares the blessings, behaviors and attitudes of His subjects. The message begins with the beatitudes.There is a certain sense that the beatitudes represent what our attitudes should be, however they really represent the promised blessings of the kingdom. These unique benefits of making Jesus your King tare unavailable from any other sovereign. Would you like to know how to be blessed by God?
The ninth study in the book of Hebrews during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by Pastor Robb Oram.
Imagine Jesus approaching you and calling you to follow Him, and be His disciple. Would you follow Him and why? Imagine the adventure, the presence of God, the significant purpose for your life, and the restoration available for you and others...
The eighth study in the book of Hebrews during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by Pastor Bruce Zachary.
All of us will be tested and tempted. Jesus show us how to overcome temptation so that we can experience victory as we follow Him. Join us as we discover His provision, plan, and power.
The seventh study in the book of Hebrews during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by Pastor Robb Oram.
Let’s discover the significance of Jesus’ baptism, and the significance of your baptism. Learn how you can identify with Jesus in His death and resurrection?
The sixth study in the book of Hebrews during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by Pastor Bruce Zachary.
John the Baptist was the messenger who proclaimed Christ and His coming kingdom. As John announced the King he confronted the religious establishment, and he also holds a mirror to us. Join us as we consider some of the issues of religion and the solution in Christ.
Despite Herod’s attempt to destroy the newborn King, God is Sovereign, and the King is protected until He lays down His life at the cross for us. You can be encouraged that regardless of the attempts to destroy Christ and His gospel that the King is, and always will be, Sovereign [Matt. 16:18]. Despite the evil in the world, we are comforted that God is good, and that He has everything under control.
There are three typical attitudes towards Jesus: adoration, anger, or apathy. The response to the birth of Jesus by the wisemen, Herod, and the religious leaders reveals their attitude toward the newborn King. Similarly, our actions tend to reveal our attitude. Discover how and why we should worship Jesus.
The third message in Calvary Nexus Wednesday night series through the book of Hebrews taught by Pastor Robb Oram.
Imagine Joseph discovering that his fiancee Mary was pregnant, and he knows that he is not the father. Have you ever felt that your faith was tested or struggled in your faith because of circumstances? How can God’s word strengthened your faith? How have you sensed God’s presence through His word, prayer, worship or other experiences? How was your faith strengthened? Join us as we discover the triumph of faith.
The second study in the book of Hebrews during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by Pastor Bruce Zachary.
You didn’t get to choose your relatives, but God did. Who did he choose? The purple thread of the royal robe is woven through many fabrics – including kings, peasants, and prostitutes. Join us as we see the majesty and grace of God displayed in the genealogy of Jesus.
The first study in the book of Hebrews during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by Pastor Robb Oram.
The sixteenth and last study in the book of Joshua during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by Pastor Bruce Zachary.
The purpose of prophecy is motivation not speculation. How do the news events of the last year align with Bible prophecy? What might it reveal about the 2nd Coming of Christ, and how might it impact our lives?
In what or whom do people put their hope in if not God? What is the greatest source of hope in your life? The more reliable the basis of hope the greater your hope. Join us as we discover a reliable hope that can transcend your circumstances?
In what or whom do people put their hope in if not God? What is the greatest source of hope in your life? The more reliable the basis of hope the greater your hope. Join us as we discover a reliable hope that can transcend your circumstances?
Jesus came to give us peace with God and the peace of God. Today you can discover what you (and everyone else) has been searching for all your life.
The fifteenth study in the book of Joshua during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by Pastor Robb Oram.
Jesus came to reveal the love of God. The birth, life, and death of Jesus reveal why, how, and who you should you love. The assurance of God’s love through Jesus encourages us to receive Christ + love God + love others this season and every season.
The fourteenth study on the book of Joshua during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Bruce Zachary.
The thirteenth study on the book of Joshua during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Robb Oram.
The twelfth study on the book of Joshua during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Bruce Zachary.
The eleventh study on the book of Joshua during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Robb Oram.
The tenth study on the book of Joshua during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Bruce Zachary.
The ninth study on the book of Joshua during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Robb Oram.
The eighth study on the book of Joshua during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Bruce Zachary.
The seventh study on the book of Joshua during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Robb Oram.
Discover why you were created for community with God and others. Learn a great way to grow as a disciple and the blessings of a community group.
The sixth study on the book of Joshua during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Armando Garza.
Jesus declared that where our treasure is, there your heart will be also [Matt.6:19-21]. Our heart always follows after our treasure. So if you lay-up treasure in heaven that is where your passion will be. Discover with us how to please Christ and earn rewards.
The fifth study on the book of Joshua during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Robb Oram.
What is a biblical worldview regarding resources? Join us as we look to answer the FAQs you have about your time talents and treasure and God’s kingdom.
The fourth study on the book of Joshua during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Bruce Zachary.
One of the ways that God motivates us is eternal rewards. Discover with us the reasons for rewards and how to earn them; and how to change your experience of eternity.
The third study on the book of Joshua during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Robb Oram.
Most of us have never truly considered the subject of rewards described in the Bible. If you understand the reality, the reason, and the resources of rewards + believe God’s promises it will change how you live today in light of eternity. Do you want to know how you can change your eternal experience?
The second study on the book of Joshua during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Bruce Zachary.
The first study on the book of Joshua during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Robb Oram.
The eleventh study on the book of Ecclesiastes during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Robb Oram.
The tenth study on the book of Ecclesiastes during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Bruce Zachary.
When you respond to Christ and His gospel you receive a new life. But how do you experience the Christian life?
The ninth study on the book of Ecclesiastes during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Robb Oram.
The eighth study on the book of Ecclesiastes during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Bruce Zachary.
The seventh study on the book of Ecclesiastes during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Nick Ross.
The sixth study on the book of Ecclesiastes during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Robb Oram.
The fifth study on the book of Ecclesiastes during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Armando Garza.
The fourth study on the book of Ecclesiastes during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Bruce Zachary.
The third study on the book of Ecclesiastes during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Bruce Zachary.
The second study on the book of Ecclesiastes during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Robb Oram.
How would kingdom life be different if you knew that you were restored by God to kingdom life, were restored with others to kingdom work together, and overcame temptation?
When we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” we are declaring our dependence upon God for His provision. When should we ask? What should we ask for? How should we ask? What happens when we ask?
The first study on the book of Ecclesiastes during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Bruce Zachary.
The purpose of prayer is not to see your will done but God's will. How does prayer help you to do His will?
The fifteenth study on the book of Psalm during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Bruce Zachary.
Jesus’ prayers are intimate communication with God. Who wouldn’t want to speak with God as Jesus did? The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. The disciples were devout men versed in the prayers of the Hebrews, but their experience. with Jesus made them want to go deeper in their communication and relationship with God. Don’t you want to experience life transformation through intimate communication with God?
The fourteenth study on the book of Psalm during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Robb Oram.
The thirteenth study on the book of Psalm during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Bruce Zachary.
As followers of Christ we want to engage our culture and proclaim the Kingdom of God. Yet most of us would confess we rarely fever share our faith. Join us and discover how to share your faith.
The twelfth study on the book of Psalm during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Robb Oram.
Storms can be a metaphor for the difficulties, struggles, and challenges of life in a fallen world. Would you like to have peace in the midst of storms? In our last study we considered the problem of storms and the promise of God. In this study we discover God’s peace and God’s plan.
There is something out of order in this world that causes us to lose hope. The world news fuels our sense of despair and fear: wars, threats of war, economic collapse, deadly diseases without cures, terrorism, etc. Would you like to discover how order can be restored and you can have hope that will never fail?
Storms can be a metaphor for the difficulties, struggles, and challenges of life in a fallen world. Storms include, but aren’t limited to: financial struggles – difficulty paying bills, loss of job, working multiple jobs to make ends meet, loss of savings, recession; health or emotional struggles for yourself, children, parents; death of loved ones, relationship struggles, fear of terrorists, deadly disease, and failure. All of us struggle with storms. Join us to discover how to have peace in the midst of storms.
The eleventh study on the book of Psalm during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Robb Oram.
As followers of Christ we have been called to reach our communities for with the gospel. Discover how you can we live life with that purpose.
The tenth study on the book of Psalm during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Bruce Zachary.
How did you come to believe that Jesus is truly alive (resurrected)? How did the Holy Spirit lead you to Jesus? How have you been transformed since you received Christ? How has your purpose in life changed since you were saved?
The ninth study on the book of Psalm during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Bruce Zachary.
Every follower of Christ has discovered the reality of God, the restoration of God, & the righteousness of God. Would you like to discover how to help others to know they cannot be made right with God by their efforts, and thus need a Savior?
The eighth study on the book of Psalm during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Robb Oram.
As followers of Christ, discover how you can have peace in the midst of trial [hardship]?
The seventh study on the book of Psalm during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Bruce Zachary.
Waiting for a convenient time to receive or share the gospel can be a huge obstacle to effectively living on mission for Christ. How can we overcome the tendency to delay?
The sixth study on the book of Psalm during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Robb Oram.
How would lives be different if people sensed that God was calling them to take action for Him, and they knew that God would protect them as they lived on mission? How would your life be different?
The fifth study on the book of Psalm during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Bruce Zachary.
Jesus constantly confronted the religious establishment: healed on the Sabbath to confront the Pharisees and they wanted to kill him, continued to challenge their misunderstanding of Sabbath observance, the role of fasting, and ceremonial washing. Why do you think He did this? The gospel of grace is like a slackline. The Holy Spirit and the Word are to give us balance to keep from falling towards either liberalism or legalism. Each of us has a tendency to fall toward one side. Which side might you lean towards? How can you respectfully protect Christian freedom from liberalism and legalism?
The fourth study on the book of Psalm during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Robb Oram.
The essence of your story in Christ (testimony) is: what it used to be like, what happened, and how it is today. Five times in the New Testament Paul’s testimony is recorded? Why? Your story is a powerful tool to reach others for Christ. Learn to share your story with Christ as we consider Paul's testimony.
The third study on the book of Psalm during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Bruce Zachary.
Imagine being inviting to a gay wedding, you’re concerned about endorsing or seeming to approve behavior the Bible declares wrong. Do you go? Why or why not? How should Christians pursue peace and prepare for persecution?
The second study on the book of Psalm during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Robb Oram.
Most Christians in this country are not threatened with martyrdom. Nevertheless it is difficult to stand for Christ at work, school, a difficult marriage, sexual purity, ministry, sharing your faith, tithing, and in temptation. Learn how to be ready to stand for Christ.
The first study on the book of Psalm during Calvary Nexus Wednesday Evening services taught by pastor Bruce Zachary.
Do you consider yourself a leader? Leadership is simply influence. Where do you have influence in people’s lives? Would you like to positively influence others for spiritual growth this year? If you were a passionate spiritual leader how would it influence your spouse, family, church, and community?
You will be most satisfied and God will be most glorified as you grow as a disciple of Christ. Furthermore those you influence will be blessed. But, without planning to grow and live on mission you are unlikely to, and will likely drift from Christ, suffer, and hurt others too. At Calvary Nexus we encourage you to plan to grow this year and invite you to live on mission as part of our community. We want to help you do that, and here we share that vision with you ~
Idolatry is defined as, the worship of idols or excessive devotion to, or reverence for some person or thing. An idol is anything that replaces the one, true God. What are some idols that Christians & non-Christians might worship without realizing? Learn to turn from idols to the true God.
God is seeking those who worship Him in Spirit and in truth [Jn. 4]. We need both the Holy Spirit and the truth – the Word of God - to be the worshipers God desires who experience transformed lives for Christ. Discover the blessings of being filled with the Spirit ~
Each of us needs to be mentored and then to mentor others. How have you been mentored, and how are you mentoring others? Discover how to be a disciple who makes disciples.
As we consider Paul’s ministry at Corinth we discover that he lived Christ’s Great Commission: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. [Mt.28:19-20] Examine your life. What would you say is your mission? How does your mission glorify God and fulfill His mission?
In a world where so many different philosophies and religions exist how can followers of Christ engage the culture? Discover key principles from Paul's experience with the philosophers at Mars Hill.
Calvary Nexus invites guest Teaching Pastor Carl Westerlund to continue our study through the book of Acts. Today's passage is Acts 17:1-15.
Christ came to set us free so that we can truly worship God. What are some issues that keep Christians from truly worshiping God (remember: worship is more than praise)? What keeps you from freely worshiping God?
The church needs to develop leaders and new frontiers to advance Christ’s kingdom. Consider areas in your life where you are responsible to lead (influence) others. Are you using your gifts to advance Christ’s kingdom?
How many of you have experienced conflict in your lives in the last three months? Ministry and life generally is done in relationship with others. Human relationships inevitably experience conflict as a result of competing values perspectives and philosophies. How we deal with conflict can reduce or escalate it, and either hinder or advance the gospel.
What would you consider to be some essentials for Christian living? You may be surprised when you see the list offered by leaders in the early church...
The gospel message of salvation by grace through faith in Christ is constantly in conflict with liberalism (neglecting God’s word) & legalism (burdens beyond God’s word). How do we protect the gospel against these dangers in our lives & our church? Discover the work of the Holy Spirit in protecting the gospel.
The mission of the church is to reach the lost, make disciples, and develop leaders. Join us as we discover how…
When you hear the term “idolatry” you likely think of carved images. But idolatry is worship of false gods or excessive devotion for some person or thing; anything that replaces God as your master passion. Modern idols include possessions, people (relationships, celebrity, prominence), hobbies, recreation, entertainment, career, etc. Idolatry is an attempt to satisfy your desire to “worship” without submitting to the true God. How can we turn from idols to God?
How can we engage people in our culture who have no Biblical world-view or knowledge of the God of the Bible? Our culture is post post-modern, relativistic, pluralistic, materialistic, and humanistic. How can we reach these people and reach our communities for Christ?
Who are the people in your sphere of influence who are trying to be right with God by their religious efforts? In the Apostle Paul's first recorded sermon he shows God's plan to save people through the Messiah, proves that Jesus is the Messiah, and then proclaims the good news that we can be made right with God by faith in Christ.
God's people are led by the Spirit to live on mission for God. What does it mean to be led by the Holy Spirit? How can you be led by the Spirit? What are some results?
Does prayer really matter? What is the purpose of prayer? What difference does passion and persistence make? What about the problem of unbelief?
Salvation is the start of life with Christ not the finish. The goal is to continue and finish strong. Yet too many people seem to drift from Christ. How can we remain committed and know that we are continuing in the Lord?
- In what ways does the gospel message seem to good to be true?
- As a parent (or from the perspective of a child) how are family blessings based on relationship and/or performance?
- How has the gospel been proven in your life?
- How can followers of Christ show gratitude for grace?
Who is the least likely person you know to come to faith in Christ? In this portion of Scripture we are encouraged by the conversion of Saul [aka the Apostle Paul]. How can you be led by the Spirt to yield to Jesus and share the gospel?
What are some of the objections you've been making to sharing your faith? Discover the power of the Spirit to enable you to go to people who don't know Christ, proclaim the gospel, and the Spirit's power to transform them.
We are either building bridges or creating walls to share the gospel with those outside of a relationship with God. Be encouraged as we discover how to be led by and empowered by the Spirit to engage the lost for Christ.
The power of God to heal the sick and raise the dead means that restoration and life are available to you. Discover what difference it can make in your life?
All true followers of Christ are transformed by the Holy Spirit. Believers become bold for Christ, humble in Christ, and strong through the Spirit. Join as we consider how we have been and are being transformed.
Every follower of Jesus should be living their life on mission for God. God sent His Spirit to empower us to share our faith and to draw people to Jesus so that they can experience salvation. Unfortunately, few Christians actually share their faith. In this passage of Scripture we discover five keys to effective relational evangelism. Our hope is that you will be led by the Spirit to receive Christ and share Christ.
God wants us to be free to worship Him. The Bible translates the Greek Pharmakeia as "sorcery." Sorcery includes drugs, alcohol abuse, the occult, astrology, fortune tellers, palm readers, tarot cards, psychics, horoscopes, etc. Why is it a problem, and why is it wrong? How can sorcery be an obstacle to God and how can we be free from sorcery to be free to worship God?
Our relationship with God is revealed by how we respond to His correction. Do we resist the Spirit, reject Christ, and refuse to yield to God's revelation? Or do we yield to the Spirit, recognize Christ, and receive God's correction and grow?
Pastor Justin Bell continues to teach on the passage where Stephen was martyrd in Acts chapter 7.
The early church filled Jerusalem with Christian doctrine. How can we fill our communities with the doctrine of Christ and His gospel?
The pure, Spirit-empowered, transformed lives of believers attracts people to Christ. On the other hand, our impurity can be an obstacle to others coming to Christ. How can we be Spirit-empowered and pure?
How can we reach a culture that is resistant to the gospel? Biblical Christianity is a reasoned and reasonable faith. Yet, sharing our faith is primarily a spiritual work rather than an intellectual or emotional.
The Spirit-filled life is the Christian life. All believers are to be yielded to God and empowered by His Spirit to represent Christ and live .a life that is pleasing to Him. Two common manifestations of the filling of the Holy Spirit are boldness to share your faith in Christ, and generosity. Join us as we seek to be: filled with the Spirit, bold and generous.
Describe some of your experiences serving God by serving others. What benefits have you received from serving others? Why do you think that some Christians don't serve?
The most common manifestation of being filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts is boldness to share the gospel. Yet, sadly many Christians don’t share their faith. Generally most Christians would like to share their faith. Discover what is needed for boldness to share the gospel.
Have you ever experienced being refreshed by the presence of the Lord? Have you ever considered how God's presence is related to restoration? What are some things that you need to seek that will help you to experience God's refreshing and restoration?
All of us are in need of restoration: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Discover the power of the Spirit and the way to be restored in Christ.
Purpose of the church is to make disciples of Christ: mature Christ-followers capable of mentoring others [making disciples]. The power of the Spirit in the context of Christian community is God’s means to equip and give evidence of the transforming work of becoming a disciple. We are called to be part of a body of believers! Discover and experience the characteristics of a Spirit-empowered community.
Jesus declared that true worshipers would worship God in Spirit and in truth. When the Spirit of God was poured out at Pentecost there were many perplexed people. Peter explained the manifestation of the Spirit and then exhorted all who heard to yield to God, be saved, and live by the Spirit's power.
Some of the behaviors observed in some hyper-Pentecostal movements can cause confusion, detract from the Holy Spirit, are dangerous to spiritual health, can elevate experience to neglect of doctrine, and appear to display a lack of discernment. Nevertheless, equally dangerous are ignorance of and neglect of the Holy Spirit. Join us as we seek to understand and receive the power of the Holy Spirit.
Discover how the baptism of the Spirit allows you to be led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Learn how to know and do God's will.
Effective Christian life is experienced in the power of the Holy Spirit. Discover a biblical view of the baptism of the Holy Spirit; and the invitation to receive the filling of the Spirit.
The Spirit empowered life of the early church is a model for the church age. Join us for an introduction to the Book of Acts and the presentation of our church vision for 2014. We hope that you will be stirred to experience community and the Spirit empowered life.