Olivet Baptist Church: Recent Episodes
Olivet
God defines manhood. Part of that is biology, but it is also the role and character that a man should have. David tells Solomon 2 of those manly characteristics in this passage.
Pastor Kevin Craft
There are a handful of resurrections in the Bible besides Jesus. And all of those resurrections follow a similar pattern - giving us a taste of the glory that is coming.
Pastor Kevin Craft
People are limited in knowledge and ability. God is not. We need Him to reveal Himself to us. And because He is merciful, He does.
Pastor Kevin Craft
The Ascension is closely tied to the Resurrection. And because Jesus is alive and has gone into heaven, He has proven that He is Lord, and He has gone to prepare a place for us so that we can be with Him always.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Nebuchadnezzar is trying to make people into Babylonians, but Daniel is resolved to follow God.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Why does the resurrection matter? It is through the resurrection that the promises of the New Covenant are guaranteed to us, because Jesus continually intercedes for us.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Living in Babylon is difficult. Before God shows us how to stand strong as we wait for the kingdom, Daniel starts by showing us that the reason the people are in Israel is because of consequences and providence.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Proverbs tells us how we should live when we are in a covenant relationship with God. That's what wisdom is. And this chapter shows us the goodness of the wise woman.
Pastor Kevin Craft
The Resurrection matters because through it God causes us to be born again. And this new life is a life of living hope.
Pastor Kevin Craft
We can see the benefits of a physical family, but there are spiritual blessings in the family of God that we experience when God is our Father and Jesus is our Lord and Christ.
Pastor Kevin Craft
In spiritual battle, not only are we told to take up the armor of God, but we are also told to pray. Prayer is an element of how we stand strong in the Lord, and it is supposed to describe the people of God.
Pastor Kevin Craft
1 Samuel 28 gives us questions about what happens in between death and resurrection. This also helps us to think through how we approach passages that are difficult to understand.
Pastor Kevin Craft
How is it that we are delivered from evil? It's through standing strong in the day of evil with the armor that God gives.Pastor Kevin Craft
After death and before resurrection, what happens to believers and unbelievers? Pastor Kevin Craft
Jesus is not only able to heal, but He is also able to forgive - and Jesus gets right to our greatest need by focusing on forgiveness with this paralytic.
Pastor Kevin Craft
There is spiritual warfare happening right now, and the only way we are able to stand against the schemes of darkness is through the armor that God supplies.
Pastor Kevin Craft
The book of Mark is all about answering the question: "Who is Jesus?" And in this section of the book, it answers by showing us that Jesus is the one who has authority in His teaching, authority over demons, and authority over sickness.
Pastor Kevin Craft
We belong to Jesus. And when He is our master, we are free. And in our freedom, Jesus then calls us to do good, whether we are slave or free.
Pastor Kevin Craft
As Christians, we understand why everyone dies. And yet, we are called to be different in how we grieve, because the promises of God are an anchor to our soul during times of grief.
Pastor Kevin Craft
There were different experiences on the morning of the resurrection, but everyone ended up in the same place - believing that Jesus was alive.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Jesus was a different kind of King. He built His kingdom on the truth and He died as a substitute for our sins.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Why is it that everyone dies? Why did Jesus die? Why do Christians die?
Pastor Kevin Craft
Palm Sunday is a celebration of Jesus the King. But in the midst of this celebration, there are different reactions from the groups that are seeing Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a donkey.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Fathers, as leaders in the family, are given the responsibility and the privilege of bringing up children so that they might enjoy the goodness of the ways of the Lord.
Pastor Kevin Craft
These proverbs speak about drunkenness, addiction, gluttony, and adultery and give principles that apply to all of life.
It is right for children to obey parents. But these verses tell us more than that. They tell us about the motivation for our obedience as Christians.
Pastor Kevin Craft
These Proverbs talk about the character we should strive for. We should strive to be strong. And Ephesians 6 gives us more insight into how we stand strong in the Lord.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Jesus has set the example of what love looks like. Husbands follow that example in the most unique relationship that exists on earth. Just as Christ and the church are one body, so also husband and wife are one body.
Pastor Kevin Craft
These Proverbs include warnings about scoffing, scheming, and how you should react when your enemy falls?
Pastor Kevin Craft
The Bible is very straightforward in describing what submission is. But the Bible also reminds us of the goodness of submission, comparing it to the relationship between the church and Jesus.
Pastor Kevin Craft
How should we think about those who do evil? We live in the world, but not of the world, so the Proverbs tell us to not envy sinners and to not fret because of sinners.
Pastor Kevin Craft
What do the Proverbs say about the parent child relationship? How should we discipline? What should please us the most as parents?
Pastor Kevin Craft
This passage continues the theme of walking like a Christian. And that means understanding the will of God, and doing what we can to fill up every corner of our life with the fullness of Jesus.
Pastor Kevin Craft
How are we supposed to build and establish ourselves and our family. Proverbs gives the answer.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Walk as children of light. That is the command in this passage. That means doing works of light ourselves, and it means shining a light on the works of darkness.
Pastor Kevin Craft
How should you interact with an angry person? How should you interact with a fool? That's what these Proverbs talk about.
Pastor Kevin Craft
The Bible is very clear that some people will not be a part of the kingdom of God. And this passage describes what some of those people are like. And in so doing, it also gives us a description of what is not fitting for the church or the kingdom.
Pastor Kevin Craft
What exactly about God are we supposed to imitate? Specifically in these verses, the answer is to imitate the love of God. And that is not a generic love, but a love that is defined for us.
Pastor Kevin Craft
When Jesus walks on water, Jesus is strengthening the disciples' faith and showing who they need to be seeking.
Guest Preacher Caleb Twachtman
The feeding of the 5,000 shows that Jesus is our supplier and provider.
Guest Preacher Caleb Twachtman
God is fitting the days for us, so that everything we go through is exactly what He knows we need in that day.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Throughout the Bible there are hints and promises that God will send a Savior into the world.
Guest Preacher David Dishong, Associate Pastor, East Ridge Baptist Church
What principles does the Bible give us for how to interact with authority? It turns out that it's right on point with the rest of the wisdom of Proverbs.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Money is not guaranteed. It takes work, but this proverb reminds us that we should know when to stop toiling for money. Another proverb also reminds us about how to interact with stingy people.
Pastor Kevin Craft
God made promises to David about his son. And we see those promises applying on two levels, not just to Solomon, but ultimately to Jesus - the Son of David.
Pastor Kevin Craft
This proverb is about more than just land rights, it's about how we treat our neighbor and those who are vulnerable.
Pastor Kevin Craft
"Whose Son is He?" That's the question that Jesus asked the Pharisees. And the answer to that question gives us the interpretive lens to understand who Jesus was and what He was doing.
Today, we look at what it means that Jesus is the Son of Abraham.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Everything God created is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Forgiveness is not only a transaction, but also an attitude in the heart that shapes how we live together with other people.
Pastor Kevin Craft
No bad words, only good words, in order to build up and not grieve the Spirit.
Pastor Kevin Craft
The instruction of a father to his son is to believe the promise of wisdom and not the promise of sin.
Pastor Kevin Craft
In this new Wednesday Series, we look at the book of Proverbs and start where the book starts - the fear of the Lord.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Don't sin when you're angry, don't let anger linger, and don't give a foothold to the Devil.
Pastor Kevin Craft
How do works and faith fit together, and how do we think about denominations / groups that have a lot of rules to follow?
Pastor Kevin Craft
Because we are truly changed when we are Christians, we are supposed to live differently. And one way we specifically do that is by not lying and speaking the truth because we have experienced the goodness of the truth.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Beliefs on the Lord's Supper is a difference between Lutherans and other denominations. We also briefly look at the main tenets of Bible churches and Church of the Nazarene.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Why is the world like it is? This passage tells us the root cause of humanity's problems. But it also commands Christians to be different because we have been changed by Jesus.
Pastor Kevin Craft
As we focus in on non-denominational churches, we really think about one pitfall that you may find in these churches (and other churches): the prosperity gospel.
Pastor Kevin Craft
In life, there are waves and wind that threaten to blow us off course from our goal as Christians. But God gives us the solution to growing in maturity and standing strong in the faith. People speaking the truth in love.
Pastor Kevin Craft
What is unique about Charismatics in relation to Pentecostals and other denominations? We also think about the continuation or cessation of the miraculous spiritual gifts.
Pastor Kevin Craft
In this Deacon ordination service, we remember what the Bible says about serving well.
Pastor Kevin Craft
A brief look at some history of Pentecostals, as well as considering the doctrine of baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Kevin Craft
The ascension of Jesus into heaven matters for our hope, and it matters for our uniqueness in the midst of our unity. And that uniqueness is good news because it is how we are matured to look more like Jesus.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Presbyterians have a long history influencing governments in Scotland and in the United States, but for different reasons. In this section, we also think about infant baptism vs believers baptism.
Pastor Kevin Craft
What should be a part of a worship service? The regulative principle and the normative principle are different ways that different churches and denominations think through that question.
Pastor Kevin Craft
As Christians, we have infinite things in common with each other, and that overrides all the differences that we have.
Pastor Kevin Craft
In this study, we look at some of the distinct practices and beliefs of Church of Christ, and focus in on the doctrine of baptism.
Pastor Kevin Craft
As the book of Ephesians transitions to focus on how Christians live, it starts by commanding us to be a certain type of person.
Pastor Kevin Craft
In this part of the study, we look at some history of Methodism as well how they doctrinally address total depravity.
Pastor Kevin Craft
It is a good thing that God is able to do more than we ask or think, and it is another reason to be amazed and to worship God.
Pastor Kevin Craft
In week 3 of our study on denominations, we look at some of the beliefs and origins that make Free Will Baptists, Missionary / Landmark Baptists, and Independent Fundamental Baptists unique.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Filled with the fullness of God. That's what we want. That's what Paul prays for. And in this passage we also get some insight into how that filling happens in our lives.
Pastor Kevin Craft
In Christianity, we get to experience glory. And these verses talk about two aspects of that glory: boldness and access.
Pastor Kevin Craft
How did we get Baptists in America? This traces the history of how Baptists ended up in America, but also looks at the doctrine of inerrancy and sufficiency of the Bible as key in Baptist origins.
Pastor Kevin Craft
What is God's plan for everything? How does the church fit into that plan? This passage in Ephesians gives answers to those questions.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Before Paul continues to talk about the temple of God, he wants to remind us that this isn't a message that he is making up. This comes directly from God.
Pastor Kevin Craft
This Psalm tells us to not fret. And it tells us why and how to not fret.
Guest Preacher Brother David Dishong
The Bible ends with God dwelling among His people. We hope for that day. But as Christians, we also get to experience the presence of God right now since He makes us His temple.
Pastor Kevin Craft
When we look around and see divisions between people, or when we look inside and see brokenness, is there any hope that things can change? This passage reminds us that Jesus brings us near to God and brings peace.
Pastor Kevin Craft
How did Jesus understand the OT? It was more than just knowing the words, and knowing theological truths - He knew how it all connected.
Pastor Kevin Craft
God presents a picture of fatherhood that is good and worth aspiring to because it is a reflection of how He is a father to us.
Pastor Kevin Craft
We are created for good works. But before we do a work, God does a work in us. And God's work sets us up for a life of pleasing Him.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Martin Lloyd Jones described these verses as some of the most important in the Bible. It's because these verses describe how we are saved and why we are saved.
Pastor Kevin Craft
The Proverbs are more than advice on what to do, they describe a posture of life that is pleasing to the Lord - a way of wisdom that Jesus embodied.
Pastor Kevin Craft
A world without God is hopeless and meaningless. That's why the first three verses of Ephesians 2 are so bleak. But when we turn our eyes off of ourselves and onto God, there is eternal hope because God is rich in mercy.
Pastor Kevin Craft
How do we teach what is right and wrong without simply teaching a moralistic message? We remember how the text points to Jesus.
Pastor Kevin Craft
The picture of humanity from these verses is very bleak. It doesn't present humanity as basically good - just the opposite. Apart from God, people are depraved. And that is the backstory of every Christian.
Pastor Kevin Craft
David and Goliath is more than a motivational underdog story - it is a passage dripping with Jesus.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Naomi goes from fullness to emptiness to fullness. And in that process, God uses Ruth and the Redeemer to show His faithfulness and goodness to Naomi. Mother's Day 2023.
Pastor Kevin Craft
What are we supposed to do with the laws in the OT? Are we supposed to still be obeying them or not - and why?
Pastor Kevin Craft
Usually when we think about an inheritance, we think about the our future inheritance as Christians. But this passage says that God has an inheritance, and His inheritance is His people.
Pastor Kevin Craft
In this session we look briefly at the covenants with Abraham, Israel, David, and the New Covenant.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Without God, there is no hope. But the Bible says that every Christian has a glorious hope because God has a calling on our lives.
Pastor Kevin Craft
The Bible shows us that it is organized around covenants that God makes with people. So understanding the covenants will help us to understand the entire storyline of the Bible and how it all points to Jesus. In this session, we think about the first two covenants in the Bible.
Pastor Kevin Craft
There is an inheritance that is guaranteed to everyone who is in Christ. And the only way to receive this inheritance is in Christ.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Biblical theology is how the Bible fits together. Samson gives us an example of how he Bible fits together and points to Jesus.
What happens after we die? Do you have to go to purgatory, or can you go directly into the presence of God?
Pastor Kevin Craft
It is entirely possible to be religious and still reject Jesus. That is the example we see with the religious leaders in this passage. But in the end, it isn't our religiosity that matters, what matters is how we respond to Jesus.
Pastor Kevin Craft
We want to make sure we are doing God's will. We want to make sure we make the right decisions and that we're not wasting our life. And those are good things. This passage in Ephesians reminds us what the will of God is and how our life and decisions should line up with the will of God.
Pastor Kevin Craft
We like to think we are better than we are. But when we agree with the Bible about our condition, the riches of grace become more glorious in our eyes.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Where is there agreement and disagreement between Catholics and Protestants regarding marriage and Holy Orders (ordination)?
Pastor Kevin Craft
We're not here by accident. God has a purpose and plan for our lives. That's what we see in the doctrine of election.
Pastor Kevin Craft
How is it that we receive blessing? We haven't earned it, and the promise of blessing was given to someone else besides us in the Old Testament. So how is it that we now receive every spiritual blessing?
Pastor Kevin Craft
Do we receive the Spirit separately from belief? Do the elements actually become the body and blood of Christ?
Pastor Kevin Craft
Identity matters. It affects beliefs and it affects actions. And at the start of the book of Ephesians, Paul describes his identity and the identity of the recipients of this letter.
Pastor Kevin Craft
In this section we talk about the sacrament of penance, including Ash Wednesday and Lent.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Satan's strongholds in this world are not physical. These verses says that they are thoughts, ideas, and arguments. And Christians are instructed to tear down these ideas and worldviews so that we may have a sincere and pure devotion to Jesus.
Pastor Kevin Craft
In this study we see the differences between the Catholic and Baptist understanding of Baptism
Pastor Kevin Craft
When Nehemiah comes back from his trip to see the king, he finds himself having to address several issues that have arisen during his time away. We also have to be diligent individually and as a church to not drift into the ways of the world but to stay committed to God in these ways.
Pastor Kevin Craft
God reveals Himself and we respond. That is what worship is, and that is what we see in this passage. Specifically, the people respond in two ways: service and singing.
Pastor Kevin Craft
When the people renewed the covenant, they focused on three areas: Honoring the Lord's Day, not committing to the world, and taking care of the house of God. These are the same commitments that we must have as Christians.
Pastor Kevin Craft
How do faith and works fit into the conversation about justification?
Pastor Kevin Craft
When we are in trouble, we naturally cry out to God, and that is for good reason. God is powerful enough to deliver, and we can look at history and see that God is good and merciful to save, even when people continue to turn against Him.
Pastor Kevin Craft
In this section, we start looking at justification and the concept of imputation.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Thriving and flourishing is about more than health and possessions. The core of flourishing is spiritual renewal. And that starts with the Bible and with salvation.
Pastor Kevin Craft
This is part 2 in our study examing the differences between Catholics and Protestants.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Some things are never finished. Education is like that. We finish milestones in our education (like graduation), but really we never stop learning. That's where the people of God were as they continued to reestablish life in Jerusalem and count the people.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Satan prowls around like a lion seeking someone to devour - 1 Peter 5:8. You are not the exception to that verse. The enemy is after you. We shouldn't be ignorant of His schemes. But as we are aware of our enemy, we are also aware of the truth, specifically, the truth about God.
Pastor Kevin Craft
It's against the backdrop of darkness that we see the beauty of the light. The good news of Jesus is no different, it shines it's brightest when we understand the depths of what the Savior and Lord delivers us from.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Why did the people build a wall? That is the heart of what is going on in this passage, and the answer to that question is how we apply this passage to our own life.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Zechariah heard that Jesus was coming, and he rejoiced. Why? Because he had read the Old Testament and knew that Jesus was the one who would bring the promises to pass, the promises that had been given long ago to Abraham.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Why was Mary highly favored? Why her and not someone else? What does it even mean to be favored by God? These questions are important because Jesus is the eternal King, and it matters whether the King looks on us with favor or not.
Pastor Kevin Craft
When Christians do not love their brothers and sisters, then not only does it create strife and disunity, but it also brings incredible dishonor to God. But the people of God exalt God through their love for each other which is empowered and modeled by God so that we might practically meet the needs and seek the growth of fellow church members.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Christians work hard. It's possible to work hard and not be doing anything meaningful. But the Christians work has meaning and motivation because it is connected, motivated, and empowered by God.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Christians shouldn't be surprised by opposition. It is something that is promised to those who desire to live a godly life. In this passage, Nehemiah and the people show us what standing against opposition looks like.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Wakeup calls can come in many forms and fashions. In this passage, Nehemiah gets a wakeup call, and that leads him to respond in a certain way - faith.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Why are we still saved whenever we wake up in the morning? The foundational truths that answer this question are what gave David confidence and give us confidence that God's goodness and mercy is guaranteed to us.
Pastor Kevin Craft
To be a Christian means that you have enemies. This was promised to us. But God also promises that we will not be overcome by enemies, but that He will give us final victory and cause our cup to overflow.
Pastor Kevin Craft
"We dread the unknown far above anything that we can see; a little noise in the dark will terrify, when even great dangers which are visible do not affright: the unknown, with its mystery and uncertainty often fills the heart with anxiety, if not with foreboding and gloom." This verse reminds us that we do not walk through this darkness like others do.
Pastor Kevin Craft
DIY shows usually have a consistent following. At their best, these shows highlight how something was once put together, but then fell into disrepair, and then someone comes along and restores it to its former glory. In this verse, Psalm 23 tells us that the good shepherd restores our soul. Our souls can fall into disrepair and into dry and joyless times, but the Lord restores us.
Pastor Kevin Craft
It's not hard to get worn out. Whether that's from work or chores or relationships, life is often tiring. But in this passage, we see that the Good Shepherd gives rest and peace to His sheep.
Pastor Kevin Craft
If you've ever memorized one chapter in the Bible, chances are that you memorized Psalm 23. It is a Psalm that applies to all of life. As we focus on verse 1, we think about what it means that God is our shepherd.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Jesus has now been resurrected, He has been exalted to King over the entire universe with all authority, and now He sends out His disciples with this commission to make disciples.
Pastor Kevin Craft
When an unstoppable force meets an immovable object, what happens? There were many ways that Jesus was opposed in this passage, but none of those oppositions was able to stop Jesus. Jesus has power over everything and and the plan of God cannot be stopped.
Pastor Kevin Craft
It's natural for people to want a leader who will do exactly what they want, a Savior who will meet their every desire. But Jesus shows us what it really means to be the Messiah King, and He is rejected for it. But He trusts in God and is not rejected by God so that we would not be rejected by God.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Contrasts can help us see things clearly. Knowing what is wrong can help us see what is right, knowing what is right can help us see what is wrong. This passage gives us two sets of contrasts - the contrast between Jesus and Peter facing the risk of death and the contrast between Peter and Judas facing the burden of guilt.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Jesus is omniscient, and yet when we read the gospels we more often see the emphasis that He knew the Scriptures. And it is that example that we follow as we seek to know the will of God and hold to the will of God, being strengthened by prayer.
Pastor Kevin Craft
In order to know what is new, it helps to compare it to what is old. We do that in all areas of life - that's how we even define the word "new." Jesus does that in this passage as He institutes the Lord's Supper. He is introducing the New Covenant and compares it to the Old Covenant at the Passover meal. And in all of that, He focuses on His death. That is what we remember in the Lord's Supper. Pastor Kevin Craft
There are at least 2 types of magnification. A microscope takes an object that is truly small and makes it look big. A telescope takes an object that is truly massive and gives us a little better glimpse of how spectacular it is. It is this second type of magnification that the Bible talks about when it says to magnify the Lord. This passage has both types of magnification, and they lead to very different results.
Pastor Kevin Craft
At the end, Jesus will sit on His throne and judge, separated everyone into two groups. The criteria that this passage talks about is rather surprising, given the other verses which talk about our eternal destiny.
Pastor Kevin Craft
The most important thing for a disciple of Jesus is not knowing exactly when Jesus will come back, but being ready for when He does return. In this passage, Jesus hammers home the necessity of being ready and gives illustrations to His disciples about how to be ready for His return. This sermon also explores biblical evidence for and against the idea of a rapture.
Pastor Kevin Craft
When we are saved, God transfers our citizenship from darkness to the kingdom of Jesus. That has implications for how we are supposed to live right now on earth. First and foremost, it means we are supposed to be holy. It also has implications for how we interact with government.
Pastor Kevin Craft
When will the temple be destroyed? When will Jesus return? When will be the end of the age? These are the three questions that the disciples ask Jesus. This is an often debated passage regarding the timeline of history. But when we start with what we know, then we are more able to understand the more complex things that Jesus is teaching.
Pastor Kevin Craft
There are many guides, but not many fathers. A father does more than just pass on information. They are committed, examples, and will admonish when necessary. This is true not only for physical fathers, but even more so for spiritual fathers. God has given spiritual fathers to help carry on the role of discipleship.
Pastor Kevin Craft
We can find just about any kind of preaching or writing about the Bible through a quick google search. But in an age of so much information, how are we supposed to filter through it all? What kind of Bible teacher should we be listening to?
Pastor Kevin Craft
There is more than one way to ask the question "Why." There can be genuine curiosity, or you can ask it because you don't really agree with what someone else has said. In this passage, we read 4 questions. And as each of them are answered, there are riches of truth that can be learned if one will receive it.
Pastor Kevin Craft
As Moses hears God from the burning bush, the identity of God becomes more important than how Moses views Himself.
Guest Preacher Reagan Berry
Jesus continues to clarify who the people of God are. It is not about ethnicity or knowledge - the Pharisees after all won't be a part of the kingdom. Rather it is what one believes about Jesus, and a faith that produces works.
Pastor Kevin Craft
When we're having a bad day, and someone says something insensitive, we tend to not be very gracious in response. When we go through trials from the hand of God, it may not be instinctive to draw near to God. But Hannah does both of these, pointing us to the good path that God has laid for Christians.
Pastor Kevin Craft
We often view the ultra-rich as being above the rules. They can hire the best lawyers, fund the politicians, and literally pay people to agree with them. While we would be right to view that as a misuse of authority, sometimes we view God in the same way as money - He is there to promote us and make us successful in what we are doing. But when we put our agenda first and not God's, Jesus says that we will be destroyed. Instead, He puts us to have faith in God and to be people of prayer.
Pastor Kevin Craft
More than once in John 20 the question is asked, "Where is Jesus?" The answer to that question matters is now and forever, for our souls and for our actions.
Pastor Kevin Craft
In this passage, there is a contrast between Jesus - who lowers Himself, serving to the point of death - and James and John - who are seeking exaltation. Jesus, in lowering Himself, is a merciful God who gives His life as a ransom for many.
Pastor Kevin Craft
The eternal good life is something that everyone wants. It's what the rich young man asks Jesus about. But instead of telling him to do some good work to gain eternal life, Jesus tells him to surrender all and follow Him, to have a childlike faith.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Should I get a divorce? Is it better to be single and not marry? What does it mean to be created male and female? What is marriage? Jesus teaches about all of these questions as He answers the Pharisees question about divorce.
Pastor Kevin Craft
What do we do when other people hurt us and sin against us? Jesus gives us clear instructions and responsibilities in this passage.
Pastor Kevin Craft
"I am the greatest." That's what Muhammed Ali said, and that's what lots of people strive for. Greatness is what we want. But Jesus changes the way we think about greatness. Instead of focusing on greatness, focus on being little, focus on being humble. And that comes out in this passage, especially in the face of temptations and stumbling blocks.
Pastor Kevin Craft
God does not leave us a children in our faith. He puts us in trials and temptations that will increase our faith. Usually we want those trials to go away and to return to an easy life, but that is exactly what we need to grow. That is what we see Jesus doing in this passage - growing the faith of the disciples.
Pastor Kevin Craft
When Jesus is transfigured, He displays the glory of God, fulfilling the prophecies and proving He is the Messiah.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Why would Jesus not want people to know that He was the Messiah? It came down to the fact that people didn't have a full understanding of what He was doing and who He was. And in this passage, Jesus starts to clearly show the full picture of who He is and what He came to do. He is the Messiah who came to die. And He calls His disciples to do the same.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Sometimes it's just best to be direct. In this passage, Jesus directly asks the disciples what the people are saying and what they think about who He is. Peter then makes the declaration that Jesus is the Messiah. After Peter's declaration, Jesus makes a declaration about Peter and how He is going to use him in the future.
Pastor Kevin Craft
When someone unexpected shows up for dinner, sometimes you wonder if you've cooked enough food for everyone. But when you go out to eat, you don't usually have to worry about running out of food - it's their job to make sure there's always enough. In this passage, Jesus shows that He always has enough mercy for us.
Pastor Kevin Craft
While the Pharisees were concerned with rituals to keep themselves looking good to others, Jesus admonished them to focus on the heart. Sin comes from within. This is the first truth to realize in the path of being clean in the eyes of God.
Pastor Kevin Craft
We don't like limits. When we're given restrictions, we like to push boundaries because we like to think we are more capable than others give us credit for. But there are many situations in life that are too big for us. And God intentionally puts us in those situations so that we will not rely on ourselves, but look to Him.
Pastor Kevin Craft
In celebrity culture, there are fans and there are critics. This passage says that Jesus was becoming famous in the area and it details two different responses to His notoriety and teaching.
Pastor Kevin Craft
There are lots of different traditions for Christmas, but there's only one true reason for Christmas. In Jesus' time there were lots of ideas about who He was, but there was only one true Jesus.
Reagan Berry
Everyone gets excited over a modern-day treasure hunt. Whether it's a sense of accomplishment, or the security and joy that treasure brings, treasure excites us. In this passage, Jesus tells a set of parables about treasure, getting to the heart of what we value most, and making us think, "Would I really want God more than something else?"
Pastor Kevin Craft
Counterfeiting has a long history. Those who practice it are able to produce items that are nearly identical to the original. But it's still not the real thing. In these parables, Jesus teaches about those who are really in the kingdom and those who only appear to be. He also teaches about how the kingdom grows.
Pastor Kevin Craft
It's not uncommon for people to disagree about the of talent an athlete has. Some may say they're the greatest, others may say they're average. When Jesus performed His miracle, there were two completely different evaluations about Him. And so Jesus not only clarifies who He is, but also turns the mirror to us and tells us how to rightly evaluate ourselves.
Pastor Kevin Craft
What does God want us to experience everyday? Joy, communion with Him through prayer, and thankfulness.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Jesus said, "Come to me all you who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." In this chapter, God is giving us examples of how we have rest and mercy in Jesus. This mercy has been pointed to through symbols in the Old Testament, prophesied about, and now Jesus is here - the fullness of mercy.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Getting ahead in the world is exhausting. Trying to get one more recognition, one more paycheck, one more person's approval is a burden that never ends. And pursuing this recognition is what actually makes us miss the Lordship of Jesus and the rest that is found in Him.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Have you ever paid for someone to do a job and then not gotten what you expected? John the Baptist asks Jesus for clarification about who He is, because He is different than he was expecting. Jesus clarifies not only who He is, but explains who John the Baptist is and who the crowds are.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Fulfilling the Great Commission means not only spreading the message of Jesus across space, but also across time - through generations to come. How does that happen? Psalm 78 gives us insight into the plan of Asaph to pass on the faith.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Deacons are not called to just complete tasks. They are called to have a certain character. This matters because as servants, we are modeling our life as a reflection of the Great Servant, Jesus.
Pastor Kevin Craft
When Paul knew he wouldn't see the church in Ephesus anymore, he wanted them to hold onto two truths: God, through His word, would mature them and keep them.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Mark Twain said it wasn't the parts of the Bible that he didn't understand that bothered him, but the parts of the Bible that he did understand. Usually, the way of life and the way of death are clearly set before us. God calls us to choose the way of life and trust that He is telling the truth and leading us in the best way.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Conflict has the ability to disrupt and derail any relationship. The church is no different. When conflict arose in the early church, they handled it in a certain way - by selecting seven men to lead out in problem-solving service.
Pastor Kevin Craft
What is the cost of following Jesus? Holding all things with an open hand, and holding tight onto Jesus is what it means to love Jesus more. When we follow Jesus, there are things that we will lose, but there are also rewards to be had as well.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Jesus does not sugarcoat the mission that He sends us on. We are sent out as sheep among wolves. But the mission is that important, and Jesus assures us that it is worth it.
Pastor Kevin Craft
People harassed, helpless, and wandering aimlessly. That's evident not just in a physical sense, but also in a spiritual sense. Everyone not in the kingdom of God is subject to these conditions, and Jesus has compassion on them. Jesus said that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, so pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
Pastor Kevin Craft
A blind taste test shows us that we might not actually know our favorite foods as well as we think we do. Sometimes it's hard to pick out a distinct taste without all of our faculties. But this is not the case with Jesus. Jesus is distinct. And throughout this chapter, He shows us how unique He is.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Jesus continues to fulfill all that was spoken about Him as He performs miraculous healings. If we remember His authority and how we respond to His authority makes the difference between great faith, little faith, and rejection.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Jesus says we need to have childlike faith. Childlike faith means that we trust God's word and we are excited by the message of the gospel. We have childlike faith, but not childlike maturity.
Reagan Berry
Jesus closes His sermon on the mount by presenting us with two paths: the path of life and the path of destruction. One is hard, one is easy. On the path of life, there will be those who might lead us off the path, and we must make certain that we are on the path ourselves. But if we are on the path, then we will make it through the storms of life into the presence of Jesus.
Pastor Kevin Craft
It's easy to judge. It's also easy to tell people that they shouldn't judge. Jesus says we should do both. But we should do this in a certain way. Not like the Pharisees, assuming motives and being hypercritical, but like God judges - calling sin sin, and yet being merciful with sinners. In short, we should look in the mirror before we look out the window. We need help to do this. And this is also why Jesus gives us the encouragement that God will give us wisdom in this task and remind us of how simple it can be.
Pastor Kevin Craft
What does the government have the authority to do? As Christians, how do we know if the government is overstepping, and what should we do when they are acting outside their authority? Why should we even submit to government in the first place? Jesus' interaction with the religious leaders helps us think about how to interact with the government.
Pastor Kevin Craft
One of the challenges that new investors in the stock market have to overcome is trading with their emotions. Emotional trading can lead to poor investment decisions. And yet it is understandable that we are emotionally invested in our money, because it is our livelihood. This principle comes from the Bible, and in this passage, Jesus teaches His disciples that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.
Pastor Kevin Craft
"You're running around like a chicken with its head cut off!" Not having a head is not good; it is not life-giving. One cannot thrive without a head. The Bible says that Jesus is the head of the church, and the husband is the head of the wife. And so on this Father's day, we want to think about what it means to be the head. You could sum it up in a word - leadership.
Pastor Kevin Craft
When you hike to the top of a mountain, often you'll look out and see a majestic view. And that grandeur and beauty moves you. This passage in Colossians is a passage that gives us one of those grand views of history and how God's plan throughout history has been focused on Jesus.
Pastor Kevin Craft
What makes something good? Is it the end result? What makes someone a hypocrite? Is it what they do? Jesus answers both those questions as He talks about the heart of someone who is seeking after God through spiritual disciplines.
Pastor Kevin Craft
What does it mean that Jesus was the fullness of the law? We don't have to wonder; the New Testament gives us examples. And here Jesus explains what the fullness of the law is and how we as citizens of the kingdom of heaven are supposed to live. This is the greater righteousness that Jesus calls us to.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Am I required to follow all the rules in the Old Testament? If not, why are they there? Jesus says that He fulfills the entire Old Testament and that all the Old Testament points to Him.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Cultures have unique character traits that are more prominent than others. The culture of the kingdom of heaven is no different. There are certain traits that disciples of Jesus are supposed to display as they live as citizens of the kingdom of God. Here, at the beginning of the sermon on the mount, Jesus lays out what a kingdom citizen looks like.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Clothing styles come and go and come again. But there are some fashions that never fade. God tells us what characteristics are always in style for a godly wife and how a wife can best influence her husband toward godliness. This is a picture of a godly woman who hopes in God.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Why is following Jesus such a good thing? What does it actually mean to follow Jesus? What happens when we follow Jesus? This passage marks the start of the earthly ministry of Jesus and the dawning of light in the kingdom of darkness.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Christ is risen! Peter's first sermon declared that Jesus proved He was the Lord and Messiah not just because He had died, but because He rose from the dead. His resurrection not only left us an example, but delivered us from the power of death.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Silence can be something that we enjoy. Silence can be something that we dread. It can give us rest from external noise, but it can also amplify what is inside of us. Jesus is not unfamiliar with silence. He shows us the power of composed silence and He experienced the silence of God. He did all of this in His death so that we would not have to experience the silence of God.
Pastor Kevin Craft
"You just need to speak things into existence." Sometimes this is what people say, or the mindset that we might have - that we can make good things happen if we just stay positive. But the Bible shows us that what matters more than our words is what God says. His words show us reality. In this passage we see a declaration about the kingdom of heaven and who is a part of it, and a declaration about Jesus. "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
Pastor Kevin Craft
There are patterns and types and prophecies throughout the OT. All of these are meant to prepare us for what the Messiah will be like and what He will do. In Matthew 2, we see that Jesus is this Messiah, the one who fulfills all of the patterns and types and prophecies. He is the Messiah, the Son of Abraham, the Son of David, the Son of God.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Jesus is the Messiah, the King who eternally reigns. But He did not come and reign like we would expect. He came to deliver His people from something very specific - the main thing that we all need deliverance from.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Knowing something about who came before us, can have an impact on who we are. Knowing who came before Jesus, can tell us who Jesus will be. This is what Matthew announces to us at the beginning of his gospel. It is announced to us that Jesus is the Son of David and the Son of Abraham. He will be the eternal King who will bring blessing to all the nations of the earth.
Pastor Kevin Craft
From the beginning of eternity, God has had a plan. And in this passage we get a glimpse into the eternal plan of God for the church. In short, God's plan is that the church would display His greatness by searching out the richness of Christ and by embodying oneness. That is our task as a church.
Pastor Kevin Craft
The church is supposed to be growing to look more and more like Jesus. But how does that happen? God has given the role of pastors to the church to equip the saints. He has also given every member the role of serving each other and speaking the truth in love to each other so that the church is built up to look like Jesus.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Nothing happens by accident in God’s world. God's guiding hand is behind everything that is going on around us and in us. This should lead us to complain less, worry less, hope more, and worship more as we understand more of the scope of God's wisdom and power.
[This was recorded during our parking lot service, so the wind interfered with the audio some]
Pastor Kevin Craft
Where you start and where you're going determines the pathway you need to take to get there. As a church, the Bible tells us how we came about, where we'll end up, and the pathway that we are to walk toward that final destination. And in every stage, we see a consistent biblical emphasis: holiness. Jesus died to create a holy people, and we can be sure that he will complete His work of holiness in us.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Do you ever read the book of Acts and want to be a part of a church community like that? A church that is growing, a church that is committed to each other and building each other up, even through internal and external conflict and persecution? While there are some extraordinary works of God throughout the book of Acts, there is one consistent factor that is repeated throughout the book: The word of God increases. That was their focus then, and it should be our focus now.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Prayer gives us insight into our hearts and is a normal means that God uses to train our hearts to desire what He desires. When we pray, Jesus says we should focus on God's glory instead of on ourselves. We have the confidence that our prayers will be heard and answered by a good Father who always gives us what is best.
Pastor Kevin Craft
What do we truly need? Often this question is answered with a pyramid of needs, starting with physical needs, and safety needs, and then belonging and love and self-esteem needs. This hierarchy of needs is what saturates our culture. But the Bible announces to us a different perspective on what we truly need. This passage in Nehemiah demonstrates what the people truly needed.
Pastor Kevin Craft
What is the best news that you could hear this week? In Luke 2, the angel announces to the shepherds the best news of great joy - that Jesus, the Savior, the Christ, the Lord, has been born. This is the good news of Christmas, and it is good news of great joy for us right now.
Pastor Kevin Craft
God's often uses what is overlooked and undervalued to display His power and wisdom. Isaiah prophesies a coming King who would have wisdom and power, but who would also be humble and replace oppressive rule with a easy and light yoke. This coming King would also bring righteousness and peace, and would draw all the nations to Himself.
Pastor Kevin Craft
If we can't see the results with our own eyes, will we still believe what God says? That is the kind of faith Abraham demonstrates in this passage as he faces death having only received a small portion of the grand promises that God has made to him. This passage gives us insight into how God's promises are developed and kept throughout the Bible.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Tests show us what is inside of us. They reveal our hearts. In the moment of testing, will we hold fast to God, or will we be unwilling to let go of the things that are dear to us if it is the path He leads us down?
Pastor Kevin Craft
The human eye has the incredible ability to zoom in and out quickly and focus on items near and far. When we read and think about the Bible, it is helpful to not only zoom in and see what God is saying in this specific passage, but it is also helpful to zoom out and see how this passage fits in with the rest of the Bible. When we do this, we see that Abraham not only teaches us wisdom, but also prepares us for Jesus.
Pastor Kevin Craft
We don't always know how life will work out. We like to keep our options open just in case things don't work out. But as Isaac is born we see that faith fully commits to the plan of God. Abraham demonstrates this kind of faith, and the Apostle Paul says this is the kind of faith that saves us.
When we fear people more than God, when we sin, do we mess up God's plan? No. God will always keep His promises and work out His plan, even when it takes divine intervention to change the trajectory of events.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Sin destroys. Sodom and Gomorrah shows us the wickedness of sin that is rooted in the hearts of humanity and the judgment that it deserves. It also shows us God's faithfulness to His promises and ability to deliver and bring good even in the midst of judgment.
Pastor Kevin Craft
We like immediacy. We want good to come to come to us quickly and punishment to come quickly to those who have wronged us. In this passage, God shows Abraham how his justice and righteousness is perfect and merciful. As we begin to think like God thinks in terms of justice and righteousness, we will better equipped to show the world what God is like so that others may know Him.
Pastor Kevin Craft
The Promised Child
It seems impossible that life could come from Abraham and Sarah. And yet God shows that it's not too hard for Him. He promises a child and He gives a child. God is able to bring life, even when it seems impossible.
Pastor Kevin Craft
What does God do after we sin? Does He reject us and cast us out? Does He scold us? Genesis 17 shows us that God's response is different than our natural response and teaches us how to respond as our heavenly Father does.
Pastor Kevin Craft
Waiting is hard. How should we wait (and how should we not)? Genesis 16 shows us how Abram and Sarai didn't wait well, giving us examples of a God we can trust and wait on.
Pastor Kevin Craft
How do we know that God will do what He says? When we have doubts or simply don't know, how does God respond? Genesis 15 shows that God responds to doubts and fear by reminding us that He is our shield and reward, reminding us of His promises, and reminding us that He has entered into a relationship with us.
Pastor Kevin Craft
How do you feel when you accomplish something and nobody notices? How do you feel when you don't get credit for something you've done? In Genesis 14, Abraham has a victory over four kings, and afterwards he is met by Melchizedek who blesses him and says that God has won this victory. God did that. All of the good we accomplish is God's work in us. We get to exult in His work and He gets the credit and the glory.
Pastor Kevin Craft
What do you do after you sin?
Abram responded after his sin by returning to the Lord in Genesis 13. This chapter also shows us a godly way to work through conflict, make decisions, and a reminder to remember and hold onto the promises of God in faith.
Pastor Kevin Craft
What does it mean to be a sojourner without fear? Abram sojourns in Egypt during the famine, and gives us a compare and contrast with how Peter tells us to be sojourners.
Pastor Kevin Craft
What is blessing? In this passage, God blesses Abram, tells him that he will be a blessing, and promises to bless the nations through Abram. The New Testament says that this is a promise that points forward to the good news of how Jesus will bring people from every tribe, tongue, and nation into a relationship with God.
Pastor Kevin Craft
God values life. God commands society and ordains government to value life through justice and human flourishing. The church, as an embassy of the kingdom of God, is the place where these values should be on display for the world to see.
Pastor Kevin Craft