As the story of David unfolded, there were many, many strange turns and delays. It almost seems as though there’s been no plan. Perhaps sometimes your life has looked that way to you, too. But don’t worry. As Pastor John shows today, God’s got it all under control, all the time. David came to exactly where God wanted him, exactly when he wanted him…

If you have a job, you probably have a boss. And the boss tells you where you’re supposed to be working today and what you’re supposed to be doing. Imagine if you went in to work one day and said, “Boss, I’m going to work at such-and-such a place and here’s what I’m going to do.” Today, Pastor John reminds us not to treat God that way. There’s one …

People are often trying to figure out what God is doing in some particular situation and why. And while sometimes they might be able to make a pretty good guess, most of the time, it’s just a big mystery. Today, Pastor John explains that we shouldn’t be surprised by that. God’s knowledge and wisdom are infinitely beyond our understanding. But there…

How many times have you made a great start at some endeavor? Maybe it’s a new diet. Or you’re tackling a new assignment at work. Perhaps it’s a project around the house. But somehow, the great start never makes it to a finish. Today, Pastor John reminds us, from the example of King Saul, that a great start is not enough. Saul began by trusting in G…

When you ask people, “what is the opposite of faith?,” you’ll get a lot of answers. Some might just say “un-faith.” Others would say “skepticism.” But today, Pastor John points out the best indicator of a lack of faith: fear. Using the example of Saul in the Old Testament, he shows how Saul’s lack of faith led him into more and more overwhelming an…

When we read of the lives of God’s people in the Bible, we see a lot of drastic ups and downs. Sometimes, the hardships are caused externally. Sometimes, they come from attitudes or choices within. Today, Pastor John explores the heart-breaking story of David at his lowest of low times. He’s been out of God’s will for a long time, and now, finally,…

You’ve probably heard of “self-talk.” There’s positive self-talk, where you tell yourself how good you are and how great everything is. And there’s negative self-talk, telling yourself negative things about yourself and your situation. But today, Pastor John tells us about a better kind of “talk,” and that’s God-talk. Talking to God. Prayer. When y…

Have you ever heard of “Preventative Providence”? Maybe you were in a situation where you got really angry and were about to do something you’d later regret. But somehow, something happened, and you didn’t get the chance to carry out your plan. Today, Pastor John says: when that happens, THANK GOD! And he gives a prime example from the life of Davi…

There are people who self-identify as “atheists.” They say they don’t believe in God, and they act that way. And there are many who self-identify as “believers” in God who act consistently with that belief. But today, Pastor John asks us to consider another category of people: those he describes as “practical atheists.” In theory, they believe in G…

If you watch almost any movie or read almost any book, you’ll find that in the end, the protagonist gets sweet revenge on his enemy. Evil was done to him, and he returned evil. Today, Pastor John lays out three choices for responding to others. One, you can return evil for good. Two, you can return good for good and evil for evil. Three, you can re…

Some people believe that if you’re a Christian, God will make everything go really well for you. You’ll be healthy and prosperous. And if you’re going through any great difficulties, well, maybe that’s a sign that you’re not really a very good Christian. Tonight, Pastor John shatters that myth in his examination of the story of David. Although Davi…

It’s interesting to think of all the things that someone could be afraid of. Stuff is happening in the world, in your country, in your city, in your family, and in your own life. It’s easy to focus on fear. But today, Pastor John brings a much-needed exhortation: do not let your fear conquer your faith! It can be tricky. Fear doesn’t always jump ou…

Have you ever been in a “panic”? Maybe it was something small like you were ready to leave for work and you couldn’t find your car keys anywhere. Or maybe there was a situation at work where you were afraid you could lose your job. Today, Pastor John shows what can happen when a faithful, God-fearing person succumbs to the fear of man. Through a se…

Of all the friendships we read about in the Old Testament, it would be hard to find a greater one than David and Jonathan. Today, Pastor John continues to explore these unique friends. What characteristics did they have? How did they treat each other? More importantly, how was their relationship built on their faith in God? You also can have strong…

People have a lot of ideas about what it means to be a friend. Some think it’s more like a “fan” – someone who’ll always tell you how great you are. Others think of friends in terms of how many “followers” they have on social media. But today, Pastor John illustrates from the lives of David and Jonathan what true, biblical friendship is. Their frie…

It’s isn’t easy to get everything to work out exactly the way you’d like it to go. It’s hard to get everybody to do what you want them to do. It’s even harder to convince God to go along with your plans. So, try what Pastor John recommends today: trust God. When King Saul started scheming against David, David didn’t reciprocate. Instead, he just ke…

When people compete, they want to win. No team wants to come in second place. No one wants to be the first runner-up. But today, Pastor John tells us about a remarkable character in the Old Testament, a man named Jonathan. Even though he was the son of King Saul, he recognized that God had anointed David, not himself, to be the next king of Israel.…

When you’ve gone into a really tough situation, how have you approached it? Well, certainly, you’ve done your homework and preparation. Probably, you’ve devised a plan of attack, and you have your offense ready. But as Pastor John explains today, all the physical preparation you could possibly make – without reliance on God – will miss the point. W…

When you get into a difficult or dangerous situation, where’s your focus? It’s easy to see and think about your obstacles or your opponents. But what about your faith? Today, Pastor John explores the compelling story of David – the shepherd boy, and Goliath – the mighty warrior. And it’s not just a story about an underdog. It’s a story about a youn…

Usually, when we think of people who are used mightily by God, we think of “famous” people. Maybe it’s someone in the Bible, like Moses or the apostle Paul. Or perhaps it’s an author or an evangelist of modern times. But today, Pastor John points out that God wants to use everyone. You may not write a book or speak before thousands, but if your hea…

A lot of people have heard of a person named David in the Bible. Some may know that he was the guy who killed a giant named Goliath. Others may know that he committed adultery with a woman named Bathsheba. But today, Pastor John shares that there’s a whole lot more about David than just those two things. And greatest of all is that he was “a man af…

If you’re a Christian, that’s evidence that somebody evangelized you. It may have been your parents. Maybe it was a friend, or a neighbor, or a co-worker. Or perhaps it was a book you read. Even if you picked up a Bible on your own, you were evangelized by the words of Jesus and His apostles that are recorded there. Today, Pastor John explains how …

When you think of a spirit-filled church, what comes to mind? Certainly, it would be founded on the Word of God. It would also be a loving and caring fellowship. And it would worship God in spirit and in truth. But today, Pastor John reminds us that there is a fourth mark of a genuine, living church: its mission. And just as the newborn church in t…

What is worship? Is it something we do? Is the person who’s playing the organ or the electric guitar “doing” worship? Are the people singing quietly or at the tops of their lungs “performing” worship? Today, Pastor John, without discounting our “acts” of worship, reveals that true worship is something deeper and more fundamental. It’s the response …

Signs, signs, everywhere signs. It’s easy to look at current events – in the world, or our nation, or even in the weather, and speculate about when the Rapture of the Church may occur. But, as Pastor John shares today, there’s a risk in doing that. It could make us complacent, thinking we have plenty of time to get ready because there’s “stuff” tha…

As Christians, we know that after our earthly life ends, we’ll receive a resurrection body. But what’ll it be like? Unfortunately, a lot of people today are not very excited about heaven because they have an inadequate understanding of our new heavenly bodies. Today, Pastor John shares several key facts that should change that poor image forever. Y…

As a Christian, is it important that you believe in the resurrection of the dead? If you didn’t think there was life after death, would it make any actual difference in the way you think and act? According to Pastor John in his message today: Yes, it makes ALL the difference. There were some in the Corinthian church who didn’t believe in the resurr…

There are a lot of ideas about what happens to a person’s soul or spirit after physical death. Atheists believe in “termination” – that there is nothing remaining. Some believe in “reincarnation” – that you’ll come back in another earthly life. Others believe in “absorption” – that you’ll become “one with the universe.” But today, Pastor John shows…

Most people in the Western world have heard of Jesus. But who was He? Many will say He was a great moral teacher. Others suppose that He came to live a good life and teach us to be kind. And there are people who don’t like Him – He taught moral rules that we don’t want to follow anymore. But today, Pastor John clearly explains exactly who Jesus is:…

Of all the discussions that typically take place within a church, many of them have to do with “style.” And of all the “style” questions, one of the most common is musical style. So today, Pastor John asks us to think about: what is the “correct” musical style? And his answer is: “not necessarily what I like.” In fact, the best way to honor God is …

What are the best positions in the church? Would it be a pastor, a teacher, or a worship leader? And that’s just in the local church. How about being a Christian musician on the radio? Or a famous speaker or author? Today, Pastor John explains that those are needed positions in the church. But those aren’t the most important ones. It’s more importa…

If you’re a member of a church, and you’re invited to a “fellowship,” what does that usually mean? Would it be coffee and donuts? Or a potluck, or a full banquet? And would there be entertainment? Today, Pastor John explains that fellowship is not an “event” but a “position”. It’s not something you “do,” but something you “have.” All who share in t…

What are the characteristics of a thriving church? Would you look at their facilities or budget? How about their programming, both on-site and in the virtual world? Today, Pastor John explains the first of four vital characteristics of a “living” church: the teaching of the Bible. Even before the New Testament was written, the apostles were teachin…

If you were to ask people to name the important organizations in the world today, what would you hear? Certainly, the government is important, and so is the education system. And there are many other public and private organizations that perform community services. But today, Pastor John shows that the ONE organization through which God is DIRECTLY…

Would you say that most of the people you know are “content”? Or do you see a restlessness and a longing for something else beyond what they have? How about yourself? What’s your contentment quotient? Today, Pastor John reiterates the importance of placing your contentment in God and His personal provisions for your life. That’s the best way to enj…

If you don’t commit murder or adultery, and if you don’t bow down and worship golden idols, you’re pretty good with the Ten Commandments. Is that true? Today, Pastor John explains that even IF you haven’t broken the first Nine – and that’s a BIG IF – you’re going to be convicted by the Tenth: Thou shalt not covet. You may not think of yourself as a…

Today, we live in a society that is overflowing with dishonesty. From political promises and attacks to exaggerated advertising to rampant tale-bearing in break rooms and social media, misinformation is epidemic. Today, Pastor John examines the Ninth Commandment, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” You may think you know this …

Most people in the Western world probably know the commandment, “Thou shalt not steal.” And to a great extent, they’d agree with that. We’ve written laws to enforce it. But what actually is encompassed within God’s definition of “to steal?” Today, Pastor John illuminates the meaning of stealing by showing that it includes more than just robbing a b…

How important is marriage? How important is your marriage? What about your relationship with God? Today, Pastor John shows how temptation dulls our awareness of God’s reality. You may be in a situation like David, spiritually idle. And you may have already met that beautiful “someone” who’s not your spouse. And maybe you’re “thinking about it.” Her…

How relevant are the Ten Commandments today? Our culture still values a great many of them, such as prohibitions of murder, theft, and lying. But if there’s one commandment that’s highly disregarded today, it’s, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Today, Pastor John shows why this commandment is so important. And it’s just as critical today as it was…

What does it mean to be made in the image of God? Certainly, it doesn’t mean that God has hands, eyes, and toenails, like we do. But how are we, as humans, different from the other creatures on our planet? And what difference does it make? Today, Pastor John shows that being human makes all the difference! That’s why God gave the commandment, “Thou…

If there’s any verse that most people know from the Bible, it’s probably “Thou shalt not kill.” But what does that mean? Unfortunately, more often than not, it’s misapplied for some political or cultural reason. Today, Pastor John unpacks this tiny but massively important Commandment. There are many things it doesn’t mean, but what it does mean is …

It’s easy to take your parents for granted. Growing up from childhood to adulthood is no small task. And the values and priorities of our modern culture don’t make it any easier. But today, Pastor John implores us to remain faithful to God’s Fifth Commandment, to honor thy father and thy mother. It’s not something just for children. It’s a command,…

Of all the subjects that seem to be confusing and controversial today, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything more widely debated than the relationship between parents and children. Today, Pastor John continues his exploration of the Ten Commandments by moving into the Fifth Commandment. It’s the foundation for all human relationships, and it also …

We live in a culture that celebrates “individualism.” The “self-made person,” the hero who “finds his voice,” the man or woman who bucks the system through their own sheer effort of will. Today, Pastor John shows that this isn’t God’s intention for His human race. God designed us to define ourselves in relationship to Him. That’s why He gave the Sa…

Do you work really hard all week so you can enjoy a restful weekend? And then turn around and pack your weekend so full of stuff that you’re more tired than when it started? Today, Pastor John explores the principle of the fourth Commandment – the keeping of the Sabbath. Although it was specific to the nation of Israel, it contains important princi…

The third Commandment tells us not to take the name of the Lord in vain. But which “name” is that? Is it just saying the word “God” or “Jesus”? Or is there a deeper meaning to this prohibition? Today, Pastor John shows that the “name” of God is not just a word you pronounce. It’s a reference to His nature and His character. When you speak about God…

A child may ask, “How old is God?” or “Where does God live?” As adults, we use bigger words like “eternal" or “infinite” to describe God. But what do these words really mean? Today, Pastor John sheds light on God’s nature by examining the second of the Ten Commandments: the prohibition against idolatry. You’ve probably never worshipped an actual id…

If you were to ask people today to define what or who “God” is, you’d get quite a few different answers. One of the most common ones would be that He’s some kind of “force.” Maybe even a “good” force. Some “thing” that created or sustains the universe. But today, Pastor John shows that God is more than just some “force.” He is a personal being. And…

Today’s culture has gotten pretty simple when it comes to morality. There’s only one moral absolute, and that is: “There are no moral absolutes.” Wait a minute… isn’t that an absolute? Today, Pastor John explains that if we don’t have a moral law-giver Who is also our Creator we’re hopelessly lost, when it comes to figuring out right and wrong. So,…