Summit Life with J.D. Greear

Many people are being called on right now to glorify God in their hour of trial or in a situation where it is costly to obey him. In this message, Pastor J.D. Greear helps you understand why the way you view Jesus affects the degree to which you will be able to endure suffering well and how others will be blessed because of your faithfulness to God in the midst of your pain.

One of the out workings of the gospel is that it will inevitably reorder your value system. This is exactly what we find in the book of Acts, in the life of an ordinary man name Stephen—he realized the value of the gospel and was willing to risk everything to preach it. It’s because of common people like Stephen—even more than the apostles—that the early church grew.

As human beings, our natural tendency is to focus on ourselves, as we try to cover up our flaws. But outward appearances can be deceiving, resulting in some serious consequences. We’re continuing our series in the book of Acts, titled SENT. Pastor J.D. explains how God’s forgiveness is the only real covering!

What characterizes a gospel-centered life? Praying? Going to church? Being kind to your neighbor? Pastor J.D. provides the answer as he continues our series titled, SENT. We’ve been discussing the birth and the multiplication of the early church, and our role in fulfilling the Great Commission today. We’re picking up in the book of Acts, Chapter 4.

What does a hero look like? Does they wear a red cape?  Do they shoot across the sky like a bird or a plane? Get ready for a real look at heroism as Pastor J.D. continues our study in the book of Acts. It’s part of our series called SENT.

When bad things happen, many of us focus so much on the problem that we lose sight of the solution. For a life-changing perspective, Pastor J.D. takes us back to the early church for a lesson from the book of Acts. We’re learning to put the focus on our faith, and not on our failures!

Most of us have no problem telling others about our favorite movie or the latest TV show we’ve seen. So why is sharing the gospel so difficult? Pastor J.D. Greear is continuing our series called SENT. We’re learning from Acts, Chapter 4, how to speak boldly about Jesus—even in the most difficult situations.

Many still struggle with the question, “Is there more than one way to get to heaven?” And today Pastor J.D. points to the core problem with that question as he continues his series titled SENT. Pastor J.D. is teaching from the book of Acts, Chapter 4, in a message titled The Inclusive Exclusivity.

The world today is full of suffering and pain. But is that how it's supposed to be? Wednesday on Summit Life, Pastor J.D. Greear explains that God has a better plan for us—both now and in the world to come. Even today our lives reflect something better, someone better. Learn more Wednesday on Summit Life with J.D. Greear!

Is the Bible really the Word of God?  The apostles and the first-century believers certainly staked their lives on it!  That’s our subject Tuesday on Summit Life as Pastor J.D. Greear continues our study in the book of Acts. Discover the validity of the Bible today when you tune in Tuesday to Summit Life with J.D. Greear!

Crime scene experts often confess that eyewitness testimony is subject to personal interpretation. But Pastor J.D. shows us that the testimony of the first-century disciples all points to the same rock-solid evidence. J.D. is continuing his study in the book of Acts with the series called SENT.

The early church grew faster than any other religious movement in history. In fact, after the Apostle Peter’s first message, three thousand people got saved! What made this movement so powerful? Pastor J.D. answers that question as he continues our study in the book of Acts titled, SENT. It’s a special message that J.D. preached at the Durham Bulls Baseball field during an all-campus gathering of The Summit Church. We’re in Acts, Chapter 2, starting at verse 22.

When we’re picking a movie theater for an evening out, we usually consider a few different factors, such as which one has more comfortable seats or better snacks. It’s all about what we can get out of the experience. And there’s nothing wrong with that when it comes to entertainment! But it can be a real problem when that attitude translates to how we think about church. That’s our subject as Pastor J.D. continues our study in the book of Acts, Chapter 2.

As Pastor J.D. continues our study of Acts called, SENT, we’re looking at the book of Acts and learning what it means to be a follower of Christ. As we dive deeper into our series called, SENT, we’re discovering what it looks like  to be fully committed to God’s mission, and it just might involve some fireworks!

If you’re like most people, you probably think that mission work is for someone else who’s more spiritual or more talented. But we’re gaining a whole new perspective and taking a fresh look at what it means to be on the mission field as Pastor J.D. continues our series called, SENT.

As he begins a study in the book of Acts called, SENT, Pastor J.D. is unpacking the birth and spread of the early church. But this isn’t just a history study! J.D. is challenging us to reframe how we think about the church today. It’s not just a place; it’s a movement! And we’re called to be an active part of the team.

Sometimes life feels like an Olympic event with a panel of judges scoring us on everything we do. We constantly feel the need to be better. In fact, that’s how a lot of people imagine God: as an angry judge who’s constantly disappointed. But Pastor J.D. reveals that God actually uses our failures to make us more dependent on him! It’s the conclusion of our series called, Can’t Believe, and Pastor J.D. is teaching from John 21.

If we’re honest, we’ve all had days where we’ve messed up big time. Maybe we fell back into an old sin, or we did something we swore we’d never do. And in that moment, maybe you wondered if God could ever forgive you. Maybe you felt broken, or even felt like “damaged goods.” Well, we’ve got some good news! As he continues our series called, Can’t Believe, Pastor J.D. explains how God can redeem even our greatest failures.

Many people who reject the resurrection like to think that their issue is an intellectual one. They say the evidence isn’t convincing, or that they just can’t believe in some ancient myth. Well, Pastor J.D. presents an alternative explanation for their unbelief. He argues that unbelief doesn’t actually stem from a lack of evidence. As an example, he points to one of the most famous skeptics of all time: the Apostle Thomas, who earned the unfortunate nickname of Doubting Thomas.

How can we trust a God that we don’t fully understand? Today, Pastor J.D. tackles that question and more as we continue our series called, Can’t Believe. Discover the barriers that can hold us back from truly giving our lives to God. It’s a message on how we can overcome doubts and fully trust in God, even if we still have questions.

Have you ever come home one day and realized that your yard has gotten completely out of control? Weeds are everywhere, the grass is knee-high, and you’re catching dirty looks from the neighbors. Nobody wants their yard to look that way, but sometimes it’s easier to just ignore it and put off mowing until later. Pastor J.D. explains that a lot of us have a similar attitude towards faith. We might not be actively rejecting God, but we aren’t willing to step out in faith and follow him, either. It’s part of our series called, Can’t Believe.

As Easter approaches, Pastor J.D. helps us answer two incredibly important questions by pointing us to two statements that Jesus made to people at his crucifixion and after he had risen. These statements, found in the gospel accounts of John and Luke, still have critical implications for us today, particularly when it comes to what we do with our doubts and questions. If we believe that Jesus rose from the dead, we can trust that all of our questions have answers—even if we have to wait to find out what they are.

As we continue our series called Can’t Believe, we’re discovering the barriers that can hold us back from saving faith. And in today’s message, we’re looking at the arrest and trial of Jesus while learning about several people who missed out on salvation because it was easier to stay on the sidelines.

When life goes tragically wrong, a lot of people end up questioning their faith, wondering how a good God could allow so much suffering. We start to wonder if he’s even there, and if he actually cares. Those are the question we’re wrestling with as Pastor J.D. continues our series called, Can’t Believe. We’re learning that pain can either drive us away from God, or it can drive us deeper into the gospel.

If you’ve ever spent much time around toddlers, you know how shortsighted they can be. Waiting in line is agonizing for them, even if they’re waiting for something really cool! And while it’s easy to laugh at kids for being so impatient, the truth is, we are often the same way! Pastor J.D. explains how shortsightedness can keep us from really giving our lives to Jesus as he continues our series called, Can’t Believe.

These days, it seems like everyone is always up in arms about something or other. There are so many good causes out there we can fight for that it gets overwhelming! But Pastor J.D. is helping us refocus on the most important mission, without which everything else is meaningless. It’s part of our series called, Can’t Believe, and we’re in John Chapter 11.

In parts 1 and 2 of this message, we looked at the story of the woman at the well and discovered how her desire for romantic love had taken her captive and was holding her back from finding true joy and satisfaction in God. In part 3, we’re turning our attention to the story of another woman: one who was caught in the act of adultery. And we’re discovering how we can be set free from our past and the sins that haunt us. It’s part of our series called, Can’t Believe.

The 1960s are often described as a period of sexual revolution when traditional morality was tossed aside. And while that era definitely reframed the way sex was discussed in the public forum, the truth is that sexual sin is as old as time. As Pastor J.D. continues our series called, Can’t Believe, he describes two women from the First Century who we can all probably relate to in the area of temptation! And he’s explaining how we, like these women, can be set free from slavery to our sin.

As we continue our series called, Can’t Believe, we’re talking about an important but sensitive topic: sexual sin. Despite what many people think, the Bible isn’t against sex. In fact, God designed it! But sex can easily turn from a good gift, to something that enslaves us and holds us back from saving faith. We’re looking at two different examples from John Chapters 4 and 8.

Immunizations are a marvel of modern medicine. One little shot and you suddenly leave the world’s most dangerous diseases weak and ineffective! Diseases that used to take countless lives are now virtually unheard of. But what if you could be immunized against a good thing, like faith? That’s our subject as Pastor J.D. continues our new series called, Can’t Believe.

In our new series called, Can’t Believe, we’re looking at some of the most common barriers that hold people back from saving faith. And the first one might surprise you: religion. Most of us think of religion as a good thing. But Pastor J.D. is explaining how religion can actually keep you from truly surrendering to Jesus and experiencing the power of the gospel.

Often, after hearing a powerful sermon, we’ll get excited and make all kinds of promises to God about how we’re going to change and be more like Jesus. But over time, we lose our focus and our excitement begins to wane. If you’ve ever been there, you’re not alone! As we continue our study in the book of Malachi, we’re looking at a time when the nation of Israel had drifted away from God. Pastor J.D. is describing the only cure for our wandering hearts as he wraps up our study of the Minor Prophets titled, Come Back to Me.

A lot of people consider themselves religious. They go to church on Sunday, tithe, and even read their Bible during the week. But that’s not necessarily the same thing as having a relationship with God! As Pastor J.D. continues our study of the Minor Prophets called, Come Back to Me, he challenges us to look at our hearts to see what’s motivating our religious activity.

There’s nothing wrong with having a favorite book of the Bible. But we have to be careful that we don’t miss out on the rest of God’s word! As Pastor J.D. continues our series called, Come Back to Me, he’s turning our attention to a book you might not be as familiar with: Habakkuk. The book was written during a time when the people of Judah were in spiritual, economic, and political decline. Yet, through it all, Habakkuk gives us a picture of gospel-powered hope.

At some point or another, we’ve all asked the question, “Where was God when my life went wrong?” You might have even been angry with God. But as Pastor J.D. continues our series called, Come Back to Me, he’s helping us wrestle with those doubts and find the hope to carry us through the painful seasons.

As we continue our series called, Come Back to Me, we’re talking about a prophet named Amos. He was an ordinary guy who was given an uncomfortable task: to call Israel out on their sin. No one likes being the bearer of bad news, and we like hearing bad news even less! But sin isn’t something we can just ignore.

No one likes being corrected. It’s always painful, especially when we know that they’re right! And even though it doesn’t feel good, being called out on our sin is often the most loving thing someone can do for us! As we continue our series called, Come Back to Me, Pastor J.D. describes a period in Israel’s history when God confronted his people about their sin and called them to repentance.

In our series called, Come Back to Me, we’re looking at a part of the Bible you probably haven’t thought much about: the Minor Prophets. In this message, we’re diving into the book of Joel and a time in Israel’s history when the Israelites were facing God’s judgment over their sin. But as we’re going to see, even God’s judgment is an expression of his love!

Why would a loving God let so many bad things happen in the world? That’s a question nearly everyone wrestles with from time to time, even solid, Bible-believing Christians! But Pastor J.D. is flipping the question on its head. He’s asking us to consider the possibility that the trials we face might actually be proof of God’s love. It’s part of our study in the Minor Prophets titled, Come Back to Me.

Sometimes, when we’re struggling with sin, it’s tempting to just pull away from God for a little bit. We feel like we need to clean ourselves up before we go back to him, so we stop going to church for a while and try to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. But that’s not how salvation works! As Pastor J.D. continues our series called, Come Back to Me, he reminds us of God’s never-ending grace and Scandalous Love.

As we kick off a series called, Come Back to Me, we’re looking at a part of the Bible that most of us probably don’t pay much attention to: the Minor Prophets. As we’re going to see, there’s a lot to learn from these short Old Testament books! We’re starting off in the book of Hosea, discovering a beautiful and surprising picture of the gospel in the story of an unusual marriage.

If you think the Son of God never engaged in conflict while he was on earth, then think again! Jesus had lots of interpersonal conflicts, but they were always done from a place of love. Join Pastor J.D. as he continues in the series “Forever Family” and shares with us what Christ-like confrontation looks like so that we can engage with others to pursue justice while maintaining strong relationships.

No matter what the structures look like, we all have one thing in common when it comes to family: there will always be conflict. In this message from the series, “Forever Family,” Pastor J.D. teaches an important concept about conflict that comes from James—who, growing up as Jesus’ younger half-brother, must have known better than anyone about family strife that stems from jealousy. Understanding the root of conflict will fundamentally change how you engage in it.

Sex is no big deal, right? That’s what the world wants you to believe, but God wants us to trust him so that we can view sex rightly and experience his best for us when we wait on him. Join Pastor J.D. as he continues in the “Forever Family” series and teaches how to dispel the myths about sex with biblical truth so that it is a beautiful echo of what God has planned for us as part of his eternal family.

Our culture has some deeply held, deeply untrue ideas about sex. To fully understand and respect the sanctity of sex, we have to go to God, who created it, and his Word, which is very clear about how we should view it. In this message from “Forever Family,” Pastor J.D. explains how sex addresses one of our basic soul needs to be fully known and fully loved and gives us a taste of God’s love.

Dating is not easy—whether you’re 16 or 56! When you choose to apply God’s biblical standard to dating, you’re going to stand out, because the world has not figured out how to be successful in relationships without God’s wisdom. Pastor J.D. shares in this message from “Forever Family” how adopting six biblical resolutions for dating may make you stand out, but it will also lead to the kind of marriage you long for and Jesus wants for you.

Most people want fulfilling, happy, lifelong marriages, but we don’t get a lot of direction on how to get there. The Bible teaches that if you want something not many people seem to have, then you’ve got to do what few people are willing to do. Don’t miss this message from the series “Forever Family,” where Pastor J.D. shows us how understanding the biblical basis for marriage makes us wise in dating and pursuing God’s best for our lives.

Singleness is a gift. That might not be how we’re told by culture to view it—or even what the church sometimes tells us about it. In this message from the “Forever Family” series, Pastor J.D. teaches how to see singleness as a unique opportunity in ministry, relationships, and God’s kingdom. Learn how to clear the path for singleness in your life so that you can leverage this gift and cultivate a spiritual family that will last forever.

If you’re single, do you ever feel like the world is telling you that you’re missing out on something because you’re not married? Even in the church, we often equate marriage with completion—but Jesus taught something altogether different and more beautiful. Join Pastor J.D. for this message from “Forever Family” as he shows us what Jesus’ death and resurrection created that trumps even the nuclear family as the center of God’s kingdom.

What does God really think about divorce? In this message from “Forever Family,” Pastor J.D. walks us through Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 19 and helps us see that, though God’s command about divorce is clear, there is no situation that he cannot redeem. Whatever situation you find yourself in, don’t miss this important reminder to always seek God first so that you have his grace in every relationship.

Even if you’re not married, how you think about marriage affects the way you view so much more of life, like dating, sex, conflict, and even singleness. In this first message from the “Forever Family” series, Pastor J.D. shows us how the gospel shapes the essence and purpose of marriage and teaches us why, no matter what you have been called to in marriage or singleness, you’re going to need God’s help to accomplish it.

When it comes to giving, many of us want rules to follow and boxes to check. As Pastor J.D. continues in the “First” series, he helps us see why, though our tithe is a great place to start, God wants our giving to display what is first and best in our hearts. Only when we have surrendered all our resources to the Holy Spirit and seek his direction will we be able to live sufficiently and give extravagantly.

Have you ever felt guilty about your giving? Many people assume that, because there are still people in need around the world, God’s only purpose for our money is to get the gospel to them. In this message from the “First” series, Pastor J.D. shows us how to view our possessions through a generosity matrix and apply God’s wisdom to spending, saving, and giving so that we honor him with our resources.

Jesus doesn’t just expect his followers to give their tithe. He expects us to be out-of-this-world generous! As part of the “First” series, Pastor J.D. helps us understand in this message how being a spender, saver, or steward defines what kingdom we serve and if we have surrendered our finances to God. If we’re really giving God our first and our best as good stewards, then we can amaze the world with our generosity.

If we were really living for Jesus’ kingdom, how would it change our giving? In this message from the “First” series, Pastor J.D. explains what our decisions on money reveal about what we love and treasure in this world. Putting God first in our lives should make us joyful givers, who view giving as an investment in eternal purposes and as the only treasure that will last.

Something is going to be first in our lives, and the Bible makes it very clear that it should be God. Pastor J.D. continues in “Time’s Up” to show us that, while both God and money can be important to us, we cannot serve both of them. As we understand better our role as stewards of all of God’s gifts, we will better devote our short time on earth to serving our Master and preparing for eternity.

Why does the church have to talk about money? As Pastor J.D. begins this series on why God should be “First” in our lives, he helps us see that to become a committed disciple, we must understand how to have the right relationship with money. When we do, biblical truth about money and what we should do with it will not be burdensome. Instead, it will set us free and help us find new joy in giving.

In this final teaching from our series through the book of James, Pastor J.D. Greear reminds us that in the end, we can be encouraged that God does indeed hear the prayers of his children, and it is often through them that he chooses to accomplish his work on earth.

Is prayer actually effective? And if it is, should we still pray even if we have a less-than-robust faith? In this brand new teaching, Pastor J.D. sheds light on a crucial—and often misunderstood—passage about prayer from James 5.

In this teaching from the book of James, Pastor J.D. Greear shows us how even in the midst of suffering and the many challenges thrown at us by life, we can be sure that God is working all things for our good—we need only be patient and wait on him.

In a society of one-click shopping and seemingly endless streaming services, patience is one thing that is often in short supply. In today’s teaching from James 5, Pastor J.D. Greear explains what patience is, why it's necessary, and how we can develop it.

In this teaching from James 4 and 5, Pastor J.D. Greear provides a helpful perspective on how to approach our lives in light of the fact that God is the one in control, not us. The choice is ours: a life characterized by trust in God, leading to humility and generosity—or one characterized by self-sufficiency, leading to arrogance and greed.

We all make plans, whether they concern what we will do the next day or in the coming years. While the Bible acknowledges that it is certainly wise to plan, it also recognizes that the posture behind our planning is crucial. In this teaching from the book of James, Pastor J.D. shows us how to make the most of the short time God has given to each of us.

In this teaching from James 4, Pastor J.D. answers the question James poses to us all: Why do we fight? At the deepest levels, where do our quarrels and jealousies come from? For most of us, we might think we know the answer. We fight because THEY started it! But James has a much different answer.

In this teaching from James 4, Pastor J.D. answers the question James poses to us all: Why do we fight? At the deepest levels, where do our quarrels and jealousies come from? For most of us, we might think we know the answer. We fight because THEY started it! But James has a much different answer.

Taming the explosive power of our words is a difficult battle that we have to fight every day. But in today’s teaching, Pastor J.D. shares the good news that, through the transforming power of the gospel, we can become people whose words are used to encourage others and to restore life.

The tongue is such a small part of our bodies, and yet it has astonishing power—both to wound and to heal, to bless and to curse. In this teaching, Pastor J.D. walks through James 3 to show us the dangers of the tongue and what it can reveal about the state of our hearts.

In today’s teaching, Pastor J.D. unpacks a section of Scripture that talks about what a serious error it is when we show partiality to anyone… especially in the church! If we are to truly fulfill Jesus' command to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, we must be willing to see others as he sees them: people made in the image of God, worthy to be treated with dignity and shown mercy.

Though we don't like to admit it, we are often guilty of judging others based on very limited information. In this teaching from James 2, Pastor J.D. describes the dangers of showing favoritism, particularly within the church.

Unfortunately, trials can present us with the temptation to sin, rather than wait on God. Pastor J.D. Greear shows us how, in the face of such temptation, we can either embrace the truth that every good gift comes from God—or we can turn to other things for comfort and peace. What will you choose?

Have you ever stopped to consider the foundation that your life is built on? As Pastor J.D. Greear continues our series in James, he shows us how trials can work to reveal these foundations, for better or worse. Just like a house, when the “storms of life” come – and they always, eventually do – the only thing that matters is what kind of foundation we’ve built our lives upon.

The Book of James takes the lofty doctrines of the gospel and brings them down to earth. You can’t read James without being confronted, and Pastor J.D. Greear continues introducing us to one of the most practical books of the Bible in this teaching called “Here Comes Trouble.”

No other New Testament book is quite like James. Catchy, practical, and in your face, the book of James jumps straight into the nitty gritty of daily life. Pastor J.D. Greear begins a brand new teaching series through the book of James Called “The Gospel From the Outside In” with a message called “Here Comes Trouble.”

When the church pursues ethnic unity, the Enemy usually sends obstacles to try to stand in the way. In this teaching, Pastor J.D. shows us that the effort and commitment needed to achieve ethnic unity are undoubtedly well worth it.

Pastor J.D. Greear leads us through a beautiful passage in Ephesians 2 that speaks to the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection to do what we could not: break down the wall of hostility between us. Rather than being a distraction from the gospel and from our pursuit of the Great Commission, we’ll learn why ethnic unity is actually essential to these things.

As Pastor J.D. concludes our series called Castaway, he explains how Jonah’s message to the Ninevites compares to Jesus’ message to a lost and dying world. Pastor J.D. is teaching from Matthew 12.

Pastor J.D. wraps up our study of the reluctant prophet, Jonah, by turning to the New Testament. We’re discovering that Jonah’s whole story is really a sign that’s pointing ahead to something greater! This redemptive teaching is part of our series called, Castaway, and Pastor J.D. is teaching from Matthew 12.

In your high school English class, you probably learned that any good book or movie has something called a dénouement at the end, where the story gets wrapped up and we get closure for all the characters. But in the book of Jonah, we never get that kind of closure. Pastor J.D. explains why that is as he continues our series called, Castaway. He’s challenging us to wrestle with the same question that Jonah wrestled with: Are we engaged in God’s mission?

For generations, the book of Jonah has challenged believers because we see ourselves reflected in Jonah: his disobedience, fear, and reluctance to obey. But Pastor J.D. explains that we don’t have to stay like that! It’s part of our study in the book of Jonah called, Castaway.

In the world of sales, you find success by schmoozing clients and entertaining your audience. But that model won’t work when it comes to evangelism! As Pastor J.D. continues our study in Jonah 3, he shows us that evangelism isn’t about schmoozing or entertaining—it’s about sharing the free gift of salvation. This teaching is part our series called Castaway.

As we continue to study the life of Jonah, Pastor J.D. reminds us that people don’t come to Christ through our eloquent speeches or our persuasive arguments.  People come to Christ through God’s relentless love. It’s a powerful teaching about God’s saving grace as we continue our Castaway series in Jonah, Chapter 3.

Haven’t we all gone through the motions to do something we really didn’t want to do? Like pulling weeds, or taking out the trash!  Pastor J.D. is continuing our Castaway series with another teaching from the book of Jonah.  We’re in Chapter 2 to learn what obedience really means.

In the middle of life’s storms, it’s easy to think God’s mad at us. Have we done something wrong? In our new series title Castaway, Pastor J.D. explains how God turns our tribulations into restoration. We’re in book of Jonah, Chapter 2, learning how God pursues runaway prophets and rebellious people.

Have you ever found yourself resisting God’s will? You hear him calling you in one direction, but you have another direction in mind? Pastor J.D. is opening to Jonah, Chapter 1, to reveal some relevant life lessons from a man on the run! It’s a cautionary tale that applies to us all.

Have you ever tried to run and hide from God, only to discover that you should have run towards him? Pastor J.D. is beginning a new series called Castaway. We’re studying the book of Jonah to discover the depths of God’s love for runaway prophets and rebellious people. Today’s teaching is called I Am Jonah.

The biggest cause of atheism is people who claim to follow Jesus but are in no way distinct from the world. Jesus said this kind of complacency in the church makes him sick, and it tells the world a lie about him. But he still stands at the door and knocks. Pastor J.D. continues today to point us toward full-hearted devotion to Christ so that our lives scream his worthiness. As we move away from lukewarm Christianity, we open the door to rich fellowship with Jesus.

Jesus said that when the church becomes so complacent that it is neither hot with the passion that fuels sacrifice nor cold and refreshing, it makes him sick. Today, Pastor J.D. dives into the characteristics of a lukewarm Christian and why they trigger such a dramatic response from Jesus. This message from the series “The Revelation of Jesus at Christmas” shows us how to move past lukewarm devotion to Jesus so that when he knocks, we will open the door and invite him into our lives.

While Christmas may not be a season of hope for many people, there is a vision of Jesus beyond the cradle that will help us remember his love and power and worship him in the midst of trouble. Today, Pastor J.D. continues to look at the revelation of Jesus to John and reveals why, when we face trials even more than good advice or sympathy or a miracle we need Jesus.

Christmas is not a season of hope for many people. Good cheer and glad tidings are a painful reminder of a broken relationship, a long sickness, or an empty place at the table. Today, Pastor J.D. draws from the series “The Revelation of Jesus at Christmas” and John’s vision of Jesus in Revelation to uncover for us why we need that same vision today. When God takes us through tribulation, remembering his love and power will help us stop shouting and start worshiping.

In this teaching from one of Summit Church’s Christmas services, Pastor J.D. teaches us that there are only two responses to Jesus: worshipping or weeping. Those worshipping because they have found in Jesus the Savior they longed for, and those weeping because they face one disappointment after another.

It’s been said that there’s a “God-shaped hole” in every heart. We all have a sense that there’s something missing—something bigger than us that would give us purpose and meaning. And yet, we often look in all the wrong places. As he continues his teaching called, The Seeker’s Chapter, Pastor J.D. looks at the story of the most famous spiritual seekers of all time—the wise men.

Back in the day, most Americans spent Sunday morning at church. It was just the cultural norm. Now, only 30% of Americans go on a regular basis. But that doesn’t mean they’ve lost interest in God! Pastor J.D. argues that all of us are hungry for God, whether we realize it or not. We just might not be looking in the right place! J.D. is drawing his teaching from the story of the Wise Men in Matthew 2.

Have you ever wondered about the meaning behind some of your favorite Christmas songs? Well, Pastor J.D. takes us behind the scenes of the holiday favorite, Hark! the Herald Angels Sing. You’ll never hear it the same way again! It’s part of our series called, Carols.

Sometimes the road ahead is blocked by obstacles or “mountains” that seem too big to overcome. But Pastor J.D. reminds us no matter what we’re facing, our battles have already been won. As we continue our series titled, Carols, we’re looking at the classic Christmas song, Go Tell It on the Mountain—penned by someone who wasn’t afraid to stare down the mountain to share Jesus.

You’re in for a special treat as the Summit Worship team opens this teaching with a stirring rendition of the popular Christmas classic, Go Tell It on the Mountain. Pastor J.D. is kicking off a series titled, Carols, where we’ll be learning the history and meaning behind some of our favorite Christmas songs.

Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy and peace. But the reality is for most of us, December is just as hard as the rest of the year, if not more! So, does Christmas actually change anything? That’s our subject as Pastor J.D. wraps up a short series called, “God With Us.”

As Christians, we tend to use the term “blessed” pretty loosely. When something good happens, we say we’re blessed. Or when we start on a new venture, we pray for God’s blessings. But what do we actually mean? Is our understanding of that word actually biblical? Those are the questions we’re tackling as Pastor J.D. continues his short series called, God With Us. We’re looking at how Mary talked about blessing when she was pregnant with Jesus in Luke chapter 1.

Imagine this: It’s the First Century A.D. You’re an unmarried teenage girl. And suddenly, you learn that you’ve got a baby on the way. In that culture, an unwed mother would be a huge scandal. Your reputation would be ruined, and you would probably be a social outcast for the rest of your life. That was the situation Mary faced when the angel told her she would give birth to the Messiah. And yet, she called herself blessed. Pastor J.D. is reframing our understanding of biblical blessings. It’s part of our series called, God With Us.

Have you ever had one of those moments when you’re singing along with a song that you’ve heard a million times before, but all of a sudden something clicks, and you realize what the lyrics are actually about? Well, a similar thing can happen with familiar Bible stories, like the Christmas narrative. Pastor J.D. urges us to look at the Christmas story with fresh eyes so we can discover the true wonder of the incarnation. Pastor J.D. is teaching from a First Century song recorded in Colossians 1, verses 15 to 20. It’s part of our series called, God With Us.