We go through times in life that leave us asking God, “Why?” Some situations are so hard and painful, we can’t see any purpose in them. Pastor Ed motivates us in today’s message to have a heart that’s willing to learn from these lessons, just as David did, and not let them go to waste. Every time we choose to trust God, He uses it as preparation for the trials that’ll be part of our journey. God’s purpose in your trials is to give you the chance to trust Him, bring Him glory, and point to His work in your life.

The examples in the Bible of great moments of faith are encouraging for us as we walk our own life of faith. But amidst real life, the moments of weakness and doubt come like a wave sometimes. David experienced these times too, as Pastor Ed teaches in today’s message. We find that faith and fear can’t coexist in our lives. When we walk in fear, we step out of the life God has ordained for us. Choose, even in the difficult times, to walk by faith, knowing you have a loving Father Who’ll be with you every step.

No matter who we are, we’re all made for friendship. As Pastor Ed continues his message on friendship, we’re encouraged to cultivate deep Christian friendships built on mutual faith and trust in God. Ultimately, Jesus is the example of the best friend we could ever have. He did the hard work to bring us into friendship with God, so we in turn can put forth the effort to maintain our friendships with others. Let’s commit to be there for each other!

Isn’t it amazing to connect deeply with other believers? There’s a depth and meaning there that we can’t find in friendships with non-believers. As we look with Pastor Ed at the friendship between David and Jonathan, we’ll glean some important insight into our own friendships. When we center on God FIRST in our lives, our friendships will follow this pattern. God has given us other believers as a gift, so speak the truth to each other in love, cultivating these vital relationships.

In today’s message, Pastor Ed reminds us Saul’s terrible and fearful reign that was fueled by jealousy for David. He wasted what God had given to him and spent his whole reign living in fear. But David knew the secret to a good life. Pastor Ed teaches us how we can keep jealousy from taking root in our own heart, and how to live with a spirit of humility. God has made a promise to lift us up when we bow low before Him. Don’t waste a good life wishing for a different one. Begin each day with praise.

Jealousy and selfishness are a dangerous combination, and when they are allowed to take root in our spirit, we will find ourselves living in fear. In today’s message, Pastor Ed teaches us about the extreme jealousy that King Saul had for David, and the insecurities that he felt, even though he was sitting in a place of great power and authority. Despite his achievement, Saul lived a fearful, insecure life. We’ll learn that true security is found in God, and His approval is the only one that matters.

Are you experiencing brokenness in your life? It’s not a process that anyone would choose to endure, but God promises to use it to mold us into His image. In today’s message, Pastor Ed shares how David experienced rejection and broken relationships, but chose to trust God in the process. He possessed a vision of faith that brought Him through the pain. God wants to be the most important thing in your life, and He has a plan for the broken pieces. He will provide the strength you need to endure.

No one wants to experience the hurt of brokenness, but as Christians, it is absolutely essential that we walk through that refining process. In today’s message, Pastor Ed shares the brokenness that David experienced even though the Bible tells us he was a man after God’s own heart. The rejection that he suffered produced a standard by which all other kings would be measured. Are you experiencing brokenness in some area of your life? Trust the Master Potter as He forms you into His masterpiece.

When Satan tempts a Christian to compromise, he does so cunningly. Our enemy uses his powers of deception to make deadly sin look glittery and good. Satan’s ultimate goal is to lure the foolish and unsuspecting into an inescapable trap. In today’s message from Daniel chapter one, Pastor Ed exhorts us to not be conformed to the patterns of this world by examining the life of the prophet Daniel. Daniel’s faithfulness teaches us to hold fast to God and His precepts even when Satan tempts us with worldly pleasures.

The first time the Bible reader meets the prophet Daniel in the book of Daniel chapter one, he is serving King Nebuchadnezzar during Israel’s Babylonian exile. We learn quickly that Daniel is a man of integrity and no compromise when he refuses to eat from the king’s table because the foreign foods did not align with Jewish Kosher guidelines. Pastor Ed teaches us today that Christians are called to live lives of integrity and nonconformity to the world no matter the social situation or cultural pressures.