Our trials are the primary way that God tells the lost that He loves them. He speaks the loudest when His grace is displayed next to our brokenness. In this lesson, Pastor Philip Jackson teaches about our role as we endure the trials around us from James 1:12-18.

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Your “trials” are not about you. Our first reaction to hardship is to think about how we are affected. But what does God’s word say about going through hard things? In this lesson, Pastor Philip Jackson begins a new series from the letter of James on the basics of discipleship entitled, “Tests and Temptations.” 

After the persecution of the church following the murders of Stephen (Acts 7) and James the brother of John (Acts 12), Jewish Christians found themselves scattered all around the known world. This meant that families were uprooted, estates were lost, and entire social structures were changed. Rich and poor were now in the same situation, on the run and seeking to make sense of what was happening. The letter of James gave them hope and practical instruction in the midst of their struggle. He was the half-brother of Jesus and the pastor of the church in Jerusalem. And yet, he designates himself as simply a “slave of the Lord Jesus Christ.” James’ words continue to inspire believers today through practical instruction that calls us all to live out our faith as disciples of Christ.

Find the lesson handout here.

Psalm 23 is one of the most famous passages of scripture. It is an encouraging message in a time of distress. In this lesson Pastor Philip Jackson teaches on 15 truths from this well known text.

The Word of God is an abundant gift! It shows us that God is Himself our portion and calls us into a deeper fellowship with Him. The community and peace that the Lord brings through His Word is unmatched by the world. In this lesson, Levi Mattes continues his series in Psalm 119 with Chet and Teth. Chet (vv. 56-64) is a testimony of the goodness of God through His Word. Teth (vv. 65-72) is a comparison of life without God and life close to Him, and how a life bowed before the King changes our perception of the life we used to live in opposition to Him. See how the worth of scripture is beyond that of any material gain in our lives in the next sections of Psalm 119.

It seems impossible that marriage or children could be considered idols. After all, they are both gifts from God, right? The definition of an idol as anything that we put in the place of God as an authority over our lives. That means anything can get in the way of living according to His plan for us, even our spouse and children. It is important for God’s people to understand just how dangerous and sneaky idols can be. If we want to have a healthy perspective and live fulfilled lives, we must be willing to put everything on the altar for Almighty God.  In this lesson, pastor Philip Jackson finishes his series on (un)acceptable idols with the final lesson on marriage and children.

Paul tells us that seeking a life in ministry is a noble thing (1 Tim 3:1). But for all believers, serving can become an idol that is more about the way we look to others than a genuine sacrifice to God. In this lesson, pastor Philip Jackson discusses the culturally acceptable idol of ministry from Mark 10:17-27.

The world (flesh) finds comfort in external things (possessions, relationships, power, status). But Christians find their comfort in God (knowledge, faith, hope). Depending on what we focus on, it will either lead us to contentment or perpetual want. The key difference is that worldly comfort can be taken from you, but godly comfort cannot. In this lesson Pastor Philip Jackson tackles what the Bible says about the culturally acceptable idols of chasing a career and comfort over faith.

The average American parent says that they have 32 minutes of free time every day. We need to make sure that we keep every appointment, crush our jobs, have healthy friendships, make time for our spouses, and oh yes, make sure that we are exercising and eating healthy. But what does God's word say about our priorities and our busyness? In this episode, Pastor Philip Jackson begins a new series that looks at the acceptable idols in the church. The first one up, busyness.

In this episode, guest speaker Bret Jackson offers some practical instruction in incorporating God's word into the life of your home.

In this episode, Pastor Nick Dyer begins his series on the basics of parenting entitled, Parent University. The subject of this lesson are the four parenting styles