For the most part, everyone likes the Jesus of Christmas, who brings peace on earth and goodwill to men. And they usually like the Jesus of the Sermon on the Mount, who urges us to love one another and turn the other cheek. But uncontroversial people don’t get crucified. On this edition of Summit Life, we’re unpacking more of the Difficult Sayings of Jesus. 

Have you ever felt abandoned? Maybe a spouse left you, a friend betrayed you, or a parent wasn’t there when you needed them most. Pastor J.D. reminds us of the incredible truth that Jesus knows exactly how that feels. It’s part of our series called The Difficult Sayings of Jesus.

There is no transcript for today’s sermon.

As Pastor J.D. begins a series called The Difficult Sayings of Jesus, we’re putting aside our assumptions and taking a fresh look at who Jesus really is. A lot of us picture Jesus in a flowing white robe with a purple sash, carrying around a lamb on his shoulder, and smiling sadly. But as we’ll discover, the true Jesus is so much more exciting! 

One of the most painful things to hear from a loved one is the phrase, “I don’t trust you.” It’s especially painful when you didn’t do anything to break their trust! Yet many of us treat God that way. Pastor J.D. explains that when we doubt our own salvation, we’re really doubting God! And not only does it cause us to be anxious, it actually damages our relationship with him. So on this program, we’re learning how we can know with certainty whether or not we’re truly saved.

Most people get uncomfortable when the pastor starts talking about money. Some of us come from churches where wealth is looked down on as a sign of worldliness or greed. Perhaps we feel a measure of guilt for having a nice house and a robust savings account. Others may have been burned by prosperity teachers who used false promises to manipulate the congregation into giving. So what does the Bible really say about wealth and generosity?

Many believers think ministry is a job for pastors and missionaries, not the work of “ordinary Christians.” But the truth is that there’s no such thing as an “ordinary Christian”! As you’re transformed by the gospel, you’re empowered to do amazing things for God. And whether he’s called you to go across the ocean or across the street, every one of us is on mission. 

If you only have one tomatillo plant in a garden, it’ll never produce any fruit because it needs other plants to cross-pollinate. And Christians are kind of like tomatillo plants in that way. Healthy believers will produce the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But first, you have to be rooted in Christ, and second, you need to have community.

We often refer to the first four books of the New Testament—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—as “the gospels.” But Pastor J.D. reveals that the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is all one story: the story of Jesus Christ. It’s all the gospel! And as we go deeper into it, savoring the truths on every page of scripture, that’s when God transforms our lives.  

On this edition of Summit Life, we’re beginning a new series that gets to the very heart of this ministry. It’s simply titled, Gospel. If you’ve been a believer for a while, you might think you’ve moved beyond the gospel. But Pastor J.D. argues that we never outgrow the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection. In fact, getting deeper into the gospel is the key to the entire Christian life.

In this message from Romans 15, Pastor J.D. challenges us to lift our eyes to the ends of the earth. When Jesus left his disciples, he promised that his gospel would go to every nation, tribe, language, and tongue. That task isn’t finished. And God is calling many of us to follow him to the most unreached parts of the planet. Is it difficult? Yes. Is it dangerous? Yes. Is he worthy of it? Absolutely.