When we’re facing a personal tragedy, we might wonder if we’re being punished for something we did wrong. Certainly, we can cause ourselves a lot of pain when we ignore God’s Word. But sometimes, our suffering comes from obeying God! Why would God allow us to suffer for doing what’s right? We’re diving into scripture to find the answer as we continue our series called, I Am an Alien.

Deep down, a lot of people believe the biblical view of submission in marriage is  outdated and patriarchal. But God’s principles for marriage transcend our cultural norms. As Pastor J.D. continues our series called I Am an Alien, he’s joined by his wife, Veronica, to discuss the interconnected roles of marriage and the gospel.

A quick look at the divorce statistics in the U.S. will make it abundantly clear that, as a culture, we’re bad at marriage. Even couples that manage to stay together often end up living parallel lives rather than the “happily ever after” they dreamed of. So what are we missing? Pastor J.D. answers that question as we look at First Peter 3:1-7. It’s part of our series called, I Am an Alien.

As Pastor J.D. often says, the gospel is the power for the Christian life. And on this edition of Summit Life, we’re discovering how the gospel transforms our view of marriage, and particularly the roles of husbands and wives. It’s an important perspective shift no matter what your relationship status might be, and it’s part of our study in First Peter called, I Am an Alien.

In America today, Christians aren’t facing torture or death for speaking the truth. But the Bible makes it clear that if you’re really following Jesus, then the world is going to oppose you in one way or another. So what do we do when we’re mocked or excluded because of our faith? What if we’re shunned by our family or fired from our job because we held to our convictions? Pastor J.D. describes the biblical response to persecution as he continues our series, I Am an Alien.

The Bible clearly calls believers to submit to authority, whether that’s parental authority, a boss at work, or the government. But what about when those in authority morally corrupt? What if they’re mistreating you or denying you justice? Pastor J.D. deals with these sticky questions as he continues our series, I Am an Alien.

In the book of First Peter, Christians are called to be aliens on this earth. That phrase appears on plenty of bumper stickers and T-shirts, but what does it actually mean? What does it look like, practically, to live as a citizen of heaven? Pastor J.D. answers that question as he continues our series, I Am an Alien.

In our series called, I Am an Alien, Pastor J.D. has been explaining that, as Christians, we’re supposed to be different than the world around us. We’re called to be outsiders and aliens. But what does that look like on a practical level? How does that calling affect our everyday lives?

When you’re a kid, there are several big milestones you usually look forward to hitting as you grow up, like getting your driver’s license, graduating high school, and moving out of your parents’ house. But in our spiritual lives, it can be harder to judge whether or not we’re “growing up.” As he continues our series called I Am an Alien, Pastor J.D. describes the marks of a maturing believer.

From midnight feedings to carefully buckled car seats, it takes a lot of work to keep a newborn healthy! As cute as they are, it’s a bit of a relief when they start getting older and can manage some of those tasks on their own. And the Bible talks about our spiritual lives in similar terms. As he continues our series in First Peter, I Am an Alien, Pastor J.D. challenges us to Grow Up in our faith.