It’s popular to think that “all roads lead to God.” We like to believe that different religions are all really teaching the same thing, and as long as you’re sincere, God will be pleased with you. But while that philosophy may sound nice, it just isn’t true! Pastor J.D. explains that we don’t get to choose how we worship. We can only approach God on his own terms.

When we’re feeling distant from God and our prayers don’t seem to get any response, we often start to wonder if God is even hearing us. And if he does hear us, does he just not care? J.D. Greear addresses these concerns as he continues our study in the book of First Samuel titled, Search for a King. We’re finding that religion that’s devoid of submission will never create a true relationship with God.

Lots of people go to church every week, read their Bible, and even serve in Sunday School or lead a Bible study, but they still feel distant from God and worry about whether or not they’re saved. So how can we know for sure that God has accepted us? Pastor J.D. addresses that question by diving into the story of King Saul. We’re discovering the difference between true faith and surface-level religion.

Have you ever taken a shortcut in life? Maybe you were just a few points away from passing a class, so you cheated on the final. Or maybe you wanted a new car so badly that you took out a loan you couldn’t afford. We’ve all made little compromises like these because we want a better life now. But the truth is that God’s timing is always the best timing, and we can’t rush his plans!

On this edition of Summit Life, Pastor J.D. begins a brand new series called Search for a King. In this study of King David, we’re discovering that each of us lives in one kingdom or another. So who, or what, is the king in your life? Are you submitting to God’s rule, or are you looking to something else for fulfillment?

It’s a tragic reality that many marriages fall apart after a dramatic and sudden loss, like the collapse of a business or the death of a child. So how do we keep it together when our life seems to be falling apart? More importantly, how do we keep our faith through all the pain? Pastor J.D. answers those questions as he concludes our series on family and relationships titled, Home Wreckers.

Most of us think of “good Christians” as those who are always smiling and encouraging others. So whenever we struggle with depression, despair, or doubts about God, we tend to feel a lot of shame or wonder if there’s something wrong with us. And it can be difficult to ask for help because we don’t want anyone to see us as broken. But as Pastor J.D. Greear explains, doubt can be a driving force to push us into deeper faith.

In the series, Home Wreckers, Pastor J.D. talks about several common stumbling blocks that destroy our ability to have healthy, God-centered families. On this edition of Summit Life, he describes one of the deadliest poisons to relationships: bitterness. We’re discovering that the only cure for bitterness is to be transformed by the grace of God.

Everyone is born with a natural desire for justice. That’s why we love it when the bad guy in a movie gets what’s coming to him! But the Bible makes it clear that Christians are called to forgive. So does that mean we’re supposed to let justice fall by the wayside? Pastor J.D. answers that question as he continues our series, Home Wreckers. We’re discovering how the gospel satisfies God’s justice and mercy and equips us to forgive.

Whenever we look at group photos, we automatically search for ourselves first—just to make sure we look good! It’s our natural tendency to focus on our own needs and desires before anything else. But for a relationship to work—whether it’s a marriage, friendship, or family—we need to love the other person like Jesus loved us: selflessly and unconditionally. That’s our subject as Pastor J.D. continues our Home Wreckers series.