This was my second time serving at the Calvary Chapel Collective Youth Retreat (2024), held at Camp Ceder Crest here in California.

The theme of the retreat was the Strait and Narrow Way, and it was derived from the Lord’s words in Matthew 7:13-14, which read:

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."

I was graciously granted the privilege of having the last keynote session of the retreat, which is bittersweet because the youth are more likely to remember that session, but also more likely to fall asleep through it because it's the last session of the weekend.

Nevertheless, I was blessed to give this message, and I hope it blesses you as you embrace the call to enter through the strait and narrow gate that leads to LIFE: that is, eternal life with Jesus that starts TODAY!

Grace & Peace!

Next stop: the beloved "love" chapter! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul's 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited one of my best friends back on the show, Adam Terrazas, to discuss the greatest spiritual gift we will ever receive from the Lord: the gift of love. In this episode, we discuss how Paul introduces love as a more excellent way, right in the middle of talking about the spiritual gifts. There are many tangents we go on throughout the episode, but I promise you, they are all helpful in building you up to embrace God's love for you!

Tune in to Episode 48 to see how we are to be confident and convicted by the love of God and our love for others!

Moving right along with chapter 12! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited a new friend and brother in the Lord, Renz Ignacio, to help me exposit Paul’s dense introduction to his conversation on the spiritual gifts! In this episode, we discuss the essence of the spiritual gifts from the context in which Paul is writing, and even address the hotly debated topic of Cessationism and Continuationism: do these gifts continue today, or have they ceased?

Tune in to Episode 47 to hear our understanding of the nature, or essence, of these gifts and how some of them still continue today, and others do not and why that position is backed by Scripture!

Chapter 11! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited a returning guest, Joshua Camper, to help me tackle one of the most, if not THE MOST controversial passage in the New Testament! In this episode, we discuss the cultural relevance of Paul commanding the use of head coverings while women pray and prophesy. Is this command simply one for the 1st century? Or have we been quenching God’s blessings for us by not dressing for worship in the way He has commanded?

We also cover the blatant abuse of the Lord's Supper and how some people were arriving for the holy meal drunk and engorged, leaving nothing for other believers.

Tune in to Episode 46 to see where Joshua and I land regarding the issue of head coverings, and how we should probably consider it a little more seriously in our churches!

We continue our study through 1 Corinthians with chapter 10! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited Brandon, AKA The Rep, to help me conclude Paul’s conversation on Christian liberties. In this episode, we discuss the significance of Paul mentioning Israel at the beginning of chapter 10, and how REMEMBERING who the LORD is and what He has done will always be enough to resist temptation and sin… and not only that, GOD will ALWAYS give us a way out of temptation!

Tune in to Episode 45 to see how we are to navigate through our Christian liberties as we embody verse 23 every day: All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.

Chapter 9! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited my brother in the Lord, JT Smith, to help us unpack chapter 9. In this episode, we discuss how the Apostle Paul brings himself and his apostolic rights/Christian liberties into the spotlight...showing us that church leaders have every right to ask for money from their people. We discuss how although Paul deserves every penny, he surrenders that right to receive money in order to prevent any hindrance from people hearing & responding to the gospel.

Tune in to Episode 44 to see how the Apostle Paul motivates us to run for the prize by humbling ourselves so that we may win souls for Christ!

Chapter 8! Officially halfway through Season 5! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited a returning guest, Jonathan Maccarone, to help us walk through chapter 8. In this episode, we discuss how believers are to approach non-salvation issues as new creations in Christ. We discuss how those decisions can either be demonstrated as freedoms for the mature believer, or stumbling blocks to the “weaker brother” as Paul says.

Tune in to Episode 43 to see how the Apostle Paul encourages us to not be careless with how we make decisions, and how we need to keep the building up of other believers a top priority!

Moving right along with chapter 7! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited my dear friends, Livya and Dario, to help me attack the very lengthy chapter 7. In this episode, we discuss the duties married believers have to each other, as well as the often misinterpreted verse where Paul says “singleness” is a gift. We talk about how husbands and wives are to serve each other with their bodies, and how the attitude behind that demonstrates the humble service of Christ.

Tune in to Episode 42 to see how the Apostle Paul corrects the Corinthians’ false belief that “it is good for a man not to touch a woman,” and how each person should remain in the position in which they were called, in order to FULLY serve the LORD!

Tune in to Episode 41 to see how the Apostle Paul reminds us that we are privileged to be the Temple of the Holy Spirit... and should demonstrate that privilege through our actions!

Chapter 5! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited my brother in the Lord and senior pastor, Dave Johnston to help us walk through chapter 5. In this episode, we discuss what it looks like to confront other believers who are in their unrepentant sin, and what it means for the rest of the body of Christ. To the outside world, church discipline seems harsh and no different than secular cancel culture; yet when we consider what removing the evil person can accomplish, we would not hesitate to confront him/her ever again.

Tune in to Episode 40 to see how the Apostle Paul demanded the Church in Corinth to stop being arrogant and letting sin continue unaddressed within the body of Christ…and how that discipline opens the door for true celebration!