Summit Life With J.d. Greear

When many of us picture Satan, we think of a cartoon character with little red horns and a pitchfork. But is he really just a figment of Hollywood’s imagination, or is Satan alive and active in our world today? Pastor J.D. dives into Scripture to answer that question as he continues our series, The Difficult Sayings of Jesus.

Have you ever been in a fight with someone, and they quoted back something you said, but completely out of context? It’s incredibly frustrating to have your words twisted. And on this edition of Summit Life, Pastor J.D. explains that many of us do that to Jesus without even knowing it. It’s part of our series called, The Difficult Saying of Jesus.

A lot of people use Matthew 7:1 to argue that we should never tell anyone that they’re sinning. In fact, if you’ve ever gotten into a debate about morality or challenged a friend about a sin they were dealing with, there’s a good chance they brought up this verse. But is that what Jesus really meant when he told us not to judge others?

In our culture, it’s a common belief that every religion leads to God, as long as you’re sincere. It seems like a kind, accepting worldview, and even some supposedly Christian churches have started teaching it. But that’s not what Jesus taught! Pastor J.D. brings some biblical perspective on what Jesus actually said about salvation.

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.  

In the Garden of Gethsemane, we witness one of the most shocking moments in all of history. God the Father turned his face away from his Son so that he could welcome us into his presence. Pastor J.D. breaks this scene down moment by moment, and explains how it reveals God’s love for you. It’s part of our series called, 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.

Most people believe that they’re going to go to heaven when they die because they’re a good person. But in truth, our salvation has nothing to do with us. Pastor J.D. describes what it really takes to go from spiritual death to eternal life as he continues our series called The Difficult Sayings of Jesus.

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! 

The Bible says, “How can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent?” When you hear that, does it give you any urgency about sharing the gospel with people in your community and around the world? In this message from Romans 10, Pastor J.D. continues to lean into the truth that those of us who have heard the message have an obligation to share it and how to send or be sent.

If Christians really believe we know the only way to salvation, then what are we doing to share that knowledge with the rest of the world? In this message, Pastor J.D. looks at four important verses from Romans 10 that show us why, as the ones who believe in the gospel message, we owe it to those who have not heard to take it to them. Are you ready to say “yes” to whatever God asks you to do?

Do your circumstances feel pretty dark and heavy right now? When we feel far from God, it’s easy to doubt that we have what it takes to be saved. But in this message from Pastor J.D. on Romans 10, we see why we can trust that what was required for salvation has been fulfilled in Jesus and how, when we confess and believe that Jesus is Lord, we will never be disappointed.

Have you ever wondered if you’ve done enough to be saved? Did you say the prayer right? Are you sorry enough to be forgiven? In this message, Pastor J.D. looks at Romans 10 to show us how, no matter how much shame we feel from our past or how far we feel from God, he is as close as our mouth and our heart. When we believe in our heart and confess that Jesus is Lord, then that will always be enough.

Do God’s ways often seem confusing to you? J. Oswald Sanders said, “What will amaze us as we look backwards from eternity is not the severity of God’s justice but the greatness of his mercy.” Pastor J.D. continues in today’s message from Romans 9 to teach us how trusting in the mystery of God’s wisdom and his goodness to save us gives us assurance that he will finish the work he has started in us.

It’s a question people have struggled with throughout the ages: If God is merciful, then why does he choose to save some and not others? To answer this and some other tough questions in today’s message, Pastor J.D. looks at Romans 9 to show us how the mystery of God’s ways should point us to his sovereignty and our unworthiness. When we see ourselves rightly, we are emboldened to share of his mercy with the least likely.

When we’re going through suffering, it’s hard to imagine how God might be working it out for good. As Pastor J.D. continues today in Romans 8, he teaches us that persecution and opposition may affect our situation, but, as God’s children, our lives are not defined by our situation. When we go through suffering, we have the assurance of being called, justified, and glorified—and that makes us more than conquerors.

You’ve probably heard and repeated the verse that states, “... in all these things we are more than conquerors ...” But do you really know what it means to be more than a conqueror? How is that even possible? In this message, Pastor J.D. takes us back to the greatest chapter in the Bible, Romans 8, to show us how God not only delivers us from our suffering. Even more—he makes our pain and suffering serve his purposes.

Are you going through a season of suffering? There are a lot of untruths we believe as Christians about why we experience suffering. Pastor J.D. continues in this message to draw from the deep well of gospel truth in Romans 8 to remind us of how God is working in our suffering and the fact that, even when you feel like you’re barely holding onto God in the midst of your pain, he is still holding onto you.

In your darkest hour, have you ever been able to sing, “Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father ... Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine with ten thousand beside ...”? Seems impossible, doesn’t it? In this message, Pastor J.D. turns to Romans 8 to show us the myths we believe about suffering as Christians and how we can hope in our suffering, knowing that God is going to finish his good work in us.

Many scholars consider Romans 8 the greatest chapter in the Bible, and many Christians suffering around the world would agree. Pastor J.D. continues in today’s message from Romans 8 to show us how the Holy Spirit gives us assurance that God is with us and working for our good, even in our pain. That assurance is hope for every Christian who must ask, “If following Jesus leads only to suffering in this life, is he worth it?”