How many times have you heard about the separation of church and state? I’m guessing a lot! But usually, it’s from Christians who think that it is in the Bible (it is not). It comes from secularists who think that it comes from the US Constitution (it does not). Every election cycle brings with it the dilemma: Should Christians be involved in politics? If so, to what degree?I. ComplexityII. PolicyIII. ResponsibilityTalk with God: Pray for our elected leaders and candidates and ask the Lord for wisdom and clarity as you get ready to vote.Talk with others: Encourage a believer who is anxious about the upcoming election and remind them that “no purpose of [God’s] can be thwarted” (Job 42:2, ESV).Talk with kids: How does learning about God help us receive courage?

This noble-sounding little statement has been around for a couple of decades but was popularized by Oprah Winfrey at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards. She stated, “Speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we have.” In all fairness, she was talking about those women who dared to speak up about being sexually harassed; however, the quip rapidly became a modern mantra for those who say absolute truth doesn’t exist, but that all truth is individual and comes from within.I. We Should Know the TruthII. We Should Guard the TruthIII. We Should Speak the TruthTalk with God: Meditate on John 17:14-19 and ask the Lord to sanctify your life by the truth of His Word.Talk with others: Ask your Connect Group how they stay “ready in season and out of season” (v. 2).Talk with kids: Who can you share the gospel with?

Some of the worst advice we have ever received has come from the best friends we’ve ever had. A popular slogan of our modern culture tells us each to, “Follow your heart,” and we’ve all had close friends tell us as much. But is that a good plan? Is your heart reliable? Let’s discover three valuable components of decision-making from a familiar story where things almost went really wrong.I. A Good IntentionII. Some Bad AdviceIII. A Better PlanTalk with God: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of your life where you choose to follow your heart instead of seeking His direction.Talk with others: Ask a fellow believer or mentor to be your sounding board and keep you accountable to follow the Word rather than your heart.Talk with kids: Why is faith in Jesus the only way to be saved?

Welcome to our new weekend series, which we are simply calling The Bible Doesn’t Say That. Over the next few weeks, we will look at some sayings and concepts people think are found in Scripture but aren’t. Perhaps you heard your grandma say them, or they were given as a piece of advice that just sounded right, so you assumed they must be in the Bible. Today, we’ll look at one of the first I heard.I. Where Did it Originate?II. Is There Any Truth to It?III. What Does the Bible Say?Talk with God: Meditate on vv. 8-10 and thank the Lord that “we shall be saved by His life” (v. 10).Talk with others: Encourage a fellow believer who may be struggling right now, reminding them that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).Talk with kids: What are some ways you can tell others about Jesus?

Saving anyone from death would, of course, be a noble goal. If physical death threatens someone and we can help them avert it, we should by all means try to do so. But especially if there is a risk of spiritual, eternal death, we should step in and try to stop it. Today I will share the four musts of saving a soul from death. These four ingredients are needed for every Christian life.I. Restoration Must Be Our PlanII. Admonition Must Be Our CallIII. Conversion Must Be Our GoalIV. Salvation Must Be The ResultTalk with God: Pray for an unbelieving or backslidden friend or family member and take comfort in knowing God’s Word “shall not return…void” (Isaiah 55:11).Talk with others: Sharpen another believer (see Proverbs 27:17) this week through gentle, Spirit-led correction, encouraging words, or time spent praying together.Talk with kids: What difficulties did Paul and Barnabas have to endure while sharing the gospel?

I. What Is It?II. Who Can Use It?III. What’s the Impact?Talk with God: Is there someone or something that you’ve given up praying about?Talk with others: “Confess your faults” (v. 17, KJV) to a mentor or trusted fellow believer and ask them to pray for you and hold you accountable as you tackle these areas in your life.Talk with kids: What’s the difference between knowing Jesus and knowing about Jesus?

The son of great missionary Hudson Taylor noted of his father, “For forty years the sun never rose on China that God didn’t find him on his knees.” Someone called prayer the gymnasium of the soul. When was the last time you had a good “workout”? Today, James jumps into the mysterious cooperation of the divine with the human through prayer. When and why should we do it?I. Pray When You're SufferingII. Pray When You're SmilingIII. Pray When You're SickIV. Pray When You SinV. Pray For the SaintsTalk with God: Consider your prayer life—what things consistently keep you from praying (e.g. anxiety, distractions)? Surrender them to the Lord this week.Talk with others: Invite a few friends to gather regularly to spend time in prayer together.Talk with kids: How do you use the gifts God has given you to serve your church?

Sometimes parents will tell their children not to do certain things. But such prohibitions are motivated by love. These negative commands are to ensure a positive outcome. A good biblical example of this is the list of thou shalt nots in the Ten Commandments. In this section, James gives his audience a few negative instructions so they can have a positive life.I. Do Not GrumbleII. Do Not Back DownIII. Do Not Give UpIV. Do Not Speak HastilyTalk with God: Meditate on 1 John 2:5-6 and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of your life that don’t reflect your love for the Lord.Talk with others: Ask a friend or member of your Connect Group how you can pray for them as they seek to align their lives to God’s Word.Talk with kids: What were the believers doing while Peter was in prison?

Ever since Jesus came to Earth over 2,000 years ago to die and rise again, He promised to return. And believers have been looking for Him since. Every generation has its doomsday preachers and prophecy “experts,” predicting when He will return. But today we examine not when He will come back, but rather how we should live until He does. James tells us three ways we are to wait for it.I. Be ReadyII. Be PatientIII. Be StrongTalk with God: Meditate on verse 8 and ask the Lord to give you the wisdom to “strengthen your [heart]” (NASB), so you can continue to live for Him in the last days.Talk with others: Encourage a fellow believer to seek the Lord diligently and continue in the faith as we wait for His coming.Talk with kids: Why should we celebrate when others repent and turn to Jesus?

This is undeniably one of the most difficult passages in the Bible. It is seldom preached on because the language is accusatory and blunt. But I’ve learned that everyone is concerned about money to some extent, and this passage gives us several reasons as to why we should be careful with money.I. It Can Be Obtained WronglyII. It Can Be Used PoorlyIII. It Will Vanish EventuallyIV. It Involves Judgment UltimatelyV. It Presents An OpportunityTalk with God: Read Matthew 25:14-30 and prayerfully consider your attitude toward money. Ask the Lord for wisdom to intentionally steward the resources He’s given you.Talk with others: Ask someone in your family or Connect Group how you can pray for them this week.Talk with kids: How do our differences show God’s creativity?

I. You Can’t Control the Future (vv. 13-14, 16)II. You Must Control Yourself (v. 17)III. Let God Control It All (v. 15)Talk with God: Meditate on Philippians 4:6-7. Ask the Lord to fill you with His peace, "which surpasses all understanding” (v. 7).Talk with others: Encourage a fellow believer by reminding them that God is in control, no matter what struggle they’re facing.Talk with kids: How does knowing Jesus give us hope that He will make things all right one day?

I. Stop CondemningII. Start Considering  A. Consider Others  B. Consider God  C. Consider YourselfTalk with God: Ask the Lord to fill your heart with grace and forgiveness so that you “do not speak evil of one another” (v. 11).Talk with others: Ask a mentor or trusted believer to point out areas of bitterness, judgment, or unforgiveness in your life.Talk with kids: What does it look like to have the same attitude as Jesus?

Conflict resolution is an entire field of practice—used from the counselor’s couch to the United Nations. Evidently, conflicts were a problem in early congregations. James, in forceful language, addressed this and told his audience how to fix it. Today we see several steps to resolve conflict. And today, instead of me writing the outline for you, I will let you do the honors.I. Recognize the SourceII. Realize the ConsequenceIII. Repent of Your AttitudeIV. Resist the DevilV. Rest in GodTalk with God: Ask the Lord to reveal areas in your life that you haven’t submitted to His control. Surrender them to Him this week as you “draw near to God” (v. 8).Talk with others: Do you need to seek resolution or reconciliation with someone in order to “live in peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18, NLT)?Talk with kids: What are reasons others might not know about Jesus? How can we help them learn about Jesus?

In the ancient world, few virtues were more revered than wisdom. In the biblical Hebrew culture, wisdom was considered the skill to live well, or more precisely, a wise person was an expert in godly living. According to James, wisdom has little to do with IQ, SAT scores, or education. Wisdom is different from knowledge. Rather, true wisdom is the right application of knowledge. In this passage, James showed the difference between true and false wisdom with four notable traits.I. Wisdom Is Practical (v. 13a)II. Wisdom Is Humble (v. 13b)III. Wisdom Is Spiritual (vv. 14-16)IV. Wisdom Is Fruitful (vv. 17-18)Talk with God: Ask the Lord to fill your heart with “the wisdom that is from above” so your life will be “full of mercy and good fruits” (v. 17).Talk with others: Ask a mentor to hold you accountable in not acting through “envy and self-seeking” (v. 14).Talk with kids: How can Stephen’s faith encourage us in our own faith?

Bookstores are full of helpful leadership advice, but as believers we have access to the ultimate source of wisdom: the Bible. God's Word includes important examples and principles for leaders. In this message from 2 Chronicles, Robert Furrow looks at the story of King Asa and identifies seven principles of biblical leadership that can be applied to any industry or leadership role.

Do the words that come out of your mouth bless others and honor God, or do they bring bitterness and destruction? In this message, Nate Heitzig examines what James 3:2-12 says about the power of the tongue and reminds us that God is the only one capable of changing our heart—and the words that flow from it.I. What You Say Is a ReflectionII. What You Say Causes DestructionIII. What You Say Is a DecisionTalk with God: Ask the Lord to help you break any habits of complaining, gossiping, or tearing others down—and to help you use your words to bless and encourage.Talk with others: Be intentional in encouraging a fellow believer this week.Talk with kids: What problem did the early church face? How did the apostles solve the problem?

Since the days of the early church, false teachers have claimed that a believer's faith is incomplete without the addition of worldly elements like philosophy, mysticism, or legalism. Paul's letter to the Colossians counters this message by pointing to the sufficiency of Jesus Christ. In this message, John Miller examines what believers truly need to live the abundant life that is found through faith in Christ alone.

When our lives don't match our testimony, it gives unbelievers an excuse to blaspheme the name of God and diminishes our witness to a lost world. It's critical that believers continually develop their spiritual character and stay accountable for their conduct. In this message, Nate Heitzig applies James 3:1 to Bible teachers—and every believer who faces the scrutiny of a skeptical world. 

Just as young children ask their parents what is going to happen each day, we can find ourselves wondering how and when God is going to work in and through our lives. Hebrews 11:1-12 provides powerful examples of how God calls us to have faith in Him before He calls us to act. In this message, Cody Byrne unpacks the faith we need to step into our God-given calling. 

You probably couldn’t find two people more different than the two examples chosen by James to show the difference between dead faith and dynamic faith. Abraham was the first patriarch and designated figurehead of the Jewish nation. Rahab was a prostitute who lived in Jericho during Israel’s assault of that city. But both demonstrate how true faith will produce action and change.I. Question (v. 20)II. Illustration (vv. 21-24)III. Amplification (v. 25)IV. Conclusion (v. 26)Talk with God: Ask the Lord to show you ways to put your faith into action.Talk with others: Brainstorm some practical ways to regularly serve your community with your family or Connect Group.Talk with kids: How does sharing the gospel show we love God and people?

According to a recent Netflix documentary, there are more forgeries of famous paintings hanging in museums than most people suspect. From time to time, these cases come to light. But what about faith in God? The easiest thing to do is to simply say that one is a believer. But where’s the proof? James addressed this, giving four telltale signs to help us spot the genuine from the fake.I. Words without Works (v. 14)II. Sight without Sympathy (vv. 15-16)III. Profession without Proof (vv. 17-18)IV. Commotion without Conversion (vv. 19-20)Talk with God: Ask the Lord to give you a servant’s heart, then seek opportunities to serve or encourage someone this week.Talk with others: Ask a mentor or trusted believer if your faith is obvious in your daily habits, attitudes, and relationships.Talk with kids: How can people see the power of God in our lives?

Faith and favoritism are incompatible. We have been saved by a loving Redeemer and we must be willing to accept all different kinds of people. That’s not to say that people don’t need to repent of known sin. Of course they do! But one of the glaring sins of the Christian church is discriminating on the basis of outward appearance—actually, this is a flaw endemic to the whole human race.I. People Are Prejudiced Naturally (vv. 1-13)II. Favoritism Is Foolish Logically (vv. 5-7)III. Christians Are Corrected Biblically (vv. 8-9)IV. Life Should Be Lived Consistently (vv. 10-13)Talk with God: Ask the Lord to reveal an area where you haven’t been living as one “who will be judged by the law of liberty” (v. 12).Talk with others: Say hello and introduce yourself to someone sitting alone at service.Talk with kids: How are we changed by the Holy Spirit?

Mirrors are honest! Under well-lit conditions, mirrors reveal the truthful condition of the observer. The Bible is the Word of God. Like a mirror, it reveals the truth about our world, our character, and our God. But then we must act accordingly; doing must follow reading and hearing. James mentions five areas in our lives—five categories—the Word of God should govern.I. Submission (vv. 22-24)II. Study (v. 25)III. Speech (v. 26)IV. Service (v. 27a)V. Separation (v. 27b)Talk with God: Assess your spiritual growth in the mirror of God’s Word and pray for wisdom and clarity in confronting your blind spots.Talk with others: Ask a mentor or trusted believer if they’ve observed areas of your life where you have not continued in “the perfect law of liberty” (v. 25).Talk with kids: How has God shown us generosity through Jesus?

The Word of God is “full of living power,” wrote the author of Hebrews (4:12, TLB). It has the power to change a life completely and for eternity. James has been telling us that God gives good gifts and the first is the gift of salvation! But that is just the beginning. After birth comes growth, and the theme of this book is spiritual maturity. The primary agent for spiritual maturity is God’s Word. But unless we listen to it and allow it to work in us, it will never have its intended impact.

It’s one thing to be tested on the outside (trials); it’s another thing to be tested on the inside (temptation). God may allow temptations in order to strengthen our faith. But Satan desires to tempt us to weaken our faith. In C. S. Lewis’s classic book The Screwtape Letters, a senior demon wrote to a trainee, saying, “All the habits of the [Christian], both mental and bodily, are still in our favor.” Today, we consider how temptation works and find workable solutions to overcome it.I. The Source of Temptation (vv. 13-14)II. The Course of Temptation (vv. 14-15)III. Our Resource in Temptation (vv. 16-18)Talk with God: Ask the Holy Spirit which areas of your faith need to be shored up and strengthened.Talk with others: With your Connect Group, discuss some practical things you can implement in your daily life to avoid common temptations.Talk with kids: Who is the Holy Spirit?

An old English children’s game followed the poem “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor, Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief.” In the game, kids would try to determine what they would become later in life. Whether we become rich or poor, one thing is common to all—hardship. Trials are the great equalizer, bringing all of God’s children to depend on Him. James, with barefaced practicality, looked at the advantages of suffering for both the poor man and the rich man.I. Our World Is Divided (vv. 9-12)II. Our Outlook Is Delightful (vv. 9-10)III. Our Materialism Is Doomed (vv. 10-11)IV. Our Future Is Dependent (v. 12)Talk with God: Reflect on your typical reaction to trials. Ask the Lord to change your perspective so depending on Him becomes your instinctual reaction.Talk with others: Ask an unbelieving friend or family member how you can help them through a tough situation in their life.Talk with kids: How do we make disciples? Why is it important to make disciples?

Growing up has its advantages. Adults face life’s struggles differently than children do. Both children and adults feel strong emotions about the trials they face, but they display their emotions differently. A mature Christian can even dare to experience joy during such times. Whatever you may be facing in life, there are four realities about hardship you should know.I. Trials Are Normal (v. 2)II. Trials Can Be Joyful (v. 2)III. Trials Could Be Transformational (vv. 3-4)IV. Trials Should Be Educational (vv. 5-8)Talk with God: Ask the Lord to show you how you can prepare your heart for the struggles ahead.Talk with others: Ask someone close to you how you can help them walk through a current struggle.Talk with kids: How does God forgive our sins?

You’ve probably been in a situation where there was confusion, even pandemonium, and most people were acting like immature children. What was needed was just one person to act like an adult and bring decorum and civility back. In such situations, one might say, “Where is the adult in the room?” It refers to someone who will behave responsibly in a mature manner. The book of James is about spiritual maturity. It is a call to grow up and not just grow old. James was the adult in the room.I. The Author “James”II. The Autobiography “a bondservant of God and of…Jesus Christ”III. The Audience “To the twelve tribes…scattered abroad”IV. The Address “Greetings”Talk with God: Reflect on your spiritual growth journey and ask the Lord to show you where He wants to grow you.Talk with others: Ask a trusted believer or mentor to hold you accountable in working toward growth in a specific area of your walk.Talk with kids: What do you believe to be true about God, even though you haven’t seen Him?

People either misunderstand the cross or they don't know its purpose and significance. Some think it's a tragic mistake or just a trivial symbol. When it came to the Messiah, the Jews anticipated a conqueror—instead, they got a sin bearer. Through the cross, Jesus glorified the Father and paid the price for our sins. Instead of shying away from it, we choose to celebrate the cross.

Today we are entering into Passion Week—commemorating Jesus’ final days leading up to the cross, His burial, and His resurrection. We are all familiar with these events. As Jesus came into the city of Jerusalem, the crowd placed palm branches on the ground. In a few days, Jesus would be crucified, and they would place His body in the ground. But three days later, He would rise from the ground. Let’s note three comparisons of things that may be good versus something that’s best.

I. The Identity of Your PurposeII. The Impairment to Your PurposeIII. The Importance of Your PurposeTalk with God: Evaluate your daily habits and ask the Lord how you can take practical steps “not [to] be conformed to this world” (v. 2).Talk with others: How can you use your gifts to serve your family, friends, or community?Talk with kids: In what ways was Jesus’ trial unfair?

In order to discover what Jesus intended for the church He came to establish (remember He said, “I will build My church”), we need to examine carefully the prototype—the first church in the book of Acts. In combing through this text the last few weeks, we have been able to get a sense of the style, structure, and service of the early church. Today we notice their generous hearts toward one another and in the cause of Christ. Because they were openhearted, they were also openhanded.

When God works in a person’s life, there is profound change. When God’s people see that change, it produces a sense of awe and wonder. It also provides encouragement that God will do it again and again. When we gather together and hear one another’s stories and witness one another’s victories, we are inspired. Today we consider the power of God working not just through a sermon or through a worship service, but through the individual lives of all God’s people.

There is an epidemic of loneliness in our society as people long for a place to feel safe and belong. The truth is, we were not built for isolation—and that's why God created the church and community. In this message, Nate Heitzig shares what happens when you get in the room with God's people.

There are several activities that take place when we gather together in the room. Conversations take place, prayers are uttered, songs are vocalized, hugs are exchanged, children are attended to, cars are parked, coffee is brewed, and volunteers joyfully serve. But one activity is at the epicenter of it all—the teaching of (and listening to) God’s Word. We make this the bulk of our weekly gatherings. Why is that so? Moreover, why can’t we just stay home and watch it all online?

Today we begin a new series we are calling In the Room. We will consider why it is so vital to gather as God’s people, and the benefits we receive when we do. We each have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, but personal does not mean private. Our lives are meant to be lived in community with others. Today we will take on the role of a reporter, examining a weekend event in the life of the early church to understand the significance of this experience.

As we ring in the New Year, we also want to ring in a fresh start. We want to be different, better. But lasting change doesn’t happen through New Year’s resolutions. Instead of trying to fix our bad habits, our flesh, we must begin submitting to the Spirit—only then will everything else fall into place. In this message, Nate Heitzig reflects on some truths we’ve learned in our Kingdom City series, sharing how we can change 2024 by becoming resilient disciples of Jesus.

Today we bring the series Kingdom City to an end. We have explored what it means to live as kingdom people, to be representatives of the King until He returns. We have examined the lives of people who influenced others with their kingdom-minded lifestyles. But today we consider the culmination of kingdom living, which is the future kingdom itself. There are four distinct experiences that sum up the announcement and inauguration of the coming future kingdom.

Last year, we studied the biblical prophecies on the end times and considered the promises of Jesus’ return and establishment of His kingdom. But until that awesome event occurs, how ought we to invest our time and resources? Did you know that our future position in the kingdom of heaven is largely determined by our faithfulness on earth? This section shows us four different responses to kingdom responsibility—four ways people live their lives in the light of Jesus’ coming kingdom.

From the Guest Speaker series at Calvary Church.

A dominating hallmark of the Christian faith is compassion. That’s because it is a prominent feature of the personality of Jesus Himself. In this passage, we observe that Jesus cared about His closest associates as well as the throngs of people who came to hear Him teach. Today in Kingdom City, we consider four levels of the King’s compassion and how to reflect it.

Christians often have questions about their role and responsibility to secular governments. These questions are even more pronounced when there is a government or political administration that appears to be at odds with their Christian convictions. As redeemed people whose “citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20), how should we discharge our responsibility to the state? Can we honor both God and Caesar? How do kingdom city residents properly balance these two realms?

As Christians get older, they sometimes tend toward compromise. The influence of their culture wears on them and they begin to shift in order to satisfy society. They are victims of the long haul! Their spiritual pace slows; their spiritual appetite weakens; their spiritual vigor abates. Today we examine a man who was faithful over his entire lifetime. His spiritual pace was steady; his spiritual appetite was strong; his spiritual vigor deepened. Daniel displayed four characteristics.

In our last message, we discovered how Daniel became a kingdom influence in Egypt. Today we will see how a woman named Esther influenced the kingdom of Persia—specifically how she rescued the Jewish people from a murderously antisemitic plot. Her courage has become an iconic reminder that one person can bravely change the future for an entire nation. Esther’s story reminded me of the woman in Proverbs 31:25: Strength and honor are her clothing….

After laying the groundwork for our calling to be kingdom influencers in our secular culture, we now consider the first of three examples of people who did just that. Joseph was one of the sons of Jacob. He came from a rural ranching family with humble beginnings, but he ascended to become the second most powerful man in the vast kingdom of Egypt. What caused this to happen?

Lee Strobel is the bestselling author of over twenty books, including Is God Real? As a former atheist, Lee is acutely aware of the arguments and internal struggle faced by those who don’t yet know the Lord. His compelling research and deft presentation of the facts surrounding the existence of Jesus have brought many to a saving knowledge of Christ.

A refugee is a displaced person, someone forced to leave his or her country and live elsewhere. The people of Judea were refugees living in Babylon. They’d been kidnapped and taken hundreds of miles away. So Jeremiah sent them a letter giving instructions on how to live as God’s people on foreign soil. We should take his words to heart since we too are displaced from our eternal home.

What will you be remembered for? What one thing will people think of when your name is mentioned after you die? Everyone wants to “leave his mark” on the world—to be acknowledged for some contribution made to society. Jesus wants us to do this as well—to leave a footprint on the path of life so others will say, “Hey, look! God’s kids walked here!” The analogy Jesus used for this influence was salt and light. These are the essence of transformation into a kingdom city.

Life is full of distractions. We can easily be sidetracked from our main objective as Christians. Rather than engaging in endless speculation over future events, we have a task to focus on. Yes, we believe in a coming kingdom. Yes, we are to be ready for the Lord’s return. Yes, the kingdom of heaven will be an awesome experience. But until then we have a message to proclaim and have work to do. In a nutshell, we are to have our eye on the sky but our hand to the plow!

What do the Hamas attacks on Israel mean for end times prophecy? With Skip Heitzig, Joel Rosenberg, and former IDF soldier, Steve the Tour Guide.

Donate to provide critical aid to families impacted by the attacks on Israel. https://cabq.us/aid

Donate to provide critical aid to families impacted by the attacks on Israel. https://cabq.us/aid

Levi and Jennie Lusko pioneered Fresh Life Church in 2007. The ministry includes locations in Montana, Utah, Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming, and reaches around the world online. Levi and Jennie have one son, Lennox, and four daughters, Alivia, Daisy, Clover, and Lenya, who is in heaven.

What does it mean to be kingdom people? What is the nature of this kingdom? What is our responsibility to the world we find ourselves a part of? If Jesus is coming to bring His kingdom and to rule over the earth, can’t we just sit and wait for that to happen? As we consider this model prayer, especially the petition “Your kingdom come. Your will be done…,” we will seek to discover our responsibility as local representatives of the kingdom of God.

Today we will conduct a walk-through of every believer’s ultimate destination—the capital city of the eternal state, called New Jerusalem. Unlike New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, or New Mexico, this future place will have the most unique environment ever. I will touch on seven highlights of this future cityscape that make heaven the world’s most interesting destination.

Our ideas about what heaven will be like may not necessarily be how Scripture describes our eternal home. After officiating hundreds of funerals, I’ve heard some pretty bizarre remarks about loved ones turning into angels or greeting St. Peter at heaven’s gates or engaging in their favorite hobbies. As we look at the final phase of heaven, what is called the eternal state, we read things that may be shocking to some, including that it will come complete with a capital city.

Contemplate the phrase the wrath of God. Most people who hear it think of God as some sort of annoyed deity—one who has a short temper and lashes out in uncontrolled rage. Actually, God’s wrath, including His judgment of unbelievers, is part of His moral integrity. God cannot just withhold judgment; that would go against His moral integrity. The final judgment of God will be His great complement to human freedom and choice. For those who choose to live without God, they will!

The phrase perfect government sounds like an oxymoron. Our world has never known such perfection, and Utopia seems to be the stuff of fairytales. But the Bible promises a coming kingdom on earth, ruled by the Messiah, Jesus Christ. These predictions are widely scattered through the Old Testament and reaffirmed in the New. But only in Revelation 20 are we given the duration of one thousand years. Today I want to share four marks of the governmental structure during the millennium.

Can you envision, or even imagine, a world without conflict or war—a peace-filled, fair, and just environment? This has been the stuff of dreams, fairytales, and fiction. Bumper stickers tell us to “Visualize World Peace,” yet we find it impossible to do so because of our own history. But it is actually scheduled to happen for an entire millennium! For the next two weeks, we will explore this theme of the kingdom age—an era dominated by righteousness, justice, and goodness.

The second coming will be the most important event in the world accomplished by the most important person in the world. It has no parallel. The second coming of Christ will be utterly unlike His first coming. The first time He came born in obscurity—unnoticed and unhonored. He shall come the second time in splendor and be seen by all. Billy Graham once said, “The second coming of Christ will be so revolutionary that it will change every aspect of life on this planet.” It will effectively end history as we know it and ready the world for a glorious kingdom age.

Dr. Frank Turek is a dynamic speaker, TV show host, podcaster, and award-winning author. As president of crossexamined.org, he presents powerful and entertaining evidence for Christianity. He is a widely featured apologetics expert and cultural commentator and has appeared on hundreds of radio programs and top TV networks including Fox News, ABC, and CBS.Alisa Childers is a lifelong churchgoer, follower of Jesus, former CCM recording artist with the Dove Award-winning band ZOEgirl, as well as an apologist and author.

Johnnie Moore is a businessman and itinerant pastor who is best known for his religious freedom advocacy all around the world. He is the author of seven books, including The New Book of Christian Martyrs. He is the recipient of many awards and honors, including the prestigious Medal of Valor from the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles. He has been twice appointed to the US Commission for International Religious Freedom by the president of the United States.

The second coming of Jesus Christ is the moment we have all been waiting for—from the very beginning of human history until now. It is the capstone of God’s redemptive plan, and it is the only hope for the future. After history runs its course of rebellion, after Satan’s age-old retaliation, after God’s closing judgments on the earth, the end of the world as we know it will come. There are eight noticeable features of Christ’s second coming. Today we will cover the first four.

The very word Armageddon sends shivers through the soul! Most everyone has heard the term (or seen the movie). The word even gets mentioned from time to time by world leaders. Most everyone understands it to be a reference to some final battle. But today let’s drill down deeper than just a fictional Hollywood film about an asteroid destroyed by a warhead. Today we will examine five facets of this culminating military campaign, including what will bring it to an end.

The infamous number 666 has been the cause of fear and superstition for generations. If people spot it on a license plate or a grocery store receipt, they consider it a bad omen. It’s right up there with the number 13. Many good expositors differ widely when it comes to interpreting its meaning. Will it be an implanted chip? An ID card? A barcode tattooed into the skin or simply a mark identifying allegiance to Antichrist’s kingdom? Today we will consider three additional details of Antichrist’s coming influence and try to drill down on the meaning of the mark of the beast.

Freedom Celebration 2023 with Skip Heitzig from Calvary Church.

The subject of the Antichrist is one of the most speculated, debated, and ridiculed subjects in all of Scripture. Who he will be, where he’ll be from, and what he will do is the theme of countless books, movies, and dissertations, as well as jokes and memes. But this is a serious subject. There are over 100 passages in the Bible that describe this person. Revelation 13 is one of the more famous. Let’s consider six characteristics of this leader who will live up to his terrible name.

Since God has equipped us with resources and removed our excuses, our job is to keep our gifts active and growing as we live out God's will.

Everyone has a next step toward taking ownership of their family, church, and city. None of us can do everything, but everyone can do something. And if everyone does something, we believe we’re going to find that anything is possible. Write down your next step in each of the three areas of focus for our 2023 vision so you can join us in saying, “This place. These people. My privilege.”I. FamilyII. ChurchIII. City

Eric Metaxas is a New York Times best-selling author whose books have been translated into more than twenty-five languages. He is the host of the Eric Metaxas Show, a nationally syndicated radio program heard on 300 outlets. His eclectic career includes featured appearances as a cultural commentator on CNN, Fox News Channel, and MSNBC.

Just how bad will the coming day of the Lord be for the people of planet Earth? Is the tribulation period simply a scare tactic of doomsday fanatics who love to sensationalize everything? Today we consider an overview of this time period in the book of Revelation. We’ll see both the lowlights and the highlights of this coming seven-year time frame. Hint: some things might surprise you!

I admit that the book of Revelation can appear mysterious, full of curious symbols and imagery. But it’s actually more straightforward than you may think. If you hold to a grammatical/historical view, this book provides a chronological flow of future history. It presents Jesus evaluating His church, judging His world, proclaiming His gospel, saving His nation, and establishing His kingdom. For this week and next, we will consider the flow of the future.

Today we pay a special tribute to those unique individuals we call mothers. They have given us life on this earth, and their influence has transformed our lives. Here in this passage, Paul the apostle pays special tribute to two women who changed the world by seeing their duty as a divine mission. They raised a future leader who helped shape the early years of Christianity through tenderness, godliness, and boldness. These attributes are vital for all of us to have.

The subject of the end times is fascinating and should also be motivating. One thing it should not be is aggravating; it shouldn’t produce fear but rather hope. Some of the young believers in the church at Thessalonica were perturbed and afraid thinking they were facing the tribulation and that loved ones who had died had missed the rapture Paul told them about. Paul’s concern wasn’t just doctrinal but pastoral—he wanted to comfort the Thessalonians. Let’s dig deeper into this doctrine.

The phrase rapture of the church was a foreign one to me. I never heard it growing up and didn’t believe it was real until I read the Bible. Not only do I now believe in the rapture of the church, I believe it could happen at any moment! This passage of Scripture is what E. Schuyler English called “the first New Testament intimation of the Rapture.” Today we will be encouraged by Jesus’ own promise of it. Next week we’ll look more deeply at the timing of it.

These two chapters describe an event that will occur after Israel is restored to its land but before the millennial kingdom is established. There are so many remarkable aspects to this future battle. The list of nations (which today are forming alliances) is one. Another is how they will be overthrown. Other nations will watch but will not come to Israel’s aid. Only God will intervene. Let’s get some further details of this future invasion and how God will use it to bring glory to Himself.

I realize that my sermon title today seems like it could have been a headline from a Ukrainian newspaper in early February 2022. But it actually will be a headline in the Jerusalem Post at some future date. The role of Russia in biblical prophecy, along with a group of nations in strategic alliance with its leader, is noteworthy. Who will they attack? When will it happen? And what is their motivation for this major military incursion of such a tiny country like Israel? Let’s find out.

The land of Israel has been described as “the most important piece of real estate on earth,” “the geographical platform on which the story of the Bible is staged,” “the center of divine dealing with nations,” “the spiritual navel of the world,” and “ground zero for the end times.” Jerusalem has been called “the only city on earth not up for negotiations with anyone at any time for any reason.” Over and over again, God promised Israel “a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Let’s again consider how and why Israel stands at center stage for the fulfillment of end-time prophecy.

One of the great questions that has persisted throughout church history has to do with the future of the nation of Israel. Is God finished with Israel as a nation? Will there be a literal regathering and spiritual restoration? Or is all that figurative and allegorical, meaning that the promises to Israel are now subsumed by the church? Today and for the next few weeks we will consider these questions. We begin with the Abrahamic covenant—God’s unconditional promises made to the nation’s founder.

Last week, we considered how God tells time as we explored the detailed timetable of Israel’s future, including the prediction of the Messiah’s coming and death. Today we will consider the final period of that time clock, the seventieth week. We typically refer to it as the tribulation, a period that is given the greatest explanation in Revelation 6-19. God achieved redemption for the world by the end of the sixty-ninth week through the death of the Messiah, but the overall goal will require the seventieth.

God inhabits eternity but reveals Himself throughout time. Moreover, He wants us to understand what He is up to and what His plans are for the future. Amos declared, “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). God gave to Daniel the prophet the most remarkable timetable for Israel’s future that would lead up to the coming of the Messiah, the tribulation period, and even the kingdom age. Daniel 9 has been called the Backbone of Prophecy. For the next two weeks, we will seek to unravel and understand it.

The Old and New Testaments include numerous references to the kingdom of the Messiah. It is one of the most frequently mentioned subjects in the Bible. Jesus Himself even taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10, KJV). But this subject has become a point of division throughout church history. Three major viewpoints have emerged. Today we examine them and consider the millennium’s chronology, theology, and necessity.

How could the return of Jesus Christ ever be a problem? It certainly won’t be a problem for anyone who trusts in Him. The problem lies in understanding its timing and manner. When and how will Jesus return? How can we say that Jesus can come back at any time and that we should always be ready for Him knowing He said certain signs must happen first? How do we reconcile all the prophetic signs the Bible predicts must happen (including the great tribulation and worldwide devastation) and yet say Jesus is coming soon? Hint: you already know the answer!

Welcome to a study of eschatology, or end times. In the next several weeks, we will be looking into one of the most discussed topics in all of Scripture—the last days and the end of the world. While this is not necessarily a lightweight or feel-good subject matter, it will actually make you feel good if you’re on the right side of it! Four words can be used to sum up the experience of this theme of the last days. These four words will form the basis of our studies in coming weeks.

It seems that everyone is an armchair theologian these days, expressing their opinion of what churches should (and shouldn’t) do! From declaring that churches should stay away from contemporary, especially political, topics to saying the church should just be concerned about social issues. But as Paul closed out his letter to the church at Colosse, he informed them—and us—of what churches should be focused on. These final verses give five directives for any church.

I admit I stole the sermon title from the 1967 Beatles song of this same name. That aside, the truth is we were never designed to do life alone! Isolation is the death knell of a productive and satisfying life. Someone once said that a friend is “one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” In this brief pericope, we gain understanding as to how Christian friendships should work.

God’s leaders have always leaned on others to support them in their work. Paul was no different. He didn’t operate a one-man show. Rather, he was a team builder who spread the load of ministry among others, many of whom were suspect and questionable. But Paul himself was once suspect and questionable. In these closing remarks, we get insight into what attributes make for strong, healthy, and effective relationships. Today let’s consider two guys who displayed four qualities.

Four out of ten Americans believe we are living in the end times, a topic often misunderstood, sensationalized, or ignored altogether. Next to the topic of faith itself, the theme of the second coming dominates the Scriptures, and as believers, there are aspects of our future we can be certain of—the prophecies of Scripture will be fulfilled. In this message, Skip Heitzig encourages us to prepare our hearts for Jesus’ return as we see “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8) in the world around us.

Joseph and Mary were pushed into the night by the innkeeper, local shepherds went into the night to find the Infant who was announced by angels, and now the Magi were traveling westward into the night following a star. Who were these mysterious men and why had they come? How did they know to show up in Jerusalem and then Bethlehem? What prompted them to bow and worship this Child? Today we probe the familiar story to learn from their background and journey to Christ the King.

Experts tell us that breaking up your routine can be healthy and can help you to eliminate burnout. Predictability and monotonous activity can stifle creativity and even lead to depression. For a group of shepherds whose work was uneventful and often boring, everything was about to change from a nighttime encounter that shattered their routine and gave them a new sense of purpose. Their story is one of the best parts of the Christmas narrative. Let’s take a fresh look at their experience.

Robert Browning quipped, “Night conceals a world but reveals a universe.” Kids are often afraid of the dark, preferring a brightly lit room to the pitch black of night. But the Christmas story is shrouded in the darkness of the nighttime sky. Its events took place in a barely lit stable after the innkeeper had pushed Joseph and his very pregnant wife away from shelter and into the night. But God’s universal plan would be revealed through this humble birth. Today we begin this short series by looking at Christmas through the experience of this couple from Nazareth.

This teaching is from the series 10 2 Samuel - 2022 with Skip Heitzig from Calvary Church.

Communication is a basic human trait, and one of the most obvious differences between people and animals is our ability to form articulate speech. We can inform, persuade, instruct, motivate, and encourage. The Christian, in particular, is called upon to speak to God about people and speak to people about God. The “new man” (Colossians 3:10) has a new mouth and a new message. Let’s consider four ways that we as believers can communicate to God and others.

True worship of God is rooted in thankfulness. Thankfulness, not for what you have, or what your circumstances might be right now, but thankfulness in who God is and what He accomplished on the cross. Worship and gratitude are meant to be given to God from the highs and lows of life—when you’re at your best and your worst. In this message, Nate Heitzig shares how you can worship the God who created you with thankfulness even when chaos surrounds you.

This teaching is from the series of Topical Teachings with Nate Heitzig from Calvary Church.

Our faith in Jesus Christ not only changes us, but it also changes families and it changes communities. Or at least it should! Every corner of our culture should feel the “salt and light” that is created from the transformed Christian lives within it. Just as Paul had instructed wives, husbands, children, and parents within the home, he now instructs the servants and masters who make up the social world. We can glean much about what our actions and attitudes in the workplace should be like.

A four-legged stool can meet the contours of an uneven floor much better than a three-legged one, and it can handle the displacement of weight more efficiently. Life is much the same way. A bumpy world requires the stability provided by a family. If each family member is aligned with God’s will, the weight of life’s trials will be much easier to bear. The strength and solidity of a good and godly home is society’s greatest asset. Let’s consider four basic roles for a successful family unit.

Today I am grateful to Mr. Dean Sicking, an American inventor who invented the first energy-absorbing guardrail for US roadways to keep our cars on the highway. But did you know there are also guardrails to keep our lives in the lane of God’s will? After describing the character of the new man (the saved and transformed person), Paul turns to our conduct. He gives to us four guardrails that will keep our lives “between the white lines” of the will of God.

The global fashion market is a $1.55 trillion industry. It’s because everyone wears clothes! From birth to death, people cover themselves with apparel both for warmth and for style. The Christian believer should also have a spiritual closet filled with the right (and righteous) garments. Paul has been speaking about the “old man” versus the “new man,” and he does so using a fashion metaphor. In these three verses, he explains how every Christian can dress for success!

Levi Lusko is the founder and lead pastor of Fresh Life Church. He is the best-selling author of Through the Eyes of a Lion, Swipe Right, I Declare War, Take Back Your Life, Roar Like a Lion, and The Last Supper on the Moon. He and his wife, Jennie, have one son, Lennox, and four daughters: Alivia, Daisy, Clover, and Lenya, who is in heaven.

Levi Lusko is the founder and lead pastor of Fresh Life Church. He is the best-selling author of Through the Eyes of a Lion, Swipe Right, I Declare War, Take Back Your Life, Roar Like a Lion, and The Last Supper on the Moon. He and his wife, Jennie, have one son, Lennox, and four daughters: Alivia, Daisy, Clover, and Lenya, who is in heaven.

Levi Lusko is the founder and lead pastor of Fresh Life Church. He is the best-selling author of Through the Eyes of a Lion, Swipe Right, I Declare War, Take Back Your Life, Roar Like a Lion, and The Last Supper on the Moon. He and his wife, Jennie, have one son, Lennox, and four daughters: Alivia, Daisy, Clover, and Lenya, who is in heaven.

Today’s message title may sound suspiciously similar to last week’s message title. That’s because we are dealing with two different sides of the same coin. Paul began this chapter by focusing our attention on heaven in the first four verses. Now he brings us back down to earth where we are slugging it out in the trenches of sensuality and hatred. While on our way to heaven, we are still doing battle on earth. Paul tells us that heavenly citizens should take three firm steps while living on earth.

“Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal,” said Thomas Moore. But if that is true, why don’t we think more about heaven? Why do we only think and talk about heaven at funerals? How can the reality of our future home motivate our activities right now? If you were to think about your life in terms of chronology, how much time do you have left on earth? Let’s look at three categories of truth that will help us aim at heaven while we are living on earth.

Karl Marx insisted that “religion is the opium of the people,” while Napoleon Bonaparte suggested that “religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich.” But within the broad category of religious belief are ideologies and practices that are dangerous and silly because they distract people from the essence of truth. God made it simple by having His Son do for us what we could never do on our own—reach God! Religion takes what is simple and merely complicates it.

Sitting in the choir loft one Sunday morning, Elvina Hall, inspired by a sermon, wrote in the flyleaf of her songbook the words to a now-famous hymn: “Jesus paid it all; all to Him I owe.” Paul expressed much the same thing in this paragraph. After telling his readers they were complete in Christ, he then showed them how that was so. Against the backdrop of false teachers, some of whom insisted on performing rituals, Paul showed exactly what Jesus had done.

Jesus Christ is the most controversial person who has ever lived! There are as many opinions about Him as there are religions, cults, philosophies, and church denominations. Though Paul had never met the young Christians in the church of Colosse, he was deeply concerned for them since attractive, man-made philosophies were making inroads. He wanted them to know the truth, to grow in their faith, and to be careful of any human ideas that diminish the place of Jesus Christ. I have summed up Paul’s concerns with three simple directives: Believe! Behave! Beware!

Serving Christ is the result of being saved by Christ. But the Christian life should carry a warning label: “Warning: Those who enter here won’t find it easy. In fact, at times it will be very difficult, but it will be the greatest adventure ever!” In this paragraph, Paul opened the curtain on his own personal life as a servant of Christ and shared five characteristics of his own ministry. Are they yours?

Today we come to one of the most important truths of the New Testament—that we have been reconciled to God. The gap that separates humans from their Creator has been closed by one person and one action. The results of that act are what brings God and His rebel creatures into a restored relationship. Let’s take a deeper dive into these magnificent realities and what they mean to us.

A popular college class in most philosophy departments compares the beliefs of major world religions, including Christianity. Jesus is presented as one among many options to believe in. He is typically explained as a poor Jewish itinerant preacher who resisted the religious system and got into trouble because of it. But the Bible doesn’t present Him that way. Scripture presents Jesus as the supreme One—the unmatched, superlative, preeminent progenitor of everything in existence.

Before theology must come knee-ology! Praying is one of the most basic activities of anyone’s spiritual life. Before Paul got into the nitty-gritty of the great theological heart of this letter (the supremacy of Christ), he prayed for the believers in Colosse. What he prayed for is a good template for us in praying for other Christians. It’s eye-opening to discover the items that are on his list. (Spoiler alert: He didn’t pray for their health, finances, or relationships—though there’s nothing wrong with that.) Paul’s prayer requests were more basic, more to the heart of core issues.

One of the best compliments you could ever receive is, “You are a great Christian.” Of course, there are no perfect people and thus no perfect Christians. But every true Christian is a great Christian because of five traits observed by the apostle Paul in this paragraph of Colossians. He was thankful for the work of Christ in their lives, which rendered them valuable (great) in the sight of God and for the purpose of His cause. Let’s explore them.

Father’s Day can carry mixed emotions for many of us, but our faulty view of a fallen world must not discolor our view of our heavenly Father. The parable of the prodigal son highlights a father’s love for his children. The lost son received his father’s love just as we receive God’s unconditional love and acceptance—not because of anything we’ve ever done or ever could do, but because of who He is. In this message, Pastor Nate Heitzig reminds us that no one loves like our heavenly Father because no one is like Him.

Some of the biggest questions people ask have to do with purpose: Why am I here? What is the meaning of my life? What is my purpose? The Bible of course answers all the big questions about life, these included. Today we consider the journey we take from pointlessness to purpose, especially as we engage in the work God has for us in His church. Since the church has always been central in God’s plan (see Matthew 16:18), our greatest sense of purpose comes by fulfilling our part in it.

Faithfulness can overcome the most difficult circumstances, resulting in a legacy of faith that ripples through multiple generations.

“People, like trees, must grow or die. There’s no standing still” (Joseph Shore). Spiritual growth is part of spiritual life, and the church is to be primarily about that. We are committed to life change—spiritual growth—and the catalyst for that growth is the Word of God. Scripture provides the primary means by which Christians develop and flourish in their relationship to God and to others. Let me share three basic principles for being spiritually fed and how you can grow.

To belong is to be accepted. To belong is to feel secure. Without belonging, we are isolated and alone. Our greatest desire as humans is to know and be known, to love and be loved, and to feel confident that those who know and love us will be there for us through thick and thin. Mother Teresa, the tireless servant in Calcutta’s slums, said, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” That is never truer than in the church. This new society that Jesus calls His church is where we find connection to God and a sense of belonging.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most attested-to facts in history, and it is a fact that sets Christianity apart from every other world religion. For those who knew Jesus while He walked this earth, the road to discovering and believing that Jesus was resurrected started in disheartening confusion, but it ended in decisive confirmation. In this Easter message, Skip Heitzig shares five principles to help us relate to the risen Christ from the conversation Jesus had with two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most attested-to facts in history, and it is a fact that sets Christianity apart from every other world religion. For those who knew Jesus while He walked this earth, the road to discovering and believing that Jesus was resurrected started in disheartening confusion, but it ended in decisive confirmation. In this Easter message, Skip Heitzig shares five principles to help us relate to the risen Christ from the conversation Jesus had with two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus.

Although the final steps of Jesus' earthly life took Him from the courtyard where He was sentenced to death to Golgotha where He was crucified, Jesus' journey to the cross began with His birth and lasted thirty-three years. In this Good Friday message, Skip Heitzig takes note of the variety of people Scripture highlights throughout Jesus' final steps on the road to the cross. Pontius Pilate set Him on the road, Simon the Cyrene helped Him on the road, women mourned Him on the road, and criminals accompanied Him on the road. And in an incredible final moment of mercy, God heard Jesus on the road when He asked his Father to forgive them all.

Today, on Good Friday, and on Easter Sunday, we consider events that occurred while on the road. As Jesus approached the city of Jerusalem for His atoning death and glorious resurrection, He was met on the road by a crowd of worshiping supporters who laid their garments on that road as Jesus entered their city. This singular event, traditionally called the triumphal entry, displays four attributes of God’s personality reflected in Christ’s life and ministry.

The world is a cruel place because the effects of sin are virtually everywhere. The consequence is that people become broken, addicted, hardened, depressed, and unstable. Everywhere people go, they experience the coldness of rejection. Social, educational, and political institutions don’t help, but rather make things worse. The church of Jesus Christ could be and should be a place of healing—not by excusing wrongdoing, but by lifting people to a place of forgiveness and help.

The church—the gathering of people that Jesus Christ promises to establish, head, and protect—sometimes does not reflect to the world what He wants it to reflect. As a result, many people view church as a place of condemnation and rejection rather than a place of love and acceptance. In this message, Nate Heitzig teaches from James 4 about how our love for others, not our condemnation, can lead them to repentance.

Most people would say that church is a place for events, such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, baby dedications, or prayer meetings. But first and foremost, church (the occasion of God’s people meeting together) should be a place for change. In fact, did you know that the word repent carries the meaning of changing one’s mind? The last paragraph of Acts chapter 2 could be titled How the Church Changed Their City. Let’s examine how this change was a five-fold work.