Summit Life With J.d. Greear

David may have been a man after God’s own heart, but he also made some terrible mistakes. In this message, we’re studying 1 Chronicles 29:10-22 to discover how David’s response to his most devastating sin is a crucial part of what makes him a great example for our lives. It’s part of our series called, Search for a King.

The Bible records two different versions of the end of David’s life: One in 2 Samuel, and one in 1 Chronicles. One version focuses on David’s failures and lack of faith, while the other reveals God’s redemptive power. And both of them point ahead to the coming Savior! That’s our subject as we continue our series called Search for a King. 

Why would a census from a king, known as a “man after God’s own heart,” incite divine wrath? In this message, Pastor J.D. teaches from one of the most perplexing stories in the Old Testament, a story that occurred near the end of David’s incredible life. It’s part of our series called, Search for a King.

According to Romans 8, there’s no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. So why do believers still face consequences for sin?  Pastor J.D. answers that question as we look at the tragic story of King David, who lost his family and kingdom through a single night of lust. But thankfully, that’s not where his story ends!

We know that because of the cross, our sins are forgiven, and when we surrender to Jesus, there’s no condemnation left for us! Jesus took all God’s wrath. And yet, sin still has consequences in this life. Why is that, and how should we respond? Pastor J.D. answers those questions as he continues our study in the book of Second Samuel. We’re looking at the tragic results of David’s sin with Bathsheba and the hope of the gospel that shines through it all. 

When the sun comes up in the morning, our natural response is to pull the pillow over our head and pretend it’s still dark. And most of us will admit that we often respond the same way when our sins come to light. But Pastor J.D. explains that for true repentance and healing to happen, we can’t keep ignoring or excusing our sin. On this edition of Summit Life, we’re looking at a Psalm that King David wrote after he was caught in sexual sin, and we’re learning the steps to biblical repentance. 

When you’ve messed up big time and done something that you can’t take back, how do you move forward? What’s the next step? Pastor J.D. shows us how King David responded when he was called out on his sin with Bathsheba, and we’re discovering the steps to true, biblical repentance. It’s part of our series in 2 Samuel called Search for a King.

In our study of King David called Search for a King, we’re dealing with the uncomfortable but important topic of sexual sin. If there’s one area where almost everyone has regrets, it’s this one. But even in the midst of David’s greatest failure, God was painting a picture of the coming Savior. Pastor J.D. is teaching from 2 Samuel 11.

King David is one of the greatest Old Testament heroes. He’s known as a man after God’s own heart, the one who defeated Goliath and saved Israel. But even he wasn’t perfect. In fact, he messed up big time! And as we learn about his greatest failure, we’ll discover the importance of fleeing from sexual sin.

How much do you have to give to please God? Is an hour of your Sunday morning enough or ten percent of your income? What if you went into full time missions and gave away everything but the clothes on your back? Would that be enough? As Pastor J.D. leads us through the story of King David, he explains that it’s not about what we do for God, but what God does for us. And our service to him flows out of that!

What do we have to do to be good enough for God? Some think it’s enough to just live a decent life and not hurt other people. Others think they have to give everything away, and they constantly worry if they’ve done enough! On this edition of Summit Life, Pastor J.D. brings clarity on this issue, as he explains what God really wants from us. It’s part of our study in the book of 2 Samuel called Search for a King.

If you visit a few different churches, you’ll probably notice several kinds of worshipers. Some people sing in solemn reverence, while others raise their hands, dance, or maybe even fall to their knees. Is one way better and more pleasing to God than the other? Pastor J.D. addresses that question as he continues our study of King David titled, Search for a King.

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.