Summit Life with J.D. Greear

We all crave happiness, and yet, it often seems elusive. We pin our hopes on something in the future, like marriage, kids, career success, or retirement, and we think if we can just get to that goal, we’ll be happy. But nothing ever seems to satisfy! So what’s the solution? How do we escape the rat race and find true, lasting joy? Pastor J.D. answers that question as he continues his series called The Whole Story.

When artists try to depict Jesus, they often paint him wearing a clean, white robe and holding a lamb in a quiet, green pasture. It’s a peaceful and comforting representation, reminding us that Jesus is our Good Shepherd. There’s nothing wrong with those images, in and of themselves, but they don’t capture the full picture of Jesus. In this message, Pastor J.D. draws our attention to another aspect of Jesus’ character. And it might surprise you! It’s part of our series called The Whole Story.

Sometimes, a little scare can be fun, like when you’re watching a suspenseful movie or riding a roller coaster. But aside from that, we don’t typically think of fear as a positive thing. However, when it comes to our relationship with God, fear is actually a good, healthy, and even essential emotion. That’s our subject as we continue our series called The Whole Story.

Have you ever prayed for a miracle? At one point or another, almost everyone will end up on their knees begging for the impossible, even those who don’t consider themselves religious. Sometimes, you might get the answer you were hoping for! But other times, it seems like God doesn’t respond. Why is that? Pastor J.D. tackles this challenging topic as he continues our series called, The Whole Story.

As we continue our series called, The Whole Story, Pastor J.D. walks us through the story of two people who came to Jesus looking for physical healing. But as we’ll see, these stories are about so much more than just getting your prayers answered. We’re talking about faith, prayer, and God’s sovereign plan.

Whether we’re aware of it or not, we all face temptations on a daily basis. Sometimes, we’re even tempted to be prideful about overcoming temptation! So, how do we find the power to overcome and keep resisting the constant enticement? That’s the subject as Pastor J.D. continues this series called, The Whole Story.

When you hear the word, “sin,” what do you picture? For some of us, it’s something along the lines of a wild party or an adulterous affair. Impatience probably isn’t first thing that comes to mind. But as Pastor J.D. continues a series called, The Whole Story, he explains that a lack of patience is at the root of a lot of sins.

Baptism is one of those subjects that tends to stir up some lively debate among believers. Some people say you should be baptized as a baby; others say you should wait for adulthood. Some like to sprinkle, while others like to dunk. But what does the Bible say on the issue, and why does it even matter? Pastor J.D. addresses those questions as he continues a series called, The Whole Story.

When you were a kid, did you ever get a really big homework assignment, but instead of chipping away at it over the semester, you put it off until the night before it was due? Thankfully, with a homework assignment, the worst that can happen is a bad grade. But in this message, Pastor J.D. talks about something you might be putting off that has much higher stakes. It’s part of our series called, The Whole Story.

If there’s one part of Scripture most of us skip over, it’s the genealogies. It’s hard to see how a list of “who-begat-who” is relevant to our own lives. But in this message, Pastor J.D. explains that those lists are actually critical to understanding God’s plan. We’re looking at the genealogy of Jesus and learning how God has been working through all of history to reveal the plan of salvation. It’s part of our series called, “The Whole Story.”

Recently, there’s been a growing interest in studying family histories. In fact, multiple companies have popped up that will trace your family line through a DNA sample. For some people, the results may be exciting, learning about historical figures or even royalty in their line. For others, the findings may be a little less glamorous. In this message, we’re taking a look at Jesus’ family history and what it reveals about God’s overarching plan for human history. It’s part of our series called, “The Whole Story”

If you asked an atheist why they don’t believe in God, they’ll often say that it’s due to a lack of evidence. But is that really the case? Is our faith just based on wishful thinking, or are there logical reasons to believe the Bible? As Pastor J.D. continues our series called, The Whole Story, he argues there is solid evidence of God’s existence. He’s taking us through the prophecies of Isaiah—a book that can only be explained by divine inspiration.

There’s something special about receiving a thoughtful note, especially when it’s coming from someone you love. Maybe that’s why so many romantic movies center on a love letter! Well, as Pastor J.D. continues our series called, The Whole Story, he’s looking at the greatest love letter ever written: the book of Isaiah.

In this message, Pastor J.D. unpacks a lesser-known account from the Old Testament that gives us a powerful picture of God’s purpose in our suffering. It’s the story of a young girl’s faith, a proud man’s brush with death, and God’s amazing mercy. It’s part of our overview of the Bible called, The Whole Story.

Life doesn’t always go according to plan. Sometimes, things go wrong because of a reckless or unwise decision, but much of the time, it’s due to forces outside our control. And when everything is headed downhill, we might start to wonder if God has abandoned us or if he even exists. As we continue our series called, The Whole Story, Pastor J.D. addresses those doubts, helping us see God’s greater purpose in our pain.

As we continue our series called, The Whole Story, we’re looking at a tragic moment in the history of Israel. The people had turned from following God and had given themselves over to worshiping idols. Pastor J.D. cautions us that, though it might not look the same in our day, idolatry is still alive and well. He’s teaching from Ezekiel 10:4 to 11:23.

When life is going well, it’s easy to say that we trust God’s plan. But what about when everything seems to be falling apart? Does having faith mean we skip along and pretend everything is fine? Pastor J.D. addresses those questions as he continues our series called, The Whole Story. We’re looking at Psalm 37.

What kind of memories do you have of your dad? Maybe he was a good father or, maybe your relationship has been strained. Pastor J.D. explains that no matter what our relationships with our earthly dads look like, we all have some sort of childhood wounds. In a series titled, Foretold, we’re learning how our heavenly father heals all wounds.

Whether we like to admit it or not, we all wrestle with doubts from time to time. So when those questions start creeping up in our minds and we just can’t make sense of God’s plan, how should we respond? Pastor J.D. turns to Psalm 73 to answer that question as he continues our series called, The Whole Story.

The Bible describes King David as “a man after God’s own heart.” He was the one who fought Goliath and wrote many of our favorite psalms. And yet, even this great hero of the faith fell into the trap of sexual sin. In this message, Pastor J.D. is drawing some cautionary truths from David’s mistakes and is pointing us to our only true hope. It’s part of our series called, The Whole Story.

In Christian circles, King David is often treated as a model of courage and faithfulness. And in many ways, he was that! But he was also a broken sinner. In this message, we’re looking at the darkest moment in David’s life and learning from his mistakes. It’s part of our overview of the Bible called, The Whole Story.

Are you up against a giant today? Maybe you’re facing a scary diagnosis or a financial crisis. Perhaps it’s a rebellious child, or someone you love has walked out of your life. When your problems seem so big, it’s hard not to feel like God has abandoned you. But in this message, Pastor J.D. reminds us that our God is fighting for us, even when we can’t see it. We’re looking at the story of David and Goliath as we continue our overview of the Bible called, The Whole Story.

Everyone likes an underdog story: the protagonist who’s up against impossible odds, yet somehow manages to pull through. It’s no wonder Hollywood is always doing a take on this theme. So when most of us picture David and Goliath, we think of it as another inspiring story about overcoming obstacles. But Pastor J.D. suggests we might actually be missing the main point! It’s part of our series called, The Whole Story.

As Pastor J.D. continues our series called, The Whole Story, we’re looking at a short Old Testament book that paints a beautiful picture of God’s redeeming love. Through the romance of Boaz and Ruth, we see a picture of Jesus, our Kinsman Redeemer. And we’re learning that God can restore any situation for our good and his glory!

Have you ever come to a point in your life where it seemed like everything had fallen apart? Maybe it was a cancer diagnosis or the death of a loved one. Maybe your business went under, or you lost your home in a natural disaster. In this message, Pastor J.D. walks us through the story of a woman who lost everything: her home, her family, and her financial security. And through her story, we’re finding hope to carry us through even in the darkest seasons! It’s part of our series called, The Whole Story.

How do you judge success in life? Is it tied to your bank account or the respect of your peers? We all have different things we look to for validation, but Pastor J.D. is reminding us that God has a different way of measuring success. We’re looking at the book of Joshua and learning how to find success in surrender. It’s part of our series called, The Whole Story.

In military terms, surrender is a bad thing. It means you’ve failed or given up. But in spiritual terms, surrender is the best decision you’ll ever make! As Pastor J.D. continues our series called, The Whole Story, he’s describing what it means to submit yourself completely to God’s will and direction. We’re looking at the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho and learning how to give up control to God’s leading.

At the center of any religion, you’ll find a list of rules and expectations. But the gospel is different, because it’s not about anything we’ve done! That’s our subject as Pastor J.D. continues our series called, The Whole Story. We’re looking at the final sermon Moses delivered to the Israelites before his death. And, we’re discovering that even in the Old Testament, Moses was already pointing to Jesus and the gospel of grace.

If you grew up in church, you probably heard a lot of talk about the “heroes of the faith.” You maybe have even had storybooks or movies featuring these larger-than-life figures like Joseph, Moses, or David. But when you read through their stories as an adult, you’ll start to notice these heroes were far from perfect. Instead of being role models, they were signposts pointing to a much greater hero! In this message, Pastor J.D. dives into the story of Moses to help us see what God was really trying to teach through this account. It’s part of our series called, “The Whole Story.”

As believers, we know we’re saved by God’s grace alone, not by any works that we do. But why does the Bible give us so many rules and regulations? Pastor J.D. answers that question as he describes the purpose of these Old Testament instructions. We’ll be learning more about the Ten Commandments as we continue our series called, The Whole Story.

Many people think of the Bible as just a book of rules and regulations. And, the Old Testament tends to be especially intimidating, because it appears to be full of impossible standards we can never live up to. As we continue our series called, The Whole Story, Pastor J.D. explains the true purpose behind all of God’s standards. It’s an important reminder about our desperate need of God’s grace.

Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, is the holiest of all the biblical feasts. And traditionally, the activities of this solemn day centered around two goats. One was sacrificed, while the other was sent into the wilderness as a scapegoat, symbolically carrying away the sins of the people. As Pastor J.D. continues our series called, The Whole Story, he explains how this ancient practice points to Jesus!

As we continue our series called, The Whole Story, Pastor J.D. dives into a part of the Bible you don’t usually hear a lot about: the book of Leviticus. We’re learning how the traditional celebration of Yom Kippur serves as a sign—pointing us to Jesus!

The story of Joseph and his many-colored coat is one of the more popular accounts in the Old Testament. But it’s more than just an interesting story. From being sold into slavery by his brothers, thrown into prison, and then rising to power and being reunited with his family, Joseph’s life is a beautiful picture of God’s sovereign plan. And that’s our subject as Pastor J.D. continues our series titled, The Whole Story.

It’s easy to say you trust God. But when things go wrong, and your child gets a scary diagnosis or your business goes under, it’s hard to see how that fits into God’s plan. Pastor J.D. is tackling those doubts as he continues our overview of the Bible called, The Whole Story. We’re getting an important reminder of God’s sovereign control in every situation.

Our culture tells us that the key to happiness is finding your soul mate. But then, when marriage gets hard, we start looking for something else to fill us up, like a career, children, or a hobby. But it never really satisfies! Pastor J.D. is pointing us to the only source of lasting joy as he continues our series called, The Whole Story.

The movies often make it seem like romance is the answer to all of our problems. Guy kisses girl, and they live happily ever after. But we all know that real life doesn’t work that way! No matter how happy your relationship might be, it’s not a guarantee of a happy life. As Pastor J.D. continues our series called, The Whole Story, he’s explaining the key to true, lasting joy, regardless of your relationship status.

When you picture “the good life,” what comes to mind? Financial security? A happy marriage? A successful career? None of those things are wrong on their own. But Pastor J.D. explains that they will never truly bring you satisfaction. We’re discovering the only source of security and significance as we continue our series called, The Whole Story.

Whenever you start something new, there tends to be a “honeymoon phase,” when it seems like all of your dreams are coming true. But eventually, that excitement wears off, and you find it’s not as perfect as you initially thought. How are we supposed to handle those disappointments? What do you do when the thing you’ve been dreaming about doesn’t fulfill you like you thought it would? Pastor J.D. addresses those questions as he continues our series called, The Whole Story.

Noah’s Ark is one of the most popular stories in the Bible. It’s an especially big hit with kids. In fact, you’ve probably seen picture books and nursery décor with the animals going up two-by-two into the boat. But when you look at the actual story as it’s told in the Bible, it’s definitely not G-rated! As we continue our series called, The Whole Story, Pastor J.D. explains what Noah’s story reveals about our sin, God’s wrath, and the plan of redemption.

If you asked a few people to name their favorite aspect of God’s character, you’d probably hear things like, “his love” or “his grace.” His wrath usually won’t be at the top of the list! But Pastor J.D. explains that God’s wrath isn’t something to be covered up, ignored, or minimized. It’s actually an important, beautiful part of who God is! And we’ll see why that is as we unpack the story of Noah’s Ark. It’s part of our series called, The Whole Story.

It doesn’t take more than about ten minutes of listening to the news to know that our world is pretty messed up. Between wars, hate crimes, and mass shootings, it can all seem pretty overwhelming! But how did things get this way, and is there any way to fix it? Pastor J.D. tackles those questions as he continues our series called, The Whole Story.

Most people like to think of themselves as a “pretty good person.” But Pastor J.D. is challenging that notion as he continues our study in Genesis. He’s showing that, if we’re honest with ourselves, we know we’re not as good as we should be. So why is that, and what can we do about it? It’s part of our series called, The Whole Story.

If you grew up in the Western world, you’re probably familiar with the Genesis account of creation. But why did this story get included in the Bible? Is it just for the sake of our curiosity, so we know where we came from? Pastor J.D. explains that this story actually has much bigger implications. As we continue our series called, The Whole Story, we’re discovering what the creation account reveals about God’s design for us.

Almost every culture and every religion has their own creation story—their idea of how everything started. And that story says a lot about how the people in that culture view themselves. Well, Pastor J.D. is unpacking the true story of creation. He’s explaining how we were created—and what that says about our ultimate purpose. It’s part of our series called, The Whole Story.

When you pick up a Bible, you’re actually holding sixty-six books, written by more than thirty authors over a span of thousands of years. And yet, it all tells one story! And that’s the subject of our series titled, The Whole Story. We’re going to go from Genesis to Revelation, hitting most of the major events in-between. But before we get to Genesis, Pastor J.D. kicks off the study with a quick stop in the book of Psalms.

What kind of memories do you have of your dad? Maybe he was a good father or, maybe your relationship has been strained. Pastor J.D. explains that no matter what our relationships with our earthly dads look like, we all have some sort of childhood wounds. In a series titled, Foretold, we’re learning how our heavenly father heals all wounds.

As Pastor J.D. continues our series called, Foretold, we’re looking at some Old Testament prophesies in the book of Isaiah. As we study the reign of Ahaz, King of Jerusalem, we’ll learn more about Ahaz’s reign, and an event that pointed to the coming Savior—700 years before the birth of Jesus.

Around Christmas time, we hear and see the words—For to us a child is born everywhere. And we know the verse is talking about Jesus. But for most of us, that’s all we know about it. Join us as Pastor J.D. dives into the context behind this familiar Christmas passage. It’s a message from our series, Foretold.

As a kid, you probably believed a lot of stories about the Christmas season that you later learned were a bit exaggerated or made up entirely. So, is the story of Jesus’ birth just another story? Pastor J.D. addresses that question on Summit Life as he continues our series called, Foretold.