The Summit Church

<p>Depending on which generation you're a part of, the word "revival" may conjure up thoughts of planned, week-long events at church featuring fiery sermons and calls for repentance. But as we'll learn, revival isn't something you can simply put on a calendar. In this week's message from Nehemiah 8, Pastor J.D. takes us through five elements of true revival, some of which we can do and others of which only God can do. And in the end, revival doesn't begin with a brilliant strategy; it begins with a hunger for the Word of God. </p>

<p>Easter is a cause for incredible celebration for many reasons, of course. But one of them is that even as astounding as Jesus' miracles of healing were, ultimately, they were signs that pointed to something greater still. They were mere shadows, and Jesus' resurrection, his resounding victory over sin and death, is the substance. In this weekend's message from John 5, Pastor Bryan shows us the healing and freedom that is found in believing in the resurrection and finding our true identity in Jesus.</p>

<p>It's hardly surprising that Nehemiah faced opposition in rebuilding the wall. But what is particularly unsettling is that the most dangerous opposition came not from outside but from inside. In this week's message from Nehemiah 5, Pastor J.D. shows us how compromise on the inside is a far bigger threat to the work of God than critics on the outside. So how can we guard against such a grave threat? The truth is, the heart of leadership that refuses to bow to compromise is found, first and foremost, in a posture of awe and reverence before God.</p>

<p>Every work of God in the world, whether big or small, faces opposition. If we're going to fulfill what God has called us to, persistence may be the most important skill that we can master. In this week's message from Nehemiah 4 and 6, Pastor J.D. not only shows us the different kinds of opposition that Nehemiah faced, but how he responded. A proper response always starts with remembering how God has been faithful in the past, and this, ultimately, fuels our anticipation of how he will be faithful in the future. </p>

<p>The book of Nehemiah leads us to think a lot about the idea of a calling on our lives. We may think we're too broken or messy to be used by God, but the truth is, broken people are exactly who God longs to use to build his kingdom. In this week's message from Nehemiah 2 and 3, Pastor J.D. explains how everybody has a job to do and a role to play in the restoration that God is bringing. The question is, are we ready to go where he calls us to go and do what he calls us to do?</p><p><br></p>

<p>In this weekend’s message, Pastor Joby Martin from The Church of Eleven22 walks us through part of 1 Corinthians 16, cautioning us to be watchful. </p>

<p>We've all wondered it: Does God have a special assignment for me, and if so, how do I know if I'm actually accomplishing it? The Bible doesn't record Nehemiah ever receiving a prophetic dream or vision from God, and yet, he has a divinely placed burden that moves him to act. In this week's message from Nehemiah 2, Pastor J.D. shows us how to narrow down what God might be calling us to do for his kingdom. Not everything that comes from heaven has your name on it, but something does. </p>

<p>Time and again, we've seen that God moves through ordinary acts of obedience; we simply have to join him in the work he's already doing. In this week’s message from Acts 8, Pastor John takes us through the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. What set Philip apart as someone used by God? He wasn't an apostle, after all. He wasn't flashy or even particularly impressive. But he was a faithful servant, and his obedience to God was immediate. Could the same be said of you?</p>

<p>The Bible is full of stories of God using ordinary people to do amazing things by putting his vision into them, and the book of Nehemiah is no exception. In this week's message from Nehemiah 1, Pastor J.D. gives us helpful principles for discerning God's call on our own lives. The truth is, Nehemiah wasn't someone of particular privilege or position; he had simply heard from God and was burdened to act. And when he did, God used him to change history. How might he choose to use you? </p>

<p>Ambition tends to get a bad rap, particularly in Christian circles. Sometimes, that's for good reason. But sometimes, it's simply because we're missing the point: Scripture doesn't call us to kill ambition but to aim it properly. In this week's message from Romans 15, Pastor Curtis shows us how the gospel shapes ambition and ultimately redeems it. When we are secure in our identity in Christ, we won't be striving for self-worth; we'll be striving from the worth given to us in him. </p>

<p>You might expect Paul's final instructions to the Corinthian church to be full of eloquent, stirring rhetoric, designed to hype them up as they faced survival in a world hostile to Christ. But what we find in reading his final charge to this congregation is strikingly different. In this week's message from 2 Corinthians 12 and 13, Pastor J.D. shows us how Paul's focus was on calling the church back to the fundamentals, lived out in the context of community. His words remain essential to us today, as we navigate a world no less hostile to Christ and his message. </p>

<p>In Disney’s “Wreck-It Ralph,” a video game character named Vanellope has a frustrating glitch, making her flicker and disappear. It’s a source of shame for the entire movie … until she learns that this “glitch” actually provides her with a power she could never have imagined. Her glitch was actually a feature. In this week’s message from 2 Corinthians 11–12, Pastor J.D. shows us a similar “glitch” in the life of Paul—and, in fact, in the lives of all believers. It’s that point of pain and struggle we all wish we could remove. But as we’ll learn, this “glitch” of weakness is actually the gateway to experience God’s grace: God’s power made perfect.</p>

<p>There are many spiritual battles that we will face in our lives, whether related to our own growth, parenting our children, or seeing someone come to Christ. The problem is that we often try to fight these battles out of our own strength, rather than relying on the power that God supplies. In this week's message from 2 Corinthians 10, Pastor J.D. shows us the importance of being properly equipped for any spiritual battle—and it begins with things like prayer, saturating ourselves in the Word, and depending on the Holy Spirit.</p>

<p>It can be tricky to distinguish a real diamond from a fake one, and it requires intentional examination to do so. In much the same way, we don't always know if someone's faith is real just by looking at them from the outside. In this week's message from 2 Corinthians 6–7, Pastor J.D. provides us with some diagnostic questions to ask ourselves in order to determine if our own faith is authentic. If we want to be true disciples of Jesus, we must do the hard work of honestly reflecting on things such as our repentance and our relationships, uncomfortable though it may be.</p>

<p>In this week's message from 2 Corinthians 3, Pastor Curtis helps us take a closer look at what it means that we are being transformed “from one degree of glory to another.” As we begin a new year, we should be encouraged to press in and seek God, knowing that as we do, he is slowly but surely transforming us.</p>

<p>One of the most intriguing elements of the Christmas story is that of the wise men, who see a mysterious star and set out on a journey that ultimately leads them to worship Jesus. In this week’s message from Matthew 2, Pastor J.D. gives us a snapshot of various responses to the birth of Jesus, all of which are still seen in different degrees today. Just as God used a sign to lead the wise men to the Savior, he continues to meet us where we are and draw us to himself. The only question is if we will respond to Jesus’ birth as the wise men did, with joy upon joy upon joy.</p>