The Summit Church

<p>The local church gets a lot of bad press these days—and much of it for good reason. It’s enough to make people want to give up the church (and Christianity) altogether. But in this message from 1 Corinthians 1, Pastor Bryan encourages us to double down on God’s broken but beautiful body. God moves through circumstances. God uses various individuals. But when it comes to God’s work in the world, the local church is always “Plan A.”</p>

<p>Pastor Dave Turner walks us through 1 Corinthians 1:1-9.</p>

<p>In this message from 1 Corinthians 15, Pastor J.D. takes a look at how Paul responds to some of the Corinthians who are saying there’s no resurrection of the dead. In his answer, Paul shows them that belief in our bodily resurrection is as core a Christian concept as you can get. It’s not a secondary or peripheral belief; it’s at the core of Christian hope.</p>

<p>In this message from 1 Corinthians, Pastor J.D. walks through what some might call “the rowdy chapter” of Paul’s letter, the one about spiritual gifts of tongues and prophecy. As a church, we should be open to and desirous of these spectacular gifts, being careful to avoid fleshly limitation and pursuing them in the way the Bible instructs us to.</p>

<p>In this message from 1 Corinthians, Pastor J.D. talks about a topic as popular as it is misunderstood—love. Our society seems smitten with notions of love, but at the same time, we don’t seem to live in a fairy-tale land of love and grace. What does real love look like? And once we understand it, how can we, tangibly, become more loving? A dive into 1 Corinthians 13 shows us the most profound, powerful, and counter-cultural description of love ever written.</p>

<p>In this message from 1 Corinthians, Pastor J.D. takes a look at the (surprisingly controversial) topic of spiritual gifts. According to the Apostle Paul, God didn’t establish his church as a collection of individuals, but as an interconnected body. I need you; you need me. Where do we see that interconnectedness most? In our spiritual gifts. None of us—and none of our brothers or sisters—can truly flourish until we know and exercise our gifts. In God’s community, everybody has a special role to play. Every. Body. Including you.</p>

<p>In this message from Galatians, Pastor Bryan shows a connection between one of the most mysterious doctrines of the church and one of the most mundane. The mysterious one? The Holy Spirit. The mundane one? How we love one another. What we’ll see is that if we follow the lead of the Spirit, the same power that resurrected Jesus could begin to flow into every dimension of our lives. It all begins with a walk.</p>

<p>Pastor Curtis teaches us that as part of the body of Christ we all share the responsibility of bearing one another’s burdens.</p>

<p>In this message from 1 Corinthians 11, Pastor J.D. picks up the most fundamental element of Christian worship—the bread and the cup of communion. When we share this meal together, we aren’t merely remembering Jesus’ last meal. We are entering into his presence. Come to this table. There is no place for religious pride here. No place for classism. No place for racial division. But there is a place for you.</p>

<p>In this message from Romans 15, Pastor J.D. challenges us to lift our eyes to the ends of the earth. When Jesus left his disciples, he promised that his gospel would go to every nation, tribe, language, and tongue. That task isn’t finished. And God is calling many of us to follow him to the most unreached parts of the planet. Is it difficult? Yes. Is it dangerous? Yes. Is he worthy of it? Absolutely.</p>

<p>As we celebrate the 20-year mark of The Summit Church, Pastor J.D. takes us on a march throughout history. Our journey doesn’t begin when we re-launched in 2002. It didn’t even begin when we were planted in 1962. It began 2,000 years ago, with 11 frightened disciples on a hillside outside of Jerusalem. In the last 20 years, countless saints from our church have gone to be with Jesus. What would they tell us if heaven were opened up, just for five minutes? What would they want us to do with what we have?</p>

<p>In this message from Mark 9, Pastor Curtis walks us through a story of faith and doubt, desperate prayer and miraculous deliverance. If you’ve ever struggled in your walk with God, you’ll be encouraged to see that spiritual struggle is actually the portal to the power of God. So don’t shy away from your struggle. Lean into it. And watch as Jesus takes your puny, confused, flawed, mustard seed of faith—and does something you’d never expect.</p>

<p>Pastor Chris walks us through Mark 9:14-18.</p>

<p>In this message from our “Cutting Through the Noise” series, Pastor J.D. walks through one of the most confusing and misinterpreted passages in the entire New Testament. Along the way, we’ll learn just how relevant first-century head coverings are for the hot button questions about gender (and gender identity) in the twenty-first. And we’ll see that in Christ’s service, every brother and sister finds unimaginable grace, inestimable value, and eternal purpose.</p>

<p>In this message from our “Cutting Through the Noise” series, Pastor J.D. echoes the warnings of Paul in 1 Corinthians 10, showing us the dangers of (and the deliverance from) idolatry. Much of what we seek in life—success, romance, family—is good. But when we make these good things into essential things, we find ourselves eaten up with anxiety, strife, suffering, and sin. Only one identity is strong enough to be our foundation—servant of God.</p>

<p>Pastor Bryan continues in our series on 1 Corinthians.</p>

<p>In this short Christmas reflection, Pastor Curtis shows us that while Christmas may technically be over, the best part of the season lasts forever—Jesus is still with us. Even when it’s hard, even when we feel alone, even when it’s not Christmas, God is with us. And he will be forever.</p>

<p>In this message from Matthew 2, Pastor J.D. walks us through one of the most recognizable, iconic stories of Christmas: the coming of the Magi, or “Wise Men,” to see Jesus. Through the story of these mysterious men, we see several responses to Jesus—curiosity, hostility, indifference, and joy. In fact, these are the same four responses to Jesus we find today.</p>

<p>In this Advent message from Isaiah 40, Pastor Bryan walks us through a simple statement given to ancient Judah: “Comfort, comfort my people.” In these four words we learn of the matchless love of God, which comes to us in our pain and overcomes every mess we’ve made. Like Judah, we may be so beaten up and miserable that we are heaving and sobbing, gasping for air. In the midst of this distress, God draws us near, puts his hand on our back, and says, “I’m here. Breathe, breathe, breathe.”</p>

<p>In this Advent message from Isaiah 40, Pastor Curtis walks us through a simple statement given to ancient Judah: “Comfort, comfort my people.” Even amidst Israel's stubbornness, rebellion, and sin, God stands by his promises to send a Savior to rescue and restore them. No matter how ugly we make our lives because of sin, God stands ready to restore because of his great and powerful love.</p>

<p>In this message from our “Cutting Through the Noise” series, Pastor J.D. picks up the analogy Paul uses in chapter 9—of an athlete in training—and asks us, “How can we run like disciplined athletes in pursuit of the race God has set before us?” Athletes are ruthless, eliminating everything that stands in the way of winning. And we should be the same. Whether we’re looking at our personal preferences, our worship services, our political decisions, even our ethnic identity … we lay it all on the line for the sake of the gospel—that we might save some.</p>

<p>In this Thanksgiving weekend message from 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Pastor Curtis presses into the heart behind the holiday. What does it mean to be grateful? Is “giving thanks” only something we can do when life is going our way? And what does Jesus have to do with any of this, anyway? In the end, we’ll learn that—because of God’s presence with us—both the high times and the hard times are transformed into moments to see God’s goodness. Because of that, we can always, always, always say, “Thanks.”</p>

<p>In this message from 1 Corinthians 7, Pastor J.D. addresses an issue that is as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago—divorce. Broken marriages affect so many of us in the church, and we often fail to apply gospel hope to this painful experience. But the Apostle Paul offers real-world wisdom and gospel hope to those who are divorced, those who have considered divorce, those who have been hurt by divorce. Essentially, to all of us.</p>

<p>In this final message from our “Begin Again” series, Pastor J.D. takes us to the tiny book of Haggai, showing what happens when God’s people put him first—and what happens when they don’t. Haggai teaches us something that’s easy to get, but far too easy to forget: Our hearts are continually drawn to invest in things that don’t matter, won’t satisfy, and can’t sustain us. Fortunately, there’s a better way.</p>

<p>In this message from Exodus 13, Pastor J.D. invites us to learn from the Old Testament people of God, who—like us—were coming out of their own trauma into a new land of opportunity. Our last couple of years have been tragic and unpredictable. We don’t know what the future holds. But we do know that God is still at work, both in the church and in the world. Now is not a time to shrink back in fear. It’s a moment for us to renew our commitment. To step forward in faith. To begin again.</p>

<p>In this message from 1 Corinthians 7, Pastor J.D. walks us through Paul’s teaching on sex, singleness, and spiritual gifts. When it comes to marriage and singleness, it’s easy for us to get disoriented. Outside the church, marriage seems less and less important. But inside the church, it can sometimes be elevated to the status of idol! So how do we understand God’s design for both marriage and singleness? Simple: We follow the example of the Apostle Paul.</p>

<p>In this message from Matthew 4, Pastor John Mark Comer carries us 6,000 miles away and 16 centuries into the past, into the ancient wilderness of North Africa. There, along with a desert monk named Evagrius, we learn about what it means to battle the devil. Yes, the devil. Hundreds of years later, the lessons Evagrius learned—about temptation, truth, liberation, and formation—remain as relevant as ever.</p>

<p>As we continue through the book of 1 Corinthians in our series, “Cutting Through the Noise,” Pastor J.D. explores a topic that is as contentious to us today as it was to the people in Corinth—sex. Our society has a lot of competing ideas about what sex is for and what makes sex good. God has ideas, too. And since sex was his idea, it’s well worth listening to the wisdom he has to share.</p>

<p>In this message from Genesis 3, Pastor Curtis dives into a topic that all of us have felt but few of us enjoy discussing—sin. By going back to the very first human sin, we’ll see what sin is, how it operates, and, ultimately, how it can be overcome. <br><br>Has your sin taken you farther than you wanted to go? Jesus has come to get you. <br><br>Has your sin kept you longer than you wanted to stay? Jesus has come to rescue you. <br><br>Has your sin cost you more than you wanted to pay? Jesus has paid your penalty.</p>

<p>In this message from 1 Corinthians 5, Pastor J.D. teaches about the messy but necessary process of church discipline. We may find it harsh to hear what the Apostle Paul says about those who persist in sin. But if we truly care about our people, if we truly care about the vulnerable, if we truly care about our neighbors, if we truly care about Jesus’ reputation ... we will be faithful to confront our brothers and sisters in love.</p>

<p>In this message from 1 Corinthians 4, Pastor J.D. teaches shows us what makes for a good (or a bad) leader. Whether you’re a pastor or a plumber, a stay-at-home mom or a shift leader at a small restaurant, at some point in your life you will lead others. The question, then, is not if you will lead others, but how you will lead. Our culture has a lot to say about leadership. But the gospel cuts through the noise of our culture, painting a picture of leadership that is known less for fame and pride and more for sacrifice and suffering.</p>

<p>In this message from the Gospel of Mark, Pastor Curtis shows us four ways Jesus challenges our assumptions about what it means to be part of the family of God. Is the church full of sinners? Yes. Is the church full of people who will mess up and let you down? Yes. And yet, is the church the divine-albeit-dusty body of Christ, the family of God, the one place you can truly and finally belong? Yes.</p>

<p>In this message, Pastor Bryan continues our series, “Cutting Through the Noise,” showing how the gospel overcomes not only division in the church, but hypocrisy in the church. Church conflict may be at a fever pitch. Cultural idols may have infected Jesus’ body. Still, hope remains. Because as long as we have the gospel, we have the cure in hand.</p>

<p>In this message, Pastor J.D. kicks off our series in the book of 1 Corinthians, showing how the gospel cuts through the noise and chaos of our lives. First up—the issue of divisions in the church. We may assume that church factions are a new phenomenon. But one glance at the church in Corinth reveals that dysfunction, division, and doctrinal chaos are as old as the church itself. And yet, in the midst of all this conflict, all this division, all this noise, the gospel provides a voice of clarity and a place of calm.</p>

<p>In this message from Genesis 32, Pastor J.D. tells the story of Jacob, a man who began his life as a deceiver and ended his life with a limp—but who, right in the middle, wrestled with God and received an unimaginable blessing. Jacob provides a model for all of us who have ever waited on God to answer us, unsure if he hears, he cares, or he will ever act. Through Jacob, we learn that many of the blessings of God are released into our lives only through persistent, unrelenting prayer.</p>

<p>In this message from Genesis 19, Pastor J.D. tells the story of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. Like us, Lot was allured by the world and its fast-paced, attractive life—but it didn’t happen overnight. The constant battle of what the heart loves reveals to us our desperate need for prayer. In our own battle, will we be like Lot, captured by the wonders of the world? Or like Abraham, interceding on behalf of the Lots God has placed in our lives?</p>

<p>In this message from Matthew 11, Pastor Bryan talks about true greatness. We all want to live satisfying lives. We all want to leave our marks for eternity. We all want to become, in a way, great. The problem isn’t in our desire for greatness, but in the path we choose to pursue it. Will we pursue greatness like the world—in status, acceptance, or circumstances? Or will we pursue true greatness—in the upside-down kingdom of heaven?</p>

<p>In this message from Daniel 10–12, Pastor J.D. walks through Daniel’s visions of receiving warnings and capturing hope. We see that hardship, persecution, and suffering have all been decreed, but they’re not the only decree: Jesus will reign forever and judge the living and the dead according to his righteousness. He will renew and restore all things, and his people will dwell with him forever. And as we live in the in-between, Daniel encourages us that though things are dark—and they are likely only to get darker—we don’t despair. It’s all part of the plan.</p>

<p>In this message from 1 Samuel, Pastor Bryan looks at one of the most iconic friendships in the entire Bible. King David and Prince Jonathan were two of the most accomplished people in their nation. What set them apart, though, was not their military achievement, but their committed, transparent, sacrificial friendship. Through these two men, we learn about true friendship, fake friendship, and the greatest friend God could ever give us.</p>

<p>As we continue our walk through the book of Daniel, Pastor J.D. highlights the most undervalued resource of the church—prayer. Discarded by many, prayer is the vehicle through which the blessings of God are released and the promises of God are enacted. In Daniel 9, we not only see five principles that make for effective prayer; we also get a one-of-a-kind glimpse into what happens in heaven as we pray.</p>

<p>As we continue our walk through the book of Daniel, Pastor J.D. tackles two of the most obscure prophecies in the entire book. Although the imagery can be confusing—lions and beasts and fiery thrones—the message is as timely as ever. What God says to Daniel he says to believers in every generation: If you are going to faithfully shine in the present, you need to have a crystal clear vision of the future. There’s two ways to look at the future--a stress-producing way and a peace-producing one.</p>

<p>Have you ever considered that all it takes is one verse, one sentence, one word to change your life forever? As Pastor Matt continues our series, “This Verse Changed My Life,” he walks us through Psalm 28:6-9.</p>

<p>Have you ever considered that all it takes is one verse, one sentence, one word to change your life forever? As Pastor John continues our series, “This Verse Changed My Life,” he walks us through John 15:1-5.</p>

<p>Have you ever considered that all it takes is one verse, one sentence, one word to change your life forever? As Pastor Josh continues our series, “This Verse Changed My Life,” he walks us through Philippians 1:6.</p>

<p>Have you ever considered that all it takes is one verse, one sentence, one word to change your life forever? As Pastor Dustin continues our series, “This Verse Changed My Life,” he walks us through Hebrews 4:14-16.</p>

<p>Have you ever considered that all it takes is one verse, one sentence, one word to change your life forever? Pastor Curtis continues in our series, “This Verse Changed My Life” by taking us to a passage that has carried him more than once—Curtis addresses from Psalm 16:11.</p>

<p>Have you ever considered that all it takes is one verse, one sentence, one word to change your life forever? As Pastor Bryan continues our series, “This Verse Changed My Life,” he walks us through 1 Corinthians 4:1–5, reminding us of the freedom we have when our identity is in the ultimate identity—Jesus.</p>

<p>Have you ever considered that all it takes is one verse, one sentence, one word to change your life forever? As Pastor Ricky continues our series, “This Verse Changed My Life,” he walks us through a passage that has repeatedly confronted the accidental Pharisee within—Galatians 2:15–21. Religion and the gospel: They might live in the same habitat, sing the same songs, pray the same prayers, read the same Bible. But one leads to life and the other, death.</p>

<p>Have you ever considered that all it takes is one verse, one sentence, one word to change your life forever? As Pastor Rich continues our series, “This Verse Changed My Life,” he walks us through Matthew 12:18-21.</p>

<p>Have you ever considered that all it takes is one verse, one sentence, one word to change your life forever? Pastor Curtis kicks off our series, “This Verse Changed My Life” by taking us to a passage that has carried him more than once—Abraham’s fateful journey up the mountain with Isaac in Genesis 22. God has used this passage—and this Book—to change people, to change lives, to change circumstances, and to change eternities. And he can do it again today.</p>