The Summit Church

<p>In this message on Matthew 28, Pastor J.D. teaches on The Summit Church’s third core value: “We make disciples, not just converts.” Most churches celebrate how many people attend services or “make decisions” or get baptized. But our central commission, as a church, is much simpler—and much harder: We are called to make disciples.</p>

<p>In this message on Jeremiah 29, Pastor Bryan shows us a counter-cultural truth: When we live for our own agenda, we don’t find fulfillment, but emptiness. However, when we put our agenda aside and live for God’s agenda, we catch the side effect of fulfillment along the way. And what is that agenda? “Seek the welfare of the city.”</p>

<p>In this message on 1 Corinthians 9, Pastor J.D. explains one of the core four values of The Summit Church, “We do whatever it takes to reach all people.” Believers aren’t meant to be stagnant ponds—receiving, receiving, receiving. We’re meant to be rivers where gospel water flows through us to others. So we get comfortable being uncomfortable, knowing that Jesus wants people from every tribe, every tongue, and every background to be welcomed into his family.</p>

<p>In this message on 1 Corinthians 15, Pastor J.D. begins a deep dive into the mission and values of The Summit Church with Value #1, “We prioritize the gospel above all.” The gospel alone transforms us, empowers us, unites us, propels us. This is why the Apostle Paul puts the gospel in a special class all by itself—because a church without the gospel at the center is a church without power.</p>

<p>This may be the most encouraging message you didn’t want to hear. In this final message on 1 Peter, Pastor J.D. shows how Christians can survive in a hostile, cruel, and chaotic world. In fact, not only can we survive; we can thrive. But it’s not how we might expect. Following Peter’s example, we’ll see that the Christian life, while far better, is not necessarily easier.</p>

<p>The Beatitudes show us the upside-down nature of the kingdom of heaven which stands in stark contrast to the world. Jesus begins his Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes, and he starts with those who are poor in spirit—the humble. If we want to live a truly humble life, we have to fix our eyes on Jesus, having a mind consumed with him. We have to abide in Christ.</p>

<p>Listen to four of our campus pastors as they share what God has been teaching them over the last several weeks.</p>

<p>In light of some of the horrific acts of the past few weeks, many people in our church—especially people of color—are hurting. In this conversation between Pastor J.D. and some leaders of color at the Summit, we begin to process where we are and where we need to go.<br><br>Honoring Christ in a moment like this means listening to those who hurt, lamenting with them, bearing their burdens, and walking forward with them. A racially reconciled church requires more than just sentiment. It requires the humility to listen to one another, the empathy to see situations from others’ perspective, and the commitment to pursue justice together, laboring for the dignity of others as fiercely as we would our own children.</p>