This opening sermon to our series on James introduces the book and also shows how James desires for Christians to focus on eternal things and not get hung up on temporary things. This allows us to rejoice during trials and to not get caught up in money and wealth. When we get these priorities right, we can be children of life and not of death ..read more

When the Apostles were questioned about whether or not Jesus was the "real deal" they would sometimes reply, "Come and see." When people encountered Jesus they so often left convinced. They had seen. Today the church must continue to invite the world to come and see, but we also make sure that when they show up we are ready to demonstrate the love and power of Jesus in a convincing way. Are you ready to be part of the church of come and see ..read more

Our God is always on mission and his design is to use his church to get it done. Rick Odell talks about the power of the church joining God on mission and the impact it makes on both the church and the world.  ..read more

In Matthew 10 Jesus sent his disciples on a mission trip, but he told them up front that it was going to be difficult and come at a cost. But they still went. Today we still go, and it's important that we go with truth and with compassion. The challenge is to stay both committed to truth and compassion to make a difference in the world.  ..read more

This sermon wraps up our series on David. It reviews much of the study and then explores what caused God and others to describe David as a man after God's own heart and what it would look like for us to live that way today ..read more

If you think that the story of David and Bathsheba was about her seducing him from the roof...you heard it wrong. She isn't on the roof. She isn't given a choice. David does have a choice and Bathsheba's husband and father are among his small elite fighting force and he knows it. The consequences of David's sin will echo for generations. And Nathan's confrontation with David reminds us that it's not the "power of temptation" that we give into but it is rather the "temptation of power ..read more

Jim Rohm famously said that "You become the average of the five people you spend the most time with." David surrounded himself with great friends who would do incredible things to remove obstacles from his life and keep him safe. His Mighty Men did great heroic things on his behalf. Do you have friends that would do anything for you? Do you have friends who encourage you to be better or to remove the obstacles to your success? If not, maybe it's time to add some better friends ..read more

David was anointed as the next king by Samuel as a middle teen boy. He would spend much of the next 5-7 years running and hiding for his life. He then becomes king of Judah and survives a seven year war with the House of Saul before he is finally anointed king of all Israel. During that time, God was growing David into the person he needed to become to be ready to be king. What is God doing in your season of waiting or suffering?  ..read more

David wasn't just a shepherd and warrior king. He was a poet, a songwriter and a musician. He wrote nearly half of the Psalms and they give us an incredible glimpse into how he had honest songs from his heart to God for every season of his life. Do you have a prayer life that is honest and sustains you in all seasons ..read more

David wasn't a barefoot kid that trusted God to guide his little pebble. Saul wasn't a fool that believed a kid could beat a Philistine warrior. David was an Israelite slinger who had killed lions with his bare hands. He had built the faith and the habits to prepare him for this very battle. In the same way, Jesus prepared for his wilderness battle with Satan for years before his fight. Are you prepared for the calling or crisis coming in your life? The time to prepare is now ..read more