A Sure Hope

If you seek God with your own selfish gain as the end goal, you’ll find a different god – that’s “god” with a bit of “g”. The One True God is not a cosmic vending machine. He doesn’t exist for our sake. As Pastor Dave will remind us in today’s message, we live for His glory, honor, and pleasure.

Sin is a big deal - don’t let the world mislead you on that. But, as Pastor Dave will clarify in today’s message, one kind of sin isn’t worse than another in the eyes of God. Any behavior or attitude that dishonors God is enough to merit His judgment – but the good news is that He also can forgive any sin you can commit.

We all want to be independent. It’s something we take pride in, especially in America. But independence doesn’t really fit in the ethos of God’s Kingdom. As Pastor Dave will remind us in today’s message, to experience the fullness and spiritual success, you must submit and trust fully in God’s strength.

In today’s message, Pastor Dave will remind us that God’s will is going to be done regardless of whether we’re on board with it or not. Wouldn’t you rather experience the blessings that come with trusting in Him and following His lead rather than jumping in late in the game when you find yourself failing?

There’s a lot to be gained from compromise. And there are times when compromise can be a good thing. But, when it comes to your faith and living in a way that honors God – compromise is never okay. As Pastor Dave will point out in today’s message, you can gain the whole world, but is it worth losing your soul?

It’s easy to find ways to justify neglecting God’s call to parent in a way that honors Him. You work long hours to make sure you can provide everything they want or need. Or you let them watch whatever they want because they’re going to anyways… In today’s message, Pastor Dave will warn us against the danger of compromise.

When you are in the darkest times where do you look? Do you turn to people? To work? Does God factor in? Today in his message, pastor Dave uses the mistakes of the early Kings to remind us when we are in hard times to look to God. His perspective will give you clarity, focus, peace, and the ability to keep going!

Do you ever feel like there is just no way God wants you back after you've made a wrong decision? Do you believe that there is a limit to His love, His Grace, and His mercy? The fantastic, good news is there has never been and there never will be an end to His love. Today, pastor Dave reminds us of just how much God loves us!

We have so little to offer God, and yet, He wants it! He wants us to trust Him with what we have...our time, our money, the people we love, our jobs...He wants us to place it all in His hands and trust Him to use it all for our good and for His glory! Today, Pastor Dave uses the stories of the early Kings to remind us to live with God in control of it all!

Do you ever look back on a decision that you made and wonder if you had consulted God on it how different the outcome would have been? It's so easy to do what our head is telling us to do and not stop and talk it over with God first. Today, pastor Dave reminds us to always involve God in our decisions. The results are always so much better!

Are you prideful? It's an uncomfortable question to ask, but it's a dangerous place to be if you don't look deep into your heart often to see if pride has crept in. Today in his message, Pastor Dave shows us how pride took over one of the kings in the old testament and ruined his life. Let this message be a warning: keep pride from your heart.

Do you know that your body is a temple? It is! The Bible tells you that when you commit your life to Jesus He comes and lives IN YOU!!!! That's how much He loves you! Even in your worst moments as a sinner, not only is He with you, but He loves you IN that moment! Today, pastor Dave reminds you of this amazing truth!

What items or people in your life are idols to you? It's so easy to place people or things, that make us happy at the moment, above God. But, ultimately they will all fail us. God won't fail us. He's always there, waiting to love us even in our weakness. Today, Pastor Dave shows us the downside of having idols in our lives.

Do you want to live well and finish well? It's so tempting to take shortcuts in life, or even to ignore what you know God is calling you to do or not to do. Today in his message, Pastor Dave walks us through the end of one of the kings of Israel, his shortcomings and failures. He didn't end well. Let his life be a lesson for us to end well!

It's amazing to think that our great and powerful God loves us...sinners, broken and selfish people. He is so good, so loving, and always there for us. When we need Him, He's there. Today in his message, pastor Dave reminds us that through highs and lows God is always there. Listening, waiting, loving.

What false gods do you worship? Your career? Family? Friends? Whatever or whoever it is God wants to be before them. Today in his message, pastor Dave reminds us through the mistakes the kings of the old testament made that God wants to be first in our lives. He loves us so much, so worship Him back!

Do your failures ever seem so big that there is just no chance God would ever forgive you? The good news is He will ALWAYS forgive you! He's always there, waiting for you! Keep close to Him, stay open to Him. Today in his message, pastor Dave reminds us of how often He will forgive us over, and over and over!

Do you ever feel alone, completely abandoned? That God hasn't kept His promise to always be with you? Trust Him that He will keep that promise, He loves you so much, He'll never leave you! Today in his message, pastor Dave reminds us, through the struggles of the Kings in the old testament, that God is trustworthy!

Do you ever feel like God is not near you? That you need to go somewhere to be with Him? He's with you ALL THE TIME!!! He is dwelling IN you! He loves you SO much that He chooses to be with you at all times! That's amazing! Today in his message, pastor Dave reminds us that we are so privileged to have this amazing promise!

Do you hold someone in your life too high on a pedestal? It's tempting to look at people who are flesh and blood in front of our very eyes, but God warns us of the dangers that will follow. Today in his message, Pastor Dave shows us the problems the leaders in the old testament faced and the consequences that followed.

When a friend or family member makes a promise to you how sure are you that they will keep their word? It's hard as humans to follow through on every promise we make, but God does not have a problem keeping His word. Today in his message, pastor Dave reminds us of the unchangeable God we serve. He loves us so much!

It's easy to think that the decisions a king made in the old testament thousands of years ago wouldn't impact you and me today, right? Today in his message, Pastor Dave will show us that the lack of forward-thinking these men had can be a warning to you and me so as not to repeat their costly mistakes.

Do you ever feel like your life is under pressure? Is it tempting to think that this pressure is just an inconvenience rather than God using it to bring you closer to Himself? Today in his message, Pastor Dave walks us through the various trials God's people had to endure in the old testament, but they were for their good!

Today, Pastor Dave reminds us of the importance of faith. While belief in Christ is non-negotiable in becoming a Christian, the reality is that we will still struggle with faith. But Pastor Dave challenges us to have faith in all of God’s promises, rather than doubting the promises that we find difficult to believe.

Today, Pastor Dave reminds us that biblical faith is not just about believing in what God can do, but also believe that He will fulfill His promises. And just like characters from the Old Testament, we tend to doubt God’s goodness – even if we still believe in His power. But this is actually a form of unbelief.