A Sure Hope

It's not just the pastor of a church that has the responsibility of ministering to people. As Pastor Dave's going to show you today, it's the collective effort of every believer. Everyone is called to make disciples of the world: to go out and spread the Good News of Jesus to everyone in the world that needs it.

Ouch...wow, that was quite an exhortation from Pastor Dave! He really brought the ugly part of our human nature to the forefront. As you listen today, you'll hear Pastor Dave share the story of an awful example of human sinful nature in Gehazi...Gehazi told a lie so that he could gain gold and silver. Are you willing to be dishonest for gain?

There are many people out there that are under the mistaken impression that they can offer gifts to God that could increase His love and acceptance. Maybe you're listening...and that's you? Today Pastor Dave will help you learn that there's NOTHING you can do to EARN God's love...it's a free gift.

One of the questions people ask is about new Christians transitioning from their old way of living to a new, God-led lifestyle. How quickly should the changes be made and, more controversially, what changes should be made? Pastor Dave’s teaching will help you understand the importance of grace in these matters.

It’s hard to keep that attitude of constant spiritual-mindedness, isn’t it? It’s easy to be more concerned about yourself, and you end up acting in a way that doesn’t honor God. Pastor Dave will be teaching about the prophet Elisha and the miracles that he did. You’ll see how it seemed that he was always looking to put God in a good light.

It's not just the pastor of a church that has the responsibility of ministering to people. As Pastor Dave's going to show you today, it's the collective effort of every believer. Everyone is called to make disciples of the world: to go out and spread the Good News of Jesus to everyone in the world that needs it.

Ouch...wow, that was quite an exhortation from Pastor Dave! He really brought the ugly part of our human nature to the forefront. As you listen today, you'll hear Pastor Dave share the story of an awful example of human sinful nature in Gehazi...Gehazi told a lie so that he could gain gold and silver. Are you willing to be dishonest for gain?

There are many people out there that are under the mistaken impression that they can offer gifts to God that could increase His love and acceptance. Maybe you're listening...and that's you? Today Pastor Dave will help you learn that there's NOTHING you can do to EARN God's love...it's a free gift.

One of the questions is about new Christians transitioning from their old way of living to a new, God-led lifestyle. How quickly should the changes be made and, more controversially, what changes should be made? Pastor Dave’s teaching will help you understand the importance of grace in these matters.

It’s hard to keep that attitude of constant spiritual-mindedness, isn’t it? It’s easy to be more concerned about yourself, and you end up acting in a way that doesn’t honor God. Pastor Dave will be teaching about the prophet Elisha and the miracles that he did. You’ll see how it seemed that he was always looking to put God in a good light.

God did amazing things through the prophet Elisha. He tried heroically to turn Israel’s heart back to God, and he did have some success in that. And although there’s no Elisha alive today, Pastor Dave’s teaching will show that God’s still trying to get His people to become more heartfelt in their following Him.

What a tragedy for this woman – to have her only son die in her arms! But in Pastor Dave’s teaching today you’ll find out more about her – her unwavering faith in God. You’ll see in the way she handles this situation that she’s not giving up on her child. She’s going to pursue God’s best for her boy, and no one’s going to stop her.

Being a witness for Jesus is way more than passing out tracts or standing on a street corner telling people about Jesus. It’s about living your life in a way that pleases Him. Elisha was a man who was pleasing God in how he lived, and as Pastor Dave will be teaching, this…difference…was noticed by people that saw Elisha.

God wants your faith to be as strong as possible. And while He will send people to help you, and has provided the Bible to guide you, He also expects you to act on what He’s shown you. And this is one of the lessons of the story you’ll hear about in Pastor Dave’s teaching. To have stronger faith, you have to do the work of faith.

There are men and women serving God who are known all over the world. Some might think that these people have it pretty easy. But as Pastor Dave will teach, the real work is done behind the scenes. Prayer, study, preparation – lots of these things – go on well before anything the public sees.

It’s important to remember that for all of the talents you think you have if you’re going to be used by God, you must rely on God’s Spirit to empower you for the ministry. Pastor Dave’s teaching today will remind you of this critical fact. You’ve probably seen people try to serve God in their own strength and watched them fail.

People who want to serve God are going to face opposition. God used the prophet, Elijah, despite hostility from the ruling class. Elisha would face the same thing but was willing to endure it to be used by God. Pastor Dave’s going to challenge you to be willing to be an instrument of God’s will, no matter the danger.

Is there anyone that you admire for their spiritual depth and maturity that you’d want to be like? Elisha wanted to be like his mentor, Elijah. Pastor Dave’s going to teach about the time when Elijah’s going to be taken off of this earth. You’ll hear about Elisha’s request and the conditions under which it would be met.

In today’s message, Pastor Dave explains a time in Elijah’s life when he was challenged by the King’s servants because he was following God’s instruction. When the King’s servants tried to attack Elijah, fire rained from heaven and destroyed the attackers. We’re called to submit to authority ONLY if it doesn’t go against God.

Have you ever found yourself torn between what’s written in the Bible and what authority tells you to do? In today’s message, Pastor Dave speaks about examples of conformity to physical authority in the Bible. And, how; while we are called to submit to our authorities, that submission is never allowed to overrule God’s commandments.

In today’s edition of “A Sure Hope,” Pastor Dave continues comparing the life of believers and non-believers. The lives of non-believers seem to focus on self. Self-image, self-improvement, self-identifying. Whereas the Christian life is called to bring Jesus into the equation and let Him work on you.

When you think of how commonplace sin is in our world, it can be pretty daunting to try and think of ways to avoid it. But in today’s message, Pastor Dave speaks about how if we remain in Jesus; he will help us fight off the temptations of sin. What a relief, huh? None of us would be able to fight off sin on our own!

Have you ever seen someone you loved commit a sin? It could be a family member, or maybe a close friend. In today’s message, Pastor Dave explains that we’re actually called to be “intercessors” for them. We’re supposed to help them overcome their sin and support their repentance! The same way Jesus did!

In today’s message, Pastor Dave starts his discussion about the “sin that leads to death,” and what it actually is! When we think of death, we normally think of it in the physical sense, but today; Pastor Dave explains spiritual death and hunts for the exact sin that John writes about that always leads someone to it!

Have you ever had to wait for something you wanted? Everyone has! In today’s message, Pastor Dave explains that even if we ask for something from God, and don’t see results right away; we are actually promised that we will still see something eventually if the thing we asked for is in God’s will.