Feed My Sheep

Like Israel in the days of Nehemiah, Christians must remain dependent on God even as we work hard to advance the gospel. 

When Israel's enemies mocked and threatened them, Nehemiah led the people to pray to God for help. This sermon on Nehemiah 4 was preached at Calvary Church West Hills on Sunday, April 28, 2024 as part of our introductory series of the five foundations of ministry. For more info on our church, please visit our  website . For a complete list of my sermons and Bible studies organized by category, ple...

Are you busy and want to listen to sermons in smaller, bite-sized portions? I'm testing out a new format of breaking one sermon down into several podcast episodes that are only 10-15 minutes long. Let me know what you think! This sermon on Nehemiah 4 was preached at Calvary Church West Hills on Sunday, April 28, 2024 as part of our introductory series of the five foundations of ministry. For more...

From the moment a person visits our campus or checks out our website, we want there to be a “sweet aroma” that draws them in. The church should be permeated with a spirit of love and a culture of grace that makes people glad they came, then makes them want to stay. In this lesson, we learn... What the church can learn from Cinnabon The importance of preaching the gospel to ourselves daily Some nas...

Francis Schaeffer once said, "There are no little people, no little places." The prophet Zechariah reminds us that we should never despise the day of small things. In this message, we learn... That spiritual growth is a process rather than the flipping of a "light switch" Who is Zerubbabel, and why is he important? How we can grow discouraged at lack of growth or slowness of progress God's promise...

Zechariah's vision of a lampstand teaches that God will generously give His Holy Spirit and all the tools necessary to obey. In this sermon, we learn... That God sometimes spoke in dreams and visions The historical background of Zechariah How we are tempted to rely on our own strength instead of God's God's promise to care for you and overcome your biggest obstacles Thanks for listening. This serm...

The second feature of a Bible-believing, gospel-centered church is that we should have a hunger for truth. Sermon preached at Calvary Church West Hills on 4/11/24.

Last Sunday at Calvary Church West Hills, I began a five-part series on what it means to be a healthy, growing, gospel-centered church. The church should be known for its love for Christ, and together we look at ways this will manifest itself in how we do ministry. This message was also posted on our official Calvary Church page on Sermon Audio . Video is available on our YouTube page . 

One of the Bible's most common descriptions for spiritual leadership is a shepherd. In John 10, Jesus presents himself as both the Good Shepherd and the Door of the Sheep. All who hear his voice are invited to follow after him.

In Genesis 15, God invites Abram to look up into the night sky and count the stars, if he is able. In this Bible study, we learn... How to understand the flow of Genesis More than once, a "miracle baby" would advance God's rescue plan How God shows mercy by waiting to destroy the Amorites The Protestant doctrine of "justification by faith" found here in Genesis Covenants as a key to understanding...

Rainbows and rainbow flags may conjure a different image today, but the rainbow was originally designed to remind us of a special promise from God. In this study of Genesis 9, we learn... What people were allowed to eat for the first time after the flood A poetic warning in Genesis 9:6 Is it inhumane to kill animals? Even if you aren't a murderer, you've likely done this... How a weapon of war bec...

The resurrection is at the core of the Christian faith. Without it, we have no hope. In this study of Mark 16, we learn... Why the disciples were surprised when they heard Jesus was alive How a Jewish "day" differs from a Western "day" How we know that Jesus' body was not simply stolen and hidden What do we do with these strange final verses in Mark 16?? A change that happens when the Holy Spirit...

It rained at least "forty days and forty nights," but Noah's flood was far from over after 40 days. In Genesis 8, the author describes Noah waiting for waters to recede and dry land to appear. In this passage, we learn... How we know Noah's flood was a global - not local - flood event What does it mean that God "remembered" Noah? Had he somehow forgotten? The total amount of time Noah and his fami...

Many counseling and recovery programs stress the importance of accountability partners. But what exactly do these relationships look like? In this lesson, we discuss... Key takeaways from our biblical counseling class The importance of understanding our new identity in Christ How to confront and restore someone who is struggling Helpful questions for any accountability relationship Thanks for list...

Natural disasters like fires, floods, and earthquakes occur somewhere on the earth every day. The largest disaster in history is described for us in Genesis 6-8. This flood was so widespread its effects are visible in geology around the globe, and most ancient civilizations have their own flood legends . In this study, we discuss... Why early humans lived so long before the flood -- some almost a...

Within one generation, Adam & Eve's sin led to a downward spiral of human envy, deceit, hatred, and the murder of one of their sons. Last Sunday, our Bible Study looked at Genesis 4 together. It was definitely an unusual Christmas Eve passage, but such evil and injustice actually remind us why Christ came into our world. In this passage, we discussed... Christmas carols with a darker tone Why...

Good things often come in small packages. Never was this more true than when the Messiah -- our Deliverer-- arrived as a newborn baby in a little town called Bethlehem. In this study of Luke 2:1-15, we learn... The answer to an interesting question about "crush" versus "strike" in Genesis 3:15 Why holiday traditions are important, and ideas on how to create your own Who exactly was Caesar Augustus...

Have you ever done something you came to regret? Maybe you acted foolishly, made a costly mistake, or damaged a relationship. Genesis 3 details a decision Adam and Eve would deeply regret -- one with continuing consequences in our world today. In this lesson, we learn... Why a snake was talking to Eve Satan's deadly tactics and how to avoid them Some of the lies Satan and culture still speak God's...

In his goodness, God created a beautiful, habitable world, and everything Adam and Eve would need to know and worship him. In this study, we learn... How Genesis 1-2 is foundation to the rest of Scripture A helpful way to remember what God created on each of the six days What makes the God of the Bible different from other deities and religions That marriage is between one man and one woman in lif...

Just hours before his execution, Jesus spent time in fellowship with his Father praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. In this lesson, we learn... How God's children are sometimes called to suffer deeply A quick overview of the layout of the city of Jerusalem How the cross is the ultimate expression of God's love The privilege of prayer in times of trouble Thanks for listening. For a complete list o...

Jesus is coming soon. Are you ready? One of the most important passages in the Gospels on end times prophecy is found in the Olivet Discourse. In Mark 13, Jesus responds to the question, "When will these things be, and what will be the sign when all will be accomplished?" In this lesson, we discuss... Apocalyptic signs that will lead up to the "last days" Jesus' helpful analogy of labor pains Huma...

God does not need a temple, yet he chose to establish a temple and accept our worship when it comes from a pure heart. In this study of Mark 11, we learn... A chaotic scene on the temple mount How you are God's temple How Jesus' behavior is a model for righteous anger What is the significance of Jesus cursing the fig tree? Does does faith enable you to "move mountains"? Thanks for listening. For a...

Want to learn how to lead an adult Bible study? In this workshop session, I share... Words of hope for those feeling discouraged in ministry The importance of preparing the teacher How clean vessels make useful vessels Why God cares more about character than raw talent Thanks for listening. This is part 1 of 3 in a series I taught at the Ministry Connect Conference at Mt. Zion Church of Ontario on...

Few things are harder for a parent than watching their child suffer. We do everything we can to protect and comfort them, but what happens in Mark 9 is almost unimaginable. In this passage, we see... A great commotion as Jesus returns from the Transfiguration A young boy tormented by a demon in many ways The dangers of magic, witchcraft, ghosts, and demons in our world today God's will to help you...

James warns us not to be hearers only, but doers of the Word. In this lesson, we discover... Biblical patterns of confrontation and change The final step in the Love -> Know -> Speak -> Do process How to avoid turning your life into a messy California mudslide Bridging the gap from "then" to "now" Practical steps to finding relevant applications in any verse of the Bible Thanks for listen...