Generations Community Church

Too many times in life we do the bare minimum. Yet, with God, He is always doing more than we can imagine. As we continue in our New Year's resolutions, we need to ask ourselves: What if God wants us to go big rather than go home?

Max Vanderpool walks the Generations family through Ephesians 2:1-10 to see (1) what the passage says and (2) what the passage means.

In this Q & A Forum on Bible reading, Debbie Cumbie, Isaiah Surbrook, Max Vanderpool, Mike Vanderpool and Stephen Harrod discuss reading the Bible for the first time, what's worked (and hasn't worked for each of them) and how they've heard God speaking to them through His Word.

None of us likes being told what to do. But what if you're better off living (submitted) under God's authority and under what the Bible teaches? In this message, Max Vanderpool outlines what Biblical Authority is and is not...and why it's worth embracing.

God has placed something inside every human being that craves the "everlasting." It's why some people give large sums of money to colleges and hospitals and why others engage in dangerous pastimes. In this message, Max Vanderpool fleshes out several ineffective ways meant to "satisfy" that craving.

Could you use a little energy this Christmas? There's a simple, spiritual practice that could energize your days...and your relationships. Could you use a little peace? Again, this one, simple practice can unlock the feeling of freedom (and get rid of the weight you may be shouldering). In this message, Max Vanderpool talks about what it's like to "drive with Jesus." There's one thing you can do t...

Even though God has a right to expect that you'll obey Him and do what He asks, God never forces you to comply. In fact, despite His omnipotence (all-powerfulness), God will never make you obey Him, love Him back or do what He says. That's entirely up to you. Of course, should you chose to let God in on your life, you'll need to make room for Him to operate.

What do you do when you need God to come through for you, but He doesn't? How do you know God still cares? In this message, Clair Budd walks us through the story of Mary, Martha & Lazarus and how Jesus chose NOT to answer their requests for help...when they requested it.

In America, we are constantly made aware of what we don't have. It's on the television, it's in stores, it's in our neighbor's driveway or our friend's hand (as they show us the latest iPhone). Face it, it's hard to stay content in a culture obsessed with the latest and greatest. But even though it's hard, it's not impossible. In this message, Max Vanderpool shares three practical habits that can...

Debt and freedom move in opposite directions. If you have a lot of debt, you have little or no freedom. But if you have little or no debt, you experience tremendous amounts of freedom. God wants us to get rid of debt, so that we can be free to do whatever He wants us to do.

Each and every day, you'll face an element of fear. Some of these fears are warranted (what if you lose your job or get sick or get a divorce?). Some of these fears are benign. But fear can drive you to keep God out of your financial picture...which is, perhaps, the least "safe" place to be. In this message, Max Vanderpool share how, when you're faithful, you can count on God to meet your needs......

A friend loans you their car for a week (and pays for the gas). Your parents give you a five-figure gift to help you purchase your first home. When you're on the receiving end of generosity (like that), you're thinking, "Wow, they're amazing...everyone should be like that." In this message, Max Vanderpool tackles a habit that can help you become the person you really want to be.

Unless your last name is Smuckers, Gates or Buffet, you'll have to work to bring in enough money to live. And sometimes, you'll need two...or even three jobs to pay the bills or eliminate debt. In this message, Max Vanderpool draws out the connection between work and money and shares a Biblical principle about work that may surprise you...but will certainly reward you!

Most of us, when we were kids, couldn't wait to have our own job and life, so that we could spend our money however we wanted (with no parent telling us what to do!). Ironically, grown-up life hasn't lived up to the gleaming images of freedom we imagined in our childhoods. There is a better way. In this message, Max Vanderpool makes the case why all the money and stuff we have actually comes from...

Chances are, you've encountered or known someone who claimed to be a Christian and "flunked the test." Maybe it was a co-worker who lied to customers or who threw you "under the bus" with your boss. Maybe it was a church member who led the charge to get a pastor fired or who refused to let you use a classroom. Maybe you grew up with someone who "flunked the test." What's the test? It's the love te...

When it comes to (other) people's shortcomings, faults and irritations, we want them to change. But when it comes to our shortcomings, we want others to "give us a break" (and they would, if they just understood our day/life/upbringing, etc.). But what it the health and maturity of our relationships with other people (and our ability to "put up" with them) was actually a measuring stick for the he...

Language changes over time, and the words one generation employs, the next generations discards. But there's one word used today that wasn't used the same way 30 or 50 years ago. In this message, Max Vanderpool shares why church is not a place, experience or event; rather, church is an extended family.

Most parents know that inconsistency is generally a bad idea when it comes to your kids. But when you're tired, and most parents these days are very tired, you can sometimes make bad parenting decisions. In this message, Max Vanderpool offers a tool that can help you discipline the way you want...with a lot less stress and drama.

If you're a parent, life can sometimes be a blur of academics, athletics, social activities and a few things for faith and character development. Believe or not, your kids learn what's (really) important through the family schedule. In this message, Max Vanderpool makes the case why weaving faith into your everyday life is what will produce an everyday faith in your kids' lives.

If you're a driven person, you probably have a list of things you want to accomplish (become a principal by age 30, make a six-figure income after 10 years, get elected, etc.). And if you're not a driven person, you're reminded all the time why you should be. But what if success isn't about what you accumulate or accomplish? What if it has to do with who you become? In this message, Max Vanderpool...

God wants you to be a spiritual hero. And if you're a parent, God wants you to be a spiritual hero to your kids. Unfortunately, you probably don't feel like one...because you think that you have to be the right kind of Christian or the right kind of parent for God to use you that way. In this message, Max Vanderpool explains why it's not about perfection but about being in tune with what God wants...

There is a "relationship secret" that few individuals and families seem to grasp, but one which is probably the single most important factor in developing healthy and rewarding relationships. Here's a sneak peak: "Within the context of your family, your goal is to make it a place where everybody feels safe to come out."

It really doesn't matter whether you sing to hymns or a worship band with a drum kit, worship is more than just your musical preference. It's about a lifestyle, because God wants your heart.

There's a saying, "you only get out of something what you put into it." It's an expression meant to convey the reality of sowing and reaping (you reap what you sow). The problem is there are a lot of things in life that take a very long time to produce a "harvest." And that's why it's so tempting, at times to quit and throw in the towel. The Apostle Paul felt the same way...

All of us struggle with comparing ourselves to others. There's the woman at work who just dropped 30 pounds. Or the neighbor who drove up in a brand new Acura. Or the brother or sister who can run faster and get all A's. The Bible (and even Jesus, Himself) has some good news about the lives and fortunes of other people and the way in which we tend to compare ourselves to them.