Higher Aim with Dr. Curt Dodd

In the early 1800s, Ludwig van Beethoven was commissioned to compose his Ninth Symphony. It is considered by many to be the zenith of his life’s work, a masterpiece of music. Yet, there is a stunning detail often missed in the story of its creation. Beethoven wrote his greatest symphony when he was completely deaf. At its premiere performance on May 7, 1824, he could not hear the orchestra, the ch...

Life is a journey, and where God leads you is of the utmost importance. There is no happenstance in the life of a believer, no life of pure chance. God is in charge of what you go through, how you go through it, and the purposes behind it all. After the resurrection, the disciples found themselves asking, "Where do we go from here?" Their world had been turned upside down, and figuring out what Go...

How do you know you belong to your family? You might share a last name, certain physical traits, or even a few quirky habits. This resemblance, this shared DNA, gives you confidence in your identity. In the same way, God wants His children to have a deep, settled confidence that they belong to Him. This is not a matter of wishful thinking but of spiritual reality. The Apostle John wrote his first...

The weather can be wildly unpredictable. One day might be warm and sunny, the next a blizzard, and the day after that, temperatures could soar. Many people live their spiritual lives with similar instability, tossed back and forth by feelings and circumstances, never truly certain where they stand with God. They might depend more on a weatherman to decide how to dress than on God’s Word to find th...

The application of biblical directives is vital in every generation, especially in uncertain times. When we look at the world stage, it is easy to feel unsettled. The Bible, however, gives us a worldview to understand these events, reminding us that we could be on the edge of the end of days. Scripture tells us that one day, all nations will turn against Israel, and America is not mentioned as sta...

When we look at the news, it is easy to feel uncertain. We see nations in turmoil and leaders making decisions that will have global consequences. It is natural to feel a sense of angst. Yet, as believers, we are called to view the world through a different lens. We must understand that nothing happening in our world, from political shifts in the Middle East to cultural changes at home, is outside...

Many of us have been shaped by a strong work ethic. We are taught to work hard, succeed, and earn our way. This mindset can easily spill over into our spiritual lives, making us feel like we must perform for God’s approval. For others, our past experiences, perhaps growing up in a broken or abusive home, have left us with a deep-seated fear that God might change His mind and leave us, just as othe...

Have you ever found yourself lying awake at night, wrestling with a deep, unsettling question: “Am I truly saved?” Maybe you can recall a moment you prayed a prayer, but life’s struggles, personal failures, or the simple passage of time have planted seeds of doubt. You might wonder, “Did I say the right words? Was I sincere enough? Could God really stay with me through all of this?” This is not an...

Many of us remember the cultural phenomenon of the movie Frozen. Beyond the catchy songs that our children or grandchildren may have sung, there is a powerful message in the story. The character Elsa struggles to embrace the power she possesses. She hides herself away, afraid of what might happen if she lets others see the unique abilities within her. It is a narrative many of us can relate to, th...

Have you ever looked the part, but not felt the part? It is easy to put on the right clothes, say the right things, and show up at the right places. We can look spiritual, carry a Bible, and attend church, leading others to assume we know exactly what we believe. But the truth is, many people who look the part are on shaky ground when it comes to their own faith. Biblical ignorance is at an all ti...

We live in a world where cultural tides shift rapidly, but God's truth remains steady. As believers, we must know exactly what we believe and why we believe it. We do not anchor our lives in what is shifting, but in Christ who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This sermon will help you reflect on the foundational truths of our faith. We will explore the absolute lordship of Jesus Christ,...

Many of us grew up hearing things from our parents that stuck with us, for better or for worse. Maybe you were told not to walk under a ladder or that a black cat crossing your path was bad luck. These ideas, repeated over and over, can take root in our minds. In the same way, we often carry theological beliefs from our childhood that are based more on tradition or superstition than on the solid t...

My first year in seminary was an interesting one. I decided I wanted to learn how to play golf, but I did not have any clubs. I went to a pawn shop and found a full set, a bag, and even a pair of shoes for only $40. I was so excited. I called a friend, and we went to a local course. I had all the right gear, a golf shirt, polished clubs, and shoes that almost fit. I grabbed a club, took my first s...

On Easter, we celebrate the great reset button of human history. All across the world, Christians gather to honor the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. This single event makes all the difference. Without the Resurrection, the cross is a tragedy, and our faith is meaningless. But because He lives, we have hope. We have the promise that we will see our loved ones who know Christ again, and most...

We all know the feeling of hitting a wall. It might be a limitation in our career, a struggle in a relationship, or a personal weakness we cannot seem to overcome. In these moments, the world tells us to try harder, to dig deeper within ourselves. But what happens when our own strength is not enough? This feeling of being stuck is a universal human experience, but it is not the final word for the...

Many of us carry a quiet assumption that if we are truly following God’s will, life should be smooth and free from trouble. We think alignment with Jesus means universal approval and a lack of problems. But often, the opposite is true. The most profound ministry is not born from comfort but forged in the crucible of opposition and pain. God does not waste our suffering; He uses it to prepare us for...

If you have turned from sin and placed your faith in Christ, you are a child of God. But it does not stop there. God has also called you into ministry. This calling is not reserved for a select few who are ordained; it is for every believer. The local church is a body of individuals who represent Christ to a world that desperately needs Him. This is not a temporary assignment, but a lifelong calli...

You are very important to God. It does not matter who you are or what you have gone through, God has a plan to use you as a key part of His kingdom. Many of us may not see how everything unfolds, but we can trust that He knows our past, present, and future, and He knows how to put us in the right place at the right time. Your life has a destiny, and God wants to use everything about you to accompl...

In 1621, the Pilgrims and a local Native tribe came together for the first Thanksgiving. This gathering was more than a meal; it was the celebration of a new relationship, a treaty born from mutual need. The Pilgrims needed survival skills, and the tribe needed protection. Their relationship, built on shared purpose, created a bond that lasted for decades. This historical moment reminds us of a ti...

If we want to be people God blesses, we must embrace and embody the characteristics described by Pail in First Thessalonians. Paul was writing to a church he had only spent about a month with, yet during that short time, he discipled them in a tremendous way. My prayer is that what we are studying will be more than information for you. It must become life-changing wisdom. Scripture tells us plainl...

Are you ready for Jesus to come back? Are you living your life in expectation of Christ’s return? As we continue walking verse by verse through 1 Thessalonians, these are questions I want us to consider. We are going to focus on one verse, verse 10, and one defining characteristic of the church God loves, specifically as it relates to the second coming of Jesus.

Thessaloniki was a city in Greece where Paul had a short ministry, but it was a powerful ministry. Even though Paul was only there for about a month, the Gospel stuck, and the church continued to thrive. Throughout this series, we have been studying the kind of church God loves. God loved this church because of how they lived and who they were. They brought God pleasure. They impacted their lives,...

As we have been studying “The Church God Loves,” we have already seen what kind of church captures God’s heart. As we resume our study, there is something more to uncover. I want to remind you of Ron Popeil, the father of infomercials, who famously said, “But wait, there is more!” That phrase fits perfectly here. As we move forward in 1 Thessalonians, we uncover more phrases and beliefs we need to...

In today’s key passage, Paul writes to a young church that had only existed for a few weeks before persecution began. Yet, even in the middle of opposition, this church remained strong and continued to grow. One of the themes that floats through these opening verses is “the church God loves.” I want to be part of a church that God loves. From Paul’s writing, we see several key characteristics of a...

Last year, as I sat on the ground against a stump during a hunting trip, reading from the Greek New Testament and taking notes on my phone, I suddenly looked up and realized a buck was standing just a few steps away from me, staring at me. It caught me completely off guard. I realized there are times when things will catch us off guard, and I pray that the book we are getting ready to study would...