Jason Hovde

Proper Patriotism I recently saw an article that listed the many bad things in our nation’s history. The list is true, there are some very evil things that have been done in the name of our nation, just as evil is done sometimes even in God’s name. Yet I was grieved that the list included only the bad,…

Come and See Big Idea: Jesus invites us to come and see; we need to invite others to come and see To those who seek, Jesus says “come and see” To those who believe Jesus says “follow me” To those who are lost, Christians say “come and see” When I am at pastor’s conferences, often we have a name tag that…

In many US States, including ours, there are laws about your right to defend yourself, your property, and others who are in danger from a criminal. These laws are usually called stand your ground laws or the castle doctrine. The castle doctrine states that if someone comes to your property intending…

In many US States, including ours, there are laws about your right to defend yourself, your property, and others who are in danger from a criminal. These laws are usually called stand your ground laws or the castle doctrine. The castle doctrine states that if someone comes to your property intending…

Picture This Big Idea: See yourself as you are, not as you were MRI: We have a Motivation to undergo a Renovation so that we can bring Illumination to the world. How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself as a good person or a bad person? Do you see yourself as wealthy or poor? Do you see yourself…

Recap last week: Being careful to worship God’s way. 4 Characteristics of a place to worship God: A place where God is present A place where God’s people gather A place that is different from the world A place of ministry Today’s passage: the warning is reiterated and a new specific sin is articulated:…

Today we are going to talk about something the reformers call the “regulative Principle of Worship.” A very quick explanation of this is that Christians are not to worship God in any way that He himself has not prescribed. In other words, we are not to invent new ways to worship God and we are not use…

A lot of people love to follow preachers and teachers who will tell them that God’s favor is always on the believer. “He loves you no matter what. He loves you just the way you are! His love is unconditional!” You have likely heard something like this at some point. These phrases are heard all the time…

Amazed and Astonished The Power of God in us! Big idea: Christians empowered = communities impacted. An experience that begins a relationship An experience that strengthens a relationship An experience that renews a relationship Everyone has a story of something that happened that impacted a relationship.…

A Sense of Urgency In the Marine Corps, there is a phrase that is used to motivate Marines to be people of action , and to move with a purpose. I learned it while in boot camp, usually yelled by the drill instructor who seemed constantly frustrated at our lack of motivation and fire. It would go something…

Full Assurance Big Idea: Because we can have confidence in the blood of Jesus, we can have full assurance of faith. Assurance of faith is lived out when we: Draw Near Hold Fast Consider one another A man was showing his little boy around the old church building, and they came to a plaque on the wall.…

Full Assurance Big Idea: Because we can have confidence in the blood of Jesus, we can have full assurance of faith. Assurance of faith is lived out when we: Draw Near Hold Fast Consider one another A man was showing his little boy around the old church building, and they came to a plaque on the wall.…

Guaranteed Delivery Having lived in small towns now for many years, we became increasingly reliant on online shopping. It has become so easy to order things, and so quick, with many items shipped the same day you ordered it and arriving within a few days, that when you are in a small town and some specialty…

There is a passage of scripture that is often used to draw the attention of people to Jesus Christ. In fact, there are Youtube channels where young men take this particular scripture and present it without telling people where it comes from, and asking them questions about it. They will ask people who…

A Grand Entrance Jesus enters not as the king we want, but the Messiah we need. He is as He is, not always as we imagine Him He is as He was, not as we romanticism Him He is who He will be, are we ready? Matthew 21:1–11 ” Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives,…

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, “Son…

Big Idea: For those He loves, God is good and gracious Years ago, when I managed some retail stores, I learned something about the patience needed to train someone. People have very different learning curves, so when a new employee started, I realized that there were seasoned employees that I should…

The Heart of Moses, the heart of Jesus & the heart of the believer. Introduction: I believe that for devout Jews today, Moses is perhaps a much more esteemed person than he was even when was alive. For generations of the Jewish people, Moses has been highly regarded. He was a prophet and leader of the…

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”…

Big Idea: Believers are to diligently recall and live the lessons God gives Deuteronomy: Recap: : Moses recounts Israel's journey from Mount Horeb (Sinai), including the appointment of tribal leaders to help judge the people, the sending of spies to scout the Promised Land, the people's rebellion and…

Big Idea: Believers are to diligently recall and live the lessons God gives Deuteronomy: Recap: : Moses recounts Israel's journey from Mount Horeb (Sinai), including the appointment of tribal leaders to help judge the people, the sending of spies to scout the Promised Land, the people's rebellion and…

Big Idea: The church needs constant preparation for spiritual battles In this letter Peter has given the church may wanrings, instructions, and reminders. He wants to end by giving some final instructions. First, he addresses the attitudes of elders (leaders in the church), and the attitudes of the younger…

Big Idea: Suffering for Christ is a Blessing for the believer A repetitive theme: The Christian can expect suffering. Sometimes this suffering is normal suffering that all people are potentially exposed to. Some is specific to them being a Christian. The Bible repeats this theme again and again. So Peter…

Big Idea: God is to be glorified in the life of a believer Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the…

Spiritual Battle: Ultimate winners & Ultimate Loser A look at Peter; we return to 1 Peter 4 next week As much of Acts is, today’s passage is a narrative passage. This passage tells us of a set of events. Narrative means that the author, Luke, has the primary goal in writing this passage of telling how…