Journey Church Amarillo

Jonah was a prophet commissioned to preach against the wickedness of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. Instead of obeying, he fled in the opposite direction, prompting God to send a storm and eventually have him swallowed by a great fish. After this divine intervention, Jonah reluctantly delivered God's message to Nineveh, and surprisingly, the entire city repented. However, Jonah became angry when...

The phrase 'Lead us not into temptation' in the Lord's Prayer isn't asking God not to tempt us (since James 1:13 confirms He doesn't), but rather requesting protection from tests that would lead to our destruction. We need this protection because we're naturally prone to wandering from God. Temptation works through both active defiance and programmed responses based on our past experiences and tra...

Forgiveness is an act of judgment that acknowledges a wrong has occurred, not pretending the offense didn't happen. It differs from reconciliation, which may not always be possible or appropriate depending on the severity of the offense. Interestingly, small everyday slights can sometimes be harder to let go of than major offenses, as we tend to collect and nurture these minor hurts. The hardest p...

Jesus taught that prayer isn't about informing God of our needs, but about surrendering our will to His. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He emphasized that God already knows what we need before we ask. The true purpose of prayer is to align ourselves with God's will through the powerful phrase 'Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.' After surrender...

God's kingdom is His sovereign rule over all creation, manifested through righteousness, peace, and joy in Jesus Christ. We live in a 'now, not yet' tension where the kingdom has arrived with Jesus but isn't fully realized. Psalm 23 reveals three essential aspects of God's kingdom: provision (learning contentment with what we have), peace (experiencing shalom even amid chaos), and proper paths (fo...

Understanding God's character transforms our prayer life. The Lord's Prayer and Psalm 23 reveal God as both holy and intimate - a perfect Father who runs toward us in our shame and a Good Shepherd who personally cares for the rejected. God is simultaneously transcendent in His holiness and immanent in His love. Like the father in the prodigal son story, He takes our shame upon Himself. Like a shep...

Listen as we explore our vision, To Be a People who Abide, Follow, and Make Room for Jesus and the Gospel

The Trinity is the foundational Christian doctrine that God exists as one being in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This isn't merely a theological theory but essential to understanding creation, salvation, and relationships. The concept is rooted in Scripture through the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4), declaring God's oneness and references to 'the Name' applied to Jesus, indicating his divi...

Jesus invites us to abide in Him, a vital connection that enables us to produce spiritual fruit like love, joy, and peace. Abiding begins with setting our default mental focus on Christ rather than worldly concerns. It involves embracing our primary identity as God's children above all other roles, and cultivating a genuine desire for a relationship with God. Without this connection to Christ, we...

In Luke 7:11-17, Jesus encounters a widow's funeral procession for her only son outside Nain. Jesus demonstrates true compassion by seeing her grief, feeling her pain deeply, and taking action by raising her son from the dead. This miracle was unique because it came without any request or demonstration of faith—it flowed purely from Jesus' compassion. As followers of Christ, we're called to mirror...

Who are 'those people' you find hardest to love? On the dangerous Road to Jericho, Jesus shattered expectations by making a despised Samaritan the hero of his most famous parable. The shocking truth? We're called to show compassion to everyone—especially those we'd rather avoid. Remember: we were once the wounded traveler, and Jesus stopped for us. How might your 'Jericho road' look different this...

Our actions profoundly impact those watching us, especially children who learn faith by our example rather than our words. To guide children toward faith, we should let them witness our struggles appropriately, carefully choose who influences them, recognize the vital role fathers play in faith development, and pray constantly for them. Children often follow the path their parents model, making it...

Generosity extends far beyond financial giving, encompassing our time, affirmation, resources, and money. When we reduce generosity to just finances, we risk falling into transactional Christianity or overvaluing wealth. True generosity reflects God's heart—giving what is most valuable to us, just as God gave His Son. We demonstrate generosity when we share our time (our most irreplaceable resourc...

Working for the Lord transforms our approach to our careers, shifting our focus from pleasing people to honoring God. Scripture instructs us to work 'heartily as to the Lord,' meaning with our entire being. This perspective helps us maintain excellence even under difficult bosses or in jobs we dislike. When Christ becomes our true boss, we find the strength to either endure challenging situations...

Managing money as Christians means recognizing that all resources belong to God and are entrusted to us as tools for His glory. Three key principles can guide our financial stewardship: learning to manage money well, learning to be content, and learning to ask God for more. How we handle finances reveals our character and spiritual maturity, serving as a testing ground for greater responsibilities...

Being a blessing to others reflects God's fundamental nature as a blessing God, with over 400 biblical references supporting this characteristic. Blessing can take many forms, from giving gifts and showing courtesy to making a phone call or offering kind words. The New Testament word for blessing, 'eulogo,' combines 'good' and 'word,' emphasizing the power of positive speech. In our critical world...

Motherhood encompasses both tenderness and fierce strength, as demonstrated through biblical examples like Hannah and Deborah. Modern mothers are called to fight through prayer, protect their families, and lead with wisdom while balancing gentleness with determination. Godly motherhood involves daily pursuit of God, constant prayer, and being present in all moments. Through motherhood, God refines...

Building a strong marriage requires intentional effort and commitment beyond the initial feelings of falling in love. Key principles include maintaining open and honest communication, showing consideration for your spouse's needs, and continuing to pursue each other through regular date nights and expressions of affection. The foundation must be built on Christ, providing the strength, grace, and...

Understanding God's character and developing a biblical worldview are fundamental to growing our faith. True faith isn't about personality type or blind leaps, but rather trusting in the unseen while building upon past experiences with God. Like the Roman centurion who demonstrated remarkable faith, we must investigate, understand, and take action based on our beliefs. Growth comes through progres...

The resurrection of Jesus Christ restored everything humanity lost in the Garden of Eden. Through His sacrifice, believers receive a powerful inheritance that includes perfect identity as God's children, true freedom from sin, divine authority, and uninterrupted connection with God. This restoration provides ultimate safety, dignity, and complete provision for those who put their faith in Christ....

True contentment comes from understanding that our worth extends beyond material possessions, recognizing that we enter and leave this world with nothing. The love of money, not money itself, poses the real danger by potentially becoming an idol that displaces our relationship with God. Fighting the good fight of faith involves maintaining trust in God while facing life's challenges. Our words and...

Are you making the most of your limited time? When life ends, will you wish you had more time - or wish you had used it differently? Discover biblical wisdom for turning idle moments into meaningful impact. Your time is precious - learn how to invest it wisely!

God equips every believer with unique spiritual gifts meant to serve others and advance His kingdom. These gifts range from speaking and teaching to service and creativity, each specially chosen by God for the individual. While discovering these gifts is important, the true power lies in developing a servant's heart and using these abilities to make a difference. The focus should be on selfless se...

Biblical church leadership fundamentally differs from secular leadership by prioritizing character over skills. Leaders must exemplify qualities like being above reproach, self-controlled, and hospitable as outlined in First Timothy 3. While skills can be taught, character must be cultivated through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Various leadership roles exist within the church, includ...

Is your life marked by chaos or peace? 🤔 Discover how to transform from living in a constant tornado to becoming a source of tranquility for others. The choice is yours.