Upside-Down Savior - Pastor Nathan Nass

God is able to do more than all we imagine. That’s the Bible’s promise: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory…” (Ephesians 3:20-21). Maybe your marriage seems broken and unfixable. God is able to do more than all we imagine. Maybe your sin seems too big and unforgiveable. God is able to do more...

We worry about everything, but Jesus came to take all those worries away. When you watch TV, you hear: “Worry! Worry! Worry!” But when you listen to Jesus, you hear: “ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid ” (John 14:27-28). When you scroll social media, you hear: “It’s hopeless. It’s a disaster...

Whom can I trust? All of us are asking that these days. With AI and social media influencers and sneaky politicians, it seems impossible. Whom can I trust? The Bible gives us some great advice: “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings who cannot save…. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God” (Psalm 146:3,5).I hope you can listen to this shor...

For decades, we’ve been preaching to each other, “Just be kind.” How’s that been working? Things have gotten worse, haven’t they? It seems like the more that people talk about love, the more violence there is. The more that people preach kindness, the more hatred people show. This week proved it again. An assassination. A school shooting. A murder on a train. It’s as if saying, “Be kind” and “Love...

How can I face death? Sadly, that question is on a lot of our minds. We see assassinations and cancer and tragic accidents and… Death feels so close. How can I face death? The Bible has so much comfort for you and me. Like these verses: “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16). “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in...

Jesus wants to give you true peace. In fact, when we live without peace, it makes Jesus weep. When the people of his day refused to find peace in him, Jesus wept and said: “ If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes ” (Luke 19:42). Can you hear how much he loves us? Even if you are not rich in money, Jesus has made you rich with his...

How should a Christian respond to tragedy? Tragedies in life often lead us to doubt God’s love or to assume that those who suffer are extra sinful. How should we respond to tragedy? Well, here’s what Jesus said when some in his day died in a tragedy: “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you rep...

“God won’t give you more than you can handle!” Have people said that to you? That’s one of the most common ways Christians try to comfort each other: “God won’t give you more than you can handle!”But there’s a problem: That’s not true! Here’s how Paul described his own life: “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself…. But this happened tha...

Jesus wants you to be a shrewd Christian. After telling the Parable of the Dishonest Servant, he said, “The people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:8-9). Jesus went on to explain what he meant: A...

“God helps those who help themselves.” That’s one of the most common statements that people like to say. In other words, if you want God to help you, you better be doing something yourself! Is that true? Thankfully, no! Instead, the Bible says, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly…. God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were s...

Do you know what the most precious treasure in the world is? You! You are the most precious treasure in the world. Know why? Because God wants you. God wants you so much that he sent Jesus to die on the cross for you. But God isn’t the only one who wants you. Satan does too. Satan wants to tear your soul away from Jesus. Every day, there is a battle going on for your soul. Every day, Jesus seeks t...

Was Jesus just a good teacher? That’s often how people today talk about Jesus: He was a “good teacher.” Is that really what Jesus came to do? We learn Jesus’ true purpose from his name. When an angel said what Jesus’ name would be, he explained: “He will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).I hope you can listen to this short video devotion about how Jesus is more than just a good teach...

It’s so easy to take God’s blessings for granted. Here’s one example: Food. Every day, we have food to eat, often even more food than we need to eat. We assume that we can take care of ourselves. Is that really true? The Bible reminds us, "The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing" (Psalm...

We’re all searching for righteousness. We all strive to feel good about ourselves. We all hope that by doing the right things, we’ll be good people. Do you know what Jesus says? “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). Those are shocking words! Unless you are more righteous than the m...

Is faith just saying the right words? Faith is at the heart of Christianity. We’re saved by faith! Is it just a matter of knowing the right words to say? The Bible says, “No!” Faith isn’t just knowing the right words to say. Faith is trusting in Jesus in our hearts: “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:22).I hope you can listen to this short vide...

Do you know what type of people Jesus chose to be his first disciples? Fishermen. Jesus could have chosen anyone from any occupation, but he chose fishermen to be his first disciples. Jesus explained why: “From now on you will fish for people” (Luke 5:10). Becoming Jesus’ disciples didn’t actually change their occupation. They were still fishermen. Instead of fishing for fish, however, they were n...

Does God have a plan for me? That’s a heartfelt question. We sometimes have days filled with doubts and guilt and emptiness. Does God have a plan for me? The answer is, “Yes!” God’s promise to his people long ago is also true for you and me: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).I...

Is it a sin to get angry? You get angry sometimes. All of us do. Is it wrong to get angry? While there is such a thing as righteous anger, the Bible gives us this encouragement about our anger: “‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26-27).I hope you can listen to this short video devotion about God’s ri...

What’s the focus of Christianity? It can seem like different Christian churches and Christian pastors focus on very different things. What’s the true focus of Christianity? The Bible tells us exactly what Jesus came to do: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15).I hope you can listen to t...

“ Be merciful, as your Father is merciful ” (Luke 6:36-42). Every day, you have dozens of chances to show mercy… or not. Every day is filled with opportunities to lash out and be impatient or to smile and forgive. When you have experienced the amazing grace of God in Christ, it does something to you. It makes your heart softer. Humbler. Confident. I hope you can listen to this sermon about God’s m...

When does life begin? There’s a lot of debate about that in our society today. Does the Bible actually say when a human being becomes a human being? Yes, it does! Already 3,000 years ago, David recognized when God’s gift of life begins. He wrote: “ You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb ” (Psalm 139:13). I hope you can listen to this short video devotion about how Go...

It’s wedding season. Our family’s summer plans have revolved around weddings that family members have invited us to. I bet many of you have received wedding invitations too. Do you realize that the Bible is really one big wedding invitation? The Bible’s whole message is an invitation to come to Jesus’ wedding banquet in heaven: “Blessed are those who are called to the wedding supper of the Lamb” (...

What you see doesn’t tell the whole story. When times are good, your success doesn’t mean that you’re better than anyone else. So be careful not to trust in it! When times are bad, your suffering doesn’t mean that you’re forgotten by God. He knows your name. No matter what is happening, when you least expect it, roles can be reversed, and everything changes. Jesus told a powerful story about role...

Have you been baptized? Then according to Jesus you are a born-again Christian! That means that every morning when you wake up, you can tell yourself, “I am a baptized child of God. I have new life in Jesus. No matter what has happened in my past, by the Spirit’s power I want to live for Jesus today.” And every night you can sleep at peace. Every day, no matter how hard you try, you sin. But do yo...

We need reminders in every area of life. From notifications on your phone to sticky notes on your counter, we are really bad at remembering things. Jesus knows that. That’s why he sent us the Holy Spirit. Jesus told his disciples, “ He will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you ” (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit constantly uses God’s Word to remind us of Jesus. He...