Biblical Insights with Pastor Dave

The sin nature (flesh) opposes the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit opposes the sin nature resulting in a constant struggle to live a Christlike life in a world filled with temptations.  Paul, in Galatians, gives us four practical steps for victory over the flesh and they are 1.) Walk by the Spirit, 2.) Be led by the Spirit, 3.) Live by the Spirit and 4.) Keep in step with the Spirit. 

You are obligated either to the flesh to do the deeds of the flesh or you are living by the Spirit according to the Spirit.  Which are you obligated too?

Exploring Jesus' conversation with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

Christ the King of Glory willingly set aside His glory and stepped in the shoes of men and paid the price that was, without question, our price to pay. He stepped into our shoes for the sake of redemption. Will you step in His shoes and continue to carry the hope of salvation?

Every Christian has been commissioned by Christ to go and make disciples.

God can take your darkest circumstance and create out of it something new and refreshing for you.

God did not call a building to represent Him in the earth as His church. He called you and me through Jesus Christ to be His church. It's time for us to be who God has called us to be. It's time for us to be the church and not just go to church.

We are not defeated though we face many challenges in life. In fact, Paul in Romans 8 would have each of us to know that because of God's love and Christ's victory over sin and death, we are more than conquerors.

It's important for Christians to never forget the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This is why Jesus instituted what we know as the Lord's Supper. As we share the bread and the cup we are reminded of the broken body and shed blood of our Lord.

It's important for Christians to never forget the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This is why Jesus instituted what we know as the Lord's Supper. As we share the bread and the cup we are reminded of the broken body and shed blood of our Lord.

Today we continue our study of the letter of James. In chapter 4 we are challenged to take a closer look at loyalty. Particularly divided loyalty between God and the world. God wants a total commitment to Him from each of us however, we’re challenged by self-pleasures, covetousness, envy, and jealousy in a world that also wants our total commitment. How do we avoid the lure of the world and remain totally committed and loyal to God? Let’s find out!

Today we continue our study of the letter of James. In chapter 4 we are challenged to take a closer look at loyalty. Particularly divided loyalty between God and the world. God wants a total commitment to Him from each of us however, we’re challenged by self-pleasures, covetousness, envy, and jealousy in a world that also wants our total commitment. How do we avoid the lure of the world and remain totally committed and loyal to God? Let’s find out!

“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.” (James 3:1–12, NKJV)

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:14–26, NKJV)

As Christians, our character is a reflection of our faith or lack of faith in God. Everything we say or do should represent God in us and His righteousness. In his letter, James teaches us about having genuine faith in God and how our faith is expressed through our character.

As christians our character is a reflection of our faith or lack of faith in God. Everything we say or do should represent God in us and His righteousness. In his letter, James teach us about having genuine faith in God and how our faith is expressed through our character.

Today we continue our lesson from the letter of James. Beginning in verse 13 of chapter 1 James challenges us to stop blaming others, especially God, when we encounter temptation. James makes it crystal clear in our text that God does not tempt us with evil or to commit sin. Rather we are tempted when we are drawn away by our own desires. James will take us through the stages of temptation in today’s lesson called, “You Can Blame Yourself For That!”

As the number of cases of the coronavirus continues to rise and families continue to deal with the unexpected loss of life, it is not inconceivable that some of us may find ourselves wondering will this ever end. Has God forgotten about us? Has He deserted us and left us alone? The answer to those concerns is no. God has not forgotten us nor has He left us alone. In fact, God is waiting for us to exhaust all of our own efforts to deal with this virus, and when we realize that our efforts alone have failed He's there to give us the wisdom, power, and strength we need to endure this pandemic.

As we struggle to wrap our mines around Covid-19 and the devastation it has caused around the world, I'm sure many of you have wondered, as I have, "how is this possible". Today we explore that question.

We continue our series from the letter of James as we explore how to put the challenges of life in proper perspective.

When dealing with the challenges of life we have a choice between following the wisdom of this world or the wisdom of God. James, in his letter, will help us to see the importance of seeking the wisdom of God in life's challenges.

The letter of James opens by telling us to consider it pure joy when we encounter trials in our life. Considering what we have been faced with the last several months with COVID-19, protests, and racial tensions, how can we find joy in these trials. James reveals to us that our joy is not in the trial but in the purpose behind the trial.

The letter of James opens by telling us to consider it pure joy when we encounter trials in our life. Considering what we have been faced with the last several months with COVID-19, protests, and racial tensions, how can we find joy in these trials. James reveals to us that our joy is not in the trial but in the purpose behind the trial.

Today we honor our fathers with a look back at Moses’s instructions to the second generation of Israelites as they stood a second time on the bank of the Jordan River ready to cross over into the land God had promised them. In this farewell address of Moses, he shares the importance of a father’s obedience and devotion to the only true and living God. He encourages fathers and grandfathers to take advantage of every opportunity to teach their sons and grandsons about the God of their forefathers, Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, and how they must love God with all their heart, soul, and strength.

Today we honor our fathers with a look back at Moses’s instructions to the second generation of Israelites as they stood a second time on the bank of the Jordan River ready to cross over into the land God had promised them. In this farewell address of Moses, he shares the importance of a father’s obedience and devotion to the only true and living God. He encourages fathers and grandfathers to take advantage of every opportunity to teach their sons and grandsons about the God of their forefathers, Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, and how they must love God with all their heart, soul, and strength.

In recent times our country has seen some difficult days. Covid-19, unemployment, and protests around the country now fill the airwaves. Equally troubling is how these events have once again exposed us to the existence of injustice and hatred among us. God is a just God and He expects no less from us. In fact, He commands us to live just lives and to treat one another fairly. In Psalms 37, King David shares his heart with us on injustice and how we should respond to it.

Our God is a giving God who gave us the ultimate gift in His Son Jesus Christ. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He GAVE His only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."When God gave His only Son to die for sinful mankind, He gave us the ultimate example for sacrificial giving. God is a giving God and He expect us to be a giving people. When we learn the biblical principles for our giving, we are more faithful and confident in our giving. Winston Churchill said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

Our God is a giving God who gave us the ultimate gift in His Son Jesus Christ. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He GAVE His only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."When God gave His only Son to die for sinful mankind, He gave us the ultimate example for sacrificial giving. God is a giving God and He expect us to be a giving people. When we learn the biblical principles for our giving, we are more faithful and confident in our giving. Winston Churchill said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

God has a purpose and plan for each of us. He has gifted us to accomplish His plan. We must be clear on God's plan for us and use the gift or gifts He has given us to fulfill His purpose. In this episode of Biblical Insights with Pastor Dave, we will discuss how 12 year old Jesus in the temple among the teachers will help us "Take Ownership Of God's Plan For Our Life."

God has a purpose and plan for each of us. He has gifted us to accomplish His plan. We must be clear on God's plan for us and use the gift or gifts He has given us to fulfill His purpose. In this episode of Biblical Insights with Pastor Dave, we will discuss how 12 year old Jesus in the temple among the teachers will help us "Take Ownership Of God's Plan For Our Life."