Calvary Chapel Ellicott City | Midweek

Living life to God's perfect standard is like walking on a tightrope every single day of your life. Even the slightest misstep can cause you to miss the mark, and there is no getting back on the rope once you fall. The fact is that we cannot live a perfect life on our own. But Pastor Dan reminds us that when we accept Jesus' gift of salvation, we are no longer judged by our own merits! We are judged by Jesus' merits, a man who lived a truly perfect, sinless life, and we are invited into the Father's embrace!

All it takes is one tiny mistake to make an entire house of cards collapse. And once Adam and Eve committed the first sin in human history, the curse of that sin passed on to every human being who would come after them. But in today's message, Pastor Dan reminds us that Jesus came to this world to undo the curse of sin that we inherited from Adam. Just as one action condemned us all in sin, one action by Jesus allowed us to return to our original place in God's Kingdom!

The story of Jesus isn't just meant to be read on its own. Instead, the coming of Jesus is the culmination of the story that started with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Jesus' death reversed the curse of sin that started with Adam and Eve. In today's message, Pastor Dan reminds you to read the entire Bible. You can't just read the Gospels and call it good. In order to fully understand what Jesus has done for the human race, you have to look at the whole story: beginning, middle, and end.  

When you write a check, what are the three things you need to do for it to be valid? You need to write the name of the recipient, followed by the amount. Finally, you sign the check to authorize the transaction. Well, Pastor Dan teaches you today that without Jesus' resurrection, the doctrine of salvation is like a check that isn't signed. You can take it to the bank if you'd like, but you won't get anything for it. The death and resurrection of Jesus certified His gift of salvation. It's your ticket to eternal life!

In algebra, you learn that if you are working with an equation, the changes you make to one side must be made to the other. If you add five to one side, you need to add five to the other to avoid creating a false equation! Well, in today's message, Pastor Dan teaches you that the resurrection of the dead and the resurrection of Jesus create an equation. If you believe in one, you have to believe in the other! Only a false teacher will try to teach you that only one side of this equation is true.

There are countless people in this world with testimonies of how God transformed their lives. But none of these stories is more famous than the story of the Apostle Paul! Before he served Jesus, he was responsible for hunting down Christians and arresting them. But in today's message, Pastor Dan reminds us that all of us have done dreadful things in the eyes of the Lord. But God sees through our sinful past and gives us a new opportunity to live for Him. He gives us a second chance!

It wasn't that long ago that people thought that the sun revolved around the Earth; in fact, it wasn't until the 16th century that the scientific consensus began to shift the other way. The fact of the matter is that people need to see that things are true to believe in them, and there are few better examples than James, the half-brother of Jesus, refusing to believe in Jesus as the Messiah! Pastor Dan wants you to observe all of the witnesses of Jesus' resurrection, and how they made a doubter like James believe!

When you lose someone close to you, the pain can be crippling. That person who had such a great influence on your life is all of a sudden gone from this world, and there is a great void in your heart to be filled. Well, Pastor Dan wants to remind you today that, if you and your loved ones follow Jesus, your death in this life isn't the end of your story. Jesus' death and resurrection are an example of what you can look forward to, because you will be brought back to life in a new, purified body, just like Jesus!

Holding on to the truth of the Gospel is like a child holding on to an adult's hand in a crowded environment. Without that safe and guiding hand, you risk getting lost in the chaos around you. Pastor Dan reminds you today that in order to receive the hope of the Gospel in your heart, you need to accept the truth found in God's Word, repent of your sin, and follow after Jesus! And it's not just a one-time decision, because you must choose to hold on tight even when the world around you tempts you to let go.

If you were walking around in a world full of sick people, and you had the cure for their disease, wouldn't you want to share it with as many people as possible? Well, Pastor Dan reminds you today that with the Good News of the Gospel written on your heart, you do have a cure that can be shared with others! The gift of Jesus' blood frees us from the curse of sin, and Jesus has sent us to go into the world and spread the Good News to every tribe, nation, and tongue! There is still plenty of work to be done!

There is one question that all of us face in this life that shapes the path of our lives for the rest of time: do we believe in Jesus, or do we not? It seems like such a simple question, but it is one that we have to take seriously. In today's message, Pastor Dan reminds us of the message of the Gospel and the hope it gives us in eternal life in the presence of Jesus, after our time on this Earth has come to an end. But to inherit that eternal life, we have to put our full trust in Jesus and allow Him into our lives!

Today's society is addicted to convenience. We can have the answer to nearly any question in the world in a matter of seconds, thanks to a simple internet search. But this convenience is an example of something that Jesus never promises to be for us. Pastor Dan teaches us today that when we ask Jesus to do things that He hasn't promised to do, we only stand to be disappointed. Jesus' character never changes, and we must learn to wait on His timing and His wisdom.

Have you ever felt true heartbreak before? A moment where you thought you would never emotionally recover? In those darkest moments, it can feel like the entire world is collapsing around you. But in today's message, Pastor Dan wants you to remember that God is present with you in the moments of heartbreak. He stops the world from crushing you, and He picks you up so that you can keep moving forward. Just like He showed up to comfort the disciples on the road to Emmaus, He will show up for you! 

Have you ever played a game of Jenga, and tried to remove a block you thought would be easy, until you realized that it was holding up the entire tower of blocks? Well, Pastor Dan teaches you today that Jesus' resurrection is a foundational block in the Christian faith. Without the resurrection, the words of Jesus are just the musings of a dead prophet. If the teachings of Jesus are going to have that transformational influence over your life, you have to believe in His death and resurrection!

It can be difficult to understand why a loving God would allow His children to go to hell. Why does He want people to go through this terrible punishment? Well, in today's message, Pastor Dan reminds you that God doesn't send people to hell; they are already headed in that direction! The curse of sin on your life has condemned you to an eternity separated from God, but when Jesus died on the cross, He made a way for you to reverse the course of your life and be reunited with the Father! 

For many people, Easter is a special holiday. It's a joyous occasion and is often celebrated with bright colors. But did you know that before the first easter was perhaps the darkest day in human history? Good Friday - The day that Jesus went to the cross. In Pastor Dan's message today, he shares with you about that dark day when your sins and mine were put to death on the cross with Jesus. Literal darkness fell over the earth that day as Jesus took the weight of the world's sins upon Him… yours included.

I don't know about you, but if I get attacked even by a mosquito, I'm not going to be quiet about it. Much less if people get physically aggressive towards me. Or even when my reputation is on the line, I'm not going to just stand there and take it. Well, in today's message, Pastor Dan wants you to know that Jesus went to the cross silently— and willingly because of His love for you. He endured the pain and suffering because He wanted you to be forgiven of your sins and to live with Him in eternity.

The statement, “the debt is paid in full,” truly sticks out to me. Imagine having financial debt, and one day, you find out that it's fully paid off. It's an unimaginable relief off your chest! In today's message, Pastor Dan tells you that Jesus' death paid YOUR debt from sin. He took your place on the cross and died for YOUR sins. He sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in you during your time on earth, and when your physical body dies, you will be able to go to Heaven with Him. What a sacrifice He has made for you! 

Growing up, a couple of my classmates would never show up to school on Good Friday. Now, I knew that Good Friday was about Jesus' crucifixion, but I didn't really see its importance until I grew deeper in my faith. In today's message, Pastor Dan explains the importance of Good Friday. Good Friday isn't just about HOW Jesus died, but it's about WHY He died and how that impacts YOU. Without His sacrifice, you would never be able to spend eternal life with Him. How has Jesus' sacrifice impacted your life?

What a powerful statement from Pastor Dan. Yes! It's true! God saw that the world needed a savior, so He sent His one and only son. In today's message, Pastor Dan says that God saved YOU from your sins through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Sin put Him on the cross, He took YOUR place, so that you can be saved from sin, Satan, and death. Lastly, He made sure that you can spend eternal life in Heaven with Him. Jesus died for you, then resurrected three days later to show His power. What an impactful sacrifice!!

Have you ever done something wrong and blamed it on your sibling? Surely, you'd feel a little guilty for having them take the blame. In today's message, Pastor Dan talks about Barabbas in the story of Jesus' crucifixion. Shockingly, you can relate to him. Barabbas was supposed to be killed for his crimes, but instead, Jesus was put on the cross. Much like Barabbas… You belong on the cross for your sins, but Jesus paid that cost for YOU! He sacrificed Himself for you so that you can spend eternal life with Him. 

Imagine being one of Jesus' disciples and hearing Him say that statement. The person you look up to the most, telling you that He will be crucified in the worst way imaginable, and you can't do anything to help Him. In today's message, Pastor Dan explains that Jesus always knew He had to be killed, as the prophecies say. As terrifying as this sounds, He died for YOU! His blood saved you from your sins, so that you can spend eternity in Heaven with Him. Praise God for His love for you!!

It's often said that marriage is 50/50, but the reality is… It's 100/100/100. Each spouse must give their all, and both must rely on God. Because of that, a husband and wife must be on the same team. In today's message, Pastor Dan teaches that the strength in a Christian household comes from a couple who push each other to grow closer to the Lord. If you're not married, look for that person who can challenge you to grow. If you are, be that person who draws your spouse closer to Jesus.

A core principle of leadership is delegation. It's knowing your weaknesses and knowing how the strength of others can fill the gap. It's relying on the skillset of professionals to do the task better than you can. It's embracing the counsel of those who are experts in their field. In today's message, Pastor Dan teaches that if you want the wisdom of God, then you need to delegate to Him. Know your weaknesses, and rely on God's strength to overcome them. When you seek God's wisdom, He will give it to you.

In the ancient Middle East, as in some places even today, if someone kills a member of your family, your family is required to avenge that death by spilling the blood of the killer or someone from his family. Today, Pastor Dan teaches us how God sought to institute justice in the Promised Land, at a time when there was no police force and no courts. Refuge cities were set up across Israel to protect the innocent from retribution. Are there things you can do to protect innocent people from harm today?

The 12 tribes of Israel never inhabited the entire territory God gave them. They failed to live in and utilize all the land inside the boundaries God had ordained for them. God's chosen people got complacent and lazy, and they disobeyed God. Today, Pastor Dan asks you to reflect on your own walk of faith. As He did for Israel, God has set boundaries for you. Do you also only inhabit a small portion of a much larger territory that God wants to give you? Are there ways you might be hindering God's work in your life?

As the tribes of Israel advanced into the Promised Land, God commanded them first to take the territory of Canaan, which Egypt had long possessed. Egypt would not be able to put up a fight because God had devastated them 40 years prior when He sent the plagues, followed by the destruction of their army in the Red Sea. Today, Pastor Dan tells us how God's work in years past helped Israel succeed in the present. Trust that God is smoothing out the road ahead of you, too, as you move out in faith.

When someone tells you they're going to do something for you—like call you, meet you at a certain time, or be there for you in a crisis—and they don't follow through, it feels pretty lousy, doesn't it?  It hurts when people break their promises. Today, Pastor Dan reminds you that God isn't like that…at all. He doesn't break His promises, because that's just not in His character. Jesus said, “I will neither leave you nor forsake you.” Now, that's a promise you can count on! What a great comfort that is! 

Most of us can readily remember our sins and beat ourselves up for things we've done or should have done, even after we've asked God for forgiveness, and even years later. Today, Pastor Dan brings us the good news that God isn't like that at all. The Book of Numbers lists many locations where the Israelites disobeyed God or grumbled against Him. When we read about those places, we recall their failures. But God doesn't. Because once He forgives you for your sins, He completely forgets them.  

Do you ever feel as if God is unaware of you? That He doesn't know what's going on with you, or doesn't really care? As the Children of Israel travelled through the wilderness after fleeing Egypt, God had them record what happened to them, so they would know that God was with them the whole way. In today's message, Pastor Dan wants you to know that God knows you; He knows your story—every place you've been, everything you've experienced, every failure, every victory, every struggle. All of it.

God's gift of choice; a gift given out of love. God doesn't force us to do anything. He doesn't make us walk on the path He lays out for us; instead, He permits our choices. Sometimes we can fool ourselves into thinking that these decisions are God's will. Understand that when we force the things that we want to happen and step away from God's perfect will for us, we leave ourselves vulnerable to attacks from the enemy. Today, Pastor Dan teaches the difference between permissive will and God's will.  

We hear the word “strive,” and we think of the hard work that we're willing to put into the things we love and want to achieve. The other side of “striving” is struggling; struggling to obtain something or to move forward in a better direction. We sometimes reach too far for things we're not meant to have. In the end, causing ourselves more grief than we ever anticipated. Today, Pastor Dan teaches that if striving puts you in a place of despair, you may want to reevaluate the path you are walking.

God makes us many promises, and anything that we can give ourselves outside of that is inferior. Don't let your eyes deceive you! Don't stop short of what God has for you, just because you think that something else may be better. When you allow yourself to be easily enticed by the look of simplicity and what's right now, you lose sight of God's will. In today's message, Pastor Dan teaches that living by God's will is walking by faith, and that isn't always easy, but it's always worth it!       

Growth and spiritual maturity are understanding that the enemy will never quit using our temptations against us! Some people think that healing through the provisions God has provided us is enough. It is a constant battle, here in the midst of sin. To convince oneself into thinking that you no longer need to rid your life of the things that kept you under, just because you have found healing, is foolish. Today, Pastor Dan teaches that there is no longer room in your life for the things that have brought destruction.   

In this day and age, it can be difficult for women at times to align submissively under their husbands. In fact, one of the hardest things might be to refrain from arguing. Some people may see this obedience as a form of oppression of women. Yet, it is just another example of God's grace and love for His daughters. Today, Pastor Dan teaches us about the practical nature of alignment, the leadership bestowed upon man, and the consequences that may come with that responsibility.   

As kids, we made “pinky promises” to signify our commitment to the silly, yet very serious nature of our words. It was a way to build trust and bonds within friendships. Keeping that child-like faith, as Christians, we must never take a vow to God lightly. Vows made to God are binding; more serious than any promise made to another person. Always make your vows to God with great care because, as Pastor Dan teaches, only fools leave their vows unfulfilled, and God takes no pleasure in fools.  

In the Old Testament, there were a number of sacrifices.  First, there were daily sacrifices.  Then, there were weekly sacrifices.  Also, sacrifices once a month.  And finally, sacrifices for various annual festivals.  Why?  Today, Pastor Dan explains how these sacrifices established a calendar and a routine for God's people.  And he emphasizes how important a routine is for your spiritual life.  Your earthly calendar has hours, days, weeks, months, and years.  Your spiritual calendar must have the same priority.

Did you ever wonder why there are so many sacrifices in the Old Testament?  And do they have any significance in the New Testament?  Today, Pastor Dan draws out a number of commonalities between the Old Testament sacrifices and what happens in the New Testament.  One of the most fascinating deals with the daily morning and evening sacrifices, and how Jesus exactly mirrored them on the cross.  God's Word is always trustworthy.  And so is His plan for your life – past, present, and future. 

When you read the Old Testament, especially the part about all the sacrifices of lambs and bulls, you might wonder if this is still important to know about.  If so, you'll be fascinated by the many ways Pastor Dan shows today that everything in the Old Testament in some way points to Jesus.  Yes, there were a tremendous number of sacrifices, and yet they all point to God's final sacrifice of His Son.  The sacrifice of Jesus is a reminder of your sin, your need, His sacrifice, and your forgiveness. 

An interesting question arose for Moses when he was preparing to divide up the Promised Land. Some women came to him, daughters of a father with no sons.  And they pointed out that Moses's plan would give them no inheritance to carry on their father's name.  Today, Pastor Dan notes that there was nothing written in the Law to cover this situation.  So what did Moses do?  He inquired of the Lord.  God's Word is the rule of your life.  But not everything is spelled out.  That's when you need to ask for His wisdom.

If you're an athlete, such as a baseball player or a marathon runner, you know how important it is to train.  You want to do everything you can to make yourself stronger for your sport and avoid everything that will make you weaker.  Today, Pastor Dan shows that training in godliness must be approached in that same way.  When you're focused on living for Christ, you're strengthening your faith and your spiritual life.  And by avoiding sin, you're saying “no” to those things that will injure you spiritually. 

It's interesting to note that when God commanded Moses to take a census of the nation of Israel – twice, it was calculated by counting the men aged twenty and above.  Today, Pastor Dan draws out an insight from this: In God's design, there are children, and there are adults.  If you're a young person living at home, God's call upon you is to learn from your godly parents and leaders while you can.  Then, as an adult, your responsibility is to take ownership of your own relationship with God.

Reading the Old Testament, you can find lots of history about God and how He deals with people.  And when you do that, it could be just a bunch of interesting facts.  Or, it could be more.  Today, Pastor Dan unpacks an incident where Phineas* takes care of a sin problem within the camp of Israel.  But it's not just a history lesson.  It points to Jesus Christ, Who is the sin solution for all people today who will accept Him.  Your faith in Christ comes from a long lineage of God's history.  Hold to it gratefully and diligently.

As Christians, we like to remind ourselves that “the war has already been won”.  And that's true, praise God!  But today, Pastor Dan reminds us that we're still in daily battles with the enemy of God.  God will never stop loving you and pursuing you.  But you have the choice every day, in every situation, whether to pursue God and His holiness, or to seek your own desires and interests.  That's why it's important to stay focused on God, and not to allow your eyes to be overly dazzled by this world.

There was a pagan sorcerer in the Old Testament named Balaam.  And he was hired by a man named Balak to curse the people of Israel.  But whenever Balaam tried to curse God's people, God Himself intervened and prevented him from doing so.  Today, Pastor Dan shows how this principle is carried forward into the New Testament.  God will never forsake you.  He'll never stop caring for you.  But he does allow you the choice, on a daily and moment-by-moment basis, whether or not to follow Him.  

It's truly amazing to read some of the prophecies in the Old Testament, and to understand their meanings.  Today, Pastor Dan explains a prophecy made by a pagan sorcerer named Balaam*.  Through this man, God spoke a prophecy of a star, representing deity, and a scepter, representing the King, coming from Israel.  Have you noticed the stars in Jewish symbolism?  Do you remember what guided the magi from the East?  This prophecy is about Jesus the Messiah: your God and your King.

Have you ever known someone who's making an important decision, and they consult some pretty unusual sources?  Maybe the horoscope, maybe a medium, or perhaps they're looking for signs in the stars or their lottery numbers.  Today, Pastor Dan says: don't be surprised by that.  It's been a practice for ages, to consult the gods by omens and numbers.  But that's not the way to consult the Living God.  And that's what our man Balaam* will learn in today's message.  And that message is a reminder for you too.

Imagine you're on a flight and the captain comes on with some bad news.  Or at your job, the announcement comes that your company just got bought.  What do people do?  Well, according to Pastor Dan, if they're anything like most people, most often, they'll all start praying to all kinds of gods.  Today, you'll see how this happened with a character named Balaam*, who was hired to curse Israel.  He called on seven gods.  But he heard back from One. The question is: which God are you calling on?

Do you ever laugh at jokes you don't really find funny, agree with opinions you don't actually share, stay late when you don't need to, dress differently, or act more confident than you feel—just to be liked? It's easy to shape what you say or do to please other people. But God isn't impressed by performance. Today, Pastor Dan tells you that there's nothing you can do to earn God's approval. All you have to do is receive His grace and mercy, freely given to you. 

You've probably heard the phrase, “Give an inch, take a mile.” That's exactly how the enemy works. When you start compromising—telling yourself that certain little things are no big deal, even though you know better—the devil uses that opening to push further. He takes advantage of small compromises and turns them into bigger ones. Today, Pastor Dan reminds you that you can't afford to give the devil even an inch, because if you do, he'll take as much ground as you let him.

It's easy to settle into life's rhythms and get comfortable. Daily routines can lull you into thinking everything's fine and under control. But as one of God's people, you do have an enemy. Pastor Dan reminds you that the devil is real, he hates you, and he wants to do real harm. Yet it's easy to live as if he doesn't exist. Today's message challenges you to ask yourself: Are you staying alert and resisting the enemy, or are you drifting through life unguarded?