Calvary Chapel Ellicott City | Midweek

You may have come across the phrase, “family comes first.” It's relevant to all aspects of your life. They hold the top spot, above everyone else. But what about God? Where does he fit into your list of priorities? Can you put God's plan for your life first, rather than your family? In today's message, Pastor Dan reminds you to prioritise God in all aspects of your lives. What truly counts are His words and the guidance He provides. Rest assured, God has your family covered and will look after all their needs!

You wouldn't believe the impact that your kind words and heartfelt affection can have on someone's life. That's precisely what Jesus went ahead and did. During His time on earth, He radiated love and kindness to everyone in His presence. That's what truly touched people's hearts. Today, Pastor Dan shines a light on how powerful love and uplifting words can be for someone. Your words of encouragement can truly guide someone on their journey to finding Jesus as their Saviour!

Have you ever noticed how some families have their own unique set of rules for how they do things or how they act? It's interesting to see the different ways people navigate their family dynamics! It can really shape the way kids behave when they grow up. As a parent, how often do you find yourself guiding your kids, encouraging them to pray and have faith in God, no matter the circumstances? Today, Pastor Dan is here to inspire you, parents, to cultivate a spiritual environment within your family.

Parents usually want to have their newborn baby in view all the time, ensuring they're protected from any potential harm. To God, the people of Israel are like a newborn baby. God cares for them deeply, always keeping a watchful eye on them. He stands guard against any danger that comes their way and will keep doing so. Did you know that God loves you too? Today, Pastor Dan reminds you that God is always watching over every step you take! He'll always protect you in times of trouble!

People with a talent for gardening can easily tell when their plants are in need of a drink. A plant that doesn't get water can soon start to droop and lose its vitality. Watering the pot every day is the secret to keeping your plant vibrant and thriving! Have you ever thought about how your spiritual life also resembles a plant? Today, Pastor Dan shares how your soul craves its daily nourishment, and that sustenance comes from meditating on the Word of God. So, keep your spirit vibrant and nourished!

Have you ever noticed that when you sign up for a conference, whether at your church or at your workplace, you usually get an identity card? It's that little piece of proof that says, “Yep, I'm officially registered for this event!” So, when you arrive in heaven and stand before God for judgment, have you thought about what or who your identity card will be? In today's message, Pastor Dan shares that Salvation through Jesus is the key that will save you from God's judgment and wrath!

Have you ever found yourself in a tough spot, reaching out to God for guidance, only to hear that little voice inside you nudging you in a particular direction? It's pretty fascinating how that works, isn't it? It's as if it nudges you to take that leap, and just like that, you realise it was the perfect choice all along! That's the way the Holy Spirit rolls, my friend! Today, Pastor Dan shares insights on how the Spirit of God can be your guiding light in everyday life. He'll always be there for you!

When you throw your hat in the ring for a job at a company, they won't just whip up a position tailored just for you once you're on board. The company has a clear plan for the position and workflow, all set before they dive into the hiring process. In the same way, there's a unique plan that God has crafted for each and every one of us in this world. It comes to life the moment you welcome Jesus as your Saviour. In today's message, Pastor Dan encourages you to seek God's perfect plan for your life!

If a car has a small-capacity engine, it just can't hit those high top speeds, no matter how much effort you put into the throttle. You'll need to pump up those engine upgrades to really unleash that power! In the same way, your body can't resist sin all by itself. It seems like you need some help! In today's message, Pastor Dan shares insights on how God can empower you to resist sin. All you need to do is grab the upgrade package, known as Salvation, and it's exclusively available through Jesus!

When you take a closer look at the laws crafted by humans, it's hard to ignore the imperfections and those sneaky loopholes that people sometimes slip through to dodge conviction and prison time. What do you think about the laws that God has set in place? Are there any sneaky little gaps you could take advantage of over there too? No way! Today, Pastor Dan talks about how God's commands are truly perfect in every way. Through Jesus, you can now obey every law given by God!

It can be a bit of a challenge to follow your boss's directives if you find them completely unreasonable. You might find those commands hard to follow and end up ignoring them altogether. So, what's the deal with the laws and the commands that God has laid down for you? In today's message, Pastor Dan shares how obeying God's commands might be simpler than you realise. His laws resonate perfectly with that inner voice in your heart that already knows what's right and what's wrong.

Have you ever noticed how the principal's kid tends to get a bit of extra love from both teachers and students at school? That's how it goes with God and Israel, too. God truly values the way you treat His people and His chosen nation. Today, Pastor Dan invites you to send your blessings to Israel and to hold them close in your thoughts and prayers. Blessing God's people is like a magnet for His blessings to come into your own life. But if you speak ill of Israel, brace yourself for the consequences!

There was a moment in history when the Jewish people were on the brink of disappearing altogether. Once upon a time, there wasn't a country known as Israel like we see on the map today. But God is bringing the people of Israel back together as time unfolds. Today, Pastor Dan shares the exciting news that God's covenant with Israel is coming to life! God is faithful to His promises, not only to the people of Israel but also to you as you embrace your identity as a child of God through Salvation!

The Bible mentions that there will be two occasions when Jews will come together from all corners of the globe. So, the first one is the one we're experiencing right at this moment! The Jewish community is getting ready for the approaching season of reflection and judgment. What's the scoop on the second one? In today's message, Pastor Dan shares insights about the second gathering of the Jews, highlighting how that moment is all about getting ready to embrace the blessings from God.

Denying ourselves is a hard battle to fight. God calls us to turn away from our selfishness and be generous, not to be critical of others but to look at others more highly than ourselves. But if we're honest, this is a tough pill to swallow. Saying no to the things that make us feel good is so hard, but it is all worth it because we can have peace with God. Today, Pastor Dan shares the peace you will have with God when you turn from your selfish ways and turn to the Lord, proclaiming He is Lord and Savior over your life. 

We all have needs, right? We need money, so we get a job. We need clothes, food, shelter, etc.  These needs can lead you to worry. It can cause you to grow in anxiety to the point where it cripples you. Friends, this doesn't have to be the case. There is a God who provides for the birds in the air, so why wouldn't he care for you? Today, Pastor Dan encourages you that the Creator who knitted you together and knows you better than you know yourself will provide for all of your needs! You are precious in His eyes.  

Isn't it a great feeling when you work so hard, and you finally purchase the thing you've always wanted? It could be the moment you were able to buy your first car or purchase your home. These are big things, and when you buy them, they are yours! If someone borrows your car or stays in your home, it isn't any less yours, because YOU OWN IT! Today, Pastor Dan shares that even in the times that Israel disobeyed God and was removed from the promised land, it still belonged to them.

Friends, this is going to be a tough message! The blessings that God pours out on the nation of Israel are many. But that's only one side of the story. Sadly, there are SUBSTANTIAL implications and curses when the nation of Israel chose to forsake God. As Pastor Dan has been teaching verse by verse through the twenty-eighth chapter of Deuteronomy, we've seen SO MANY of the blessings…today, not so much. Today, Dan will share all the awful consequences that Israel faced when…not if…WHEN they chose to disobey Him and break the covenant that He made with them.

Imagine you've got a torn ACL and you're scheduled for surgery with the best orthopedic surgeon in the world. You arrive at the surgery center early, and you whip out your kitchen knife and offer to “help” the surgeon fix your ACL. LOLOL. This is nonsense, right!?!?!? Of course! You would never do that. You would trust the person who KNOWS what they're doing. Today, Pastor Dan shows us that many of us approach God as we KNOW better…like we can do what it takes to fulfill the covenant that God has made with us. It has been, and will always be, based upon the finished work of Jesus Christ and His work on the cross!

IF is a BIG word. Imagine a door with hinges that swing in both directions. You can push that door in either direction, and it will open to you. Today, Pastor Dan will share with us that the Old Covenant that God gave His people was just like that double-swinging door…IF they did this, THEN this or that would happen. IF the nation of Israel would DO the various things that God commanded them, THEN they would receive His blessings. IF they DID NOT obey Him, they WOULD NOT experience His blessings.

Growing up, did the threat of getting something taken away cause you to behave? The thought of losing your treat after dinner or not getting to go out with your friends compelled you to obey… but not all the time. There were moments where the threat of consequences didn't outweigh your actions of disobedience. The same can be said about Israel. Today, Pastor Dan shares how the threat of curses didn't deter Israel from disobeying God's commandments because of their sin nature.  

Have you ever questioned the legitimacy of the bible? You read the stories and think, " Did that actually happen”?  You are not alone; in fact, you can probably go online and find an argument about this very thing! Today, Pastor Dan shares that the events and stories in the Bible are, in fact, true. Dan breaks down multiple archaeological findings that are tied to events in the Bible. This is encouraging and can strengthen your ability to proclaim that the Bible is a real book about real people living in real places. 

There are moments in our lives that are hard. It could be problems at home or at work, or a struggle to feel a sense of worth. In these moments, they breed frustration and resentment, and the last thing we feel is joyful. But God shares something we can always rejoice in, no matter the situation. In today's message, Pastor Dan focuses your attention on God and His goodness, and not your feelings. You can rejoice in God because of what He acomplished thorough His Son's sacrifice on the Cross. 

When God blesses you, do you acknowledge Him? There are so many things that get taken for granted that are blessings, like waking up the next day, being healthy, or just getting to genuine rest from a busy work week. To some, this is just another mediocre day, but if you believe in the goodness and faithfulness of God, these are wonderful gifts that you get to experience on a daily basis. In today's message, Pastor Dan points us to how Israel acknowledged God in all the ways He blessed them. 

When you receive a gift, the typical response is to say thank you! That is the norm in society. What if you receive a gift that is unexpected or surpasses your expectations? Your gratitude tends to grow. You show more affection to the person who gave you that incredible present. The greatest gift we could ever receive comes from the Lord, and our response should replicate that. In today's message, Pastor Dan shares that when God blesses you, your response should be one of unrelenting praise and rejoicing! 

Is there a moment in time you wish you could bottle up forever? It could be a time spent with close friends, your wedding day, or seeing your child take their first steps. These are the moments that left a lasting impression on you, so much so that you want them to last a lifetime. Well, there is a moment that you can experience that will surpass this lifetime and will remain with you forever. In today's message, Pastor Dan encourages you that when you place your faith in Jesus, you will have everlasting life. 

The common phrase “comparison is the thief of joy” rings in my head whenever I try to look at others and compare my life to theirs. It's so easy to think that just because they did or didn't do something, I'm better than them. In today's message, Pastor Dan says that Jesus should be your standard of living. Don't look left and right at others and compare yourself to them. You will not be judged on “if you were better than someone else or not.” You will be judged on how closely you follow the commands of Jesus.

There are some autobiographies that I've read and said, “Did this person ACTUALLY do this?” Sometimes, it's easy to doubt the authenticity and authority of God, but it's important to remember that He has provided us a step-by-step guide on how to live for Him, and that the words given are His direct commands to us. In today's message, Pastor Dan emphasizes that the Bible is God's word. It's not a paraphrase of Him; it's not an idea of Him. It is the actual things that He has said, done, and will do for us. 

Historically, a lot of America's values are based on Christianity, whether people realize it or not. In today's message, Pastor Dan talks about how the Founding Fathers actually used Deuteronomy numerous times while writing the Constitution. Although it may seem like Deuteronomy isn't that important a book, or that it's outdated and should be overlooked, it actually ended up as part of the foundation of the United States of America, with laws and rights that are still upheld today!

In most movies I watch, the main character has a family last name that determines their entire status, both good and bad. Even though they get treated based on their family, God doesn't treat you differently based on your ancestors. In today's message, Pastor Dan says that your sins condemn you. Not your spouse, not your family, YOUR sins. The good news is that you've already been forgiven for that. You have this amazing opportunity to center your life around Christ and live according to His commands!

Marriage can be hard sometimes. One thing I've learned about marriage is that your spouse will build you up the most, but also hurt you the most. That may sound discouraging, but Jesus has redeemed you so that you can love your spouse and give them grace just as He did for you! In today's message, Pastor Dan talks about how a husband should love his wife. The Bible says to love your wife as you would love yourself. The best way to honor her is to love her, care for her, and make her happy!

You might feel like you'll never be ready to have kids, but the reality is that you may NEVER feel ready. If you're married, consider taking the step of obedience in bearing children! In today's message, Pastor Dan says that despite what the world says, the Bible says that marriage is a gift from God, and that children are a source of happiness, joy, and a reward from Him. Getting the opportunity to raise disciples to love Christ, who will then go out and make more disciples, is a HUGE honor! 

Although culture may see getting married as a burden, Christians think otherwise. Marriage is a wonderful gift from God that's cherished and lifted. What better way to exhibit the Gospel than to live for Him in marriage? In today's message, Pastor Dan talks about the beauty of marriage and its correlation to Christ. Just as He will never give up on you, husbands and wives should never give up on each other. A Holy covenant doesn't get broken in marriage, AND the same goes for your salvation in Christ.

In a world where it's encouraged to avoid marriage and children, God says to do BOTH of those things! If God provides a partner, be countercultural and marry that person! There's nothing more beautiful than getting the chance to exhibit Christ in your marriage. In today's message, Pastor Dan says that in marriage, it should be your desire to have children. Whether that's through conception, surrogacy, or adoption, growing a new generation of disciples of Christ and creating a ministry is important to the kingdom of God.

I love days when I get to sleep in. But sometimes, I take advantage of that time, and I sleep in on days that I need to get things done. If I continue to build a habit of getting up late, I'll never have a productive day in my life! In today's message, Pastor Dan says that if you have sin stuck in your life, you'll never move forward with God. Sanctification is the process of becoming more Holy, and if you're holding something from God because you don't want to let it go, well, then it'll be hard to grow in Holiness. 

Typically, we go to the hospital because we're sick, and we need to be healed. Other than that, there's no reason to be there. Many people try to turn to God AFTER they fix their life, but never consider that maybe God will do that all on His own. In today's message, Pastor Dan says that God will show mercy to those who will openly turn and trust Him. Your life doesn't need to be perfect, and you don't need to know everything right away. A heart of love and obedience is always the first step.

At a job, we are given rules and guidelines to follow in order to maintain an orderly workplace. As employees, it's important to listen and agree to these rules in order to thrive in the workplace. In today's message, Pastor Dan says that to live as a Christian, you must submit to the authority of God. A Christian who doesn't treat Jesus as a Savior is nothing more than a lukewarm Christian. Would you say you fully submit to God? Or are you holding something back that you don't want to let go?

Our society might benefit greatly if we took on similar rules regarding sex before marriage. As Pastor Dan continues leading us through the book of Deuteronomy today, we'll examine these archaic-seeming laws. Many today would just scoff and complain over how “irrelevant” these laws seem. But young people took sex seriously because of this. They had a respect for the consequences of their actions, and they knew there was nothing casual about this relationship as God designed it. 

Our culture is very divided on this issue. You may have heard Pastor Dan's words a moment ago and felt either deeply offended or deeply vindicated. The truth is, there are many ways that we defy God's design as humans, and it's important to approach the confusion that some experience regarding gender with grace. That doesn't mean you can't speak the truth; in fact, you need to. But it's important that when you do, you do so with love and a desire to point the broken towards our healer, Jesus.

This isn't a familiar scenario for most of us. Most people don't have livestock and won't ever need to track down their neighbor's donkey. We may have a dog or a cat, or we may have other possessions that are valuable and meaningful to us, though. As Pastor Dan will challenge us in today's message, we should be generous with our willingness to help others. It can speak volumes to a neighbor in need when we give of our time and resources to help them, with no expectation of payment.

As we study through the book of Deuteronomy, we repeatedly encounter the brokenness of sin and the need for atonement through sacrifice. Our sin separates us from God, and the only way we can draw close to Him is to have our sin removed. Before Jesus, this system required repeated sacrifice. Every new sin required a new sacrifice. But, as Pastor Dan will remind us in today's message, Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was once and for all. When you trust in Him for salvation, He offers eternal atonement.

If you're a parent, your children need you to be an adult with well-regulated emotions and integrity in your relationships and responsibilities. Today, Pastor Dan will challenge parents to follow Biblical guidance and wisdom in how they treat their children. You're going to have to say “no” sometimes, and you're going to have to discipline at times. It's a crucial element in loving your child and raising them in a way that enables them to have a meaningful life that honors God and respects others. 

We're born sinners, meaning that we're going to break God's laws and miss the mark of what He designed us for, but those actions and attitudes aren't meant to define who we are. Part of being enslaved to sin is that we attach ourselves to it, believing it's a part of who we are. As Pastor Dan examines today's passage in Deuteronomy, we'll be reminded that we were designed for holiness. Instead of clinging to our sin, we need to accept the offer of forgiveness and freedom from it through Christ.

Many Christians mistakenly think that ministry is primarily done by pastors in the pulpit. At some point in their journey, they may even feel a call to ministry and assume that they need to become a pastor or a missionary themselves. As Pastor Dan clarifies in today's message, all of us are called to be ministers of the Gospel, but in most cases, you don't need to change jobs or locations. You can minister in your current workplace and home by being diligent and reliable, doing everything as an act of worship.

Satan is the father of lies. His lies are usually subtle, making them easier for well-meaning people to swallow. But, as Pastor Dan will remind us in today's message, God does not change. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. He doesn't bend to the whims of our culture. He created humanity, and our design and the laws that govern us are not dependent on how we feel. When we come to Him in repentance, we have to acknowledge that He alone holds this place of sovereignty.  

For those who accidentally killed someone in the Old Testament, they could find sanctuary in special cities of refuge”. Here, they were protected from the vengeful desires of the victim's family. As Pastor Dan will explain in today's message, these cities serve as a beautiful illustration of the role that Jesus plays for all mankind. All of us are guilty of sin, both purposeful and accidental, and we deserve separation from God because of it. Jesus is our city of refuge where we can find safety and eternal life.

What does Deuteronomy have to do with Jesus? Sure, they're both in the Bible. That's an easy answer, but as with this entire collection of inspired books and letters, Jesus is central. When you look at the heart of the Old Testament, including Deuteronomy, you'll find foreshadowing, prophecy, and symbolism that clearly point to the coming Messiah and His work of redemption. As Pastor Dan examines today's passage, we'll find yet another example of this connection. 

God's design and laws can sometimes seem complicated and even cumbersome. Why so many rules in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy? Why couldn't He keep it simple? As Pastor Dan continues our study in the book of Deuteronomy today, we'll be reminded that all of these laws are centered around a core truth. That core truth is that our God is love. Every law came from a heart that cared for His people and wanted to protect and provide for them to live purposeful lives that honored Him. 

We have an incredible privilege in our access to God's Word. This is a relatively new thing in the Church. For the first 1500 years of Christianity, the vast majority of believers did not have direct access to the Bible, and they often depended on someone else to read it and translate it into their tongue. Today, you can access it on your phone or easily find a cheap or even free copy to carry with you anywhere. As Pastor Dan will remind us today, we need to hold God's Word close and seek wisdom from it daily.  

God gave mankind free will, and in our sin, there have been many choices made that demonstrate our rebellion against His authority. But, while we have free will, God's will will be accomplished in the end. In His sovereignty, He'll can use even our acts of defiance to serve His plan. As Pastor Dan will remind us in today's message, even when we don't like a specific leader, especially in the Church, we need to submit to their leadership as long as it doesn't directly defy God's commands. 

As Pastor Dan will explain in today's message, according to the law given in Deuteronomy, if someone was guilty and convicted of a sin deserving of death, the person who brought the accusation was to throw the first stone. After that, the rest of the community would join in throwing stones till the punishment was complete. Such a gruesome system. It's shocking to us, but it demonstrates the weight of not only the sin but also the serious responsibility that rested on the accuser.