Calvary Chapel Ellicott City | Midweek

Scripture teaches us that you cannot serve two masters. So if you aren't serving God, then who are you serving? And more importantly, doesn't that make you God's enemy? Pastor Dan reminds you today that while your sin makes you God's enemy, Jesus has made a way for you to find peace with Him. When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the influence of sin is expelled from your life. Without the influence of sin in your heart, you are free to follow God and become part of His family.

There's nothing we can do to justify ourselves before God. We could donate millions of dollars to wonderful causes and spend every spare minute serving the poor, and still couldn't bridge the gap between our broken souls and our perfect Creator. As Pastor Dan will remind us in today's message, in our state of spiritual depravity, we have only one hope. Jesus Christ is that hope. He gave Himself as a perfect sacrifice to atone for our sin, and offers us righteousness through faith in Him.

Have you heard of the “name it and claim it” movement? While it's loosely based off Scriptural truth, believers in this movement often misplace their faith. The focus is on our determination and on the actual phrases themselves, as if it's a magical incantation. Oftentimes, the request is also self-promotion or gain, not God's glory. As Pastor Dan will remind us in today's message, faith is only effective if it's placed in God, meaning that you believe He can accomplish something that aligns with His will.  

Faith by itself. As Pastor Dan continues our study of the book of Romans in today's message, we'll be reminded of this fundamental truth. There's nothing we can do, or add, or subtract from our lives, to be justified in God's sight. It's simply by faith. Our lives should look different from the rest of the world, as a result of placing our faith in God. We should be doing good works and avoiding sin – not to earn or keep our salvation, but out of gratitude and a desire to honor the One Who's saved us.

We have some very meaningful sacraments, which is a fancy word for a spiritual ritual or practice in the Church. In some denominations or traditions, these sacraments are given a place akin to salvation itself. Some even attribute their salvation to those practices. For example, some believe that you aren't really saved unless you get baptized. As Pastor Dan will clarify in today's message, these practices do not save you. They are just an outward sign of what Christ has already done in your heart.

Many of us have had unknown charges on our bank accounts. You may go into a panic mode, trying to figure out if you actually spent that money, or if someone stole your card info. As Pastor Dan will illustrate in today's message, imagine if it went the other way – you spent money, but the charges don't show up on your account. What a blessing that would be! In a similar way, when you sin, it's like a charge against your spiritual account – but Jesus makes it as though those charges never existed. 

Some believers, and even entire denominations of the Church, believe that to be saved, you must live a righteous life. Once you've been saved by Jesus, your life should be free of sin, and any sin you commit requires confession and recommitment to God. As Pastor Dan will point out in today's message, this way of thinking puts way too much on you. It expects something you're incapable of. Your life is changed, but your righteousness is only in Christ, not because of your ability to follow the law.

God has embedded a desire for justice in all of our hearts. It's easy for us to believe that God can have mercy on us for our sins, but when we see the sins of others, we fully understand why they deserve punishment. God is perfectly just, and even the most minor of sins are deserving of His judgment. We've done nothing that even comes close to justifying ourselves in His sight, but as Pastor Dan will remind us today, Jesus' death on the cross provides justification for anyone who believes in Him.

Sin is a constant, daily struggle for every human being. Some aren't even trying to fight it. Some of us really try to stay away from it, but if we're honest and aware, we fail a lot. As Pastor Dan will point out in today's message, when the Bible says we all “fall short,” it's in the present tense. It's not something that happened a while ago; it's something that is still happening on a moment-by-moment basis. There's nothing we can do about it, except place our faith in Jesus, Whose death has provided justification.

Whether you've spent every waking moment of your life engaged in sin or your trespasses are few and far between, you still fall far short of God's standard of righteousness. If you compare your separation from Him to the Grand Canyon, it doesn't matter if you can jump a couple of feet or you're a long-jump world champion. If you try to jump across, the results will be the same. As Pastor Dan will remind you in today's message, the only way to cross that chasm is with Divine intervention.

People have often wondered how God will judge people who may have never heard His Gospel or encountered the Bible in any form. Does He judge them against a different measurement? Do they get a pass due to ignorance? As Pastor Dan will point out in today's message, while Scripture doesn't go into detail about how God handles this matter, it does make it clear that God writes His laws on the hearts of man, and all of us ultimately will have the opportunity to either accept or reject salvation in Christ.

To believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior requires submitting to the authority of the Bible. There are certain elements of Scripture that leave room for discussion over their interpretation, but if you're subscribing to beliefs that go directly against clear teachings found in this Holy Book, you're rejecting the authority of its Author. As Pastor Dan will explain in today's message, sin cannot be justified. It separates you from God, and it's essential to lay sin down when you decide to follow Jesus.

All it took for Adam and Eve to break their perfect relationship with their Creator was one act of disobedience. He had specifically told them not to eat of that tree, but they were tempted by Satan to think they could be like God – which would lower His status and elevate theirs. It was selfish to the core. As Pastor Dan will explain in today's message, that's all it takes to separate us from God. You might live a perfect life in every other regard, but giving even one sinful thought a foothold is enough. 

You might think that simply showing up at church every Sunday or getting baptized with water is all it takes to find salvation, without really understanding what those actions mean. But do you know how straightforward the journey to eternal life can be? In today's message, Pastor Dan shares an important message about the one true path to salvation. When you invite Jesus into your heart, trust in Him, and nurture that relationship, that's the moment you find true salvation. Jesus desires your love!

It's easy to believe that pastors are the only ones with a flawless faith, destined for heaven, right? Have you ever thought about the fact that no one in this world will ever be seen as perfect in God's eyes? Sin tends to leave a mark on people's souls. Today, Pastor Dan shares some insights on why embracing God's grace is so essential for you. Only by turning away from your sins and seeking forgiveness through Jesus can you truly find that clean slate. That's the moment when God looks at you and sees you as completely blameless!

Being a family member of a famous actor comes with a few special perks and privileges, doesn't it? But what about God? Does the same idea hold true for Him? Can having a Christian family background shield you from eternal damnation? Today, Pastor Dan is breaking it down for you and explaining how salvation really works. Only when you truly believe in Jesus can you claim your right to eternal life. There's always a chance to return to Him, no matter when you decide to take that step. 

The world's justice system has instilled a certain confidence in us, leading many to rationalize their missteps by balancing them out with acts of kindness. But have you ever thought about the fact that, in God's eyes, you might still be seen as a sinner? Today, Pastor Dan shares the importance of embracing God's grace. The consequence of sin is death. But Jesus took on that penalty for you and saved you. Thanks to His incredible grace, you've found salvation. All that's left is to put your faith in Jesus!

The Bible shows us that God has laid out a standard for what it means to be a righteous person. But you know, there are times when folks just hit that override button and decide to set their own rules for what it means to be righteous. Some might believe that being kind to others can save them from a fate worse than death. In today's message, Pastor Dan encourages you to walk in the path that leads to righteousness. The only way to eternal life is through Jesus. Just open your heart and let Him in!

It's so easy for us to point fingers at others, highlighting their mistakes and passing judgment on them. Doesn't it just make you feel great about yourself? Have you ever thought about the fact that there might be a few things in your life that could use a little tweaking? Today, Pastor Dan shares a heartfelt message about nurturing a strong sense of conviction within you. Rather than pointing fingers at others, God wants you to reflect on your own missteps and develop your spiritual connection with Him!

When God brought humans into existence, He made them male and female. It seems like Satan has discovered a fresh approach to steer folks away from God. He convinces people of the idea that there are many different genders out there. These steer people away from what God had in mind from the start. Today, Pastor Dan is inviting you to turn back to God and embrace repentance. When you recognize your mistakes and truly seek forgiveness, God is ready to welcome you back with love!

It seems like folks have gotten so used to life without God that they often don't even realize there's a path out there that could save them from eternal damnation. The enemy sure knows how to play his role in keeping folks cozy in their everyday lives. Today, Pastor Dan talks about discovering the real journey to eternal life, and that journey is all about Jesus. Before long, folks will come to see that the world doesn't have much to give them. But what if it's already too late? Why not welcome Jesus into your life today?

The Bible shares that God's anger rests on the people, even if we haven't reached the time of judgment just yet. Have you ever stopped to think, why is that? Even when God shows people that Jesus is the only path to eternal life, some individuals still choose to turn away and follow their own path, ignoring the truth laid before them. Today, Pastor Dan shares a heartfelt message about the importance of developing a humble heart. God's showing you the way to eternal life. Learn to embrace the truth!

In this world, there's no such thing as mastering something entirely. There's always a journey of learning and growing that comes into play. In a similar vein, many Christians tend to believe that there's a cap on how much they can grow in their faith in God. Today, Pastor Dan has a little reminder for you: keep nurturing that faith of yours and watch it flourish! There's always something new to learn from God. All you have to do is open your heart to receive it and elevate your spiritual journey with Jesus!

When Jesus arrived in this world, He had a purpose to fulfill. He was fully committed to the mission that His heavenly Father had given Him. During His ministry, Jesus healed the sick and even brought the dead back to life. His ultimate aim, however, was to embrace the cross, bearing the weight of all humanity's sins on His shoulders. Today, Pastor Dan tells you how Jesus fulfilled His mission. Thanks to Him, you now have the chance for eternal life in heaven! Just have faith in Him, and that's all it takes!

When you decide to give your life to Jesus, it's easy to hold onto the reins yourself, making all the choices and looking to the world for help instead of leaning on God. In today's message, Pastor Dan guides you to understand the importance of letting God take control of your life. He really knows what's best for you and has a fantastic plan for your life. Why not shift your focus from the world and put your trust in Him, no matter what? You'll see a huge change in your lifestyle when God's in control!

It's one thing to make a promise, but sticking to it? That's a lot harder. In Scripture, we see that God took vows and commitments seriously, and there were consequences for backing out. It's a good reminder for us, when we commit something to God, whether it's our time, money, or a promise, we must mean it. There's no going back on it. Pastor Dan shares with us today why our commitments to God matter so much and how being faithful shows we really trust God in all things. 

Have you ever found yourself on the sidelines, wondering how you can better serve God in ministry? Maybe you've tried a few things, but just haven't found your niche yet. Here's the good news: you don't have to be on a mission trip or lead a ministry to make a real impact. God can use you and your gifts, right where you are. In today's message, Pastor Dan is talking about how every gift you dedicate to the Lord can make a difference, and why, once you offer something to God, it's His for good!

We've probably all had a moment of desperation, when life feels like it's falling apart and we pray something like, “Lord, if You get me out of this, I promise I'll serve you forever.” Sound familiar? The problem with making a vow out of desperation is that when the conditions improve, our commitment to the vow might change as well. Making a vow to God is actually a really good thing, when done the right way. Today, Pastor Dan explains what it means to make a promise to God, and how to do it right.

We've all made some bad choices in life, and hopefully, those choices didn't lead to hard consequences. But sometimes, God allows us to feel the full weight of our decisions and makes us face the music. It's not because He enjoys punishing us, but because He wants to take us on a path that's a wake-up call, drawing us closer to Him. Today, Pastor Dan is sharing why God sometimes lets us hit rock bottom and how His love is always calling us back, no matter how far we've gone.

When life's going well and everything feels under control, we start thinking we've got it all handled. Pride can start to creep in, and we think we are doing everything right. The truth is, pride can set us up for failure. The Bible reminds us that even Israel had to be humbled when they were at their strongest and most successful. Their pride led them to turn away from God. Today, Pastor Dan is talking about the dangers of pride and why staying humble and dependent on God is the only way.

Think of the last time you had a stressful day at work. How did you handle it? Did you call a friend to vent? Maybe you went out for dinner and ice cream to forget about your bad day. It's so easy to lean on the wrong things when life gets hard. But to truly find peace and relief, you must turn to Jesus in everything. He's the only way to overcome life's daily challenges. In today's message, Pastor Dan is sharing what idolatry really looks like and how you can keep Jesus front and center in your life. 

We've all heard this one before: “It's my life and I'll do what I want.” We like to think we've got everything under control, but the truth is, when we're left to our own devices, our lives can get messy. The good news is, Jesus offers us something so much better. As our Lord and Savior, He cares for us better than we ever could on our own. Within our message today, Pastor Dan is diving into what it really means to let Jesus take the lead, and why surrendering to Him is the best decision we'll ever make.

Do you ever wish you could just hit the reset button on life and start all over? The year of Jubilee was exactly that for ancient Israel: a fresh start where debts were erased, and people got a second chance every 50 years. Sounds great, right? What's even better is that through Jesus, you're offered that same kind of fresh start, no matter what's in your past, and you don't have to wait 50 years for it! Today, Pastor Dan's going to share how God's grace gives you the ultimate do-over, and why that's such good news.

What does real freedom look like? The Bible tells us that the only way to achieve total freedom is through Jesus. Just like the year of Jubilee brought freedom and rest in ancient Israel, Jesus brings us ultimate freedom from our own sin. He cancels the debt of our sin and breaks the grip it has on our lives. If you've ever felt stuck or weighed down, this is the message you need. Today, Pastor Dan is diving into how Jesus is like the Jubilee Year in the Old Testament. He brings hope and freedom.  

How do we really know we're making the right decisions? When making big decisions, it's easy to rely on our own understanding, experiences, or our gut instinct, but God calls us to rely on Him when making decisions. Scripture reminds us that true wisdom comes from seeking the Lord's direction in all things, and His Word promises to guide us when things feel unclear. Today, Pastor Dan will walk us through how to seek God's wisdom and let His Word show us the way in every decision we face.

What does it mean to keep our faith fresh? We can all admit there are times when we're just going through the motions, attending church or reading Scripture, without really being engaged. But the truth is, our relationship with Jesus should be fresh and renewed regularly, just like the showbread in the tabernacle was renewed weekly. A faith that's fresh changes how we live and how we serve the Lord. Today, Pastor Dan will share how we can keep our walk with Jesus fresh and strong.

Sin has to be dealt with to enjoy the fullness of life God intends for you. You have to deal with the reality of your separation from God because of your sin before you can enjoy eternal life. As you look at the Feast of Tabernacles today with Pastor Dan, you'll get to see what follows when you give your life to Christ. You get to celebrate! The Israelites celebrated their atonement with the Feast of Tabernacles in the Old Testament, similar to how you can celebrate your forgiveness through faith in Jesus today!

It's a heavy issue to deal with your sin. It brings guilt and condemnation. Without forgiveness, it leads eventually to eternal separation from God. Today, Pastor Dan will encourage you to remember what comes after you turn to Jesus for forgiveness of your sins. It's joy. It's eternal life. It's a time to celebrate! The Israelites had the Feast of Tabernacles to remember God's goodness and grace in bringing them out of slavery and into the promised land! Today, it's celebrating what Christ did for you on the cross!

God's love and forgiveness are reasons to celebrate! It's a reason to have joy in your heart! It was the last feast in Leviticus, and it followed the feast of Atonement. Pastor Dan will explain in today's message that the Feast of Atonement was to deal with the sins of Israel, just like Jesus' sacrifice dealt with the sins of the world. Both led to forgiveness and atonement of sins. After that, you're free from the bondage of sin! You don't have to carry that regret in your heart! You have eternity in Heaven to look forward to!

God loves His people. You can see Him bless Israel greatly in the Old Testament when they were faithful to follow His commandments. Even when they sinned, they had a way to be forgiven through sacrifice. Today, Pastor Dan is going to show you how God's love hasn't changed. He gives His people plenty of time to repent of their sins and turn from them. He sent Jesus to make a way to be forgiven today. When the tribulation comes, it will be a time of mourning over sin for Israel, but it's so they can turn to Jesus.

The tribulation is going to be a difficult time for Israel. The faithful in Christ will be separated from those who aren't. The sheep line and the goat line will be formed. One is bound for eternity in Heaven, and the other for Hell. Today, Pastor Dan is going to tell you about the similarities between the day of atonement in Leviticus and the tribulation period that is to come. The Feast of Atonement was the only one that wasn't a joyous celebration. It was serious and dealt with Israel's sin, just like the tribulation will.

Jesus was the final atoning sacrifice for your sins. He lived a perfect life, which the lamb without blemish symbolized in the feasts in Leviticus. The scapegoats on the day of atonement were meant to take the sins of Israel away so they could be forgotten forever. Today, Pastor Dan is going to connect the Old Testament scapegoats to Jesus in the Gospels. Jesus took all your sin on Himself when He was sacrificed on the cross, and it's forgiven forever. He was the perfect sacrifice in your place.

The trumpet sound in the end times is when the church age ends. It's when the believers in Christ will be raptured up to receive their new heavenly bodies. They'll get to see the home Jesus prepared for them in Heaven, where they'll get to spend eternity worshipping and praising God. As you'll get to see today with Pastor Dan, that day could be today. It could be tomorrow. It was pointed to all the way back in Leviticus with the Feast of Trumpets. What's important is that you're ready for that day to come.

Some day soon, Jesus will come back and take all the believers with Him to Heaven. It will be the end of the church age. Sounding of trumpets will signify when it happens, and it's referred to all the way back in Leviticus with the Feast of Trumpets. As you look at the ancient feasts today with Pastor Dan, he's going to show you how they all pointed to events in the future that you can read in the New Testament. Some point to events during Jesus' life, and some point to events after, all to give glory to God.

Jesus came to fulfill the law of the Old Testament. He was what the feasts pointed to. As you look at the celebratory feasts in Leviticus today with Pastor Dan, you'll get to see how they weren't just meant for the Israelites in that time. They're for you today. You can see how they worked together to symbolize the life and crucifixion of Jesus, the church age, and Jesus' second coming. All the books of the Bible work together to tell the individual stories throughout and to tell the overarching story of Jesus.

The celebratory feasts in Leviticus might seem at first that they're just times of remembrance for what God had done. They were the times to give thanks back to Him, too. Today, you'll get to explore the other meanings of those feasts with Pastor Dan. They mean so much more when you look to the New Testament, too. The traditional feasts point to the church and to Jesus. They symbolize Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and second coming. The books of the Bible work together to point to Jesus. 

The feast of passover in Leviticus was to remember the time when all the Israelites, with the blood of a spotless lamb on their doorpost, were passed over by the angel of death. Through the blood sacrifice of a perfect lamb, they were safe. They were saved. Today, you'll get to see the parallels of that day with Jesus Christ. Pastor Dan will show you that the feast celebrating the Passover points to Jesus in the New Testament. He was perfect and without sin, so He could be the final sacrifice for you.

God's Word works together in its entirety from the Old to the New Testament to tell of mankind's history and hope for salvation. It all points to Jesus Christ. Today, Pastor Dan will explain how the feasts the Israelites celebrated in Leviticus are part of that picture. Back then, they were to celebrate what God had done for them and to remind the people of God's goodness. Now, you can see how they point to Jesus and His sacrifice, the first church, and to the day He finally returns to earth in His second coming.

Anyone who thinks they've attained a sinless, perfect life in this world has deceived themselves. Likely, they've allowed the sin of pride to take over their hearts. It simply isn't possible in this broken world where we're surrounded by temptation and our own hearts are still being transformed by the Holy Spirit. As Pastor Dan will remind us in today's message, while we can't be perfect and avoid sin completely, we also aren't okay with sin. We're covered by the blood of Christ, and our lives should reflect that.

Sin is so destructive. It perverts the blessings God has given us for our enjoyment and His glory. Just as the prodigal son took his father's inheritance early and wasted it on temporary pleasure, we can do the same with the blessings our Heavenly Father gives us. As Pastor Dan will point out in today's message, we can't live in sin and live with God. The two are completely incompatible. The good news is that God is eagerly waiting to welcome us home and clean us up.

Jesus seemed to prioritize spending time with those in the margins of society. He hung out with fraudulent tax collectors, talked with prostitutes and adulterers, and He touched and healed lepers and the unclean. Many of His harshest moments of rebuke came when He encountered the religious elites and leaders. As Pastor Dan will clarify in today's message, the purpose of this wasn't to show acceptance for their sin, but to meet their need for repentance and salvation.