Mt. Carmel Luray

What is God's name? Is it God? The LORD? Jehovah? Yahweh? And what does it really mean to take God's name in vain?   While taking God's name in vain can include what we say—it's primarily about how we live.   This message will not only help inform us about the name of God—but also help inspire us to live as the people of God.   May we carry His name with reverence, with joy, and with a heart to represent Him well. 

Before Jesus sent the disciples out to preach and heal, He called them to be with Him.

Have you ever felt like you're just not measuring up? Like God's waiting for you to finally get it all together?

We often chase after things we think will finally make us feel whole—success, security, healing, relationships. But what if the thing our hearts crave most isn't a gift from God… but simply God Himself? In today's message, we walk through the powerful story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1–2—a woman who longed for a child but discovered something far greater: the joy of being seen, known, and loved by her Creator.

He's Still Rewriting Stories. ✝️ On Easter Sunday, we celebrated more than an empty tomb—we celebrated a risen Savior who's still pursuing hearts and rewriting lives with His grace. Peter's story didn't end with failure—and neither does ours. Jesus met Peter in the same place with the same calling, reminding him (and us): "I didn't choose you because you have what I need. I chose you because I am what you need." If you've ever felt like you've let God down, I pray this message reminds you: Jesus isn't done with you. His invitation still stands—Follow Me.   #TheGreaterStory #EasterSunday #PCC #HeIsRisen #GraceOverGuilt #ResurrectionRewrite

On the surface, the crucifixion of Jesus looked like mockery, humiliation, and defeat. But Mark shows us something deeper—he writes not just a report, but a portrait… of a King being coronated.

Are we truly following God's call, or just saying the right words?

Why does Jesus feast with sinners… but not fast like the righteous? This week we explore one of the most misunderstood questions thrown at Jesus—and how His answer reveals who He is, why He came, and how patches and wineskins have everything to do with your spiritual life. ✨ Jesus didn't come to patch your life—He came to make it new.

Did you know that mercy is more important than sacrifice? Jesus exemplified this in His interactions with sinners. Let's strive to reflect His love and compassion in our daily lives! #HeartOfTheLaw #Mercy #Jesus

What if prayer became less about lists and more about love? What if our prayers were more about celebrating all Jesus accomplished yesterday—and listening for our mission today?   Jesus spent time with His Father—not because He needed healing, forgiveness, or more stuff—but because He loved being in the presence of the One He loved.

Ever wonder what the Kingdom of God looks like? Just look at Jesus' ministry: outsiders become insiders, the imprisoned are set free, and the sick find healing. Jesus taught His disciples to pray for the Kingdom to come to earth as it is in heaven.  While the kingdom will not come in its fullness until Jesus returns, believers can experience Kingdom breakthroughs as we live surrendered to and empowered by the Spirit of Jesus.

A group of young fishermen left everything to follow Jesus. But was their decision really as impulsive as it seems?

Ready to be challenged on what the Gospel really means? If Jesus was preaching the Gospel before He died, would He recognize a Gospel that only begins with Jesus died for your sins? Let's explore how the Cross does not stand as the starting point of the Gospel—but as the turning point of the Gospel.

The temptations of Adam, Israel, and Jesus remain the same for believers today. Will the words of Yahweh be enough to trust the ways of Yahweh?

John the Baptist takes on the identity of an Old Testament prophet as He calls for everyone to prepare for the arrival of God's King. But John was instructing the people to get their hearts—not their homes—in order.

What does it look like to live as a faith family this year? Being committed to helping each other be with Jesus, give to Jesus, and love like Jesus.

We were created in the image of God—but we were not created to be God. Creation and Sabbath provide a way of life—and embracing our limits provide a way to God.

The story of Christmas is the story of the Son of God entering a world filled with chaos to identify with the overlooked outsider and the rejected foreigner. As followers of Jesus, we are invited to step into the chaos around us—and transform the world with the love of Christ and the power of His Spirit. #ChristmasMessage #Hope

Which grieves the heart of God most: a company leaving Christ out of Christmas—or Christians leaving Christ out of their lives?

✨ God is in the details! Just like in the story of Esther, where divine interventions shaped history, your life is part of a greater plan. Remember, every moment is purposeful—what will you do with it? #Faith #DivinePurpose

A Promised Seed, a divine council, human deliverers, and my obedience to the Spirit—how do these all intersect with the story of Christmas? It begins by understanding that the Bible is a collection of accounts of Yahweh's divine protection through chosen human instruments against the assassination attacks of the Promised Seed of Genesis 3 by every world empire empowered by fallen sons of God. This reality makes Christmas a celebration of God's faithfulness to His Word and to His people—and reminds believers that God's kingdom is experienced when God's people are obedient to God's Spirit.

What good is it to believe in a God of miracles if we live as if He doesn't exist?    The fruit of our emotions reveals the roots of our beliefs. What we truly believe about God is displayed through our actions, attitudes, and responses to the circumstances of our lives.

We all have a story that needs to be told, but our stories need to be told within the greater story of Jesus—because He is the hero of all our stories.

Because we will all die one day, we must teach the next generation how to live for King Jesus today. Our calling as parents is not to provide a comfortable life for our children—but a way of life for our children.

Cosmic Geography! Divine Council! The Gates of Hell! Holy War! You may never read your Bible the same way! The Bible is an amazingly supernatural book that reveals the redeeming work of Jesus to be so much greater than what we initially believe! The pages of Scripture reveal His mission to reclaim the disinherited nations, to defeat Satan and the rebellious sons of God, to bind the dragon from deceiving the nations, and to send out disciples with the message that a new kingdom is here!

The parable of the prodigal son is about a perfect Father with both a rebellious and a self-righteous son. The perfect Son is not in the story—He is telling the story. And Jesus is writing our story too—reminding us that our worth to the Father is not found in what we do for Him, but in who we are with Him.

Is there a connection between God's favor on the physical nation of Israel and the spiritual warfare among heavenly beings? How could Satan offer Jesus all the kingdoms of the world—stating they had been delivered to him? How does the Gospel—the life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and sending of the Spirit—reverse the curse of the three rebellions of Genesis 1-11? In this teaching, the divine counsel worldview found in Deuteronomy 32 is explored—unlocking one's understanding of the storyline of Scripture.

Moses understood that leadership is not about wielding power—but about preparing future generations for their purpose. It is imperative to recognize God as the true source of our goodness and strength—because He will never leave or forsake us.

The story of Samson teaches us about strength, but the story of Jesus shows us true love and forgiveness. Who are we striving to be like? Let's choose Jesus!

Have you made the choice between life and death?

The revelation of Jesus' incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection changes everything for us! As we reflect on Deuteronomy, we see how Yahweh was preparing a greater inheritance for His people through the work of Jesus and the sending of the Spirit! May our hearts rest in the secret things that belong to the Father—and know we will be overwhelmed at the time of His grand reveal.

In our quest for blessings, are we asking God to support our choices, even when they may not align with His desires? Spiritual blindness can creep in when we see God's works but miss who He truly is. Let's remember that true blessing comes from living within His design and trusting Him fully. 

Those who love the blessings of God more than the God of the blessings will eventually transfer their joy from Someone to something. We must fight for our joy in Jesus by valuing His presence over His presents.

Elders must be humble teachers and courageous leaders because the call to lead the people of God is a call to willingly sacrifice, faithfully shepherd, and humbly serve the people of God—following the example set by Jesus.

On the mountain of cursing sat a copy of the Law that placed God's people under His judgment and an altar that provided the means for God's mercy to fall over His people. 

New Testament believers are free from the covenant made at Sinai—and bound to the covenant made at Calvary.

It is important to not only read the Bible as God instructed—but also to read the Bible as God intended.

Through the giving of His law, Yahweh is doing more than just restricting the actions of His people. He is revealing His character, pointing to the Messiah, and ensuring His people never forget who they were and where they came from.

Some understand the Old Testament to portray a power-hungry God who seeks to control His people with multiple rules, laws, and regulations—while the New Testament portrays a merciful, gracious God who doesn't care how we live as long as we believe Jesus died on the Cross. Both are incorrect views of God. We have one God—whose mercy and love are clearly portrayed through the good news He promised His people in both Testaments. 

The third command is “Do not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain.” Somehow that command has been reduced to the prohibition of saying, “God d—n” or “Jesus Christ” when one is upset or unhappy. But if the name of God is Yahweh, if the Hebrew word for God is Elohim, and if the name Jesus would not be given for thousands of years—could that really be the intention of Yahweh by this third command? What does it really mean to take the name of God in vain?

If our sin is not shielded by the mercy of God, we will stand justly condemned in our guilt. We need His mercy. Jesus is our Mercy Seat.

The same God who will punish sin and is faithful to His Word became our Mediator. 

Testings reveal who and what we trust and treasure. As we learn to trust and treasure Jesus, we must teach the next generation to do the same.

Just as Yahweh tested Israel in the wilderness and in the Promised Land, we continue to be tested during times of need and times of plenty.  Are we passing or failing the test of recognizing our daily need for God, appreciating the material blessings of God, and treasuring the God of the blessings? 

Learning the biblical context and culture is crucial to understanding the original intent of the biblical authors.  From the Old Testament to the New, the dramatic storyline of Scripture teaches that the kingdom of God is still expanding little by little as the four corners of the world come under the reign of King Jesus.

"Love God" is the greatest command because God knows His love is the only perfect love we will ever experience—and we will only experience His perfect love when we express our imperfect love to Him.

The wilderness of barrenness often awakens our hearts to the place of fullness we have in Christ.