No Limits with Pastor Delman

From today's key passage, we learn that Eli was one of those dads who didn't have a backbone. He saw his sons doing things he knew were wrong, things that were harmful to them and destructive to the nation, but he could not and would not tell his boys “No.” He preferred to avoid conflict with them and would not discipline them, which seems to have been the reason for their downfall. Eli made his two sons priests even though they lacked their father's character, and as a consequence, their conduct disgraced the family and shocked the nation. Their behavior did not reflect the values, the virtues, and the vision of men of God. God eventually gets fed up with their foolishness, and we learn that from God's perspective, He holds their dad responsible. It is from this section of Scripture we learn here how to identify the characteristics of a man who is on daddy duty, whether that man is a biological father, surrogate father, or a spiritual father.

Malpractice is the improper treatment of a case, client, or situation by a professional that results in someone's harm. It occurs when someone in a given profession does something that causes injury, injustice, or damage. And unfortunately, malpractice doesn't just happen in the medical or legal fields. In Matthew 5:21-48, Jesus addresses a different kind of malpractice —biblical malpractice—the misuse, misinterpretation, and misapplication of Scripture in ways that hurt rather than heal. Jesus' six-part message on murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, retaliation, and love reveals the dangerous consequences of interpreting God's Word through the lens of tradition, bias, and personal agenda. In this message, we're going to dive into Jesus' teaching so we can learn how to protect the church from the danger of biblical malpractice.

During His time on earth, Jesus dealt with the dangerous consequences of relying on hearsay when it comes to our faith, what we believe spiritually, and how we relate to God. In Matthew 5, we hear Jesus say again and again: “You have heard it said, but I say to you.” Jesus challenged the tendency to rely on religious hearsay and oral tradition. He did not dispute the law itself but the distorted interpretations of it. And so with this in mind, He says to us today: Forget what you heard.

In Genesis 1, we are told that God made man in His image. That means who we are and what we are begins with God. It doesn't begin with textbooks, school curriculums, census reports, or history books. It doesn't begin with a society that either seeks to ignore us or define us. It begins with the God who made us. That means we don't have to allow society to tell us who we are. We don't need America to validate us. And we don't need our oppressors to affirm us. We've already been stamped by the Creator. That means we can say it loud, “I'm Black and I'm Proud,” not because it's politically correct or culturally relevant, but because it is theologically accurate.

The Civil Rights Movement, led by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., forever changed America through the power of strategic marching. Whether from Selma to Montgomery or the iconic March on Washington, history shows that when people of conviction march with purpose, transformative change happens. But in today's world, some question whether marching still matters. Is it outdated? Is it effective? The truth is, marching only matters when it's done with clarity, intention, and faith. Just as God instructed the Israelites to march around the walls of Jericho, we too are called to engage in acts of resistance that bring down barriers and usher in God's promises.

I think we all would agree that mothers hold a special place in most of our hearts. They give birth to us, they nurture us, and they guide us as we grow, mature, and move throughout life. And one of the things that many mothers are known for is showing us the power of prayer. Prayer is how we access the supernatural for help in the natural. It is a timeless rhythm that harmonizes our lives and connects us to our Heavenly Father. In Scripture, we see powerful mothers like Elizabeth, the Syrophoenician woman, and Hannah—whose story reminds us of the importance of prayer and the tremendous impact a praying mother can have on a child's future. Today, we look at Hannah's story to discover what it teaches us about prayer.

Five years ago, I attended a reception honoring a group who had climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. What enabled them to accomplish this rare feat was a class they took beforehand—where they studied the experience of those who had done it before. They learned the process, the path, the tools, and the guides others used to succeed. And by understanding how others made it up and over, they were able to do the same. That same principle applies to the mountains we face today—not just physically, but politically, spiritually, and psychologically. The challenges we face as a people and as a nation are daunting. And yet, like the Israelites in Joshua 4, we are reminded that there is power in memory. There is strength in understanding how those before us made it over. Because if they did it, we can too.

Whatever destruction you've faced in your life up until this point, I want you to know that it's time to rebuild. God doesn't want you to stay trapped in the rubble of your disappointment and pain. He wants to help you rebuild your life so that you can experience all that He has in store for you moving forward. It's time to reconstruct the walls that have been torn down in your life. In this message, I'm going to give you three steps to rebuild those walls.

There's probably no experience more thrilling for a parent than to experience the birth of a child; to see them come into the world, to watch them grow up and mature, is certainly one of the joys of every parent's life. I imagine that same thrilling feeling is similar to what God felt as He observed the birth and growth of His creation, the Church, as is recorded in the opening chapters of the book of Acts. The birth of the Church was no small matter. After facing so much adversity, the Church still prevailed, and in doing so modeled for us what the Church should look like still today. Therefore, in this message, we're going to take a closer look at what we can learn from the early Church and how we can apply their example in modern times.

There comes a point in the life of every person, organization, and relationship where you realize that the habits, attitudes, patterns, methods, and sometimes people that got you to one stage in life are not sufficient to get you to the next stage. And oftentimes, when you get to that point, you find yourself feeling stuck, torn, or stagnant. If that's the place you find yourself today, it's time to ask yourself this question: what are the things in your life that need to be addressed, the cycles that need to be broken, and the habits that need to be changed in order for you to achieve what God wants you to achieve? Like Jacob in today's key passage, we all have a place up ahead that God is calling us to. There is a dimension of faith and spirituality that God wants us to experience, but in order to experience it, we must realize that we can't keep going on living like this.

It's hard to believe that we are approaching the 10-year anniversary of that Milky Way commercial where a tattoo artist, distracted by a candy bar, inked "no regerts" instead of "no regrets" on her client. It's humorous, but it taps into a universal truth: we all have regrets. Regret haunts our memories and tugs at our hearts, showing up in our most vulnerable moments. The prophet Isaiah calls us into a different kind of reflection — to move beyond our regrets and embrace the new thing God is doing.

Have you ever had beef with someone? Or has anyone ever had beef with you? By “beef,” I mean something more than just a disagreement or an argument. By “beef,” I'm not just talking about a difference of opinion or a misunderstanding. Instead, I'm referring to a deep division, dislike, discord, disrespect, distaste, or disgust not just for a person's opinion, but for the person themselves. If you have, then this message is for you. We're going to look at the writings of Paul for guidance and direction on how to handle the “beef” we have with others.

In today's key passage, the Israelites find themselves on hold with God. They are stuck between their “right now” and their hopeful “will be,” stuck between where they are and where they want to be. There was nothing they could do on their own. There was no way out because they were barricaded in on every side. If a door was going to open, God was going to have to do it. If a way was going to be made, God was going to have to make it. If provision was going to come, God would have to provide it. And so, I want to explore this passage because I believe it provides us with some insights on what we can do to manage the meantime in our own lives as we're waiting for our breakthrough.

This sermon is not a prescription about sex. It's about the discomfort many of us feel with the word “sex.” At the mention of this word, maybe you're already feeling uncomfortable. You would really like me to move on. You're starting to cringe, your body temperature is beginning to rise, and you'd really like this sermon to be about something else because for you this subject is inappropriate. Well, it's that discomfort that we need to address because when people are unable or are not allowed to talk about something that is natural and God-designed, then we're in trouble as believers.

The woman in today's key text teaches us how to worship God with our service, our sacrifice, and our substance, and how that spirit of generosity can literally transform the life of the believer and the culture of the Lord's church. When God gets a hold of our giving, when we put Him first in our faith and our finances, it has little to do with how much money we make, or how much wealth we have. It has everything to do with the depth of our commitment, the breadth of our confidence in God, and the extensiveness of our devotion to God.

In our culture, sadness is often seen as something to hide or suppress. Many people feel pressured to "put on a happy face" and pretend everything is fine, even when they are struggling. However, the Bible teaches us that sadness is a natural and necessary part of life. In Ecclesiastes 3, Solomon reminds us that there is "a time to be sad." Just as God created joy, He also created sadness, and when we embrace it rather than suppress it, we can experience healing, renewal, and even a deeper connection with Him.

From today's key passage, we learn that Eli was one of those dads who didn't have a backbone. He saw his sons doing things he knew were wrong, things that were harmful to them and destructive to the nation, but he could not and would not tell his boys “No.” He preferred to avoid conflict with them and would not discipline them, which seems to have been the reason for their downfall. Eli made his two sons priests even though they lacked their father's character, and as a consequence, their conduct disgraced the family and shocked the nation. Their behavior did not reflect the values, the virtues, and the vision of men of God. God eventually gets fed up with their foolishness, and we learn that from God's perspective, He holds their dad responsible. It is from this section of Scripture we learn here how to identify the characteristics of a man who is on daddy duty, whether that man is a biological father, surrogate father, or a spiritual father.

In today's key text, the Lord gives us guidance on how we can stand on His promises. What stands out to me are the three assurances found in verse 5 that we can stand on. He says, “As I was with Moses, so shall I be with you, I will never leave you nor forsake you.” That's good news! As we go from one season or station in life to another, what will help us to successfully navigate this season is to be able to stand solidly, securely, and firmly on the three assurances God makes in this text. So let's dive in together.

Today we are going to talk about the importance of having a humble heart that is open to God's work. In our key passage of Scripture, Jesus is talking about the religious leaders of the day and how they were so focused on appearing spiritually strong on the outside, but they didn't focus at all on their internal spiritual strength. We can't neglect what's going on inside of us because we're too distracted by how we are perceived by others. In order to make sure we don't make this mistake, there are four steps we can take.

We have perfected the art of discarding people when they are no longer deemed useful. We have mastered the art of disposing of people once their value has been extracted. But I want to challenge us to become countercultural in this regard. In today's key text, Mary makes it clear that when others try to disqualify you, you don't have to let them count you out. There is another path to take.

We live in a world that constantly pressures us to pursue more— more success, more money, more validation, more status. The problem with this relentless chase is that it often leaves us feeling empty, unfulfilled, and never truly satisfied. Like a hamster on a wheel, we keep running, hoping to reach a destination that always seems just beyond our grasp. But what if the secret to peace wasn't in achieving more, but in learning to be content with what we have? In Philippians 4:8-14, the Apostle Paul shares his secret to contentment, not from a place of comfort, but from the chains of a Roman prison. His words challenge us to rethink our perspective and embrace contentment that isn't tied to our circumstances. Today, we will explore three key truths from Paul's journey that can help us find lasting contentment in our own lives.

In today's key passage in Ephesians, Paul is doing some cognitive restructuring. He is trying to reframe anger in our minds. He's trying to tell people then and us now that anger is a gift that God has given us. It's the fuel that God puts in our emotional tank to help us advocate for what matters to us. It's to prompt us to speak up for ourselves, for the less fortunate, and for our values. And so, Paul says, “Be angry” and learn to have a healthy relationship with this God-given emotion. For this to happen, you need to follow three steps, which is what we're going to discuss in this message.

Fear is a universal emotion that can either alert us to danger or paralyze us completely. In Inside Out 2, fear is depicted as focused on what we can see, contrasting anxiety, which focuses on the unseen. Paul writes to Timothy, who is facing real fear— persecution, leadership challenges, and an uncertain future. In this letter, Paul reminds Timothy then and us now that God has equipped us to overcome fear, not by denying it, but by managing it through His power, love, and sound judgment.

Anxiety is a pervasive reality that impacts so many lives. In the movie Inside Out 2, the character "Anxiety" seeks to prepare the protagonist for what could go wrong—an all-too-familiar reality for many of us. Like Anxiety, our minds fixate on the unknown and choke out today's joy with tomorrow's fears. In today's passage, Peter offers a remedy for anxiety: shift your focus, release your worries to God, and anchor yourself in what you know to be true about Him.

Moving forward in life often means stepping out of our comfort zones, confronting the unknown, and letting go of the familiar. History and Scripture both teach us that clinging to the past can cause us to miss opportunities and even lose the blessings God has prepared for us. As we stand on the brink of a new year, we must learn to embrace what lies ahead with faith and determination, trusting God to lead us higher.

The prophet Isaiah in today's key passage is saying that no matter how long the night has been or how protracted the suffering has been, the Messiah is coming, and it going to be lit. He is bringing an end to the darkness that's in the world, and things are about to change for the better. The word of the Lord for us this Christmas is, “It's about to be lit.” That just means that things are about to turn around for your good; that you are about to start seeing things clearer than you ever have; that the help you have needed is on the way; that the strength you've been praying for is coming; that the prayer you've been praying is about to get answered. And it's going to happen because God promised it would.

Simeon was a man who received a promise from God that he would not see death without seeing the birth of the Lord's Messiah. And it was that promise that moved him to get his life in order. That promise led him to get in the right position, to get to a place of peace, and to develop and maintain the right spiritual and moral posture to see Jesus. Take note of those three things I just mentioned: He had a promise, he gets in position, and he maintains the right posture. He hears God's voice, he puts himself in an environment where there is peace and not confusion, and he is active in developing himself spiritually and in being a man of integrity. And by getting his life aligned with God, he's able to see what God wants him to see. The same can happen for you too. If you open your heart and mind to hear God's voice, if you position yourself in places and with people that produce peace, and if you order your steps to get in line with what God says, then you can see what God wants you to see, go where God wants you to go, be what God wants you to be, and do what God wants you to do.

I am fully confident that God wants each of us to experience the joy that comes from having our hopes realized. God wants us to experience the fulfillment that comes from having our dreams actualized. God wants us to experience the satisfaction of having our ambitions fulfilled and our aspirations achieved, and to express that joy by breaking out in spontaneous praise to God for all He has done. Simeon has that exact experience in today's key text because his soul's desire was to see Israel's Messiah for himself, and it finally happened. He did not know when the Messiah was coming. He did not know how He would appear, and quite frankly he didn't know exactly where, but his heart's desire was to see the Messiah for himself. Every step he takes in this text epitomizes what he did and what we all should do if we want to have our dreams fulfilled and our hopes come to pass.

If you listen to many Christian preachers, the impression is given that if you can just come up with the right formula in prayer, God will grant you the blessing you want and the health and healing that you need. And while I certainly believe in healing, I do not believe that God's divine healing ought to be the starting point for thinking about a healthy lifestyle. To optimize good health and to live the abundant life that Christ offers, we must practice what we pray for. After Jesus forgave, freed, or healed the woman caught in adultery, He told her to go and not keep doing what she had been doing. The same is true for us if we want to be healthy, if we want to be well. So how do we get well? That's what we're going to dive into today.

God is preparing a feast, and whether we like it or not, God reserves the right as the host, and convener, and furthermore, as the one who has paid the price to invite whoever He desires to sit down at His table. None of us has a say in who God invites to His table. In fact, when we get to heaven, many of us will be surprised by who we see there. There will be some we thought would make it who won't be there, and others we didn't think would who'll be sitting right there. And that's because God and God alone can invite whomever He chooses to have access to the Kingdom. John 3:16 reminds us that an eternal life spent with Jesus is available to WHOSOEVER believes in Him. May we never forget that.

Joy is often confused with happiness because both evoke feelings of positivity and contentment. However, joy is unique; it's not based on circumstances but rather a steadfast sense of inner peace and assurance rooted in God. This distinction allows believers to experience joy even in hardship. The Bible illustrates this in James 1:2, "Count it all joy when you go through various trials," emphasizing that true joy can be experienced even in the midst of life's difficulties. Just as the children of Israel rediscovered joy amidst their struggles, we too can choose joy, find joy-nourishing places, and surround ourselves with joy-nurturing people.

The work of transformation is an inside job, wherein we yield our emotions and our emotional lives to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. That's the point of today's key Scripture passages; there's a work that Christ performs on us, and there's a work that God is doing in us. And if we want to experience all that God has for us, then we must bring our impulses, our attitudes, our ways, and our behaviors in line with the will of Christ. 

It's time to "level up"—to become better versions of ourselves by not settling for the status quo, but instead, taking intentional steps toward growth and transformation. With this in mind, we are going to explore how we can avoid stagnation and live lives that reflect God's desire for us to grow, progress, and reach new heights. Just like Jesus' parable of the fig tree, we are encouraged to examine ourselves, seek improvement, and take action toward becoming all that God has called us to be. 

From today's key passage, we can learn some things about the spirit of contagious generosity in the congregation that made that exact thing possible. By reading about the Israelites, we can glean principles that can help us in our own efforts to further God's work on the earth. 

Have you ever had beef with someone? Or has anyone ever had beef with you? By “beef,” I mean something more than just a disagreement or an argument. By “beef,” I'm not just talking about a difference of opinion or a misunderstanding. Instead, I'm referring to a deep division, dislike, discord, disrespect, distaste, or disgust not just for a person's opinion, but for the person themselves. If you have, then this message is for you. We're going to look at the writings of Paul for guidance and direction on how to handle the “beef” we have with others. 

In today's key passage, the Israelites find themselves on hold with God. They are stuck between their “right now” and their hopeful “will be,” stuck between where they are and where they want to be. There was nothing they could do on their own. There was no way out because they were barricaded in on every side. If a door was going to open, God was going to have to do it. If a way was going to be made, God was going to have to make it. If provision was going to come, God would have to provide it. And so, I want to explore this passage because I believe it provides us with some insights on what we can do to manage the meantime in our own lives as we're waiting for our breakthrough. 

This sermon is not a prescription about sex. It's about the discomfort many of us feel with the word “sex.” At the mention of this word, maybe you're already feeling uncomfortable. You would really like me to move on. You're starting to cringe, your body temperature is beginning to rise, and you'd really like this sermon to be about something else because for you this subject is inappropriate. Well, it's that discomfort that we need to address because when people are unable or are not allowed to talk about something that is natural and God-designed, then we're in trouble as believers. 

The woman in today's key text teaches us how to worship God with our service, our sacrifice, and our substance, and how that spirit of generosity can literally transform the life of the believer and the culture of the Lord's church. When God gets a hold of our giving, when we put Him first in our faith and our finances, it has little to do with how much money we make, or how much wealth we have. It has everything to do with the depth of our commitment, the breadth of our confidence in God, and the extensiveness of our devotion to God. 

From today's key passage, we learn that Eli was one of those dads who didn't have a backbone. He saw his sons doing things he knew were wrong, things that were harmful to them and destructive to the nation, but he could not and would not tell his boys “No.” He preferred to avoid conflict with them and would not discipline them, which seems to have been the reason for their downfall. Eli made his two sons priests even though they lacked their father's character, and as a consequence, their conduct disgraced the family and shocked the nation. Their behavior did not reflect the values, the virtues, and the vision of men of God. God eventually gets fed up with their foolishness, and we learn that from God's perspective, He holds their dad responsible. It is from this section of Scripture we learn here how to identify the characteristics of a man who is on daddy duty, whether that man is a biological father, surrogate father, or a spiritual father. 

In today's key text, the Lord gives us guidance on how we can stand on His promises. What stands out to me are the three assurances found in verse 5 that we can stand on. He says, “As I was with Moses, so shall I be with you, I will never leave you nor forsake you.” That's good news! As we go from one season or station in life to another, what will help us to successfully navigate this season is to be able to stand solidly, securely, and firmly on the three assurances God makes in this text. So let's dive in together. 

Today we are going to talk about the importance of having a humble heart that is open to God's work. In our key passage of Scripture, Jesus is talking about the religious leaders of the day and how they were so focused on appearing spiritually strong on the outside, but they didn't focus at all on their internal spiritual strength. We can't neglect what's going on inside of us because we're too distracted by how we are perceived by others. In order to make sure we don't make this mistake, there are four steps we can take. 

We have perfected the art of discarding people when they are no longer deemed useful. We have mastered the art of disposing of people once their value has been extracted. But I want to challenge us to become countercultural in this regard. In today's key text, Mary makes it clear that when others try to disqualify you, you don't have to let them count you out. There is another path to take. 

Have you ever found yourself dealing with a toxic person? They are abusive, they bring you down, they stress you out, cause you harm, bring you distress, and sometimes they downright get on your nerves. If so, the question becomes what should we do about the presence of a toxic person or toxic people in our lives? In 1 Samuel 25, there's a story about a woman named Abigail who was married to a toxic man, and she models for us how to handle the toxic person in our lives, whether it's a spouse, a family member, friend, co-worker, or church member, Abigail teaches us how to handle toxic people, and we're going to learn a lot from her in today's message. 

Christians dealing with toxic emotions and exhibiting toxic behaviors wasn't just a problem in the first century. It's still a problem now. Whether it's road rage on the highway, angry parents at a child's game, or people fighting in church, at work, or in the home, people dealing with toxic emotions is a serious problem. And Paul says we need to stop it. Stop letting bitterness, rage, and slander dominate your spirit. Stop getting so heated that you can't control yourself any longer. And so, the question becomes how do we heal these toxic emotions? That's exactly what we're going to discuss in today's message. 

In our text today, we are delivered to the scene in the life of King David during a time when he had much to look down about. David learns for the first time of the passing of his child. He must have felt down, mortified, and broken. There's no doubt he was suffering under immense pain, but we get a glimpse at what he does to rebound when he must have been feeling down. He has a family to provide for, he has a nation to protect and lead, and he has enemies to fight and defeat. And in the midst of it all, he models for us how to handle grief and loss, not if it happens, but when. Grief and loss are universal and inevitable. So how does David make it? How does David keep looking up when he's been feeling down? That's what we're going to dive into in this message. 

While having your heart broken may not be preventable, it is conquerable. You can make it after disappointment, and today's key Scripture passage shows us what makes it possible to move through, rise above, and thrive after disappointment. It's like what Paulo Coelho once said, “Disappointment, defeat, and despair are the tools God uses to show us the way.” What determines whether you move on or whether you shut down after heartbreak depends upon how you assess the situation. If you view the event positively, seeing it as an opportunity for growth, versus viewing it negatively and seeing it as a moral judgment, then you are more inclined to grow through what you go through. 

If you're looking for healing, you have two options. You can either give up hope, or you can pursue healing by seeking out your Heavenly Father. In today's message, we're going to look at the story of two blind men who needed healing and reached out to Jesus for help. They were healed by their faith and their persistence, and you can experience healing too if you follow their example. Let's look at what it looks like to live out that example. 

As you read today's key verse, you'll see that Paul's counsel to the church then, and us now is “to cleanse ourselves of anything that might damage, distort or defile the flesh or the body.” One of the things I find as a pastor is that many people's journey with God has been damaged by distorted perspectives, twisted views, and false theories about the body. Throughout the history of the Church, many well-intentioned Christians have endeavored to live their lives for Christ in a religious culture that has placed an unbiblical and unrealistic moral hedge around the body in hopes that it would prevent people from falling or being susceptive to its urges, its drives, and its proclivities. So many people are struggling in their walk with God because we have not given them a healthy, helpful, and holy way to treat and view the body that God gave us. So in today's message, we're going to look at some helpful tips in hopes that we can have a better outlook and perspective on our God-given bodies so that we can live healthier lives all around. 

You've probably heard of a “detox” in the context of health and wellness. Many people will perform a detox cleanse in order to rid their bodies of all of the impurities and unhealthy substances so that they can be healthier. Well, I believe that detoxing is not only necessary for our natural lives, but it's also necessary for our spiritual lives. In order to fulfill the mission, the purpose, and the assignment that God has for all of us, we must remove impurities, pollutants, and contaminants that keep us from having that kind and the quality of life that God wants us to have. In today's key verse, Paul tells the church at Corinth that the path toward their spiritual empowerment calls upon them to engage in a detox, which I'm defining as “the elimination of impurities or unhealthy things that damage our faith, damage our hearts, pollute our minds, disrupt our relationships, and block our destiny.” Anything that keeps you from possessing what God wants you to have, going where God wants you to go, being who God wants you to be, and doing what God wants you to do needs to go. And in today's text, we discover why detoxification is necessary for the child of God. 

Today's key passage, written by the Apostle Paul, is designed to let us know that baptism and giving our lives to Christ is not the end of the struggle. We do not arise from the waters of baptism free from the struggle between what we want to do and what we end up doing. And Paul explores here the contours of this struggle and shows us how to navigate life despite the struggles we will inevitably face. 

Today's key passage, the second chapter of the book of Acts, is very significant because it is the primary text that tells us what happened at the inception of the New Testament Church. The first church was a spirit-led church, and we get a glimpse here of what characterizes a spirit-led church.