Summit Life with J.D. Greear

We’re all familiar with the experience of being tourists, but exiles? No way. And yet, we are told in multiple places in the Bible to think of ourselves as exiles here on earth, because this is not our true home. In this message from Revelation 14–18, Pastor J.D. shows us the value of living as exiles in a place that frequently seems alluring but will ultimately pass away. What we are meant to do is fix our eyes on the heavenly city, the one with true, lasting foundations. That, after all, is our eternal home.

If you've ever watched a movie with a big reveal the SECOND time, it's a much different experience. The suspense is gone, and you can be calm, cool, and collected. Why? Because you knew the end before the story even got there. The coming of the Antichrist is a lot like that, as God tells us ahead of time what to expect from the end of history. And because we know the end, we can live today with patience, peace…and even joy.

Judgments. Fire and hail. A beast from a bottomless pit. Taken on their own, quite frankly, these things seem like the stuff of nightmares. In the midst of such frightening images, we might ask, where is hope to be found? In this message from Revelation 8–11, Pastor J.D. encourages us to find hope by keeping our gaze on this glorious picture: Jesus reigns victorious, his mission will ultimately be accomplished, and his Word will triumph.

If you’re like most people, once you make it to Revelation 6, you decide your devotional time would probably be better spent elsewhere. After all, what are those seven seals about, anyway? And the “great tribulation”? Forget it. But as we’ll see in this message from Pastor J.D., Revelation 6–7 is essential to understanding the very culmination of biblical history, when people from all tribes, nations, and tongues will worship God together. It’s a beautiful vision, and it’s one that gives us confidence that the sacrifices we make for Jesus are well worth it.

We were created to worship. Even those who claim no interest in religion will inevitably worship something, whether it’s fame, wealth, family, or another thing entirely. In this message from Revelation 4–5, Pastor J.D. gives us a glimpse of heavenly worship that is motivated by the sovereignty of God and the salvation found in Jesus. This Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb, is the one our hearts yearn for and the only one who can give us life to the full.

“Lukewarm” isn’t really a desirable trait in, well, just about anything. After all, is there anyone who actually looks forward to a lukewarm cup of coffee in the morning? But when Jesus uses this word, what he has in mind is something far worse. In this message from Revelation 3, Pastor J.D. takes us through John’s last three letters to the churches. Though Jesus doesn’t have anything negative to say to the church at Philadelphia, he has plenty to say to the congregation of Laodicea, and it begins with his visceral reaction to their halfhearted Christianity. We, of course, have to be careful not to fall into the same trap: claiming the name of Jesus with our lips but living lives that are in no way distinct from the world.

We may think that making a small compromise here and there doesn’t matter. But the truth is that there is inherent danger in compromising our beliefs or morals, danger that can sometimes lead to disaster. In this message from Revelation 2, Pastor J.D. takes us through John's letters to the churches at Ephesus and Smyrna, showing us where Jesus both commends and challenges these congregations. Jesus’ warning should serve as a sobering reminder to us today: It’s possible to be faithful to the doctrines and practices of Jesus while having hearts that are cold and far from him.

Ask your friends which book of the Bible they most enjoy reading for personal quiet time, and it’s highly unlikely that anyone will choose Revelation. But the book that we often avoid is the same one that we desperately need to help us live the Christian life in tumultuous times. In this message from Revelation 1, Pastor J.D. highlights how in the midst of tribulation, this book presents us with a compelling vision of Jesus: the one who is sovereign, just, and worthy of our worship.

You've probably heard about the spiritual armor Paul describes in Ephesians. But have you ever really thought you needed it? In this message, Pastor J.D. walks through each piece of spiritual armor so that you know how to arm yourself for the spiritual attack happening right now, but also so you understand that you need every part of your body covered—because where the gospel has built you up, Satan cannot attack you.

If your spiritual progress were based on how well you lived out the Bible's instructions at home, how would you be doing? In this message, as part of the “Love Incorruptible” series, Pastor J.D. walks us through Ephesians 5, a passage that stirs up a lot of confusion about submission, and helps us see that God uses the relationships in marriage, family, and work as laboratories to help us grow in spiritual maturity.

You may think you're being a good Christian because you're trying to imitate God. But are you doing it because you adore him? In this message from the “Love Incorruptible” series, Pastor J.D. shows us why, when we experience the beauty of the gospel, we are compelled to walk in love, light, and wisdom—not in order to become a child of God but because as his beloved children, we can't help but want to be like him.

As the church, we cannot insist that people bow to our preferences when it comes to worshipping a Savior who gave up all his rights to rescue us. In this message, Pastor J.D. shows us as part of the “Love Incorruptible” series that when we are defined by who we are in Christ and not our cultural differences, we are able to lay down our preferences for the sake of others' salvation.

Believing in the gospel is kind of inconvenient, isn't it? When we don't understand how necessary it is in our lives, the demands it makes on us, like giving generously and reaching out to people who are different, can seem pretty bothersome. In this message from the “Love Incorruptible” series, Pastor J.D. helps us see that, until we fully understand the problem of sin, we can never fully cherish the gift of grace.

Have you ever felt like something is missing in your spiritual life? What's often missing is the difference in knowing something in our head and having it come alive in our heart. In this message from the “Love Incorruptible” series, Pastor J.D. takes us through a passage in Ephesians and shows us why it's not enough just to know facts. God has to grant us spiritual sight if we want to know him more and see his true glory.

There are a lot of things in the Bible that are hard to understand. In this introduction to the “Love Incorruptible” series from Ephesians, Pastor J.D. explains predestination and helps us see that while some things are not meant to be understood, we can know this: we were chosen for the glory of God. When we embrace that truth, it gives us the power to persist in trials as God works out his good plan in us.

Self-improvement is an American obsession, and the self-help industry churns out an endless supply of books, seminars and training programs, raking in about $10 billion each year! But Pastor J.D. teaches about the real path to confidence and significance, as we continue our series, titled Not God Enough.  

Sometimes when we're afraid or in a bind, we try to bargain with God. We've all been there — trying to get Jesus to agree to our demands. Pastor J.D. helps us get our theology right about prayer as he continues our series titled, Not God Enough.

Remember how frustrating it was when you were in school and the teacher was describing a big concept, but you couldn't make heads or tails of it? Nobody likes when they can't understand something. But as he kicks off our series called Not God Enough, Pastor J.D. shows us there are some things about God that we, as humans, aren't capable of wrapping our minds around. And that's a good thing!

At Easter, we consider the cross and the resurrection, of course—but this consideration ultimately demands a response from us. It demands that a choice be made. In this Easter message, Pastor J.D. explains how Luke 23 is the dividing line of history, and the most important decision we will ever make is whether we are on the side of Jesus or not. For those who choose to put their faith in Jesus, we can say with confidence and joy, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!”

Pastor J.D. walks us down the path to Jesus' tomb. We've all walked that lonely path in one form or another over the past 23 months, wondering where life is headed. The bad news? It's headed to the grave. The good news? It doesn't have to stay there. Because of the resurrection, the path to true life doesn't end at the grave. It begins there.

There is no transcript for today’s episode!  When it comes to end-time prophecy, there are some Christians who look at their view as absolutely essential doctrine and spend tons of time trying to map out the last days with charts and graphs. Others see that as a waste of time and prefer to focus on the here and now. So which approach is correct? Pastor J.D. answers that question today as he continues our series, “The Difficult Sayings of Jesus.”

When many of us picture Satan, we think of a cartoon character with little red horns and a pitchfork. But is he really just a figment of Hollywood's imagination, or is Satan alive and active in our world today? Pastor J.D. dives into Scripture to answer that question as he continues our series, “The Difficult Sayings of Jesus.”

A lot of people use Matthew 7:1 to argue that we should never tell anyone that they're sinning. In fact, if you've ever gotten into a debate about morality or challenged a friend about a sin they were dealing with, there's a good chance they brought up this verse. But is that what Jesus really meant when he told us not to judge others?

For the most part, everyone likes the Jesus of Christmas, who brings peace on earth and goodwill to men. And they usually like the Jesus of the Sermon on the Mount, who urges us to love one another and turn the other cheek. But uncontroversial people don't get crucified. On this edition of Summit Life, we're unpacking more of the Difficult Sayings of Jesus. 

Have you ever felt abandoned? Maybe a spouse left you, a friend betrayed you, or a parent wasn't there when you needed them most. Pastor J.D. reminds us of the incredible truth that Jesus knows exactly how that feels. It's part of our series called The Difficult Sayings of Jesus.

There is not transcript for today’s sermon. As Pastor J.D. begins a series called The Difficult Sayings of Jesus, we're putting aside our assumptions and taking a fresh look at who Jesus really is. A lot of us picture Jesus in a flowing white robe with a purple sash, carrying around a lamb on his shoulder, and smiling sadly. But as we'll discover, the true Jesus is so much more exciting! 

One of the most painful things to hear from a loved one is the phrase, “I don't trust you.” It's especially painful when you didn't do anything to break their trust! Yet many of us treat God that way. Pastor J.D. explains that when we doubt our own salvation, we're really doubting God! And not only does it cause us to be anxious, it actually damages our relationship with him. So on this program, we're learning how we can know with certainty whether or not we're truly saved.

Please note that for today’s podcast there is no transcript.  Most people get uncomfortable when the pastor starts talking about money. Some of us come from churches where wealth is looked down on as a sign of worldliness or greed. Perhaps we feel a measure of guilt for having a nice house and a robust savings account. Others may have been burned by prosperity teachers who used false promises to manipulate the congregation into giving. So what does the Bible really say about wealth and generosity?

Many believers think ministry is a job for pastors and missionaries, not the work of “ordinary Christians.” But the truth is that there's no such thing as an “ordinary Christian”! As you're transformed by the gospel, you're empowered to do amazing things for God. And whether he's called you to go across the ocean or across the street, every one of us is on mission. 

If you only have one tomatillo plant in a garden, it'll never produce any fruit because it needs other plants to cross-pollinate. And Christians are kind of like tomatillo plants in that way. Healthy believers will produce the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But first, you have to be rooted in Christ, and second, you need to have community.

We often refer to the first four books of the New Testament—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—as “the gospels.” But Pastor J.D. reveals that the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is all one story: the story of Jesus Christ. It's all the gospel! And as we go deeper into it, savoring the truths on every page of scripture, that's when God transforms our lives.  

On this edition of Summit Life, we're beginning a new series that gets to the very heart of this ministry. It's simply titled, Gospel. If you've been a believer for a while, you might think you've moved beyond the gospel. But Pastor J.D. argues that we never outgrow the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection. In fact, getting deeper into the gospel is the key to the entire Christian life.

In this message from Romans 15, Pastor J.D. challenges us to lift our eyes to the ends of the earth. When Jesus left his disciples, he promised that his gospel would go to every nation, tribe, language, and tongue. That task isn't finished. And God is calling many of us to follow him to the most unreached parts of the planet. Is it difficult? Yes. Is it dangerous? Yes. Is he worthy of it? Absolutely.

The Summit Church’s journey doesn't begin when they re-launched in 2002. It didn't even begin when they were planted in 1962. It began 2,000 years ago, with 11 frightened disciples on a hillside outside of Jerusalem. In the last 20 years, countless saints from our church have gone to be with Jesus. What would they tell us if heaven were opened up, just for five minutes? What would they want us to do with what we have?

If there’s one myth surrounding marriage that has been perpetuated by our society, it’s that marriage is what completes you. Of course, Jesus refuted this idea over and over in his teachings. In this message from Mark and Luke, Pastor J.D. shows us the importance and implications of considering the church as family. When we take this seriously, we will realize that faithfully investing in this family will yield a harvest far beyond what we could ever imagine.

Throughout history, there have been countless songs, poems, and books written about love. Yet, we know that turning to pop culture for advice on finding love is not the wisest course of action. In this message, Pastor J.D. reminds us from Song of Solomon 1 and 2 of some foundational truths about love that are helpful in navigating singleness, dating, and marriage. In the end, these earthly forms of love are intended to be a signpost, pointing us to the much greater love that God has for us.

As we close our journey through the book of Exodus, we come to a seemingly anticlimactic ending—the construction of the tabernacle. You might think it strange, after all of the crescendos in the book, to end here. The burning bush, the 10 plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, Moses meeting God on the mountain … and this is the happy ending? But as Pastor J.D. shows us, the tabernacle functioned as the center of the Israelites walk with God. Not only that, but through Jesus, it can enrich our daily time with God as well.

We tend to read the story of the Israelites making the golden calf and ask, “How could they?” But we fail to realize that what the Israelites were guilty of, idolatry, is the very thing that is behind all of our other sins. Today, Pastor J.D. shows us not only the danger of idolatry in our lives, but how we can escape it. Ultimately, what is bad news for those who reject Christ is actually good news for those who follow him: You become like what you worship.

In a secular, post-Christian society like the one we find ourselves living in, the Ten Commandments aren’t exactly popular. Cries to “live your own truth” threaten to drown out the absolute truth of God’s law. But how can we expect to love each other well without parameters for what that actually looks like in practice? Today, Pastor J.D. shows us how the Ten Commandments are designed to help us flourish, experiencing God’s creation as it was truly intended to be. True freedom, it turns out, isn’t found in the absence of God’s law, but in the embracing of it.

We all have an important role to play in the body of believers. This truth, though seemingly ingrained in us now, was something that God had to intentionally teach the Israelites. Today, Pastor J.D. takes us through three foundational lessons that God taught the Israelites about life in the redeemed community. In showing them that everything wasn’t meant to be centered around one leader, the people were ultimately better equipped to serve the needs of the community as a whole.

You aren’t likely to find many people who genuinely enjoy tests, but they certainly have a way of revealing where we are lacking in knowledge. Today, Pastor J.D. explains three tests that God walked the Israelites through after delivering them through the Red Sea. These tests, along with the lessons learned from them, were so fundamental that New Testament writers would later refer to them again and again. The truth is, we are no less forgetful than the Israelites, and like them, we need to be continually reminded of why God is always worthy of our trust.

The parting of the Red Sea was not only an epic moment in Israel’s history, but an event that would become the most frequent image of salvation in the Old Testament. Pastor J.D. shows us how this defining moment became a marker for the Israelites to look back on when their faith faltered. In the same way, when we are tempted to doubt God’s goodness in our lives, we can remember his faithfulness to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

For many people in the world, believing in God may not necessarily be a far reach. But believing in Jesus? Furthermore, believing that it was necessary for Jesus to die in order for us to receive forgiveness of sins? That, they would say, is a step too far. In this week’s message from Exodus 11–13, Pastor J.D. takes us through the story of the Passover, showing us the mercy of God for the Israelites. Ultimately, this mercy would find expression in Jesus, the true Passover Lamb and our only hope of forgiveness.

Our obedience to God doesn’t necessarily guarantee that things in our life won’t go wrong, or that we won’t fail. And yet, that’s a hard pill to swallow—if we’re obeying God, surely everything will fall into place, right? In this week’s message from Exodus 4–6, Pastor J.D. shows us how Moses faced this very struggle in his first confrontation with Pharaoh. Ultimately, God allowed Moses to fail not because he was cruel, but as a demonstration of his saving power and unmatched glory.

When we are overwhelmed by a particular challenge or even just by life itself, feelings of insecurity can threaten to take over. In today's message from Exodus 3 and 4, Pastor J.D. walks us through Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush. Though Moses felt completely unprepared for the assignment in front of him, God provided reassurance that was rooted in his unchanging nature. This reassurance addressed what Moses needed the most, and what we need the most in the face of life’s challenges and trials: the very presence of God himself.

Rescue. Salvation. Deliverance. These words characterize the story of the book of Exodus, as God frees his people from slavery in Egypt in an amazing display of power and might. As we begin a new series through the first half of Exodus, Pastor J.D. shows us from the first two chapters what we can learn about God’s work of salvation on a broad scale, as well as in our individual lives. And often, the very aspects of our lives that we consider weak, broken, or useless are what God uses to write a beautiful story of redemption.

In this message from Genesis 32, Pastor J.D. tells the story of Jacob, a man who began his life as a deceiver and ended his life with a limp—but who, right in the middle, wrestled with God and received an unimaginable blessing. Jacob provides a model for all of us who have ever waited on God to answer us, unsure if he hears, he cares, or he will ever act. Through Jacob, we learn that many of the blessings of God are released into our lives only through persistent, unrelenting prayer.

Jesus said we should pray like children. Children don't think about how they approach, whether they are using the right words, or whether their parents are pleased with them. They just ask. Astoundingly, that's the beginning of learning to pray.

Hope has a name, and his name is JESUS. For all that you aren't, for all that you need, for all that you fear, for all that you crave, for literally all that you ever cannot be, he is the great I AM.

The Savior that was promised hundreds of years before Jesus came to earth was the Messiah an army under siege needed … not because they needed to be delivered from their enemies but because they needed to be delivered from their sin. Pastor J.D. continues today in Isaiah 7 to show us how to approach the Wonderful Counselor, who knows our sin but instead of condemnation offers us the righteousness of Christ.

The promise of a Savior that wouldn't arrive for 700 years might not have been a great comfort to the army that received the prophecy, but God knew what they needed, and what we need today, is a Messiah who would save us from our sin. Today, Pastor J.D. is unpacking the promise of Isaiah 9 from the series “Hope Has a Name” and showing us how we should approach the Wonderful Counselor, who brings light to our darkness and gives us the gift of himself.