Summit Life with J.D. Greear

In this Easter message, Pastor J.D. explains that whether or not the resurrection is true, we should all want it to be true. In 1 Corinthians 15, we see that this incredible news is, in fact, true. Jesus has entered into our greatest fear—death—and has defeated and overturned it forever. And because he lives, everything has changed.

In this message from 1 Corinthians 15, Pastor J.D. takes a look at how Paul responds to some of the Corinthians who are saying there's no resurrection of the dead. In his answer, Paul shows them that belief in our bodily resurrection is as core a Christian concept as you can get. It's not a secondary or peripheral belief; it's at the core of Christian hope.

In this message from 1 Corinthians, Pastor J.D. walks through what some might call “the rowdy chapter” of Paul's letter, the one about spiritual gifts of tongues and prophecy. As a church, we should be open to and desirous of these spectacular gifts, being careful to avoid fleshly limitation and pursuing them in the way the Bible instructs us to.

In this message from 1 Corinthians, Pastor J.D. talks about a topic as popular as it is misunderstood—love. Our society seems smitten with notions of love, but at the same time, we don't seem to live in a fairy-tale land of love and grace. What does real love look like? And once we understand it, how can we, tangibly, become more loving? A dive into 1 Corinthians 13 shows us the most profound, powerful, and counter-cultural description of love ever written.

In this message from 1 Corinthians, Pastor J.D. takes a look at the topic of spiritual gifts. According to the Apostle Paul, God didn't establish his church as a collection of individuals, but as an interconnected body. I need you; you need me. Where do we see that interconnectedness most? In our spiritual gifts. None of us—and none of our brothers or sisters—can truly flourish until we know and exercise our gifts. In God's community, everybody has a special role to play. Every. Body. Including you.

In this message from 1 Corinthians 11, Pastor J.D. picks up the most fundamental element of Christian worship—the bread and the cup of communion. When we share this meal together, we aren't merely remembering Jesus' last meal. We are entering into his presence. Come to this table. There is no place for religious pride here. No place for classism. No place for racial division. But there is a place for you.

In this message from our “Cutting Through the Noise” series, Pastor J.D. walks through one of the most confusing and misinterpreted passages in the entire New Testament. Along the way, we'll learn just how relevant first-century head coverings are for the hot button questions about gender (and gender identity) in the twenty-first. And we'll see that in Christ's service, every brother and sister finds unimaginable grace, inestimable value, and eternal purpose.

In this message from our “Cutting Through the Noise” series, Pastor J.D. echoes the warnings of Paul in 1 Corinthians 10, showing us the dangers of (and the deliverance from) idolatry. Much of what we seek in life—success, romance, family—is good. But when we make these good things into essential things, we find ourselves eaten up with anxiety, strife, suffering, and sin. Only one identity is strong enough to be our foundation—servant of God.

In this message from our “Cutting Through the Noise” series, Pastor J.D. picks up the analogy Paul uses in chapter 9—of an athlete in training—and asks us, “How can we run like disciplined athletes in pursuit of the race God has set before us?” Athletes are ruthless, eliminating everything that stands in the way of winning. And we should be the same. Whether we're looking at our personal preferences, our worship services, our political decisions, even our ethnic identity … we lay it all on the line for the sake of the gospel—that we might save some.

In this message from 1 Corinthians 7, Pastor J.D. addresses an issue that is as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago—divorce. Broken marriages affect so many of us in the church, and we often fail to apply gospel hope to this painful experience. But the Apostle Paul offers real-world wisdom and gospel hope to those who are divorced, those who have considered divorce, those who have been hurt by divorce. Essentially, to all of us.

In this message from 1 Corinthians 7, Pastor J.D. walks us through Paul's teaching on sex, singleness, and spiritual gifts. When it comes to marriage and singleness, it's easy for us to get disoriented. Outside the church, marriage seems less and less important. But inside the church, it can sometimes be elevated to the status of idol! So how do we understand God's design for both marriage and singleness? Simple: We follow the example of the Apostle Paul.

As we continue through the book of 1 Corinthians in our series, “Cutting Through the Noise,” Pastor J.D. explores a topic that is as contentious to us today as it was to the people in Corinth—sex. Our society has a lot of competing ideas about what sex is for and what makes sex good. God has ideas, too. And since sex was his idea, it's well worth listening to the wisdom he has to share.

In this message from 1 Corinthians 5, Pastor J.D. teaches about the messy but necessary process of church discipline. We may find it harsh to hear what the Apostle Paul says about those who persist in sin. But if we truly care about our people, if we truly care about the vulnerable, if we truly care about our neighbors, if we truly care about Jesus' reputation … we will be faithful to confront our brothers and sisters in love.

Whether you're a pastor or a plumber, a stay-at-home mom or a shift leader, at some point in your life you will lead others. The question isn't if you're a leader, but rather how you'll lead. Join Pastor J.D. as he unpacks what biblical leadership looks like as we continue our series in 1 Corinthians, Cutting Through the Noise.

In this message, Pastor J.D. kicks off our series in the book of 1 Corinthians, showing how the gospel cuts through the noise and chaos of our lives. First up—the issue of divisions in the church. We may assume that church factions are a new phenomenon. But one glance at the church in Corinth reveals that dysfunction, division, and doctrinal chaos are as old as the church itself. And yet, in the midst of all this conflict, all this division, all this noise, the gospel provides a voice of clarity and a place of calm.

The final chapters of the book of Revelation present the end of the world as we know it—but there’s also a glorious beginning. In this message from Revelation 21–22, Pastor J.D. walks us through the vision of a new heaven and a new earth described by the Apostle John. The fact that God will once again dwell with his people should cause all of us to rejoice. But the fact that those who reject God will not experience this reunion with him should motivate us to share the gospel with urgency, inviting people to put their faith in the God who delights in making all things new.

What do you most look forward to? Maybe it’s a vacation that you’ve been anticipating for a long time, or a new job that you can’t wait to start. Maybe it’s catching up with an old friend that you haven’t seen in years. For those who follow Jesus, what we look forward to with great anticipation is what Revelation calls “the marriage supper of the Lamb.” In this message from Revelation 19–20, Pastor J.D. unpacks the implications of this great wedding feast as well as the 1,000-year earthly reign of Christ, encouraging us to live with the realization that life is short and eternity is forever.

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?