Podcasts about pastor dave

Pastor Steve and Pastor Dave discuss how God's abundance doesn't always come along the most expected path, and how we are called into abundance together as the Body of Christ.

In this message, we confront one of the biggest barriers in our relationship with God: condemnation. Many believers trust that God will save them, but struggle to believe He actually delights in them. Looking at Romans 8:1, Zechariah 3, and 1 John 3, we discover the difference between conviction and condemnation, the role of the accuser, and why our own hearts often keep us trapped in guilt. Through Jesus, we are not defined by our past — we are clothed in His righteousness and invited to live with confidence, freedom, and peace before God.

Pastor Dave's Sermon from 2/8/26:  “Invitation to Abundant Life" (week 3) Scripture Reading: John 4:46-54; 5:1-18

In our new series, Called by Name, we explore the story of Zacchaeus and discover how desperation can become the doorway to encountering Jesus. Through Luke 19:1–4, this message reveals how shame loses its power, comfort loosens its grip, and the crowd's voice fades when we are determined to see Christ. This sermon invites you to experience what it means to be truly seen, personally invited, and quietly changed by Jesus.

This week on the Calvary Church Podcast, we continue our February series, On Earth As It Is In Heaven, with a thought-provoking message from Pastor Dave Martin entitled “Obscurity of Ego.”Heaven is marked by humility, unity, and a shared devotion to God's purposes—but on earth, ego often gets in the way. In this message, we look at two pivotal moments in the early church: Barnabas advocating for Saul when others were skeptical, and the sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark.Drawing from Acts 9:26–27 and Acts 15:36–40, this message explores how God works through imperfect people, strained relationships, and unseen acts of humility. It challenges us to consider what happens when ego fades into the background and God's mission takes center stage.Join us as we discover how laying down our need for recognition opens the door for God's kingdom to be revealed on earth—just as it is in heaven.Subscribe, share, and continue the journey with us.

Have you ever felt like a spectator in your spiritual life, watching from the sidelines while others experience God's presence? Pastor Dave challenges us to move beyond observation into authentic participation, revealing how true worship isn't about personality but about positioning our hearts before God. Through powerful biblical examples—from Jehoshaphat's victory through praise to Paul and Silas's midnight worship—he shows how God consistently responds to genuine worship with breakthrough, freedom, and transformation. Whether you're seeking deeper connection or facing impossible walls, this message inspires: God responds when we worship. Watch now to discover how your praise can shake foundations and unlock chains!Psalms 150Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp!4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals!6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.2 Chronicles 20 It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. 2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 and said: “O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? 7 Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? 8 And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.' 10 And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them— 11 here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”13 Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord.14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord.19 Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with voices loud and high.20 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:“Praise the Lord,For His mercy endures forever.”22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 23 For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them.23 For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.24 So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped.25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much.Joshua 6 Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.2 And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.”6 Then Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord.” 7 And he said to the people, “Proceed, and march around the city, and let him who is armed advance before the ark of the Lord.”8 So it was, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the Lord advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them. 9 The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. 10 Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying, “You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, ‘Shout!' Then you shall shout.” 11 So he had the ark of the Lord circle the city, going around it once. Then they came into the camp and lodged in the camp.12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 Then seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually and blew with the trumpets. And the armed men went before them. But the rear guard came after the ark of the Lord, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. 14 And the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they did six days.15 But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times. 16 And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city! 17 Now the city shall be doomed by the Lord to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are [b]consecrated to the Lord; they [c]shall come into the treasury of the Lord.”20 So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.Acts 16:25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed.27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

Letters of Life Pt. 6Paul tells Titus to be eager to do good works. The problem is that we are usually eager to be comfortable. Therefore, we need systems to help us. Pastor Dave talks about his best friend that helps him with good works.

Join us as Pastor Dave continues our series Living Free.

Join us as Pastor Dave continues our series Living Free.

The passage unfolds a clear, pastoral vision for those who serve the church: character is the primary qualification for ministry. Deacons are described with the same moral weight as elders—men and women are called to dignity, temperance, faithfulness, and a life consistent across home, work, and public life. The Greek term for deacon simply means “one who serves,” and that service is grounded not in titles or gifts alone but in tested integrity: not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain, and holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.Practical markers of that integrity include how a person speaks about others, how they handle money, and how they steward their household. Women historically served as deaconesses; biblical examples (Phoebe, Tabitha/Dorcas, Priscilla, Lydia) show that faithful ministry is not limited by gender but defined by loving service and wise management. Testing a candidate's reputation—checking family life, work life, and community standing—was the biblical method for ensuring leaders were beyond reproach.Family life is integral to qualification: a deacon must be a faithful spouse and a careful parent, not domineering nor treating family as servants, but raising children in the training and admonition of the Lord. When leaders live with such integrity, three results follow: personal confidence that one has served rightly, the church becomes a credible witness in the community, and the mystery of godliness—Christ revealed, proclaimed, believed, and glorified—advances in the world. The text calls every believer to this standard, not merely office-holders. Service that reflects Christ's character both preserves conscience and displays the truth of the gospel.The passage closes with a pastoral prayer asking the Spirit to search hearts, to bring repentance where needed, and to empower believers to be lights in their communities so that God's kingdom may be seen and His truth upheld.

Let Love Lead You

In this sermon, Pastor Dave begins a new focus on being a “community on mission” by turning to Jesus' words in John 15. He unpacks what it means for Christ to be the True Vine and for believers to abide in Him, showing why this calling is both essential and difficult. Through images of pruning, fruit, and friendship with Jesus, this message reveals how lasting joy and faithful mission flow not from doing more for God, but from staying deeply connected to Him together.

Pastor Steve and Pastor Dave discuss Jesus' interaction with the woman at the well, and how we might welcome others into relationship with Jesus and the Body of Christ.

Join us as Pastor Dave kicks off our new series Living Free.

Join us as Pastor Dave kicks off our new series Living Free.

Many Christians live with an image of God as angry, disappointed, or constantly frustrated—and that belief carries real consequences. In this message, we look at the truth of who God really is: a God who delights in His people and even sings over them. Through Scripture in Zephaniah, 1 John, and Hebrews, we explore the assurance of salvation and the danger of living with eternal insecurity, reminding us that eternal life is found in Jesus alone—not in our daily performance, but in His finished work. Jesus didn't just make salvation possible—He completed it, and that's why He sat down.

After the flood and Babel, Genesis slows down to focus on Abraham because God is re-launching His plan to bless the nations through one promised line. Yet Abraham's story is not a straight line of heroic faith - it is a tense mix of obedience and compromise, worship and doubt, hope and exhaustion as years pass with no child. Under the pain of delay, he begins editing God's promise to fit within human limits, even trying to settle for a more manageable path. Then, in a moment that captures the human heart, he falls on his face in reverence and still laughs under his breath, exposing how cynicism can live inside religious posture. But God answers not with explanations, but with a vision big enough to keep him waiting - stars that lift his eyes beyond what seems possible. Abraham keeps believing, imperfectly but sincerely, and God does something monumental: He counts that faith as righteousness and then binds Himself to the promise, taking the covenant weight on His own shoulders, pointing forward to the day Christ would be counted as sin so that faltering believers could be counted righteous by faith alone.

Parenting has a way of exposing both our deepest hopes, fears and our greatest needs. In Week 5 of What Do You Want?, we hear Jesus' question applied to one of the most sacred callings we carry: raising and shaping the next generation. Whether you're in the thick of parenting or influencing the next generation in quieter ways, this message calls us to parent with intentionality, presence, and eternal perspective

Philippians 3:1-11 | We're looking forward to continuing our journey through Philippians this Sunday. If you remember, Pastor Dave provided the context for Paul's warning to the church he had founded: "Watch out! There are religious dogs that have a habit of harassing the gospel communities I establish!" This week we will move on to look at the next logical consideration which is: "And watch out for that dog within!" What's great about a consideration like this is that it provides us the opportunity to think about how God uniquely draws near to each of us whispering messages of life that resonate with our hearts to bring us joy.

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In week four of our Upside Down Glory series, Pastor Dave Hentschel walks through 2 Samuel 9:1–13 and Luke 14:12–14 to reveal the heart of a King who seeks out the forgotten and makes room for those the world overlooks. Through the story of Mephibosheth—crippled, exiled, and hiding in Lo Debar—Scripture shows how David's covenant faithfulness leads him not to eliminate weakness, but to honor it with radical kindness, restoration, and a permanent seat at the royal table. Paired with Jesus' call to invite the poor, the lame, and the blind to our banquets, this message confronts how easily dignity becomes conditional and hospitality selective. God's Kingdom, however, is built on chesed—steadfast, covenant love—where grace is extended to those who cannot earn it, repay it, or even believe they deserve it, and where belonging comes before usefulness.The measure of a Christ-shaped community is not who sits at the center of the table, but whether the forgotten have been invited to it at all

Letters of Life Pt. 5Most Christians have moments of fear, anxiety, and exhaustion. None of us wants to be the cowardly lion, but that's how we feel sometimes. Sometimes we need encouragement. Pastor Dave unpacks Paul's encouragement to Timothy.

Pastor Dave and SAM Michelle talk about Nicodemus, the nature of baptism, and the importance of holding up Christ's example as the light by which to see the world.

Chronicles ends by encouraging God's people to look at their past as the source of hope for the future.  Israel often forgot they were God's chosen people and to remember how God had worked in them. Do WE see how God has worked in our lives, and does this inform how we relate to God?  Do we seek God consistently or only in times of crisis?  1 Chronicles 16:11 tells us that God wants relationship with us; He chose us; and He wants us to seek Him first.  

In Week 4 of What Do You Want From Me?, we invite Jesus into one of the most formative areas of our lives—our work. In this message, scripture helps us clarify calling, heal our perspective on work, and reframe our careers as worship and mission. Rather than chasing outcomes or success, this sermon calls us to faithfulness—trusting God with direction, purpose, and impact in every season of our working lives.

Have you ever felt like giving up, only to discover God's been praying for you all along? Pastor Dave reveals how Satan's attempts to sift us actually precede God's profound shifting in our lives. Through powerful personal testimony and Jesus' words to Peter, he shows how our survival is evidence of purpose—even when we feel lost or broken. Watch this transformative message to discover how Jesus is actively interceding for you, praying your faith won't fail, and using your struggles to prepare you for an unstoppable destiny. Don't miss this timely word about moving from trauma to triumph!Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

Letters of Life Pt. 4In Paul's letter to Timothy, he warns against teachers who combine pagan thinking with Christian teaching. The goal of this is love and a clean conscience. Pastor Dave unpacks 1 Timothy 1 and inspires us to fight the good fight of faith.

Book tour dates and ticket info here.Just as every market has its first movers, every religion has its martyrs — the people willing to risk everything for what they believe. Pastor Dave Hodges just might be a little bit of both. He's the spiritual leader of the Zide Door Church of Entheogenic Plants, in Oakland, California which places psilocybin mushrooms at the center of their religious practice.Today on the show, like its 130,000+ members, we're going to take a trip through the psychedelic mushroom megachurch. We'll meet one of the lawyers trying to keep psychedelic religious leaders like Pastor Dave from running afoul of the law, and get a peek into how the government decides whether a belief system counts as sincere religion.This episode was reported with support from the Ferris-UC Berkeley Psychedelic Journalism Fellowship. Subscribe to Planet Money+Listen free: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app or anywhere you get podcasts.Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.This episode was hosted by Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi. It was produced by Sam Yellowhorse Kesler and edited by Eric Mennel. It was fact checked by Sierra Juarez and engineered by Kwesi Lee with help from Robert Rodriguez. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The story of Noah reveals both the depth of human depravity and the surprising patience of God. Even as civilization advanced in innovation, culture, and technology, the human heart plunged into unrestrained evil, proving that progress does not sanctify. In response, God judged the world justly, unmaking creation through the flood, yet He did not abandon His promise. Through Noah, God offered a second chance - not because humanity improved, but because He bound Himself by covenant to preserve the world until redemption would come. The rainbow, God's hung-up bow, became a sign of restraint: judgment postponed, not removed. That judgment would ultimately fall not on the world again, but on Jesus Christ at the cross, where God kept His promise by absorbing His own wrath. The patience of God, then, is not permission to sin, but mercy meant to lead hearts to repentance, faith, and transformed lives.

In this message from the Happy God series, we explore the Father heart of God through Jesus' parable of the prodigal son. Many of us struggle to believe God is pleased with us, often trading sonship for shame or behavior management. But Jesus reveals a Father who runs, restores, and rejoices over His children. This sermon invites us to move from slavery to sonship and to see God not through the lens of our sin, but through the eyes of His love.

In this episode of The Living It Out Podcast, Pastor Dave Maestas teaches from 2 Samuel 3:1–39, confronting a hard but necessary truth: you can be surrounded by the right people and still be headed in the wrong direction. This chapter highlights the danger of misplaced loyalty. As David grows stronger, the house of Saul grows weaker—but many characters remain committed to systems, leaders, and patterns God is clearly moving away from. Abner's power struggles, shifting allegiances, and eventual downfall reveal how pride, fear, and self-interest can keep people fighting for the wrong cause. Pastor Dave unpacks how this passage speaks directly to our lives today—our friendships, leadership structures, workplaces, and even churches. In this message, you'll learn: Why loyalty without discernment can become disobedience How pride and control can blind us to where God is moving The difference between being faithful and being stubborn Why following God sometimes requires leaving familiar teams or systems How to evaluate whether you're aligned with God's direction or just comfortable people

Pastor Dave's Sermon from 1/18/26:  “Temple Clearance Sale" Scripture Reading: John 2:13-25

Have you ever felt the enemy trying to derail your divine purpose? Through a powerful examination of Peter's story, Pastor Dave reveals how Satan specifically targets those marked for God's greatest work. In this stirring message from the "Triggered" series, discover how to shift from being triggered by past trauma to being triggered by holy purpose. Through biblical insight and raw authenticity, Pastor Dave shows how opposition often signals you're on the right path - the enemy wouldn't waste time if you weren't a threat to darkness. Ready to turn your triggers into triumph? This message will equip you to stand firm, knowing that while Satan may ask for you, God's protective shield and limitless purpose prevail. Don't miss this transformative word!Luke 22:24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.' 26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.

In week three of Upside Down Glory, Pastor Dave Hentschel addresses one of the most difficult and misunderstood questions Christians face: where does disability come from, and what does it mean for our faith when God does not remove weakness? Walking through Exodus 4, Genesis 32, and John 20, this message confronts the popular but unbiblical idea that “God never gives you more than you can handle,” and instead reveals a God who sometimes wounds, withholds healing, and still sends His servants on mission. From Moses' speech impediment, to Jacob's lifelong limp, to the resurrected Christ who still bears His scars, Scripture shows that weakness is not accidental, meaningless, or disqualifying—but often the very means through which God dismantles self-reliance and displays His glory. This sermon challenges prosperity-driven assumptions about healing, reframes disability as a place of dependence rather than failure, and calls believers to trust God's wisdom even when strength is diminished.God's Kingdom advances not through unimpaired servants, but through those who cling to Him because they cannot stand on their own.

Letters of Life Pt. 3Sometimes it is hard to know what to say when we pray. Pastor Dave unpacks Daniel's prayer and inspires us to pray for God to act without delay.

Historically, the book of Revelation has led to some people to some pretty sketchy interpretations and conclusions. But what does it really say to us? How are we to approach this important book and read it correctly? As we enter into a new sermon series walking through the book of Revelation, John sits down with Pastor Eric and Pastor Dave to address this question. Here is part one of a two part episode on how to read the book of Revelation.

Jesus shows the heart of God, His heart for the lost, and His heart for the people to know God.

Pastor Steve and Pastor Dave discuss the beginning of John 2 with Jesus' first public sign: turning water into wine. They also highlight the core of God's identity and the relationship God seeks with us.

What if God doesn't just love you—but actually delights in you?In this message from Isaiah 62, we explore a powerful truth many believers struggle to accept: God pursues His people, gives them a new name, and rejoices over them with joy. Discover how seeing yourself the way God sees you leads not to pride, but to deeper holiness, freedom, and joy in Jesus.

In this episode of The Living It Out Podcast, Pastor David Maestas teaches from 2 Samuel 2:1–3:5, reminding us that just because God has promised something doesn't mean the battle is over. In fact, sometimes the fight intensifies after the anointing. As David steps into leadership over Judah, conflict immediately follows. The house of Saul and the house of David enter a long, exhausting struggle—one marked by opposition, loss, and slow progress. This passage shows us a hard but necessary truth: spiritual battles are often prolonged, personal, and refining. Pastor Dave unpacks what it looks like to: Trust God while progress feels slow Lead faithfully in seasons of opposition Stay obedient when the promise hasn't fully materialized Recognize that growth often happens through resistance This teaching challenges listeners to stop interpreting hardship as failure and instead see it as part of God's forming process. David didn't rush the throne, manipulate outcomes, or fight in his own strength, he waited on God while walking faithfully through conflict.

In Week 2 of What Do You Want From Me?, we explore how God uses friendships as a primary tool for spiritual formation. Drawing from Scripture, this message invites us to seek relationships with purpose, anchor our friendships in faithful presence, and encourage one another toward growth in Christ. As Jesus asks, “What do you want Me to do for you?”, we're challenged to consider who we are walking with—and who we are becoming together.

Genesis 1–3 shows a God who lavishes humanity with blessing, purpose, and intimate relationship, only to be met with a clear-eyed, stubborn rejection of His promise. Adam's sin is not weakness but willful resistance in the face of overwhelming grace. Yet the shock of the passage is not merely human rebellion, but divine persistence. Even as judgment falls - exile, fracture, frustration, and death - God refuses to abandon His promise. He clothes the guilty, feels the wound of betrayal, and commits Himself to sustaining His covenant at infinite cost. From Eden forward, Scripture tells one story: sin is fierce, but God's promise is fiercer still, ultimately upheld through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

What triggers you - past trauma or divine purpose? Pastor Dave challenges us to stop letting the enemy's triggers keep us stuck and instead be motivated by God's calling. Through Nehemiah's story of rebuilding Jerusalem's walls, we see how God prepares, provides, and protects those who pursue their purpose, even in the face of opposition. Your survival through trials isn't just survival - it's preparation for your calling. Ready to serve? God wants to use your story to help others find freedom. Watch now to be inspired!Nehemiah 1:3 And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.Look at Nehemiah 2:17 Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.”Nehemiah 2:1-6 And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. 2 Therefore the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.”So I became dreadfully afraid, 3 and said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?”4 Then the king said to me, “What do you request?”So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, that I may rebuild it.”6 Then the king said to me (the queen also sitting beside him), “How long will your journey be? And when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.Nehemiah 2:6-9 Then the king said to me (the queen also sitting beside him), “How long will your journey be? And when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.7 Furthermore I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the [c]temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy.” And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me.9 Then I went to the governors in the region beyond the River, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.Nehemiah 2:10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.Nehemiah 2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?”Nehemiah 2:12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode.Nehemiah 4:6 So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.Nehemiah 3:5 Next to them the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord. NKJV

What triggers you - past trauma or divine purpose? Pastor Dave challenges us to stop letting the enemy's triggers keep us stuck and instead be motivated by God's calling. Through Nehemiah's story of rebuilding Jerusalem's walls, we see how God prepares, provides, and protects those who pursue their purpose, even in the face of opposition. Your survival through trials isn't just survival - it's preparation for your calling. Ready to serve? God wants to use your story to help others find freedom. Watch now to be inspired!Nehemiah 1:3 And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.Look at Nehemiah 2:17 Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.”Nehemiah 2:1-6 And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. 2 Therefore the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.”So I became dreadfully afraid, 3 and said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?”4 Then the king said to me, “What do you request?”So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, that I may rebuild it.”6 Then the king said to me (the queen also sitting beside him), “How long will your journey be? And when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.Nehemiah 2:6-9 Then the king said to me (the queen also sitting beside him), “How long will your journey be? And when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.7 Furthermore I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the [c]temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy.” And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me.9 Then I went to the governors in the region beyond the River, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.Nehemiah 2:10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.Nehemiah 2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?”Nehemiah 2:12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode.Nehemiah 4:6 So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.Nehemiah 3:5 Next to them the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord. NKJV

What does God's face look like when He thinks about you?