Podcasts about pastor nate holdridge

Title: Trust Jesus All the WaySpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this message from our series The Promised King and His Good Kingdom, Pastor Nate Holdridge walks through Matthew 10:26–42, where Jesus calls his disciples away from the universal craving for safety and comfort and toward a life of danger and reward. Working through three movements—Jesus stood for us, so we stand for him (Matthew 10:26–33); Jesus lost his life for us, so we lose our lives for him (Matthew 10:34–39); and Jesus brought a message to us, so we receive his messengers (Matthew 10:40–42)—we learn how rightly ordered fear, trust in a Father who values us more than many sparrows, and the memory of the cross free us to acknowledge Christ before others. Along the way we'll confront our region's invitation to curate the good life, clarify what Jesus means by bringing "a sword" into our households, and stand reminded that loving Christ above all is the best gift we can give our families. Because he stood for us, lost his life for us, and sent his word to us, Jesus is worthy of our wholehearted trust—all the way.Link to Sermon Notes

Title: How We CollideSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this Sunday message from Matthew 10:16-25, Pastor Nate Holdridge examines what it means for Christ's people to collide with darkness as they carry his life and light into dead and dark places. Jesus sends his disciples out as sheep among wolves, calling them to an intentional vulnerability marked by the wisdom of serpents and the innocence of doves. Pastor Nate walks through the church's realistic expectation of opposition—from courts and synagogues to governments and even families—while pointing to the Spirit's promised help in the hour of trial and the steadfast endurance that marks true disciples. Ultimately, this teaching calls us to behold Christ, the suffering Shepherd who not only models faithful endurance but became our substitute, bearing rejection and hatred for our sake.Link to Sermon Notes

Title: Commissioned to CollideSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this Sunday message, Pastor Nate Holdridge walks through Matthew 9:35–10:15, where the compassionate King who has been colliding with darkness begins to multiply that work through ordinary people. Jesus looks out over crowds that are harassed and helpless—sheep without a shepherd—and is moved with a gut-level compassion that becomes the engine of everything that follows (Matthew 9:36). Rather than rushing to strategize, he commands his followers to pray that the Lord of the harvest would thrust laborers into the field, then forms a strikingly diverse band of twelve and sends them out to represent him in his own self-giving way (Matthew 10:1–8). Pastor Nate shows how the mission still flows downhill from Christ's heart rather than uphill toward God's approval, and how the same King who once sent the Twelve commissions us today to carry his kingdom into the dark places around us. A warm, gospel-centered call to see ourselves not as spectators of Jesus, but as participants in his ongoing collision with darkness.Link to Sermon Notes

Title: The Good ContagionSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this Sunday sermon at Calvary, Pastor Nate Holdridge preaches through Matthew 9:18–34, where Jesus collides with a world polluted by death, shame, blindness, and spiritual captivity. Three remarkable encounters reveal the good contagion of the King: a synagogue ruler whose daughter has died, a woman whose twelve-year affliction has left her isolated and unclean, two blind men crying out to the Son of David for mercy, and a demon-oppressed man brought to Jesus by others. Rather than being defiled by what he touches, Jesus transfers his cleanness and life to those who reach for him—even with the smallest measure of faith. Pastor Nate unfolds how Jesus can transfer his life to us, include us in his good kingdom, and work with our little faith, calling us to refuse to be defined by what isolates us and instead be defined by the King who calls them "daughter" and "son." Subscribe for weekly sermons from Calvary Monterey as we continue through The Promised King and His Good Kingdom.Link to Sermon Notes

Title: The Making of a DiscipleSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this Sunday sermon from Matthew 8:18-34, Pastor Nate Holdridge walks through three encounters that reveal both what Jesus looks for in his followers and who Jesus actually is. The invitation is clear: surrender your comforts and competing loyalties, trust him in the loudest storms, and welcome him to rearrange your life today, before the final day when he will rearrange everything.Link to Sermon Notes

Title: Upside Down ResponseSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this Sunday sermon from Calvary Monterey, Pastor Nate Holdridge brings the Sermon on the Mount to its climactic conclusion in Matthew 7:13–29. Jesus does not end his kingdom curriculum with a tidy takeaway but with a choice—presenting four sharp contrasts that confront every hearer: two ways, two trees, two confessions, and two builders. Pastor Nate walks through each pairing, showing how Jesus calls disciples to enter the narrow gate of the gospel, follow true followers of Christ rather than plausible-sounding false teachers, refuse the self-deception of mistaking spiritual activity for genuine relationship with Jesus, and move from merely admiring the Sermon on the Mount to actually practicing it. With pastoral warmth and theological depth, this Sunday sermon invites listeners to step off the broad path of the majority and onto the good, hard, life-giving way of the King—a way founded on the rock of Christ's own words and sustained by his all-sufficient grace.Link to Sermon NotesLink to Discussion Questions

Title: Upside Down DependencySpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this week's message from our Upside Down Kingdom series through the Sermon on the Mount, Pastor Nate Holdridge opens Matthew 7:7–12 and asks the question every honest disciple eventually arrives at: How can I possibly live the kingdom life Jesus has described? As Jesus winds down his longest recorded sermon, he turns from demand to provision, giving three extraordinary resources—persistent prayer, a good Father, and a Spirit-fueled imagination for loving others. These are gifts secured by Jesus himself, who prayed in our place, lost his Father so we could gain one, and fulfilled the Golden Rule on the cross before ever asking it of us. This is a message for anyone weary of their own limitations, wrestling with a longstanding unanswered prayer, or longing to see the Father more clearly. The kingdom life is impossible without Jesus—and, through him, genuinely within reach.Link to Sermon NotesLink to Discussion Questions

Title: Upside Down JudgementSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this Sunday sermon from Matthew 7:1–6, Pastor Nate Holdridge continues the Upside Down Kingdom series at Calvary Monterey by confronting one of the most misused verses in all of Scripture: "Judge not." Pastor Nate shows how Jesus is not forbidding discernment but warning against a hyper-critical spirit that overlooks personal flaws while fixating on the flaws of others. Working through the memorable speck-and-log imagery, he calls us to humble self-examination as the necessary first step before we can become truly helpful to our brothers and sisters, offering practical categories—parallel sins, echoed desires, and overcorrections—for honest heart-level audits. Pastor Nate Holdridge then turns to Jesus' sobering counterbalance in Matthew 7:6, cautioning us against becoming "pearl pushers" who try to force truth on the decidedly hostile. The result is a pastoral, gospel-saturated vision of kingdom people: gracious, humble, discerning, and shaped by the One who humbled himself to extend his help to us.Link to Sermon NotesLink to Discussion Questions

Title: Upside Down WorrySpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this week's sermon from the Sermon on the Mount series, Pastor Nate Holdridge walks through Matthew 6:25–34—one of Jesus' most famous and most challenged teachings on anxiety. Jesus commands His followers not to worry about food, clothing, or tomorrow, and supports that command with four vivid arguments drawn from birds, wildflowers, human limitations, and pagan behavior. But rather than offering a shallow "just stop worrying" message, Jesus exposes anxiety as the emotional residue of misplaced allegiance and calls His disciples to a radical reorientation: seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and let the Father handle the rest. We try to answer honest objections to the text—including the reality of clinical anxiety, the suffering of devout believers, and the necessity of hard work—and show how each objection, when examined carefully, actually reveals a deeper layer of what Jesus is saying. This sermon is for anyone navigating the relentless anxieties of modern life.Link to Sermon NotesLink to Discussion Questions

Title: The Upside Down TreasureSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this sermon from Matthew 6:19–24, Pastor Nate Holdridge walks through three powerful metaphors Jesus uses to expose the deepest allegiances of the human heart: treasure, eyesight, and slavery. Jesus moves beyond external behavior and religious practice to confront what we actually value, how we envision the good life, and who—or what—truly has ownership of our lives. Pastor Nate unpacks the cultural background of the "healthy eye" and "bad eye," explains why your heart follows your treasure rather than the other way around, and shows why Jesus declared divided loyalty not merely unwise but impossible. This teaching from the Sermon on the Mount is an MRI for the soul—an invitation to inspect our functional allegiances and reorient everything toward the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).Link to Sermon NotesLink to Discussion Questions

Title: The Upside Down Spiritual LifeSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this week's Sunday sermon from Matthew 6:7–15, Pastor Nate Holdridge walks through one of the most familiar passages in all of Scripture—the Lord's Prayer. Rather than treating it as a rote recitation, we'll unpack it as a template for a rich, structured prayer life: compact enough to pray in a minute, expansive enough to carry a lifetime of conversation with God. Working through the two halves of the prayer, we explore what it means to begin with the Father's honor, rule, and will before turning to our own needs for provision, forgiveness, and daily leadership. If your prayer life has grown mechanical, rushed, or shallow, this message is an invitation back to the closet and back to the Father who is already waiting.Link to Sermon NotesLink to Discussion Questions

Title: The Upside Down Spiritual LifeSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this sermon from Matthew 6:1-18, Pastor Nate Holdridge walks through Jesus' warning against performative religion — the danger of doing the right things for the wrong audience. Jesus gives three illustrations of this temptation: giving to the poor with a trumpet blast, praying on street corners for maximum visibility, and fasting with a disfigured face designed to advertise spiritual discipline. In each case, Jesus contrasts the hypocrite who has already been "paid in full" with human applause against the disciple who practices righteousness in secret before a Father who sees, knows, and rewards. Pastor Nate shows how the Fatherhood of God — mentioned ten times in this passage — is the controlling center that transforms our motivations, turning us from an audience of peers to an audience of One. This teaching includes practical guidance on biblical fasting, an honest look at why the contemporary church has been slow to teach on fasting, and a call for every believer to embrace the secret life of faith that Jesus assumes of all His followers.Link to Sermon NotesLink to Discussion Questions

Title: Upside Down Interior LifeSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this teaching from the Sermon on the Mount, Pastor Nate Holdridge explores Matthew 5:21-32, where Jesus begins to reveal the radical, internal transformation He desires for His people. By addressing the root issues of anger, lust, and marital unfaithfulness, Nate shows how Jesus moves beyond external religious checklists to claim authority over our interior lives. We see that the Kingdom of Heaven isn't just about avoiding murder or adultery; it's about a radical devotion to reconciliation, a commitment to sexual purity, and a high esteem for the marriage covenant. Join us as we learn how Jesus' "upside down" ethics provide a protective shield for the vulnerable and lead us toward a life of true flourishing grounded in the Gospel.Link to Sermon Notes

Title: The Upside Down BibleSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this sermon from Matthew 5:17–20, Pastor Nate Holdridge examines one of Jesus' most striking claims: that He came not to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them. Walking through each verse, we'll consider how Jesus is the destination of the entire biblical story—the One every sacrifice, prophecy, and promise was pointing toward. We'll think about why the Old Testament still carries divine weight for believers today, how Jesus defines true greatness as living and teaching by Scripture, and why the impossible standard of righteousness that exceeds the Pharisees is actually an invitation to receive what only Christ can produce in us. This message is part of the ongoing series through Matthew called "The Promised King and His Good Kingdom," currently in part two: "The Upside Down Kingdom Arrives."Link to Sermon Notes

Title: The Upside Down LifeSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this Sunday sermon from Matthew 5:9-16, Pastor Nate Holdridge explores what it means to live "The Upside Down Life" as citizens of Christ's kingdom. Drawing from the final beatitudes and Jesus' powerful declarations about salt and light, we'll examine four key aspects of Christian identity: imitating God as peacemakers, standing with the prophets through persecution, functioning as salt that preserves and flavors the world, and shining as light that cannot be hidden. Using examples from Abigail's peacemaking efforts and Jeremiah's suffering, this message challenges believers to embrace the central call of the Christian life—to simply be who we already are in Christ.Link to Sermon Notes

Title: The Upside Down HeartSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this teaching from the Sermon on the Mount, Pastor Nate Holdridge continues through the Beatitudes by examining Matthew 5:6-8. Jesus describes an "upside down heart" that contradicts the world's values: while the world says to hunger for success, Jesus blesses those who hunger for righteousness; while the world says to get what you deserve, Jesus blesses those who give mercy to others; while the world says to manage your image, Jesus blesses those who purify their hearts. Pastor Nate unpacks each beatitude by exploring what it is, what it isn't, what it looked like in Jesus, and the promised result for those who embody it. This sermon emphasizes that the Beatitudes are not moralistic commands to try harder but descriptions of the fruit Jesus produces in those who follow him—transformation from the inside out.Link to Sermon Notes

Title: The Upside Down SpiritSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this episode, we dive into Chapter 9: The Upside Down Spirit, a fresh look at Jesus' opening words in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-5). Pastor Nate Holdridge guides us through the first three Beatitudes—poor in spirit, those who mourn, and the meek—and shows how Jesus turns the world's values completely upside down. Rather than celebrating self-sufficiency, power, and confidence, Jesus invites his followers into a kingdom where blessing is found in spiritual need, brokenhearted dependence on God, and humble strength. Listeners will be challenged to rethink what it means to be “blessed” in Christ and discover how the upside-down spirit of God's kingdom reshapes the way we see ourselves, others, and our world.Link to Sermon Notes

Title: Responding to the LightSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this message on John 1:9–13, Pastor Nate Holdridge continues our series, Light in the Darkness, by examining the pivotal response humanity must make to the coming of Christ. We explore the profound tragedy of those who reject their Maker and the surpassing treasure found by those who receive Him. We unpack the theology of regeneration and the incredible privilege of being given the right to become children of God, inviting us to see the Incarnation not just as a historical event, but as a personal invitation to a new life and eternal identity.Link to Sermon Notes

Title: The Light of LifeSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this Advent message from John 1:4-8, Pastor Nate Holdridge explores three essential realities about Jesus, the Light of Life. First, the Light is integral—the eternal Word who gives life to all humanity and whose illumination reaches every person through creation and conscience. Second, the Light is victorious—shining in present-tense power through the resurrection, defeating the darkness that cannot overcome Him. Third, the Light is the One we need—which is why God sent John the Baptist as a witness pointing to Jesus, so that all might believe. Whether you're groping in darkness and need to believe for the first time, or you're a believer called to witness like John, this message reminds us that Christmas celebrates the arrival of the Light who cannot be defeated—the One for whom our restless hearts were made.Link to Sermon Notes

Title: The Eternal WordSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this sermon from John 1, Pastor Nate Holdridge explores the profound opening of John's Gospel—the Logos, the eternal Word who was with God and was God, and who became flesh to dwell among us. Walking through the encounters of John 2–11, Pastor Nate shows how Jesus met every form of human darkness: religious confusion, moral shame, physical helplessness, spiritual blindness, and even death itself. The sermon culminates in the Bethany scene of John 12, where Mary's extravagant anointing and Judas's cold calculation present two starkly different responses to the Light who has come. We must consider which response will be ours—will we pour out our lives in worship, or will we remain calculating in the darkness? This message is part of the Light in the Darkness Advent series through John 1:1-18 at Calvary Monterey.Link to Discussion QuestionsLink to Sermon Notes

Title: The Upside Down KingSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this Sunday sermon from Calvary Monterey, Pastor Nate Holdridge examines Matthew 4:1-11 and Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. Pastor Nate reveals how Jesus' forty-day testing reversed Israel's forty-year failure, demonstrating what kind of King he would be—one who lives by God's Word, trusts the Father's care, and maintains exclusive loyalty rather than taking shortcuts to glory. Through careful exposition of each temptation, Pastor Nate shows how Jesus fulfilled Israel's story as our representative, teaches us how to endure temptation through Scripture, and models the servant-King leadership that defines his entire ministry. The message offers practical guidance for pursuing satisfaction God's way, developing trust-based relationships with God through remembrance and worship, and rejecting idolatrous crowns to receive the imperishable crown from God. Pastor Nate concludes with a clear gospel invitation, calling listeners to trust in the Upside Down King who conquered sin, Satan, and death through his perfect obedience and sacrificial love.Link to Discussion QuestionsLink to Sermon Notes

Title: The Participationist KingSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this sermon from Calvary Monterey, Pastor Nate Holdridge examines the profound significance of Jesus' baptism in Matthew 3:13-17. Why would the sinless Son of God submit to a baptism of repentance? Pastor Nate reveals how Christ's baptism was an act of complete identification with humanity—a deliberate choice to participate fully in our story so we could participate in his. Through the Trinitarian authentication at the Jordan River, we discover three transformative realities: we participate in Jesus' life (the "in Christ" union that brings redemption, new creation, and freedom), we participate in the Spirit's anointing (what Pastor Nate calls "dove power"—gentle yet authoritative strength), and we participate in the Father's delight (the eternal love spoken over the Son now extended to us through adoption). This message challenges believers to embrace their identity as beloved children who represent Christ with both truth and tenderness, understanding that salvation is far more than forgiveness—it is union with the Triune God. Part of the series "The Promised King and His Good Kingdom."Link to Discussion QuestionsLink to Sermon Notes

Title: The Joy of Preparing for the KingSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this week's teaching from Calvary Monterey, Pastor Nate Holdridge examines the dramatic arrival of John the Baptist in Matthew 3. While John's message to "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" can sound harsh, this sermon uncovers the profound and surprising joy found in preparing our lives for King Jesus. Pastor Nate explains how John's call leads us into the liberating joy of true repentance, the refreshing joy of authenticity before God, and the deep joy of expiation—the complete cleansing from sin that only Jesus can provide. This is a foundational teaching on what it means to clear the way for the King to work in our lives.Link to Discussion QuestionsLink to Sermon Notes

Title: The King in Humble GlorySpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this week's teaching from Calvary Monterey, Pastor Nate Holdridge examines Matthew 2:13-23, a passage filled with divine guidance, dangerous threats, and deep sorrow. Follow the young Messiah's family as they flee to Egypt, witness the fulfillment of prophecy in the midst of Herod's horrific cruelty, and discover the significance of their return to the obscure town of Nazareth. This sermon illustrates how Jesus is our true exodus from sin, our real return from spiritual exile, and the ultimate embodiment of a humble, servant King.Link to Discussion QuestionsLink to Sermon Notes

Title: Responding to the Legitimate KingSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: The arrival of a mysterious star and a group of foreign travelers in Jerusalem was more than a celestial event; it was a cosmic confrontation that forced a response. In this sermon, Pastor Nate Holdridge examines the explosive question asked by the Magi—"Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?"—and the three starkly different reactions it provoked from a paranoid ruler, an apathetic religious establishment, and a group of pagan seekers. This teaching from Matthew 2 challenges us to see that the birth of Christ is the arrival of the one legitimate King, demanding that every heart decide how they will respond: with worship, resistance, or indifference.Link to Discussion QuestionsLink to Sermon Notes

Title: His Identity and PurposeSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this sermon on Matthew 1:18-25, Pastor Nate Holdridge explores the most foundational question of the Christian faith: "Who is Jesus?" By examining the angelic announcement to Joseph, we discover that Jesus' identity is threefold: he is fully human, fully God, and the long-awaited Son of David. Pastor Nate explains how this unique identity is the necessary foundation for Jesus' purpose—to be Immanuel, "God with us," and to save His people from their sins. This teaching challenges us to find our ultimate identity not in our performance or affiliations, but in the person and mission of King Jesus.Link to Discussion QuestionsLink to Sermon Notes

Title: The New BeginningSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this teaching from Matthew 1:1–17, Pastor Nate Holdridge opens the Gospel of Matthew by exploring the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Far from a dry list of names, this passage proclaims the arrival of the Promised King and a new beginning for humanity. Pastor Nate highlights how Matthew intentionally connects Jesus to David and Abraham, includes outsiders and the broken in His lineage, and points to the fulfillment of God's promises through the Incarnate King. This sermon encourages us to see Jesus as the one who brings mercy, justice, and hope—not only to Israel but to all nations.Link to Discussion QuestionsLink to Sermon Notes

Speaker: Nate HoldridgeText: John 15:1-16:4Overview: In this sermon from Calvary Monterey, Pastor Nate Holdridge examines John 15 to reveal the blueprint for a life of full and lasting joy. Jesus teaches that this joy is not a feeling we chase but the result of cultivating three essential relationships: an upward relationship of abiding in Him, an inward relationship of loving His people, and an outward relationship of resilient witness to the world. This teaching provides a clear and practical diagnostic for our spiritual health, inviting us to find our ultimate satisfaction in our connection to Christ and His body.Link to Discussion Questions

Title: How can we partner with the Holy Spirit?Speaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this message on partnering with the Holy Spirit, Pastor Nate Holdridge examines the dramatic transformation of the disciples from fearful, self-focused men to bold witnesses empowered for global mission. We'll explore how believers today can actively cooperate with the Spirit through earnestly desiring spiritual gifts and being filled with His power. Nate provides a comprehensive survey of biblical spiritual gifts—from teaching and exhortation to healing and prophecy—while maintaining that love must be the controlling principle for all Spirit-led ministry. Our hope is that you will be equipped to test spiritual expressions against biblical criteria while pursuing the desperate need for divine strength to face today's cultural and spiritual strongholds.

Title: Who is the Holy Spirit? | The Person and Power of God's SpiritSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this first message of a three-week series on the Holy Spirit, Pastor Nate Holdridge examines the fundamental question "Who is the Holy Spirit?" He addresses three common church errors regarding the Spirit—abuse, rejection, and neglect—while establishing from Scripture that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, fully God and co-equal with the Father and Son. Through biblical evidence, he demonstrates the Spirit's divine attributes and personal nature, challenging believers to relate to him not as an impersonal force but as the divine Person who serves as our Helper, Comforter, and intercessor. The message calls Calvary Monterey to pursue biblical balance while maintaining genuine spiritual hunger for the Spirit's work in their lives and ministry.

Pastor Nate Holdridge concludes our study at our Women's Gatherings this year in Hebrews chapter 12.

Title: The Happiest People on EarthSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeText: Psalm 32Overview: In this week's teaching, Pastor Nate Holdridge walks through Psalm 32, painting a vivid picture of the happiest people on earth—those who know their sin, know their Lord, and have experienced the joy of full forgiveness. Through David's testimony, we see the misery of hidden guilt, the turning point of true repentance, and the beauty of God's steadfast love that surrounds the forgiven. This message invites us to drop our self-made coverings, run to the Lord as our hiding place, and enter into the freedom, guidance, and joy that only he can give.

Title: A Prayer for the Sad, Stressed, and SlanderedSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeText: Psalm 31Overview: In this weekly sermon from Calvary Monterey, Pastor Nate Holdridge examines Psalm 31, a prayer for the sad, stressed, and slandered. Pastor Nate walks through the psalmist David's journey from being overwhelmed by physical, emotional, and spiritual pain to finding profound security in God's character. Discover how convictions about God's steadfast love and protective power can lead to an active, life-altering trust. This teaching offers a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, we can commit our spirit into God's hands, find our true identity in Him, and be filled with strength and courage.

Title: Wait on the LordSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeText: Psalm 27Overview: In a world that gives us what we want on demand, the call to "wait" can feel frustrating and counterintuitive. In this teaching from Calvary Monterey, Pastor Nate Holdridge looks at Psalm 27 to uncover the profound strength and unshakable confidence that comes only from waiting on the Lord. Nate explains that this waiting is not a passive state of resignation but an active, hope-filled process of seeking God's presence. Learn how anchoring your heart in God as your light, salvation, and stronghold can give you a courageous faith that withstands any of life's storms.

Comments? Questions? Send us a message!Our devices. Our phones. Our laptops. Our tablets. Our iPads. Whatever.They can be a huge blessing. They can be an enormous distraction.Listen in to this carefully and thoughtfully developed episode, taught by Pastor Nate Holdridge at Calvary Monterey in May 2025. Speaking personally, it blessed and encouraged me, big-time. I'm working smarter now, even on my so-called smart phone.Listen and share. This will helm many.For Poimen Ministries, its staff, ministries, and focus, go to poimenministries.com. To contact Poimen Ministries, email us at strongerpastors@gmail.com. May the Lord revive His work in the midst of these years!

Title: God's Wisdom for a Complex World: Decision MakingSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In a world with endless options and immense pressure to make the perfect choice, how can we faithfully navigate life's big decisions? In this teaching from the book of Proverbs, Pastor Nate Holdridge presents a liberating, five-part framework for godly decision-making. Pastor Nate explains that God is less interested in giving us mystical signs and more interested in shaping us into people of character who can choose wisely. This message will equip you to move from the paralysis of fearing you'll miss God's will to the freedom of walking with Him in wisdom, trust, and purpose.Link to Sermon Notes

Title: God's Wisdom for a Complex World: HomeSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this Sunday Sermon, Pastor Nate Holdridge teaches from Proverbs to cast a vision for the home as the first arena of discipleship. Drawing from wisdom literature and the teachings of Jesus, Pastor Nate calls parents to intentional training, loving discipline, and the cultivation of a godly atmosphere. But this message extends beyond nuclear families—it speaks to every believer in Jesus' new family, the church. This is a timely and Scripture-saturated teaching that helps all of us build households—and church communities—formed by the fear of the Lord and the wisdom of Christ.Link to Sermon Notes

Title: God's Wisdom for a Complex World: PhonesSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this Sunday teaching, Pastor Nate Holdridge continues our Proverbs series by addressing the power and pull of our phones. Drawing on timeless biblical wisdom, Nate outlines a path toward Christ-centered digital habits through three key invitations: stewarding the interior world, practicing private integrity, and being fully present in physical relationships. Using cultural insights, personal stories, and Scripture, this message helps modern believers assess their phone use with clarity, conviction, and hope.Link to Sermon Notes

Title: God's Wisdom for a Complex World: MoneySpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this teaching, Pastor Nate Holdridge explores what Proverbs—and the whole of Scripture—teach about money, wealth, and material possessions. While many assume the Bible views money only as a danger or temptation, Pastor Nate reveals a more balanced and hopeful perspective: material possessions can be good gifts from God for our enjoyment, but they must never take His place in our hearts. Learn how God calls His people to financial wisdom, contentment, and sacrificial generosity as visible expressions of His redemptive work in our lives.Link to Sermon Notes

Title: God's Wisdom for a Complex World: FriendshipSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this Sunday Sermon from Calvary Monterey, Pastor Nate Holdridge speaks about the power, necessity, and beauty of gospel-shaped friendship in a world increasingly marked by isolation and disconnection. Drawing from Proverbs and the nature of God Himself, Nate calls believers to pursue friendships that are constant, courageous, refining, and shaped by the love and mission of Christ. Let's be encourage to resist shallow connections and instead build relationships rooted in reverence for God, mutual spiritual growth, and sacrificial love.Link to Discussion QuestionsLink to Sermon Notes

Title: God's Wisdom for a Complex World: WorkSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeText: Proverbs 10:4-5Overview: In this Sunday message, Pastor Nate Holdridge explores what Proverbs has to say about our work and careers. With clarity and conviction, he challenges us to see work not merely as a way to pay the bills but as a deeply spiritual act that reflects God's character. Whether we're digging ditches, managing teams, or raising children, our work can become a meaningful expression of love, diligence, and integrity. This teaching unpacks how we can view our jobs through God's wisdom—and how that wisdom can transform our everyday labor into lasting worship.Link to Sermon NotesLink to Discussion Questions

Title: Down With The KingSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeText: Ephesians 1:15-23Overview: This Resurrection Sunday, Pastor Nate Holdridge walks through the grand sweep of Scripture to show how Jesus fulfills the centuries-long hope for a true and glorious King. From creation to Christ's enthronement, this teaching from Ephesians 1:15–23 reminds us that the risen Jesus now reigns with unmatched power and invites us into his expanding kingdom. Discover how your life fits into God's eternal plan through the reign of King Jesus.Link to Sermon NotesLink to Discussion Questions

Title: God's Wisdom for a Complex World: A Life Built on the Fear of the LordSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeText: Proverbs 9Overview: In this Sunday sermon, Pastor Nate Holdridge walks us through Proverbs 9, the final movement in the preamble of Proverbs. He shows us how the fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom and contrasts the invitations of Woman Wisdom and Woman Folly. With compelling illustrations and biblical insights, Pastor Nate invites us to build lives rooted in reverence for God—lives that are receptive to instruction, alive to God's path, guarded at the heart, and continually drawn to his wisdom. This message offers a powerful call to live more fully in the reality of God's good design.Link to Sermon NotesLink to Discussion Questions

Title: God's Wisdom for a Complex World: A Tale of Two VoicesSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeText: Proverbs 8Overview: In this week's Sunday teaching, Pastor Nate Holdridge brings us a narrative sermon from Proverbs 8, where Wisdom herself recounts the long history of her voice—her partnership with God at creation, her battle against the serpent's lies, and her ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Speaking from the heights, at the crossroads, and within the gates of our lives, Wisdom invites us to heed her voice over the enemy's deception. This message reveals the tension between two eternal voices and invites listeners to embrace the victorious wisdom of the cross, now alive in the church and destined to reign forever.Link to Sermon NotesLink to Discussion Questions

Title: God's Wisdom for a Complex World: For (Sexual) TemptationSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeText: Proverbs 6:20-7:27Overview: In this week's teaching from Proverbs 6:20–7:27, Pastor Nate Holdridge walks us through one of Scripture's most detailed passages about sexual temptation and the call to wisdom. He highlights how God forms our hearts through his Word, how temptation operates through deception and desire, and how the gospel doesn't just forgive us but transforms us. This is a message about more than avoiding sin—it's about embracing the life Jesus came to give.Link to Sermon NotesLink to Discussion Questions

Title: God's Wisdom For A Complex World: Garden LivingSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeText: Proverbs 6:1-19Overview: In this Sunday teaching, Pastor Nate Holdridge unpacks Proverbs 6:1-19, examining how God's wisdom sharpens our ability to navigate life's complexities. He highlights three key areas—wise financial stewardship, diligent work, and peacemaking—showing how each reflects God's design for maturity. Through this passage, we see the contrast between wisdom and folly, learning how to avoid financial recklessness, overcome apathy, and reject divisiveness. Ultimately, Pastor Nate points us to Christ, the perfect steward, faithful worker, and true peacemaker, who redeems our failures and leads us into a life of wisdom.Link to Sermon NotesLink to Discussion Questions

Title: God's Wisdom for a Complex World: The Life it Produces Speaker: Nate HoldridgeText: Proverbs 3:13-35Overview: This week, Pastor Nate Holdridge teaches from Proverbs 3:13-35, exploring how God's wisdom establishes order, provides security, and creates life-giving communities. True wisdom is more than knowledge—it is the foundation for a flourishing life. Looking at creation, the rhythms of life, and the example of Joseph, we see how wisdom sustains and blesses not only ourselves but those around us. How can we align our lives with God's wisdom and experience its blessing? Join us as we consider what wisdom produces in our daily lives.Link to Sermon NotesLink to Discussion Questions

Title: God's Wisdom in a Complex World: It's Worth TrustingSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeText: Proverbs 3:1-12Overview: In this message, Pastor Nate Holdridge teaches from Proverbs 3:1-12, emphasizing the importance of trusting God's wisdom over our own instincts. He explores the destination, description, and drive of trust, showing how God's wisdom leads to lasting blessings, even when it feels counterintuitive. Through practical examples and biblical insight, Pastor Nate challenges us to internalize God's steadfast love and faithfulness so that we can confidently walk in His ways. Whether navigating decisions, finances, or difficulties, this passage calls us to wholehearted trust in the God who is always faithful.Link to Sermon Notes

Title: God's Wisdom in a Complex World: Back to BasicsSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeText: Proverbs 1:8-19Overview: In this message, Pastor Nate Holdridge explores Proverbs 1:8-19, focusing on foundational wisdom that shapes a life of flourishing. Drawing from the timeless principles of parental guidance, resisting peer pressure, and avoiding the traps of greed and folly, Nate emphasizes the beauty and honor that come from walking in God's wisdom. This sermon encourages listeners to embrace the simple yet profound truths of Scripture, trusting in God's power to lead us toward life and flourishing.Link to Sermon Notes

Title: God's Wisdom for a Complex World: The FoundationSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeText: Proverbs 1:1-7Overview: In this teaching from Proverbs 1:1-7, Pastor Nate Holdridge introduces our series, God's Wisdom for a Complex World. This message explores how wisdom equips us to navigate life's uncertainties, focusing on what God's wisdom produces, who it is for, and where it begins. By centering on the fear of the Lord as the foundation of true wisdom, this sermon invites us to embrace a God-centered approach to life, shaping our character, relationships, and decisions.Link to Sermon Notes