Jesus lived a life that was radically different from his culture, even those in the Jewish religion.  He promised those who faithfully followed Him an abundant life.  Did that mean we experience our best life now with comforts of physical, social, and financial security in this kingdom of earth, or were the promises for our best life later in the Kingdom of heaven?  Pastor Dave helps us discover the answer as we evaluate the great heroes of the faith who’s names are engraved on the wall of the Hall of Faith described in Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 11:1-16, 35-38;  Philippians 2:6-13; 1 John 2:6; Matthew 25:40-45; Luke 6:38; 1 John 3:16-20; 2 Corinthians 8:13-15; Luke 12:31-34; 2 Corinthians 4:17-5:1

When we’re really in love, we go to great lengths to be together with that person and demonstrate our devotion.  Have you ever know anyone who was all out crazy in love with Jesus?  This week, Pastor Dave helps us discover what that kind of faith and devotion looks like and where the desire to live out that crazy love comes from!

Revelation 3:20-21; Psalm 34:1-8; Galatians 5:13-14; Psalm 63:1-5; Ephesians 5:21; Malachi 3:10; 1 Chronicles 29:14

Serving God Lukewarm Leftovers is the fourth message in our “CRAZY LOVE” series.

Jesus taught in parables so that those who weren’t genuinely listening wouldn’t understand. Today we’ll learn from the Parable of the Sower (Luke that it might serve us well not to assume we’re the good soil. Too often we’re satisfied looking good in comparison to our neighbor rather than looking godly in Christ’s eyes. When we compare ourselves to others, we end up giving God the leftovers of our lives, instead of the first and best of what He’s blessed us with in His loving provision and protection. In our message notes, we’ll be able test ourselves and consider if qualities of our character and conduct reflect a lukewarm attitude in our love for Jesus so that we might repent and genuinely pursue a passionate love relationship with God as the first priority of life.

Luke 8:1-15; Revelation 3:15-19; John 14:15; James 2:19; 1 John 2:24-25; Luke 14:33; Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 18:22-27; 1 Corinthians 12:2-3; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8,12

We all grow up in different homes with vastly varying love relationships with our fathers and mothers.  Many times these experiences influence how we relate and experience God, our Heavenly Father, as well they should. For many though, it’s not until we become parents that we get a faint glimpse of God’s great love for us as His children.  Our relationship with God often transitions from duty to desires as we learn that God has known us before we were formed in our mother’s womb, He designed and destined us for a specific work in the world, and I need not fear failure because he will ensure my success.  But above all this, our Heavenly Father greatest desire, and greatest gift, is for us to receive Him as our treasure, realizing we are significant and valuable because we’re the object of His crazy love, not because we’re successful.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Matthew 7:11; Jereremiah 1:4-10; Ephesians 2:10; Galatians 4:4-7

 We could die at any moment, even before finishing this mp3, yet given the course of an average day, we forget that life is truly only a vapor (James 4:13-14). Our usual worry and stress communicates that it’s okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in our lives is somehow exceptional to everyone else’s. But the reality is, we’re not the center of the universe, God is the central figure in history and will be in the future. So will we acknowledge our weakness and limitedness to God, ourselves and before men? Will we live a life that is progressively dying to ourselves and growing to bless God and our neighbors with love and joy and kindness? Will we live each day as if it might be our last, acknowledging God before men by generously loving and serving like Jesus (Matt.10:32-33).

Stop Praying!  Instead, take a long, hard look at who God really is, from creator of the vast heavens to intricate designer of DNA. Today, our worship of God as Christ followers is as stunted as our understanding of who He is and how little we really know Him.  Today we’ll learn He’s a holy, eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful, and just God. Imagine being John (Revelation 4) or Isaiah (Isaiah 6) raised to the very throne room of God. What would your first words be if you were face to face with the Living God? How would this change the way you pray and talk to your mighty, magnificent and fearsome God each day?

Psalm 19:1-4; Exodus 3:14; Psalm 102:12,27; Matthew 10:26,29-32; Colossians 1:16-17; Proverbs 8:13-14; Revelation 4; Isaiah 6: 1-7

We’ll learn the last three of Six Qualities of a Dangerous Church whose unstoppable mission is to charge the gates of Hell and free the captives of the evil one.  Today, Pastor Dave will also share with us ‘The Hills’ BHAGS:  Big Hairy Audacious Goals” for the next six months as we transition from attending church to Being The Church!

Acts 4:13; Acts 5:28-29, 40-41;  Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:32-34a; Acts 5:41-42

When it comes to “Church”, most of us think of it as a safe and comfortable “sanctuary from the rest of our week” and the stresses and stains of everyday life.  But even a casual glance through the New Testament show us that Church was never meant to be safe. This week and next, Pastor Dave teaches us Six Qualities of a Dangerous Church whose unstoppable mission is to charge the gates of Hell and free the captives of the evil one.

Acts 2:38-41; Matthew 3:1-6; Matthew 21:12-13; Acts 4:29-35; Hebrews 11:6; Matthew 16:25; Acts 15:25-27

When you hear the word “Minister,” what comes to mind? For many of us, we remember that the preacher in church growing up was the minister. He as the extraordinarily gifted “reverend” was the one who was paid to visit the sick, assist the needy, to teach on Sundays, and lead Bible studies. But the scriptures paint a much different picture of who is the minister. This week, Pastor Dave teaches us that it’s the ordinary people, you and me who are called and equipped to be ministers that God uses in extraordinary ways to minister and serve our family, friends and neighbors.

Ephesians 4:11-12a; Acts 4:13; Luke 5:8-11; Acts 2:44-47; Acts 5:38-39; Ephesians 3:20-21

When you hear the word “Church,” what comes to mind?  A building?  An event that happens on Saturday or Sunday?  What if we were to ask God?  He would tell us that “Church” is all about people, His people, on a dangerours, unstoppable mission connecting our family, friends, and neighbors to Himself and his people to generously love and serve like Jesus.  Sound like an intriguing mission?  Listen and find out for yourself!

Matthew 28:14-20; Matthew 22:37-39; Revelation 2:1-7; Mark 8:34; Acts 2:42-47; Revelation 22:17;  John 4:28-30; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 21-22; Romans 10:13; 1 Samuel 10:6

If the average person, even the average Christian were to sum up “life” in a math equation, it might look something like this: 

Adventure/Intimacy ”plus” Adversity/Affliction ”doesn’t equal”  Abundance/Joy

But Jesus promised us an abundant life filled with joy.  So how does God change that “does not equal” sign to an “equals” sign?  Today Pastor Dave will help us better understand God’s story and how we fit into it, because it’s only when our stories meet up and fit into God’s bigger story that we can experience joy in life, even amidst the adversity of life’s adventures.

John 10:1-14; Genesis 1:1, John 1:1-2; Genesis 1:26; Isaiah 6:1-3; Revelation 12:7-9; Genesis 1:27-28,31; Genesis 3:13; 2 Chronicles 16:9; Ephesians 1:4-6,12;  Song of Songs 7:10; 1 Corinthians 15:29-32; Colossians 1:3-6; John 14:1-3; Revelation 19:6-9

Genesis 1:26a  

There are two things in life that leave a lasting impact upon our hearts and lives:  one is the enchanting moments of adventure and intimacy where we experience the goodness of life, the other is life’s arrows that wound our hearts through expriences of abuse, abandonment, adversity and addiction.  This week, Pastor Dave helps us see through the Old Testament story of Job that the abundant life Jesus promises us requires both to be present.  The result is we see that God cannot be tamed, indeed living in His story may be a bit more wild than we’ve ever thouht.

Job 1:6-12 & 2:1-10;  Psalm 91:3-5; John 7:37-30; Romans 3:10-12, Proverbs 14:12; Acts 17:26-28; Psalm 139:16; Ephesians 1:22-23

From childhood on, God calls, even woos us on a journey of the heart.  It is a journey of intimacy, adventure, and beauty – but unlike any fairy tale, it is also frought with more than a little danger.  To ignore the whisper of God’s call is to become one of the living dead who carry on life divorced from the energy and excitement that comes from one’s heart living fully alive.  This week, we’ll learn the importance of our heart and how to reconnect to it’s vitality and passion. 

1 Samuel 3:1-11a, Luke 10:26-28   Matthew 23:27-28  Isaiah 29:13   John 7:37-38, John 3:1-8 

As God’s creations, we were designed in the core of our DNA to worship.  But what does it mean to worship God in Spirit and in Truth?  Today we’ll learn with a spirit of humor that True Worshippers seek to worship God with a sense of Awe, with a sense of Abandonment, and with a surrendered life of Service.

John 4:19-26; Revelation 1:16-17; Hebrews 12:28-29; 2 Samuel 6:21-22; Romans 12:1; Matthew 20:28

Ask yourself the question, “What do I worship?”  You might be surprised by the answer.  Do you spend the same time and energy toward God as yo do with sporting events, concerts, or even Facebook?  Are you as fanatical about showing praise for God as you are about showing off your phone, car, or house?  If not, then maybe you’re worshipping the wrong things.  Join us for FANATIC!

Isaiah 14:13-14; Exodus 20:3-5; Luke 19:38-40; Romans 12:1;

Potential is a glimpse of what could be, yet there must be a shift from where we have potential to where we are potent.  Jonathan’s faithful armor bear was transposed from potential to potent because he demonstrated faith despite not having a weapon.  Most of us would like to be known by our faith, but resist the tedious journey of being faithful.  Yet when we choose to seize divine moments, we not only create an environment where the faithful are unleashed, but they also, through their initiative, cause the paralyzed to be mobilized and rebellious to repent.  This is how our small actions cause the catalytic creation of world change!  When the church moves with God, the broken are drawn to God and find healing and regain hope within the movement.

1 Samuel 12, Romans 10:2, Ezekiel 37:1-14, 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 Nasb

When we move with God and engage divine opportunity, it draws others into God’s presence and purposes like the wind shear of a fast moving car or bicycle.  Prayer is the divine and intimate connection to our divine Pnuema’s presence, not about informing God of our need, nor even trying to convince him to help. When we connect with God in prayer, we are prepared with a security and boldness to move into the world and engage in the adventurous battle of the great commission. Imagine the power of our lives if we could know with confidence that when others see us, they would also see God; that God would reveal himself through an ordinary human being’s simple act of obedience that seizes a divine moment. 

1 Samuel 12, Matthew 6:7-8, 1 Kings 18:26-39, John 14, Galatians 2:20

 We can talk all we want about what God has promised to do through His people, but you will never live in those promises until you act on them. Elijah was a man who felt abandoned and alone as He hid from his enemies and God, but God sought him out to stand alone and make an impact. When two kingdoms collide in conflict, part of seizing those atomic moments in their fullness means bearing the initial impact alone so that resulting fission opportunities are created for others to experience God through our dynamic expressions of His character.

1 Samuel 14:13-23, 1 Kings 18-19, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Matthew 27:46, Matthew 6:10

 After risk, comes the opportunity to advance. Many times, we claim we are waiting on God when in reality He is waiting on us. Every Christ follower has the prime directive to “Go” and represent Him on this earth at the epicenter of where the Kingdom of God confronts the Kingdom of Darkness. The closer we get to this divine challenge, the bigger it will seem and the smaller we feel, so we must make clear our perspective and our priorities. Do we believe God is who He says he is, and will we refuse to run in fear and instead, run full force into the challenge with faith in our huge God?

1 Samuel 12, Judges 6:12-14, Acts 1:8, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, Luke 14:15-24,

 There is a false Christian cliché that states the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will. While it is true that to live outside God’s will puts us in danger, it’s more true that to live in His will, will make us dangerous because we do not seek to live risk-free, but instead become free to risk. Today we’ll learn that faith is trusting God enough to obey what He has said, and hope is having the confidence that God will do everything He has promised. One pushes you and the other pulls you to live adventurously accomplishing God’s risky purposes.

1 Samuel 12, Philippians 4:8-12, Hebrews 12:2, Nehemiah 8:10,