Ministry + Family update

My family and I have been so blessed over the years with people near and far who love us and pray for our ministry. I wanted to give you an update on our future and what’s to come for us in the days ahead. This past Sunday, I shared with our church family that I have accepted the call to become the Lead Teaching Pastor at The Bridge Church in Venice, Florida.

It has truly been an incredible blessing to be a part of Chets Creek Church and see the North Campus planted and growing. We have watched God transform lives and people find hope in Jesus! And while we are going to miss our Chets family greatly, we know that God is calling us onward to join the work He is doing at The Bridge!

My last Sunday preaching at Chets Creek North will be March 15.

Will you join us in praying for a few things?

• Pray for the North Campus. For the church to grow and continue the mission to reach more people for Jesus!

• Pray for everything to go smoothly with selling our home (we went under contract three days after listing!)

• Pray for us as we search for a new place to live in the Venice area.

• Pray for The Bridge and for God to bless this ministry to be all that He wants it to be!
  

We love you all and are very grateful for your prayers in the days ahead!

Even When...

…we face trials and painful days, God is there. Do you ever feel in the dark? Do you struggle to understand why and how certain things in life happen? I’m with you. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been preaching through Romans 8. Many theologians call Romans 8 the greatest chapter in the Bible. Others have said it is the “Mount Everest” of the Bible. It captures the power of the gospel within this broken world and that God is working His purposes for the good of His children.

Even when life seems difficult, God is working to show His grace and and power!
Even when we can’t see the road ahead, God is honing our character.
Even when we face the diagnosis, God is with us.
Even when we have more questions than answers, God gives us wisdom.
Even when we don’t know what to pray, God’s Spirit intercedes for us!

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

God took the worst thing that has ever happened, the death of His own perfect Son, to make a way for us to be saved. God is always at work for our good in the storms of life. My encouragement to you today is that you will trust His heart knowing He is a perfect Father that is working all things for good.

Enduring Temptation

This past Sunday, I preached a message from the book of James on how to endure temptation.

Here’s the big idea: To overcome temptation, we need to remember God’s promises, recognize the pattern of sin and live by God’s Word.

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

— 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

• Temptations are desirable opportunities sent by Satan to bring out our worst.
• The real issue with temptation is TRUST. At the root of every temptation is the question: Can God be trusted?

HOW DO WE ENDURE TEMPTATION?

1. Take RESPONSIBILITY

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. ”

— James 1:13

“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” ”

— Genesis 3:8-13

2. Avoid the DECEPTION

“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. ”

— Psalm 119:11

The four stages of temptation:

• Desire

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire... James 1:14

• Deception

…when he is lured and enticed. James 1:14

• Disobedience

Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin.... James 1:15

• Death

…And sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. James 1:15

3. HUMBLY DRAW near to God

“So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. ”

— James 1:16-18

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ”

— Hebrews 4:15

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. ”

— John 14:15

Takeaway: Who can you run to in your life for accountability?