Mission & Methods Podcast Season 2

Enjoy all of Mission & Methods Podcast Season 2! Available Podcast Episodes

Johnny Cash: Redemption of an American Icon

"I think most people have heard of Johnny Cash and would recognize his music, even among today’s young people. He had a unique style of music that transcends time and sets him apart from other musicians. As an individual, he was unique as ...

Calvary Chapel Worship Leaders Conference 2019

We would like to formally invite you to attend the Calvary Chapel Worship Leaders Conference, November 11-14, 2019, held at the beautiful Murrieta Hot Springs Conference Center. Come and be refreshed and encouraged in your ministry and cal...

"The Powers of Darkness & the People of God"

We live in a world which is influenced and partially controlled by powerful, malignant spirit beings. The purpose of these forces of spiritual darkness is to resist the advancement of God’s kingdom, both in the world and in people’s lives. ...

Vulnerability, Failure, and Walking On Water

"What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?" That was the motivational catch-phrase of years past. Current best-selling author Brené Brown has added a significant twist by asking, "What's worth doing even if I fail?", crediting Theod...

ECCLESIOLOGY 101: The Necessity of the Holy Spirit and the Importance of Prophecy

In 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28, Paul closes this amazing letter by addressing the community of believers at large. In these verses, the Holy Spirit gives a clear picture of a living, breathing community of believers. (Read the first installment...

ECCLESIOLOGY 101: Respecting Leaders and Relating to Others

"We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the i...

Were the New Testament Manuscripts Copied Accurately?

Because scholars do not possess the original writings of the New Testament (known as autographs),1 we must ask: How accurate are the manuscript copies (apographs)? For if the copies do not reflect the original writings of Scripture, we woul...

Turn Down the Noise: How We Can Expect to Hear the Holy Spirit

How can we expect to hear the Holy Spirit when our lives are filled with constant noise? If we would like to see the gifts of the spirit and the fruit of the spirit working in our lives then we must make a choice to turn down the noise. if...

Bridging the Divide Between the Big Church and the Small Church

There is an unspoken divide within the church today, and that is between the big church and the small church. This divide is unspoken because it is often so personal for pastors. (As a small church pastor, I know!) Church size is often how ...

Critiquing Cessationism: The Gifts of the Spirit & the Church Today

In my last post in this series, I tried to offer a valid explanation of cessationism along with the primary points commonly held in support of that position. In this post, I want to graciously and honestly address some weaknesses in the arg...

Worship & Discipleship

Scott Cunningham will be leading worship at the CGN International Conference on June 24-27! Register now! *** "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19a). The call for us to make disciples (ie… students, learne...

Worship Leader Q/A: What Does Worship Ministry Look Like Today in the Church?

This week we at Calvary Creative have been focusing discussion on the theme, "Why We Worship." We were able to ask a few worship leaders, from different parts of the world, what their thoughts on worship were in their cultural settings: Ca...

The Call to be a Pastor’s Wife

Cheryl will be leading a Training Track on women in ministry at the CGN International Conference on June 24-27! Ladies, this will be a great opportunity to meet and talk to Cheryl! Register now! *** I entered the role of a senior pastor’...

CGN Statement on Women in Ministry Leadership

The roles and extent to which women engage in ministry leadership and Bible teaching is a point of long-standing discussion and disagreement among professing followers of Jesus. In response to requests from leaders of churches that are part...

The 75th Anniversary of D-Day

Thursday, June 6, 2019, marks the 75th anniversary of the D-day invasion of France by American and Allied forces. The upper Normandy region has doubled in population this week. It’s impossible to find a hotel, difficult to lock down an Ai...

A Look at Authorial Intent in the Bible

There’s a joke that Christians here in Ukraine like to tell. One day, a pastor goes to visit a class in the children’s ministry at his church. He’s trying to break the ice with the small children and decides to play a guessing game. “Kids, ...

The War on Beth Moore: What Really Shapes Our View of Women Bible Teachers?

A few years ago, I ran afoul of some pastors in my tribe for allowing a woman to teach to an audience of both women and men. According to these men, I was in clear violation of Scripture by allowing such a thing. The context where all this ...

What is the Lord Building in Your Life Right Now?

What is the Lord building in your life right now? The Lord is always working in our lives. We might know about two or three of the things He is doing with us, but in fact, there are thousands of areas He is working in us, minute by minute...

Never Outgrow the Gospel

Martyn Lloyd-Jones tells the story of how the church he grew up in began with a great revival, but slowly died over time. When he inquired about what had led to this decline, an older man attributed it to the fact that when the revival had ...

We are CCBCE: CCBC Europe Takeover Week

As a community of churches committed to Great Commission engagement, we are excited to share how we carry out the Great Commission through our Training Initiative. Training Initiative: Equipping current and next generation preachers, disci...

Q&A Interview with Jon Pollick and Pam Markey of CCBC Europe

We at CGN and CalvaryChapel.com were able to interview representatives of CCBC Europe, Jon Pollick and Pam Markey, about the college and biblical training opportunities under the CGN Training Initiative! 1. What is the vision of CCBCE? ...

My Experience at CCBC Europe

It was early September of 1996, and the fall semester at Calvary Chapel Bible College Europe was just about start. I was on a flight from Los Angeles, California, to Munich, Germany, flipping through a phrase book trying to learn how to say...

Support for Chabad Synagogue

Saturday, April 27, a tragic shooting occurred at Chabad Synagogue in Poway, California, —just a few miles down the road from our church, Maranatha Chapel. One woman died, and three other people are wounded, including Rabbi Yisroel Go...

I Am the Resurrection and the Life

"I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). Jesus' claim to be the resurrection and the life is so radical that it does not allow the hearer to hold a neutral position concerning Him. As C.S. Lewis said, "There are only three poss...

To Kill or to Crown Jesus?

Jesus said He would be crucified. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life" (John 3:14-15). Psalm 22 predicted Jesus would be crucified....

The King's Crown

Good Friday is the day on which some 2,000 years ago Jesus of Nazareth was nailed to a Roman cross just outside the walls of Jerusalem. Have you ever wondered why Jesus wore a crown of thorns? Matthew’s Gospel tells us this: "And twi...

Why Was Good Friday So Good?

"For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the u...

Isaiah 41: Easter and the World

As Easter approaches, it makes me consider the way people think about Jesus in the world I live in. I live in Cork, Ireland. Ireland is a modern western society, embracing all things liberal and running full tilt away from its religious her...

What Jesus Taught on the Way to Gethsemane

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the Gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (John 15:1-2). "Come now; let us leave,” Je...

Notre Dame De Paris

At 6:50 pm CET on April 15, the roof of Notre Dame de Paris caught on fire. The cathedral was quickly evacuated while over 400 firefighters were mobilized on the ground. Within the first hour, the main spire (symbol of God’s grace) suc...

The Real Meaning of Palm Sunday

When Jesus came into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday, you could say that it was a patriotic parade. This is how it is described in John 12:12-13: "The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus ...

The Factory Worship New EP Release

“New Desire/ Cross Paid It All (Free) is a two-song EP from The Factory Worship. Our heart is to see God glorified and His people encouraged." Click below to listen now!LISTEN

Presentation: 10-Minute Seminary: David Guzik on Sermon Prep

| 10-Minute Seminary: David Guzik on Sermon Prep | Presentation: That is the third component in this miniseries on sermon prep “One of the most important principles is that people have to come to the place where they learn how to be th...

Jesus & Cultural Relativism

We live in a cultural time when being "educated" is synonymous with being agnostic, a time when people promote prejudice and bias about things of which they have no real experience. My favorite definition of cultural anthropology was penned...

Hate Always Bows to Love

At the end of one of the episodes of the TV miniseries, Band of Brothers, as Easy Company was marching into the Ardennes Forest, for what turned out to be "The Battle of the Bulge," the soldiers passing warned Easy that they were about to b...

Husband of the Year: What It Means to Be a Servant

I recently returned from a trip to Israel, where I led worship for a church tour! It was a super full trip, but always such a gift to be where Jesus walked, worked and gave His life for us! During the first week of the tour, our team was ...

New Single Release by Calvary Creative!

We are excited for Calvary Creative's latest single release, "Breathe On Us." Click the link below to preview their new song, learn more behind the song, chord charts and more! Calvary Creative

Understanding Cessationism: The Gifts of the Spirit & the Church Today

“Speaking in tongues is demonic.” “Speaking in tongues is the evidence of Spirit baptism.” “The gift of prophecy ceased in the life of the church with the death of the last foundational apostle.” “God wants all Christians to walk in the ...

How Can I Understand Sacrifice in a Self-Promoting World?

In the world we live in today, fame is no longer confined to places like Hollywood; the flicker of fame resides in the heart of everyone with a social media account of some description. In a moment of almost prophetic genius, Andy Warhol ...

The Gospel Comes to Ireland

The rope was so tight round sixteen-year-old Patricius’ wrists they’d bitten into the flesh. He no longer felt the sting of the saltwater from the wind-tossed waves splashing over the side of the boat headed back to the home of his Irish ca...

Three Lessons from St. Patrick

St. Patrick's Day is approaching, and Ireland is ramping up preparations for a colossal national celebration. There's the quintessential St. Patrick's Day parade, street parties and festivals around the country, and of course, the pubs of t...

A Discussion on the Biblical Theology of Israel Part 2

In part one of this study, we began to look at the subject of Israel as a biblical theology theme. We began looking at five truths from Romans 11:25-29 that provide a basic outline of a theology of Israel. The first two points previously ex...

Allow Yourself to Heal

Have you ever been broken, in body or in soul, and prayed earnestly for healing and not received the answer you hoped for? This past year could have been named “the year of the scalpel” because God removed so much from my life that just nee...

A Discussion on the Biblical Theology of Israel Part 1

Historically, the evangelical tradition has been very supportive of Israel. Yet with the growing resurgence of supersessionism (replacement theology) eroding this support, as well as the alarming increase of global anti-Semitism, it is impe...

Just Be You as You Share Scripture

The Expositors Collective Seminar will be held on April 5-6 at Maranatha Chapel in San Diego. Visit expositorscollective.com for more information. This seminar seeks to present prospective expositors (18-34 years) the opportunity to experie...

Vocation and Calling According to the Reformers

One question I am sometimes asked is how a person can know what their “calling” in life is. Some of the Protestant Reformers had a particular view on this topic which is helpful for us in how we think about “calling” in our lives. The word...

Are We Drifting Backward?

This is painful. I’m about to share something personal. It’s a lesson I learned years ago. I share it because it illustrates what I believe to be a crucial truth. It seems many mature believers “get stuck” at some point in their walk. They...

February Resolve: Five Ways to Keep Going

I went for a walk along the banks of a small river on New Year’s Eve Day. It was snowing, and the forest was absolutely beautiful. It brought new life to my soul, and everywhere the path turned I found new inspiration and wonder. I returned...

Four Ways to be Commissioned in the City

The CGN International Conference is focusing on this year's theme, "Commissioned: Urban Ministry in a Post-Everything World," on June 24-27, 2019. Visit cgn.calvarychapel.com for more information. Henry David Thoreau once described cities ...

Crafting the Sermon: 10-Minute Seminary: David Guzik on Sermon Prep

|10-Minute Seminary: David Guzik on Sermon Prep| Crafting the Sermon: That is the second key component with sermon prep. “We are not composers; we're conductors.” - 10-Minute Seminary with David Guzik

The Legend & Lesson of St. Valentine

Roses are red. Violets are blue.Stuff about Valentine, We wish we knew. All we can say for sure is that there was indeed a pastor named Valentine who became a martyr around AD 270. Beyond that, it’s legend and conjecture. But where facts a...

The Key to Understanding & Obeying God's Commands

Mike Neglia is a leader in the Expositors Collective and will be sharing at the next seminar on April 5-6 at Maranatha Chapel in San Diego. Visit ExpositorsCollective.com for more information and to register! When I was in school, I love...

Study: 10-Minute Seminary: David Guzik on Sermon Prep

|10-Minute Seminary: David Guzik on Sermon Prep| Study: That is the first key component with sermon prep. “I think it’s very important for anyone to spend their first time in prayerful study and meditation upon the Bible.” - 10-Minute Sem...

Calvary Chapel University Admissions

Vision Calvary Chapel University desires to be a premier, Christian higher education community loving God, loving others and making disciples of Jesus Christ. “Go ye therefore and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations, baptizing them in the name ...

The Role of a Worship Leader

A lump was forming in my throat. My eyes were wide. I had thought about this moment so many times. Was it really here? I was subtly aware there was more to leading worship than hitting the right notes, singing the right words and not makin...

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. & Serving Christ

The year was 1989, and I was a freshman in high school. In fact, I was in high school this one particular day, only I was sitting at a lone desk in an empty hallway because, once again, my behavior had gotten me kicked out of class—bu...

Advent Epilogue Into the New Year

"The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believe...

New Year Celebration – Defending Your Defender

"After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. 'Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and His mother,' the angel said. 'Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child...

New Year Celebration – Myrrh: The Most Precious Worship

"Then they opened their treasure chests and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense and Myrrh" (Matthew 2:11). Perhaps each of these gifts from the Magi were simply their way of honoring this new “King of the Jews” by giving Him what was prec...

New Year Celebration – Frankincense: The Worship of Praise

"Then they opened their treasure chests and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense..." (Matthew 2:11). With gold, the magi recognized the “young child” as king. But their worship had only begun. The remaining precious substances presented to...

New Year Celebration – Gold: The Worship of Surrender

"Then they opened their treasure chests and gave Him gifts of gold..." (Matthew 2:11). As the mysterious Eastern visitors arose from the floor, they dusted themselves off, straightened their robes and began presenting tokens or “treasures”...

New Year Celebration – What Will You Give Him?

"And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother and fell down and worshiped Him" (Matthew 2:11). The Magi did what they told Herod they’d come to do. They had not come to worship him, the old king. The...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 31 – A Dangerous Assumption

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worshi...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 30 – Preach on Sister, Preach on

"Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple...and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and nig...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 29 – The End From the Beginning

"Jesus' parents were amazed at what was being said about Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, 'This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign fro...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 28 – Simeon Sees a Face in the Crowd

“That day the Spirit led [Simeon] to the temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, 'Sovereign Lord, now let your ...

Defining Blessedness

Blessing is all or nothing at all. For the next few months, I will be writing on a psalm that has held my attention for quite a while. I hope you find this as thought provoking as I do. Psalm 1 begins with that declaration, “Blessed...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 27 – Captured By Christmas

“Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often” (Luke 2:19). All mothers keep “baby books.” But Mary’s journal of Jesus’ early (and adult) life was different than that of any other mom. There were many angelic visits...

The Adventure of Advent: Boxing Day – Share What You Know; Give What You Have

“When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, 'Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.' They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there w...

Christmas Day – Scary Christmas or Merry Christmas?

“There were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them....

The Adventure of Advent: Christmas Eve – Emmanuel at Street Level

"And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for then in the inn” (Luke 2:7). I wrote a Christmas song years ago, imagining Joseph’s perspective. I was ...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 23 – Can I Get a Hallelujah?

“Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men'” (Luke 2:13-14). Few people knew He was coming. The world was taken by surp...

Perspective on the "X" in X-Mas

In the Greek alphabet the letter X (chi) may be used as an abbreviation for Christ, a symbol of the anointed Messiah. When you see X-mas, don’t think they took Christ (X) out of Christmas. Rather, think of the anointed X or "Messiah of G...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 22 – Just to Be Perfectly Clear

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made ... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among...

'Tis the Season to Be Vulnerable

Christmas time is often marked by cards with perfect family pictures on the cover. Everyone smiling, everyone wearing cute Christmas sweaters. The perfect family on the perfect card. In reality, however, life is not very often like the cove...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 21 – When One Name Won't Do

“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and shall bring forth a son, and shall call His name Jesus” (Luke 1:31). “She shall bring forth a Son and you shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:2...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 20 – The Endless Act of Worship

"Joseph went up from Nazareth to Bethlehem with Mary his fiancée who was clearly pregnant” [paraphrase] (Luke 2:4-5). Note Joseph and Mary's experience. Whether they took the winding central route through Israel, up and down, over and arou...

The Difference Between Providing Opportunities & Keeping Responsibilities

I buckled my seat belt across my hips, sat back in my seat and rested my head back on the head rest. I had never been so happy to get on a flight in my life. Sure, I was excited to go to Israel to lead worship for a church group, to see the...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 19 – The Threshold of Great Hope

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. And of the increase of His government ...

Christmas: God’s Great Rescue Mission

"'She will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.' … All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 'Behold, the virg...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 18 – Final Countdown

“'I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The Messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,' says the Lord of Heaven’s Ar...

The Real Saint Nick

Every Christmas Santa gets more than his share of attention. He’s the star of television specials, movies and countless sequels! His picture appears on cards and wrapping paper; he can be found at every mall and downtown department store. L...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 17 – The Road to Bethlehem

“All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. ...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 16 – No Little Places, No Little People

“But You, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me, the One to be the Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2). We have cons...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 15 – It's a Holy Thing

“Therefore also that holy thing that will be born to you shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). That was the King James Version. Let me be quick to say all other Bible translations, translate the phrase “Holy thing,” either “Holy One...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 14 – Birthday Party for a Boy Named John

“Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her” (Luke 1:57-58). Every child should enter the wo...

From Hanukkah to Christmas – The Light that Overcomes Part 2

In part one of this series, we looked at the historical background that led to the feast of Hanukkah. A tumultuous period in Jewish history that climaxed with the Maccabean rebellion, rededication of the Temple, lighting of the Menorah, and...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 13 – The Gift Before Christmas

“The angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer has been heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For...

From Hanukkah to Christmas – The Light that Overcomes Part 1

As Christians around the world prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we should remember that this momentous event is the culmination of a rich prophetic tradition, which has its roots deeply planted in Jewish soil. The birth of Jesus Chr...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 12 – The Way The World Is

“The people who sat in darkness saw a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16). Let’s do a bit of time travel and fast forward to our day. What has changed in 2,000 years? The...

Keep It Simple, Saint!

I was recently blessed to be part of a pertinent discussion with a group of loving, caring, well-educated young pastors. We talked about some of the difficult issues facing the church today. Our culture is increasingly complicated, squeezin...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 11 – The Way the World Was

“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world would be registered. This census first took place when while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own ...

Pastoral Ministry: The Balance Between Study & Family

There is a time for study. It’s one of the benefits of pastoring or teaching the Bible in any capacity. My favorite part has always been the preparation. I love to spend the time to really know a passage or book. Even though I may have ...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 10 – Who Needs a Savior?

“And Mary said: 'My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.'” (Luke 1:46) What mission did Jesus come to accomplish? What was His target group? No guess work needed here. In Luke 19:10 Jesus said, “The Son of ...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 9 – A Friend Who Understands

“Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and ...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 8 – "Making Room" for a Miracle

“The angel said, 'Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the...

Learning to Dwell in the Secret Place

Most of us are living on the edge of a great secret. God has been speaking to me about my prayer life. As a believer who has walked with the Lord for many years, taught the Bible and served in ministry, one might think I have achieved a c...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 7– A Stellar Cast of Very "Human" Humans

“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to he...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 6 – Faithful in the Valley of Disappointment

“There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. They were both righteous before God, walking in all the com...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 5 – The Long Journey of the Wise Ones

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold wise men from the East came to Jerusalem” (Matthew 2:1). These men from the East, veiled in layers of mystery, were perhaps the most intriguing charact...

Three Reasons Strong Partnerships Make Flourishing Ministries

In my last article, I discussed two key components for successful church planting: prioritizing and preparing. By prioritizing, I meant establishing “church planting” in the DNA of your church’s mission. By preparing, I meant sending out ch...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 4 – Get Your Hopes Up

“… It had been revealed to him [Simeon] by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26). How much time passed from the giving of the promise to its fulfillment? Decades? Years? Mont...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 3 – The First Warning

“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was with him. And it had been revealed to Him by the Holy Spirit that he would not...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 2 – The Thrill of Hope

“In the fullness of time, God sent His Son…” (Galatians 4:4). All the artwork in my home has disappeared. It’s still there, right where I left it, or hung it; but I don’t really see it anymore. It's just “there.” The photos from va...

The Adventure of Advent: Day 1 – Wait for It

“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. The vision is for an appointed time, but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not t...

Are We Doing What God is Calling Us to Do?

Life moves very quickly, and it is easy to feel like we cannot keep up at times…especially when the New York pace dictates your part of the world. Balancing schedules and making wise decisions are often very challenging in a busy wor...

Why I'm Called to Serve My City

I decided to run for a seat on the Oxnard City Council in the recent midterm elections, after it became clear that was what God’s Spirit was telling me to do. I have to admit, it’s not what I wanted, and it took a while to comply. The nudge...

How to Develop a Lifestyle of Thanksgiving That Outlives the Holiday

There is no difficulty in finding things to gripe and complain about. Have you noticed? However, it takes a transformed perspective, an act of the will and practice to see and commend "the good and excellent" (Romans 12:2). We tend to ignor...

God Equips You for Your Ministry: Welsh Missionary John Jenkins

The missionary stories from the 19th century are filled with courageous people giving life and health for the Gospel. Some were lost at sea; others struck with malaria before they were able to complete their first year of service. In that t...

Making God's Will Your Will

I will speak for myself. Perhaps some might say an “Amen” to it because they are or have found themselves in the same space. Though I would NEVER dream of renouncing my faith in Jesus, I can functionally reduce Jesus to something instead of...

Why Scars Give You an Advantage in Life

The setting was sobering. Our tour group of 51 people was at Yad Vashem (The World Holocaust Remembrance Center) when our amazing tour guide told us, through tears, the gut-wrenching story of how his parents both survived the horrors of Wor...

Finding Life When Everything Points to Death

"The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, 'Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.' But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died. Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud v...

An Interview with Ed Stetzer Live on Pastors' Perspective & Archived on CalvaryChapel.com

We are excited to watch Pastor Brian Brodersen interview Ed Stetzer as Stetzer shares on his latest book, Christians in the Age of Outrage, live on Pastors' Perspective! Watch the archive available here!

A Constitutional Crisis!

If you are paying attention, I think you will agree that the discourse in the United States over the last two years has been divisive. The vast majority of the division is political. But the partisan divide has manifest in the form of fissu...

A Missional Perspective on Halloween

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than ...

Reformation Day: Live Session with David Guzik

As a finale to our celebration of 500 years since the Reformation, we are excited to have guests David Guzik and Lance Ralston speak on the most important aspect of the Reformation, in light of the celebration of 500 years since the reforma...

The Longest Hatred - Why Antisemitism Persists

On October 27, 2018, during Sabbath worship services at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, a gunman entered the premises and opened fire indiscriminately at the congregation. In total, 11 worshipers were killed. Aside from the tragic...

How Do We Understand God's Glory?

So many of our days are made up of ordinary moments. Clean the kitchen. Write an email. Do the laundry. Buy our groceries. We live in a series of ordinary, necessary patterns and somehow lose track of this truth of the incarnation: “And th...

Five Ways a Church Becomes Tolerant: The Church of Thyatira

"For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17). If the church of Pergamum is an example of the compromising c...

The Post Modern Blasé Attitude: Have You Been Infected?

In 2010, a horrific incident happened in New York City. A woman was accosted by a man on the street. Another man named Hugo Tax-Yale stopped to help her, but he was then stabbed by the woman’s assailant. The woman ran off in one direction a...

Give the Problem to God & Watch Him Work

Life can be hard, harder than hard at times. There are those moments in all of our lives when we think the difficulty is so large that there is no way out. It’s over. I’ve come to the end. We so often face situations where we think all is l...

Exposing Truth: Engaging a New Generation with the Need for Expository Teaching

"Any expounder of the words of God is liable to go off on a tangent if he or she does not remember this stern, undeviating standard of exposition, namely, that no individual experience is of the remotest value unless it is up to the standar...

God is Always Doing Something New

My 16-year-old daughter was able to participate in a six-week program in Hungary called "A Vision For Life." It’s basically Bible college condensed into six weeks for high schoolers. It was a mix of Bible classes, outreaches, dorms and gene...

What Can I Do with a Degree in Biblical Studies?

As the Director of Admissions for Calvary Chapel Bible College, one of my great joys is introducing prospective students and parents to our beautiful campus and Biblical studies programs. Inevitably the question comes up, “What can I do wit...

10-Minute Seminary: Phil Metzger on Multi-cultural Ministry

In his second part of the 10-minute Seminary series, Pastor Phil Metzger discusses the point of Multicultural Ministry, whether serving as a missionary abroad or serving in your local church.

Five Slippery Steps to Spiritual Compromise from the Church of Pergamum

I was surprised by the following true story: The location: Pearl Harbor The date: Sunday morning, December 7, 1941. Three hundred and fifty-three Japanese airplanes began swarming all around the harbor. Within a couple of hours, America lo...

Love and the New Humanism

There is a bridge in Paris that joins the Louvre on the right bank of the Seine River with the Academy of Les Beaux Arts on the left. It’s a walking bridge with wooden planks as flooring, a few scattered benches and a handrail to lean on an...

The Dangers of Obeying God Halfway

Don’t stop halfway! There is a story found in Genesis 11 and 12 about the call of Abraham; it is a tale about not stopping halfway. In Genesis Chapter 12 verses 1-4, we see God call Abram. “The Lord said to Abram, leave your country, your p...

Finally, The Spiritual Battle

Many Christians begin their life in Jesus Christ somewhat ignorant of the idea of spiritual battle. They find it easy to ignore what the Bible teaches - that is, that there are spiritual beings of intelligence and power that seek to defeat ...

Comfort Through the Hard Times: Lessons from the Church of Smyrna

Enjoy "A Letter to the Modern Church" by Pilgrim Benham in this series on the seven churches in Revelation. .... The theologian Michael Stipe (the lead singer of R.E.M.) said it best, “Everybody Hurts.” Let’s just face it: Life is full o...

10-Minute Seminary: Phil Metzger on Church Planting

10-Minute Seminary ReLaunch We are excited to relaunch our video training series, 10-Minute Seminary! In this first installment, Pastor Phil Metzger shares some quick helpful insights on church planting in diverse cultural contexts. ...

For Everything There is a Season

The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes that life is made up of seasons: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;...

Why Complaining is Self-Inflicting

God hates complaining! Why? Because the person who complains is focused on earthly things instead of on spiritual things. At least, that’s what God was trying to teach the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings. In Numbers 21 the p...

A Secret to Not Fear

"Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love" (1 Corinthians 16:13-14). I read the above scripture recently, and was nonplussed for a bit. How do you be brave when you know you are...

Revival Birthed by Radical Prayer

The Church in America is full of people who are quietly, deeply hurting. Many are losing heart as they experience terrifying fears. We know that we--the Church of Jesus Christ, this country, the world--find ourselves in a very deep, dark, h...

Act as if God Exists

Back in June, I wrote an article on "Why Jordan Peterson Matters," and why Christians should take notice. My article got pushback from some Christians who — though I'm not sure they thoroughly read it — incredulously questioned ...

A Letter to the Modern Church

There is no such thing as the perfect church. Someone once said you'll never find the perfect church--and if you do, don't start attending there because you are imperfect, and you'll ruin the perfect church! Jesus had something to say to s...

Am I Walking in the Spirit?

Life truly begins as we die to ourselves and trust in Christ. Once we receive Jesus into our lives, His Spirit joins with our human spirit, and we become born again as new creations in Christ. Our sinful life is exchanged with the righteo...

The Labeling of "Science Deniers"

Our culture loves to pigeonhole, label and "straw-man" nearly everything it disagrees with. Which means, if you're a miracle-believing Christian, then in the eyes of a growing demographic, you are branded a "science denier." And in 21st cen...

Who Determines What Mercy Looks Like?

"But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison" (Genesis 39:21). When Joseph's brothers sold him as a slave, they had no idea that they were the first group of God's peopl...

Calvary Global Network: Points on Successful Church Planting

Nothing excites me more than to see new churches planted. New churches mean souls being saved, lives being changed, God being worshiped, more churches being planted and the kingdom of God growing. Who isn’t excited about that? I’ll be at tw...

Isobel Kuhn: Memories of a Lisu Church Family in China

"'Pebbles in a brook polish one another'"—thank God for the pebbles of His Lisu Church." So wrote Isobel Kuhn, who with her husband John spent more than 20 years in China and Thailand as China Inland Mission missionaries, specifically...

Where Did the Pope Come From?

Where did the Pope come from? How did he become so important? These are questions many people ask today. While the history of the Papacy in Rome is long and complex, as with most things it did not start out that way. In a previous article ...

Lessons from History: How to Avoid Christian Self-Promotion

International relations. What a mess. What a picture of unregenerate human relations on a diplomatic scale. And yet nations have gone to great lengths to keep the peace with sometimes honorable results. We celebrate national holidays, remem...

Is Your Life Perishing Because You Have No Vision?

Recently, the hashtag "#goals" has been widely used on social media. If a person is scrolling through Instagram and sees a beautiful couple, they might comment with the hashtag #relationshipgoals, or if they see a stylish outfit on a person...

Workshop Audio: Women in Leadership & Biblical Complementarianism

With speaker, Dr. Gerry Breshears: Shall we ordain women? Can women be pastors? Such questions are deeply emotional and very polarizing. We will examine three major views held by Bible believing leaders and explore a variety of passages ask...

Workshop Audio: Thinking Theologically About Corporate Worship

With speaker, Char Brodersen: Should Pragmatism, Culture or Theology drive the Church’s Liturgy? The answer: Yes. But the order is vitally important. Come listen and discuss how we can develop rich, theologically stimulating, culturally rel...

Workshop Audio: Cross-Cultural Ministry and the Unfinished Task

With speaker, Jeff Jackson: To finish the task of making disciples from among all people groups--many of whom now live in our local neighborhoods, understanding the basics of cross-cultural ministry is crucial. This workshop will explain wh...

Workshop: Ministry Methods & Cultural Adaption

With speakers, Brian Brodersen, Nate Holdridge & Bill Welsh: The Gospel is truly “One-Size-Fits-All”, our method of delivering the Good News is not. In this workshop, we will discuss 4 stages of cultural adaptation in developing appropriate...

Reframing the Gospel for the Nations in Our Neighborhoods

When Jesus told Mary that He wasn't inclined to intervene to rescue the honor and reputation of a family that was about to suffer the consequences of their own pride, her culturally produced response moved Him to change His mind. The cultu...

The Feeling of "In Between"

We all go through seasons in our lives. It can sometimes feel like everything around us is flourishing much like springtime, or that we are losing all our hard earned work, resembling the trees dropping their leaves in the fall. Sometimes w...

Workshop Audio: Culture, Art, Theology & The Prophetic Voice of the Church

With speaker, Thomas Terry: Did you know that most people under the age of 30 self-identify as a creative? Do you understand how and why creatives think the way they do? Did you know that creatives typically feel disconnected from the local...

Workshop Audio: The Pathology of Moral Failure & the Path to Restoration

With speakers, Richard Cimino & Chris McCarrick: All of us have heard the stories of lives and churches wrecked by moral failure within church leadership. Some of us know men who have fallen, know their wives and children, know those who se...

Workshop Audio: Understanding & Responding to the Gay Christian Perspective

With speakers, Dr. Gerry Breshears & Justin Thomas: Questions about homosexuality, same sex attraction and gender confusion have erupted, leading churches to be labeled as bigoted, repressive, and dangerous. Too many churches have reacted i...

Workshop Audio: Urban Ministry Part 2: Gentrification, Globalization, Mass Incarceration & More

With speakers, Aaron Campbell & Ray Dash Part 2: With gentrification and globalization, even the very definition of “urban ministry” is growing more complex. What are the many moving parts that now constitute urban ministry’ and how does on...

Workshop Audio: Urban Ministry Part 1: Gentrification, Globalization, Mass Incarceration & More

With speakers, Aaron Campbell & Ray Dash Part 1: With gentrification and globalization, even the very definition of “urban ministry” is growing more complex. What are the many moving parts that now constitute urban ministry’ and how does on...

Workshop Audio: Leading People Toward Understanding & Experiencing the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

With speakers, Wayne Taylor & Ray Bentley: Pastors Wayne and Ray will be sharing from the scriptures how you can give maximum opportunity for the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit to actively work in your Church community. They will als...

What If Prayer is Unanswered?

Life is unexpected. Have you noticed that things often do not turn out the way we think they will, even when we pray? Perhaps you have been praying for a certain friend or loved one, and you have not gotten the answer you had hoped for. Or ...

Why Jordan Peterson Matters

I have watched, somewhat in awe, over the last couple of years the rise of Jordan Peterson on YouTube, through podcasts and other media formats (books, blogs, etc.). I haven't always been sure how to classify him or categorize his ascent. H...

Dr. Kyle Strobel – "Embracing a Ministry of Power"

Dr. Kyle Strobel sharing at the 2018 CGN Pastors & Leaders Conference. His message is titled, "Embracing a Ministry of Power."

Rafael Manzanares – "The Weakness of Man vs. The Power of God"

Rafael Manzanares sharing at the 2018 CGN Pastors & Leaders Conference. His message is titled, "The Weakness of Man vs. The Power of God."

Richard Cimino – "Creating a New Humanity in Our Broken World"

Richard Cimino sharing at the 2018 CGN Pastors & Leaders Conference. His message is titled, "Creating a New Humanity in Our Broken World."

Diego Bitencourt – "A Missional People Transformed by the Gospel"

Diego Bitencourt sharing at the 2018 CGN Pastors & Leaders Conference. His message is titled, " A Missional People Transformed by the Gospel."

David Guzik – "When the Gospel Comes in Power"

David Guzik sharing at the 2018 Pastors & Leaders Conference. His message is titled "When the Gospel Comes in Power."

Q&A Panel: Racial Reconciliation & the Gospel

Q&A Panel on Racial Reconciliation & the Gospel with host Brian Brodersen, Ray Dash, Aaron Campbell, Thomas Terry, Bill Buffington & Tommy Cota

Aaron Campbell – "The Gospel, The Holy Spirit & Limiting God"

Aaron Campbell sharing at the 2018 CGN Pastors & Leaders Conference. His message is titled "The Gospel, The Holy Spirit & Limiting God"

Keeping the Main thing the Main Thing

We were about six months into our church plant in Oregon, when I headed out one day to a nearby lake just to spend some alone time with the Lord. For a church plant, things were going ok. We had a great school to meet in, and people were co...

What Has Changed: The Convenient Contradiction of Modern Society

"A rash of school shootings" has people scratching their heads wondering why. Many locate the problem primarily in America’s love of guns. Each new campus tragedy becomes a rallying point in the call for gun control legislation. Gun owners ...

Q&A Panel: Current Issues in Theology

CGN Pastors & Leaders Conference theological panel with Sean McDowell, Dr. Gerry Breshears, Justin Thomas, Jeremy Treat & Brian Brodersen.

Thomas Terry – "Creatives & Corinthians"

Thomas Terry sharing at the Calvary Chapel | CGN Pastors and Leaders Conference. His message is titled "Creatives & Corinthians."

Ray Dash – "Living the Crucified Life"

Ray Dash sharing at the 2018 Calvary Chapel | CGN Pastors & Leaders conference. His message is titled "Living the Crucified Life."

Dr. Gerry Breshears – "The Gospel and Good Works"

Dr. Gerry Breshears sharing at the 2018 Calvary Chapel | CGN. His message is titled "The Gospel and Good Works."

Daniel Im – "The Power of the Gospel & Discipleship Systems"

Daniel Im sharing at the 2018 Calvary Chapel | CGN Pastors & Leaders Conference held at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa.

Riley Taylor – "A Breakthrough Vision"

Riley Taylor sharing at the 2018 Pastors and Leaders Conference. His message is titled "A Breakthrough Vision."

God Still Works Miracles

"Come and see the works of God, who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men. He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot; there let us rejoice in Him!" (Psalm 66:5-6). One effective temptation to despair i...

Standing Firm in a Hostile Culture

A Sure Foundation “Here I stand; I can do no other, so help me God." These are the now infamous words uttered by Martin Luther as he faced off with the powers of Rome. With his "conscience captive to the word of God," he stood firm in the ...

Thoughts on The Power of the Gospel

2018 CGN Pastors & Leaders Conference Archives Though I’ve been a Calvary Chapel pastor for nearly five years, this year will be my first time attending the Pastors and Leaders Conference. So I’ve been thinking about the theme, “The Power ...

Is Anti-Zionism the New Anti-Semitism?

A Growing Consensus Speaking at a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the Vel D’Hiv, an event in which over 13,000 French Jews were deported to Nazi concentration camps by their own government, Emmanuel Macron, the president of France...

Reframing the Gospel for the Nations in our Neighborhoods Part 3

When there was no more wine to supply to the guests at a wedding they were attending, Mary approached Jesus and subtly told Him to do something to help a family she cared about. The cultural operating system that was at the base of their i...

When Everything Falls Into Disorder

While Evangelical Progressives applaud recent cultural changes, those of the Conservative branch are concerned as traditional values are thrown over in favor of the Moral Revolution. What they need to remember is that this is the way it’s b...

The Necessity of Applying the Gospel to My Own Heart

I’ve spent most of my adult life in the city. I like the feel of concrete under my shoes, the convenience of functioning public transportation and rubbing shoulders with people from all walks of life. Several years ago, my family needed to ...

Don't Stop Crying Out to God

The story of the blind beggar, found in Luke 18 is one that has recently had a powerful impact on my attitude toward prayer. The healing of Bartimaeus is the final miracle Jesus performed during His time on earth. I think it is profound th...

Does Hell Really Exist?

Does Hell Really Exist? Many people blatantly deny the existence of hell. I could easily fill pages of quotes from people known and unknown who adamantly reject that there is such a place as hell. Yet that there is a place was clearly tau...

The Gospel in HD: Transformation We Can See

What does the gospel look like in our lives? What happens when we embrace the truth of God’s salvation for us? In the ancient city of Thessalonica, the apostle Paul began a church. He didn’t stay long because of persecution. But the impact...

Why The Gospel Is Central

In past years there has been a re-emphasis and refocus on the centrality of the gospel. It's easy to notice how many organizations, books, conferences and movements purposefully use the word “gospel” in their title. Generally, it is a welco...

Be Faithful to Your Calling

Almost a year ago there was a need for a new youth worship leader, and therefore I was thrust into a whole new world. I thought, “I’ve led worship for years. This’ll be easy!” Famous last words. I committed to a year of serving in youth, ...

Making Sense of the Unfathomable

"When I remember God, then I am disturbed; when I sigh, then my spirit grows faint. Selah. You have held my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak"– (Psalm 77:3-4) It’s one thing to bring your troubles to God. It’s another whe...

The James Ossuary: The Earliest Witness to Jesus and His Family?

One of the earliest and most important discoveries relating to the historicity of Jesus and members of his family is the limestone bone-box (called an ossuary) made known to the public in October, 2002. Ossuaries were used by Israel from ab...

Calvary Chapel Bible College Ireland

Have you been praying about joining a Bible college to deepen your relationship with God? Are you looking to grow in your faith in a cross-cultural setting? At Calvary Chapel Bible College Ireland (CCBCI), we aim to disciple believers into ...

Women Called by God: Helen Roseveare

Missionaries are sometimes called a rare breed. They leave home, integrate into a foreign culture and bring a foreign concept (the Gospel) to people who don’t know they need it. Indeed this isn’t normal living. Yet their lives are filled wi...

Why I am Thankful for My Experience with Panic Attacks Part 2

My last article traced an introduction to my experience with panic attacks and this second part closes with further reflections on why I am (unexpectedly) thankful for them. In January of this past year, I took time for my first personal re...

Reframing the Gospel for the Nations That are Now in Our Neighborhoods Part 2

Is it possible that the first miraculous sign Jesus did, turning water into wine, might actually provide some easy access points to Gospel truths for our neighbors that come from other nations? I believe so. But before I lay out my reaso...

Israel at 70: Lessons for the Church Part 2

"But the land into which you are about to cross to possess it, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning e...

Israel at 70: Lessons for the Church Part 1

"Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once? As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons" (Isaiah 66:8). On Friday May 14, 1948, the modern ...

Why Burdens Aren’t Bad

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is full...

TTM S3E07: Redemption, Comedy, the Gaza Strip and the Refugee Crisis

Enjoy this episode of “Things That Matter” as host Pastor Brian Brodersen shares many laughs with guest comedian Nazareth Rizkallah. Having grown up in the Gaza Strip and moved to the U.S. as a young man, Nazareth shares his testimony that ...

A Study in the Book of Hebrews: The Centrality of Jesus

We aren't sure exactly who wrote the book of Hebrews. Some say it was Paul the apostle, but that is doubtful. Others say Barnabas—or because of the writing style, perhaps it was Luke or even Apollos—but we don't know for sure. ...

Why I Am Thankful for My Experience with Panic Attacks Part 1

My panic attacks first started at the beginning of the summer of 2017, before I embarked on my study of theology. After 33 years of life and ministry, I had experienced mild depression, periods of distraction, weeping and grief, but never a...

Challenges with Medical Marijuana: Treatment of Pain or Excuse for Pleasure?

Evidence to support the medical benefits of smoking marijuana for the treatment of pain has become a challenge for many Christians. Our culture has made a radical shift in the acceptance of marijuana as a medication, which has also paved ...

Do you know your lane? Do you know your Lord?

Recently I had the opportunity to meet with dozens of Calvary pastors from around the country in New York City for a special time of prayer and fellowship. Our time together was marked by a noticeable thirst to see God’s kingdom come and wi...

Finding Peace in Surrender

The idea of surrender, most commonly, has negative connotations. We think of armies and nations that have surrendered in wars; they saw that they were defeated by the victors, and so they gave up, admitted defeat and surrendered to their co...

Three Principles for Every Leader to Get Right

Like some of you, ministry has been a continual growth process for me. It seems that there are some who just “get it” and “got it” from the get go. But for me it’s been a journey; specifically, in leading a team effectively to fulfill the v...

Reframing the Gospel for the Nations That Are Now in Our Neighborhoods Part 1

By God's permission and design, people from around the world now live in my community and have become a part of my day to day and week to week sphere of life. I regularly interact with a Sikh gentleman from Punjab state, India, a hard work...

Evangelism for the Introvert

It’s safe to say that evangelism is on the Lord’s heart. When we pray, "May your kingdom come," I believe the Lord wants to impress it on our hearts. Yet in practice, it’s not always easy, especially for those of us who have trouble talki...

When God Has Another Plan

The pain got worse, as all my gym friends surrounded me on the ground, and I heard one of them whisper to the other, “Oooh, it’s…” I could only imagine that my ankle wasn’t looking so hot and was possibly ballooning to double it’s size. Sur...

"A Wrinkle in Time:" A Film Review

Below is a review on the newly released film, A Wrinkle in Time. There are spoilers included in the analysis of this film. A Wrinkle in Time has been controversial since before it was ever published. Author Madeleine L'Engle's manuscript w...

A Building is Only as Strong as Its Foundation

A building is only as strong as its foundation. The walls can’t even support its own weight. But when that weight is transferred to the foundation, the whole building is stable.I learned this as I meditated through Psalm 55:22: "Cast your b...

Lessons in Leadership Part 3: Fearlessly Leading the Good Fight

Sometimes I think we forget as pastors and leaders that we have intentionally placed ourselves in the line of fire, the front of the battle—directly in the crosshairs of the enemy—this is our reality every day—are you ready for it? God want...

A Secured Tomb Couldn't Stop the Resurrected Christ

Many times during the years of His earthly ministry, Jesus promised that He would rise from the dead (John 2:18-22; Matthew 12:39-40; 16:21). His enemies remembered those predictions (Matthew 27:62-64) and were worried that what Jesus said ...

Pierced by the Lord: Thoughts on Good Friday

I was reading through my Bible reading plan, which currently has me in the book of Jeremiah, and I came across a phrase that gave me pause. In chapter 25 the prophet is speaking about a day of coming judgment, when God's wrath will be poure...

Don’t Underestimate the Power of the Gospel

The Gospel is the "good news" concerning who Christ is and what He has accomplished. It is the power of God to redeem sinful humanity, replace the sinner, remove the sin, release the bondage, reverse the curse and reconcile man to God. When...

An Act of Giving One’s Life: Honoring Lieutenant Colonel Arnaud Beltrame

It's not often that we hear stories of heroism on the evening news. More often we have to wait until after the program and turn on a movie. Last week in France we witnessed one of those rare moments; a man gave his life to save someone in d...

Expositors Collective: Sample of a Christ-Centered Sermon

Recently, I was honored to take part in the Expositors Collective, a seminar designed to train and mentor young preachers in the skill of expository Bible teaching. My dear friend Mike Neglia taught a session on Christ-centered preaching, w...

Local Church Involvement with Global Missions: Is It Just a Slice of the Ministry Pie?

"Is there one key conviction or one fundamental ingredient that local churches who send well have in common?" Due to the scope of the ministry the Lord has bestowed on me and the number of relationships I have with leaders of local churches...

An Open Letter from a Pastor to His Sons

To my sons whom I love more than words can say: "If there was only one principle that I could impart to you, what would be the most impactful for this life and the life to come? By the grace of God, the priority of this value is so clearly ...

Fifteen Steps for Expositional Sermon Preparation

While there are many preachers more exciting to listen to than myself, students at Calvary Chapel Bible College often ask me how I do sermon preparation. To better serve those that ask me this question, I decided to write down my full 15-st...

Why We Need to Leave a Lasting Legacy for the Next Generation

Recently, I was asked to be one of the speakers at a retreat for millennials where the theme was "Legacy." The definition of legacy that was put forth was: something transmitted by or received from a predecessor or from the past. In my expe...

Three Thoughts on Effective Short Term Missions

I really like hot sauce. In fact, I recently tried to make my own. I went to the farmers market and bought some seedlings. I planted, watered and tended to my peppers for several months until they were mature for harvesting. After much rese...

Proclaiming the Gospel According to Charles Spurgeon

THE BOOK A few months ago, I decided to reread Spurgeon's classic work, The Soul Winner. Like most people, my view is that anything Spurgeon writes is worth the time and effort to read. This book of course is no exception. While many Christ...

A Culture of Wannabes: Be Imitators of God

A "wannabe" is defined as: 1. A person who wants or aspires to be someone or something else or who tries to look or act like someone else.2. Something (such as a company, city or product) intended to rival another of its kind that has been ...

The Success of Succession: When Church Leaders Are Pressed to Compromise

When Protestants broke with Rome in the 15th Century, Rome countered the Protestant departure with a claim to Apostolic succession: "Look," they said, "Our leaders go all the way back to the original Apostles in an unbroken line of successi...

Fight the Lies of Fear with the Truth of God

There was a time in my life when I was totally paralyzed by fear. I lived in a perpetual panic attack for a period of about six months. At that time, I believed that I was physically sick; I was having strange and terrifying symptoms that w...

A Film Review: "Annihilation"

The idea of existential nihilism couldn't be more opposed to my Biblical, Christian worldview. To think that everything we see and experience ultimately lacks purpose or significance is incredibly depressing and defeating. Why would we do a...

Five Points on Our Need for Community

It is an interesting time that we live in. People are more connected than they have ever been yet more isolated than ever as well. We literally have thousands of "friends" in our pockets whom many of us interact with on a daily basis. Yet t...

Are You Praying with Honesty?

I was driving alone in the car, and I was thankful for the solitude. The silence was like an old friend I hadn’t seen in a long time, and I yearned to just visit with for awhile. As I drove up Warner Boulevard, my head was spinning with the...

Florida School Shooting: From the Eyes of an Affected Teenager

For this month’s article for CalvaryChapel.com, I felt pressed to share my space with an amazing young gal named Skylar who I have the privilege of teaching and discipling at the new Calvary Chapel Bible College in New York City—led by visi...

A Tribute to Billy Graham

When I awoke this morning and made my way downstairs, the first thing Cheryl said to me was that Billy Graham had passed away. I immediately responded with a smile and the words, "Good for him." The reason I responded like that was because ...

A Window in Time: Israel’s 70th Anniversary

When a spiritual revival swept through England in the 19th century, it also revived a love for the Jewish people and prayers for their restoration. One brave mother, a product of the earlier Great Awakening revival, taught her young son to ...

Women Called by God: Madeleine Barot from the WWII French Resistance

The Righteous Among the Nations is an honorary title given by the State of Israel that signifies those non-Jews who risked life, position and family to save Jewish people from the Nazis. Poland, The Netherlands and France are nations with t...

Similarities Between Esther and Local Churches

Esther needed a Mordecai moment and message–and so do many local churches today. "For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will peri...

Be Anxious for Nothing

I will never forget the day I received the hospital bill in our mailbox. I was having a particularly cheerful day up until that moment. As I reached in and perused the typical "junk" advertisements for a car lot sale, coupons for Memorial D...

Five Biblical Keys to Managing Your Day for God’s Glory

Many church leaders I talk with complain that they do not have enough time for all the demands of the ministry and communicate this to me along these lines: They often find their day is actually run for them by the tyranny of the urgent in ...

How to Stay Free in Christ

God our Father has given us an awesome, divine, eternal and precious gift that will take us into an adventurous, exploring and very secured joyful ride, filled with wonder and with all the provisions we will ever need. That gift is Jesus Ch...

Nick Foles' Example of Understanding Our Deepest Purpose Part 2

Last Thursday the city of Philadelphia welcomed home, for the first time ever, their Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Somewhere between 700,000 and 2,000,000 people showed up to celebrate the Eagles' historic upset with a champions'...

Three Principles in Pursuing God

How do you have a decent quiet time? What does one do? And most importantly, why even do it? George Mueller, who sustained his orphanages by prayer, thought he had to travail in prayer every morning. He would go quite a while working at it,...

Tom Brady's Example of Understanding Our Deepest Purpose Part 1

Last Sunday's game was, by many accounts, either one of the best Super Bowls in recent memory, or perhaps the best ever (hard to argue with the latter if you are an Eagles' fan). In any case, such an enormous public platform as the Super Bo...

Why I Need to Discern My Thought Life

In Deuteronomy 1, Moses spoke to a new generation about to enter the Promised Land. He gave them both a history lesson and reminded them of the terms of their covenant with God. He wanted to make sure they didn't repeat the error of their p...

Three Hindrances That Need to Be Stripped From My Life

A few years back I had this great idea of restoring a 1972 Chevy Blazer 4X4. I loved that specific year, great body lines, removable top, and it looks great with a 6" lift kit. A good friend in the restoration business started the search an...

Is God Listening?

“O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come” (Psalm 65:2). I am so thankful for the character of the Living God! He is a good God…and He is a God who hears prayer!! What if God was deaf to our prayers, or didn’t care? Many think of ...

Three Key Steps in the ART of Letting God Lead

Recently I was given the great privilege of seeing some of the fruit from the youth ministry I pioneered over 15 years ago while speaking at a youth retreat. As I observed those I once encouraged encouraging others, it led me to consider th...

What Should I Do? Response to the #MeToo Movement

One point seven million tweets in 85 countries, 90% within the first 48 hours. More than 12 million Facebook posts, comments and reactions exploding online in less than 24 hours. TIME magazine’s "2017 Person(s) of the Year.” Who is everyone...

Weapons of this Warfare: Facing the Strongholds of Social Media

I was amazed to read the headlines today, “Twitter Engineers to 'Ban a Way of Talking' Through 'Shadow Banning,'” "Algorithms to Censor Opposing Political Opinions.” According to a Twitter engineer, “Twitter is 'shadow banning' to stealthi...

Lessons in Leadership Part 1: Who is in Charge of Your Church?

All of us who occupy a pastoral leadership position in a church, will at some point in time be faced with a very critical question: Who is the head of your church? It will be asked by people seeking to talk with the “guy in charge,” “the se...

Funky Feet and Fixed Focus: Lessons and Warnings on LOVE

"Forgive me for being so ordinary while claiming to know so extraordinary a God." —Jim Elliot (1927-1956), martyred for sharing the love of Christ. In the next article, I will tell you about when a heavy jug of aged, North Philly [homeless-...

Experiencing an Insurrection of Kindness in Your Ministry

Even though I know it comes every year, I find that winter sneaks up on me. Often it’s the holiday season that distracts me. Life is busy, and so I grab a sweater before I’m off. Inevitably the day will come when I’ll step outside, and my h...

Robbed of Joy

I wasn’t always a pastor. I remember the first job I had in college, working for my uncle at his car lot in a questionable part of town. I drove my old ’86 Dodge convertible to work each day and always parked it with the top down on the sid...

Don't Fear Loneliness

I have known loneliness in my life. When I first started to follow Jesus, I was 24 years old. Soon after making that decision, I moved to a new house. During this period I lived alone in a house with no television and no internet. I lived l...

"Loving Your Enemies" by Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"' You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute y...

"Rock of Ages:" Three Aspects of Salvation

Nothing in my hand I bring,simply to the cross I cling;naked, come to thee for dress;helpless, look to thee for grace;foul, I to the fountain fly;wash me, Savior, or I die. It was a stormy night in Somerset, England, in 1763. A large thunde...

Praise is Easy. Worship is Not: The Magis' Example of True Worship

There is no doubt 2017 will go down as one of the most politically charged years in history. A concerning observation is the number of Christians worried and worked up over politics. It begs the question, whom or what are they worshiping? A...

The Church, the Culture and Corinth: Facing the Lack of Dignity in the 21st Century

The world is again in the grip of yet another realization that it's ways are bankrupt. The sexual revolution of the 60s has born more bitter fruit in the ever-growing sexual harassment scandals rocking one industry and institution after ano...

The Unique Command of the Great Commission: His Glory Among the Nations Part 2

Jeff Jackson is a workshop speaker for the 2018 Missions Conference, happening this week, January 2-5. Tune in to watch live! On more than one occasion during the time between His resurrection and His ascension, Jesus told His disciples to ...

Jesus Brings (More) Life

While all God’s Word is inspired and profitable ( 2 Timothy 3:16), most Christians have favorite passages. Sometimes we talk about our “life verse” by which we mean something especially relevant to our entire lives. Then there are seasons i...

The Importance of the Incarnation

It doesn’t take long for the average news reader perusing today’s articles to come across a shocking revelation: Scandals are all around us. Of course there are the expected political and financial scandals, but as of late, the sex scandals...

Merry Christmas from CalvaryChapel.com

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!'"– Luke 2:13-14 Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from ...

Home for Christmas: Pondering the Gospel this Advent Season

Christmas is often a time of reminiscing, rejoicing and reconnecting with family and friends. It is the occasion to celebrate with friends and family that make the Christmas experience so meaningful. In fact, it is often a time when we love...

Facing Challenges in Evangelism & Discipleship in the 21st Century

Patrick Johnstone, author of Operation World, will be our keynote speaker for the 2018 Global Missions Conference, happening January 2-5. Registration for the conference is still available! How will future historians write about the first d...

From the Christmas Tree to the Tree of Calvary: The Meaning Behind Advent

What does "advent" mean? Well, the word itself means: "The arrival of a notable person or thing." At this time of year we celebrate the arrival of the most notable person of all time, Jesus Christ. Advent has taken on different traditions t...

Good News for Zechariah and for Us

“And Zechariah said to the angel, 'How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.' And the angel answered him, 'I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you thi...

Hope Through the Flame: Facing the Southern California Fires

The Thomas Fire has been roaring to life in the hills near Santa Paula. High winds drove it relentlessly toward Ventura where it burned hundreds of homes, including three of our members and many friends. The faith of our members is a beauty...

Christmas and the Incarnation of Christ

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” (John 1:14). Christmas is a celebration of God in His humanity. Our faith is unique among world religions for this simple belief: Our God chose to stoop, to lower Himself, to become one of us...

Missionaries and the Wise Men from the East: Similarities That Can Bring Encouragement

"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 'where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to...

Christmas Truce: The Day World War I Stopped

There are acts of unplanned kindness that break through the humdrum of daily existence and shine a new sense of light. Infused with grace, these unexpected gifts have the power to change the course of someone’s day or even become a life mom...

How Creation Reminds Us to See the Glory Behind the Beauty

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:1). “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him...

Five Ways to Build a Team If You Are Planting a Church Alone

I have the rare perspective of having planted two churches and having two very different experiences. In our first church plant, my wife and I did everything and did it alone. In our second church, we raised up a team and have worked togeth...

"I Can't Get No Satisfaction:" Consumerism for the Believer

In the West we live in a consumer culture. By nature we are consumers. Let me list just a few of the items we consume daily: coffee, phones, fashion, handbags, shoes, house decor items, jewelry, watches, cars...the list goes on ad infinitum...

Thanksgiving: A Time to Feel; a Time to Heal

“The antidote to feel-good history is not feel-bad history, but honest and inclusive history.” – James Loewen, University of Vermont professor, bestselling author. Salt or pepper? Onion or garlic? On your Thanksgiving turkey, which one from...

Work Out Your Own Salvation

Maybe you’ve heard of CrossFit. I’m one of those crazy people who have bought into their way of using constantly varied, functional movements at a high intensity. Basically this just means you work really hard, never at the same things, in ...

Lessons on Compromise and Concession from Gibraltar

Wars have been fought for almost every reason: land, resources, honor, greed, politics, religion...They are costly in human lives and for local economies. At times, the best the victors can hope to gain is a stronghold, a place to anchor do...

Declaring His Glory Among the Nations: How Are We Doing? Part 1

According to Acts 1:3, from resurrection Sunday until He ascended to heaven, Jesus spent a total of 40 days with the apostles and disciples. Although He probably discussed a myriad of subjects with them during that time, the written record ...

Thoughts on the Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church Shooting

I’ve been processing the tragedy that occurred Sunday morning. I was about to wrap up my teaching about 300 miles north of Sutherland Springs in the same state of Texas. I remember looking at the clock in the back, hanging on the wall of ou...

How Does a Believer Follow Jesus?

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (...

Church Van E06-Tony Clark Part 3

Hosts Riley Taylor and Jarryd Bryant team up to interview special guests as they drive in a church van! Enjoy a blend of laughs, topics based on current events and practical ministry tips on this entertaining, lighthearted, yet thought prov...

The Role of the Gospel in the Believer's Life

After the sermon, a man came up to let me know he wasn’t happy with what he had heard. He didn’t put it quite that bluntly, but it was all over his furled brow and panicked expression. “So what did you think about the sermon?” I asked with ...

Reformation Day: Live Session with Lance Ralston

As a finale to our celebration of 500 years since the Reformation, we are excited to have guests David Guzik and Lance Ralston speak on the most important aspect of the Reformation, in light of the celebration of 500 years since the reforma...

Soli Deo Gloria: Why We Live for the Glory of God

2017 is a special year, marking the 500 year anniversary of a world-changing event: the start of the Protestant Reformation. It’s really not fair to mark one point alone for this revolution of faith and practice in Europe and the world, bec...

The Reformation Through Jewish Eyes

As the Church prepares to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation on October 31, 2017, there is much to celebrate. Truly the Reformation has been an impetus for glorious eternal good. Yet, it may be helpful to understand the Refo...

Church Van E05-Tony Clark Part 2

Enjoy this episode of Church Van with hosts Riley Taylor and Jarryd Bryant as they continue in their discussion with guest Pastor Tony Clark on topics of leadership, Pastor Tony's military background and more! Also, stay up to date with all...

Solus Christus: Why We Don't Put Our Faith in Churches, Leaders or Rituals

On October 31,1517, the German monk, pastor and seminary professor, Martin Luther, published 95 complaints against the church practice of selling reductions to the penalty of sin. The iconic figure we cherish is of Luther nailing a paper wi...

A Thousand Year Tug of War: The Marriage of Church and State

In many ways, the reign of Constantine over the Roman Empire was one of the most far reaching and influential in western history. One of the most significant aspects of his influence was his perspective of Church and State. When Constantine...

What I Should Expect from My Church Part 2

Enjoy the first part of this two part series! While having the wrong expectations from our church can stifle spiritual growth, having the right expectations will give us discernment that will lead us to a healthy church body where we can gr...

Church Van E04-Tony Clark Part 1

Hosts Riley Taylor and Jarryd Bryant interview Pastor Tony Clark of Calvary Chapel Newport News on questions about discipleship, how Christians should handle racism in our country and more! You can also stay up to date and enjoy all Church ...

Am I Expecting Too Much from My Church? Part 1

God uses the local church as a powerful instrument for a believer’s spiritual growth and maturity. The early church was a simple model where believers came together to hear the Word taught, to pray together, to take communion and to fellows...

Where Are You Placing Your Identity?

We all had a starting point in life. I was born into a Christian home with a pastor for a father. My parents have been married about four decades. My family ate dinner around the table almost every night, did Bible devotions and went to chu...

Understanding the Difference Between Abiding & Abounding

I don't know how I did it. How did I somehow change the word "abound" into "abide?" Allow me to revel in either God's ability to redeem a typo or perhaps God's wisdom and sovereignty to actually set up a misunderstanding. Through a series...

Seven Moments That Demonstrate Global Missions Matter

When an individual Christian or the key leaders and members of a local church come to understand the bigger picture of God’s plan for humanity that He has recorded in His written Word, His Spirit will move them to engage at whatever level p...

Church Van E03-Brian Brodersen Part 3

Enjoy part three of this three-part interview on Church Van with Pastor Brian Brodersen of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. Hosts Riley Taylor and Jarryd Bryant tackle specific topics with Pastor Brian on ministry, God's calling, and what it mean...

Celebrating 500 Years Since the Reformation: l'affaire des Placards

Does God work in patterns? If He works miraculously in one area, does that mean He will do the same thing in another? Sometimes we hear of a person who has done extraordinary things for the Lord. Inspired, it’s natural to wish we’d been the...

Belle Patrick: A Kind of Missionary

Perhaps you have heard of reluctant missionaries and pioneer missionaries, but have you ever heard of “a kind of missionary?” This was Patrick Collinson’s description of his mother, Belle Patrick, who as a young woman, went to Algiers, Nort...

Three Christlike Attributes We Find in the Warrior Caleb

In Israel's heyday, to call someone a "dog" was an insult, not a stage name in the rap game. Some say the name "Caleb" meant "dog." Well, not anymore. The Caleb of Israel changed all that. We know Caleb as a warrior, a man of faith, a fait...

Pray for Las Vegas

This past week, Pastor's Perspective aired a few broadcasts on the Las Vegas shooting that happened Sunday Night at a Country music festival. Guests Derek Neider of Calvary Chapel Las Vegas, Greg Laurie of Harvest Fellowship, Ed Stetzer of...

Church Van E02-Brian Brodersen Part 2

We are excited to announce a new series titled Church Van with hosts Pastor Riley Taylor & Jarryd Bryant. Enjoy interviews on the road with special guests! Enjoy part two with Pastor Brian Brodersen of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, as they...

The Era of Constantine: When Church Met State

For the first three hundred years of its existence, the Christian Church was generally viewed by the Roman Empire as either an enigma, a fringe group or as a legitimate threat. Therefore, Christians did not consistently enjoy the rights and...

Response Versus Reaction to the Las Vegas Shooting

Here are resources and ways to help in light of the recent shooting in Las Vegas Sunday Night. We continue to pray for the victims, their families and the city. I have run out of fingers & toes to count tragedies. Just in the US and ju...

Are Church Members Scenery, Machinery or PEOPLE?

A number of years ago, an anthropologist from Poland, Alicja Iwanska, conducted a study among farmers in the Northwest section of the United States. One of the conclusions of the study found that within the realm of interaction with other p...

TTM S2 E28 - Lance Ralston on the Relevance of Church History for Today

Enjoy this episode of “Things That Matter,” as Pastor Lance Ralston of Calvary Oxnard shares about the relevance of church history with Pastor Brian Brodersen. As we celebrate the 500th year of the Reformations in the 16th century, Pastor R...

New Series – "Church Van" – With Hosts Riley Taylor & Jared Brian, Featuring Pastor Brian Brodersen

We are excited to announce a new series titled Church Van with hosts Pastor Riley Taylor & Jarryd Bryant. Enjoy interviews on the road with special guests! The series kicks off with guest Pastor Brian Brodersen of Calvary Chapel Costa M...

The Blessings That Come When We Fear the Lord

"Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it" (Proverbs 15:16-17). "Better is." What a phrase. It strikes me as final,...

Christ in Yom Kippur Part 2

Enjoy "Christ in Yom Kippur Part 1," the first part of this series. Background to Yom Kippur: The Temple Mount and the tension surrounding this particular location are common themes of contemporary discussions concerning the Modern State o...

The Effect of Being Reasonable in Conversation

On Labor Day, my wife Karen and I hosted a BBQ in our condo complex, and some of our neighbors joined the fun. One couple has been married 59 years. They met in Memphis and were high school sweethearts. His sister used to hang out with Elvi...

Christ in Yom Kippur Part 1

Biblical Law and My Contempt for Fantasy Literature Watching, reading or listening to fantasy literature are insufferable experiences for me. I do not like The Lord of the Rings; I have a difficult time following The Chronicles of Narnia; ...

TTM S2 E27 - Dr. Lu Wing on the Toxic Church

Enjoy this episode of "Things That Matter" as Pastor Brian Brodersen talks with toxicologist, pastor, educator, Bible teacher and church planter, Dr. Lu Wing. Dr. Wing discusses his background in toxicology, the overlapping study of science...

The Difference Between the Rapture and Christ's Return

Have you ever tried to explain something very carefully, only to have people take away every conclusion except the one you were trying to make? Anyone who has ever worked with kids will say yes and amen. Every few years someone seems to com...

Natural Disaster Prayer Update

Our prayers continue during this season of several natural disasters that have occurred. Mexico: Yesterday, local time, Mexico was hit with another 7.1 Magnitude earthquake, with 200 deaths confirmed. This is the second earthquake with an ...

TTM S2 E26 - Scott Cunningham on Worship Ministry and the School of Worship

On this episode of “Things That Matter,” worship leader and School of Worship (SOW) director, Scott Cunningham, and Pastor Brian Brodersen discuss worship ministry and SOW. Scott shares the history of SOW, as it began 15 years ago through S...

Now Let Me Burn Out For God: The Life of Henry Martyn

“Now let me burn out for God.” This was the impassioned prayer of a young Cornishman named Henry Martyn (1781-1812), missionary to India and Persia, a man who lived his short life with a sense of urgency that is rare in our generation. Mar...

A September 11th Tribute

On September 11, 2001, I found myself near the bottom of the Twin Towers in New York City. Back in 2001, I was a 19-year-old student attending New York University, who had walked away from the Lord. Despite my rebellion against God, the Lor...

TTM S2 E25 - Dr. Paul Tripp on the Depth of God's Grace

Thank you for your prayers while Pastor Brian Brodersen was ministering in Europe during the month of August. We are excited to continue with new episodes of “Things That Matter.” On this episode, Pastor Brian examines the depth of God's ...

Sola Gratia: The Beauty & Sufficiency of Grace in the Salvation of Sinners

Soon it will be the 500th anniversary of when German pastor, monk and seminary professor, Martin Luther, published 95 objections to the church practice of selling reductions to the penalty of sin. Most historians use that event to mark the ...

Mary Magdelene's Perspective on Christ's Resurrection

A historical fiction: The agony of the moment was of the severest variety. I was in such torment. I'd been tormented by demons before, but this torment was different. It was the torment of love and devotion. He had meant so much to me, so m...

The Early Church: The Danger Within

Christians often say that whenever a great work of God or a move of the Holy Spirit is taking place, there are sure to be rampant attacks from the devil. This was certainly the case with the Early Church! As we have seen, the spread of the ...

The Power of Spiritually Healthy Habits Part 2

In part one of this article, I shared four tips I gleaned from the New York Times bestseller: The Power of Habit: Why we do What we do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg. I’ll add to it with steps five through nine here: 5. DEVELOP A KE...

Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief

Support those affected by Hurricane Harvey Our prayers continue for those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Calvary Houston has provided information to pray, help and support: "As you all know, Texas has been hit hard by one of the worst storm...

Terror in Barcelona, Spain

As people around the world have heard the news, Barcelona, Spain, suffered a terrorist attack on Thursday, August 17, 2017, when a van plowed into a crowd filled with people from around the world in a famous area for tourism, an area called...

The Power of Spiritually Healthy Habits

While most Christians desire to become more consistent in studying the Bible, many struggle with making it a daily part of their lives. We commonly bear witness to Paul’s battle revealed in Romans 7:15, “…For what I will to do, that I do no...

Seven Ways to Become a Person of God

"And the woman said to Elijah, 'Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth" (1 Kings 17:24). She knew. Now she knew. After all she had been through with the prophet, this was the moment. To he...

Lessons I Learned from Marilyn's Cancer

“And behold there was a loud voice saying ‘Come out to meet your bridegroom.'” On June 16 that was one of the verses in her morning’s devotional reading. June 16, 2016, Marilyn Gibbs went out to meet her bridegroom, out of this world and in...

Have You Forgotten the Immutability of God? Part 3

What does it mean to be sanctified? According to Thayer's Greek Lexicon, the definition of sanctification is "consecration" and "purification." God’s children have been secured from the clutches of death to remain in His holy presence and r...

Psalm 134: Making the Choice to Rejoice

“Every journey changes you in some way.” - Anon “Blessed is the man whose strength is in You. Whose heart is set on pilgrimage...” (Psalm 84:5). We began this journey as a search for peace. Along the way, we have scaled some towering peak...

An Open Letter to Pastors and Ministry Leaders: Pastoring Contrasted with Being a Missionary

An open letter to Senior Pastors and church leaders about missionaries: "Brethren, As a former missionary, church planter and pastor, I’d like to provoke you to think a little deeper about the members of your church that you have sent out a...

C.H. Spurgeon’s Seven Tips for Reading the Bible

Most believers understand reading the Bible each day would be a great benefit to their walk with the Lord, and yet only a small portion develop such a healthy habit consistently. A recent Barna report stated, “About one-third of all America...

How Do You Handle Betrayal?

Betrayal is like a shadow and tense music in a horror film. It fills us with anxiety and clouds our lives with its presence. Sometimes it can be anticipated. There are signs that it's about to ruin a friendship or work environment, but it's...

Has a Piece of Sin Latched Onto You?

You don't exactly plan to be living in luxury on a mission trip, but you do hope to at least get a good night's sleep. Our hopes were dashed a little in the middle of our mission trip to Vietnam. There's no nice way to put it; the hotel we ...

Session 13: Being the Salt of the Earth - Wayne Taylor

Wayne Taylor, pastor of Calvary Fellowship in Seattle, Washington, speaks at the 2017 Senior Pastors Conference.

Session 9: Out of a Far Country - Dr. Christopher Yuan

Dr. Christopher Yuan has taught the Bible at Moody Bible Institute for over eight years, and his speaking ministry on faith and sexuality has reached five continents. He speaks in conferences such as The Gospel Coalition and Ethics & Religi...

Session 8: Boldness - Joel Turner

Joel Turner, lead pastor of Mountain Springs Calvary Chapel in Calgary, Canada, speaks at the 2017 Senior Pastors Conference.

Q&A Panel: Current Issues in Theology - Gerry Breshears, Chrisopher Yuan, Dominick Hernández, Mike Chaddick

Dr. Gerry Breshears, Dr. Paul Tripp, Dr. Christopher Yuan, Dr. Dominick Hernández and Mike Chaddick address questions pertaining to current issues in theology at the 2017 Senior Pastors Conference.

Session 5: The Unusual Suspects - Efrem Buckle

Efrem Buckle, co-pastor of Ecclesia in South London, England, speaks at the 2017 Senior Pastors Conference.

Session 2: Finding the Key - Chet Lowe

Chet Lowe, lead pastor of Coast Hills Church in Aliso Viejo, California, speaks at the 2017 Senior Pastors Conference.

Session 1 - Brian Brodersen

Brian Brodersen, the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and featured speaker on the Back to Basics radio program, speaks at the 2017 Senior Pastors Conference.

Sola Fide: Clarifying the Role of Faith in the Gift of Salvation

Most historians mark the start of the Protestant Reformation to the 1517 publication of Martin Luther’s list of 95 complaints against a practice known as selling indulgences. This year (2017) marks the 500th anniversary of that great event....

Where to Find Wisdom

I love the book of Job. I am so glad that God included it in the Bible. Its wisdom and raw gritty honesty about suffering is refreshing. One of my favorite sections, though there are many, has been Job’s cry for wisdom in chapter 28. It is ...

Nothing is Impossible with God

I've been through a lot of pain in my life. If you know my story, you know I've faced death of family, heartache and depression in my short years. Not long ago I was in so much emotional pain I wondered if I would ever be happy again. But m...

TTM S2 E24 - David Guzik on Bible Study, The Enduring Word Bible Commentary and teaching the Scriptures

Enjoy this episode of “Things That Matter” as Pastor David Guzik talks with Pastor Brian Brodersen on Bible exposition, studying the scriptures and Bible commentaries. David is renowned for his work on writing a commentary for each book in ...

How Firm a Foundation: The Life of Adoniram Judson

“God is to me the great Unknown. I believe in Him, but I find Him not.” This is not something you would expect a strong Christian to say, let alone someone serving in ministry! Yet what if I told you that not only was this written by a godl...

Where Strength is Found

“And they said to him, ‘Thus says Hezekiah: “This day is a day of trouble, and rebuke, and blasphemy; for the children have come to birth, but there is no strength to bring them forth’"(2 Kings 19:3).This verse paints a vivid picture as the...

"Sinner" is No Longer Your True Identity

At the beginning of every year, every season of life, or every day, we can say, "We have not been this way before." A new adventure, a new way, things that never happened to us before give us the opportunity every day to experience God’s pr...

TTM S2 E23 - Dr. Gerry Breshears on Theology and Training Men in Ministry

Enjoy this episode of “Things That Matter,” as Dr. Gerry Breshears, of Western Seminary, shares two theological trends that have caught his attention. One has been that of local pastors coming alongside to serve their city in the name of Je...

To Where Are You Called: CCBC Paris Kickoff

Calvary Chapel Bible College has opened a new extension campus in Paris, France. President, Mike Dente, and Director, Stevie Ekkelkamp, share the history, vision, mission and cultural context surrounding CCBC Paris below. If you are interes...

Digital Distractions: What Can We Do?

In my last post, I discussed the damage digital distractions can inflict on our lives if we don’t find a healthy balance. Not only are we susceptible to physical pains and compromised productivity, but we become insensitive and apathetic to...

Calvary Chapel Bible College Israel

Pray and consider a semester at our Calvary Chapel Bible College campus in Israel. There are two programs available to choose from: 1. Jerusalem: Located in the Old City of Jerusalem where you will focus on all four accounts of the life of ...

Four Ways the Bible Encourages Creative Expression

God likes creativity. It’s possible to think He is merely a strict taskmaster in the sky, begrudging us any sort of enjoyment in life. But He is the Creator God, and we are made in His image and likeness. That situation holds plenty of impl...

The Early Church: Trial by Fire

When Jesus ascended into heaven after His resurrection, He told His disciples, “You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The Greek word He used for witnesses is marty...

The Pastors School

CGN operates many Specialized Ministry Training Institutions around the world, which provide leadership development in specific fields of Christian ministry. One of those is the Pastors School, located on the campus of Calvary Chapel Costa ...

Should I Still Trust When Life is Unstable?

I was probably about 11 years old, and we were having a small gathering at our house for some people from our church. A man with a huge glass of iced tea walked over to our rickety piano bench to sit down. As soon as he sat on the unreliabl...

TTM S2 E21 - Efrem Buckle on the Challenges of Urban Ministry in London

On this episode of "Things That Matter," Pastor Efrem Buckle of Ecclēsia in South London presents the challenges of ministry in the complex, urban & cosmopolitan culture of London. Efrem shares his experience & view on not only the complexi...

TTM S2 E20 - Rick Warren on Suffering & the Ministry

Suffering is an inescapable reality. Pastor Brian Brodersen and Pastor Rick Warren discuss the aspects of suffering that often occur in full-time ministry. Pastor Rick shares three areas of suffering that he has continuously dealt with thro...

Sola Scriptura: Biblical Authority and the People of God

The great men of the Reformation – Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, and those associated with them declared their beliefs in a series of “solas” (solae if you’re really into Latin). From Latin, sola means “alone” or “single.” We ...

Unity is Rare: Psalm 133

"Strive together for the sake of the Gospel" (Philippians 1:27). "This is My command; Love each other" (John 15:17). God is love, but he doesn’t love everything. In fact, in Proverbs 6:16-19, King Solomon compiled a list of those things God...

The Sobering Gift of Leadership

Jeff Jackson will be a workshop speaker at the 2017 Pastors & Leaders Conference, happening in 7 DAYS! Visit pastorsconference.calvarychapel.com for more information or to register! As a follower of Jesus, the greatest leader that has e...

TTM S2 E19 - Ryan Ries on the Good News for a Lost Generation

On this episode of Things That Matter, Pastor Brian Brodersen interviews Ryan Ries of the Whosoevers. Ryan briefly shares his powerful testimony but mainly focuses on the example Jesus gave as He reached out to people in very dark places of...

The Early Church: Catering to the Culture?

“We need to adapt the Christian message to the way things are in society today!” How many of us have heard this statement? With issues like abortion, racism, the LGBTQ agenda, along with the sudden emergence of the trans and pangender movem...

The Difference Between the Devil and God

I once watched a debate between Frank Turek and Christopher Hitchens. The topic was, “Which explains the existence of the universe better, theism or atheism?” Frank was loaded with points, facts, and spoke easily and effectively. Christophe...

Don't Quit

Every difficulty we experience in life is either an opportunity or an obstacle. The Chinese symbol for the word “crisis” is actually two separate symbols: one for the word “danger” and the other for the word “opportunity.” Many of us are vi...

TTM S2 E18 - Dr. Dominick Hernández on Ancient Hebrew Scriptures & Modern Day Israel

On this episode of Things That Matter, Pastor Brian Brodersen and Dr. Dominick Hernández discuss the pursuit of higher education and the relevance of Semitic Philology studies to interpreting the Scriptures in today’s post-modern setting. H...

Uncertainty Opens the Door for Faith

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of...

We will Not Die Before Our Time

“About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days...

TTM S2 E17 - Matt Redman on Worship and the Glory of God

On this episode of Things That Matter, Pastor Brian Brodersen interviews worship leader and music artist, Matt Redman, known for many popular worship songs such as “The Heart of Worship,” “Blessed Be Your Name,” and “10,000 Reasons.” In thi...

Evidence for the Resurrection: The Nature of Christ’s Resurrected Physical Body

In this final part of this series, we will discuss the nature and significance of Christ’s resurrected body. Specifically, answering the crucial questions that mark the dividing line between heresy and orthodoxy (cf. I John 4:2; 2 John 7), ...

Where Did the Word "Refugee" Originate?

It is no understatement to say the refugee crisis in the West is troubling. I find myself looking nervously at images of the masses fleeing one situation while they etch out a hope for a better existence. The situation continues to grow and...

Digital Distractions: Five Spiritual & Physical Threats

A recent study says, “Fifty-four percent of kids think their parents check their devices too often...32% say they feel unimportant when their parents get distracted by their phones.”¹ I don’t want the conveniences of technology to overshado...

What Worship Can Accomplish

Pastor Ray Bentley will be speaking at the 2017 CCCM Pastors & Leaders Conference, happening June 26-29! Do we know what worship means and does? Singing in church with fellow believers, raising your hands and feeling emotionally moved ...

The Tenacity of Amy Carmichael

"But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come" (Hebrews...

Where Love is Infinite & Need is Fulfilled

The story of the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5:21-34 has always been one that has stuck out to me in the Bible. It is a stunning encounter with the compassionate heart of Jesus, where we see Him heal a woman who would have been de...

What is Radical Consecration?

Radical Consecration will produce radical and permanent deliverance with lasting transformation that will lead to personal revival. Consider this example from the Bible. Paul, a former serial killer, was surprised, delivered, transformed an...

Evidence for the Resurrection: Was it Real?

In an earlier post, we discussed Christ’s resurrection as an unique event that differs in kind from all other ancient near eastern myths of dying and rising fertility gods. In this section, we address two crucial questions: 1) What about th...

TTM S2 E15 - What Does It Mean to Preach the Whole Counsel of God?

We change things up a bit on this episode of Things That Matter as Pastor Brian Brodersen is interviewed by Kellen Criswell, content manager of CalvaryChapel.com and director of the Calvary Global Network, as they discuss the whole counsel ...

Seven Principles for Cross-Cultural Impact

Pastor Jeff Jackson will be a workshop speaker at the 2017 CCCM Pastors & Leaders Conference on June 26-29. For more information, please visit the website. The book of Daniel contains some of the most incredibly accurate, predictive pro...

Why Stephen Fry is Wrong

The above original image is sourced to Christian Post. In February 2017, an interviewer on Irish television asked Stephen Fry, “You walk up to the Pearly Gates and you are confronted by God. What would Stephen Fry say to Him, Her, or It?” M...

Eight Reasons Why We Need Shepherds

On a recent flight, I watched the rebrand of the movie, The Magnificent Seven. Without throwing out spoilers, the movie is a western about a town being overrun by an unjust, ruthless business tycoon. Desperate for help, a widowed young woma...

TTM S2 E13 - Carl Westerlund on the Life Span of a Church

Pastor Brian Brodersen talks with Carl Westerlund, founder of the Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa School of Ministry, and 30-year Calvary Chapel pastor, about the life cycle of local churches, and the need to plant new churches alongside establis...

TTM S2 E12 - Rick Warren and Reaching the Nations with the Gospel

There are 197 nations in the world, including Taiwan and Serbia, who are not a part of the U.N. Pastor Rick Warren discusses the vision to reach all nations of the world with the gospel message. He discusses the strategy that was created to...

The Early Church: How Christianity Revolutionized Work Ethic

One of the most powerful evidences of a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ is the fruit that is produced in our lives—the practical outworking of the inward reality of what God has done by His Spirit. James 2:18 challenges, “...Show me ...

It's Not About What You Ought to Do

Sometimes I feel trapped by the all the things I think I ought to do. I ought to do more; I ought to sin less. I ought to feel better; I ought to become stronger. But somehow these oughts remain, and I’m still lacking. You see, oughts, no m...

TTM S2 E11 - Rick Warren on the Unexpected Success of The Purpose Driven Life

On this episode of Things That Matter, Pastor Rick Warren continues in this second part of his interview. Pastor Rick shares about his book, The Purpose Driven Life, as he explains the writing process of the book, his reaction to the succes...

Living Grace S2 E10: The Depth of God's Love

Enjoy this episode of Living Grace as host Cheryl Brodersen interviews Cathy Taylor, wife of Pastor Wayne Taylor of Calvary Fellowship. Cathy shares about coming to a point of despair in a trial she has faced, and how tempted she was to dou...

Three Principles to Conquer Giant Problems

The story of David and Goliath is a familiar one to us all. But could it be that in the familiar, we miss the important? Three principles about conquering giant problems in our own lives are taught through the story of this one young man. I...

Despising the Shame

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). As we approach Easter Sunday and celebrate the death of death in the life of the Resurrection of Jesus, we come to thi...

Thoughts on the Atoning Sacrifice of Christ

As we come to Good Friday, I thought it might be good to refresh our minds on what happened on the cross of Calvary 2,000 years ago. Although many died by crucifixion under Roman rule, there was one whose death was unique. The death of Jesu...

TTM S2 E10 - Rick Warren on the Controversies Surrounding His Life and Ministry

On this episode of Things That Matter, Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church addresses the controversies that have surrounded his life and ministry such as “Chrislam,” his involvement with the “New Age,” as well as the misconceptions circ...

How William Carey Expected Great Things From God

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” The words of Jesus in Matthew 28:19 have been the call to missions throughout the history of the Church. It was this ...

Living Grace S2 E09: Trusting God in the Process

On this episode of Living Grace, host Cheryl Brodersen discusses with speaker, pastor's wife & author, Joanna Weaver, on her experiences as a writer, how God called her to write, and how He has used these experiences as a platform in her li...

Immigration Lessons from the Gibeonites

Jeff Jackson will be leading a workshop at the 2017 CCCM Pastors and Leaders Conference, June 26-29. The Bible is full of admonitions for God’s people to be an expression of His love for the poor and oppressed. This includes caring for the...

Consecration, Hope & Prayer

For God, our Father to surprise us with His wonders and unlimited blessings, He requires our unwavering and intentional, radical consecration to Him, with a commitment to obeying Him with a willing and grateful heart. Doing so will then mak...

Why Do Spiritual Droughts Happen?

Back in the 80s, my buddies and I wanted to go on a mountain hike up to the top of Sandia Peak in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The La Luz Trail was the way to go. We embarked early one Saturday morning on a typically hot day. Sandia Peak is 10,...

TTM S2 E9 - Joel Goldberg on the Culture of Israel & Youth Ministry

Pastor Brian Brodersen interviews Joel Goldberg, director of Netivah Youth Ministry, based in Israel, on this episode of Things That Matter. Joel grew up in an unique situation of having a Messianic Jewish background in Israel. He expresses...

Living Grace S2 E7: Can Good Come From A Prison Cell?

We are so excited to have Hannah Overton back for another episode on Living Grace as she shares further of being falsely accused, sentenced to prison and set free. Her story, however, only begins there, as Hannah also shares many stories o...

TTM S2 E8 - Dr. Joe Holden on Seminary, Biblical Authority and Holding Fast to Inerrancy

On this episode of Things That Matter, president of Veritas Evangelical Seminary, Dr. Joe Holden, discusses with host, Pastor Brian Brodersen, on the current discourse toward seminaries today in the U.S. By explaining his personal story fro...

The Early Church: How Christianity Revolutionized the Depravity of Roman Culture

Enjoy part two of this series on the Early Church! Also, read the first part on "How Christianity Revolutionized the Sanctity of Life" One of the most profound descriptions of the Early Church was made by non-Christians who said in Acts 17:...

Three Prayerful Reflections on the London Attack

In light of the recent events that have taken place on English soil, may our spirits be stirred to continue to pray for the hearts and the hope of the people all around us who are grieving and searching, that they might be looking to Jesus....

Three Points on Successful Pastoral Transition

Daniel Fusco will be a main session speaker at the 2017 CCCM Pastors and Leaders Conference, June 26-19, 2017. Pastoral transitions are something many churches are facing today. However a church and its leadership chooses to handle it, pas...

Living Grace S2 E6: Overcoming Abuse & Addiciton

Do you doubt the power of God? Andrea Cullen shares about Remedy, the discipleship program that focuses on supporting and discipling women coming from abusive situations or addictions. Having dealt with abuse and addiction herself, Andrea's...

Worship: Participation in the Trinity

When you think of a worship service, what sort of things come to your mind? Some think of music styles, choirs, lighting, formality, informality, and the list goes on and on. The diversity of approaches to a worship service are so sharp at ...

The Surprising Wonders of God our Good Father

God is eager to surprise us with his wonders when we pray radically to love radically. We need to pray with great anticipation, radical expectation and unwavering confidence in the finished redemptive work of Christ Jesus. Then God will sur...

St. Patrick's Great Faith

While much of the story of Saint Patrick, as he is commonly known, has been fabricated into legend, he was in reality a fascinating historic figure; in fact, he was a missionary to Ireland and one of the first Christian missionaries after t...

Why I Believe in the Rapture of the Church

My belief in the rapture of the church is strengthened by an often overlooked, prophetic passage in the book of Leviticus. It is prophetic because it completely outlines and foreshadows the life, death, resurrection and Second Coming of Jes...

TTM S2 E6 - Jeff Jackson on Missions & Culture in the Twenty-First Century

What does cross-cultural ministry look like in the twenty-first century? Pastor Jeff Jackson, founder of Shepherd Staff Mission Facilitators, shares his passion of how culture matters in both local and international missions. Don’t miss t...

How to know God

Living Grace S2 E5: Out of Brokenness & Into The Mission Field

Celeste Yohai remembers sitting at work as a young adult, feeling depressed and hopeless. She recalls there were Christians that worked alongside her during that time and specifically remembers one Christian that was so kind to her. It was ...

A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON PURIM

Imagine a holiday in which kids dress up, wander around the neighborhood in costumes, make joyous noise, and receive sweets from all over the place. No friends—I am not speaking of Halloween. Rather, I am referring to an actual biblical hol...

TTM S2 E5 - Dr. Christopher Yuan on Sexuality, Transformation & Holiness: Vault

Dr. Christopher Yuan shares his testimony from leading a gay lifestyle to being a born-again believer and professor at Moody Bible Institute. Rather than only focus on the topic of sexuality, Dr. Yuan emphasizes the need for holiness. Dr. Y...

Eight Navigational Truths When We Disagree With Our Government's Decisions

Pastor Jeff Jackson will be a workshop speaker at the 2017 CCCM Pastors & Leaders Conference on June 26-29. For more information, please visit the website. "Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of ...

TTM S2 E4 - Larry Taunton on Christopher Hitchens, Atheism & the Gospel of John: Vault

Cultural commentator, columnist and author of, The Faith of Christopher Hitchens, Larry Taunton, shares with Pastor Brian Brodersen about his friendship with Christopher Hitchens that led to the authoring of the book. Having debated many pr...

Three Signs of "Drive-By" Evangelism

Billy Graham said, “The evangelistic harvest is always urgent. The destiny of men and of nations is always being decided. Every generation is strategic. We are not responsible for the past generation, and we cannot bear the responsibility f...

TTM S2 E3 - The Reality of Heaven and Happiness: Vault

How real is heaven to you? Even as believers, is heaven just a concept that we read or study in the Word rather than a real, ultimate destination? We read about joy and hope God infuses within us towards, not only heaven, but also to carry...

TTM S2 E2 - Brian Brodersen Interviews John Lennox: Vault

Scientist and mathematician professor at Oxford University, Dr. John Lennox, shares his experiences and background as a means to explain the authority of the gospel message, and its profound accuracy that cuts through contemporary atheistic...

Resettling Refugees: A Few Observations and a Few Questions

Pastor Jeff Jackson will be a workshop speaker at the 2017 CCCM Pastors & Leaders Conference on June 26-29. For more information, please visit the website. “For I know that the LORD is great, and our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the...

TTM S2 E1 - Brian Brodersen Interviews Ravi Zacharias: Vault

Pastor Brian Brodersen interviews Ravi Zacharias on the new atheism. Although there is no new data, argument or evidence that makes this new atheism different; rather, it is the growth of popular hostility against absolutes that society has...

Has a new dead sea scrolls cave been discovered?

Dominick Hernández will be a workshop speaker at the 2017 CCCM Pastors & Leaders Conference on June 26-29. For more information, please visit the website. Over the past few days, news broke that there was a new cave found in the vicinit...

There is Good in This Harsh Reality

I like to think I am an enjoyer of good things. A sunset of brilliant colors, a cup of coffee that tastes of good quality, a flower that smells of good sweetness, a book that makes me recognize new (or old) goodness. Good is good. Sometimes...

Life on Mission: Called, Equipped and Sent Part 1

Looking back at Luke 9:1-17, I want to focus on the flow of the ministry of Jesus in the region of Galilee. His public ministry there started when He went to two sets of brothers who were engaged in a profitable fishing business on the Sea ...

Are the Dead Sea Scrolls Alive?

Dominick Hernández will be a workshop speaker at the 2017 CCCM Pastors & Leaders Conference on June 26-29. For more information, please visit the website. Introduction Have you ever heard the story of the Bedouin lad who threw a stone ...

Eschatology of Hope: Time for a New Perspective?

Eschatology: Noun / es-kə-ˈtä-lə-jē: A branch of theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world or of humankind. - Merriam-Webster Dictionary I recognize the look on the faces of some “Millennials” and “Gen-Xers” when ...

What Can I Bring Him: A Gift Fit for a King

Merry Christmas from CalvaryChapel.com! We pray you have an amazing Christmas holiday and a Happy New Year. As we take this time to reflect on the birth of our Lord and Savior this Christmas, remember the impact of the three gifts the Magi ...

Authentic Christianity: Wired for Ekklesia

In Acts 2 we learn some very important things about Authentic Christianity and Authentic Church. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter proclaimed the Gospel (the record of what God has done for us in the sending of His Son). 3,000 men and women be...

How to Absorb That Blow of Criticism

One of the most humiliating things I’ve ever agreed to was allowing people to line up and “pie” me in the face. When I was a student pastor, someone “dreamed-up” the idea to host a fundraiser with our students that would include my wife and...

TTM 22 - Season 1 Review

Pastor Brian and Josh conclude season one by tracing back and highlighting topics covered such as women in ministry, racism, international movements and much more. As season one closes, we are excited to launch season two in the New Year!

TTM 21 - Five Recommended Podcasts

Podcasts can be a great resource for news, information and personal edification, especially for those in ministry. There are so many podcasts available today, it's hard to discover them all. In this episode, Pastor Brian talks to Josh about...

TTM 20 - Defining Calvary Chapel Global Network

Pastor Brian explains what the Calvary Chapel Global Network is and gives details as to how the network will be led, what it will look like being a part of the network and what resources will be provided as well.

TTM Episode 19 - Innovation and Church Planting

Pastor Brian and Josh discuss church planting. While planting a church may be exciting for a pastor, it is often so easy to burn out when church growth performs slowly. Simply put, God is who brings church growth. It is not based on the mod...

TTM Episode 18 - Civility and Using Right Language

Pastor Brian and Josh examine civility in today’s culture and discuss various terms that are often used within the church, analyzing the right use for each term in language.

Living Grace Episode 9 - Beauty in Redemption

In this episode of Living Grace, Cheryl interviews Melinda Turansky and discusses the beauty in redemption, as Melinda recounts her own childhood and raising her own children. No matter your own past, faith in Jesus brings amazing redemptio...

Living Grace Episode 8 - Jesus is Our Anchor in Marriage and Ministry

In this episode, Cheryl interviews Pamela Lynn. Like so many others, so much of Pamela's testimony involves her family and more specifically her marriage. She came from a background of love and compassion but soon found herself as the wife ...

Do You Have a Slave Mentality?

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright” (Leviticus 26:13). A remarkable young woman named Amy, who I met in Sing...

TTM Episode 16 - Tips on Preparing a Sermon

In this episode of Things That Matter, Pastor Brian provides different tips on how to prepare for a sermon, from studying for the sermon to final prep before giving the sermon.

Proclaim Grace, Extend Grace and Fight for Grace

Grace is God our Father’s super inclusive, irrevocable, uncompromising, radical, and unlimited power that will break the hold of sin in Christians. This marvelous gift from God will set us free with unspeakable joy, so we can do God our Fat...

Living Grace Episode 7 - Interview with Laura Jackson

In this episode, Cheryl interviews Laura Jackson as Laura discusses a burden she carried for 10 years and the condemnation that filled her life until she started hearing God speak more clearly and drawing near to Him.

Living Grace Episode 6 - Interview with Hannah and Julia Ostunio

On this episode of Living Grace, Cheryl Brodersen interviews Hannah and Julia Ostunio. Here they share about their own personal stories of God's faithfulness in their lives, how He's used them in different ministries and called them at a yo...

Do You Understand That You Are a Son?

Oh, that we could begin to explore what it means to be in relationship with God. We have several metaphors that together help us gain an understanding of who we are in relation to God. Jesus called us servants, but if that was as far as it ...

TTM Episode 14 - Revisiting Sexual Ethics

In this edition of Things That Matter, Pastor Brian and Josh revisit the topics of sexual ethics and gay marriage, as well as discuss the recent decision InterVarsity made for their staff.

Living Grace Episode 5 - Interview with Angie Emma

In this episode of "Living Grace," Cheryl Brodersen interviews Angie Emma. Here they talk about serving in women’s ministry, serving women and the joys of serving in the ministry. They also discuss how the Lord uses our gifts and leads us t...

TTM Episode 12 - North West Pastors and Leaders Conference Update

In this episode of Things That Matter, Pastor Brian Brodersen gives the highlights of the North West Pastors and Leaders Conference with the Word spoken during the conference and the fruit seen through the growth of the ministry.

Living Grace Episode 3 - Interview with Beverly Voechting

In Episode 3 of Living Grace, Cheryl Brodersen interviews Beverly Voechting. Beverly shares on her marriage before her and husband Gary invited Jesus to be the center of their relationship, and what God has done since.

TTM Episode 11 - Overcoming Anxiety

Apple has recently created an app called “Breathe” to help users manage their stress levels. The creation of this app acknowledges that anxiety is a real issue in our culture for Christians and non-Christians alike. Pastor Brian and Josh di...

TTM Episode 10 - The Need for Church Planting

In this edition of Things That Matter, Pastor Brian and Josh discuss the importance of church planting and the great need that still exists in the world today.

Arise, Go, and Prepare

As Christians we are commanded to arise, go, and prepare our hearts, minds and souls in Christ. This happens as the Spirit in His power fills our emotional and spiritual tanks with His living Word Jesus Christ. We must also prepare by becom...

TTM Episode 8 - Demon Possession and Spiritual Warfare

Demon Possession and Spiritual Warfare are the topics of discussion in this week’s episode of Things That Matter. Pastor Brian and Josh give insight on what spiritual warfare looks like in the life of a Christian and analyze Richard Gallagh...

Bridging the Generational Gap in Our Churches

In a movement that is about 50 years old like ours, it’s one of the pressing issues of our day: How do we keep the younger generation in our churches? I recently watched a controversial video of a couple pastors interviewing a few women who...

TTM Episode 7 - Lay Leader Training and Discipleship

Lay leaders have an integral role in the church body. In this episode of Things That Matter, Pastor Brian and Josh answer the question, “How important is it for a church to train and disciple their lay leaders?”

Turn your Eyes to Mexico: A Horizonte Ensenada Takeover Week

Welcome to the Horizonte Ensenada takeover week on CalvaryChapel.com! We are looking forward to seeing how the Spirit of the Lord is moving in Mexico! The world is a crazy place. There are so many issues surrounding the American church at ...

TTM Episode 6 - Practically Engaging the Transgender Movement

In this episode of Things That Matter, Pastor Brian and Josh discuss the cultural impact of the Transgender movement and how the Church should respond.

TTM Episode 5 - Facing the Risks of International Missions

With the rise of terrorism and other recent world events, Christians face several risks when conducting international missions trips. Pastor Brian and Josh discuss Russia’s new law that outlaws Evangelism outside of the Church, and how Chri...

TTM Episode 4 - The Declining Influence of Christianity in Western Culture

Do Christians have less of an influence culturally? Pastor Brian and Josh discuss the declining influence of Christianity in Western Culture in this episode of Things That Matter.

TTM Episode 3 - Atheism

Atheism is the topic of discussion in this edition of Things That Matter. Pastor Brian and Josh address how Christians should engage Atheists in Western Society and review Larry Alex Taunton’s book, “The Faith of Christopher Hitchens: The R...

TTM Episode 2 - Pastors Conference Recap

In this week’s episode, Pastor Brian and Josh deliver a recap of the 2016 Calvary Chapel Pastors Conference. The Pastors Conference featured a variety of pastors and speakers who spoke on an array of topics including the conference theme of...

Who is the Hero of Your Sermon?

I remember as a young Christian reading through Isaiah and running into the passage where God says, “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights” (Isaiah 42:1). I recall the feeling of despair that welled up in my ...

The Trinity and the Christian Life

"…And truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3). In the last article, I spoke of how the Trinity makes the Christian view of God distinct and unique. The aim of this post is to explore the relations...

Four Promises of God for the Suffering Christian

Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians is such an amazing bit of real estate in the Bible! In it, we discover that Paul, the great apostle, church planter and New Testament author experienced the same kind of deep, personal pain we experie...

Five People You Are Destined to Love

Who do you love? There are so many people that come to mind. Nevertheless, they might not be the ones that God has destined me to love. Have you ever wanted to know, “Lord, who are the people that I am destined to love?” The author of the B...

An Opportunity We Can’t Waste: A Word from Australia Regarding Refugees

Here in Australia, the government began in January of 2016, an initiative to take in 12,000 refugees from the Middle East. This opens up an incredible opportunity for the church in Australia. The refugee crisis seemed to reach its pinnacle ...

Why We Need to Understand the Hebrew Roots of the Christian Faith

Israel is a people, I realized. Not just “the Holy Land.” Not merely a prophetic clock on the wall. Israel is a people whose history is the foundation of our faith and whose future will help determine our own. Israel is a nation of people w...

Why I Am a Single-Issue Voter

By way of introduction, let me say some may find what follows offensive. What I have penned here isn’t meant to be provocative for its own sake. It’s blunt, yes. But the subject matter really can’t be made “nice.” There’s a reality embedded...

Grace Towards Those Who Don’t Seem to Deserve It

Every generation, we think truth is new to us. There is a beauty in that and a danger as well. There is a beauty to discovering grace, finding ourselves surprised by the way God loves us and how utterly undeserving we are. There is a joy to...

How to Respond to Distraction as a Pastoral Leader

This is a message to pastors and those involved in church leadership, but I believe it is relevant to us all! We experienced a new record of “interesting” in a one-week period at church recently. We had two “Satans” and one “Jesus” visit. I...

A Case for Leadership Coaching

Every elite athlete has at least one thing in common – they have been coached to maximize God-given potential. In the context of sports, coaching is presumed and is an accepted and expected part of the culture. On the other hand, meaningful...

I Break Everything - Getting Put Back Together After Falling Apart

"I break everything," I whimpered with tears streaming down my face. I stared down at the floor to see the bright, yellow, broken pieces of my brand new happy face mug. I was about eight years old, and I had received this glass mug as a gif...

7 Reasons Jesus Couldn’t Stay Dead

The Bible tells us that Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead on the Sunday after Passover. The risen Jesus met with and spoke with people for 40 days following that, including up to 500 people at a time (1 Corinthians 15:6). At the 40 day m...

Legalism or Realism: Understanding the Difference

He was observably upset, “You’re being legalistic!” were the last words I ever heard from Zachary, as he slammed my office door hard enough to break the jam. I sat there for a moment listening to the slamming of the front doors of the churc...

Don't Give into the Stronghold of Fear and Uncertainty

If there's one thing I've learned living in a massive city like Paris, it's that distraction is often times an attractive means to hide uncertainty. When we were hit with the terrorist attacks, there was a time of grief and shock, especiall...

7 Reasons Jesus had to Die

We believe there is a plan and a destiny for every life, but that was true of Jesus in a way unlike anyone else. As Jesus taught, made disciples, healed, confronted corruption, and performed miracles, He lived a life like no other. Yet, the...

Preaching the Gospel (to Myself)

Over and over again, I discover how easy it is to say the right things, yet how often I must be reminded to live them. Over and over again, I am reminded how necessary it is that I preach the Gospel to myself. I know that I am a sinner save...

Relax! You're Surrounded - Steps to Peace Amidst Chaos

I love everything about travel, except the travel. Travel is hard, even after finding a worthy reason to leave home. We rush through traffic to make it to airports just in time. We deal with parking lines, check-in lines, baggage lines, sec...

7 Surprising Things You Need to Know About Jesus' Life

Strange and important events fill the pages of history and our individual life. Sometimes, we think about great events and wonder, “Did that have to happen?” Could the crime have been stopped? Could the accident been prevented? Could the go...

6 Reasons Why I Believe Jesus is God

There is much debate about who Jesus is. Some believe he was a good man or a great prophet. Others claim he was an angel or a god among other created gods. Still others say he was a legend, liar, or lunatic. The Bible, however, tells us tha...

Real Hope for the Depressed Soul - Part 3

This is part 3 of a 3 part series. You can find part 1 and part 2 here: Part 1 Part 2 Practicing Priesthood In the previous posts in this series, we looked at the need to set the culture in regards to depression, as well as provide training...

Should a Pastor Ever Say No When You Ask for Help?

Ask yourself this question, do the words I use matter? The answer should be a resounding, “Yes!” rhetoric is the art of discourse; an art that aims to improve the capability of writers or speakers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivat...

Excellence vs. Professionalism

I appreciate excellence. I remember the first time I listened to an orchestra playing a piece from Mozart; even at a young age, I had such gratitude for all the nuances and notes that were brought together in perfect unity. Then I heard our...

The Holy Spirit & Intentionality in Discipleship

I’m not a huge pastry fan, but I do enjoy a fresh, hot slice of apple pie with a generous scoop of rich vanilla ice cream. The rich, creamy ice cream, luxuriously melting over the warm, flaky, buttery crust, is pretty much irresistible. Pie...

Training a Church to Love the Depressed - Part 2

This is Part 2 of a 3 part series. You can find Part 1 here: calvarychapel.com Providing Training In our last post in this series, we looked at promoting culture. This is almost like saying, “Imagine what could be,” and then making steps in...

Real Christians Can't Watch the Oscars...or Can They?

It’s that time of year again! On February 28, 2016, the rich and the famous will descend in mass upon the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California for the 88th Academy Awards. Guests have shelled out serious cash for multi-thousand-dollar out...

How Christians Can Bring Positive Change to America

Regardless of our philosophical viewpoints, I think almost everyone would agree. We live in very interesting times. We are in the midst of one of the most highly contested presidential elections we have ever seen. While some are passionatel...

Asking the Right Questions

I love the way Jesus used questions: But who do you say that I am? (Luke 9:20)Do you believe this? (John 11:26)Do you not yet understand? (Mark 8:21) When I was young, I'm certain I asked many questions. Children simply do. We are innately ...

5 Practical Ways to Battle Sin

Christians are free from sin’s rule, but not from its attempts to regain control. The battle that exists inside all of us, between sin and the new nature, will continue until we get to Heaven. This fact, however, is not a bleak one. The Bib...

5 Preaching Tips from the Apostle Paul

Preaching is the act of proclaiming God’s word to people. In evangelism, it announces God’s good news about Jesus and His salvation. In edification, it nourishes, encourages, and equips. Preaching is the Church’s responsibility and privileg...

Faith and Politics: A Historical Christian Perspective Part 2

This article is part 2 of a 3 part series written by Michael Chaddick. You can find part 1 here: calvarychapel.com In our previous article, we explored the fact that for the first 300 years or so of Christian history, the Church had no offi...

Close Encounters of the Disastrous Kind

“The godly may fall seven times, but they will get up again.” -Proverbs 24:16 “If God is for us who can be against us?” -Romans 8:31 It happens to us all. Near misses, close calls, averted disasters, followed by that sobering realization th...

Faith & Politics: A Historical Christian Perspective - Part 1

Introduction This article is based on the positive response that has come out of our men’s group, month-long “faith and politics” series at our church. Now normally, we don’t talk politics. But one particular night, as the early birds were ...

The Church & Victims of Depression

The phone rang at 2am again. I knew who it was before answering. In recent weeks, Anita (not her real name) often called in the middle of the night. She claimed to feel the fires of hell all over her body with no desire to live. My wife or ...

Be Supremely in Love with Jesus

Have you ever been in love? Have you experienced compelling, intense, strong feelings or emotions for someone? Have you yearned to spend time with someone because it felt so good to be in his/her presence? Have you ever dreamt about spendin...

Vital Principles for Healthy Relationships

"You shall go... and take a wife for my son Isaac.” Genesis 24:4 Relationships are a key part of life. Healthy relationships lead to a good life and unhealthy relationships will make life very difficult. The most important earthly relations...

Is God Needy? Why God Insists that We Love & Trust Him

I listen to podcasts. It’s a great way to maximize my time while doing other things like driving, working-out, and cleaning around the house. While on a run recently, I was listening to the TED Talks podcast titled Believers and Doubters. I...

Why Christians Should Enjoy Life

I'm running to catch my train. It's like a sauna in here - Humid, feverish temperatures attract Subway Mosquitoes, and the smells of Doir perfume mixed with the unique smell of the homeless, permeate the air. It's been a long day, but I've ...

Preaching for a Price: The High Cost of Tainted Motives

My first job was at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. I filed invoices, filled paper in copy machines, and learned the ins and outs of data entry at Calvary Distribution. When you grow up working in the ministry, there’s an interesting process of ...

When Our Hearts Break

Years ago, I heard a pastor named Dave Rolph speak at a memorial service. He spoke about life and death, and he said something like this: “The reason we hate death so much is that God created a world where death didn’t exist. Our hearts reb...

A Calvary Chapel Perspective on Preaching

From the very beginning of Christianity the disciples of Jesus gathered for worship, prayer, community, evangelism, and the reading and teaching of God’s Word. It could be said that all Christians through all ages practice these things, but...

CFUK15 :: Sarah Yardley

Sarah Yardley, ministering in England, speaks at Creation Fest 2015. Creation Fest is a Christian Music Festival and Bible Week held at The Royal Cornwall Events Centre (Royal Cornwall Showground), in Wadebridge. [embed width="600" height="...

The Lines of True Christian Unity

Unity is a concept often discussed but rarely accomplished. Recently, I've seen it modeled well. Earlier this month, I sat in a gathering with the leaders of Christian festivals from around the UK. They represent events with between 3,000 a...

CF15UK :: Jim Gallagher

Pastor Jim Gallagher of Calvary Chapel of Vero Beach speaks at Creation Fest 2015. Creation Fest is a Christian Music Festival and Bible Week held at The Royal Cornwall Events Centre (Royal Cornwall Showground), in Wadebridge. [embed width=...

Hope for the Tainted Heart

The seed of every sin known to man is in my heart. Robert Murray McCheyne The Holy Spirit never enters a man, then lets him live like the world. A.W. Tozer Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me, and know my anxious thoughts. Point ou...

How I Develop Church Leaders

“I’m going to use all my tools, my God-given ability, and make the best life I can with it.” - LeBron James A tool to change the world for Jesus: I have a neighbor who’s a tool guy. He has a pegboard on the wall of his garage with an outlin...

What the Bible Says About Procrastination

When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you. Deuteronomy 23:21When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no ple...

Mecca Moslems vs. Medina Moslems

Many find it confusing that in some places the Quran encourages peace, and in others it says to “kill the infidels.” The Quran was not written in chronological order. It takes some sorting out, but when a particular surah was written is imp...

The Privilege of Being Home with God

In My Father’s house are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2 You Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.Ephesians 2:19 Because...

The 3 Basic Tasks of Pastoral Ministry

“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28).Many businesses have a job description for their ...

How to Triple Your Church Leadership in a Year

How would you like to see your church’s leadership triple in a year? Can you imagine the leverage that could be created to advance the kingdom if the local church multiplied leaders? Not only is this a glorious future, but it is also Christ...

Life & Leadership Lessons with Sarah Yardley

Name: Sarah YardleyFamily: I am the oldest of 7, and adore my siblings. My parents came to know Christ before I was born and raised me in faith.Years Born-again: 32 years Years in Ministry: 16 years Ministry Experience: Servant, women's min...

Pink Notes - How the Simplest Gestures Change Lives

She was tall and thin, had delicate, freckly skin, and curly, strawberry-blonde hair that was perfectly poofy. Her hair and her sense of style were a perfect fit for back then, the year was 1988. You could always spot her red Toyota RX7 par...

Do No Harm - When People Reject Christ because of His People's Actions

Most of the medical community, and those of us who are trained in even the basics, know that the Hippocratic Oath begins with the phrase, "First, do no harm." It's the stepping stone of medicine, both ancient and modern. Our opening line is...

Life & Leadership Lessons with Joey Rozek

Name: Joey Rozek Family: Tiffany, Madelyn (14), Josiah (12), and Jordan (8) Years born again: 29 years Years in ministry: Over 17 years Ministry experience: Youth Pastor/Apologetics Bible Teacher, Evangelism, CC Costa Mesa (3.5 years), Yo...

The Age of the Refugee: How Displaced Millions & the Hope of God are Changing the World

It’s incredible that in a day the Lord can completely change your life. For me it happened this summer, June 22, 2015. I went to visit a pastor, a friend of mine, to do ministry alongside him for the day. He asked if I wanted to go meet the...

Why Reaching the Lost Should Cost Us Everything

He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8...

Ashley Madison and our Imagination

There was a data breach on the Ashley Madison (Life is short. Have an affair.) website. User information was exposed. Some of those users were church pastors and leaders. Are you one of those individuals? Do you know someone that had a user...

Three Keys to Effectively Launching Your Church Plant

Planting a church is a big deal. Jesus ordained the Spirit-empowered Church to be His vehicle through whom to reveal Himself to the world. The Church with a big C is the universal gathering of believers of all generations, cultures and styl...

Pastor, Are You Really Speaking the Language of Your Community

Words are powerful. They give meaning and value and relay a variety of information and ideas to the listener. Words are the building blocks of language and carry the potential to enhance or dampen human relationships. Without the use of wor...

6 Gifts Every Kid Needs from Their Dad

I’m a dad. I’m also a son. And it occurred to me recently that there are certain things that kids need from their dad. In fact, as I pondered the whole idea of fatherhood, I recall several examples in the Bible of “dad gifts” that were pass...

5 Tips for Discipling Your Children

Passing the faith on to our kids is the most important job we have as parents. But how do you do that when kids seem to be at different levels of development and vary in spiritual sensitivity? Faith development isn’t like baking cookies whe...

Four Steps for Dealing with the Messiness of Life

The Christian message is not that life isn’t messy. Honestly, it’s the opposite. The Christian message doesn’t claim that life is neat or tidy or straightforward. The Christian message says that life is— and always will be—exceedingly, frus...

How To Wreck a Sermon: 5 Simple Steps

This is Part Two in a series on "Gospel Centered Preaching". If you missed Part One click here. There are many preaching approaches common in our day which do not maintain Christ as the central emphasis of the message. We as Bible teachers...

Four Ingredients for a Gospel Glued Family

Amanda is a single mom with three great kids and wanted her family to be close. In fact, Amanda looked for ways to experience that closeness regularly. They ate meals together, laughed and had fun, and she took a strong stand against any bi...

What is Gospel Centered Preaching Part 1

“Gospel-centered” seems to be a catchphrase these days. Some may say it without really knowing what the term represents. Being gospel-centered is important to our theology, our preaching and our living, but it’s important to know why. Gospe...

God and Social Justice

For many Christians, the term “social justice” (or “social gospel”) is a dirty word. A simple study of contemporary Protestant history in America reveals why. In the early part of the 20th Century, many Protestant churches found shame in “p...

Evidence for the Resurrection: Is Easter Just More of the Same?

It has been said that “the resurrection of Christ is the capstone in the arch of Christianity, if it is removed Christianity crumbles.” Indeed, Paul warned of the negative implications if Christ did not rise from the dead, namely, we are st...

Why International Missions are Vital to the Church Today

Modern churches may question the necessity of international missions outreach. After all, isn’t it enough that we reach our local community for Christ? Is it important for every local church to reach beyond its neighborhood to bring the mes...

The Essentials of Gospel Proclamation

As aspiring proclaimers of the Gospel we need some essential equipment. First, we must have a true conception of God and how He perceives people. Wonderfully, this is available to all, as Jesus said: “If you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Fath...

Do Christians Need To Rethink How They Support Israel?

A few years ago I was engaged in a spirited discussion with a seasoned Israeli pastor. The topic was Western Christian Zionism in relationship to Gospel proclamation in Israel. This pastor acrimoniously summarized what he perceived to be We...

How to Engage Your Kids Spiritually in 2015

Some children start pulling away from spiritual pursuits as they get older. They might not want to pray at dinner, seem to endure church, and are more interested in electronics and friends than spiritual things. Those tendencies are early i...

Church Governance - 3 Essential Points

In a perfect world we would not need to govern people in the earthly sense, because everyone would behave just as they should. Obviously, the same would be true in the church. However, the church is full of sinners, redeemed sinners, but si...

The Key to Keeping Your Focus on Christ at Christmas

I don’t know about you, but it takes a concerted effort on my part every December to keep my focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Certainly there are very few reminders in the public displays that feature the Originator of Christmas. Ove...

Spiritual Warfare

Yes, I believe that there is a devil out there who prowls around like a roaring lion looking for anyone to eat up. At the same time, I don’t want to devote any time to thinking about him. There are some people who give the devil way too muc...

Co-laborers or Competition? Calvary Chapel & Other Church Planting Movements

Like it or not, when something you’ve done for a long time becomes the mainstream, you are not viewed as the trendsetter, but just another “band-wagoner”. You may well have been born and raised a Seattle Seahawks fan, but if you wore the h...

Why Christians Should be Related to the World

The term “relevant” is one of those hot button words in modern church culture. When most people talk about being relevant they are generally thinking in terms of how we must never be found irrelevant in our efforts to communicate the Gospel...

The Gospel - How You Say it, Matters

I could never have imagined being as blessed as I am. I live in a great community. I serve an awesome church. I’m married to a beautiful wife, and we have four incredible kids. It truly is a wonderful life. One of my favorite times of the d...

Washing Feet and Loving Others

"Owe no one anything except to love one another." Paul gives us this pithy commandment in Romans 13. But if we’re honest, we might be tempted to ask, “Why do I owe anyone love in the first place?” Sure, we can understand that we owe Jesus o...

How to Use Parenting Seminars 
as an Outreach to the Community

One of the greatest ways to reach out into your community is to meet the real needs of parents and then to share with them the love of Jesus Christ. Some of that pressure comes from the outside with education, economic, and social expectati...

As You Walk and Are Sad

Cleopas and another disciple were deep in conversation as they walked the Roman road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Their steps were slow and labored. Their conversation was so intense that they hardly noticed the stranger who drew near to them ...

Stop Quoting Bad Divorce Stats

We’ve all heard that 50% of marriages fail today and that the statistics for Christians are the same as that of the rest of the population. Those statistics are wrong and they have a discouraging effect on people considering marriage. Young...

Why Pastors Hate Technology

The CalvaryChapel.com team has received many requests for website “makeovers,” thus sparking several conversations as to the overall purpose of this project and the use of technology in relating God’s Word to today’s culture. The followi...

Why your website is hurting your church

Let’s consider the facts: 1. Seventeen million American adults who don’t regularly attend worship services visited the website of a local church or place of worship in the past twelve months.* 2. Fifty-seven percent of users won’t recom...

God's Will: Hitting the Bulls-eye

J. Robert Ashcroft, former president of Evangel College and father of U.S. Senator John Ashcroft wrote, “All heaven is waiting to help those who will discover the will of God and do it.” “What is God’s will for my life?” is one question tha...

4 Ideas for Family Ministry in Your Church

Being the church implies discipleship. It’s important to disciple believers as individuals but also in their roles and relationships in family life. With the pressures on the family today, the church has solutions that can equip family memb...

Quickly building websites for Churches

Free? Yes, building a free website for your church is quite simple. So, dismiss the argument that you are a luddite and brush the dust of the computer because we are going to build a website. Don’t be shy or nervous about this endeavor. ...

How the Gospel Heals Shame

Shame is an experience common to every person on the planet. Charles Darwin, in classic materialist fashion, defined shame primarily in terms of its physical expression: casting the eyes downward, lowering the head, blushing and a slack pos...

Four Principles for Christian Unity

Sometimes it seems like Christians have a particular knack for looking down on and judging one another. Often this has to do with differences in personal convictions over grey areas. These are areas where Scripture does not give an unequivo...

Knowing God

"What were we made for? What aim should we set ourselves in life? What is the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight, and contentment than anything else? The answer to all these questions is the same: Knowing God!" (from Knowing God...

The Bible Says It's Sin

I watched a Christian being interviewed by a talk show host who is notorious for his antagonism toward those who believe in a biblical morality, especially in regard to homosexuality. At one point in the interview, the host very bluntly ask...

Lies About Us

Pick up just about any good book about the history of Christianity, and go to the section on persecution in the first few centuries of the Christian movement. Scan the paragraphs until you come to the part where they describe the reasons wh...

Finite sins and eternal punishment

"Do you think finite sins deserve eternal punishment? How can that be fair?" It's a common question we may hear when we're seeking to understand or discuss the nature of God's wrath as it's described in the Bible. And on the surface, it pre...

Soteriology in the Middle Part 2

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 Last time in this series, we looked at the topic of Regeneration (becoming born-again). In ...

Weak Men Weak Excuses

Years ago I ran into a man at a retreat that I hadn't seen for quite a while...As we sat down across from each other I asked him what he was doing nowadays and what ministries he was engaged in (he had been actively serving in his church wh...

Men's Ministry Basics

In this post I will answer the most common questions I am asked about men’s ministry. 1. Why is men’s ministry so important? Ready yourself for some sobering statistics. The typical U.S. congregation draws an adult crowd that’s 61% female, ...

Worship Leader Must Do's

There are those who lead songs at church, and those who lead worship. There is a huge difference. Leading worship songs is something that somebody does. Being a worship leader is something that someone is. Familiarity With Worship MusicWors...

Criticism and the Worship Leader

Criticism can be hard to swallow. Regarding criticism, it has been said, “Your friends have everything to lose, and your enemies have nothing to lose”. In other words, listening to criticism can be a helpful thing, if the criticism is true ...

Jesus Never Fails

One day Paul and his ministry buddy, Silas, got thrown into a filthy prison for freeing a slave girl from demon possession. The local magistrates ordered them beaten and placed in stocks in the inner dungeon, a place full of rats, disease, ...

How To Love Difficult People

God wants you to love your friends, but He also expects you to love the difficult people in your life. And we all have them! The apostle Paul certainly did. While he could count on the Philippians to support and encourage him, he anticipat...

Generational Sin?

Have you ever heard a sermon on the devastation caused by “genera­tional sin”? Preachers base their frightening comments on texts like Exodus 20:5: “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the child...