Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Summit Life with J.D. Greear

Theology isn’t just about learning a lot of impressive terminology. Good, biblical theology is practical, and changes the way we interact with the world. In our new study of Titus called, Everyday Theology, we’re discovering how to develop a theology for everyday life.

When you’re young, making friends is usually pretty easy. But as you get older, friendships become trickier. They require effort and vulnerability. Many people decide it’s not worth the effort and are satisfied with surface level friendships. But on this edition of Summit Life, Pastor J.D. describes why deep, intimate friendships are so essential for both our happiness and our holiness.

There are few things in life as awkward as dating. And many single Christians feel like they can’t turn to scripture for help because the courtship process looked so different in ancient times. In fact, the word “dating” never even appears in the Bible! But even through the cultural differences, God’s word gives us everything we need for life and godliness in relationships.

As most young couples plan their wedding day, they excitedly anticipate living “happily ever after” like all the fairy tales promise. But as the years tick by, they often discover that the butterflies fade, and the person they married isn’t the saint they imagined. Today, we’re tackling the painful topic of divorce—an issue that’s touched the life of nearly every American in some way or another. In this message, Pastor J.D. answers the pressing question, When Is It Okay to Divorce and Remarry?

Some churches have embraced a tolerant view of homosexual relationships, while other churches have openly protested, even alienated, the gay and lesbian community. Are either of these responses biblical? In this message, J.D. will set current trends aside to see what God’s word truly says about homosexual relationships.

In many churches, single people are sometimes made to feel like outsiders. Everyone appears to be paired off, and a lot of energy goes into cultivating healthy families. As a result, and tragically, some singles admit to feeling like second class Christians. In this message, J.D. explains that God’s view is far different. In fact, the Bible often reinforces the benefits to singleness. And whether you’re married or not, every Christian should be focused on the marriage to come.

Many people get uneasy when the preacher starts talking about personal issues. Especially when the subject is sex. But the fact is, sex is one of the few topics that’s addressed in nearly every book of the Bible. God has a lot to say about this topic, and in this series called From the Beginning, Pastor J.D. will explore the Scriptures for clarity and direction on sexual expression and cultivating healthy relationships.

Everyone wants to feel that their life has a bigger purpose. We try to find meaning in our careers, our families, charity work, or special talents. But at the end of the day, none of that is going to last into eternity. So where is the true meaning found? Pastor J.D. explains how to start living out your ultimate purpose as he continues our series, Question Everything.

It seems like we’re constantly hearing news of hurricanes, wildfires, and mass shootings. And on a more personal level, we face chronic pain, broken marriages, unfulfilled dreams, and many other deeply painful struggles. Will it ever get better?  Pastor J.D. deals with that question as he continues our study in Psalms called, Question Everything.

Most of us would say that we’re a pretty good person. We have faults, but our hearts are in the right place. But if our hearts are truly in the right place, then why do we keep doing wrong things? Why do we still hurt people, act selfishly, or lash out in anger? Why don’t our actions fit our ideals? Pastor J.D. answers that question as he continues our study in Psalms called, Question Everything.

In a new study in the book of Psalms called Question Everything, we’re discovering how an ancient book of music lyrics can help us answer some of the most pressing questions on our hearts, like, “Why am I not happy?” and “Does my life have a purpose?”

Everyone wants to have a calling in life, a task they are specifically designed to accomplish to make the world a better place. And Pastor J.D. explains that if you’re a follower of Christ, you do have a calling! It’s part of our series called START.

What is prayer at its most basic level? Is it a wish list that we send up to the genie in the sky, a way to unleash the power of positive thinking, or a ritual we have to go through to gain God’s favor? Or is it just a waste of time, telling God things he already knows? Fortunately, prayer isn’t any of those things! Pastor J.D. takes a fresh look at the basics of our faith as he continues our series called, START.

For most Christians, reading the Bible is like getting a shot. We know it’s good for us, but it’s not something we look forward to. But is that really how God wants us to approach his Word? That’s our subject as Pastor J.D. continues our series called, START.

In our new series called START, we’re looking at the foundational elements of our faith. Whether you’re a new believer trying to figure out this whole Christianity thing, or if you’ve been following Christ for years but want to get back to the basics, this study is for you! 

In the conclusion of our series titled, First: The Preeminence of Jesus in Colossians Pastor J.D. encourages us to pray, act wisely, and stay alert as he follows Paul’s conclusion of the book of Colossians.

Sometimes, we view our faith as a checkbox on a list. We go to church on the weekends, check that box, and move on. But in this message, Pastor J.D. reminds us that Jesus isn’t one part of our life, he’s first in everything.

Pastor J.D. cautions us about treating Jesus like an a la carte menu. We’ll see that we can’t take Jesus and “a little bit of this” and “a little bit of that” as we continue our series called, First: The Preeminence of Christ in Colossians.

Have you ever considered that everyday you are experiencing the fruits of the audacious faith of others who came before you? You are the fruit of someone’s bold faith! Now, are you following in the footsteps of those that put their faith first or are you giving Jesus sloppy leftovers?

In the book of Colossians, Paul makes it clear that Jesus is not just a character in God’s story; he’s the author of the story. He’s before all things. He’s above all things. He’s first in all things. In light of who Jesus is, Pastor J.D. asks one simple but revolutionary question: Is Jesus just important to you, or is he truly first in your life?

You’ll likely notice a common message in the ads and marketing that surround us: the accumulation of more things equals happiness. But with a “never enough” mindset, it’s impossible to be what God desires us to be: cheerful givers. In this message from 2 Corinthians 8–9, Pastor J.D. helps us to see a kind of giving that is motivated not by guilt, but as a response to the grace that we have received. When we have this as our focus, we can move from asking, “What must I give?” to “What do I get to give?”

We’re likely familiar with the call from Jesus to seek the kingdom of God above all other things, but our financial decisions are one indicator of what we are truly seeking. In this message from Haggai 1–2, Pastor J.D. encourages us to consider how our giving reflects the priority we have placed on God in our hearts and lives. Just as the Israelites fell to the temptation to place their own comforts and priorities ahead of their worship of God, we are still susceptible to this today. By reorienting our hearts, we can ensure that the stewardship of our finances is in alignment with God’s kingdom.

A legacy is inherently something that reaches far beyond us, making an impact long after we’re gone. So how do we approach the stewardship of our money in a way that leaves a lasting legacy? In this message from Luke 16, Pastor J.D. takes us through one of Jesus’ parables to show us how leveraging our resources for eternity truly is the wisest course of action. If we believe that everything ultimately belongs to God, this will radically change the way in which we handle our finances.

In this final message from our series through 1 Corinthians, Pastor J.D. walks through Paul’s final, rapid-fire exhortations. Often what we learn from others is more caught than taught, and the final chapter in this book exemplifies that truth. As Paul bounces from topic to topic—principles on giving, the need for courage, dealing with opposition, discerning God’s will—we see a snapshot of a faithful Christian life. And in seeing it, we are encouraged to “go and do likewise.”

In this Easter message, Pastor J.D. explains that whether or not the resurrection is true, we should all want it to be true. In 1 Corinthians 15, we see that this incredible news is, in fact, true. Jesus has entered into our greatest fear—death—and has defeated and overturned it forever. And because he lives, everything has changed.

In this message from 1 Corinthians 15, Pastor J.D. takes a look at how Paul responds to some of the Corinthians who are saying there’s no resurrection of the dead. In his answer, Paul shows them that belief in our bodily resurrection is as core a Christian concept as you can get. It’s not a secondary or peripheral belief; it’s at the core of Christian hope.

In this message from 1 Corinthians, Pastor J.D. walks through what some might call “the rowdy chapter” of Paul’s letter, the one about spiritual gifts of tongues and prophecy. As a church, we should be open to and desirous of these spectacular gifts, being careful to avoid fleshly limitation and pursuing them in the way the Bible instructs us to.

In this message from 1 Corinthians, Pastor J.D. talks about a topic as popular as it is misunderstood—love. Our society seems smitten with notions of love, but at the same time, we don’t seem to live in a fairy-tale land of love and grace. What does real love look like? And once we understand it, how can we, tangibly, become more loving? A dive into 1 Corinthians 13 shows us the most profound, powerful, and counter-cultural description of love ever written.

In this message from 1 Corinthians, Pastor J.D. takes a look at the topic of spiritual gifts. According to the Apostle Paul, God didn’t establish his church as a collection of individuals, but as an interconnected body. I need you; you need me. Where do we see that interconnectedness most? In our spiritual gifts. None of us—and none of our brothers or sisters—can truly flourish until we know and exercise our gifts. In God’s community, everybody has a special role to play. Every. Body. Including you.

In this message from 1 Corinthians 11, Pastor J.D. picks up the most fundamental element of Christian worship—the bread and the cup of communion. When we share this meal together, we aren’t merely remembering Jesus’ last meal. We are entering into his presence. Come to this table. There is no place for religious pride here. No place for classism. No place for racial division. But there is a place for you.

In this message from our “Cutting Through the Noise” series, Pastor J.D. walks through one of the most confusing and misinterpreted passages in the entire New Testament. Along the way, we’ll learn just how relevant first-century head coverings are for the hot button questions about gender (and gender identity) in the twenty-first. And we’ll see that in Christ’s service, every brother and sister finds unimaginable grace, inestimable value, and eternal purpose.

In this message from our “Cutting Through the Noise” series, Pastor J.D. echoes the warnings of Paul in 1 Corinthians 10, showing us the dangers of (and the deliverance from) idolatry. Much of what we seek in life—success, romance, family—is good. But when we make these good things into essential things, we find ourselves eaten up with anxiety, strife, suffering, and sin. Only one identity is strong enough to be our foundation—servant of God.

In this message from our “Cutting Through the Noise” series, Pastor J.D. picks up the analogy Paul uses in chapter 9—of an athlete in training—and asks us, “How can we run like disciplined athletes in pursuit of the race God has set before us?” Athletes are ruthless, eliminating everything that stands in the way of winning. And we should be the same. Whether we’re looking at our personal preferences, our worship services, our political decisions, even our ethnic identity … we lay it all on the line for the sake of the gospel—that we might save some.

In this message from 1 Corinthians 7, Pastor J.D. addresses an issue that is as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago—divorce. Broken marriages affect so many of us in the church, and we often fail to apply gospel hope to this painful experience. But the Apostle Paul offers real-world wisdom and gospel hope to those who are divorced, those who have considered divorce, those who have been hurt by divorce. Essentially, to all of us.

In this message from 1 Corinthians 7, Pastor J.D. walks us through Paul’s teaching on sex, singleness, and spiritual gifts. When it comes to marriage and singleness, it’s easy for us to get disoriented. Outside the church, marriage seems less and less important. But inside the church, it can sometimes be elevated to the status of idol! So how do we understand God’s design for both marriage and singleness? Simple: We follow the example of the Apostle Paul.

As we continue through the book of 1 Corinthians in our series, “Cutting Through the Noise,” Pastor J.D. explores a topic that is as contentious to us today as it was to the people in Corinth—sex. Our society has a lot of competing ideas about what sex is for and what makes sex good. God has ideas, too. And since sex was his idea, it’s well worth listening to the wisdom he has to share.

In this message from 1 Corinthians 5, Pastor J.D. teaches about the messy but necessary process of church discipline. We may find it harsh to hear what the Apostle Paul says about those who persist in sin. But if we truly care about our people, if we truly care about the vulnerable, if we truly care about our neighbors, if we truly care about Jesus’ reputation … we will be faithful to confront our brothers and sisters in love.

Whether you’re a pastor or a plumber, a stay-at-home mom or a shift leader, at some point in your life you will lead others. The question isn’t if you’re a leader, but rather how you’ll lead. Join Pastor J.D. as he unpacks what biblical leadership looks like as we continue our series in 1 Corinthians, Cutting Through the Noise.

In this message, Pastor J.D. kicks off our series in the book of 1 Corinthians, showing how the gospel cuts through the noise and chaos of our lives. First up—the issue of divisions in the church. We may assume that church factions are a new phenomenon. But one glance at the church in Corinth reveals that dysfunction, division, and doctrinal chaos are as old as the church itself. And yet, in the midst of all this conflict, all this division, all this noise, the gospel provides a voice of clarity and a place of calm.

The final chapters of the book of Revelation present the end of the world as we know it—but there’s also a glorious beginning. In this message from Revelation 21–22, Pastor J.D. walks us through the vision of a new heaven and a new earth described by the Apostle John. The fact that God will once again dwell with his people should cause all of us to rejoice. But the fact that those who reject God will not experience this reunion with him should motivate us to share the gospel with urgency, inviting people to put their faith in the God who delights in making all things new.

What do you most look forward to? Maybe it’s a vacation that you’ve been anticipating for a long time, or a new job that you can’t wait to start. Maybe it’s catching up with an old friend that you haven’t seen in years. For those who follow Jesus, what we look forward to with great anticipation is what Revelation calls “the marriage supper of the Lamb.” In this message from Revelation 19–20, Pastor J.D. unpacks the implications of this great wedding feast as well as the 1,000-year earthly reign of Christ, encouraging us to live with the realization that life is short and eternity is forever.

We’re all familiar with the experience of being tourists, but exiles? No way. And yet, we are told in multiple places in the Bible to think of ourselves as exiles here on earth, because this is not our true home. In this message from Revelation 14–18, Pastor J.D. shows us the value of living as exiles in a place that frequently seems alluring but will ultimately pass away. What we are meant to do is fix our eyes on the heavenly city, the one with true, lasting foundations. That, after all, is our eternal home.

If you’ve ever watched a movie with a big reveal the SECOND time, it’s a much different experience. The suspense is gone, and you can be calm, cool, and collected. Why? Because you knew the end before the story even got there. The coming of the Antichrist is a lot like that, as God tells us ahead of time what to expect from the end of history. And because we know the end, we can live today with patience, peace…and even joy.

Judgments. Fire and hail. A beast from a bottomless pit. Taken on their own, quite frankly, these things seem like the stuff of nightmares. In the midst of such frightening images, we might ask, where is hope to be found? In this message from Revelation 8–11, Pastor J.D. encourages us to find hope by keeping our gaze on this glorious picture: Jesus reigns victorious, his mission will ultimately be accomplished, and his Word will triumph.

If you’re like most people, once you make it to Revelation 6, you decide your devotional time would probably be better spent elsewhere. After all, what are those seven seals about, anyway? And the “great tribulation”? Forget it. But as we’ll see in this message from Pastor J.D., Revelation 6–7 is essential to understanding the very culmination of biblical history, when people from all tribes, nations, and tongues will worship God together. It’s a beautiful vision, and it’s one that gives us confidence that the sacrifices we make for Jesus are well worth it.

We were created to worship. Even those who claim no interest in religion will inevitably worship something, whether it’s fame, wealth, family, or another thing entirely. In this message from Revelation 4–5, Pastor J.D. gives us a glimpse of heavenly worship that is motivated by the sovereignty of God and the salvation found in Jesus. This Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb, is the one our hearts yearn for and the only one who can give us life to the full.

“Lukewarm” isn’t really a desirable trait in, well, just about anything. After all, is there anyone who actually looks forward to a lukewarm cup of coffee in the morning? But when Jesus uses this word, what he has in mind is something far worse. In this message from Revelation 3, Pastor J.D. takes us through John’s last three letters to the churches. Though Jesus doesn’t have anything negative to say to the church at Philadelphia, he has plenty to say to the congregation of Laodicea, and it begins with his visceral reaction to their halfhearted Christianity. We, of course, have to be careful not to fall into the same trap: claiming the name of Jesus with our lips but living lives that are in no way distinct from the world.

We may think that making a small compromise here and there doesn’t matter. But the truth is that there is inherent danger in compromising our beliefs or morals, danger that can sometimes lead to disaster. In this message from Revelation 2, Pastor J.D. takes us through John’s letters to the churches at Ephesus and Smyrna, showing us where Jesus both commends and challenges these congregations. Jesus’ warning should serve as a sobering reminder to us today: It’s possible to be faithful to the doctrines and practices of Jesus while having hearts that are cold and far from him.

Ask your friends which book of the Bible they most enjoy reading for personal quiet time, and it’s highly unlikely that anyone will choose Revelation. But the book that we often avoid is the same one that we desperately need to help us live the Christian life in tumultuous times. In this message from Revelation 1, Pastor J.D. highlights how in the midst of tribulation, this book presents us with a compelling vision of Jesus: the one who is sovereign, just, and worthy of our worship.

You’ve probably heard about the spiritual armor Paul describes in Ephesians. But have you ever really thought you needed it? In this message, Pastor J.D. walks through each piece of spiritual armor so that you know how to arm yourself for the spiritual attack happening right now, but also so you understand that you need every part of your body covered—because where the gospel has built you up, Satan cannot attack you.