
Hosted by Pastor Dan Sexton · EN

When you receive a gift, the typical response is to say thank you! That is the norm in society. What if you receive a gift that is unexpected or surpasses your expectations? Your gratitude tends to grow. You show more affection to the person who gave you that incredible present. The greatest gift we could ever receive comes from the Lord, and our response should replicate that. In today’s message, Pastor Dan shares that when God blesses you, your response should be one of unrelenting praise and rejoicing!

Is there a moment in time you wish you could bottle up forever? It could be a time spent with close friends, your wedding day, or seeing your child take their first steps. These are the moments that left a lasting impression on you, so much so that you want them to last a lifetime. Well, there is a moment that you can experience that will surpass this lifetime and will remain with you forever. In today’s message, Pastor Dan encourages you that when you place your faith in Jesus, you will have everlasting life.

The common phrase “comparison is the thief of joy” rings in my head whenever I try to look at others and compare my life to theirs. It’s so easy to think that just because they did or didn’t do something, I’m better than them. In today’s message, Pastor Dan says that Jesus should be your standard of living. Don’t look left and right at others and compare yourself to them. You will not be judged on “if you were better than someone else or not.” You will be judged on how closely you follow the commands of Jesus.

There are some autobiographies that I’ve read and said, “Did this person ACTUALLY do this?” Sometimes, it’s easy to doubt the authenticity and authority of God, but it’s important to remember that He has provided us a step-by-step guide on how to live for Him, and that the words given are His direct commands to us. In today’s message, Pastor Dan emphasizes that the Bible is God’s word. It’s not a paraphrase of Him; it’s not an idea of Him. It is the actual things that He has said, done, and will do for us.

Historically, a lot of America’s values are based on Christianity, whether people realize it or not. In today’s message, Pastor Dan talks about how the Founding Fathers actually used Deuteronomy numerous times while writing the Constitution. Although it may seem like Deuteronomy isn’t that important a book, or that it’s outdated and should be overlooked, it actually ended up as part of the foundation of the United States of America, with laws and rights that are still upheld today!

In most movies I watch, the main character has a family last name that determines their entire status, both good and bad. Even though they get treated based on their family, God doesn’t treat you differently based on your ancestors. In today’s message, Pastor Dan says that your sins condemn you. Not your spouse, not your family, YOUR sins. The good news is that you’ve already been forgiven for that. You have this amazing opportunity to center your life around Christ and live according to His commands!

Marriage can be hard sometimes. One thing I’ve learned about marriage is that your spouse will build you up the most, but also hurt you the most. That may sound discouraging, but Jesus has redeemed you so that you can love your spouse and give them grace just as He did for you! In today’s message, Pastor Dan talks about how a husband should love his wife. The Bible says to love your wife as you would love yourself. The best way to honor her is to love her, care for her, and make her happy!

You might feel like you’ll never be ready to have kids, but the reality is that you may NEVER feel ready. If you’re married, consider taking the step of obedience in bearing children! In today’s message, Pastor Dan says that despite what the world says, the Bible says that marriage is a gift from God, and that children are a source of happiness, joy, and a reward from Him. Getting the opportunity to raise disciples to love Christ, who will then go out and make more disciples, is a HUGE honor!

Although culture may see getting married as a burden, Christians think otherwise. Marriage is a wonderful gift from God that’s cherished and lifted. What better way to exhibit the Gospel than to live for Him in marriage? In today’s message, Pastor Dan talks about the beauty of marriage and its correlation to Christ. Just as He will never give up on you, husbands and wives should never give up on each other. A Holy covenant doesn’t get broken in marriage, AND the same goes for your salvation in Christ.

In a world where it’s encouraged to avoid marriage and children, God says to do BOTH of those things! If God provides a partner, be countercultural and marry that person! There’s nothing more beautiful than getting the chance to exhibit Christ in your marriage. In today’s message, Pastor Dan says that in marriage, it should be your desire to have children. Whether that’s through conception, surrogacy, or adoption, growing a new generation of disciples of Christ and creating a ministry is important to the kingdom of God.