Summit Life with J.D. Greear

For many Christians, church is just an event that they attend on weekends, and switching churches is as easy as trying out a new movie theatre. But that’s not what God intended when he designed the church body, and it’s not going to lead to spiritual growth! Pastor J.D. challenges us to flip our view of church. It’s not about what I can get out of the service; it’s about what I can give to the family of Christ.

If you only have one tomatillo plant in a garden, it’ll never produce any fruit because it needs other plants to cross-pollinate. And Christians are kind of like tomatillo plants in that way. Healthy believers will produce the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But first, you have to be rooted in Christ, and second, you need to have community.

At first glance, citrus trees look pretty much the same. Their leaves are the same color and their branches form similar shapes. So the best way to tell them apart is to look for the fruit. And the same is true of people! In John 15, Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” On this edition of Summit Life, Pastor J.D. describes how good fruit is produced by a life that’s rooted in Christ.

When was the last time you decided you were going to make a change and become a better person? Maybe it was New Year’s Eve, or after a fight with your spouse or a reprimand at work. If you’re like most people, that determination probably lasted a few days and then you were right back where you started. Is real, permanent change even possible? On this edition of Summit Life, Pastor J.D. addresses that question and describes the only path to genuine transformation.

If you’ve ever felt bored by reading scripture, you’re not alone. Many Christians enjoy going to church, singing worship songs, and listening to teaching, but struggle to actually read the Bible for themselves. We make excuses about being busy or not knowing where to begin, and we try to replace Bible reading by listening to sermons or reading a devotional. Pastor J.D. explains that those are good things to do, but they aren’t a replacement for God’s word.

We often refer to the first four books of the New Testament—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—as “the gospels.” But Pastor J.D. reveals that the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is all one story: the story of Jesus Christ. It’s all the gospel! And as we go deeper into it, savoring the truths on every page of scripture, that’s when God transforms our lives.

Our journey with God begins when someone explains the gospel to us, how Jesus died for our sins and rose again to bring us new life. But then the question becomes, “Now what? What do I do next?” But that’s the wrong question. Pastor J.D. explains that true growth in the Christian life happens when you plunge deeper into the gospel. It doesn’t come from doing more good things. And that’s true whether you’ve been following Christ for several days or several decades.

On this edition of Summit Life, we’re beginning a new series that gets to the very heart of this ministry. It’s simply titled, Gospel. If you’ve been a believer for a while, you might think you’ve moved beyond the gospel. But Pastor J.D. argues that we never outgrow the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection. In fact, getting deeper into the gospel is the key to the entire Christian life.

With the rise of social media, befriending someone has become as easy as clicking a button. If someone were to look at your Facebook or Twitter profile, it would probably seem like you have hundreds or even thousands of friends. But in truth, many of us are feeling more lonely and disconnected than ever before. On this edition of Summit Life, Pastor J.D. brings biblical wisdom on how to form deep, lifelong friendships. It’s the conclusion of our practical series on relationships called, From the Beginning.

When you’re in preschool, 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.

In this program, we’ll continue a practical series called From the Beginning as we learn about God’s design for sex, marriage, and relationships. Pastor J.D. offers biblical wisdom to navigate the confusing process of dating. But beyond the practical aspects of finding a spouse, we’re also learning that marriage and singleness are both preparation for a much greater blessing to come.

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.  

When most people enter marriage, they understand that it won’t all be smooth sailing. But even with this realistic perspective, we’re often surprised when the going gets rough. Without a biblical mindset, it’s tempting to give up and jump ship! So how can we restore a sinking marriage? And what is God’s plan for those who have already gone through a divorce? In this message, Pastor J.D. answers these questions as he continues our series about sex and relationships titled, From the Beginning.

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?

The topic of same-sex attraction is fraught with an incredible amount of hurt and anger. Too many families and churches have been ripped apart over the issue, and many people who identify with the LGBTQ community feel rejected by Christianity, and by extension, God. They’ve been told—either directly or through the actions of believers—that they’re somehow outside the reach of God’s grace. But that’s just not true! Today, Pastor J.D. sets the record straight by revealing what God’s word really says about God’s grace and same sex attraction.