destination church

More than 700 years before Jesus was born, the prophets Isaiah and Micah spoke of his birth. Isaiah's prophecy promised a child given as a gift to us, and that his name would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. This child would carry the full authority of God upon himself, and his reign will continue forever. Because of who Jesus is, this is really good news to everyone who will receive his kingship. Wisdom, strength, family inclusion, and all-encompassing peace are found in him!

Paul describes service and mercy as gifts given by God to the church. No less important than prophecy or healing, these grace-gifts are vital to a healthy church family. Hannah Easterbrooks and Michaela Meek teach on these two gifts in our Gifted series, not only describing these gifts, but also emphasizing how God has first served us and had compassion on us. With that important foundation, we can then serve and have mercy on others.

God's people everywhere will face tests and trials. The book of James says we are to consider it joy when we do. How are we supposed to have joy when terrible things happen? Certainly not by pretending nothing is wrong! We are called to lead our emotions and thoughts into a God-perspective on our circumstance. While we will certainly go through trials, we don't have to live as if hardship is all there is for us. We get to live as people on a great mission, God's mission.  We can take joy in every challenge, knowing God is transforming us for this mission.

It's always good to have our vision clarified and encouraged! Today's podcast is all about why Destination Church exists: "Helping people become joyfully devoted ambassadors of Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory and delight of God our Father." We believe God is gathering real people from all walks of life who come just as we are, with all the distress, the debt, and the discontentment that life can throw at us. But God doesn't leave us that way! He is transforming people with problems into a people full of blessing and influence, and he is building something beautiful!

Yes, you can learn to hear God's voice. Join in with an evening of prophetic equipping and activation with Clem Ferris. Clem is a well-respected prophetic voice in the body of Christ today. Recorded on March 20, 2021, this is excellent instruction on hearing God's voice and then being good stewards with what we hear.

God is often surprising, isn't He! The birth of Jesus is no exception. The promise that God is with us, and will be with us means we can fully expect Him to continue doing great and surprising things today. We may not know exactly what 2021 will bring but as Christians we can say, "Be it unto us according to Your word." (We pick up today in the middle of Rich Ghrist's message from John 1.)

Have you ever said, "I need a weekend after that weekend!" After the disciples' successful ministry, Jesus takes them away for some much needed rest. The culture that Jesus creates makes time for rest, and also makes time for people. "But I don't have time!" we may say to ourselves. Jesus can do more than we ever could on our own, and it is a faith challenge to actually believe this and to trust him. Rest matters, people matter, and faith matters; Jesus is building a culture that embraces this.

When Jesus sails back across the sea he is quickly surrounded by a crowd, but it's the stories of two desperate people we are drawn into.  Jairus, whose twelve-year-old daughter's life is in the balance, and a woman whose illness throughout those same twelve years has left her penniless and alone.  We discover three kinds of faith:  Finding Faith, Focused Faith (both of which can be surprisingly fragile), and Following Faith.  All three kinds of faith are viable, and one is especially rooted into God's plan more than our own need.  Jesus' words, "Do not fear; only believe," still ring today, and are re-awakening dreams and dreamers!

Jesus has just heard the voice of his Father declaring, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased," and the Spirit of God has just descended upon him.  It's time to step into powerful ministry, right?  Wrong!  It's time for a 40-day quarantine, and the Spirit "drives" Jesus into the wilderness.  He will pass every test!  God is teaching us about spiritual testing too, and strengthening us in the test.

When Eleazar stood to face the Philistines on the same ground where David had fought Goliath years before, the battle was intense, so intense that his hand basically "froze" to his sword.  The victory was great that day, and the lessons we can learn about holding on to God's word in the battles of life are significant.  How we fight the spiritual battles of our day is truly important!  Josh Yakos from Revive Church in Missoula, Montana brings this message today, reminding us of a truth to fight for, a truth to hold, and a truth so often forgotten...

What if God is more committed to our long-term reconciliation than to our short-term goals?  What if he is more interested in our long-term healing than our short-term success?  What if God is more interested in our long-term blessing than in our short-term budget?  These things are true, and God has plans to bless a radically reconciled people.  The question is, are we willing to reconcile, not only with God, but also with each other?  David was, and in 2 Samuel 21 we discover the power of reconciliation to bring the rains of God's blessing at just the right time.

One of the most vulnerable times in life is when we feel despised, overlooked, or under-appreciated.  In these seasons our hearts may tend to follow after worthless promises.  The good news is that there is a promise of freedom for all those who will turn to Christ from those worthless ways of living.  It was true for the people of the city of Abel in 2 Samuel 20, and it is still true today.  Together, we can find freedom in even the most difficult circumstances.

No one wants to feel like a victim, especially of someone else's sin or poor choices.  Sin does create victims, but victimhood is a deeper issue of identity.  When he is lied about and his inheritance is stripped from him, the way Mephibosheth responds in 2 Samuel 19 gives us a glimpse of true victory, found only in our King.  The gospel of Jesus Christ lifts our focus from the wrongs we've experienced to the relationship that is ours forever in Christ.

Would you want to know if there were warning signs that you are living out of insecurity and a wounded heart?  Absalom had a wounded heart, and the pain of his father's failures deeply impacted his life and desires.  Like Absalom, we may try to fill the brokenness of our wounded hearts in unhealthy ways, but God has a much better plan.  David's servant Ittai demonstrates a completely different attitude and approach to life that we can enjoy when our security is in Christ.  God is turning rebel hearts into secure and faithful hearts through the gospel!

The king was longing for his sinful son, but how could he bring him home?  Could God be longing for us in the same way, and can he bring us home too?  2 Samuel 14 reveals the heart of God for reconciliation with us.  Even in our dysfunction, God has a plan.  Where we've failed as parents, as children, and in other relationships.  God has a plan to reconcile broken relationships and to reconcile us to Himself.

David was a murderer.  Staying home at the wrong time turned into an affair, which led to a cover-up, which led to murder.  Would God reject him now?  Many today may ask the same question: "After what I've done, has God rejected me?"  As we look forward in a new era, the same God who confronted and convicted David in 2 Samuel 11-12 is calling us to find hope in his story.  There is hope, there is forgiveness, and there is a future for us in Christ!

Beginning in the second chapter of Matthew, we learn of the wise men, distant travelers drawn by a star to God's new hope: Jesus. They were foreigners, men of education and science, men of means. Unlike anyone else in the Christmas story, they were not Jewish or of Israel, reminding us that God will reveal himself to people who are like us and to people who are not like us, people who may surprise us!  In fact, the way God's sovereign and supernatural plan unfolds is very often surprising - even startling!

What is it about Mary that makes her so favored by God?  What is it that qualifies any of us for God's supernatural favor?  Is it great faith?  Is it great obedience?  These things have merit, but is there something deeper?  The answer to this question inspires us today to say, like Mary in Luke Chapter 1, "Be it unto us according to Your word."

A radical act of kindness can change everything.  When David extends extreme kindness to Jonathan's son in 2 Samuel 9 we see a beautiful picture of our Father's love for us as well.  God is calling people to Himself intentionally, calling us by name, calling us into restoration and relationship through Jesus Christ, and inspiring us to extend His kindness to others in Jesus' name.  

The signals are crossed.  Emotions are involved.  The dream is at stake.  In situations like this we need to hear from God clearly, and David is no different than you or I in this.  He needs more than the approval of his friend; he needs to know what God is actually saying. When God then turns David's desire on its head in 2 Samuel 7, the promise is for more than just David.  God's plan is a much bigger, multi-generational, eternal promise that includes you and me.