When presented with the question of paying taxes to Cesar, Jesus saw they were trying to trap Him and used a coin to show that since they were part of the Roman system, they should pay the taxes to that system. As long as our government doesn’t conflict with God’s laws, we should obey their laws, but remember that our true allegiance lies with God.…

In Mark 12, Jesus uses the parable of the tenants in the vineyard killing the owner’s heir to illustrate how the leaders had rejected the heir to God’s throne. Because they refused to accept and obey Jesus, they were subject to judgment from God. Have you accepted the heir?By Pastor Jeff Bender

When Peter pointed out the withered fig tree that Jesus cursed, Jesus explained that we need to have faith in God, really believing and not doubting in our heart, and we’ll see mountains moved.By Pastor Jeff Bender

Jesus cursing the fig tree and cleansing the temple were reflections of the state of Israel at the time, who failed to be fruitful for God, looking good on the outside while being full of sin and hypocrisy. Are we leafy trees like Israel, or do we allow the Holy Spirit to produce spiritual fruit within us?…

After Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem that subtly announced His kingship by fulfilling Old Testament prophecy, He returned to His disciples and spent time praying with them to prepare for the difficult week ahead. As we begin the new year, we should follow in Jesus’ example by seeking God’s guidance through prayer and fasting for what…

Prayer and fasting hold the keys to spiritual breakthrough. When the disciples couldn’t cast a demon out of a boy, Jesus told them that it would only come out by prayer and fasting. There are many accounts of others in the Bible who fasted and prayed for breakthrough as well, including Jesus.By Pastor Jeff Bender

The world would be a dramatically different place if Jesus was never born. Thankfully, He was born, which brought us the greatest gift of all–forgiveness for our sins through His death on the cross.By Pastor Jeff Bender

Answered prayer didn’t affect the faith of those who trusted God. Zechariah and Elizabeth remained faithful to God even though their prayer for a child wasn’t answered right away. God eventually did give them a child, but their dedication to Him was not based on that.By Pastor Jeff Bender

What happens when we pray and see nothing? Go again! When Elijah sent his servant to look toward the sea, he saw nothing. Seven times Elijah told him to go again before a cloud formed to answer his prayer.By Pastor Jeff Bender

When a blind beggar persistently called for Jesus as He was passing by, Jesus saw his faith and healed him. Do we have faith like the beggar, trusting that God will hear our prayers and meet our needs?By Pastor Jeff Bender

When James and John asked for places of honor in glory, Jesus explained that anyone wanting to be great must be willing to serve others, just as He came to serve, not to be served.By Pastor Jeff Bender

As they were on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus explained to the disciples what would happen to Him there so they would ready for it. Like the disciples, we need to be ready for what will inevitably happen today so that we can stand tall in the midst of it. Are you ready?By Pastor Jeff Bender

God uses the ordinary extraordinarily. Captain Robert Williams shares the story of Rahab to demonstrate how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things to accomplish what He wants to accomplish.By Pastor Jeff Bender

When you acknowledge Jesus as our salvation and look to Him as our light, we see God for who He truly is. When we see our circumstances in His light, fear loses its grip right away. The enemy’s schemes can only prevail in darkness. Light has secured victory over fear. No stronghold of fear from the enemy can prosper in God’s light.…

When questioned about the cost of following Him, Jesus promised that anyone who would give up their lives to follow Him would see those sacrifices restored, but would also face persecution and hardships in this life that would ultimately be rewarded with eternal life.By Pastor Jeff Bender

When a rich young ruler came to Jesus asking how to inherit eternal life, Jesus told him to follow the commandments and sell his possessions to give to the poor, because those possessions became a god for him. They were the one thing that prevented him from truly giving his heart to God to inherit eternal life.…

When the disciples tried to stop children from coming to Jesus, He became indignant and told them to let the children come to Him, explaining how we need to have childlike faith to enter the kingdom of God.By Pastor Jeff Bender

When presented with the question about divorce, Jesus explained God’s design for marriage, that a man and woman are united as one in marriage. Because of that, there are very few circumstances where God allows divorce, but there is still forgiveness and restoration for those who have been divorced.By Pastor Jeff Bender

Instead of being salty about others doing things in His name, Jesus reminded the disciples that anyone who was not against them was for them, and that they are to be salt, preserving and being a pure example of God’s love to the world. Are you salty?By Pastor Jeff Bender

After the disciples were discussing who was the greatest, Jesus explained to them that anyone who wants to be first must be last. To be great in the kingdom means to sacrifice to serve others, ultimately pointing them to Jesus.By Pastor Jeff Bender

When a demon possessed boy couldn’t be healed by the disciples, his father’s faith began to struggle as doubt crept in. In spite of that, Jesus still healed the boy of his condition. Even if we struggle with our faith, God can still work in our lives, despite any doubts we may have.By Pastor Jeff Bender

When Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain, they experienced a glimpse of God’s glory as Jesus’s appearance was transformed and God spoke to them. When we have similar experiences, they should cause us to grow closer to the Lord and become more like Him.By Pastor Jeff Bender

After Peter’s revelation that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus explained the suffering He would face, as well as the cost of following Him. We must be willing to deny ourselves and endure hardship now, but in exchange for that, we’ll gain eternal life. Will you follow Him?By Pastor Jeff Bender

Jesus’ healing of the blind man fulfilled an Old Testament prophecy about who the Messiah would be and was done to open the disciples’ spiritual eyes to who Jesus is. What do you see? Are your eyes open to who Jesus is?By Pastor Jeff Bender

When the disciples became distracted by the lack of food they had with them, Jesus reminded them of the miracles He just performed to feed thousands. We can be like the disciples, letting the distractions of life prevent us from hearing what He’s trying to teach us. Are you distracted?By Pastor Jeff Bender

When a large crowd was gathered seeking Jesus, He was concerned about them, seeing their need for food. He used seven loaves of bread to meet that need, feeding four thousand people. When we’re focused on seeking Jesus, He’ll provide for our needs too.By Pastor Jeff Bender

When a deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to Jesus, He took him aside and healed both of his ailments. Jesus unstopped his hearing to bring the gospel to the Gentiles, just like God wants to unstop our hearing so that we are able to truly hear the word of God and respond in the same way!By Pastor Jeff Bender

When a gentile woman came to Jesus asking for her daughter to be healed, her persistence and faith in Jesus’ words resulted in her request being granted. When we pray, are we like her, praying in persistent faith that God will answer our requests?By Pastor Jeff Bender

Prayer is a powerful tool that allows us to communicate with God. When we pray, we should pray in faith and be unified in prayer. In addition, fasting is an important tool in prayer that unlocks the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.By Pastor Jeff Bender

Prayer is a powerful tool that allows us to communicate with God. Our prayers can be simple, but we should be persistent in prayer, trusting in faith that God will meet our needs.By Pastor Jeff Bender

You may have seen the TV show 8 Simple Rules, but did you know that God has 8 simple rules for being a dad? If we follow those rules, we can be assured that even though we aren’t perfect and will fail, we’ve done our best to show them Jesus in our everyday life.By Pastor Jeff Bender

We all have traditions that we follow as a means of pointing us to God. Traditions in and of themselves are not bad, unless they become more important than following God’s word, or prevent others from knowing Him. What are your traditions?By Pastor Jeff Bender

Priorities, integrity, and attitude are important choices we make that can lead us to success. As our graduates begin a new season, we encourage them to keep their priority on Jesus, preserve their integrity, and maintain a good attitude throughout their lives.By Pastor Jeff Bender

The day of Pentecost is a day of empowerment. The Holy Spirit gives us the supernatural power to overcome fear and doubt and go out to do God’s work. The early church experienced it and God still offers it to each of us today!By Pastor Jeff Bender

After a great day of ministry, Jesus sent the disciples into another test when they struggled to cross the lake because of the wind and waves. Jesus saw their struggle and walked on the water to meet them and calm the storm. He is always with us, and is able to calm the storms we face in life too.By Pastor Jeff Bender

No matter the situation you’ve experienced with your mother, Jesus is there to help navigate you through it, which in turn will allow you to have a positive effect on the children in your life.By Pastor Jeff Bender

When Jesus was teaching in a desolate place, and it came time for the people to eat, a young boy gave Him five loafs and two fish that He used to feed 5,000 men and their families. If we’re willing to give God what little resources we have, He can use them to reach multitudes. We just have to be ready and willing.…

King Herod had John the Baptist killed because he was bullied by his wife, influenced by his daughter, and pressured by his friends. He ultimately chose not to do the right thing because of negative influences in his life. What influences are we allowing to determine our actions?By Pastor Jeff Bender

After spending time teaching them, Jesus sent out the disciples two by two, instructing them to preach the gospel and giving them authority to heal the sick and cast out demons.By Pastor Jeff Bender

A lack of faith hindered Jesus from performing miracles in his hometown. In the same way, unbelief will hinder what He wants to do in and through His church today.By Pastor Jeff Bender

Everything in the Bible points to or is about Jesus, whose resurrection put God’s final stamp of approval on all of His teaching and testimony. Nicodemus realized this when he sought Jesus out. Have you sought Jesus out and allowed Him to change you?By Pastor Jeff Bender

After Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem showing his kingship, he took a minute to reflect and wept over the city for those who rejected him. He still cries over anyone who doesn’t accept the offer of salvation that his death and resurrection paid for. Will you accept his gift and let it transform you?…

In Mark 5, the power of faith is demonstrated as Jesus performed miracles in response to the faith of two individuals who were facing impossible situations. A woman who had been bleeding for years had faith that just touching Jesus would heal her, and a synagogue leader whose daughter died was told to have faith and she was raised from the dead. Wa…

When a demon-possessed man came to Jesus, He used His authority over demons to drive them out of the man and into a herd of pigs.By Pastor Jeff Bender

As Jesus and his disciples were crossing the sea, a storm came up to test their faith. The storm allowed them to see who God really is and put His promises to the test. Are we ready for the storms in life that will test our faith?By Pastor Jeff Bender

When Jesus taught the parable of the sower, He used the illustration of where the sower’s seed fell to describe the responses of different kinds of hearts when they receive the word of God. How’s your heart?By Pastor Jeff Bender

When news of Jesus’ miracles spread, crowds of people came to Him, looking for their own miracles, and not so much interested in Jesus’ message. Are we coming to Jesus for His free gift of salvation, or like the crowds, do we want something from Him?By Pastor Jeff Bender

Jesus broke many of the man-made traditions of the Pharisees that kept people from God.By Pastor Jeff Bender

When four men brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus, Jesus used His authority to forgive the paralytic’s sin, then showed His power by healing him.By Pastor Jeff Bender

When Jesus encountered those who were sick, He had compassion and sympathy for them. He served them by healing their sickness.By Pastor Jeff Bender