Quitting Has Become the American Way — But Fruit Comes Through Faithful Endurance
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on June 10th, 2025
We’re living in a time when quitting has become the American way. If something gets hard, uncomfortable, or doesn’t cater to our feelings, we walk away. Whether it's relationships, church, work, or even our commitment to God, many have adopted the mindset that if it costs me something, it must not be for me.But here's the truth: fruit never grows in comfort. It grows in discipline. It grows in the...  Read More
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Confronted by the Living Word
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on June 9th, 2025
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” — Hebrews 4:12Let’s be honest—many people don’t want to read the Bible, and it’s not because they don’t have time or can’t understand it. It’s because they know what it will do...  Read More
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Back to the Basics: 4 Non-Negotiables in the Kingdom of God
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on June 7th, 2025
In a world full of distractions, trends, and watered-down Christianity, it’s time to get back to the basics. The church doesn’t need a new gimmick. We need a revival of the foundational things that once turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). Jesus didn’t call us to be spiritual spectators but Kingdom soldiers. If we’re going to live like Jesus matters, it’s time we return to four essential trut...  Read More
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God Doesn’t Care About Your Happiness—He Cares About Your Obedience
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on June 6th, 2025
Let me say something that might rattle your comfortable Christianity: God doesn’t care about your happiness. That’s not His goal for your life. You won’t find a single verse where Jesus says, “Follow Me and you’ll be happy all the time.” But you will find Him say, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23, LSB).You see, we’ve bought...  Read More
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The Difference Between Continual Sin and Oops Sin
by Pastor Jody on June 3rd, 2025
As believers, we know sin is serious. It’s what separated us from God in the first place and what Jesus died to defeat. But not all sin is the same in practice. There’s a massive difference between what I call “continual sin” and “oops sin.” Let me break it down so you can examine your walk with Christ with honesty and clarity.After a conversation with Nan this morning over sin, salvation, and san...  Read More
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Pride: The Root of All Sin
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on June 2nd, 2025
As we step into the month of June—a time our culture has designated as "Pride Month"—it's essential for us as believers to pause, reflect, and align our hearts with the truth of God's Word. This isn’t about taking sides in politics or attacking individuals. It’s about standing on the Word with grace and truth.Pride was the very first sin. It was pride that led Lucifer to rebel against God. Isaiah ...  Read More
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The Altar: A Sacred Space for Encounter and Surrender
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on May 29th, 2025
For centuries, the altar has been one of the most sacred and symbolic places in the life of God’s people. From the tabernacle in the wilderness to the modern church stage, the altar has always served one purpose: a place where we meet God.At Ignite, it’s time we reclaim the altar—not just as a piece of furniture or a platform—but as a place of power, presence, and personal transformation.The Altar...  Read More
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We Live By Dying
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on May 28th, 2025
I recently came across a powerful song that had a verse that struck me. It said this: “We live by dying.” I love that! Why? Because in a world that says "live your truth," "chase your dreams," and "put yourself first," the gospel comes in and flips the script. Jesus says, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23, LSB).Let that sink...  Read More
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This Hit Me Today: Don’t Just Listen—Live It
by Jody Burkeen on May 24th, 2025
This morning, during my devotion, I landed on a passage that made me read and reread:“But become doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror.”- James 1:22–23, LSBI’ve read this before, maybe a hundred times. Quoted it. Even preached it. But today, it hit differently....  Read More
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Altar or Stage? The Difference That Changes Everything
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on May 22nd, 2025
There’s a growing trend in the modern church that we don’t talk about enough—a shift in focus from altar to stage, from sacred to spectacle, from surrender to self-promotion. And while it might seem subtle, the impact is eternal.I saw a video recently that rocked me to my core. It posed a simple but profound question:“Does your church have an altar or a stage? Because one will make you worship God...  Read More
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Battling Depression with Scripture and Prayer: A Pastor’s Heartfelt Encouragement
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on May 21st, 2025
First, let me acknowledge something that is crucial: depression is real. It is not just a matter of “feeling sad” or a temporary mood shift. It is an illness that can affect every part of your life—your emotions, your mind, your relationships, and your sense of purpose.   Read More
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Perfected in Christ — Not Perfect Yet
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on May 17th, 2025
One of the quiet struggles I often hear from fellow believers is this: “Why do I still mess up if I truly belong to Christ?” It's a question born out of sincere hearts that long to live rightly, to honor God, and to walk in holiness. And maybe you’ve asked it too.The root of that struggle lies in misunderstanding what it means to be perfected in Christ versus being perfect or sinless in our daily ...  Read More
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