Back to the Basics: Evangelism Isn’t Optional
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on April 2nd, 2025
If there’s one area where the modern church has drifted from its foundation, it’s evangelism. Somehow, we’ve convinced ourselves that sharing the Gospel is for the “gifted,” the pastors, the missionaries, or those with extra time. But the truth is, evangelism isn’t a spiritual elective—it’s a basic requirement of following Jesus.Getting back to the basics means returning to the mission that Jesus ... Read More
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A Pastor’s Heart on Tithing: Let’s Return to Faithful Giving
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on March 31st, 2025
Hey church family,This isn't an easy blog post for me to write, but I feel the Lord has placed it heavily on my heart.If you’ve been around for any amount of time, you know I hardly ever talk about money. It’s just not something I like to focus on, because I never want anyone to feel pressured or manipulated. But as your pastor, I also can’t stay silent when I see a spiritual issue affecting our c... Read More
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The Process of Church Discipline
by Jody Burkeen on March 28th, 2025
Pastor Jody... Read More
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Back to the Basics: Giving Is a Lifestyle, Not Just a Donation
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on March 27th, 2025
When we talk about giving in the church, most people immediately think about money. And yes, tithing is biblical and important—but giving is so much more than writing a check or dropping a few dollars in the offering plate. Giving is a lifestyle, a daily decision to live open-handed before God.If we’re going to get back to the basics of our faith, we have to look beyond the offering envelope. We h... Read More
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The Worst Thing That Ever Happened Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on March 26th, 2025
The worst thing that ever happened in human history wasn’t a war, a natural disaster, or a global crisis. It was the brutal, unjust execution of the only perfect man to ever walk the earth—Jesus Christ". We all know He betrayed, beaten, mocked, and nailed to a cross, the Son of God suffered a death He did not deserve. The world went dark. Hope seemed lost. Evil appeared to have won. Read More
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Back to the Basics: Returning to a Life That Reflects Christ
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on March 23rd, 2025
One of the clearest signs that a believer matures in their faith is when they move from being a consumer to becoming a servant. And let’s be real—somewhere along the way, the modern church has trained people to show up, sit down, and soak in. We’ve created a culture where “serving” often means signing up for a ministry role once a month and then checking that box off the spiritual to-do list.But w... Read More
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Back to the Basics: Worship Is a Lifestyle, Not a Sunday Morning Thing
by Jody Burkeen on March 22nd, 2025
One of the things I’ve noticed in the church today is how easily we’ve compartmentalized our faith. We’ve made worship a Sunday morning event—a few songs, maybe a hand raised, and then back to our normal lives by lunchtime. But biblical worship isn’t confined to a stage or a sanctuary. It’s not just something we do for 20 minutes before the sermon. Worship is a lifestyle. It’s who we are and how w... Read More
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Back to the Basics: The Role of Discipleship for the Mature Believer
by Jody Burkeen on March 20th, 2025
As a pastor, I’ve seen it time and time again—Christians who have been in the faith for years but feel stuck, stagnant, or uncertain about their next steps. They’ve read their Bibles, attended church, and served in ministry, but something is missing. That “something” is often discipleship.As I think about the mature (not necessarily in age) Christians we have in the church, I see too many of them ... Read More
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Pursuing Holiness – Part 2: What It Looks Like in Our Lives and the Church
by Jody Burkeen on March 19th, 2025
After wrestling with the concept of holiness in the previous blog, I am now wrestling with what holiness looks like in action. If holiness is being set apart for God, how does that practically shape how we live as individuals? And what does it mean for the church as a whole? It’s one thing to talk about holiness but another to live it. Being a good person doesn't cut it; being a godly one does! Ho... Read More
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A Call To Be Set Apart
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on March 17th, 2025
Holiness is a lifelong pursuit, but it is worth it. We cannot be holy by our own strength but by abiding in Christ and yielding to the Spirit. Let us answer the call of 1 Peter 1:15-16 by striving daily to reflect the holiness of our God. ... Read More
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The Top 10 Reasons a Church Dies
by Pastor Jody Burkeen on March 13th, 2025
The church was never meant to be complicated. In Acts 2, the early church thrived by focusing on the basics—devotion to God’s Word, fellowship, prayer, and making disciples. But over time, many churches drift from these foundational principles, leading to spiritual decline and, eventually, death. As we return Back to the Basics (click to listen to the Vision Sunday Sermon), we must recognize the w... Read More
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When the Lukewarm Get Uncomfortable
by Jody Burkeen on March 12th, 2025
The Cost of Growing a ChurchThere’s a strange phenomenon that happens when a church starts fulfilling its mission—when it actually starts reaching the lost, discipling new believers, and growing in ways that reflect the power of the Gospel. You’d think that everyone would be rejoicing, right? But instead, some people—the ones who have been there the longest, growing the lease, sitting comfortably ... Read More
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Recent
Discernment Without Judgment: Welcoming While Watching
September 15th, 2025
When Tragedy Strikes: How God Can Turn Loss into Purpose
September 11th, 2025
Fill Your Bucket of Worship
September 9th, 2025
The Value of Believing the Gospel
September 4th, 2025
Guest Post- Josh Westfall- Faith and transformation
September 1st, 2025
Archive
2025
March
Back to the BasicsThe Danger of Walking Away from the CrossWhen the Lukewarm Get UncomfortableThe Top 10 Reasons a Church DiesA Call To Be Set ApartPursuing Holiness – Part 2: What It Looks Like in Our Lives and the ChurchBack to the Basics: The Role of Discipleship for the Mature BelieverBack to the Basics: Worship Is a Lifestyle, Not a Sunday Morning ThingBack to the Basics: Returning to a Life That Reflects ChristThe Worst Thing That Ever Happened Was the Best Thing That Ever HappenedBack to the Basics: Giving Is a Lifestyle, Not Just a DonationThe Process of Church Discipline A Pastor’s Heart on Tithing: Let’s Return to Faithful Giving
April
Back to the Basics: Evangelism Isn’t OptionalFrom Head to Heart: Reading Scripture for Transformation, Not Just InformationMan Up and Lead – God's Design for the HomeHead in the Sand: The Danger of Ignoring HolinessGossip: A Spiritual Battle We Must FightLaziness and Complacency in a Christian’s Life: A Wake-Up Call for the Family, the Church, and the KingdomWe’re Here for You—In the Valleys and on the Mountaintops
May
Would You Come to Church With Me?” – The Simple Words That Could Change a LifeGrace: The Power to Do What He’s Called You to DoOur Love for Jesus Should Look Like Hate to OthersWhy Is It Only Offensive When You Talk About Jesus?The Dangers of Deconstructing Christianity as a Christ FollowerPerfected in Christ — Not Perfect YetBattling Depression with Scripture and Prayer: A Pastor’s Heartfelt EncouragementAltar or Stage? The Difference That Changes EverythingThis Hit Me Today: Don’t Just Listen—Live ItWe Live By DyingThe Altar: A Sacred Space for Encounter and Surrender
June
Pride: The Root of All SinThe Difference Between Continual Sin and Oops SinGod Doesn’t Care About Your Happiness—He Cares About Your ObedienceBack to the Basics: 4 Non-Negotiables in the Kingdom of GodConfronted by the Living WordQuitting Has Become the American Way — But Fruit Comes Through Faithful EnduranceTwo Seas, Two Lives: What the Dead Sea and Sea of Galilee Teach Us About DiscipleshipTrue Repentance: More Than Just Saying “Sorry”Why Do I Keep Running from God When I Know I Should Run Toward Him?If There Is Dust on Your Bible, There Is Dust on Your HeartWar or Murder? A Biblical Response to the Iran Conflict—and Why We Stand with IsraelChristianity Is Like a Rock TumblerThe Doctrine of Perfection: A Dangerous HeresyChristianity: Inclusive to All, Exclusive to Follow
July
True Friends: When Loyalty Is TestedTrue Freedom: Independence in ChristThe Less Truth You Know, the Easier It Will Be to Be Led AstrayWe Don’t Need Good Advice—We Need the Good NewsOne Generation Tolerates, The Next CelebratesTithing Again: Why It Still MattersMiracles and a Wicked Generation: Why God Doesn’t Perform to Prove HimselfIf You're a True Christian, Then You've Changed the Way You LiveThe Affair at the Coldplay Concert: When God Brings the Darkness to LightIt’s Hot… But Not That Hot, A Wake-Up Call from the HeatNo, the Gospel Is Not Woke—It’s RighteousFaith Is Spelled R-I-S-KWhat Is Grace, Really? Understanding the Unmerited Favor of GodPart 2: Grace in the Garden: The First Act of Redemption Tracing Grace Back to GenesisPart 3- Grace Through the Law: The Old Testament Isn’t Grace-Free
August
Part 4- Jesus: The Fullness of Grace Grace Has a NamePart 5- Justified by Grace You: Don’t Work for What’s Been Paid ForPart 6- Grace That Transforms: Grace Doesn’t Leave You Where It Found YouPart 7- When Grace Hurts Receiving What You Didn’t Ask ForPart 8- Grace for Others: Extending What You’ve ReceivedFeed the Sheep, Not Entertain the GoatsPart 9-Growing in Grace: This Is Just the BeginningPart 10- The Future of Grace Grace: Will Carry You HomeThe Power of a Simple InvitationWhy the Natural Man Cannot Understand the Things of GodThe Natural Man’s Responsibility Before God’s CallWhy “Unspoken Prayer Requests” Are UnbiblicalAsk the Pastor- Why Yoga Is Not Compatible with the Christian FaithMy Job as a Pastor Is Not to Entertain You, It’s to Prepare You for EternityYou Don’t Need a Voice When You Have a VerseDon’t Waste What God Has Given YouSimple Ways to Share the Gospel and Your TestimonyAsk the Pastor: Guarding Your Heart Without Closing It OffAsk the Pastor: Can Someone Lose Their Anointing?Ask the Pastor: Can Someone Be Too Far Gone to Be Saved?Your Testimony is Pre-Evangelism, Not the Gospel. Only the Gospel Saves
2024
February
April