Short Teachings for Where You Actually Live
On Your Street
What's the point of praying for people who don't want anything to do with religion?
This blog post explores Jesus's parables about lost things in Luke 15, showing how God celebrates when spiritually lost people find their way to faith. It includes practical steps for praying for non-believers using the 3-2-1 prayer method and encourages readers to participate in reaching people who don't yet know Jesus.
When God's blessings become our biggest temptation
This blog explores how prosperity can be spiritually dangerous, using biblical principles from Hosea 10 to show why we must choose God-dependence over self-confidence in both abundant and difficult times. Learn practical ways to avoid the spiritual trap of wealth and discover how Neighborhood Church is applying these principles through the Grove Initiative to train leaders, plant churches, and reach people for Christ in Florida.
Are angels and demons real, and why should I care?
This blog post explores what the Bible actually teaches about angels and demons, explaining how these spiritual beings operate in the background of our lives and why understanding spiritual warfare matters for everyday faith. Learn why your spiritual battle is simply about standing firm in Jesus' truth and work, rather than trying to fight invisible enemies you can't see.
The End of the World? Understanding What’s next
Discover what the Bible teaches about life after death, the return of Christ, and God's plan for the future in this comprehensive guide to Christian beliefs about eternity. Learn why understanding future life should motivate us to share Jesus with others and find hope in God's perfect plan for believers.
How is church supposed to help when religious people have hurt me?
Discover what makes church more than just a building—explore how genuine Christian community is built on love, belonging, and purpose rather than programs or structures. Learn why we need each other to live out faith and find your place in God's beloved community at Neighborhood Church Ocala.
Beyond the free gift: What happens after you become a Christian?
Discover what the Christian life is really about - not earning God's love through good works, but living freely from the secure place of already having it through Jesus. Learn how to avoid the trap of trying to earn what God has already given you as a free gift.
When Does God Give Up? Understanding Salvation
Discover the life-changing truth about God's salvation through Jesus Christ and why God never gives up on us, even when we reject his love and grace. Learn about justification, sanctification, and glorification—the three phases of salvation that offer complete freedom from sin's penalty, power, and presence.
The Holy Spirit: Your Helper, Guide, and Life-Changer
Discover the Holy Spirit's essential role as your personal Helper and Guide who convicts of sin, grows spiritual fruit like love and patience in your life, and gives you gifts to serve others in the church. Learn how to cooperate with the Spirit's work to become more like Jesus and experience the joy of being used by God to bless those around you.
Who Do You Say Jesus Is? Understanding the Person and Work of Christ
Explore the fundamental question Jesus asked his followers—"Who do you say that I am?"—and discover what the Bible teaches about Christ's identity as both fully God and fully human. Learn about Jesus' preeminence, incarnation, sacrificial death, resurrection, and promised return in this accessible exploration of Christian beliefs about the person and work of Christ.
Who Is God? Understanding the One True God
Discover who God really is in this beginner-friendly exploration of faith that explains God's nature, the Trinity, and why we can love God even without understanding everything about Him. Perfect for anyone curious about Christianity or exploring what it means to know God personally.
How do I know if what people say about God is actually true?
Discover how the Bible serves as God's reliable revelation to help us know Him personally and live according to His design. Learn why we can trust Scripture and how to apply its unchanging truth to navigate life's challenges with confidence and purpose.
Why Theology Matters: Moving Beyond Dating God
Discover why everyone is already a theologian and how accurate thoughts about God can transform your life and relationships. This encouraging post explores why knowing God as He truly is—rather than just "dating" Him—makes all the difference in how we live and love others.
Is religious giving just emotional manipulation or is there more going on?
This post explores whether religious giving is just emotional manipulation or if it actually benefits both givers and receivers when done with the right heart. Through examining biblical principles about generosity, it reveals how opening our hands to give - rather than clenching our fists to keep - can create unexpected blessings that go far beyond money.
From Chaos to Clarity: What Good Giving Looks Like
Discover why proper church financial procedures aren't just about avoiding problems - they're about honoring Jesus and building trust in your church community. Learn the three biblical principles that make giving joyful and effective, taken from Paul's practical wisdom in 2 Corinthians.
Why 'Good Intentions' Aren't Enough (And What Actually Works)
This blog post explores why God invites us to help others even though He has infinite resources and doesn't actually need our help—using the relatable analogy of why parents make kids clean their rooms. It reveals how giving according to our ability (not beyond it) creates a beautiful system where communities take care of each other, ultimately making everyone healthier and more connected.
The God-Math of Giving: How Poverty + Joy = Generosity
Discover how the financially struggling Macedonian churches became incredibly generous despite facing persecution and poverty, and learn the biblical pattern for generous giving that starts with surrendering ourselves to God first. This practical exploration of 2 Corinthians 8 reveals how abundant joy and trust in God's provision can transform our relationship with money and generosity.
When Plans Go Wrong: Living in God's Presence Through Conflict
Have you ever tried to make plans with someone, only to have everything fall apart due to misunderstandings? We live in a time of unprecedented connection and communication tools yet somehow, coordinating with others remains frustratingly difficult!
Is there more to life than just chasing comfort?
Most families have stories that define them. For some, it's about hard work, resilience, or overcoming big challenges.
In the Bible, there's an incredible family story about the Israelites that shows how God works through ordinary people in extraordinary ways.
The story begins with a scary situation...
Is there hope when life seems completely derailed?
Have you ever felt like your life was falling apart? Like everything was going wrong, and you couldn't see any hope? There’s a story in God’s record of history which is a powerful reminder that God is at work even when things seem impossible.
Joseph's story starts in a pretty complicated family.
How does hope break through when everything seems impossible?
An Impossible Test
Imagine being asked to give up the most precious thing in your life. Sounds impossible, right? That's exactly what happened to Abraham in one of the most challenging stories in the Bible.
Abraham wasn't just any ordinary person. He was a man who had waited decades for a miracle - a son named Isaac, born when Abraham was 100 years old. This wasn't just any child. Isaac represented God's promise and hope for Abraham's entire future.
Then came the ultimate test.