Author: Stephen Trammell

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Beauty Fear Mother's Day

Mother’s Day

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Prov 31:30 (NIV) Our culture places immeasurable value on beauty. Teenage girls and women combat incalculable pressure to compete with the enhanced images of celebrities frequenting magazine covers. The pressure escalates as trends vacillate from month to month. What is considered a beautiful trait now may not measure up next month. Swirling in plurality, our culture redefines beauty as often as the shifting of sand upon the seashores. The Bible defines beauty in relationship to how one reveres God. From God’s perspective, beauty is an internal reality instead of an external commodity. Your authentic walk with God determines your level of beauty. External beauty is fleeting. From the moment we are born, our physical body begins to deteriorate. This shell that we live in continues to age. How we respond to God determines our inner beauty. Fearing God is the key to beauty. Fearing God means to revere Him, to adore Him, and to esteem Him. To fear God is to value what He values, to love what He loves, and to hate what He hates. Fearing God involves being perpetually aware of His holiness and purity. If your mother is still living, have you praised her for fearing the Lord? If your mother has already gone to heaven, spend some time in prayer thanking God for blessing you with a mother who feared the Lord. You are blessed to have such a rich heritage. I am so grateful to God for blessing me with a mother who fears the Lord. Her life has been a continual source of inspiration. My brother and I arise and call her blessed (Prv. 31:28). Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Comfort Suffering Testimony

Suffering as a Christian

“However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” 1 Peter 4:16 (NIV) When you received the gift of eternal life, you were saved by the grace of God. Your name was written in the Lamb’s book of life and your eternal security was sealed by the Holy Spirit. Your position in Christ is that of having a right relationship with God and a right relationship with others. The sacrificial death of Christ upon the cross provided you with a new identity, in Christ, as a child of God. Receiving the benefits of salvation is a joy. However, what you may not have realized is that being a follower of Jesus Christ includes suffering. You cannot be on mission with God and give your life to fulfilling the Great Commission and live out the Great Commandment without an element of suffering. Going against the current of culture will produce a level of suffering. Combating the satanic opposition from the kingdom of darkness will generate a level of suffering. Denying yourself and crucifying the flesh in order to walk in the Spirit will spawn an encounter with suffering. Do not be ashamed if you suffer as a Christian. Maybe you work in a difficult environment where Christianity is not well received. Maybe your home is not conducive to the reality of your Christianity. Perhaps being a Christian on your campus, at work, or in your home places you in the minority. Do not be ashamed. Give praise to God that you have high honor and privilege of bearing that name. You are Christ on your campus. You are Christ at your work. You are Christ in your home. Everywhere you go, you are representing Jesus! You are continuing the ministry of Jesus on the earth by doing what He did. You wear His name and you bear His identity. Remember, you may be the only Jesus others see! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Speech Witness

When You Speak

“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11 (NIV) Words have the power to build up or tear down. Words can inspire or discourage creativity. As a follower of Jesus Christ, your calling is to continue the ministry of Jesus on this earth. You are an ambassador for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). Your conduct and your communication will indicate the health of your love relationship with Christ. When you speak, you have the opportunity to be an irresistible influence for Christ. Your speech has the potential to impart life to a person who has been searching for meaning and purpose in life. The way you interact with others can bring them into a living connection with Jesus. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Peter exhorts us to remember that when we speak, we are speaking the very words of God. Consider the weight of your words. The manner in which you converse with others is of vital importance. Your speech gives clear evidence of that which is in your heart (Luke 6:45). If your speech becomes toxic and demeaning, then your heart has become hard and indifferent. If your speech is gentle, considerate, and life giving, then your heart is tender and teachable. Does your daily conversation bring praise to God? As God listens to the words that come from your lips, does He smile? Let’s be conscientious about the words we speak. Our words have immense power. Maybe that’s why James says we ought to be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19). When we do speak, let’s be cognizant of the privilege of speaking the very words of God. Being God’s voice in a noisy world is an awesome responsibility to behold. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Lordship Soulwinning Testimony

Prepared to Share

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV) Readiness to share your salvation story is proportionate to Lordship. Your submission to the Lordship of Christ determines your level of readiness to give an answer for the reason of the hope you have. When you make Jesus the Lord of your life, your passion becomes pleasing Him. Your ambition in life is to do what Jesus did. Submitted to the Lordship of Christ, your life becomes oriented to the redemptive activity of God. What is the reason for the hope you have? What was your life like before Christ became your Savior and Lord? How did you come to know Christ personally? What is different about your life now that you have an abiding love relationship with Him? Be prepared to give an answer. Be prepared to engage others in spiritual conversation. Unveil to others what Christ means to you and what He can do for them. Sadly, conversation can dilute into being superficial and temporal. What if you began to operate your life in light of eternity? What if your conversation became centered around the reality of God’s redeeming love? Give evidence to the Lordship of Christ in your life. With gentleness and respect, declare the hope you have in Christ. Speak of the mercy and grace of God you have been freely given. Allow the light of God’s love to radiate from your life and your lips. In Christ, you have the most powerful message on the planet. Are you ready to give an answer? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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God's Provision Trust

Entrusting Your Life

“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” 1 Peter 2:23 (NIV) Hurting people hurt people. Those who have been wounded often wound others. There’s something about our fallen nature that seeks revenge. When someone has inflicted pain onto us, we want them to experience the same measure of pain in return. Retribution saturates the landscape of our lives. Jesus ushered in a new way of living. Jesus demonstrated the proper response to unfair treatment and to adverse circumstances. If there were ever a person who did not deserve one fraction of mistreatment, it would be Jesus. His life was filled with compassion for others, generosity in action, and integrity both in private and in public. Jesus received unjust treatment. He was ridiculed and falsely accused, yet He did not retaliate. As He suffered, He made not threats. Jesus could have called down a legion of angels to eliminate His offenders. Instead of reacting to His assailants, Jesus responded by entrusting Himself to God. Jesus chose to entrust His life and His circumstances to the Creator of the universe. Jesus affirmed that God is the righteous and just judge. God sees the inequities of life. Sin will be judged. Penalties will be ascribed. Have you been treated unfairly? Did you choose to react or respond? Entrust your life to God. God created you for His glory. You are God’s workmanship (Eph. 2:10). You have a purpose to fulfill and a light to shine in this dark world. Fallen people will continue to act like fallen people until they come into a saving relationship with Jesus. Even after conversion, a person who becomes a follower of Christ can drift into some of the old fleshly patterns that wound and inflict pain. Don’t retaliate. Respond by entrusting your life to God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Readiness Spiritual Warfare

Readiness

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:13 (NIV) We are at war. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have to confront the reality of spiritual warfare. The kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness are in opposition. As children of the light, we must combat the forces of evil. God’s agenda is our agenda. God’s mission is our mission. Loyalty to Christ will produce opposition from Satan and his demonic forces. Be proactive by preparing your mind for action. Fill your mind with the Word of God and choose to claim God’s promises. God has revealed His plan and provided His spiritual armor for the spiritual battle. Prepare your mind for the warfare of combating temptation, sin, and compromise. Be self-controlled. This is no time for apathy or lethargy. Don’t drift into complacency. Submit to the control of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to bear the fruit of self-control in you. Yield to the Spirit’s prompting for perpetual victory over sin and Satan. Where have you anchored your hope? Your life in Christ is established on the basis of God’s grace. The grace that saved you is the grace that keeps you secure in the midst of opposition. God’s grace will sustain you whether you are in the valley of intense spiritual warfare or on the mountain of heavenly bliss. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Soulwinning Testimony Witnessing

Message Worth Sharing

“So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life–not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” 2 Tim 1:8-10 (NIV) Paul modeled his testimony before his son in the ministry, Timothy. Paul was consumed by the gospel. The Good News of Jesus Christ had radically transformed Paul’s life and he unashamedly bore witness to the saving grace of Jesus to a lost and dying world. “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” Romans 1:16 (NIV) “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.” 2 Cor 4:3 (NIV) What’s there to be ashamed about? Jesus has saved you and called you to a holy life by His own purpose and grace. Jesus has destroyed death and has brought forth life through His gospel. You are armed with the most powerful message on planet earth. The gospel impacts life in the now and the hereafter. God has given you an eternal message empowered by His eternal Spirit that brings forth eternal life to everyone who believes. You have been given the keys to unlock hell and open heaven for every person who turns from their sin and to Jesus alone for salvation. Hallelujah! Praise the Lamb of God! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Soulwinning Testimony Witnessing

Actively Sharing Your Faith

“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” Philem 1:6 (NIV) Our participation in God’s redemptive activity includes actively sharing our faith. We are commissioned by God and for God to share His redemptive love to all 12,500 people groups on this planet. God has saved us and set us free so that we can shine His light and share His love with every individual. God wants us to share our faith with those He brings into our path. God also wants us to build bridges to people we have never met in order to share our faith with them. Are you willing to seize the opportunities that God gives you? Are you willing to go on a short term mission trip in order to share your faith in other cultures? Your home is your mission field. Your neighborhood is your mission field. Your school is your mission field. Your work place is your mission field. Everywhere you go is terrain that God wants you to claim for His glory. How many people will be in heaven because of you? Will your life impact the population of hell? Will your testimony impact the population of heaven? God has given you the gift of eternal life so that you can personally share that gift with others. Don’t mute your testimony. Don’t conceal your testimony. Instead, reveal to others what God has done in your life to bring you to the point of salvation and abundant life. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Soulwinning Testimony Witnessing

Sharing Your Salvation Story

“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I ever did.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.” John 4:39-41 (NIV) God uses human instrumentality in the redemptive process. There is nothing like the power of a changed life. When someone turns from sin and to Jesus for salvation, that transformed life touches other people. The Samaritans knew the shadowy past of the woman at the well. They were familiar with her lifestyle and most impacted by her transformation. The woman at the well was willing to go back into her city to share her salvation story. She was willing to go back to her fellow Samaritans to share her testimony. The Lord Jesus had transformed her life and she was compelled to let her new life in Christ be an instrument to bring others to salvation. “They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world’” (John 4:42 NIV). Are you helping people come to know Christ? Are you sharing your personal testimony? Do your family members know your salvation story? Look for opportunities this week to share your testimony and watch how God uses your life to draw others to Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Soulwinning Testimony Witnessing

Entrusted with God’s Treasure

“On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.” 1 Thess 2:4 (NIV) God has called us to speak on His behalf. When others hear from us, they need to hear from God. God has saved us, is sanctifying us, and will be glorifying us. We speak as those who have been approved by God. God has entrusted us with the precious treasure of the gospel. The Good News that brings forth eternal life and the forgiveness of sins has been entrusted to us by God and for God. Our assignment is to share God’s plan of salvation with the lost. Every person on the planet is lost without Christ. Our mandate from God is to shine His light and to share His love with all people groups. What is our motivation? Is it to please men? Is it to receive the applause of men? No, we spread the fragrance of Christ to bring pleasure to God. We are ambassadors for Christ because God is making His appeal through us (2 Cor. 5:20). We live to please God. Our Heavenly Father has given us eternal life through His Son, Jesus. Are you convinced that lost people go to hell? Does your life give evidence to the reality of heaven and hell? You have been approved by God and entrusted with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Make it your ambition to please God. Express your appreciation to God by sharing His message of reconciliation with those disconnected from Christ. Make the smile of God the goal of your life. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Orchestration Sovereignty

God’s Orchestration

“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.” Eph 1:11-12 (NIV) Has your life ever become complicated and messy? Have you traveled down a road you never thought you would navigate? Living in a fallen world tends to cause us to experience unexpected turns in life. Sometimes we make poor choices and sometimes the decisions of others negatively affect us. It could be that a relationship has diverted into unhealthy patterns or personal behaviors have drifted away from God’s best. The good news is that God is sovereign. He rules and He reigns. He always has the final say in any and every situation. Even when you make a disastrous move, God can orchestrate your path for your good and His glory. Notice how our Bible verse says that God works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will. He is God! There is nothing that is impossible with Him. He can handle your situation. He can handle your relationships. God orchestrates everything we encounter to bring about His will. Right now your current challenge may seem like an uphill climb dragging two dead elephants. God can take any difficult situation and orchestrate the details to conform to His plan. Are you willing to surrender your hurts, your frustrations, your disappointments, and your fears to God? Release them and entrust them to God’s sovereign care. He is the master conductor in the orchestra called life. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Application Obedience Understanding

Understanding and Doing God’s Will

“Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.” Prov 4:5 (NIV) We know more than we obey. Wisdom is to know and comprehend. Understanding is to apply what we know and comprehend. Application of God’s Word indicates fullness in Christ. Just as a treadmill will not benefit your health unless you get on it and use it, God’s Word will not bring understanding until you apply it. Application leads to clarification, maturation, and transformation. Wisdom and understanding become evidenced through application. Put God’s Word and God’s wisdom into practice. Where do you start? You start by reading God’s Word. Next, you meditate on God’s Word. Then, you apply God’s Word. Instead of leaning on your own understanding, trust in the Lord and acknowledge His ways (Prv. 3:5-6). Instead of swerving from God’s Word, get His wisdom and His understanding (Prv. 4:5). Instead of coasting through life, diligently get understanding (Prv. 4:7). Obey what you know! Apply what God has spoken into your life with understanding! Walk in the light God gives you! The adventure continues as you walk with God and entrust your life to His care. God has special plans for you that will bring you into a closer relationship with Him. You will need God’s wisdom and understanding to participate with Him in His agenda. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Mystery Revelation Understanding

Unveiling the Mystery

“And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment–to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.” Eph 1:9-10 (NIV) The mystery Paul is speaking of is not mysterious. He is speaking about something once hidden now made known. God is a God of revelation. As Henry Blackaby says, “God reveals Himself, His purposes, and His ways.” God wants you to know His will. God invites you into a relationship through which you come to learn how to walk with Him. Have you noticed the activity of God in your life? There’s no mystery here! God is at work! It brings God pleasure to reveal His will to you. God is moved by the relational interaction between Himself and the one He pursues. You are that one! God pursues you with His everlasting love in order to bring you into harmony with His purpose and plans. You are treasured by God. Spend some time tracing the activity of God in your life. You may want to write down some spiritual markers in your life that help you identify God’s activity in and through your circumstances. Be sure to include spiritual markers such as salvation and baptism. Think about seasons of uncertainty that you navigated with God. Slow down and feel the love God has shown you. Be reminded of the faithfulness of God to reveal Himself to you in the midst of adversity. God has never left you and He will never forsake you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Eternal security Guarantee Spiritual Blessing

Safe and Sealed

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 2 Cor 1:21-22 (NIV) Perhaps you have heard the expression, “Life has no guarantees!” Well, that’s just not true. In Christ, you have a guarantee that no one can disrupt. God guarantees your safe and secure eternal destiny. How does God indicate the security of our future? “Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Cor 5:5 NIV). God gives His Holy Spirit to us at conversion. The moment we confess Jesus as Lord and embrace the reality that God raised Jesus from the dead; we are saved and filled with His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells us permanently. The Holy Spirit does not move in and then move out. His indwelling Presence becomes our guarantee. You are made fit by God for the Holy Spirit’s habitation. At the moment of your conversion, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of you. You become the walking Tabernacle of His Presence. The Holy Spirit guarantees what is to come. Your eternal security is enveloped by the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit. Have you received God’s deposit? Read Ephesians 1:13-14 and reflect on the spiritual blessing God has bestowed upon you. You are safe and sealed for eternity. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Atonement Faith Forgiveness

Forgiveness Forever

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Col 1:13-14 (NIV) If you are in Christ, then you are forgiven. Because of Christ’s atonement, you have been declared righteous. Your sins have been forgiven. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” Eph 1:7-8 (NIV) “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Heb 9:22 (NIV) Jesus shed His blood to pay the debt of your sin in full. Have you received God’s forgiveness? Confess your sins and God will forgive you of your sins (1 Jn 1:9). Jesus atoned for your sin by dying on the cross as the perfect and sinless sacrifice. His payment for your sin was sufficient to provide for your cleansing. Now walk in the reality of being in Christ. You are forgiven. You have a right standing before God because of your faith in the atoning work of Christ on the cross. You are forgiven because He was forsaken. Jesus bore the penalty for your sin. Jesus provided for the forgiveness of your sins. Heaven and eternal life define your future because of what Jesus did on your behalf. You are forgiven. Your sins have been removed as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:12). Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Faith Redemption Spiritual Blessing

Redeemed by the Blood

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” Eph 1:7-8 (NIV) Our position of being “in Christ” unlocks the treasure chest of His resources. It is imperative that you make certain that you are in Christ. Your union with Jesus will release the spiritual blessings He has for you. In Christ, you are a saint, you are chosen, you are adopted, you are accepted, and you are redeemed. Redemption in the language of the New Testament carries the idea of purchasing or redeeming a slave in order to set him free. Jesus purchased you with His blood in order to set you free. He ransomed you through His death. Do you realize how valuable you are in God’s sight? Do you understand that Jesus paid your sin debt in full? You have been redeemed! I am reminded of the song, “He paid a debt He did not owe. I owed a debt I could not pay. I needed someone to wash my sins away.” Thank God for His redeeming love! Rejoice in your new identity that Christ purchased! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Acceptance Faith Spiritual Blessing

Accepting His Acceptance

“…to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” Eph 1:6 (NIV) How do you respond to rejection? Do you allow the rejection to inject you with insecurity or do you challenge the rejection? Rejection is painful. We long for acceptance. The wonderful news is that in Christ, you are accepted. God has accepted you on the basis of His redeeming love for you. Remember, in Christ, you are a saint, you are blessed, you are chosen, you are adopted, and you are accepted. Have you accepted God’s acceptance of you? He took the initiative to demonstrate His acceptance of you by freely giving you His grace in Jesus. Do you measure up to His standard of righteousness? No! However, God declared you righteous when you accepted the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. When rejection surfaces, combat the lies with the truth of God’s acceptance of you. Your peace in this life will be proportionate to your acceptance of God’s acceptance of you. Your acceptance of God’s acceptance of you will give you lasting peace and eternal security. Some people may reject you. At times, people may misunderstand you. However, you can respond to rejection by living in light of your acceptance of God’s acceptance of you. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NIV). Your acceptance has permanence! Choose to accept God’s acceptance of you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Adopted God's Family Identity

Adopted into God’s Family

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will–to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” Eph 1:4-6 (NIV) If you are in Christ, then have been adopted into God’s family. God gave the right for you to become a child of God. In love, God predestined you to be adopted as His child in Jesus Christ. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12 NIV). God’s grace is the gateway to your adoption into His family (Eph. 2:8-9). Your adoption is formalized at conversion. God takes the initiative to draw you by convicting you of sin and convincing you of His righteousness. God gives you the freedom to choose Him or refuse Him. His salvation is available to all but only effective for those who place their trust in the completed work of Jesus on the cross. Adoption is not an option. Adoption is the spiritual blessing for those who are in Christ. Spend some time thanking God for His willingness to adopt you into His family. God selected you. You are God’s choice. In spite of your sin, in spite of your inadequacies, and in spite of your inconsistencies, God chose to adopt you into His family. Be sensitive to opportunities this week to express your adoption. God has made this eternal adoption transaction available to all. Will you be available to be used by God to share His offer of salvation to those who are disconnected from Christ? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Chosen Identity Spiritual Blessing

Chosen By God

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Eph 1:4 (NIV) Have you ever wondered what makes people do good things? Why would someone choose the way of truth? Why would someone set their heart on God’s laws? Perhaps a person’s behavior is related to his or her position in Christ. In Christ, you are a saint, you are blessed, and you are chosen. Did you choose God or did God choose you? You were chosen by God long before you were even born. The song says, “While He (Jesus) was on the cross, I was on His mind.” Even before Jesus came to earth to live a sinless life, die a substitutionary death, and defeat sin and death, you were chosen by God. Before God splattered the stars in the universe, you were chosen. Before God spoke light into existence, you were chosen. Before God separated the day from the night, you were chosen. “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” John 15:16 (NIV) “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.” 2 Thess 2:13 (NIV) Why were you chosen? You were chosen by God to bear fruit that will last. You were chosen by God to be saved. Can you pull that off by yourself? No! Does God expect you to pull that off by yourself? No! Jesus came so that you could live the life of choseness. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Blessed Faith Identity Spiritual Blessing

Blessed to Be a Blessing

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Eph 1:3 (NIV) You are God’s treasure. Can you imagine the Creator of the universe being the reason for your existence? You are not an accident. God purposed for you to be born. You were planned by God. Another reality of being in Christ is that you are blessed. If you are in Christ, then you can say, “I am blessed.” Go ahead and say it aloud! God has blessed you in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. God’s resources are unlimited. He never runs out! He never runs dry! His shelves are never empty! Our God of abundance has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in Christ. When someone asks you today, “How are you doing?”…don’t say, “Oh, I’m doing alright.” Instead, say with conviction and confidence and assurance, “I am  blessed!” Doesn’t that make you want to shout? Don’t ever forget who you are in Christ. You are a child of the King! You are blessed and highly favored by the Lord. Walk in the new identity you have in Christ. You are blessed to be a blessing to others. Regardless of your circumstances, your identity in Christ is safe and secure. Your identity is fashioned by God. You are blessed by God to be a blessing for God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Faith Identity Saint

Spiritual Blessings In Christ

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:” Eph 1:1 (NIV) In her book, Breaking Free, Beth Moore reminds us of our position in Christ in the following affirmations: God is who He says He is. God can do what He says He can do. I am who God says I am. I can do all things through Christ. God’s Word is alive and active in me. Seek to memorize these five statements and speak them aloud each morning to start your day off in the right frame of mind. It will affect your outlook and attitude in a life-giving way. Focus with me on the third affirmation: I am who God says I am. Repeat that phrase to yourself and allow it to sink in. Let’s notice the connection of this truth with the spiritual blessings we have in Christ. If you are in Christ, then God says that you are a saint. A saint is one who has been set apart by God. Your faith in the atoning work of Christ on the cross transfers your identity to that of a saint. It does not mean that you are perfect and immune to the presence of sin. It means that God positions you as a saint. God did for you that which you could not do for yourself. You have a new standing before God and with God. If you are in Christ, then you are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). God made Jesus to become sin so that you could become the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). Walk in the reality of your spiritual blessing in Christ. In Christ, you are a saint. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Church Resurrection

Serving in Resurrection Power

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Matt 16:18 (NIV) God ordained marriage and God ordained the church. We are married to Christ and our union is expressed through His Body, the church. Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus affirmed that He would build His church on that reality. In order to become a follower of Jesus Christ and become a member of His Body, the church, a person must confess Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. This profession of our faith is essential to salvation (Rom. 10:9-10). Jesus builds His church by adopting us into His family (Eph. 1:5). Only those who are born again enter into His Kingdom (John 3:3). Jesus builds His church. Our job is to be the church. Jesus saves people from their sin. Our job is to share the Good News of Jesus so that others can know Jesus personally and eternally. Jesus saves us, not sit, but to serve. Our role in the Body of Christ, the church, is to empty hell and to populate heaven. How many people will be in heaven because of you? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Power Resurrection Salvation

Living in the Power

“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” Mt. 28:6  (NIV) Are you living in the power of the resurrection? Jesus is alive! The redemptive act of God has ushered forth new life and a new beginning. God is who He says He is and does what He says He will do. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead changes everything. The darkness has turned to light. Sin and death no longer have mastery over us. Both have been defeated. Have you allowed the empty tomb to become a reality in your daily living? Are you walking in perpetual consciousness of God’s redemptive activity? There’s more to Easter than just dressing up and going to church. The fact that Jesus rose from the dead establishes our eternal destiny and enables us to proclaim His redemption story throughout the earth. Praise the Living God today! He rules and He reigns! Allow Jesus to have full access to your hurts, your habits, and your hang ups. Allow Him to bring His resurrection power to every area of your life so that you can live in fullness everyday. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to you. Live in His resurrection power. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Faith Resurrection Victory

Resurrection Faith

“Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died–more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Romans 8:34 (NIV) What did Jesus do? He lived a sinless life, He died a sacrificial death, and He rose bodily from the dead. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to over five hundred eyewitnesses (1 Cor. 15:6). Then, Jesus ascended back to His Father in heaven (Lk. 24:51). Now what? What does Jesus do? Jesus intercedes for us. He is at the right hand of God praying for us. Jesus always lives to intercede for us (Heb. 7:25). Not only do we enjoy the fruit of His death, resurrection, and ascension, but we also continue to benefit from Jesus’ ministry of intercessory prayer. Jesus is alive and actively fulfilling God’s agenda. You can receive God’s offer of salvation by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9). You can be adopted into God’s family (Eph. 1:5). Your name can be written in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev. 21:27). Your sins can be forgiven (1 Jn. 1:9). You have access to everything you need for life and godliness (2 Pt. 1:3). As you abide in Christ and grow in your love relationship with Him, you have the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit within you. In Christ, your salvation is secure and Jesus makes intercession for you. Not a moment goes by in which Jesus is not praying for you. Your name, your life, your circumstances, and your future continually go before our Heavenly Father through the compassionate lips of Jesus. Jesus died for you and Jesus lives to intercede for you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Obstacles Resurrection Victory

Rolling the Stone Away

“When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, ‘Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?’” Mark 16:1-3 (NIV) What’s on your mind this morning? Is there anything that has been troubling you and draining your emotional energy? On their way to the tomb, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome were troubled by the challenge of removing the massive stone covering the entrance to the tomb. They were perplexed by the apparent dilemma. The question lingered in their minds, “Who will roll the stone away?” Perhaps you are facing a challenge that defies your ability to bring about resolution. Maybe there is an obstacle keeping you from living the victorious Christian life God offers. Who will roll the stone away for you? Your stone may be financial, relational, or vocational. Your stone may be medical, emotional, or familial. Whatever your stone represents, God has the power to roll your stone away. When the women arrived at the tomb, they saw that the stone had been rolled away (Mark 16:4). The very thing that had worried them most was alleviated first. God had rolled the stone away, not to let Jesus out, but to let the women in. God had already provided for their victory. God did for the women that which they could not do for themselves. Have you given your stone to the Lord? In prayer, spend some time releasing your stone of adversity, your stone of worry, or your stone of uncertainty. Receive the comfort God provides. Embrace the resolution God prompts. Trust God’s timing to accomplish His will His way. God knows the obstacles in your path. God sees the terrain of your pain. Place your confidence in the One who created you for His glory. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Life Power Resurrection Victory

Reigning in Life

“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” Romans 8:11 (NIV) Is He in you? Is the Holy Spirit living in you? If you are a child of God, then you are the walking tabernacle of the presence of Almighty God. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19-20).  The Holy Spirit is your Counselor, the Spirit of truth, who lives with you and in you forever (John 14:16-17).  At the moment of your conversion, you received the Holy Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come (2 Cor. 5:5). You were saved the moment you confessed Jesus as Lord and believed in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Rm. 10:9-10).  The Holy Spirit is the deposit guaranteeing your eternal inheritance (Eph. 1:14). This same Spirit, the Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, gives life to your mortal body. Your body is in a constant motion of decay. Your mortal body is not made to last forever. One day, you will receive a glorified body. Until then, you are to allow the Holy Spirit to live in you and through you to accomplish God’s mission on earth. You cannot reign in this life unless you allow the Holy Spirit to reign in your life. Surrender to His control. Be filled with the Holy Spirit by yielding to His leadership in your life (Eph. 5:18). Live by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16). Allow the Holy Spirit to bear His fruit (Gal. 5:22-23).  Stay connected to the Vine and bear much fruit for the glory of God (John 15:5). Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Life Power Resurrection

Resurrection Power

“With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:33 (NIV) How is resurrection power evidenced in your life? The apostles demonstrated resurrection power as they testified of the bodily resurrection of the Lord. They combated immense opposition to share the gospel. They were willing to risk everything for the sake of witnessing to the reality of the resurrected Lord. As they gave witness of the Lord’s resurrection, the grace of God was upon them. Could it be that God reserves His resurrection power for the most important task? Is it possible that God unleashes His resurrection power when you join Him in His redemptive activity? When you testify of His redeeming love, God releases His power in you to accomplish His task of spreading the fragrance of Christ. When you enter the spiritual battlefield for the souls of men, women, boys, and girls, God empowers you for the mission. Are you attempting anything that requires resurrection power? Are you living on mission with God to the extent that you are desperate for His divine enabling? God has given you everything you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). As you share the gospel, remember that it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Rom. 1:16). There’s no need to be ashamed. Operate in the resurrection power God provides. Allow God to take you places you have never been in your love relationship with Him. Trust God to give you the boldness and the courage to confront the culture and to present the wonderful saving news of Jesus. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Life Resurrection Victory

Resurrection Reality

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:25-26 (NIV) Belief brings ultimate relief. Believing in Jesus brings the ultimate relief of knowing that you will never die. In Christ, you will never experience the sting of death (1 Cor. 15:55-57). Those who choose to live and believe in Jesus will never die. For the Child of God, death is not a wall to climb, but rather an open door to enter. Jesus has built the bridge to transfer a believer from life on earth to life in heaven. Martha was troubled by the death of her brother, Lazarus. She did not understand why Jesus delayed in coming to the rescue. Jesus comforted Martha and affirmed that He was the resurrection and the life. Martha placed her faith in Jesus (John 11:27). Jesus called Lazarus forth from the grave and he came out wrapped in grave clothes. Jesus commanded that his grave clothes be removed. Lazarus experienced Jesus as the resurrection and the life. Martha witnessed the miracle of resurrection. As a child of God, you are armed with the powerful message of eternal hope and security. You can personally deliver the good news that whoever confesses Christ will never die. You can participate with God in His redemptive activity by sharing the saving news of Jesus with the lost. Heaven and eternal life are fixtures in the life of every believer. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Easter Life Resurrection

He has Risen

“He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Luke 24:6-7 (NIV) In a world saturated with the confetti of bad news, as followers of Jesus Christ, we have the privilege of operating on the basis of the good news of the resurrection. Jesus has risen! He is alive! The tomb is empty! Our message to the world is a message of hope. Our message to the world is a message filled with resurrection power and a demonstration of God’s unconditional love. Just as we have experienced the reality of the resurrected Christ, we can share that wonderful news with a world living in darkness and doubt. For the believer, everyday is Easter. We operate our lives in light of the reality of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The grave couldn’t hold Him and death couldn’t defeat Him. Jesus conquered sin, the grave, and death. Jesus brought forth life eternal to those who believe in Him. Are you living in light of the resurrection? Is your life a perpetual demonstration of resurrection power? Share the good news of the resurrection. Live each moment in the resurrection power God provides. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to you. You cannot live the Christian life in your own power. Righteous living requires resurrection power. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Grace Mercy Reconciliation

The Miracle of Reconciliation

“But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.“ Col 1:22 (NIV) Does life make sense to you? Are you clear about why you exist and why God has placed you right where you are? Do you understand where you fit in God’s story? It all begins with God and His invitation for you to be reconciled to Him. Discipleship is both initial and perpetual. You make an initial commitment to Christ by confessing your sin and receiving God’s provision for the forgiveness of your sin. You are reconciled to God and your old life of sin is exchanged for the new life Christ provides. Your commitment to Christ is perpetual in that following Christ is an ongoing moment-by-moment conscious decision to continue following Christ. God’s redemptive story includes you. If you choose to become a follower of Jesus Christ, you come into alignment with God’s purpose and plan. Life will never make sense until you come to the place of turning your life completely over to Jesus. Allow Him to be the Lord of your life. Bring Jesus to the center of your destiny and your daily decisions. In Christ, you are reconciled to God and considered holy in His sight. You are now without blemish and free from accusation through the death of Christ. His sacrifice brought forth your new identity in Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor