Category: Eternity

Trusting God

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) Trust God with the remainder of your days. He knows when you will take your final breath of earthly air. God is all-knowing and God is eternal. He sees the entirety of your life. He already knows every decision you will make and every path that you will take. In His foreknowledge, God already knows what the final chapter of your earthly existence looks like. Are you willing to trust God with your life? Are you willing to place your life completely in His hands? Live your remaining days with the focus and tenacity of a passionate follower of Christ. Don’t rely on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge the sovereignty of God. Live with the awareness of God’s purity, power, and perspective. God is for you. He demonstrated His love for you before you had a chance to weigh in on the transaction (Romans 5:8). God took the initiative to bring you into a love relationship with Himself. Place God first in your life (Matt. 6:33) and He will make your paths straight. Give Him the proper place of allegiance and loyalty. God deserves your devotion and your worship. Make no room for apathy or lethargy. With the time you have left on this earth, trust God with all of your heart. Allow your love relationship with Him to demonstrate who you are and whose you are! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Death Eternity Life

Placing Value on Life

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:25-26 (ESV) The value of life seems to go up when you come face to face with death. If you have ever had someone close to you die, you know what I mean. We tend to take life for granted until we brush up against the reality of death. Maybe you have leaned on the door of death personally through tragedy or health issues. When I almost died in a Jet Ski accident on February 23, 1986, at 2:20pm at Buhlow Lake in Alexandria, Louisiana, the value I placed on life elevated exponentially. When I held my daughter, Tori, for the first time, the value I had placed on life catapulted again. Five years later, when I held my son, Austin, for the first time, the value I had placed on life skyrocketed yet again. Martha expressed her faith in Jesus and acknowledged that her brother, Lazarus, would not have died had Jesus been there. Jesus, the One who establishes the value of a life, declared, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Martha understood that her brother would rise again on the last day. She was looking to the distant future. Jesus reminded her of the immediate reality. Do you believe that Jesus is who He says He is? The value of your life has already been established by the saving work Jesus did for you on the cross. Jesus took your place. You can know Jesus, the resurrection and the life, personally and eternally. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Eternity Job Life

Brevity of Life

“‘Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.’” Job 14:1-2 (ESV) Job confronts his human condition. He acknowledges the brevity of life and the certainty of death. Job identifies the presence of pain and tribulation in this fallen world. In anguish of soul, Job considers his life and weighs the impact of his circumstances. Sometimes life seems to race by like the flash of a camera and at other times life seems to slow down and emerge at the pace of a canoe on a still pond. The common denominator is the brevity of life. In light of eternity, life on earth is so brief. It is difficult to fathom that a person’s life can be condensed to the dash between the date of one’s birth and one’s death. “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” James 4:14 (ESV) Will your dash make an eternal difference? Will you allow God to use you for His glory? You may have a few more decades of living on this earth or you may only have a few months. What will you do with the time you have left? Invest the rest of your life in that which has eternal value. Stop fretting over the things in this life that erode your peace and evaporate your passion for the Lord. Focus on the love God has for you and the love God wants you to express to a lost and dying world through you. Jesus warned us to anticipate tribulation in this world. Rejoice! Jesus has overcome the world and He lives in you. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Eternity God's Nature John 3:16

The Greatest Number

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ESV) God so loved the world. John used world (Greek: kosmos) 78 times in his Gospel and 24 times in his letters. The world refers to the realm of humanity arrayed in opposition to God. Jesus entered our world in His incarnation, knowing that hostility would result and that sacrifice would be needed to redeem the world. The world God came to rescue is filled with people who embrace darkness habitually. Humanity is fallen and flawed. The human condition is hopeless and helpless without divine intervention. God took the initiative to become like us so that we could become like Him. God came to rescue people groups who embody distinction culturally. The current world population exceeds 7 billion people. Two-thousand years ago, God provided for the salvation of our souls. Jesus paid the penalty for our sin and purchased our salvation. Every person on the planet can be saved, but every person on the planet will not be saved unless each individual receives the gift of eternal life by faith. The world God came to rescue is filled with people who experience or escape damnation individually. For God so loved the fallen world that He gave His one and only Son to rescue those living in darkness so that they could become citizens in the kingdom of light. Each person must individually place their faith in Jesus alone for salvation. You cannot receive the gift of eternal life for someone else. Each person is responsible for his or her decision in response to the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. As followers of Jesus Christ and recipients of His grace, we have the awesome privilege and responsibility to make Jesus known throughout the earth. How many people will be in heaven because of you? Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Eternity Heaven Judgment Seat of Christ Prayer

Giving an Account

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV) What you do with Christ during your brief stay on planet earth will determine whether you spend eternity in heaven or hell. Your response to God’s offer of salvation is the deciding factor to your eternal destination. As Bruce Wilkinson says, “Your belief determines where you will spend eternity; your behavior determines how you will spend eternity.” “Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.” Rom. 14:10 (ESV) “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil. 2:9-11 (ESV) Every human being will stand before God to give an account for his or her life. Every person will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! Those who reject God’s offer of salvation while living on earth will still bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, but it will be eternally too late. Believers will go to the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive reward and heaven while unbelievers will go to the White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15) to receive punishment and hell. Live circumspectly! Live in full awareness of God’s holiness, purity, and justice! Take as many people with you to heaven as you possibly can in full surrender to the Spirit’s control. Make the most of every opportunity! Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Eternity Heaven Jesus

No Place Like Home

“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” John 14:2 (ESV) Heaven is a place you can call home. When Jesus spoke these words of comfort to His disciples, He affirmed the reality of heaven and the specific rooms, mansions, or abodes in heaven. Jesus was not going to build what was already in heaven. Rather, Jesus was indicating that He was preparing a place for them and us in heaven by going to the cross to pay the penalty of their sin and our sin. “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Heb. 1:3 (ESV) “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” Phil. 3:20-21 (ESV) Jesus has prepared a place for you in heaven by becoming the atoning sacrifice for your sin. Jesus has purchased your salvation with His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. As a result, your citizenship is in heaven. You are an alien on this earth. God made you not for time, but for eternity. Don’t get discouraged. Don’t lose hope. Don’t get too enamored by this life on planet earth. You aren’t home yet. Heaven is your home! There’s no place like home… Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Eternity God's Provision Heaven

Looking to Your Eternal Home

Post author By Stephen Trammell
Post date January 29, 2014
6 Comments on Looking to Your Eternal Home

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6 (ESV) You are not home, yet! God has a mission for you to fulfill before He calls you home. Don’t get so focused on your destination that you neglect the daily ministry God wants you to extend and the daily provision God wants you to experience. You were placed here by God to accomplish His will. God’s goodness will shadow you every step of the way. There isn’t a moment that goes by in which the goodness of God is not functioning in your life. His goodness follows you because God is good. God’s love will be your companion every moment for the remainder of your life on earth. There is never a love deficit when God is near. His love will inspire you and sustain you through the various terrains of life. You will dwell in God’s house for eternity. You will have a mansion in glory and enjoy unending fellowship with the Master of the universe. Heaven is your destiny. Eternity with Jesus is your reality. As you look forward to your eternal home, how many people will be there because of your influence? How many people will experience the joy of eternal life in heaven as a result of your witness on the earth? Share your salvation story with people that God brings into your sphere of influence. Be active in sharing your faith. Pray for the lost. Give financially to support missions. Go on a short-term mission trip to sow the Gospel seed. Walk across the room to serve others and to show them the love of Jesus. Continue the ministry of Jesus! Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Eternity Faith Finishing Strong

Hall of Faith

“All these people were still living by faith when they died.” Hebrews 11:13 (NIV) It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish. Commit to finish well. When you study the Hall of Faith found in Hebrews chapter eleven, you will discover great men and women who chose to finish well. They were still living by faith when they died. What are you giving your life to? Have you determined the focus of your life? Living by faith involves allowing Christ to live His life through you. Living by faith includes surrendering your life to God’s agenda. Yielding to the Lordship of Christ moment by moment validates the reality of living by faith. “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Pet. 1:8-9 (NIV) “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 Pet. 1:13 (NIV) Determine to cross the finish line of this life living by faith. Don’t let anything or anyone deter you from living a life pleasing to God. Grow in your love relationship with the Lord so that your daily walk will give evidence to a life of faith. Trusting God with the details of your life requires activating your faith. Will you submit to God’s authority? Will you obey God’s Word and embrace His way? Finish well by demonstrating a life of instant obedience. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Eternity Job Life

Brevity of Life

“‘Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. 2 He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.’” Job 14:1-2 (ESV) Job confronts his human condition. He acknowledges the brevity of life and the certainty of death. Job identifies the presence of pain and tribulation in this fallen world. In anguish of soul, Job considers his life and weighs the impact of his circumstances. Sometimes life seems to race by like the flash of a camera and at other times life seems to slow down and emerge at the pace of a canoe on a still pond. The common denominator is the brevity of life. In light of eternity, life on earth is so brief. It is difficult to fathom that a person’s life can be condensed to the dash between the date of one’s birth and one’s death. “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” James 4:14 (ESV) Will your dash make an eternal difference? Will you allow God to use you for His glory? You may have a few more decades of living on this earth or you may only have a few months. What will you do with the time you have left? Invest the rest of your life in that which has eternal value. Stop fretting over the things in this life that erode your peace and evaporate your passion for the Lord. Focus on the love God has for you and the love God wants you to express to a lost and dying world through you. Jesus warned us to anticipate tribulation in this world. Rejoice! Jesus has overcome the world and He lives in you. Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 7: Job 14-16) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Eternity Faith Finishing Strong

Hall of Faith

“All these people were still living by faith when they died.” Heb 11:13 (NIV) It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish. Commit to finish well. When you study the Hall of Faith found in Hebrews chapter eleven, you will discover great men and women who chose to finish well. They were still living by faith when they died. What are you giving your life to? Have you determined the focus of your life? Living by faith involves allowing Christ to live His life through you. Living by faith includes surrendering your life to God’s agenda. Yielding to the Lordship of Christ moment by moment validates the reality of living by faith. “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8-9 (NIV) “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) Determine to cross the finish line of this life living by faith. Don’t let anything or anyone deter you from living a life pleasing to God. Grow in your love relationship with the Lord so that your daily walk will give evidence to a life of faith. Trusting God with the details of your life requires activating your faith. Will you submit to God’s authority? Will you obey God’s Word and embrace His way? Finish well by demonstrating a life of instant obedience. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Eternity God's Nature John 3:16

The Greatest Number

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV) God so loved the world. John used world (Greek: kosmos) 78 times in his Gospel and 24 times in his letters. The world refers to the realm of humanity arrayed in opposition to God. Jesus entered our world in His incarnation, knowing that hostility would result and that sacrifice would be needed to redeem the world. The world God came to rescue is filled with people who embrace darkness habitually. Humanity is fallen and flawed. The human condition is hopeless and helpless without divine intervention. God took the initiative to become like us so that we could become like Him. God came to rescue people groups who embody distinction culturally. There are currently over 12,500 people groups on the earth. The current world population exceeds 6.8 billion people. Two-thousand years ago, God provided for the salvation of our souls. Jesus paid the penalty for our sin and purchased our salvation. Every person on the planet can be saved, but every person on the planet will not be saved unless each individual receives the gift of eternal life by faith. The world God came to rescue is filled with people who experience or escape damnation individually. For God so loved the fallen world that He gave His one and only Son to rescue those living in darkness so that they could become citizens in the kingdom of light. Each person must individually place their faith in Jesus alone for salvation. You cannot receive the gift of eternal life for someone else. Each person is responsible for his or her decision in response to the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. As followers of Jesus Christ and recipients of His grace, we have the awesome privilege and responsibility to make Jesus known throughout the earth. How many people will be in heaven because of you? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Eternity Heaven Judgment Seat of Christ Prayer

Giving an Account

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Cor 5:10 (NIV) What you do with Christ during your brief stay on planet earth will determine whether you spend eternity in heaven or hell. Your response to God’s offer of salvation is the deciding factor to your eternal destination. As Bruce Wilkinson says, “Your belief determines where you will spend eternity; your behavior determines how you will spend eternity.” “You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.” Romans 14:10 (NIV) “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil 2:9-11 (NIV) Every human being will stand before God to give an account for his or her life. Every person will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! Those who reject God’s offer of salvation while living on earth will still bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, but it will be eternally too late. Believers will go to the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive reward and heaven while unbelievers will go to the White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15) to receive punishment and hell. Live circumspectly! Live in full awareness of God’s holiness, purity, and justice! Take as many people with you to heaven as you possibly can in full surrender to the Spirit’s control. Make the most of every opportunity! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Eternity Heaven Jesus

No Place Like Home

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2 (NIV) Heaven is a place you can call home. When Jesus spoke these words of comfort to His disciples, He affirmed the reality of heaven and the specific rooms, mansions, or abodes in heaven. Jesus was not going to build what was already in heaven. Rather, Jesus was indicating that He was preparing a place for them and us in heaven by going to the cross to pay the penalty of their sin and our sin. “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Heb 1:3 (NIV) “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Phil 3:20-21 (NIV) Jesus has prepared a place for you in heaven by becoming the atoning sacrifice for your sin. Jesus has purchased your salvation with His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. As a result, your citizenship is in heaven. You are an alien on this earth. God made you not for time, but for eternity. Don’t get discouraged. Don’t lose hope. Don’t get too enamored by this life on planet earth. You aren’t home yet. Heaven is your home! There’s no place like home… Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Eternity God's Provision Heaven

Looking to Your Eternal Home

Post author By Stephen Trammell
Post date January 29, 2010
62 Comments on Looking to Your Eternal Home

“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:6 (NIV) You are not home, yet! God has a mission for you to fulfill before He calls you home. Don’t get so focused on your destination that you neglect the daily ministry God wants you to extend and the daily provision God wants you to experience. You were placed here by God to accomplish His will. God’s goodness will shadow you every step of the way. There isn’t a moment that goes by in which the goodness of God is not functioning in your life. His goodness follows you because God is good. God’s love will be your companion every moment for the remainder of your life on earth. There is never a love deficit when God is near. His love will inspire you and sustain you through the various terrains of life. You will dwell in God’s house for eternity. You will have a mansion in glory and enjoy unending fellowship with the Master of the universe. Heaven is your destiny. Eternity with Jesus is your reality. As you look forward to your eternal home, how many people will be there because of your influence? How many people will experience the joy of eternal life in heaven as a result of your witness on the earth? Share your salvation story with people that God brings into your sphere of influence. Be active in sharing your faith. Pray for the lost. Give financially to support missions. Go on a short-term mission trip to sow the Gospel seed. Walk across the room to serve others and to show them the love of Jesus. Continue the ministry of Jesus! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Eternity Heaven Perspective Something Great

Eternal Perspective

Do something great by keeping an eternal perspective. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Phil 1:21 (NIV) Imagine flying at an altitude of thirty-thousand feet and scanning the colorful blocks of land on the earth’s surface. There is something about the view that gives you such a unique perspective on life. You begin to realize how small you are and how big the earth is. How do you view your life? Are you just breathing oxygen and taking up space or are you living on purpose by keeping an eternal perspective. God’s story is both massive and eternal. His plan includes you. You are an integral part of God’s redemptive story. God saved you, filled you with His Spirit, and gifted you to fulfill His purposes in your lifetime. Paul embraced an eternal perspective. He never lost sight of his win-win situation. If he lived, Christ lived with him. If Paul died, then he would live with Christ. Paul allowed his eternal perspective to fuel his courage and boldness for the Lord. “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Phil 3:20-21 (NIV) Will you choose to live this year with eternity in mind? Remember, there’s more to this life than what you see. There is life beyond the grave! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor (This devotional was originally posted in ’07 or ’08. I’m taking a break from writing for a season of personal renewal.) Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Decisions Eternity Heaven

Timely Decision

“But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’” Luke 13:27 (NIV) The clock is ticking. There is a limited amount of time to respond to God’s offer of salvation. Why would anyone gamble with his or her eternal destination? Why would anyone delay his or her response to God’s offer of heaven and eternal life? No person knows how much time he or she has left on the earth. Sadly, there are some who delay their decision to follow Christ until it is too late. The window of opportunity closes at death or the Rapture, depending which comes first in a person’s lifetime. When you die, it is too late to receive the gift of eternal life if you have not already done so. Once Jesus raptures the church, it will be too late for those who failed to place their faith in Jesus alone for salvation. In witnessing to people over the years, I have heard many people remark that they were planning to have fun, experience everything this world has to offer, and then get right with God right before they die. Now that is presuming upon the grace of God. How dangerous to assume that you can flirt with the things of this world and then right at the end, get right with God! “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” Isaiah 55:6 (NIV) “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor 6:2 (NIV) Be a bridge builder to those who do not have a saving relationship with Jesus. Live each day with a sense of urgency. Live expectantly knowing that Jesus could rapture the church at any moment. Live in light of His return! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Eternity Heaven Jesus

A Redemptive Answer

“He said to them, ‘Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.’” Luke 13:23-24 (NIV) Can you visualize the front door to the home you grew up in? You can probably describe the color, texture, and specific features of that door. Access to your home was granted through that door. Jesus said that we must enter through the narrow door to gain access into eternal life and heaven. In order to access salvation, we are to strive to enter through the narrow door. The door to salvation is Jesus. “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.” John 10:9 (NIV) “’Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.’” Acts 4:12 (NIV) You cannot work your way to heaven and you cannot get to heaven on your own. Even on your best day, your righteousness is not sufficient to gain salvation. There is no other way to get to heaven outside of the redemptive plan of God. God provided for the forgiveness of your sin through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. You access this salvation by placing your faith in Jesus alone. The gift of eternal life has been made available. Your response to God’s offer of salvation will determine where you spend eternity. Enter through the narrow door. The door is Jesus! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Eternity Jesus Salvation

A Loaded Question

“Someone asked him, ‘Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?’” Luke 13:23 (NIV) Have you ever wondered how many people will be in heaven? As Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, someone asked him if only a few people were going to be saved. That is a very important question. The answer to that question has eternal implications. What made this person ask such a question? Maybe he embraced a false sense of security as a Jew assuming that he was safely in the fold of the people of God. It could be that this individual noticed how the number of followers of Christ had dwindled as Jesus’ popularity reduced while persecution had elevated. Maybe the person asking the question had a genuine concern for the salvation of humanity. “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Tim 2:3-4 (NIV) “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) God has provided the way for everyone who turns to Christ to be rescued from eternal damnation. Are you willing to participate with God in the redemptive process? Are you willing to be used of God to shine His light and share His love with a dark and decaying world? Consider those who do not have a saving relationship with Jesus. Will the saved be few? You can make a difference in the population in heaven. Your life is a witness. Will you intentionally build relationships with those who do not know Christ in order to bring the Good News to them? Allow others to experience the salvation that you have received. Let others enjoy the wonderful peace of having the assurance of heaven and eternal life. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Eternity Grace Relationships Salvation

Grace for the Race

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph 2:8-9 (NIV) We need grace for the race called life. Outside of God’s grace, we would have never discovered the salvation we now have in Christ. God graced us with the gift of eternal life in response to our faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross. It is not from ourselves. Salvation was initiated by God and extended to us by His grace. We do not work for salvation. But, once we are saved, we will want to work so that others can receive the gift of eternal life. Our work is sharing the grace found in Christ with others who have not come into a saving relationship with Christ. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (NIV) “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Heb 4:16 (NIV) There’s no room for boasting about the salvation we have graciously received from God. The gift of eternal life has been made possible through the sacrificial death of Jesus upon the cross. Jesus died and rose from the dead so that we could be recipients of His grace and live in union with Him for eternity. Grace enables you to pray. Grace gives you access to our Holy God. You need God’s grace for every step of the race. And remember, the same grace that saves you is the same grace that keeps you. God’s grace will bring you safely home. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Eternity Influence Relationships Soulwinning

The Real Party

“Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.” Luke 5:29 (NIV) Jesus changed Levi’s life. Shifting from being a tax collector to being a follower of Jesus, Levi wanted to honor Jesus by hosting a banquet at his house. Levi invited a large crowd of tax collectors along with others. The sinner chose to invite his fellow sinners to hear the Savior. Levi wanted his friends to experience the life transformation that comes through a personal relationship with Jesus. Levi provided them with the opportunity to be with Jesus. At that point in Levi’s life, his sphere of influence included those who were despised by their fellow Jews. Tax collectors were not esteemed, but rather considered traitors. Yet, Levi reached out to them because he was one of them. Levi was willing to create an environment in his home to honor Jesus and to invite others to receive the salvation Jesus provides. Think about the people God has placed in your life. Do you have a “Levi” in your sphere of influence? Is there anyone you have written off as unreachable? Remember that Jesus came to seek and to save the Lost (Luke 19:10). “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31 (NIV) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Cor 5:17 (NIV) Begin to pray for the “Levi” God has placed in your life. Watch for opportunities to build an intentional relationship with that person in order to share the plan of salvation with that person. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Discipleship Eternity Obedience Relationships

Intentional Relationships

“After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. ‘Follow me,’ Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.” Luke 5:27-28 (NIV) Tax collectors in Jesus’ day were despised. Levi was a Jew who collected taxes for the Roman government. In order to increase his personal income, Levi required more from his countrymen than the government demanded. Levi’s fellow Jews despised him and deemed him as a traitor. Jesus calls the least likely candidates to join His team. Levi was chosen by Jesus and willingly left everything to follow Jesus. Levi was willing to leave his career and forfeit his income in order to be on mission with Jesus. Following Jesus involved trusting Jesus with his life and his future. There’s not a person on earth Jesus can’t use. There’s not a person alive that Jesus cannot transform. Jesus calls us to Himself in salvation and transforms us for His service. Jesus factors in our past and our sin when He saves us and sets us apart for His mission of seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19:10). Is there anyone in your sphere of influence who reminds you of Levi? Do you know of someone whom you would consider despised and unfit for the kingdom of God? God has created that person for a divine purpose. Will you allow God to use you to bring that person into an abiding relationship with Jesus? You can build intentional relationships with people so that the salvation story can be shared and received. The people you think are unreachable are actually prime candidates for the personal experience of receiving the gift of eternal life. There’s no one beyond the reach of God’s grace. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Eternity Motive Rewards Serving

Benefits of Serving (3)

“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Eph 4:16 (NIV) God rewards your service both here and in the hereafter. There are immediate rewards for serving God and there are eternal rewards for serving God. In the here and now, your faith grows as you serve. As you exercise the spiritual gifts God has given you, God multiplies the impact and expands your faith. The body of Christ benefits from your faithful service and your personal faith deepens. Serving develops your spiritual muscles just as working out with weights develops your physical muscles. The motion of you joining God in His activity generates the need for God’s provision of strength, courage, and faith. Your love relationship with the Lord deepens as you live out your faith through daily serving to meet needs and to benefit others. Is your faith growing? Are you placing your “yes” on the altar each day and making yourself available for God’s use? Have you intentionally sought to exercise the spiritual gifts God has given you in order to benefit others? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Eternity Motive Rewards Serving

Benefits of Serving (2)

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph 2:10 (NIV) Salvation is a gift, not a reward. You cannot perform enough good works to earn salvation. You receive the gift of eternal life by the grace of God through faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross. If salvation is a gift, how do good works add value? God graciously gave His best, Jesus, to pay the sin debt you owed. It is a gift. If you try to pay for the gift one has given, then you cheapen the gift. What can you add to the finished work of Jesus on the cross? His atoning work is complete. You were uniquely designed by God and for God. You are His masterpiece, His treasure, and the apple of His eye. You are His workmanship. He formed you and fashioned you for His glory. You are not an accident! You are here on purpose! You cannot add to the salvation that God provided to you by His grace through faith. However, as His workmanship, you are created to do good works and to serve. You don’t serve for salvation; you serve as a result of the salvation gift you have received. Good works are a result of a grateful heart. Gratitude for what God has initiated and our faith has activated results in good works. “Then will all your people be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor.” Isaiah 60:21 (NIV) Are you willing to display God’s splendor today? You are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works! Who will benefit from your life of service today? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Eternity Motive Rewards Serving

Benefits of Serving (1)

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” Gal 6:7 (NIV) The law of the harvest originates with God. As Creator of the universe, God has established the system upon which life exists and operates. You reap what you sow. God has made that a reality. There’s no need to be deceived and there’s no need to seek to mock God. “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.” Hosea 10:12 (NIV) “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:18 (NIV) Let’s connect the law of the harvest with how you live your life. Think about the way you invest your time, energy, and resources. How are you sowing your life in service to God? How are you currently investing in the Kingdom of God? You will reap what you sow. You can be absolutely sure that God’s Word is absolutely true. The law of the harvest is an absolute formulated by God. God knows what you have sown. God knows the motive behind what you have sown. God even knows what you will reap and when you will reap as a result of what you have sown and how you have sown. Your activity in God’s economy matters for eternity. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Afterlife Death Eternity Legacy

Departure (7)

“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:2 (NIV) Without pruning, there is no productivity. God wants us to be fruitful. In order for us to bear fruit that remains, God initiates the process of pruning. As the gardener, God removes those things in our lives that prevent the life of Christ from flowing through us. He allows us to go through seasons of adversity to address those fruit-restricting areas of our lives. “Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Heb 12:10-11 (NIV) The loving hand of our attentive Heavenly Father brings correction when we drift from His best. Without pain, there is no change. God allows pain to come into our lives to bring us to the place of full surrender. When we reach the level of acknowleging our sin and recognizing God’s desire, the pruning begins to enable the flow of Christ to nourish the areas of our life that brings glory to God. Will there be a major change when you stand before God? Will you be responsive to God’s pruning in your life now so that when you stand before God very little will be needed to make you like Christ? Allow God to conform you into the image of Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Afterlife Death Eternity Glory Legacy

Departure (6)

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:8 (NIV) Are you ready to leave? Hit the pause button for just a moment and take a close look at your life. What have you done with the life God has given you? What have you done with the opportunities God placed in your path? Have you spent your life or invested your life? What remains? You bring glory to God through the fruit you bear. The fruit validates and authenticates your discipleship. Your devotion as a follower of Jesus Christ is measured by the fruit that is born through your life. The focus is not on bearing fruit, but rather on abiding. Staying connected to Christ through an intimate love relationship will result in a fruit-bearing life. “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matt 5:16 (NIV) “‘By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’” John 13:35 (NIV) The fruit of kindness will be expressed through your life as you abide in Christ. Your compassion for the lost and your commitment to sharing the Gospel will be in direct proportion to the level of your abiding relationship with Christ. The fruit of love will evidenced by your life in relation to your connectivity to Christ as the ultimate source of love. The life of Christ will flow through you to impact the lives of others. Are you bringing glory to God? If so, then you are living in light of eternity. You are departure ready! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Afterlife Bearing Fruit Death Eternity Legacy

Departure (5)

“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Heb 2:1 (NIV) Departure readiness includes making sure that you are saved and being conscientious about how you live each day. Every moment matters in God’s economy. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to be attentive to how we think, how we speak, and how we act. Our thought-life, our conversation, and our conduct are vital to departure readiness. “Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.” Heb 3:1 (NIV) “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” Heb 3:12 (NIV) Fixing our thoughts on Jesus is an act of our will. We must consciously and persistently fix our thoughts on Jesus. Our beliefs determine our behavior. Guarding against a sinful, unbelieving heart is our moment by moment responsibility. How attentive are you to what you already know from God’s Word? Are you obeying what God has already revealed to you? Make no provision for drifting from God. Fortify your faith and solidify your daily walk with God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Afterlife Death Eternity Legacy

Departure (4)

“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1-2 (NIV) What are you going to do with the rest of your life? Jesus is our model to follow. He suffered in His body for our benefit. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. He was willing to become the sinless sacrificial lamb that took away our sin. Jesus nailed our sin to the cross. He paid the debt we could not pay. What will you do with what Jesus has done for you? Will you live your life for earthly human desires or for the will of God? “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:7-8 (NIV) “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) Live for the will of God. Allocate your time, your energy, and your resources to live for the will of God. Live in light of the eternity. Pray, love deeply, and serve faithfully. Don’t waste your life! Live for the will of God! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Afterlife Death Eternity Legacy Trust

Departure (3)

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Prov 3:5-6 (NIV) Trust God with the remainder of your days. Your departure from planet earth has already been scheduled by God. He knows when you will take your final breath of earthly air. God is all-knowing and God is eternal. He sees the entirety of your life. He already knows every decision you will make and every path that you will take. In His foreknowledge, God already knows what the final chapter of your earthly existence looks like. Are you willing to trust God with your life? Are you willing to place your life completely in His hands? Live your remaining days with the focus and tenacity of a passionate follower of Christ. Don’t rely on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge the sovereignty of God. Live with the awareness of God’s purity, power, and perspective. God is for you. He demonstrated His love for you before you had a chance to weigh in on the transaction (Romans 5:8). God took the initiative to bring you into a love relationship with Himself. Place God first in your life (Matt. 6:33) and He will make your paths straight. Give Him the proper place of allegiance and loyalty. God deserves your devotion and your worship. Make no room for apathy or lethargy. With the time you have left on this earth, trust God with all of your heart. Allow your love relationship with Him to demonstrate who you are and whose you are! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Abiding in Christ Afterlife Death Eternity Fruitfulness Legacy

Departure (2)

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” John 15:4 (NIV) How will you live before you go? Your time on earth is limited. James compares life to a mist that appears and then vanishes (James 4:14). Compared to eternity, our time on earth is brief. Yet, how you choose to live your life on planet earth has eternal implications. Each moment matters for eternity. Jesus identifies the abiding relationship made available to you. Without having an abiding relationship with Jesus, you cannot bear fruit. He is the vine. He is the source of real life. You are the branch. Your role in the relationship is to stay connected to the vine. You become the conduit through which Jesus bears His fruit. Your fruitfulness is proportionate to your abiding relationship with Jesus. To remain in Christ is to stay connected to Him through a growing relationship with Him. Once you have established the connection through your faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross, your eternal relationship with Christ is solidified. Now that you know Christ personally, you are to grow in your relationship with Christ progressively. Moment by moment you enjoy the abiding relationship whereby you experience His life flowing through you. As the life of Christ flows through you, His life is expressed through you to a watching world. Fruit is evidenced as a result of your abiding relationship with Christ. Stay connected! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor