The Summit Church

Is prayer actually effective? And if it is, should we still pray even if we have a less-than-robust faith? As we wrap up our series in James this week, Pastor J.D. sheds light on a crucial—and often misunderstood—passage about prayer from James 5. In the end, we can be encouraged that God does indeed hear the prayers of his children, and it is often through them that he chooses to accomplish his work on earth. 

In a society of one-click shopping and seemingly endless streaming services, patience is one thing that is often in short supply. In this week's message from James 5, Pastor J.D. explains what patience is, why it's necessary, and how we can develop it. Even in the midst of suffering and the many challenges thrown at us by life, we can be sure that God is working all things for our good—we need only be patient and wait on him.

We all make plans, whether they concern what we will do the next day or in the coming years. While the Bible acknowledges that it is certainly wise to plan, it also recognizes that the posture behind our planning is crucial. In this week's message from James 4 and 5, Pastor J.D. provides a helpful perspective on how to approach our lives in light of the fact that God is the one in control, not us. The choice is ours: a life characterized by trust in God, leading to humility and generosity—or one characterized by self-sufficiency, leading to arrogance and greed. 

"I will make you fishers of men." As Pastor John shows us in this week's message from Matthew 4, what Jesus promised to two brothers long ago is what he also promises us, if only we will follow him. The idea of following can often seem counterintuitive in a culture such as ours, with its focus on individualism and self-reliance. And yet, it is only when we joyfully submit ourselves to the leadership of Jesus that we will truly become disciple-making disciples. 

If it's true that we can't earn our salvation, then how should we think about the relationship between faith and works? In this message from James 2, Pastor Curtis explores faith that saves and faith that doesn't—and how to know which one you possess. In the end, each of us must do the hard work of examining ourselves to see whether what we profess with our lips matches the way we actually live. 

We live in a world that increasingly disregards the Bible and scoffs at claims that it is the inerrant Word of God. As Christians, then, how do we answer those who challenge our faith in this book? In this week's message from 2 Peter 1, Pastor Curtis shows us what the Bible is and isn't, and gives us compelling evidence for why we can stake our lives—and, ultimately, our eternities—on the truths of Scripture. 

Though we don't like to admit it, we are often guilty of judging others based on very limited information. In this week's message from James 2, Pastor J.D. describes the dangers of showing favoritism, particularly within the church. If we are to truly fulfill Jesus' command to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, we must be willing to see others as he sees them: people made in the image of God, worthy to be treated with dignity and shown mercy.

Jesus should make a difference in our everyday lives. This seems like an obvious statement, but what does it really mean, practically speaking? In this week's message from James 1, Pastor Bryan invites us to consider three issues that inform our faith on a practical level. When we do the work of applying God's Word to the minute details of our lives, we will not merely be "hearers" of it, but "doers."