Dillon with Jesus

Send a textThis lesson was good for Fredo, and it’s good for us. Don’t take sides against your own family. Whether it’s your fellow man,  or your brother in Christ, we cannot bless God and curse those around us.This is especially true for the church, where we are called to build one another up in the most holy faith.There are enough people willing to run one another down, or put folks on blast.Let’s bless those around us, and not curse them, because fresh water and salt waste cannot come from the same source. Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textHow can we balance mercy and Justice?A great place to look for an example is the cross. God’s justice demanded death as the penalty for our sin, but His love for us was demonstrated upon the cross while we were still sinners, as God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself! He made him who knew no sin, to be sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God. Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textWe are called to worship in Spirit and in Truth, but many lean more one of those ways than the other. The Samaritan woman was given a master class by Jesus, that worship that pleases the Father begins with knowing Jesus. The sacrifices of the old covenant have been replaced with the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!I make a practical distinction between a Lord’s Day worship service, and our lifestyle of worship. However, no matter what day it is, our prayers, praises, and the posture of our heart should be worshiping the Father, in the name of Jesus, by the power of the Spirit, and in Truth! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textGod is not the author of confusion, yet nothing can be more confusing for a child of God than someone telling them God is not their father. Many have given themselves the ministry of Paternity testing God’s children, disowning them as part of the family, like some twisted Jerry Springer episode where DNA tests reveal the child doesn’t belong to the man who thought he was the father. However, God will separate the wheat from the tares. The Holy Spirit has the ministry of confirming God’s children(Romans 8). We must not condemn, when Jesus came to save. We must not confuse, when God gives clarity. We must not reject, what the Spirit has confirmed! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textThe public victory always gets the attention, but it is the private battles that must be won that always precede the pedestal. Jesus teaches us to pray when others sleep. To wage war and win in the garden of Gethsemane, before conquering Golgotha. We can’t imagine the weight of crucifixion, but also unimaginable is the weight of the curse of sin, and wrath of a Holy God that was going to be absorbed by Jesus upon the cross. Submitting to the Father’s will in spite of suffering is a lesson for each of us. Ministry is usually most anointed and effective when the person who is serving God has been broken and suffered greatly. However, none of us want to suffer. This private submitting to the Father’s will is critical to any Christian who wants to serve God, and follow the example of our Lord and Savior. Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textRomans 8 is powerful and rich, not only in its proclamation that there is no condemnation for those in Christ, but also in comparing the Spirit of fear to the Spirit of Christ! We are in Christ, and the Spirit of Christ is in us. There is no reason to fear, for we are in Christ, and being led by the Spirit. He leads us into war against sin. He leads us to testify of Christ! Finally, He leads us to cry out to God as our Father! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a text5 common traps for Christians to avoid:1 exclusion, 2 manipulation, 3 distraction, 4 wrong kingdom building, 5 solo spirituality1. Exclusion- of those not as spiritual as you are.If you're not with us you're against us. God has spoken to us. Not you. Obviously.2. Leaders who demand more of you than Jesus does.They own you. They control you. They take your freedom. Manipulation is not a spiritual gift. 3. Distraction from the action.Doing good work, not Gods work. Gospel free preaching, and convert free reaching.Keep the main thing the main thing, please.4. Wrong Kingdom building.This is when 1and 2 come together. Your church is not the Kingdom of God.It's only part of it. It's ok to support the other churches efforts and have community with other Christians.5. No man is an island. No Christian is a castaway. No matter how badly you've been burned, Christ calls us to community and unity in His Body. Your solo spirituality is not biblical and cannot sustain you. You reject Christ in a real way by rejecting His Body of believers. Please forgive and be forgiven. Fear of commitment and loneliness are not of God. Please don't get stuck in this trap. You will be alone.  Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textThe truth of the little song from Bible school is big!  Abraham established more than a covenant with God, but the foundation of righteousness being imputed on the basis of faith! Faith in who Jesus is, what He has done, and what He has promised is what saves us. In particular it is faith in the Son of God, who was born of a virgin, born under the law, yet never sinned, died upon the cross in our place, was buried three days, the rose again, ascended to the father and has promised to return! This is saving faith! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textWhat does it mean to be a child of God?Mor than I can say, but at least it means you have received Christ, and are being led by His spirit! You are letting the word of God, and Spirit of God, shape you into the image of Christ, in This we seek to please our Heavenly Father, not to make Him Love us, but to bring glory to His name! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textNeither do I condemn youGo and sin no moreSo many have forgottenWhat the cross was forWith stones ready to throwThe righteous gather roundThe holy law they claim to know Says kill the sinner nowBut, on the other hand...The false prophets, they lieNo condemnation is their standNo one ever has to dieBut grace, and truth, in love Means Jesus died for meIt was for my sinHe was nailed to that treeThere is now no condemnation!Praise God, my song forever more!But the one who died to secure my pardonSays go and sin no more  Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textFor many, Church is a hard place to go because of real hurt and real confusion from the past. For others, it’s just not easy to risk being judged while putting yourself out there, trying a new place. A place where everyone knows each other, but not you. In this one, I encourage folks to think of the church as a Hailey’s. Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textSeason 4 will be filled with very short episodes…Conflict comes from our desires, and motivations, but how do we escape the cycle of what comes next? Forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration are the only ways forward, but these are easier said than done. Don’t let yourself get stuck in the was rinse repeat cycle of a conflict, you have to try to move on. As always, Jesus is the answer! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a text20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:1, ESV) Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textWe must pray for God to open our eyes! There are more on the Lord’s side, than on the side of the enemy!It’s no time to shrink back, or partner with evil, but to hold fast to our confession, that Jesus is the Christ, Son of the living God! He said upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!Speak the truth. Shine the light. Expose the darkness. This is the call of Christ upon our lives!  He has not given us a spirit of fear! Rise up, wake up, shine bright, and be part of the work of God! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textNaaman of Syria had two diseases. One was leprosy. The other one was pride. Thankfully, a servant girl had enough faith to share with him that the prophet in Israel, Elisha, could heal him. However, the way God chose to heal him meant he had to be humble, and submit to the instructions God had given. Like Naaman, we all have a disease we cannot overcome in our own power. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, yet God’s word says by Jesus stripes we are healed! What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! We must submit to the authority of God’s word, follow His plan of salvation, and repent of our sins. We must confess with our mouth, and believe in our heart that Jesus is Lord, and be saved from sin and death! We must set aside our preconceived notions about how God is supposed to do anything, and follow in obedience! As Naaman found out, we bring nothing to the table, but a humble heart that follows what God has instructed. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textI bought a can of clear marking paint, by mistake, and tried to mark utilities with it. It obviously was a waste of time. Marking paint should not be invisible, and neither should Christ followers. Ironically, our words must be clear, and not vague. We must communicate the gospel with clarity. We must share what God says about sin, and also what He says about Grace. These are bold colors that scripture uses to warn us about dangers below the surface of a fallen world.We have been called by Christ to be salt, and light. To reflect the light of Jesus, we must not only share His love, but also shine the light of His word upon the darkness of our world. He prayed in John 1715 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:15, ESV) Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textWe need to ask when others are teaching, is this from God, and His word, or from man?We need to ask when we are teaching, am I submitted to the Authority of God, and His word? Or am I submitted to the opinions of of men? Are we more scared of offending someone with truth, than we are scared of offending the God who is Truth? We must not limit the word of God to salvation, but let it touch every area of our lives, and submit our hearts to what it says. This authority God has given us in His word, to teach forgiveness of sins in His name; the world didn’t give it, and the world can’t take it away! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textA prayer for Charlie Kirk’s family…2 Corinthians 1:3-4 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles". Lord you are the giver of life! Your word teaches us that every life is precious, and that you knew us while we were in our mother’s womb. You knit us together, and we are fearfully and wonderfully made! Lord we thank you for the precious life of Charlie Kirk! Your word teaches us in Roman’s 12:15, to rejoice when others rejoice, and to weep when others weep. We are a body of believers, so when one part of our body is hurting, all of us are hurting. We know that Charlie’s family is hurting today. We pray for Charlie’s wife, and Charlie’s son and his daughter. Lord, I pray that your Holy Spirit would fill Erika’s life in this moment, and give her strength to face the day. Give her the peace that passes understanding. Let your word be a lamp unto her feet, and a light unto her path, as you remind her of every promise you have given! That you will never leave her, nor forsake her, but that you will be with her, even to the end of the age. Let her remember that 37 in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37, ESV)Help her see your purpose in this moment, and give her a clear direction of where to go from here, as she must now lead her family forward. Give her hope for tomorrow. Let your very presence be felt, and let her know you are near. Remind her that Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit". Remind her that one dayRevelation 21:4: "[God] will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away". Lord you will make all thingsnew!Lord, we also rejoice, in what you have done in Charlie’s life. Thank you for answering Charlie’s prayer, that his life would bring glory to your name, the name of Jesus!That even in his death, he is still pointing the way to the cross!We thank you that Charlie always gave the reason for his hope, and always shared the gospel![I don’t have enough room for the whole prayer, but you can possibly print from the transcript available on some platforms. Thank you for praying with me!] Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textSay Charlie Kirk or I’ll quit my church? In the wake of the assassination, some Christian leaders have instructed Christians to quit their church if this tragedy is not addressed. I disagree with that advice, but also give the biblical view on why it is appropriate to mention his name when we gather. As always, Jesus is the name above all names, and I am thankful for the witness of my dear brother Charlie Kirk. I pray for his family, and for God to be glorified in his life and death. We are seeing a spiritual awakening in response to his life of faith, and we need not shy away from it in fear of political correctness. Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textThe gospel is the good news, and we must tell it! We are forgiven, so we must forgive. We are loved, and we should show that love. We are not cups, to hold the grace we have been given, but conduits. Our church was given 2,000lbs of bacon. Thankfully, it wasn’t stockpiled and hoarded, but shared with our community! The gospel is like a ton of bacon, it’s more than you need to keep for yourself, but was given to you with the intention of you sharing it! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textThe only way to avoid criticism is to do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing. That quote from Aristotle is true everywhere. Sadly, this includes the church. We must be able to discern between those who love us, and are giving constructive criticism, and those who are trying to hurt us. I share some of my story, where I have let the critics win. I also share about how God’s word corrected me, and reminded me of His call upon my life. We must receive constructive criticism, and reject those who are attacking because they are hard hearted, or unwilling to forgive. No one is perfect, but unless you have had a moral failure, or taught false doctrine, you should press on in your calling, or area of service. It is my prayer that this podcast will encourage you to rise above the negative words, and look to Christ. We must not let the leadership of the Holy Spirit be replaced by cruel words from those who do not have the love of Christ. We must say what God has called us to say, do what God has called us to do, and be who God has called us to be! I will add, sing what God has called us to sing… Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textWhat is “believer’s baptism?I summarize the four components, to repent, to believe, to commit, and to have a clean conscience before God.Repentence is commanded, and it is turning from our sin, to our Savior.We must believe in the virgin birth, holy life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and promised return of Christ. In discipleship, we follow Jesus’s example, and instruction to be baptized. Our clean conscience only comes from our identity in Christ, and His righteous ness! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textIt’s easy to lose focus. We can go down theological trails and into rabbit holes that distract us from the heart of the matter. Jesus crystallizes His mission, as seeking and saving the lost. He says that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name. Paul said Jesus came to save sinners. That while we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us. Jesus taught us to ask for God to forgive our trespasses, and to help us forgive those who trespass against us. Colossians says we must forgive as Christ forgave us. Jesus can forgive, because He paid the debt for our sin, in His death, burial, and resurrection. We must not lose sight of His sacrifice, and the heart of His mission, to forgive people of their sins. This is the Gospel! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textGalatians 6 mentions bearing one another’s burdens, and fulfilling the Law of Christ. It also is clear that restoring those who are caught in a transgression is the call upon mature, and spiritual Jesus followers.We do a great job of bearing one another’s burdens, but many churches struggle with restoration. Peter is an example of someone who was restored by Jesus. We should remember, we can’t heal and forgive in the same way Jesus does. The church is a hospital, and He is the physician; but we are the friends and family, showing up with get well cards, a prayer, and a plan for going back home. Let’s get into the restoration business, fulfilling the law of Christ. That law is Loving God, and loving our neighbors! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textJesus never promised it would be easy, but He said we should take heart, because He has overcome the world! We have peace in Him! We have confidence, not in our abilities, but His. The opposite of thankfulness is complaining. The opposite of love, is fear. The opposite of faith, is doubting. So how can it be, that so many Christians are complaining, and fearful, and doubting God’s ability to sustain His church? He told Peter that upon this Rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it! Let us trust God, who didn’t spare His only Son, to not spare anything else we need as the bride and body of Christ! Let us hold to our confession with confidence in Him! As it says in Revelation 12:10, we will overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textOnly 20% of Americans are attending church once a week. However, 60% claim to be Christians. Of course, church attendance is not what saves you, but whatever happened to “I’ll see you Sunday?” There is plenty of blame to go around. Failed leadership, church people who do not show the love of God, and busy schedules; these top the lists. Yet Jesus calls the church His bride. How can we love Jesus, but not love who He loves? Jesus calls us His Body. How can we not love the Body of Christ, to which we belong? Jesus calls us His brothers, and children of God. How can we not love our brothers we see, but claim to love a God we can’t see? Hebrews challenges us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. We must forget distractions, forgive those who hurt us, and find the time to worship God together. I know it will mean a change, but I hope to see you Sunday! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textTwo things are clear, that pastors are overseers, and that they are not to “lord it over those in their care. Christ is the model, and the authority of the pastor is never legitimate outside of the character of Christ, or in conflict with His word. The motivations of a pastor must not be money, or power, but love for the flock. Some decisions belong to the pastor, and some belong to the church. Theological debates, or false teachings, should be addressed by the pastor.  Church discipline, should have the counsel of the pastor, but the assembled church should make the final call. At least this is the model of Matthew 18, and 1 Cor. 5. Giving counsel, not commands, is good advice to pastors. It also good advice to churches. Humility and service must govern our interactions, and always we must be bound to the word of God, and the character of Jesus. Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textWhat is prayer? Why do we do it? How do we do it? It is letting our requests be known to God, as Jesus has commanded, and modeled. We pray to the Father, in the Name of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit. We pray with the boldness of a son, but also with the humility of a servant. We pray in the Spirit, and He prays for us. We pray as Mary did, I am the servant of the Lord. May it be unto me, according to Your word! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textCommunion, or the Lord’s Supper, is the worshipful tradition instituted by Christ. When we gather as a church, we eat bread to remember His flesh, that was broken for us. We drink the fruit of the vine to remember His blood, that was poured out for us. We remember Jesus, dying upon the cross, we proclaim His death, and we look forward to His return. In Corinthians 11, Paul warns us not to do this in an unworthy manner. I explore what that meant, and what it means for us today.  Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textAs we conclude season 1, which is our foundational teachings of Christ, I want to introduce myself. In this episode I share my testimony, and reasons for sharing the gospel through this platform. I look forward to season 2, and preview some topics concerning the church, which is the body of Christ. I preemptively strike those who would slander the church, because the church is also called the bride of Christ. We must love the church, if we love Jesus. This means forgiving one another, building up one another, and loving one another, just as Jesus has done for us… Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textJesus gives us His example, being baptized by John in the Jordan river. He gives us His command, in Matthew 28:19, to make disciples, and baptize them. He gives us the gospel, His death, burial, and resurrection, and we symbolize our relationship with Him in Baptism. In repentence, we die to ourselves, and are buried with Himnin baptism. Then scripture says we are raised to walk in newness of life, just as He was raised from the dead. Baptism doesn’t save us, but it tells the world that we have been saved, and are identifying with Christ, confessing Him before men. Every believer should be baptized, soon after conversion, and every church should celebrate that sacred moment in the life of a believer. What prevents you from being baptized? Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textMaturity. In our faith it means that we have grown up in Christ, and we resemble Him in our spirit, actions, and attitude. It is easy to see the marks of immaturity. Those who are critical, and complaining. Those who abuse their authority. Those who are easily deceived by false teachings. However, rather than focusing on immaturity, we are all better off to tune our hearts to Jesus, looking at His perfect example. He operated in love, not fear. He forgave, and served in humility. Knowing His teaching will help us discern false teachers. Knowing His heart will help us love our brothers and sisters, as we all seek to become mature followers of the only perfect person to ever live. As we grow in our knowledge of Him, we will also grow in the unity of the church body of Christ. Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textRepentance and Faith, two sides of the same coin! As Sproul says, repentance will always involve faith, and faith will always involve repentance! The prophets , John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter, Paul, and  John (the disciple Jesus loved) all taught repentance! The question is, why are so many pastors and preachers avoiding the subject? It is the kindness of God that leads us to Repentance. It our response to the gospel, and it is our response to the Word and Spirit of God who is making us more like Jesus. Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textConfession is our response to the gospel. We repent, and believe the good news, confessing that we are sinful, but Jesus is sinless. We confess Him before men, so that He will confess us before His Father! We proclaim our belief in the death, burial, and resurrection. We proclaim that He is our King, and Savior, and that we submit to His authority, and put our entire hope in His power to save. This confession is prompted by the Word of God, and the Spirit of God, from our heart, to our mouth, to our Heavenly Father. Have you confessed Him as Lord? If you believe in your heart, and confess with your mouth that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved!(Romans 10) Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textThe sword of the Spirit, is necessary to battle the temptations we face from the devil. Our devotion to meditate upon the Word of God, helps us hear His voice in a loud and busy world. As we rightly divide the Word, we can discern false teachings. We can use our Bible knowledge to teach, building up the church and equipping them to do the work God has called us to do! We must avoid petty disagreements, but also stand firm upon the word of, because it is inspired, inerrant, and true! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textLord, liar, or lunatic? CS Lewis has pointed out those are the choices, when it comes to Jesus. This study of John 5, has the battle between dead religion, and Jesus. Healing on the sabbath, and claiming to be the Son of God, were the crimes that Jesus was ultimately crucified for. He arose the third day, proving His claim of divinity, and changing the world forever! Now he wants to change your heart, by revealing Himself as your risen savior. Will you receive Him, or reject Him?  Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textIn this session, we see the Holy Spirit, as the Spirit of Truth. He brings life, as He testifies of Christ, convicts us of sin, and walks with us so we are never alone. We are not orphans, but sons of God who are led by the Spirit of Christ. His Spirit, testifies with our spirit, that we are His children. He is our advocate, and our source of strength. He prays for us, when we do not know how, or what to pray, and he always leads us to cry out, Abba, Father! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textWe were not only saved, but made sons by adoption! Though many have reduced salvation to a transaction of debts being paid, the clear teaching of scripture is that His great mercy and forgiveness of our sin; this was so that we might be adopted by our Heavenly Father. As Jesus brings many sons to glory, we can know it is because the Father loves us, and the Spirit he has given us cries out to Him, Abba! Father! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textThe gospel is the good news! However, it’s only appreciated in light of the bad news. We had broken God’s law, and were under a curse of sin, and death. Our sinfulness separated us from God, but in His love, God sent His Son, to pay our debt, break the curse, and bring new life. Reconciled by grace through faith in Jesus! His death, burial, and resurrection, exposed our sin, but also revealed our Savior. We repent from rejecting Him, when we hear the gospel, and the Holy Spirit leads us to confess Him as our Lord! The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life! Please like, subscribe, and share!

Send a textThis was recorded live, at a Bible study. Biblical forgiveness is upon the gospel, in that we are to forgive others, as Jesus has forgiven us. At one point in the study, a lady objected that I was making it sound easy, and it isn’t that easy. You will hear me agree with her, by saying it is actually impossible, without the grace of God, and power of His spirit. It is only because of how much we were forgiven, that we can forgive, following Christ’s command, example, and process! Please like, subscribe, and share!