5. Greater Middle East
Michel Khalil shares updates and prayer needs of our partners in the Middle East.

Michel Khalil shares updates and prayer needs of our partners in the Middle East.
Elijah is an OT Great who reveals to us so much about the very nature of God. God appointed Elijah to the office of prophet, to be his mouthpiece for Israel in a very difficult time in history. The northern kingdom of Israel had turned their backs on God, breaking the covenant relationship by worshiping false gods. So God tasked Elijah with confronting King Ahab, Jezebel, and the prophets of Asherah and Baal in an epic showdown.
Marriage and family specialist Dan Seaborn focuses in on the core of healthy relationships: being certain of how much God loves you and certain of how much you love Him!
David is an OT Great with a story that has many highs and many lows. He is often remembered as a man after God’s own heart, but he also has a checkered past that includes adultery and murder. He has euphoric experiences, like victoriously bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. However, he also has deep moments of despair, like running for his life from his son. David’s life teaches a valuable lesson—our lives are not defined by a moment.
Pastor Ron Williams from Pathway Community Church, teaches from the life of Daniel. Daniel teaches us how to live a full life in a godless culture. To live knowing God is in control and has a plan. To refuse to conform to the image of the world. To live out of your identity in Christ.
“God told me!” Have you ever heard someone say that? How can we know if it was truly God talking and not a fleshly impulse? Is it possible to be deceived? How does God communicate? How can I live so that God speaks to me? Samuel gives us a great example of learning to listen to the still, small voice of God. He was young, but the voice of God was crystal clear.
Every word of the Bible is written with rich intent. Garrett Howell brings Mark 11:12-25 to life by looking at the key phrases and seemingly disconnected moments to clearly see God's loud call to us to fully live, fully engage, and be fully committed to prayer. Prepare your heart to bring an offering of praise.
It’s so important for us to know who God uses and how God works. Often, our lack of understanding restricts the flow of what He wants to do. Grasping it unlocks His power flowing through imperfect, flawed vessels to accomplish unbelievable challenges. Running with OT Greats gives us snapshots of how to be used by God and fulfill His call in our lives.
You can’t give what you don’t have. You can't live until you die. You can’t kill a man who’s already dead. David Gallimore kicks off our Ignite series with three powerful reminders and the core question, “Will you really lay down your life for me?”
“It’s not over ‘til it’s over!” “It’s not over ‘til the fat lady sings!” Those common phrases are often used to let people know that the story or game isn’t over. It’s not finished. Discouragement and despair often cause us to think, "My story is finished!” Rahab discovered what we can discover—the story isn’t finished.
Every person faces tough times. It’s easy to become discouraged. Quitting sometimes seems like the best option. But Joshua presents a better path. Amidst challenges and seemingly impossible tasks, he exhibits strength and courage. Even following the legend of Moses, he confidently and courageously embraces the future. What Joshua had is available to every one of us.
Moses is an OT Great with a story that dominates most of the Pentateuch, not to mention most credit him as the writer of these first five books. Against all odds and Moses’ initial will, God uses him to accomplish the primary event of redemption in the Old Testament, freeing those held in bondage.
Joseph is an OT Great with a story of absolute grit. He faces unbelievable adversity and not only keeps the faith, but propels God’s kingdom forward. And he did all of this in exile! He lived faithfully in a different culture, with a different language, different customs, and different gods. Let us run with Joseph and learn how to live in exile.
Jacob is an OT Great with a tumultuous life. Jacob was cunning, manipulative, and experiencing an identity crisis for much of his life. When Jacob meets Pharaoh in Egypt at the end of his life, he recounts his years as being, “few and difficult.” However, there is a beautiful moment of redemption in Jacob’s story, a moment of wrestling with God. Let us run with Jacob and learn how to wrestle with God.
Stepping into the unknown usually invokes fear. What might go wrong? What’s the future going to be like? Could this end badly? Should I even take a step, or would it be wiser to just stay where I’m at? Abraham provides us great coaching on learning to walk with God, especially when He calls us to step into the unknown. As we walk with Abraham, we’ll learn the basics of simple faith and trusting God. When we follow the One who sees the unseen and knows the unknown, we walk with confidence.
What would it be like to spend an afternoon with Noah? What lessons could he teach us? What animals did he grow tired of? What moments would he describe as pivotal? What stories would he tell of the dark moments? What did he feel when God expressed His grief and pain over His creation? How would he describe seeing that first rainbow? What coaching would he give us for the times we are living in? Noah is the example of a simple man of God who, in faith, stood alone trusting God, and was rewarded ...
Predictions for the future are interesting to read. What’s more interesting is to see how any of them came true and how many were bogus. Whether we like it or not, the future is going to happen. God always asks His children to boldly and bravely step by faith into the future. No matter what happens, we place our confidence in Him.
Today we celebrate the completion of NT90, when more than 2500 from 19 different countries came together to read through the New Testament in 90 days. We believe in the beauty, wisdom, and authority of God’s Word. We did it together. We shared insights with each other. Instead of just going through the Word, we wanted God’s Word to go through us. In today’s service, Pastors Dave and Tim are joined by Linna Sommers as we celebrate together the completion of NT90, look back at God’s faithfulness i...
The book of Revelation is a dramatic piece of literature that reveals the cosmic battle that the Church has faced, is facing, and will face. Revelation is a letter written to seven early churches in Asia. Revelation is prophecy, announcing the future movement and actions of God. Revelation is apocalyptic in that it allows the reader to see what is mostly unseen. Revelation is the great unveiling.
Distractions are one of the greatest causes of automobile accidents. Our minds wander. Our eyes are off the road. Our alertness diminishes. The results can be devastating. Learning to laser focus allows us to safety travel and reach our final destination. It’s the same for our spiritual journey. A sharp, laser focus on Jesus, amidst all the background noises and distractions, is the only way to truly live.
Lots of us look good on the outside, but on the inside, well, that’s another story. Internal bruises of the spirit can be limiting at best and fatal at worst. Paul, a wise and seasoned mentor, challenges his young protégé to stay healthy in spirit. Paul’s final words to Timothy can be God’s fresh words to us: "May the Lord be with your spirit."
You may have heard it said, “You can do anything you put your mind to.” Does this saying apply to our own salvation, though? Can we, in effect, save ourselves? Paul, in his letter to the church in Philippi, tells them to “work out your salvation” and later uses terms like “striving for” and “pressing on.” What is Paul saying? Can we somehow earn salvation through hard work?
Most human beings have a continuous, nagging fear in their minds. “What if there isn’t enough for me?” What if there isn’t enough food at the dinner table? What if there isn’t enough saved up in the bank? "What if my parents don’t have enough love to go around for all of us kids?" A scarcity mindset drives us to compete, to hoard, and to focus on self. But what if there was another way—the way of Jesus?
Nobody wants to be bullied. Strong, dominant, opinionated, overbearing people can act like porcupines. You're afraid to get close to them. Nobody wants to get bruised. Life is rough. Words said or conflicts done poorly create deep bruises. Yes, life is tough, but Jesus not only changes our hearts but can heal our relationships. Through Christ, we can die to a prideful, arrogant spirit and experience healing from deep wounds.
In life, there are many things that are important. Our parents taught us values. Our teachers gave us an education. Our coaches taught us teamwork. All of these are valuable, yet the most important thing in life is the gospel. It’s the good news that this life isn’t all there is. We can be totally forgiven. We can live a guilt-free, shame-free life. Our eternity need not be stamped with hell as our final destination. There is hope. Jesus made a way. Our future, both here on earth and eternally, ...
How can we read the book of Acts and not feel a holy restlessness? The stories of the Early Church are both faith-building and faith-challenging. There is a Holy Spirit boldness. There is a power and authority in the ministry of the followers of Jesus. There are miracles. There are new converts. There is movement! How does God want to move today?
It’s about living the good life! Everyone is interested in improving the quality of life. Advertisers tell us you can get there if you have the newest appliance, wear better clothing, get in better shape, drive a newer car, experience the ultimate vacation. While those things have value and merit, the only path to true life is through Jesus. He is the true life-giver. Knowing Him not only gives us eternal life but quality living each day.
In the Great Commission, Jesus calls His disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Jesus is asking the disciples to take others on the same journey that He took them on. A baptism moment lasts only a few minutes; it is immediate and does not take a whole lot of time or effort. On the other hand, being taught to obey everything Jesus said is a long journey; it is a massive commitment of time and effort. Jesus’ ca...
Have you ever been driving and hit a roadblock? It can be incredibly time consuming, frustrating, and even defeating to try to find a way around the obstacle. The same thing can be true of our relationship with God. This is why Paul writes in Hebrews, “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." What’s in your way?
When racial tensions were reignited in America, I sensed a need to dig deep into the core of my own soul. Is there anything in my heart that’s not right? What would Jesus say to me regarding this issue? What needs to happen for me to be a healer? Today, you are going to hear a direct, honest conversation that I recently had with two African American brothers, Pastor Ricardo Taylor and Lynn Coleman, who have graciously and humbly walked beside me. Each of us is deeply committed to Jesus. We are c...