Jesus Famous With Nate Holdridge

Staff Chapel Each week at Calvary Monterey we hold an hour-long staff chapel. Currently held on Wednesdays after lunch, Staff Chapel is an opportunity for the staff of our church to gather together for prayer, worship, teaching, updates, and training. It is, for me, a significant way to impart to the entire team. It has been helpful, so I thought I would write for any pastor out there who has a group of key-leaders he wants to build up for the ministry the Lord has called them to. 1. Additional Feeding Our team works hard to attend a weekend gathering, but often they will miss the teaching time at our church. If they miss the corporate teaching time, they will listen to the archive, but there is usually less impact when the word is received alone and from a recording. I mean, it’s just tough to get the same impact from a sermon while mowing your lawn. It’s okay, but not quite the same, so the staff chapel gives them an opportunity to receive the word in an undistracted and focused way. 2. Ministry Phi

In this episode of the Jesus Famous Podcast, we will have a conversation about Pastor Nate’s article entitled “6 Thoughts On Discipleship". You can catch more episodes like this by subscribing to the Jesus Famous Podcast. If you’d like to read the entire article, then you can do so here. Link to full article:https://www.nateholdridge.com/blog/6-thoughts-on-discipleship-matthew-28-18-20 nateholdridge.cominstagram.com/nateholdridgetwitter.com/nholdridgecalvary.com

  “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” (1 Corinthians 14:1, ESV) Who doesn’t love a good chase scene? It seems each generation of movie directors ups the previous one with grander and longer and edgier chase scenes than ever before. A good chase scene is ragged and undeterred. There is no quit. Even when you think the hunt is over, it reinvents itself. The pursuit is on. Paul told us to pursue love, which means to chase down or, taken literally, persecute love. We are to follow love hard, to get after it, to make it a chief aim of life. According to Paul, one way to pursue love is to desire spiritual gifts, for with them we can love more effectively than before. One great spiritual gift, useful for loving others, is the gift of prophecy, so Paul said we should especially desire it. He said we should earnestly want to prophesy. But what is the gift of prophecy, and why should we want it? I don’t know many believers who would want to live like the Old Test

  “This is the genealogy of those who went up with me…” (Ezra 8:1). The Backdrop Arduous in every way, Ezra’s journey was about to commence. Pain, heartache, and difficulty awaited every traveler he'd recruited. Hundreds of miles and millions of enemies lay between them and Jerusalem. The journey would be treacherous, but the work of God must go on. A scholar and practitioner and teacher of the words of God, Ezra amassed a team of willing folks, those who wanted to join him in bringing the temple of God to a glimmer of its former glory. They wanted to witness the worship of God, to see the glory descend upon Israel once more. Before they traveled, however, Ezra counted. He numbered every person, the genealogy of every family, who embarked on such a dangerous voyage with him, with God. He delighted in each one of them, thanked God for them, for Ezra knew he was not alone. God was with him, but so were God’s people. Ezra delighted in the company of saints who had, in many ways, become willing to traverse such

In this episode of the Jesus Famous Podcast, we will have a conversation about Pastor Nate’s article entitled “Gleanings From Paul's Conversion Account". You can catch more episodes like this by subscribing to the Jesus Famous Podcast. If you’d like to read the entire article, then you can do so here. Link to full article:https://www.nateholdridge.com/blog/gleanings-from-pauls-conversion-account-acts-9 nateholdridge.cominstagram.com/nateholdridgetwitter.com/nholdridgecalvary.com

  Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. (2 Corinthians 12:14, ESV) Modern parents can learn much about their role by learning how the apostles led the early church. They considered their role a parental one, for they were spiritual fathers caring for a new generation of baby Christians, raising them to full maturity. Paul felt that fatherly role toward the church in Corinth. The feeling he had for the Roman church was his feeling for all the churches—“I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you” (Romans 1:11). In the verse before us, Paul told the Corinthian church he was ready to visit them for a “third time.” On that trip, his longing was not to be a burden to them. He was not seeking what they had, but them. His reason for this giving (rather than taking) attitude? “For children are not obligated t

  “And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.” (2 Chronicles 29:2 ESV). King David was not King Hezekiah’s dad, not even close. Though they were related, Hezekiah was over a dozen generations removed from David, hundreds of years separated the men and their reigns over God’s people. But David’s blood flowed in Hezekiah’s veins, and when his father, Ahaz, proved to be a wicked king, Hezekiah distanced himself. When Ahaz died, Hezekiah “did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.” “David His Father…” I Love the Concept Hezekiah could not repeat what his father Ahaz had done, for he was not a man worth following. So Hezekiah went all the way back to his great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather David and imitated his life. So much so that the chronicler teamed up the two kings. Hezekiah, in the writer’s mind, did everything

In this episode of the Jesus Famous Podcast, we will have a conversation about Pastor Nate’s article entitled “Build A Support Team Like Jonathan". You can catch more episodes like this by subscribing to the Jesus Famous Podcast. If you’d like to read the entire article, then you can do so here. Link to full article:https://www.nateholdridge.com/blog/build-your-support-team-like-jonathan-1-samuel-14-6-7 nateholdridge.cominstagram.com/nateholdridgetwitter.com/nholdridgecalvary.com

  Improve Your Sermon Preparation Bible teachers and preachers are a gift to the body of Christ, but they have also received a gift and a calling from the Lord, one they must steward well for the glory of God. I don’t personally know of any communicator of God’s word who feels they have no room to improve. Every pastor or teacher I know wants to grow in their gifting. We want to cultivate it well. What follows are some simple tips which have helped me grow as a bible teacher. 1. Pray Over the Teaching Sometimes prayer is pushed to the fringes of Bible teaching. We all agree we should be prayerful in our handling of God’s word, but often we have no space to cry out to God over the text and teaching. It is good for us to pause our reading and reflection at various junctures of sermon preparation and ask God to fill our minds and hearts with his message. The two main ways I practice prayer over the teachings I give is during my early morning devotional time with God, but in between my research and the actual s

“And the LORD said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?'” (Job 1:8 ESV). Job, the sufferer. Christians shudder when they pick up his tale. A man at ease, and then the ease evaporated. Pain and misery flooded in. A human tested. However, before it all began, consider the boast of the Lord. "There is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil" (1:8). God saw Job and loved what he saw, a person who lived in the shadow of reverence for the divine. Job was righteous, rejecting the temptations of evil and walking in the blameless path God and his conscience had put before him. Recently, upon reading God's description of Job, I was encouraged by all that was lacking. As a believer, and as a pastor, I crave fruitfulness unto God. I want to make a difference in the world, to help humanity, to be everything Christ has rebirthed me to be. But

In this episode of the Jesus Famous Podcast, we will have a conversation about Pastor Nate’s article entitled “How Your Future Resurrection Can Impact Your Today". You can catch more episodes like this by subscribing to the Jesus Famous Podcast. If you’d like to read the entire article, then you can do so here. Link to full article:https://www.nateholdridge.com/blog/how-your-future-resurrection-can-impact-your-today-1-corinthians-15-58 Link to Pastor Nate’s study of the Spirit-Fueled Life:https://www.calvary.com/series/spiritfueledlife nateholdridge.cominstagram.com/nateholdridgetwitter.com/nholdridgecalvary.com

  “Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is a desert place.” (Acts 8:26) In the midst of a powerful outworking of God’s Spirit in Samaria, Philip was told to depart and go to Gaza. He was one of the first deacons, a spiritual man responsible for material things in the church, but by the time we see him here, he has become a preacher of the gospel. Persecution had struck the church in Jerusalem. People fled, so did Philip, and he went down to Samaria. God did amazing things through him, and the people there were receptive to the Lord and his message. Many were saved. God’s power was evident. But in the midst of this powerful outworking of God’s Spirit in Samaria, Philip was told to depart and go to Gaza. Luke, the author of Acts, adds this commentary: “this is a desert place.” In other words, uninhabited. God took Philip from the bustle of fruitfulness and placed him where no one lived. As the story unfolds, God’s plan

In this episode of the Jesus Famous Podcast, we will have a conversation about Pastor Nate’s article entitled “The New You". You can catch more episodes like this by subscribing to the Jesus Famous Podcast. If you’d like to read the entire article, then you can do so here. Link to full article:https://www.nateholdridge.com/blog/the-new-you-truthful-and-free-of-anger-ephesians-425-27?rq=new%20you nateholdridge.cominstagram.com/nateholdridgetwitter.com/nholdridgecalvary.com  

  Breaking Into A Fresh Season With God (2 Chronicles 15:7) “But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” (2 Chronicles 15:7 ESV). King Asa was a good and godly king. He sought the Lord when trouble came upon the land, and he experienced firsthand the power of God in battle. After a trademark victory over the massive Ethiopian army, Asa was confronted by a prophet named Azariah. He told Asa to seek the Lord. “The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you,” Azariah said. He went on to describe past seasons in Israel’s history when they and their leadership wandered from God. Always, dark days followed, for “in those times there was no peace.” So, the prophet said, “Take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” Asa knew what Azariah meant. Quickly, he acted as the spiritual leader of Israel, bringing them into a fresh season of dependence upon the liv

  Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18–20, NLT) You have favorite people, I’m sure, and so do I. One of mine is Denise Buck. Together with her husband, Pastor Geoff, Denise has positively impacted my life and our church. Tirelessly, she works to build up the lives of others, but she also works hard to continually deepen her abilities, all with the goal of growing closer to God and better for others. Recently, I asked Denise to share on the subject of discipleship with our church staff. While many theorize, Denise has actually done discipleship. Countless women have learned of Christ through her life and teachings and time, so I wanted to hear her thoughts on how to interact w

My first Easter as pastor of Calvary Monterey I preached from John 20 and someone put some flowers in front of the pulpit —and that was as elaborate as it got back then. Nowadays, the run-up to Easter is tons of work, and the week itself is jam-packed with activity. Our Good Friday services have developed into a significant part of our church calendar, and Easter Sunday is our largest gathering of the year. I have learned a lot about myself and how I best work through such a busy and blessed time, so here is some advice I would give to other pastors. 1. Keep Your Message Simple It is tempting to think your Easter message has to be the most powerful message you’ve ever delivered. You might also feel you need to be creative or especially engaging on that day. You might find yourself frustrated with finding your unique “angle” or “take” on the resurrection, one that will surprise or delight your hearers. But all these temptations and feelings ought to be resisted, for it never gets old to hear the straightforw

  “No one will succeed by strength alone” (1 Samuel 2:9, NLT) Hannah had been childless for many years. In a society which saw infertility as a curse from God, Hannah fell into despair. She cried out to God, continually asking him for a son. Eventually, her heart became aligned with God’s. She vowed to give God her son if he blessed her with one. God had been looking for a new prophet for the nation, a judge for his people Israel, but could find none. He needed to start afresh, and Hannah’s womb would carry the future voice of the Lord for the nation. Samuel would be a firm and unswerving messenger for the living God. After Samuel’s birth, at some point early in his childhood, Hannah dedicated him to God. When she did so, she prayed. In her prayer, she praised God. Then she said, “No one will succeed by strength alone” (1 Samuel 2:9). She knew God had to be in the equation. She was not able to produce Samuel, and Samuel could not become a force for the Lord unless God helped them. They could not succe

“Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found.” (1 Samuel 9:19–20 ESV). Saul had no idea. God wanted him, having chosen him to become the first king of Israel. God had plans for Saul’s life, but Saul puttered along in search of his father’s lost donkeys. Eventually, Samuel interrupted Saul’s quest. He announced he had a prophetic word for Saul. He would announce to Saul all that was on his mind, and “as for the donkeys that were lost there days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found.” Samuel was the deliverer of God’s word, and when God communicates, it often happens just this way. Saul thought he wanted to know about the location of donkeys, but God knew he wanted to know about so much more, which is why Samuel could say, “I will tell you all

A few years into the new church age, Jerusalem was still its only location. It would take a decade or so for the gospel to break into the Gentile world, and the early years of the church were mainly spent growing and forming in the same city in which Christ died and was buried and rose and ascended. As the number of believers increased, so did the complexity of ministry. They awaited Christ’s return and had adopted a communal style of living. As they shared finances and resources in the church, they instituted a daily distribution of funds for those in need, including widows. Some widows were Jewish, but Hellenistic, Grecian Jews. Influenced by Greek culture and style, they were different. They felt they were neglected when the aforementioned daily distribution took place. Their complaint arose all the way to the apostles. The apostles responded to the complaint with the determination they ought not to leave the word of God to serve tables, but should instead give themselves to the word and prayer. Instead,

  Gospel Scope: The Ongoing Battle (Romans 7:7-25) Not counting little fender benders here and there, I have been in two major car accidents. Every day, I feel fortunate to be alive. In both collisions, however, I saw it coming. In one, I lost control of my car on a wet road, spun out, and crashed into a large tree. In the other, an oncoming truck crossed the center line and plowed into my driver’s side door, knocking me into a small ravine on my side of the road. They were both horrible experiences. I cannot imagine, however, being blindsided. To never see it coming, to never brace yourself, would feel so shocking. In Romans 7, Paul is protecting us from getting blindsided by a battle within us. You see, if we read of the new way of the Spirit at the beginning of Romans 7, we might begin to think we are already there, or at least that we should be. Spiritual talk can be destructive if it ignores the reality of the battle within. We should not act as if we are wholly sanctified when we are not. We should not