Author Archives: pastorjeffsneighborhood

About pastorjeffsneighborhood

Born and raised in Minnesota, I have served in churches in Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon and California. I am a graduate of Crown College (MN) and George Fox Evangelical Seminary (OR). I have also done additional graduate studies in New Testament Studies at the Center for Advanced Theological Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary (CA). I am also a graduate of the College of Prayer. Having served as the Academic Dean and Program Director at Horizon Institute of Los Angeles for several years, I have returned to the pastorate and serve as Pastor of Big Trees Community Bible Church in Arnold, CA.

The Foolishness of Brilliance (Aug 5)

Posted on August 5, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Many of the greatest minds of history have found their revolutionary ideas to be rejected initially because they seemed to be foolishness. People just couldn’t understand. Continue reading →

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Plastic Prayers Make Plastic Churchgoers (Aug 4)

Posted on August 4, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Much of what passes for Christianity today does seem “plastic and fake.” But the Bible is not. The pages are filled with very real, human characters. It’s painfully honest about their struggles and failures (and the successes, of course). Continue reading →

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Amazing Grace! (Aug 3)

Posted on August 3, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

August 3 Amazing Grace! Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 82:1-8| 2 Chronicles 33:14 – 34:33| Romans 16:8-27| Proverbs 20:19 Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Chronicles 33:1 – 34:33 “In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled … Continue reading →

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The Mountaintop (Aug 2)

Posted on August 2, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

The crisp, cool air blows through your hair as you as gaze upon the majestic beauty of other mountain peaks. You are above them all. You are on the mountaintop. It’s an exhilarating place to be, a dangerous place. It was quite an adventure to get there and even more difficult to stay there. Continue reading →

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Blessing Instead of Bleeping (Aug 1)

Posted on August 1, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Every malicious word, every tasty snippet of gossip, every venomous, sarcastic comment (humor is great, but even some humor wounds), every word that is judgmental, every hasty, angry word: each one, a curse. Continue reading →

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Thank God for Broccoli (July 31)

Posted on July 31, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

July 31 Thank God For Broccoli Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 80:8-19 | 2 Chronicles 29:1-36 | Romans 14:1-23 | Proverbs 20:12 Today’s Scripture Focus: Romans 14:1-23 “If you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God … Continue reading →

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Starting and Finishing Well (July 30)

Posted on July 30, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

ziah was off to a great start. Things were going extremely well, maybe too well. Then he crashed and had a hard time finishing the race. He had good intentions and a great start, but lost his way near the end of the race. Continue reading →

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Medium Rare or Well Done? (July 29)

Posted on July 29, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Regardless of how you like your steak, we all want to hear the words, “well done” when we stand before Jesus some day. I guess that’s the way God likes his living sacrifices well done. But if he were to check on his living sacrifice today, where would you be in the process? Medium-rare? Medium-well? Continue reading →

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I Stand in Awe (July 28)

Posted on July 28, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Knowing God leads us to worship. But often it is the mysteries—the things we don’t know and can’t comprehend—that take us to a higher place in our worship. They makes us stand Continue reading →

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What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do

Posted on July 27, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Jehoshaphat’s words could often be our own: “We don’t know what to do, we’re looking to you” (The Message, 20:12). Facing a battle that seemed too big to overcome, he was tempted to discouragement and fear. Instead he admitted his confusion—his weakness—and looked to the Lord for help. Continue reading →

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