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.

Born Again

Posted on May 3, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

We emerge as a beautiful butterfly. So, when we come in repentance and faith and invite Christ into our lives, he transforms us and we are made new. We emerge from the experience a new creature. In the words of Jesus, we are “born again.” Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged bible, born again, Born from above, butterfly, christianity, faith, God, Jesus, Jesus teaching, kingdom of God, life abundant, life lived to the full, Nicodemus | Leave a comment

When Jesus Got Angry

Posted on May 2, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Perhaps it is time to clear the temple of our lives of things that hinder and distract. Indeed it is time to return to God’s purposes for us Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged for all nations, house of prayer, lost sense of mission, moneychangers, over the tables, zeal for the Father's house | Leave a comment

Behold the Lamb of God

Posted on May 1, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Jesus is the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” John paints a picture of Jesus mission through the familiar imagery of sacrifice in the Hebrew Scriptures. Surprisingly, Jesus is the lamb for the sacrifice. In so doing he foreshadows Jesus as the one who will die for our sins. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged baptize with the Holy Spirit, behold, Hope, hope of the world, Jesus, Jesus is exalted, Lamb of God, Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, Messiah and King, sins of the world, Worship, Worship Jesus, worthy of praise | Leave a comment

Message of Life

Posted on April 30, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

God’s love for us was so great, that he decided to communicate the message not only through words, but also by a living demonstration as Jesus humbles himself and takes on human flesh. God incarnate–the Word with us. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged children of God, Eternal Life, God's love demonstrated, Jesus, life abundant and eternal, love, the right to become children of God, the Word became flesh, those who believed in his name, those who receive him, word of life | Leave a comment

Waiting and Witnessing

Posted on April 29, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

We can’t do the job on our own. We need his power to be effective witnesses. Therefore Jesus tells us to wait and pray. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged draw by loving kindness, effective witness, Holy Spirit, hungry for truth, overcoming fear, overcp, praying, wait and pray, waiting, witnessing | Leave a comment

Listen

Posted on April 28, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Sometimes in the process of waiting for the answer “our hearts grow faint” (2). It is easy to get discouraged. It is easy to lose hope.
But know that God is listening. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged answering, don't give up, don't lose heart, God's protection, Open Up Your Heart, persevere, prayer, shadow of his wings | Leave a comment

Too Big an Army

Posted on April 27, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

God sized projects require leaning on God for wisdom—not relying on our own. God sized projects require trusting in his strength rather than our own. God sized projects require being prayerful and obedient even when the direction God gives goes against all conventional wisdom. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged too big an army, God's wisdom, Gideon, God sized projects, conventional wisdom vs God's wisdom, conventional wisdom, Prayerful and obedient, Leadership lessons, faith lessons | Leave a comment

Mighty Warrior

Posted on April 26, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

The Bible often shows us that God sees the potential in us long before we do. Such was the case for Gideon. Based on what we read about Gideon, we might be tempted to see only his fears, his questions and his doubts.Yet God saw Gideon’s potential. In complete contrast to Gideon’s confession of his weakness, God calls him “Mighty Warrior!” Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged call of Gideon, dealing with fear, failures and weakness, Gideon, God sees our potential, God with us, God's provision, mighty warrior, take courage | Leave a comment

The Strength to Go On

Posted on April 25, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Facing denial, betrayal, mocking, scourging and a cruel painful death on a cross, Jesus went to his usual place to pray: The Mount of Olives. This solitary place was a regular place of refuge for Jesus where he would pour out his heart to the Father. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged disciples, Jesus, Jesus prayer life, mount of olives, prayer, resist temptation, strength to go on | Leave a comment

Never Ending Cycle

Posted on April 24, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

What happens when God’s people turn away from God’s commands and do whatever is right in their own eyes? That seems to be the question that the writer of Judges is trying to answer. The answer? In short: Chaos. The pages of Judges are filled with missed opportunities, deceit, destruction, and death Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged book of Judges, compromise, cycles of disobedience and repentance, death, deceit, destruction, drifting, Judges, missed opportunities, old patterns, revival | Leave a comment