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.

Who is My Neighbor?

Posted on April 3, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Who is your neighbor? The person in need, yes. But more to the point: the person you find most difficult to love. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged don't neglect your neighbor in need, Good Samaritan, Jesus parables, personal prejudice, societal prejudice, the person in need, those most difficult to love, who is my neighbor | Leave a comment

Become the Answer to Your Prayers

Posted on April 2, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

The prayer response is a good start, but it is not enough. It is an important and essential beginning point to our mission. But notice that after Jesus calls them to pray, he calls them to go. He calls us to be the answer to our prayers. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged evangelism, harvest field, lord of the harvest, mission, missions, pray then go, prayer, send forth laborers | Leave a comment

Stillness in the Middle of Chaos

Posted on April 1, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Does your world seem to be falling apart? There is no reason to fear even if a mountain falls into the heart of the sea (2). Be still. Remember who your God is. Spend some time there in reverent awe meditating on his greatness. Slow down and put your trust in him! He is the fortress to whom you can run to find safety and rest. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged aware of God's presence, be still and know that I am God, cacophony, chaos, confusion, prayer, quiet in God's presence, silence, solitude, Stillness, world spinning out of control | Leave a comment

Who Do You Say I Am?

Posted on March 31, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

The King of Kings would bring justice and rule forever. But first, he would “suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged before the exalation, before the glory there is the suffering, coming again, cross, Jesus' identity, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Messiah, resurrection, Savior, there is the humbling, Who do you say I am? | Leave a comment

Interrupted

Posted on March 30, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Perhaps you have suffered for a long time and are tempted to give up hope. Don’t give up. Don’t lose faith. Press in close to Jesus. Reach out in faith and touch the hem of his garment. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged hem of his garment, hope for the hopeless, instant healing, Jesus healing power, you are not an interruption to God, your faith has saved you | Leave a comment

Passing it on to the Next Generation

Posted on March 29, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

As we pass on the stories of God’s goodness—his intervention, his answers to prayer, his blessings—our words of testimony become a strong incentive for the next generation to love, trust and obey. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged faith, God's faithfulness, miracles, pass it on, passing it on to the next generation, stories of intervention, testimony | Leave a comment

Fertile Soil

Posted on March 28, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Don’t allow God’s word to be stolen from you. Don’t allow times of testing to choke out the word. Don’t allow the pursuit of pleasure or wealth or the worries of this life keep you from being productive. Open up your heart to God: hear, retain and persevere in obedience to produce an abundant crop. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged abundant crop, bumper crop, fruitful discipleship, good soil, hear and obey, obedience, perseverance, rocky soil, stunted spiritual growth, thorny soil, trials of life | 1 Comment

Remember the Long Way

Posted on March 27, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Remember the long way—remember God’s work in your life over the years. It’s so easy to get caught up with what we are doing—become too busy to even notice God’s work in our lives. It’s easy when things get tough to forget all the ways that God has proved himself faithful over the years. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged answers to prayer, faithfulness of God, going through difficult times, on the long way, remember, remembering answers to prayer, remembering the past, thanks, thanksgiving, your journey with GOd | Leave a comment

When the Victory Comes

Posted on March 26, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

How do you handle victory and success? The human tendency is to allow our successes and victories to go to our heads. We boast; we revel in the praise of others. We give little thought to the one who stands behind the victory and success. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged all glory to God, boast in the Lord, let the one who boasts, shine the spotlight on God almighty, success, victory | Leave a comment

Becoming Like Our Teacher

Posted on March 25, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

The goal of the disciple is to become like his or her teacher. For the disciple of Jesus, it means that when we are fully trained we will be like him. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged becoming like our teacher, discipleship, fully trained disciples, good fruit, Jesus the disciple maker, Jesus the teacher, obedience to Christ, student is not above their teacher | Leave a comment