Author Archives: pastorjeffsneighborhood

Unknown's avatar

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.

Fully Mature in Christ

Posted on October 5, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Why is Paul struggling and working so hard to teach and preach and plant churches? This passage makes his motivation clear. He wants the believers to grow up in their faith and become fully mature in Christ. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spiritual Wisdom and Understanding

Posted on October 4, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Life is filled with difficulties and decisions that require God’s wisdom and strength. This prayer leads us to trust in the one who can give us all that we need to get us through each and every day. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Unexpected Peace

Posted on October 3, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

We all have times when we are tempted to worry. Yet, worry is counterproductive. It consumes our attention; it saps our energy and creativity; it takes away our peace, our hope, our joy. Paul suggests an alternative to worry: prayer. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Knowing Christ

Posted on October 2, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

What Paul found in his relationship with Christ made him want to press in deeper and press on farther. “I want to know Christ . . . I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Watchmen

Posted on October 1, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Watchmen are the serious prayer warriors who give God no rest until he fulfills his promises and accomplishes the vision he has given. Some assume that once they’ve received a vision from God of what is to be accomplished, that the hard work of prayer is over. The watchmen know that the hard work of persistent prayer has only begun. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Humility

Posted on September 30, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death–even death on a cross! Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Learning to Pray from Paul

Posted on September 29, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Paul prays for the big things, the overarching things. Instead of a quick fix for the moment, Paul prays for that which will make the biggest impact in the big picture of things. Rather than focusing only on the present need, Paul’s prayers impact the here and now by focusing on the eternal. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Joy in the House of Prayer

Posted on September 28, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Prayer should be a joyful experience. Whether personal times of prayer, or corporate times of prayer, those times should be characterized by joy.  Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs

Posted on September 27, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

One good indicator of a life lived in the fullness of the Spirit is a joyful, singing heart. When the Holy Spirit is really in control, he fills you with joy and he fills your heart with singing. Life lived in the flesh doesn’t produce joyful songs, but life in the Spirit always does. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

I Have Not Forgotten You

Posted on September 26, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

How could a young mother forget her newborn baby? How could she fail to have compassion? God says that he will remember us and have compassion on us even more surely than a young mother who cares for her newborn child. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment