Fans argue over who is the “greatest of all time,” or the GOAT, of a particular sport. Who’s the GOAT of basketball? Lebron James or Kobe Bryant? (I still say Michael Jordan!) Who’s the GOAT of gymnastics? Simone Biles or Nadia Comanici? For some reason, we all have a fascination not just with greatness, but with the pinnacle of greatness.

In Colossians 1, Paul tells us who the true GOAT is, so to speak. Not an athlete or a rock star or a president, but the greatest person who ever lived. Jesus rises above all earthly powers as the ultimate person who deserves praise, and yes, even worship. In fact, we should remember all great figures have this one thing in common – they owe their fame and success to Jesus, the true “greatest of all time.”

Last Sunday, we studied Colossians 1:15-20 and saw that Jesus is preeminent in all things. This preeminence or supremacy shows itself in two ways. First, we saw his preeminence over creation and how this is directly tied to his deity. Next Sunday, we’ll consider his preeminence over the “new creation.”

If you missed the message, you can watch it on Youtube or listen on our church sermon audio page.  You can also subscribe to our sermon podcast through your Apple or Android podcasting service. Just look up “Calvary Church West Hills.” Lastly, if you live in the San Fernando Valley and don’t have a church home, consider visiting us Sunday. We’d love to meet you!

Revival is a work of God. We can’t predict it, and we certainly can’t manufacture it. “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).

Although revival is a mysterious and wonderful work of God’s Spirit, two conditions have marked every revival throughout history, from the Day of Pentecost to the Great Awakening. There is an increased hunger for the Word of God, and there is a renewed commitment to prayer.

If we would hope to see revival in our generation, we must return to these two things. And what better place than Colossians 1 to see what it looks like to pray? Paul here is praying for the church in Colossae, and shows what prayer should look like in the life of a pastor and in the life of the church. Last Sunday, we concluded a three-part study of Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9-14.

If you missed the message, you can watch it on Youtube or listen on our church sermon audio page.  You can also subscribe to our sermon podcast through your Apple or Android podcasting service. Just look up “Calvary Church West Hills.” Lastly, if you live in the San Fernando Valley and don’t have a church home, consider visiting us Sunday. We’d love to meet you!

There are many ways the Bible describes our relationship with God. One of them is as a “walk.” Not a sprint. Not a standstill. But a walk. In Colossians 1:10-11, Paul prays the church will “walk worthy” of the Lord.” On Sunday, we looked at this prayer and considered how we can walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him. You can watch the video above or visit one of these links:

Video – available on the Calvary Church YouTube Channel

Audio – available on our website and Sermon Audio

My daughter Abby and I took the dog on a short hike the other day. As we walked the Andora Trail, we came to a big boulder. Abby and I wanted to get a better look at our surroundings, so we attached Hazel’s leash to a big shrub and scaled the rock. Up top was a pretty view of the surrounding area with rocks, trees, and meadows, and off to the east was the busy San Fernando Valley. Abby commented it would be a good place to stop for a snack or picnic.

Apparently others had snacked here before. As I looked down, I noticed an orange scrap of food – like a Cheeze-It or Cheeto – moving along the rock. Underneath were about a dozen ants working together, carrying that scrap toward a crack in the rock which was apparently their home. The ants looked like firemen carrying a trampoline, all working in sync to navigate the terrain. It was both entertaining and impressive to watch.

Many times, the Bible encourages us to stop, look, listen, and ponder all nature can teach us about life. Jesus says to look at the birds and lilies, which testify to God’s provision (Matt. 6:25-34). James points out how stallions can be tamed with a bridle, as we must learn to tame our tongues (James 3:2-3). Solomon says to consider the ant. “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise” (Prov. 6:6).

A couple weeks ago, I preached on Nehemiah 4, where the people of Israel worked together to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Like those ants on the rock, all the people were busy, united together for a common cause. Verse 6 says “the people had a mind to work.” What they had been unable to accomplish for 150 years due to a lack of resources and lack of desire, they were able to do in just 52 days, under the right leadership and the Lord’s blessing (Neh. 6:15).

We considered this scene as we think about God’s will for Calvary Church. Imagine the things God could do through us if he would give us a heart and a mind for work! Imagine if every believer fully used their spiritual gift to build up others in the body. Imagine if we all practiced the “one anothers” of Scripture. Imagine if we all gave and served sacrificially, with an instense focus on the glory of God. God has done it before, and he can do it again. He can give his people a mind to work. Our prayer is that he will give us a desire to put our hands to the plow, so to speak, and get our hands dirty. To spend and be spent for the cause of Christ.

If you missed the message, you can watch it above or listen through our church sermon audio page. I’ve also included the handout below. Lastly, here is a link to the Ministry Interest Form in case you are learning how you can be part of the work God is doing here in the San Fernando Valley. Thank you for your faithful service!