Chestnut Mountain Church

Biblical stewardship is managing the resources and abilities God has given and using them to accomplish what He has ordained. Everything we possess is a gift from God, entrusted to us for His purpose. Like the children of Israel, it is easy to begin with excitement and then become distracted, using time, talents, and abilities to build our own kingdom instead of the Kingdom of God. Through Haggai, God calls His people to think carefully about their ways, to think carefully about their time, and to think carefully about the talents and abilities He has given. God had given Israel everything they needed, the ability to go, the skill to build, and the strength to complete His assignment, yet they used it for themselves and were never satisfied. When what God has entrusted is held tightly, it will not be blessed. When God’s people live with reverence and awe for the Lord, their dependence on His presence grows. Little is much when God is in it, and God desires His people to be open handed with what He has given so that He receives the glory. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/XGwOqFhk13k Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

Communion is never about checking a box or doing something because it is what we do. It is a moment to slow down and remember the rescue. Scripture takes us back to Passover when God delivered His people and death passed over those covered by the blood of a spotless lamb. Jesus took that same meal and pointed it to Himself, His body given and His blood poured out so that eternal death would pass over all who believe in Him. Paul reminded the church in Corinth of the weight and seriousness of the Lord’s Supper. Before taking the bread and the cup, believers are called to examine their hearts, to confess sin, and to pursue unity with others so they do not take this moment lightly. The invitation is also extended to anyone who does not yet know Christ because everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Communion becomes a time to remember what Jesus has done, to give thanks for His sacrifice, and to sit in the presence of the One who offers forgiveness, freedom, and life. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/XKhhwlFbRWE Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

God had promised to give the children of Israel everything they needed to rebuild the temple, including the gift of time. But when their priorities shifted, the first thing they failed to steward was that time. For 17 years, they did nothing with the assignment God had given them. Through Haggai, God calls them to “think carefully about your ways” and to evaluate how they had used their days. Time is one of the most overlooked gifts God has given us. Our days are numbered, and every one of them has a purpose. Like Israel, it is easy to let circumstances distract us and keep us from God’s presence and His work. When we face difficult times, we must choose whether we will run to Him or away from Him. When we give Him our time, He adjusts everything else. The dash between our birth and death is what God has entrusted to us. While there is still breath in our lungs, how will we use the time God has given us? Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/r5XIw5lSUGQ Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

God has called His people to live with open hands—ready to release whatever He’s entrusted to us so He can use it for His glory. In Ezra, God’s people were given a specific assignment: return to Jerusalem and rebuild His temple. They were not only called but also promised everything they needed to complete the task. God will never lead us where He will not provide. At first, their obedience and excitement collided with God’s power, and they celebrated what He had done. But when opposition came, circumstances grew louder than God’s promises, and their hands began to close. For 17 years, they stopped building. Through the prophet Haggai, God spoke again: “Think carefully about your ways.” We’re not saved to sit. We’ve been set free to build His Kingdom. As we align our priorities and move together in obedience, God is preparing to do what only He can do. Whatever He asks of you—say yes. Trust Him with what seems impossible. When our obedience meets His power, He makes a way where there seems to be no way. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/5bkNssH4jzY Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

Jude closes his letter with a doxology, a word of praise. Giving God praise has more to do with who He is than what is going on around us. When we know who God is, we are able to worship and give Him the praise He is worthy of. We were made to know and enjoy God, and worship is due to Him at all times. In Jude 24–25, we see that God is able to save us, protect us, and present us. He is our Savior, the one who rescues us from danger and delivers us from wrath. Once He saves us, we are His forever. He is able to keep us from falling and to present us blameless and spotless in His presence. Jesus has done the work for us. Our response is to confess, believe, repent, and give all glory to the One who is able. Listen to this sermon in the final part of our In The Word series in the book of Jude. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/hqjyPqyVTYM Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

A parent will do anything to protect their child. Warnings come from love, not fear, because love sees danger and wants to keep others safe. In the same way, Jude gives a loving but serious warning to the church to be alert to the dangers that surround us. In Jude 12-23, he describes “these people” who slip into the church to cause division and spread deception. If the enemy cannot stop the church from the outside, he will try to weaken it from within. We must guard what God is doing in our homes, our children’s lives, and His church. Jude reminds believers that God will deal with all wickedness in His time. Our responsibility is to stay faithful, to keep growing in our faith, to pray for the power of the Holy Spirit, and to have mercy on those who have drifted. We have to be urgent about reaching people who do not know God, snatching them from the flames but using caution. Be careful not to be pulled into what you are trying to rescue someone from. Know your surroundings, know what you are stepping into, and ask God to reveal who these people are in your life. Listen to this sermon in third part of our In The Word series, walking through the book of Jude. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/5fl23Ch5y8A Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

To contend for the faith is to wrestle and endure in the daily walk of following Jesus. Jude reminds us that we must look to the past to understand how to stand firm today. From Israel’s rebellion in the wilderness to the examples of Cain, Balaam, and Korah, Scripture shows us the danger of turning from God’s truth and the importance of staying faithful to the calling He has given us. Contending for the faith requires endurance and focus. We run the race by looking to Jesus, the perfecter of our faith, knowing that He has already won the victory. As we follow Him, we are called to soak in God’s Word, beg for His will, and walk in His way, allowing what we believe to be visible in how we live. In a world filled with confusion and darkness, God calls His people to wake up, push back the darkness, and shine the light of Christ wherever they go. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/Spa3WGxQ32c Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

Jude opens his letter reminding believers who they are, called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ. We have been bought with a price, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. It does not matter how far you have gone or how much you have messed up. Jesus has called you to Himself. His love is perfect, permanent, and unchanging. Once you are in Him, you are always in Him. Because of that, we are not saved to sit still. Jude urges believers to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. In a world where truth is being twisted and false gospels creep in unnoticed, we must guard what is true, not opinions or preferences, but the gospel itself. Contending begins on our knees. It looks like prayer, surrender, and bold obedience. Jesus has called us, loves us, and keeps us. He does not need wimpy Christians, but bold ones, driven by His love, who stand firm and live out the truth of the gospel. You are called. You are beloved. You are kept. Now get in the game and contend for the faith. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/ZuisIyghRHg Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

Our culture at Chestnut Mountain Church is always going to be shaped by what we value. The early church in Acts had all things in common; they were together. They were open-handed with what God had entrusted to them and lived out grateful generosity. We should strive to be a generous people, not for recognition, but because we are grateful for how generous He has been to us. As we look at why we value grateful generosity, there are three steps we can take in being generous. The first step in generosity is taking a step toward God. He receives us no matter what condition we’re in. Before we can ever understand biblical generosity, we must take a step toward Him in surrender. God was the one who initiated generosity, the one who modeled it. Before we trust Him with our money, we must trust Him with our eternity. The next step is to know Him better, and the deeper we know Him, the deeper we understand how generous He has been. The third step is to trust Him, because generosity has nothing to do with the amount of money; it has everything to do with trust. God doesn’t need our money; He wants our hearts. When we live out generosity, we’re living out a reflection of who Jesus is. The goal is not for people to see Chestnut Mountain Church; it’s for people to see Jesus. Listen to this sermon about grateful generosity in our Who We Are series. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/CSFX9hP_xww Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

We are shaped by surrendered obedience. The narrow gate Jesus calls us to enter is simple, but it is not easy. Following Him means making choices that set us apart from the broad road of the crowd. Trusting the Lord means doing what He asks even when it doesn’t make sense. God doesn’t need logical people; He needs obedient people. Surrendered obedience is seen in the prayers we pray, when we say, “Your will be done, not mine.” Take a step of obedience. Don’t hang the “do not disturb” sign on your faith—switch it to “available.” We are shaped by the paths we take, the choices we make, and the prayers we pray. Take a step towards obedience. Listen to this sermon about surrendered obedience in our Who We Are series. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/W_zijVFd1Fo Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

Prayer is the life source of the believer. We have overcomplicated it, but prayer is simply a conversation with God. The beauty of saying “Good morning, God” is that He is never not there. Prayer is where we find peace, comfort, direction, and the wisdom of God. It is not the preparation for the greater work but is the greater work. Everything must begin in prayer. Jesus gave us the model, the outline, and the call to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking. Prayer is not a “ding dong ditch” moment—it is persistence. Like the widow before the judge, we are called to keep showing up and to depend on the One who loves us. Hardship often drives us to prayer, but once we taste and see that the Lord is good, we realize we can’t live without Him. Persistent prayer is our display of dependency and expectancy. God’s ways are always better, His timing is always best, and He calls us to trust Him more. Listen to this sermon about persistent prayer in our Who We Are series. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/DHpRZKzHqmc Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

Biblical teaching is the nucleus of everything we do. It is our life source, and it’s what God has entrusted to us as His church. When looking at why we value biblical teaching, we look at what we do, which is to preach the Word. Not part of it, but every God-breathed word in Scripture. The reason we preach the Word is that it teaches, rebukes, corrects, and trains. It may offend our flesh, but that offense leads to brokenness over sin, and that brokenness turns us back to Him. When we preach the Word, when we live a life with the purpose of glorifying Him, the world hates us. The enemy wants to extinguish the very light that God has placed inside of you. We have to keep preaching the Word, keep living the Word, and keep sharing the Word no matter what the cost. Listen to this sermon about biblical teaching in our Who We Are series. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/3dXp169Oe4w Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

At CMC, our mission is to saturate the world by making disciples. We achieve this by helping people belong to the family of God, become mature disciples of Christ, and build the Kingdom of God together. That’s why our values matter: Biblical Teaching, Intentional Community, Persistent Prayer, Surrendered Obedience, and Grateful Generosity. They drive our behaviors and form the framework of how we want to be known. And intentional community is the glue that holds it all together. Looking to the early church in Acts, we see that intentional community is authentic, consistent, generous, and missional. Our prayer is that our intentional community would be a reflection of who He is and what He has done. Listen to this sermon about why we value intentional community in our Who We Are series. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/tHHj-esoJdI Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

Every home has a purpose. God has entrusted our families and households to us so that His glory might be seen and His faithfulness displayed. But just as the Philistines formed against Shammah’s bean field in 2 Samuel 23:11–12, the enemy still surrounds what God has given us, trying to trample and destroy. Shammah could have fled like the others, but instead, he stayed attentive, stood in the middle, and defended the field God had given him. In the same way, God calls us to fight for our homes and families that He has entrusted us with. We must remain on guard, stand firm in the middle of what God has given us, and fight with the only weapon the enemy cannot overcome—God’s Word. In this battle, the most powerful posture of battle is prayer. As we stay attentive, take our stand, and defend what God has given us, we must continually cover our homes, our children, and our families in prayer. Listen to this sermon about how to protect our home when the enemy attacks in the final sermon in our Within The Wall series. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/tHHj-esoJdI Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

What if we lived our lives as if the faith of the next generation relied on us? Judges 2 reminds us that when God’s people stop walking in obedience, we are only one or two generations away from a people who no longer know Him. Faith has to be more than knowledge—it must affect the way we live. Deuteronomy 6 shows us three ways we can pass faith down: love God passionately, teach truth practically, and share testimony personally. We can’t force anyone to follow Jesus, but we can put kindling around their hearts and trust the Lord to ignite the fire. If we say yes to Jesus, He’ll use us to pass on faith to the next generation if we’ll let Him. Listen to this message about generational discipleship in the fourth part of our Within The Walls series. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/9RllbhsxueU Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

Every home has a purpose, but in order to live out that purpose, it must be built on the foundation of Jesus Christ. When storms come, our homes can only withstand them if they are anchored to Him. Jesus must be the foundational piece of our homes. To do this, there are four building blocks that we can use in placing in our home so that we can live out what God has for us. The four building blocks include love, serving, forgiveness, and intentionality. What building block are you struggling with the most? Ask God to help you love, serve, forgive, and be intentional with your family. Let Him be the foundation of your home. Listen to this sermon in the third part of our Within The Walls series. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/snVfDJpzw3I Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

We live in a world where the internet and social media plant false expectations that rarely match reality. The same happens in our homes—expectations of perfection weigh us down and blind us to the truth: every one of us has a sin nature. We are all sinners in need of a Savior. Even after salvation, we still mess up, face temptation, and battle sins that may have controlled generations before us, including deception, selfishness, jealousy, anger, addiction, or abuse. One lie in Abraham’s life set off a chain of sin that stretched across four generations. The enemy works by normalizing sin, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Joseph chose truth and forgiveness. His choice broke the cycle. Hebrews 12:1-2 calls us to lay aside the sin that entangles and run with eyes fixed on Jesus. Make the daily choice to lay it down. Let it stop with you. God wants you to win. Listen to this sermon in the second part of our Within The Walls series. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/_86Cijh6M2w Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

Every home has a purpose. Satan wants to destroy that purpose, and God wants to restore what’s already been destroyed. No matter what you’re walking through, no matter what you’re dealing with, no matter what season of life your family and your home is in right now, God sees you, God loves you, and He wants you to win. We were created in the image of God to reflect His glory and His attributes. Our homes are meant to be a reflection of who God is, so that others become curious and we can point them to Jesus. Whether you’re in a season of victory or feel like your home is falling apart, God wants to continue growing what is already going good and revive what may seem dead. Satan’s tactic is to question the truth of God and to compromise the truth of God. The enemy wants to plant seeds of doubt and drive a wedge between us and God. But God has made a career of mending broken things. He calls us to stop hiding, to take a step toward Him, and to allow Him to fix what we have wrecked. God wants to clothe you in His love through His Son, Jesus, and He wants you to trust Him with the broken pieces. Take a step towards God. Listen to this sermon in the first part of our Within The Walls series. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/w-fPrYOJFuQ Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

It is humbling to watch what God is doing, but even more humbling to know that He invites us to be a part of it. God did not send you here to sit. He did not save you to sit. He wants to use you to build His Kingdom. In Colossians 4, we are reminded that God uses all kinds of people for His purposes. Some are steady and faithful, while others come from a painful past, some have experienced failure, and others are recognized for their prayer, generosity, or unique gifts. No matter who you are or what your story looks like, God has a plan for you. Your past does not disqualify you. It may be the very thing God wants to use for His glory. He wants to save you, redeem you, and use you. If you will make yourself available, God will open the door. There is a seat at the table, and God wants to use you to build His Kingdom. Listen to the final sermon in our In The Word series, walking through the book of Colossians. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/EI_wGAnJRl4 Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

As adults, we continue to change—our personalities, our characteristics—but the transformation Paul talks about in Colossians 4 is something much deeper. It’s the transformation that happens when we’ve been raised with Christ. Salvation is in Christ alone, through Christ alone, and by Christ alone. Anything added to that is not the gospel at all. False teachers were trying to add to the gospel, saying you had to do more to get more of God. If you’ve been saved by grace, you already have all of Jesus. This transformation isn’t about getting more of Him; it’s about Jesus getting more of us. He must increase, but we must decrease. In Colossians 4:2–6, Paul shifts the focus to how we live out this transformation in front of a watching world. When our lives are transformed, people notice. Every day is an open door for us to reflect His image. Every day is an open door for people to see the transformation that God has done in and through us. Do people see the transformation in you? Listen to this sermon about being transformed and putting it on display in the eighth part of our In The Word series, walking through the book of Colossians. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/gSMgSbGSlCg Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zk Learn more about us at chestnutmountain.org Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.