Blog – JESUS FAMOUS

Christian Life

Applying Paul’s Illustration: Purge Anti-Gospels & Know Who You Are (Gal. 4:30-31)

Today, we finish looking at Paul’s illustration using the story of Sarah and Hagar, which he used to show the struggle between law and grace for the Galatians. Let’s look…

Nate HoldridgeJanuary 9, 2025

Christian Life

Applying Paul’s Illustration: Rejoice in Spiritual Barrenness & Expect a Struggle with Legalism (Galatians 4:27-29)

In last week’s post from Galatians, we saw how Paul used the story of Hagar, Sarah, and the birth of their sons from Genesis to illustrate the struggle between law…

Nate HoldridgeJanuary 2, 2025

Encouraging Word

Reject Anti-Gospels (Galatians 4:21-26)

At this point in Galatians, Paul decided to cap his scriptural defense of the gospel of grace with a story from Scripture. Paul was shocked that some in the Galatian…

Nate HoldridgeDecember 26, 2024

Christian Life

Stay Focused in the Gospel: Christ Formed in Us (Galatians 4:17-20)

With this passage, we wrap up Paul’s passionate appeal to the Galatians not to add to the gospel they’d been given but to stay firm in the gospel of grace.…

Nate HoldridgeDecember 19, 2024

man carrying daughter in black sleeveless top

Sunday Teachings Advent

God is Love 01—The Overflowing Love of the Father (Galatians 4:4-6)

Sunday Teaching Notes: God is Love 01—The Overflowing Love of the Father (Galatians 4:4-6)

Nate HoldridgeDecember 15, 2024

Christian Life

Stay Free in the Gospel: In Christian Liberty (Galatians 4:12-16)

Today, we pick up in the middle of Paul’s loving appeal to the Galatians, pleading with them to stay firm in the gospel of grace rather than being swayed by…

Nate HoldridgeDecember 12, 2024

Sunday Teachings An Advancing Gospel Community

08 An Advancing Gospel Community: Partners Together (4:10-23)

Sunday Teaching: An Advancing Gospel Community—Partners Together (4:10-23)

Nate HoldridgeDecember 8, 2024

Christian Life

Stay Simple in the Gospel: God Is Our Father (Galatians 4:8-11)

We are in the middle of Paul's theological case to the Galatian church. After he had brought them the gospel, they had begun to drift from it. False teachers were…

Nate HoldridgeDecember 5, 2024

Sunday Teachings An Advancing Gospel Community

07 An Advancing Gospel Community: Requires Ongoing Maintenance (Philippians 4:1-9)

Sunday Teaching: 07 An Advancing Gospel Community: Requires Ongoing Maintenance (Phil. 4:1-9)

Nate HoldridgeDecember 1, 2024

Christian Life

Do I Feel God Is My Father? (Galatians 4:1-7)

Before placing our faith in Christ, we were imprisoned and guarded, as we saw in last week’s article. Let’s also think about what we become after placing our faith in…

Nate HoldridgeNovember 28, 2024

Christian Life

Do I Think of God as My Father? (Galatians 4:1-7)

This entire passage illustrates the point in the final verse: "So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God" (7).…

Nate HoldridgeNovember 21, 2024

a person holding a cell phone in their hand

Sunday Teachings An Advancing Gospel Community

06 An Advancing Gospel Community: Craves Christlikeness (Philippians 3:12-21)

Sermon Notes: An Advancing Gospel Community: Craves Christlikeness (Philippians 3:12-21)

Nate HoldridgeNovember 17, 2024

Encouraging Word

What We Are After the Gospel (Galatians 3:23–29)

Before placing our faith in Christ, we were imprisoned and guarded, as we saw in last week’s article. Let’s also think about what we become after placing our faith in…

Nate HoldridgeNovember 14, 2024

Sunday Teachings An Advancing Gospel Community

05 An Advancing Gospel Community: Enjoys Authentic Christianity (Philippians 3:1-11)

Sunday Teaching: An Advancing Gospel Community: Enjoys Authentic Christianity (Philippians 3:1-11)

Nate HoldridgeNovember 10, 2024

Encouraging Word

What We Were Before the Gospel (Galatians 3:23–29)

In this passage, Paul will tell us what faith in the gospel does to us. When we truly believe, what happens to us? Paul will explain it to us in…

Nate HoldridgeNovember 7, 2024

Sunday Teachings An Advancing Gospel Community

04 An Advancing Gospel Community: Breaks Into Darkness (Philippians 2:12-30)

Sunday Teaching: 04 An Advancing Gospel Community: Breaks Into Darkness (Philippians 2:12-30)

Nate HoldridgeNovember 3, 2024

Christian Life

The Law Complements the Gospel Because It Combatted Sin until Christ Arrived & Reveals Our Need for Christ (Galatians 3:19-22)

Last week, we began looking at how the law complements the Gospel, the first way being that it arrived after Christ was promised - over four centuries after the promise…

Nate HoldridgeOctober 31, 2024

Christian Life

The Law Complements the Gospel Because It Arrived after Christ Was Promised (Galatians 3:15-18)

In a sense, there is no bigger question than the one Galatians attempts to answer: How do we relate to God? Do we experience God as a reward for good…

Nate HoldridgeOctober 24, 2024

Sunday Teachings An Advancing Gospel Community

O3 An Advancing Gospel Community: Participates in God’s Kingdom (2:1-11)

Sunday sermon (Part 3 of Philippians): O3 An Advancing Gospel Community: Participates in God's Kingdom (2:1-11)

Nate HoldridgeOctober 20, 2024

landscape photography of mountains under blue sky

Christian Life

The Gospel of Grace Brought the Spirit to Us (Galatians 3:10–14, ESV)

Through this passage over the past couple of weeks, we’ve examined two reasons the gospel of grace transfers us from curse to blessing: it shows us the way of faith…

Nate HoldridgeOctober 17, 2024

a statue of jesus on a cross in a church

Sunday Teachings An Advancing Gospel Community

02 An Advancing Gospel Community: Lives Worthy of the Gospel (Philippians 1:12-30)

Sunday Sermon: 02 An Advancing Gospel Community: Lives Worthy of the Gospel (Philippians 1:12-30)

Nate HoldridgeOctober 13, 2024

a river in a valley surrounded by mountains

Encouraging Word

Gospel Blessing: Christ Was Cursed for Us (Galatians 3:10–14)

Last week, we began looking at how the gospel transfers us from curse to blessing, the first way being that it promotes the way of faith. The second reason the…

Nate HoldridgeOctober 10, 2024

silhouette photo of six persons on top of mountain

Sunday Teachings An Advancing Gospel Community

01 An Advancing Gospel Community: Partners Together (Philippians 1:1-11)

Sunday Sermon: 01 An Advancing Gospel Community: Partners Together (Philippians 1:1-11)

Nate HoldridgeOctober 6, 2024

Encouraging Word

The Gospel of Grace Promotes the Way of Faith (Galatians 3:10-14)

How can someone enjoy and experience God? How can we become fully human as God intended? How can we be released from paralyzing guilt and shame? How can we attain…

Nate HoldridgeOctober 3, 2024

Sunday Teachings

Future Church – Joshua 5:13-15

Sunday Sermon: Future Church (Joshua 5:13-15)

Nate HoldridgeSeptember 29, 2024

calm lake surrounded by trees near mountain range

Christian Life

Paul Used the Example of Abraham to Demonstrate Gospel Truth (Galatians 3:1-9)

The book of Galatians is a letter detailing a struggle for the gospel of grace. Paul was a first-century apostle, and God's purpose for Paul was to send him to…

Nate HoldridgeSeptember 26, 2024

Christian Life Sunday Teachings

Bound But Not Broken – Acts 16:11-34

Sunday Sermon: Bound but not Broken - Acts 16:11-34

Matt KehlerSeptember 22, 2024

Christian Life

The Gospel is Worth Every Sacrifice and Asks for Our Ongoing Trust (Galatians 3:1-5)

Paul's question is loaded with personal backstory. He knew everything the Galatians had endured for their belief in Jesus. While with them, Paul and Barnabas had to strengthen the Galatians’…

Nate HoldridgeSeptember 19, 2024

Christian Life Sunday Teachings Maturity Profiled

Maturity Profiled 12—The Mature Live Within a Praying Community—James 5:13-20

Sunday Sermon: Maturity Profiled 12—The Mature Live Within a Praying Community—James 5:13-20

Nate HoldridgeSeptember 15, 2024

Christian Life

The Gospel Unleashes the Spirit & Supplies Resources to Become Complete (Galatians 3:1-5)

When Paul went to Galatia with the gospel, he had clearly and powerfully depicted Jesus for them. He had publicly portrayed Jesus Christ as crucified to the Galatians (1). He…

Nate HoldridgeSeptember 12, 2024

a train track with a body of water in the background

Christian Life Sunday Teachings Maturity Profiled

Maturity Profiled 11—The Mature are Patient in a Hard World—James 5:7-12

Sunday Sermon: Maturity Profiled 11—The Mature are Patient in a Hard World—James 5:7-12

Nate HoldridgeSeptember 8, 2024

a branch of a tree with drops of water on it

Christian Life

A Gospel-Aligned Life is Lived by Daily Faith (Galatians 2:20b-21)

Following Paul’s public rebuke of Peter for bowing to the fear of man, he moves into sharing a beautiful picture of what life should look like when justified by faith…

Nate HoldridgeSeptember 5, 2024

blue ballpoint pen on paper beside calculator

Christian Life Sunday Teachings Maturity Profiled

Maturity Profiled 10—The Mature Navigate Finances with God—James 5:1-6

Sunday Teaching: Maturity Profiled 10—The Mature Navigate Finances with God—James 5:1-6

Nate HoldridgeSeptember 2, 2024

Christian Life

A Gospel-Aligned Life Is Totally Identified with Christ (Galatians 2:20a)

Our post today picks up with Paul sharing from his heart about a gospel-aligned life—what our life justified by faith in Christ should look like. He confronted Peter for bowing…

Nate HoldridgeAugust 29, 2024

man holding hands of woman walks on concrete road

Christian Life Sunday Teachings Maturity Profiled

Maturity Profiled 09—The Mature Walk Through Life with God—James 4:13-17

Sunday Teaching: Maturity Profiled 09—The Mature Walk Through Life with God—James 4:13-17

Nate HoldridgeAugust 25, 2024

man topless standing on top of hill with dried grass field

Christian Life

A Gospel-Aligned Life Is Free And For God (Galatians 2:17–21)

After Paul confronted Peter for withdrawing from the Gentiles in Antioch and not living in line with the gospel, Paul beautifully taught about the life the gospel is meant to…

Nate HoldridgeAugust 23, 2024

person holding book while standing on field

Christian Life Sunday Teachings Maturity Profiled

Maturity Profiled 08—The Mature Pursue God—James 4:1-12

Sunday Teaching: Maturity Profiled 08—The Mature Pursue God—James 4:1-12

Nate HoldridgeAugust 18, 2024

Christian Life

Live in Step with the Gospel: Part 2 (Galatians 2:11-16)

Our passage today details an account of Paul having to publicly confront Peter, who, out of fear of man, had divided himself from the Gentiles after being unified with them.…

Nate HoldridgeAugust 15, 2024

Christian Life

Journal Entry of Adiel, Temple Priest (May 24, 33 AD)

A historical fiction based on the events of Acts 2 and the theology of the Bible, perpared for a recent Worship Night at Calvary Monterey.

Nate HoldridgeAugust 10, 2024

Christian Life

Live in Step with the Gospel: Part 1 (Galatians 2:11-16)

Paul wanted the Galatians—and us—to fly up into a life of freedom and love, and he knew that the gospel message could take us there (Gal. 5:13). But as we’ve…

Nate HoldridgeAugust 8, 2024

Christian Life

The Gospel Is Versatile, Not Rigid (Galatians 2:6-10)

In our final segment of Galatians 2:1-10, we learn that the beautiful, acceptable gospel is versatile, not rigid.

Nate HoldridgeAugust 1, 2024

Christian Life

The Gospel Brings Divine Freedom, not Human Control (Galatians 2:4-5)

Last week, in Galatians 2, we saw how the gospel is received, not earned. The next movement of this passage reminds us that the beautiful, acceptable gospel brings divine freedom,…

Nate HoldridgeJuly 25, 2024

Christian Life

The Gospel Is Received, not Earned (Galatians 2:1-3)

Our text today details the second time Paul visited Jerusalem as a Christian, fourteen years after his conversion (1). It took Paul three years from his conversion to finally make…

Nate HoldridgeJuly 18, 2024

Christian Life

What Did Paul’s Gospel Produce? (Galatians 1:10-24)

Last week, we examined Paul's testimony and saw the evidence for why Paul's gospel was legitimate. The second question we will explore today from this passage is: What did Paul's…

Nate HoldridgeJuly 11, 2024

Christian Life Sunday Teachings

Psalm 22—A Move From Dim Anguish to Radiant Joy

Nate HoldridgeJuly 7, 2024

Christian Life

Why Is Paul’s Gospel Legit? (Galatians 1:10-24)

The book of Acts tells the story of Paul's conversion three times. He was a persecutor of the church and was on his way from Jerusalem in Israel to Damascus…

Nate HoldridgeJuly 4, 2024

Christian Life Sunday Teachings Maturity Profiled

Maturity Profiled 07—The Mature Grow in Wisdom—James 3:13-18

Sunday Teaching: Maturity Profiled 07—The Mature Grow in Wisdom—James 3:13-18

Nate HoldridgeJune 30, 2024

Christian Life

What’s Wrong with Adding to the Gospel? Pt. 2 (Gal. 1:1-9)

Last week, we began studying the book of Galatians and heard Paul’s urgent message that adding to the gospel is dangerous — it is abandoning Jesus. A second reason adding…

Nate HoldridgeJune 27, 2024

Christian Life

What’s Wrong with Adding to the Gospel? Pt. 1 (Gal. 1:1-9)

The next book we’ll dive into, beginning today, is Galatians. The theme word for our study of *Galatians* is *"fly."* The end of Paul's letter to the Galatians describes a…

Nate HoldridgeJune 20, 2024