United To God — How God Did It, Ephesians 2:8-9
We have taken time to learn why and how God worked to save His people, but how did God perform this gracious salvation? We’ve seen what we were and what…
Nate HoldridgeMay 10, 2018
United To God — What God Did, Ephesians 2.5-6
We have now observed why God saved us, but what did God do to rescue us from our previous condition? Spiritually dead, followers in every way, and under the judgment…
Nate HoldridgeMay 3, 2018
United To God — Why God Did It, Ephesians 2.4-5
Up to this point in our passage, Paul has explained to us the utter lostness of humanity (see Ephesians 2:1-3). We were dead. We were followers. We were children of…
Nate HoldridgeApril 26, 2018
Recently, I had a conversation with a youth pastor from another church. “What are teenagers going through right now?” I asked...4 minutes / 700 words
Nate HoldridgeApril 24, 2018
What We Were: Under Wrath, Ephesians 2:3
The opposite of God’s wrath is not God’s love, but God's apathy, and God cannot be apathetic. His wrath flows from His love, for He hates what sin does to…
Nate HoldridgeApril 19, 2018
9 Lessons From A Sabbatical
One of my heroes is Geoff Buck, one of the pastors at Calvary Monterey. Ten years ago, Geoff joined our pastoral team and has served as a great friend, mentor,…
Nate HoldridgeApril 17, 2018
What We Were — Followers — Ephesians 2:2-3
Perhaps, when thinking of that old life of spiritual deadness, believers might remember themselves as brimming with originality. But it would be wrong to think this way, for our past…
Nate HoldridgeApril 12, 2018
United To Life — What We Were- Spiritually Dead — Ephesians 2:1-2
Paul had prayed for the Ephesian church — and us — to know three things. He longed for us to know the hope of our calling, the riches of our…
Nate HoldridgeApril 5, 2018
“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid…
Nate HoldridgeApril 3, 2018
United To The Power Of Christ, Ephesians 1:20-23
Of the three realities Paul longed for the church to realize, this last one seems to have pressed most deeply upon his heart, which is why he expanded upon it…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 29, 2018
My Writing Flow
In a recent post, I encouraged those with the ability to both exposit and write to consider writing regularly about the Bible, the word of God. My premise there was…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 27, 2018
Truth Can Be Acquired. Here’s How. (Proverbs 18.15)
One mark of the last days is a perception that one cannot arrive at any real conclusions about God...2 Minutes
Nate HoldridgeMarch 24, 2018
Know God’s Power, Ephesians 1:19
The third, and final, request of Paul in this opening prayer is for the church to know the profound power of God “toward us who believe.” To add emphasis and color…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 22, 2018
Intoxication Hurts People, Proverbs 20:1
Don’t be deceived by the ad campaigns. It isn’t all happy times...250 Words / 2 Minutes
Nate HoldridgeMarch 20, 2018
Become United To The Reality Of His Riches (Ephesians 1:18)
Now we come to Paul’s second prayer for the church, that we would know of the inheritance God has given us. Paul referred to the inheritance as “riches” six times…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 15, 2018
The proverb above shows us a reality of our world. In this world, riches enable someone to treat others roughly, but those in poverty are forced to plead for mercy,…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 10, 2018
United To Reality — His Calling, Ephesians 1:18-19
Paul continued his prayer for revelation with three specific requests. Three realities stood out in Paul’s mind. He believed that, if the church knows these realities — deeply, inwardly — the…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 8, 2018
Some things ought not to be broadcast. Secrecy and privacy are often the best alternatives. Not everything has to be lived out in the open. Not every story must be…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 6, 2018
United To Reality — Through Enlightenment, Ephesians 1:15-18
When the Syrian army encamped against Elisha’s home, his servant saw them first. Trembling, he ran to Elisha. Elisha exhorted him, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 1, 2018
Humans are amazing creatures. With our hands, we can build. With our minds, we can invent. With our mouths, we can communicate. And with our hearts, we can deceive ourselves...
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 27, 2018
Know God’s Name And You’ll Run To Him More, Proverbs 18:10
One day, in need of wisdom regarding a financial decision, I found a friend of mine who is an expert in that realm...
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 24, 2018
United To Blessings — Location And Purpose, Ephesians 1:3-14
Before moving to the next portion of Paul’s letter, we must ask two questions of the blessings Paul has already spoken of (see Ephesians 1:3-14). First, where are they located?…
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 22, 2018
As usual, the Proverbs demand a choice. Which do you prefer: a clean manger or abundant crops? The proverb teaches that you cannot have both...
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 20, 2018
God-Hearted #5 — 1 Samuel 19 — Protected
Teaching Outline:1 Samuel 19
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 18, 2018
United To Blessings — From The Spirit, Ephesians 1:13-14
Each of the blessings Paul lists in Ephesians 1:3-14 can only be understood from a spiritual vantage point, for they are spiritual blessings. Fortunately, one of the greatest blessings God…
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 15, 2018
The Cool Spirited Know What’s Up — Proverbs 17:27
Restraining your words does not mean you have knowledge. It might just mean you’re shy. A cool spirit does not mean you have understanding. It might just mean you’re reserved...
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 13, 2018
Dave hated being at church. It wasn’t the music or even the preaching; it was the people...
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 10, 2018
United To Blessings — From The Son, Ephesians 1:7-12
Next, Paul moves from the spiritual blessings from God the Father to the spiritual blessings from God the Son. The first blessing believers have received from the Son is that…
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 8, 2018
It is easy to think God shoves His people into the deep end without any training or preparation. He does, after all, use the weak things of the world to…
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 6, 2018
United To Blessings — From The Father, Ephesians 1:4-6
Here, Paul runs on with his sentence of praise regarding the blessings which come from God. He first focuses on blessings from God the Father, next the Son, and finally…
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 1, 2018
Some biblical characters — Moses, Paul, David — are well known. Others, like our man Epaphras, enter the scene for mere second and are gone. Similar to a movie extra,…
Nate HoldridgeJanuary 30, 2018
Turn From The Hills Of Delusion — Jeremiah 3:22-23
Have you ever watched a child settle for a nickel when they could have had a dime? If you have, you’ve seen a little of what God sees.
Nate HoldridgeJanuary 27, 2018
United To Blessings — Spiritual Blessings, Ephesians 1:3
Paul begins Ephesians with a long song of praise to God, for praise is what is meant by the word “blessed.” God is to be blessed. Paul aims to worship. His…
Nate HoldridgeJanuary 25, 2018
I love prayer but often struggle in it. I can feel my lack of zeal, my sloth, my distraction, while in prayer. Prayer is a battle. Prayer is often a…
Nate HoldridgeJanuary 23, 2018
The Author, Ephesians 1:1-2
Paul was custom made by God to bridge the Old Testament Scriptures to the New Testament church. He was called “the apostle to the Gentiles.” Billions of non-Jews have been blessed…
Nate HoldridgeJanuary 18, 2018
One error that floated around the Roman Empire was men should have three women in their lives — a wife, a soul-mate, and a mistress. The Song of Solomon paints…
Nate HoldridgeJanuary 16, 2018
When Plans Magically Come Together — Proverbs-16:1
As I sat at a table full of pastors, my plan was set...
Nate HoldridgeJanuary 13, 2018
The Heart Of Ephesians
Before his death, Moses had to sing. Before the people of Israel embarked on their journey into the Promised Land, Moses wrote and recited a song for them. He knew…
Nate HoldridgeJanuary 11, 2018
One of the main reasons I love the book of Proverbs is the scattered nature of its organization. For much of the book, one line does not bleed into the…
Nate HoldridgeJanuary 9, 2018
The Distracted Face — Proverbs 17:24
The question: do you think? I do not ask, “What do you think?” But, “Do you think?” For thinking is a lost art in a reactionary digital world. Focus is hard…
Nate HoldridgeJanuary 4, 2018
How I Design My Daily Devotional Time
Quiet time. Devotional life. Morning solitude. The names vary, but the idea is the same. Believers who want more of God will often attempt some kind of morning or evening…
Nate HoldridgeJanuary 2, 2018
Wall Dancin’
There is a time for wall-dancin’, but you’ll never get to it if you don’t have a vision for it...
Nate HoldridgeDecember 26, 2017
The Gospel Gives Us What We Need
The gospel gives every human what they need. It is the answer. James saw this truth. Every person is walking through the issues of life. Every person needs truth to…
Nate HoldridgeDecember 21, 2017