Under cover of darkness, they walked. Jesus would bring his disciples, on that final night together, to the garden. There, in Gethsemane, he would pray and await Judas’ betrayal. (4…
Nate HoldridgeOctober 31, 2018
Remember What You Learned (Ephesians 4:20-24)
Paul now reminds the Ephesian church what they had learned by first telling them who they had learned. They had learned Christ! (4 Minutes / 700 Words)
Nate HoldridgeOctober 26, 2018
In a recent sermon at Calvary Monterey, my father — Bill to you — taught on the point of life. His teaching was based off Romans 8:28-30. His bottom line?…
Nate HoldridgeOctober 24, 2018
In his younger years, he never would have said it. Samson, though gifted and called by God, was a self-willed as they come. But God would often redeem his self-determinate…
Nate HoldridgeOctober 22, 2018
United To Your New Self — Who You Are Not (Ephesians 4:17-19)
The transformation of the caterpillar into a butterfly stands as a poignant illustration of the truth Paul next communicates to the Ephesians. He dreams of the Ephesians living in the…
Nate HoldridgeOctober 19, 2018
When I was a boy, I loved to play with model trains. I remember learning about the engine, the car that pulled everyone else, but also the caboose, the car…
Nate HoldridgeOctober 17, 2018
Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)
Philippians 4:4 (ESV) — 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Nate HoldridgeOctober 16, 2018
When the people of Israel returned from their captivity in Babylon, significant challenges awaited them. They had small numbers and resources, but big obstacles and enemies. To rebuild Jerusalem and…
Nate HoldridgeOctober 15, 2018
The Maximal Functionality Of The Church (Ephesians 4:13-16)
Paul demonstrated how the word of God is meant to interact with the body of Christ to build it up for a life of ministry. Much of this ministry is…
Nate HoldridgeOctober 12, 2018
No two people are alike, and if by some miracle they are, they won’t automatically like each other for it. We are people with brokenness, sinful desires, and bad histories,…
Nate HoldridgeOctober 10, 2018
In his infinite wisdom and knowledge, God can handle thoughts regarding all matters, but we are not him, so we cannot. (3 Minutes / 500 Words)
Nate HoldridgeOctober 8, 2018
Enjoy Christ’s Gift (Ephesians 4:11-12)
God has, Paul told us, given each believer enabling grace. If the blood of Christ covers us, we are part of the larger body of believers. From His exalted seat…
Nate HoldridgeOctober 5, 2018
Christina and I are not the same people we were in 2002, the year we stood before God and witnesses and declared our covenant of love for one another. As…
Nate HoldridgeOctober 3, 2018
I call it the Africa Decision Myth. I’m sure you’ve heard, or maybe even said it, before. The idea is simple: if God asks me to go to Africa, I…
Nate HoldridgeOctober 1, 2018
Appreciate Christ’s Generosity (Ephesians 4:7-10)
Even though the church is unbreakable and one, we are diverse and varied. Paul tells us “grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s…
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 28, 2018
Consider the phrase: “Christ who is your life.” Christina and I have found that we cannot be one another’s life. Her life is not hidden in mine; nor is mine…
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 26, 2018
Apps I Like — Mac, iOs, and Android
As we all prep for 2018, I thought it might be helpful if I wrote a listicle post describing some of my favorite software and apps, with brief explanations of…
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 25, 2018
One Way "Having A Peace About It" Could Mislead You> (Psalm 129:3) “The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows.” (Psalm 129:3 ESV). “I have no peace…
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 24, 2018
Believe In The Church’s Unbreakable Oneness (Ephesians 4:4-6)
Paul dreamed of the church. In so doing, he introduced a beautiful truth: the universal church is one because the Triune God is one. (3 Minutes / 500 Words)
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 21, 2018
The believers in Antioch were far different from the culture they lived in. Because they lived in an environment without a connection to Judaism like the church in Jerusalem had…
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 19, 2018
Proverbs can teach you how to live a life of skill. Here, I offer five perspectives to keep in mind when reading the book. 6 Minutes / 1300 Words
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 18, 2018
Great Leaders Have Good Friends
Everyone needs friends. If you’re a leader of any kind, you especially need friends. You might feel tempted to avoid friendship but don’t. You might be a natural born leader,…
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 17, 2018
Paul saw the church as a body. When healthy, the body can run and jump and move with ease. When sick, the body is hindered from moving the way the…
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 14, 2018
Sadly, at the time of Paul’s writing, the reality in Corinth was incongruent with the future glory which would be theirs. They bickered and fought and sued one another. They…
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 12, 2018
An Incredible Testimony From September 11, 2001
A September 11th Testimony from CCBC Videos on Vimeo.My friend Andy Deane, current director of Calvary Chapel Bible College, came to Christ in New York during the events of 9-11.…
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 11, 2018
We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood. Our war is unseen and invisible. But an invisible war is not a fictional war. The battle is truer than the most flesh…
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 10, 2018
The Result Of Connection To Christ’s Love (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Paul concluded his prayer, and the first half of his letter to the Ephesians, by predicting the result of a people who've been united to the love of Christ: glory…
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 7, 2018
A Prayer for God to Fill Every Part of You (Ephesians 3:19)
Paul now concludes his prayer for us to become more fully united to the love of Christ. One facet of this telescoping prayer remains: for us to “be filled with…
Nate HoldridgeAugust 30, 2018
Pause To Set Down Your Ebenezer Stone (1 Samuel 7:12)
I went through the typical motions while filling out the form. First name. Last name. Address. Our family was about to head down the Truckee River, and I was tasked…
Nate HoldridgeAugust 27, 2018
This is a guest post for calvarychapel.com.Read here.12 Minutes / 2,300 Words
Nate HoldridgeAugust 25, 2018
When You Are Rooted And Grounded In Christ’s Love (Ephesians 3:17-19)
Paul, longing for the church to become fully united to the love of Christ, has prayed for the Spirit to build up our inner person and for Christ to settle…
Nate HoldridgeAugust 23, 2018
What I Learned From A Man Of God
On every other day of the week, Truckee High School is just that, a high school. Today it is a different institution of learning, a house of worship, a place…
Nate HoldridgeAugust 20, 2018
Jesus Famous: Calvary Monterey’s Vision Statement
This post expounds on the Calvary Monterey mission statement: Jesus Famous.5 Minutes / 1000 Words
Nate HoldridgeAugust 14, 2018
6 Supracultural Biblical Parenting Principles
This post will examine 6 biblical parenting principles that apply across various cultures, with follow-up questions that pertain more to this culture. Here is an overview of the principles:Does my…
Nate HoldridgeAugust 7, 2018
United To Christ’s Love — A Prayer (Ephesians 3:14-16)
4 Minutes / 700 Words
Nate HoldridgeAugust 2, 2018
Fasting For Beginners
I cannot recall my first fast. Like my first prayer, it’s lost to the archive. But I do remember the pain of that first fast, for it is the same…
Nate HoldridgeJuly 31, 2018
What is a father's greatest weapon? Consider, for a moment, the power of words.3 Minutes / 600 Words
Nate HoldridgeJuly 28, 2018
United To God’s Plan — Enjoy It (Ephesians 3.11-13)
3 Minutes / 600 Words
Nate HoldridgeJuly 26, 2018
Res(e)t
After a bit of rest, I will use the end of summer 2018 to, in part, recalibrate and reset my writing goals. I want to hear from the Lord, get…
Nate HoldridgeJuly 24, 2018
40 Things I Am Thankful To Christ For On My 40th Birthday
9 Minutes / 1700 Words
Nate HoldridgeJuly 17, 2018
United To God’s Plan — Serve The Mystery (Ephesians 3:7-8)
3 Minutes / 600 Words
Nate HoldridgeJuly 12, 2018