Calvary Church - Maumee

On September 6, 2015, Pastor Chad Gilligan reveals the blessings we receive as believers.

Even after a full night’s rest, we still find ourselves weary. Why? Just because our body rests it does not mean that our soul does. Our souls need rest too; and without rest, we cannot find the resources we need to move life forward. However, finding rest for our souls doesn’t just happen. We need to intentionally set aside time to reflect and seek God’s transformational and restorative power. On August 30, 2015, Pastor Chad gives us three exercises to examine our souls, so we can find rest.

Life is weariness; we can’t deny or avoid it. As long as we are moving forward in life, we will find yourself drained even as followers of Christ. Jesus never said that we would be free of the strain, fatigue, and disappointments in life. But He did promise that we wouldn’t have to work alone. Still, we find ourselves struggling and we don’t know why. We’re quick to blame our difficulties, demeanor, or inadequacies on the burdens we are forced to carry instead of the true reason: ourselves. When we choose to pave our own way through life, we make every step more difficult. However, when we out aside our own desires and decide to truly live alongside with Jesus, we can find the rest, strength, and renewal. On August 23, 2015, Pastor Chad speaks on what it means to live with Jesus.

Before we know it, the day is gone; the week is over; seasons change; and another year has passed us by. We fill our schedules with activities, appointments, and obligations, putting off any time to slow down, rest, and recharge. We ignore the feelings of weariness that grate on us and pretend the burdens we carry in life do not weigh us down. Eventually, our overcharged lifestyle and overloaded schedules will deplete our souls and restrict the quality of our lives. On August 16, 2015, Pastor Chad Gilligan speaks on the importance of rest and how to find renewal when we need it most.

Times in Death Valley will inevitably touch us all. No life is immune to the dark and painful experiences of life. But only we can determine how those experiences will shape us. When we focus on the quiet voice of God, instead of the distracting voices around us, we are able to come through the valley stronger and not shattered. On Sunday, August 9th, Pastor Bill McGinnis concludes his sermon series, by giving us three more lessons about Walking Through Death Valley.

Have you ever felt completely alone? While everyone else seems to be progressing through life normally, you’ve somehow lost your way and, before you knew it, you were left behind. It even feels that God has abandoned you; no longer do your prayers seem to reach Him. Whether it was triggered by physical suffering, unexpected trials, disappointments in life, or for no reason at all, you’ve stumbled into “Death Valley”—an endless wasteland of hopelessness. Every Christian will face it at least once in his or her life, but what do you do? On Sunday, August 2, 2015, Pastor Bill shows us the first steps to take when you find yourself walking through Death Valley.

It’s finally time to Love the 419! Calvary spent a week in July serving the community, helping local ministries, and making a difference beyond the church walls. However, there’s more to loving our neighbor than just acts of service. On July 26, 2015, Pastor Chad challenges the church and gives us Three Things to Remember the Week after Serve Week.

Everyone knows that Jesus is the model of love and sets the highest standard of sacrifice and commitment. However, we forget that as Christians, we are held and expected to keep that same standard. Too often, we base our love on how other treat us first. But God calls us to love first, whether or not they deserve it. We are to love people with the same unconditional selflessness. On July 19, 2015, Pastor Chad challenges us to not only love like Jesus, but also let God’s love live in us and through us.

Showing love is more than being affectionate or spending time with people, more than hugs, kisses or compliments. Love defines you and your character; it’s where you place your joy, hope, and values. Your love should shine through despite any circumstance, whether things are going your way or not, whether you like the person or not, no matter what. On Sunday, July 12, 2015, Pastor Chad preaches from the Love Chapter: 1 Corinthians 13 and shows us what it means to have genuine love for one another.

Books regale it, songs emulate it, movies immortalize it, and every person hopes to one day find it. Love has not only become the focus of our society; love has become god. In the end, pursuing love will only lead to disillusion and disappointment because love is not the ultimate achievement. Love does not define God. God defines love, and love comes from God. Only when we understand who God is, that God is love, and everything God does He does in love, then, we can live a life of love. On Sunday, July 5, 2015, Pastor Chad answers the question, “What is Love?” and what love should mean to us as children of God.

In a world where laws change, perception changes, and values change, one thing stays constant. God never changes. He is the same God of the Old Testament, New Testament, today, and tomorrow. And His Word is the source of Absolute Truth. On June 28, 2015, Pastor Chad Gilligan reintroduces the person of God, as shown in John 3:16, and teaches what it means to show Love and Truth to the World.

In Ephesians 3:20-21, God has promised us more than we can ask or imagine. However, in our pursuit for more, we can be dangerously self-focused and care more about what we can get out of God’s blessings than God’s intent. We forget that more has a purpose that goes beyond our personal desires, wants, or needs. Until we surrender to God's will for our lives, we will miss on God's more. On June 14, 2015, Pastor Chad Gilligan gives us Three Misconceptions About More and how we as believers can Get More Right.

How much MORE FROM GOD you experience in your life is directly determined by how much MORE OF GOD you allow in your life. When we let outside influences become more important than Jesus, we inhibit our ability to get more in our lives. Only when we make everything less: our will, our attitude, our desires, even our relationships, then, God will be able to come into our lives and give us more than we can ever imagine. On June 7, 2015, Pastor Chad Gilligan gives us Four Questions to Ask Yourself When You Want More.

It seems like satisfaction is hard to find. We live in a world that is constantly looking for more. Whether it be in your family, finances, job or spiritual life, we always seem to be striving. Join us as we take a look at what God’s Word says about finding all we need and more for our lives in Him.

There is more help, more strength, and more power available to you, and it only can be found in the Holy Spirit. The person of the Holy Spirit, like Jesus, is God and continues today what Christ Himself did while on earth. It is because of the Holy Spirit the believer received discernment, wisdom and truth. And through the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to fulfill God’s purposes for His Kingdom and for our lives. If you are in need of MORE in your life, on Sunday, May 31, 2015, Pastor Chad Gilligan gives us “Five Things To Remember When You Need More.”

When you face a difficult or unexpected situation, what do you do? Do you ask God to take it away? Or do you entrust it to God, asking Him, “What can you do with this situation?” When we give what we have to Jesus, He will not only meet our needs, but He can make miracles out of unwelcome experiences. On May 24, 2015, Pastor Chad Gilligan looks at what God’s Word says about finding all we need and more for our lives in Him. Featuring the song, “Close,” written by Aodhan King & Dean Ussher. © 2013 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Have you ever been in a hurry when God wasn’t? One of the most difficult things in life is to sit in God’s waiting room. God’s waiting room is that place when there’s something beyond your control that you can’t speed up—a prayer; a miracle; a change in a situation—you want it to change but it’s totally out of your control. On May 17, 2015, guest speaker and the General Treasurer of the Assemblies of God, Pastor Doug Clay gives us a message on what to do when you are waiting on God.

Heaven is a real, wonderful place. Whatever pleasure we find here on earth is only a taste of what we will experience in Heaven. Everything will be made new in Heaven; there will be no mourning or pain or death. We will be reunited with loved ones and live with God forever. However, Heaven is also our choice. It’s a choice we make as we live on Earth, and today’s actions have eternal consequences. On May 10, 2015, Pastor Chad speaks on the reality of Heaven and how we can choose to live with Eternity in mind.

Hell is taken for granted. We throw around the word every day. We use it flippantly when we are angry, excited, or trying to describe something we are unable to describe. We use it as an expletive, as a description of something we don't like, or don't understand. The word Hell is so prevalent in our culture that we forget that Hell is an actual place of real, unspeakable torment. We forget that while God is a God of love, He is also a God of justice. We forget that, in the end, Hell is our choice. When we choose not to follow God, we choose eternal separation from Him. We choose Hell. On May 3, 2015, Pastor Chad preaches on the reality of Hell.

While there may be speculation and assumptions about how the End of the World will play out, only the Word of God stands on Truth instead of hype or hysteria. When studying prophecy, the Bible must be the first place we go. After all, we only know what the Bible tells us. On April 26, 2015, Pastor Chad summarizes End Times Prophecy and what will happen after the Rapture.