Blog
Follow Mark as he posts often about discipleship, the Bible, following Christ, Music and Mexican food.
What Do You Say to Someone Who Says, “I Don’t Enjoy Reading the Bible.”
I served as a youth pastor for many years. One of my former students wrote an article titled, "I Don't Enjoy Reading the Bible." He was hoping to encourage people who feel defeated over [...]
Four Distinctions of the True Local Church
The true “church” refers to the regular and intentional meeting of believers to worship God, to study His Word, and to serve one another as part of the body of Christ under a Biblical [...]
A Spiritual Embassy
The church could be thought of not as an outpost, but an embassy. The building in the picture is the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, a little sliver of land belonging to the U.S. within [...]
The Church is a Family
The church is more than a club. It is more than a group of people who agree on a certain political issue. It goes beyond a shared interest in same style of music. The [...]
Your Participation in Church has a Significant Impact on Other People
Even if you don’t show up for yourself, you should show up for the benefit of others. In 1 Corinthains 12:15, Paul writes, “15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, [...]
When You Come to Jesus, You Become Part of the Family
Your relationship with Jesus has dramatic effects and implications on your relationships with other people – especially people within the church. Consider what Paul says in Galatians 3:26-28: “In Christ Jesus you are all sons [...]
Real Fellowship is Hard…. and That’s OK
By: Lara Stafford Lately I have been struggling to understand the concept of fellowship. Our church leaders have put together Koinonia groups. In practice, these look a lot like the small groups most churches have. We [...]
Being a Vital Part of a Church Family Begins by Showing up… Often
Becoming vital at church begins with walking through the door on a regular basis. People who place a high value on their spiritual lives also place a high value on gathering with God’s family. [...]
People Who Pray are Vital to the Body of Christ
Prayer prompts God to do things in the lives of His people that He may not have otherwise done. The whole of Scripture tells us that God hears and answers the cries of his [...]
A Multitude of Heavenly Host Proclaiming the Huge Significance of Christmas
“8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, [...]
A Christmas Communion Message
The Gospel of John takes a different approach than the traditional way the Christmas story is told in the other Gospels. He begins his book by saying this: “In the beginning was the Word, and the [...]
Practically Speaking, How Do You Serve Jesus?
What you do for the people at church, you do as unto Jesus Himself. Jesus makes this point abundantly clear in Matthew 25. In the parable of the sheep and the goats, He describes [...]
God’s Gift to Us at Christmas
When God wanted to put His love for us on display, He gave His people a tremendously valuable gift in the person of Jesus on that very first Christmas day. He delivered His gift [...]
When to Leave Your Church
by Lara Stafford Someone once told me that there are basically only three good reasons for leaving a church. The first one is if the pastor is teaching false doctrine from the pulpit. [...]
How Loud is Too Loud for a Church Service?
Before I was in church ministry, I was a touring musician. I traveled with a large concert PA system and I played through a “stadium worthy” 1200 watt amp of my own. I love to [...]
The Gift of “God With Us”
The coming of the Messiah was greatly anticipated in the Old Testament. For centuries, those who were faithful to the scriptures looked forward to a Messiah who would set men free from their sin [...]
An Open Letter from Pastor Mark About the Closing of Canyon Verde
To all of those who have called Canyon Verde Home: As I reflect on the last 4-5 years of planting this church, I realize that we have learned a lot and grown a lot [...]
HOW CAN YOU TELL IF SOMEONE REALLY LOVES GOD?
Love for God is the new “normal” for the child of God. In fact, “love” is at the very heart of who we become when we are adopted into the family of God. How [...]
Love is Evidence of Who You Are
Love is not something Christians do, it’s evidence of who they are. John often begins his definition of what a Christian value is by defining what it is not. Our text today shows what [...]
God’s Love is Amazing!
God’s love for His people is like no other kind of love in the whole universe. Let’s look at the unbelievable kind of love that God has for His people. Look at 1 John [...]
The Intersection of Truth and Joy
The manual for my chainsaw tells me a lot of true things. It tells me some important information about how to start the saw and how to operate it safely. As far as I [...]
JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING
Knowing Jesus changes the way we live. In this post, we'll take a look at what it means to know Jesus and then see how a knowledge of Jesus should affect us. The first [...]
God’s PRESENCE TO BLESS
The Bible explains that in addition to being present everywhere, God can be present in different ways or He sometimes acts differently in different places within His creation. Sometimes the Bible speaks of His [...]
What is the difference between Iniquity, Sin and Transgression?
Psalm 32:1-2 says “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” “Transgression,” “Sin,” and “Iniquity” [...]
BLESSEDNESSES
Psalm 1 starts with these four words: Blessed is the man… Psalms was originally written in Hebrew. The Hebrew word translated “Blessed” (Esher) can also be translated as “happy,” but the connotation of the [...]
God is Present and Powerful in the Storms!
God is present and powerful in times of trouble. He is with us with the power to protect and preserve His people. God will sometimes allow us to be up against a wall or [...]
Anchored to the Word Instead of Blown by the Wind
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Psalm 1:4 When it was harvest time in Israel, the wheat and the dry, scaly casings of the seeds called chaff would [...]
WORTHY: A Survey of the Psalms beginning June 4
ON June 4th, we will begin a 10-week survey of the Psalms. We will be looking at some of the many reasons why God is worthy of our praise. Our prayer is that you grow in [...]
Prayer Affects God!
Prayer affects God. It prompts God to move in ways that he may not have otherwise moved. The whole of Scripture tells us that he hears and answers the cries of his people. One [...]
Prayer – God’s Gift to Parents
God created prayer for our benefit, not as a burden. God appointed parents to pray because it is a privilege and a blessing to lift up the needs of our families before a God [...]
God Never Guesses!
Wisdom is the ability to come up with the perfect end goal and then to devise a perfect plan in order to achieve that end. A wise man can clearly see the end of [...]
Why is hospitality such a big deal in the Bible?
Hospitality in the Roman culture was not just throwing a good party. It was often a matter of life and death. Because of their faith, Christians were being forced from their homes and fired [...]
Jesus Uses Humble and Zealous People
Jesus looked for humble people who had a genuine zeal for God – regardless of their background. Jesus looked for people with potential and passion. He often used unpolished people who were willing to [...]
Invest in God’s Kingdom!
God rewards his people when they trust Him enough to step out in faith and use their money in the way He instructs them to use it. In Luke 6:38, Jesus says, “Give, and [...]
Supernatural Math
Some of the New Testament believers were so excited about showing their love for the Lord Jesus and spreading the gospel that they gave sacrificially in the midst of their poverty. Look at what [...]
The Gospel is REALLY Good News!
In Ephesians 2:4-7, Paul explains how we are made ALIVE, how we will ASCEND to heaven and how we will ACQUIRE the eternal riches of God’s grace – all because of the death and [...]
The Significance of Easter
We cannot begin to grasp the magnificence of the pre-incarnate, glorified Christ. Jesus Christ's willingness to step down from the majesty of His heavenly throne to dwell among His creatures is just one demonstration [...]
God Always Does Things in the Best Possible Way
God’s infinite wisdom tells us that His actions could not be done in a better way than the way He is doing them right now nor could they be improved upon by one of [...]
The God Over Time is Infinitely Wise
When it comes to God, He knows every detail. He never guesses. He always knows. He sees the end from the beginning and He’s present in both places. He is described as the Alpha [...]
The Object of Our Faith is Perfectly Trustworthy
There is a common misconception in the world that saving faith is taking a blind leap into the darkness and just hoping for the best. Some people think that people of faith leave reason [...]
Trusting in a God Who NEVER Lies!
The Bible says that God made the heavens and the earth in 6 days by speaking it into existence. This God is a Being with power that is unfathomable and unmatched anywhere else in [...]
Evidence of Saving Faith
Jericho had been standing there for hundreds of years. It was fully fortified. Its inhabitants thought that it was invincible. But Rahab heard God’s word through those who had been traveling through town. One theologian [...]
Instead of “The Shack,” Read These Books…
Many people are going through a difficult time in their lives and they are looking for ways to deal with their pain. Recently, many have been running to the book/movie called "The Shack" to [...]
The Vital Strength Of Praying Parents | Romans 8:26-34, Matthew 7:11, James 5
When I was a kid, I had a friend who had an obnoxious little brother. When he didn’t get his way, he started to scream. When I say scream, it wasn’t [...]
Seeking the Best Interest of Others
Love seeks the best interest of others. Love is built upon serving another person without expecting anything from that person in return. God sees our works and HE blesses us accordingly. Consider Jesus’ words [...]
Words Have the Power to Destroy
Back in 2002, a lady riding a quad got lost just outside of Payson, Arizona. She spotted a helicopter and tried to start a signal fire to get the pilot’s attention. Her fire burned [...]
Words have the Power to Direct People Toward Christ
When someone asks a practicing Christian for their advice, that believer has a responsibility to the scriptures. If we begin our advice with the phrase, “well the Bible says…” we better make sure the Bible [...]
John Stott on Love
John Stott once wrote, “Every claim to love God is a delusion if it is not accompanied by unselfish and practical love for our brothers and sisters.” Our love for God cannot be separated from [...]
Our Words Demonstrate Our Spiritual Health
A transformed nature will produce transformed behavior. When someone embraces Jesus as Lord, He begins to transform every part of that person’s life from the inside out. Their new life in Christ results in [...]
The Parent’s Vital Breath
It always seems strange to me that we are so dependent on air to live. Our physical bodies are remarkably strong in some ways, but absolutely totally fragile in others. Without air, that little [...]
Resetting Our Minds at Church
Being a part of a church community is a critical part of growing in your faith. You and I desperately need the body of Christ. The non-believing people around us in our communities and [...]
Hear it and Do it
An English teacher might call James 1:22 the “thesis statement” for the book of James. It says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Let me give [...]
God’s Way and Exquisite Experiences
It says in Genesis 3:2-3, “2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree [...]
God Never Tempts
James 1:13 says, “13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” No one can blame God [...]
Letter to the Editor about AZ 1.27 – Published in the Verde Independant
Verde Valley churches step up to help foster families in need Follow this link to check out Pastor's Mark's letter to our community: http://www.verdenews.com/news/2017/feb/14/letters-verde-valley-churches-step-help-foster-fam/
Doubt Begins by Asking, “Did God Actually Say?”
Genesis 3:1 says, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in [...]
Near the Edge
It is much easier to fall into temptation if you are right next to it. · If you make a plan to follow through on your desires, it becomes more and more difficult to stop [...]
Will You Take the Bait?
In James 1:14, it says, “14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” Some people wonder, “What about Satan, James? In the Garden of Even, didn’t Satan tempt Eve? [...]
Three Ways to Know if you are Double-Minded
Every Christian I know has at least a couple of areas where they struggle. We are all double-minded in one way or another. In my life there have always been a few places where the [...]
What’s up with the Long Hair?
Samson was under a Nazarite vow, which was different from being a Nazarene, so don’t get the two confused! The Nazarite vow is outlined in Numbers 6. Individuals in the Old Testament times would sometimes [...]
Trials Help us to Become More Like Jesus
“2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” [...]
Trials Help us to Trust God’s Promises
Faith can simply be defined as trusting that God will fulfill His promises. God makes promises on the basis of His perfect wisdom. James encourages us to ask God for wisdom when we find [...]
Jesus. Nothing Added.
Some people think that Jesus paid for most of our sins on the cross, but He still left something up to us. They will say, “Well, of course you need God’s grace to be saved. [...]
From Doubt to Clout
Who Was James? #1 James was the half-brother of Jesus. Mark 6:3 lists the names of Jesus’ four half-brothers. (Jesus has some sisters, too.) James is the first listed, meaning that he is probably [...]
Growing Strong – A 12 Week Study in James
Growing Strong! Starting January 8th, we are going to go through the book of James in a series we’re calling Growing Strong. The book of James offers practical and challenging instruction about how a [...]
The Movement of our Money Reflects what We Value
The movement of our money is an expression of what we value. Jesus said in Luke 12:34,“34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” In other words, whatever you and I [...]
How to Start a New Life with Christ
HOW TO START A NEW LIFE WITH CHRIST You can have real, lasting peace today through a relationship with Jesus Christ. There are four things you need to know about receiving the free gift [...]
The Bible is the Most Reliable Book in the World
The Bible is the most reliable book in the world. It has proven over and over again to be accurate in its history, archaeology, science, and prophesy. The Bible is so widely regarded as an [...]
Respect Those who Keep Watch over Your Soul
The writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 13:17, “17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and [...]
Jesus’ Birth Glorified God
Glorifying God can be simply understood as the attributes of God put on display. When God’s attributes are displayed, God is glorified. When something like unlimited power, infinite wisdom, or perfect love is displayed, [...]
Pastor Mark’s Christmas Editorial in the Verde Independent
God's Gift to Us at Christmas Here is a link to the editorial that Pastor Mark wrote in the Verde Independent Newspaper: http://www.verdenews.com/news/2016/dec/24/commentary-gods-gift-us-christmas/ Have a Merry Christmas!
Give Your Spiritual Gifts to Others by Serving
A vital partner in the gospel serves others in the body sacrificially: They serve when they’re tired. They serve when it’s hard. They serve when they don’t feel like it anymore. AND… they serve [...]
Sheep, Shepherds, & the Local Church
God intended for His people to worship together, not just individually! God’s purpose in gathering a people is not only to have them relate to Him on an individual level, but to form those [...]
Restoring Relationships
A peacemaker uses the Bible as a foundation to bring about harmony in relationships with other believers. Believers agree on the most important things. They agree that Jesus is Lord and the Bible is [...]
The Trouble with Peacemaking
A Biblical peacemaker lovingly restores harmony in relationships on the foundation of truth, righteousness, and Biblical principles I’ve arrived at this description of peace based on scriptures like Colossians 3:14-16. It says, “14 And above [...]
Mankind’s Biggest Need – Peace with God
Jesus came to establish a foundation of grace and truth so that we could have peace with God Jesus provides a way to have peace with God. Romans 5:1 says, “ Therefore, since we have [...]
What Does it Mean to be “Pure in Heart?”
A Pure Heart has a Single Desire The Greek word katharos is translated “pure” has two basic meanings: “clean” and “unmixed.” Our English word cathartic come from this Greek word. In the medical field, a cathartic agent is something [...]
Jesus Sees My Heart (How Come You Only See My Hair)
Long ago, I played in a Christian alternative rock band named Everybodyduck. I was the "long haired" guy in the band. One of our more popular songs contained a lyrical hook in the [...]
New Hearts Lead to New Lives
Romans 10:9 says, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Those who receive this offer of total forgiveness in [...]
Encouragement for Stressed-Out Voters: God’s Purposes will Continue
When Jesus was on the earth, government leaders often stood in opposition to him. In Luke 13:31, it says, “At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod [...]
Free Election Prayer Guide Download
Monday night, November 7th (6pm), a group will be gathering at Pastor Mark's office for a special time of intercessory prayer for our country. You are invited to join us! The Bible says in 2 [...]
The Good Samaritan Shows us our Need for God’s Mercy
A couple of weeks ago, I broke down on the road between Cornville and the Village of Oak Creek. I was with Owen, about five miles from anything in all directions. A very kind man [...]
Happy Reformation Day!
Today marks the 499th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing a copy of his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle church. In honor of this historic day, I would suggest taking a few [...]
What Shall I do to Inherit Eternal Life?
The greatest question is, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” God’s standard for earning our way to heaven involves perfect love for God and perfect love for other people. If we did those [...]
The Essence of Biblical Mercy
When the Bible talks about Mercy, it is not making a promise of fair treatment by other people The expectation of fair and equal treatment was wishful thinking in the days the Bible and it [...]
God’s Mercy for us is Best Displayed at the Cross
God acted sacrificially to meet our needs at the very moment we deserved His help the least. He deals mercifully with our sin out of His great and perfect love for His people. Romans 5:8 [...]
Spiritual Hunger and the Prodigal Son
Healthy people are hungry! People who are never hungry are either sick or dead. Hunger and thirst in a living being are evidence of life. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness have evidence in [...]
Jesus: The Bread of Life
In John 6:35, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” When Jesus was speaking to the woman at the well, [...]
Feeding the Right Spiritual Appetites
Feeding the right appetites is the key to growing spiritually. God has made a person’s heart so that nothing can ever fill it but God himself. A believer is able to identify this craving and [...]
A New Sense of Taste
Spiritual life develops a new sense of taste: The psalmist tells us that believers can “taste and see that the Lord is good!”[1] The Apostle Peter said of believers, “…you have tasted that the Lord is good.”[2] The [...]
Demonstrating Christ-Honoring Humility in Times of Conflict
Listen carefully and be reasonable in times of disagreement. Paul instructs Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:24-25, “…the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness [another [...]
Jesus is the Greatest Example of Meekness
Jesus was (and is) the greatest example of meekness. Peter gave this description of Jesus, “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting [...]
Responding Humbly to Trials
A meek person never says, “I don’t deserve this, God!!!!” Instead, they say to the Lord, “I can’t wait to see your power on display in this impossible situation.” Psalm 37:25 indicates that David was [...]
Is Anger a Sin?
Biblical meekness is not weakness; it is power under control for God’s purposes. In fact, sometimes meek people in the Bible got passionately angry. Yet in that anger, they remained sinless and controlled. Their power [...]
I’m Waiting on God and I Need Encouragement
CJ Mahaney says in his book Humility, “Waiting is not resignation: waiting is an active trust in God to provide fulfillment in his perfect timing.”[1] People who are waiting on the Lord aren't lazy, but they are free [...]
Three Pictures of Biblical Meekness
The Greek word translated as “meek” in Matthew 5:5 was a word that commonly described these three things in Jesus’ day: a soothing medicine, a gentle breeze, and a broken colt. Doctors might give a meek medicine [...]
When We Deal Seriously with our Sin, God Deals Gently with us
Psalm 51 is the song that David wrote when he repented of his sin with Bathsheba. It says in verses 1-2: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy [...]
God the Creator Creates Clean Hearts
God comforts those He cleanses. When David was confronted about his sin with Bathsheba, he was not crying out against the punishment of sin, he was sick over the sin itself (Psalm 51). He was [...]
Godly Grief Over Sin Leads to Genuine Confession
In 2 Samuel 12:7 when Nathan said, “You are the man,” David was cut to the core. He offered no argument. He never tried to justify his sin with Bathsheba. The Holy Spirit brought about an instant awareness of the [...]
King David – A Man who Mourned Over His Sin
David was divinely chosen by God and anointed as King over God’s chosen people. He was the nation’s spiritual leader, as well as their political leader. He had set up the worship of God in [...]
How can a Person who “Mourns” be Blessed?
Matthew 5:4 says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” The question that is immediately raised in our minds and hearts is, “How can a person be blessed if they are mourning?” Only the [...]
Laodicea: Materialism Gone Wrong
Laodicea was a very prosperous, ancient town in Asia minor (modern-day Turkey). It sat at the intersection of major roadways and controlled trade on the river that flowed through it to the seacoast. Its prominent [...]
What Does it Mean to be “Poor in Spirit?”
Matthew 5:3 says, "“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." According to this verse, those who are “poor in spirit” possess the “kingdom of heaven.” Without being “poor in [...]
An Illustration of Spiritual Poverty
Luke 18:9-14. This is a parable for all people who trust in themselves and their own good behavior to get them to heaven instead of putting their trust in Jesus and His perfect, imputed righteousness. [...]
Fight the Norm and Pursue Humility
The Beatitudes describe the attitude of a person who has totally and completely surrendered to the authority of Jesus as Lord. This person is quite different from the norm in that they are humble, [...]
9/11: Hope in Vulnerability
Fifteen years ago today, I was living in Phoenix and I had just shown up to LA Fitness for my daily workout. Most people don’t talk much when they work out in a big city [...]
Kingdom Life in a Fallen World
A paradox lies at the heart of the new Kingdom that we are a part of. On one hand, the day that a person submits their life to Jesus, they are forever a part of [...]
Approved by God
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are [...]
Use Your Gifts for God’s Glory!
Spiritual gifts are a hotly debated topic in the modern church and often lead to division in the body of Christ. However, the proper use of spiritual gifts for God’s glory should lead to unity [...]
I Have Nothing to Give; All I Have is in Christ!
Matthew 5:3 says, 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The first step to entering the kingdom of heaven is to admit our spiritual bankruptcy. When we are no longer trying [...]
We are Far too Easily Pleased
In the Beatitudes, Jesus is setting before us a whole new vision of how the gospel enters and then transforms our thinking. It describes a new kingdom mindset that has new passions and new behaviors. C.S. [...]
Fanning Your Spiritual Gifts into Flame
Timothy was shaped by the Holy Spirit 2 Timothy 1:3-7 says, "3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers [...]
What Does it Mean that Jesus is the “Firstborn” of all Creation?
What does it mean that Jesus is the “Firstborn” of all creation? Col 1:15 says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” There is a lot of confusion about [...]
Everything Exists to Magnify the Infinite Worth of Jesus
Colossians 1:16 says, "16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him." Paul [...]
The 1 Word that Describes God 58 Times in the Bible
When the Bible describes God, it often uses the scriptural word “almighty.” “Almighty” has the same definition as “omnipotent.” It means “having an infinite and absolute plentitude of power.” The ESV translation of the Bible uses the [...]
Everything That’s True about God is True about Jesus
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. – Colossians 1:15 He is the visible image of the invisible God. Eikōn is the Greek word translated as image. As it [...]
A Better Pursuit – A Verse-by-Verse Study Through the Beatitudes
It’s Better To Gain Heavenly Rewards! It is better to gain great heavenly rewards than anything else this world has to offer. All other enjoyment is for a moment, but the pleasures of God are [...]
Biblical Proof for the Deity of Christ
To understand the Jesus of the holy scriptures, we must recognize that He was both fully human and fully divine. There are several direct scriptural claims that assert the deity of Jesus. THEOS The [...]
Five Encouraging Truths About God’s Omnipresence
The presence of God is a great comfort to godly people. Here are five implications of God’s omnipresence for His people. #1 When we are greatly tempted, God does not leave us – Romans 8:31-34, Psalm 14:5 [...]
Perfection in Faithfulness | Psalm 36
Pastor Mark Stafford Perfection in Faithfulness | Psalm 36 We live in a culture of half-truths and broken promises. Do you remember the story about George Washington and the cherry tree? At [...]
Three Massive Truths About God’s Unlimited Power
God’s power is both infinite and undiminishing. His power is often displayed in creation, but His creative works only give us a glimpse of all that He possesses. We could think of His works like a [...]
Distortions of Omnipresence
The Bible teaches that God is present, but separate from His creation. In my very first semester of Bible College, I was emphatically taught two biblical terms: Immanence and Transcendence. Immanence means that God is totally [...]
How to Pray for our Schools, our Students, and our Teachers
School is just starting in our area this week. Let’s take a few minutes and pray for our teachers and students as they represent Jesus in the classroom. Here are some ideas of how you [...]
Present Everywhere | Psalm 139:7-10
Pastor Mark Stafford Present Everywhere | Psalms 139:7-10 Whenever we offer up a prayer to God, there are certain assumptions we make: We assume that God is there and that He’s listening. We [...]
Our God – An Unchanging Rock
The Bible teaches that God does not change. He remains the same eternally. Theologians often use term "immutable" to describe God' unchanging nature. It is a divine perfection that is not often acknowledged in the [...]
Power Strong Enough to End Violence and Give Every Person Real Value
Many people are concerned about the changes happening right now in our country. Many of the believers who gather at Canyon are very patriotic and care deeply for this great country of ours. As Christian [...]
What do a Feather, a Galaxy, and a Broken Wall Have in Common?
When Psalm 102 was written, Jerusalem was in ruins. The Bible is clear that no matter how bad the situation, even if Israel lay in ruins, God was still in control. An afflicted man wrote [...]
All Power Belongs to God | Psalm 62
Pastor Mark Stafford All Power Belongs to God A Study on God’s Omnipotence as seen in Psalms 62 God’s power is both infinite and undiminishing. His power is displayed in creation, but [...]
Canyon Teen Helps Build Bible Training Center in Balgüe, Nicaragua
Canyon teen, Trenton Stafford, just returned from a ten-day trip to Ometepe Island, located in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, Nicaragua. The island was formed by two volcanoes and has a population of about 30,000. [...]
God Freely Gives the Faith He Requires
We can forever trust God because He never changes or goes back on His Word. In this unreliable world, He is perfectly reliable! God says in Jeremiah 31:33, “ For this is the covenant that I will [...]
A Trillion Prayers at a Time
God is not just a builder, but He is also a healer. The kings of the earth think they are great because they rule over and above the people. They live in palaces in order [...]
God Knows Worlds and He Knows Wounds
Our God has infinite power. The same God who binds up our wounds also commands stars. Consider the star, Canis Majoris. It is a hyper-giant star, over 1,400 times larger than our sun. It’s one [...]
Our Reliable God in an Unreliable World | Psalm 102
Pastor Mark Stafford Our Reliable God in this Unreliable World A study on God’s immutability from Psalm 102 Many people are concerned about the changes happening right now in our country. Some [...]
Not Religion, but Worshipping an Infinite God
At the most fundamental level, the purpose of Christianity (and of Canyon Verde) is to know God. It’s not about religion. Christianity is a gateway that leads us to God. We are all on an everlasting journey [...]
Is God Happy?
“Is God mainly happy or mostly mad?” How a person thinks about God effects how they relate to God. Ancient Israel’s King David wrote these words in Psalms 16:11, “You make known to me the [...]
He’s Lived All Our Yesterdays AND All Our Tomorrows
God exists outside of time and can be at any point in time at any time. He is the God over time! Sometimes the scripture puts God’s relationship with time in terms we can grasp. [...]
Grasping at Eternity
The whole concept of eternity is difficult for us to grasp. Time has a beginning and an ending. Being so acquainted with time, we are accustomed to things starting and stopping. However, eternity is contrary [...]
Infinity Can’t Contain Our God | Psalms 147:1-5
Pastor Mark Stafford Infinity Can’t Contain Our God – Psalm 147:1-6 People go to church for a lot of different reasons. A few years ago, Gallup conducted a poll to analyze the [...]
A Few Reasons Why We Use the ESV Translation
There are several really good Bible translations on the market right now. Each one has its merits and each has its weaknesses. I have committed to avoid "Bible translation wars" whenever possible here at Canyon. My desire [...]
What Can Ancient Camping Teach Us About God?
Try to imagine what it must have been like for the Israelites when they wandered around the desert for 40 years. I could imagine that living in a tent in the middle-eastern wilderness must have [...]
Intercessory Prayer – Monday at 6pm
We gather every week to pray for God's people because the leadership at Canyon is convinced that a group of 2 or 3 or 8 people gathered together to earnestly seek God’s will for those [...]
85 Summer Activities for Kids That Don’t Involve TV or Video Games
I made a list for my kids of activities they could do this summer that do not involve TV or video games. I thought I would share it with you. Here you go... TV and [...]
God’s Eternal Kingdom | Psalms 90:1-4
There is no audio available for this teaching. Pastor Mark Stafford God’s Eternal Kingdom Our God is everlasting! Most believers have a concept of eternity, but many people in the church don’t have [...]
Our Founding Fathers Thought Deeply About What God is Like
What God is Like Our country was founded by men who had profound convictions about what God is like. With the birthday of our nation being celebrated this weekend, Bible-teaching churches have the opportunity to [...]
Our God, Abounding in Joyful Sufficiency | Psalm 11:1-6
Pastor Mark Stafford Our God, Abounding in Joyful Sufficiency | Psalm 11:1-6 There is a wonderful description of God in 1 Timothy 1:11 that you might blow by if you weren’t reading [...]
Where Did God Come From?
If Christian’s claim that God created the world, then who created God? That’s a great question and the Bible answers it directly. The scriptures teach that God is the only being who did not have [...]
Rediscovering Our Living God | A survey on the Importance of Knowing God’s Attributes
We are setting out today on a two-month journey. Before we take our first step, I want to talk about our destination. In a race, running fast is generally a good idea, unless [...]
Marijuana Growth in Cottonwood Contributes to Social and Financial Hardships – not Prosperity
As a pastor, as a father of teenagers, as a member of the community, as the husband of a teacher and as a business owner, I have deep concerns about expanding marijuana production services in Cottonwood. [...]
A Response to the Easter Attacks on Christians in Pakistan
On Easter Sunday, news came from Pakistan that a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device filled with nuts, bolts and ball bearings. The explosion killed at least 72 people and injured well over 300 others [...]
Response from our Elder Team about the Recent Supreme Court Ruling on Marriage
Here are Canyon Bible Church’s thoughts on the Supreme Court’s controversial decision on marriage: Canyon Verde will not change its view on marriage. The Supreme Court’s decision will not impact one thing that we [...]
What Canyon Believes About the Inerrancy of Scripture
A Quick Look at What We Believe About Inerrancy Inspiration, when speaking of scriptural text, means “to breath into” or “to fill.” 2 Timothy3:16 states, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for [...]
Is My Child Ready to be Baptized?
The CBC Elder Team recommends baptism for children 8 years and above. Below are some helpful points from an article written by Paul Lamey, citing biblical reasoning, for parents to use in determining a child's [...]
