About Isaac

Follower of Jesus, husband to Rhonda, father to Jada, Ella, and Lincoln, son of Joel and Becky, brother of Josh and Joel. I am fortunate enough to pastor Summit Church, a community of faith in Orlando, Florida, that we started six years ago. I would like this blog to be helpful for those who read it and, at some point, earn me a lucrative shoe contract.

Family I like to Read

Joel Hunter – Best week-to-week preacher in the country. Super smart. Best guy I know. Also, my Dad.

Mark Beeson – Insightful leader. Unselfish team builder. Willing to do anything to reach people for Christ. Also, my Uncle.

Joel and Lizzy-
Wildly funny couple. Brilliant ophthalmologist. Soon to open a Lasik and Cataract Center in Orlando. Also, my brother and sister-in-law.

Josh Hunter The most honest businessman I know, wonderful father, fine husband, excellent with a bow. Also, my older brother.

Amber Cox – Wonderful person. Godly woman. Encouragement machine. Also, my cousin.

Other People I like to Read

Ben Arment- Don’t know him. But seems like a really sharp guy.

Rob Duford – Friend of mine. Great pastor. Planting a church in Lake Mary, FL.

Tim Stevens – Sound strategic thinker. Loves Jesus and His family well. Serves his church with great integrity.

Groeschel and Gruenewald – Two of the smartest, most talented, passionate Christ-followers, in the world right now.

N.T. Wright – The foremost NT scholar in the world. Better yet, a sincere follower Jesus. And great leader in the Church.

45

June 22, 2011

Sermon Preview: Missing Home: The Elder Brother

Posted by Isaac Hunter

We love the idea of grace, and we like the reality of grace even better, as long as it gets doled out to us and the people we like. But, grace for people on our bad list? That’s the last thing we want them to receive, at least from us.

I am not just talking about the easy/difficult cases—the proud, arrogant, judgmental, self righteous— who use truth as a weapon to wound their self proclaimed “enemies” rather than a salve to mend wounds that need tending to… I have a hard time loving them for sure… But, I’m also talking about the real people in our lives who God forgives even when we don’t want to, the people God told us to love even when they don’t love us.

I have a difficult time loving the elder brother types. This is ironic, of course, because the portion of “elderbrotherism” in me is precisely the reason for the difficulty. That Elderbrotherism, if left unaddressed, can kill a man’s soul and tear people to pieces.

This week we are going to address it.