David J. Brett

Engaging postmodern culture and the church.

Working in Central Florida as a pastor, chaplain, and frequently doing woodworking and Carpenter, David J. Brett embraces ministry as a call to do life together. Ministry is about constructing our lives and our theology. Occasionally constructing a holistic relational and authentic communal life together requires some deconstruction and reconstruction.

  • How Should I Pray

    devotion  · 

    This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,your kingdom come, your will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.And forgive us our debts,as we also have forgiven our debtors.And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one.Matthew 6:9-13

  • Reflections on Being a Pastor

    devotion  · 

    I am a pastor. I didn’t ask to be a pastor. Church work did not have a table set up when we had Vocation Day in high school. Being a pastor is something God calls you to do. God called me to be a pastor. I went to school to learn the how’s of pastoring. I received an excellent education. I learned to exegete the Scriptures. Set up church systems. Classes on counseling. Pastoral care. I had a class on Church Growth. I truly appreciate the education I received. I encourage others to place themselves in such an environment. It has truly helped me.

  • Reflections on being a pastor

    devotion  · 

    I was a senior pastor once. The church I pastored had an attendance around 500 plus or minus depending on the time of year. We had several staff members. A worship pastor. A children’s pastor. Bookkeeper. And a director of hospitality. Her name was Nicole. She started strong in her job. Following up with people. Planning events. Organizing ushers, greeters, and the like. Planning dinner for Wednesday nights. But over time the fire, the passion for the position began to slowly go out. We met. Established new goals. Discussed what was happening in her life and her family. The church even paid for her counseling.

  • 2 Timothy 1:7

    devotion  · 

    Over the last couple of years, I have been listening to a bunch of people speak on a variety of subjects from politics to the end times. It seems to me a number of them suffer from the disease of excessive certainty. They are convinced they are correct and everyone that disagrees with them is totally wrong. I have also noticed this tendency that their particular world view or perspective utilizes a fear factor as a main motivator in adherence and in presentation.

  • Romans 16

    devotion  · 

    I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord. Romans 16:22

  • Ezekiel 34:2-6

    devotion  · 

    I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.** On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.~ Revelation 19:11-16

  • Ezekiel 34:2-6

    devotion  · 

    Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them. ~ Ezekiel 34:2-6

  • The Name of God

    devotion  · 

    But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” ^12 ^And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” ^13 ^Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” ^14 ^God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘**I am **has sent me to you.’” ^15 ^God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation. –  Exodus 3:11-16

  • Integrity

    Devotion  · 

    This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. ~ 1 John 3:16-18

  • John 19:28-30

    devotion  · 

    Later; knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. ~ John 19:28-30The end is quickly approaching. Jesus is dying on the cross. A crowd has gathered to witness this gruesome moment, not realizing they are witnessing the most significant event in all of history. Jesus cries out he is thirsty. He is given a wine vinegar from a sponge. He receives the drink then he says, “It is finished.” It is done. The lamb slain from the foundation of the world has given his life. Completed the assignment given him.

  • The Good Shepherd

    devotion  · 

    “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ~ John 10:14-16Jesus in John 10 as the good shepherd. He knows his sheep and his sheep know him. It is interesting to note the different ways that sheep are led versus the manner in which cattle are led. I have watched many westerns in my growing up years. In fact, I would consider myself an expert on old western movies and tv shows. I could list my viewing credentials, but I will not because of my time allowance. Sheep are led. The shepherd is out front leading the sheep and they are following. There are usually some sheep dogs to help some of the wondering sheep to stay in the flock. Cattle are not led from the front. They are driven from the back and the sides. In fact, the official nomenclature that is used is “cattle drive.” You have people on horses and on each side of the herd driving and guiding the cattle to where they need to go. These two different models serve as a reminder of two different ways to lead a church.

  • Costly Grace

    devotion  · 

    And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. ~ Ephesians 2:6-10 Reflections on Grace – Cheap Grace vs Costly Grace

  • July 23, 2023 devotion on 1 Peter 3:8-9

    devotion  · 

    Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. ~ 1 Peter 3:8-9Simon Peter is writing to the first century church. He is giving them some rules to live by. Rules not in the legalistic sense but more like – if you truly love Jesus this is how it looks. He tells his readers to be like-minded, sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Notice verse 9, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.” It is so easy to want to repay evil for evil. Deep in our souls is the quest, even the need for justice, especially justice regarding wrongs committed against a loved one or most of all ourselves. We say, “That is not right.” We feel justified in correcting the wrong because in our perspective we know everything we need to know. It’s wrong. I am right. I have been unnecessarily hurt and I need to make it right. Herein is the problem. Our perspective is limited. It is narrow. In reality we don’t have all the facts. And in fact, we tend to see things the way we want to see things. It is called confirmation bias. And we all have it. It is actually more evident and prominent in people who believe that they don’t have it. You tend to see what you want to see and find what you are looking for.

  • May 18 2023 devotion on 1 Kings 3:3

    devotion  · 

    Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. ~ 1 Kings 3:3King David has died. The kingdom has passed to Solomon. He is consolidating the kingdom. Taking out some of his enemies. He is walking in the instructions of the Lord but notice – this one word – except. There was one area that he was holding on to. He offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

  • May 4, 2023 devotion on Luke 15:1-7

    devotion  · 

    Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: ”Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. ~ Luke 15:1-7

  • March 23 2023 devotion on 1 Corinthians 8:1-2

    devotion  · 

    We know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes. ~ 1 Corinthians 8:1-2Paul is answering questions sent to him about issues in the church at Corinth. In chapter 8 he addresses the issue of meat offered to idols. As he opens chapter 8 the first three verses stand out to me. (Read verses) Knowledge makes us feel important. Knowledge highlights what I know. It is a very heady thing. It is a very prideful thing. Pride is the sin that follows knowledge around. But notice that Paul says, “…it is love that strengthens the church.”

  • The Space Between Postmodern Culture and The Church Today

    postmodernism  · 

    One of the prevailing trends in culture today is an ever growing schism between the church and culture. Increasingly people are not going to church or if they are going to church they participate in the intimate anonymity of going to church on Sunday mornings but not necessarily engaging in other parts of the life of the church.There are a variety of factors that keep people from fully embracing churches first people have often been hurt or burned by other churches and they have valid concerns that they could be hurt at their new church as well so they are skeptical. Unfortunately, churches have in many ways earned the skepticism of those who have been hurt by churches and those who are religious unaffiliated.

  • Preaching style

    Preaching  · 

    David J. Brett throughly enjoys any opportunity to teach, especially in churches, colleges, and in chaplaincy settings. He thrives on connecting with people and encouraging them to think through the lives that they are constructing for themselves.He loves speaking and preaching in a dynamic setting as Village View Community Church. He speaks on rotation on Sunday Mornings and Wednesday evenings. Sunday mornings focus on biblical teaching in casual lecture style, whereas Wednesday evenings is a much more dynamic “flipped classroom” approach to Bible Study and theological training and teaching. Here are few of the “greatest hits” of David speaking on Sunday.

  • Pastor

    pastor  · 

    David Brett believes that ministry needs to be transformative, relevant, and relational in order to be effective in making an impact upon culture. To him ministry must be about allowing the grace of Christ to take hold in our lives.

  • Chaplain

    chaplain  · 

    Having worked in hospitals, hospice, and in recovery programs David Brett has learned that the miracle of faith is that Christ meets people where they are, especially when we are hurting. Listening to those who are struggling has instilled in him that people of faith have a responsibility to be present, to listen, and to serve.

  • Carpenter

    carpenter  · 

    Having worked in hospitals, hospice, and in recovery programs David Brett has learned that the miracle of faith is that Christ meets people where they are, especially when we are hurting. Listening to those who are struggling has instilled in him that people of faith have a responsibility to be present, to listen, and to serve.