Beltway Park Baptist Sermons (video)

Fear+Less // I am the Gate

Jesus is the vine, and our Heavenly Father is the vinedresser. When we abide in Jesus, like a branch to a vine, the Father lifts us up, cleans and purifies us, and helps us flourish. To abide means we remain in Him or stay closely connected to Him. When we abide in Jesus, we find significance and are empowered to bear much fruit.

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live." (John 11:25). We celebrate Christmas because Jesus came and defeated the enemy, death. He became God in the flesh, Immanuel, to deal with death so we could live a life free from the fear of dying. By His defeat of the grave, we have courage and faith to confidently walk the passageway to eternity in joy, hope, and peace.

Jesus is the light of the world. He reveals all that is hidden, not to condemn or to expose our guilt, but to bring hope and healing. The heart of Jesus is to shed light where there is darkness and to clearly convey that change is possible. Our past, our failures, our weaknesses, our struggles, our lack, our circumstances, and our pain do not have to be the end of our story. He came to transform us and to set us free. Change and redemption begins by harnessing the power of confession.

Fear+Less // I am the Bread of Life

Jesus is returning soon with power and great glory. On that day, He will gather His true followers (i.e. the elect) from every part of the world, and they will enjoy unbridled access to His presence. At that time, death, mourning, crying, or pain will no longer have any place – He will make all things new. Unfortunately, for those who do not know Jesus the day of His return will bring eternal judgment and sorrow as He establishes a new heaven and a new earth. Because no one knows when Jesus will return, we are called to be ready for that day and to urgently reach the unsaved.

God desires for us to wisely manage our time, abilities, money, and bodies. We are called to carefully use our time, spiritual gifts, and abilities to encourage and edify other believers as well as to reach the unsaved. In a similar way, God longs for money to be a tool to bless others rather than an idol that so easily enslaves. He also instructs us to care for our physical bodies as an act of honor to Him, because the body is a temple of His Holy Spirit.

Christians are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ, actively growing in spiritual maturity. This growth comes when a disciple diligently pursues being like Jesus, which is costly and requires absolute surrender to Him. Such a pursuit transforms the heart, character, and behavior of a believer and progressively instills a deep desire to intentionally disciple others and to help them become like Jesus as well.

Christians are called to live in authentic, Biblical community with one another. Within the relationships of this community or church, a believer in Jesus finds purpose, accountability, encouragement, and healing. Described as a family and a body, the church is called to elevate and protect unity and to honor those in positions of authority . By doing so, it can collectively pursue, without distraction, its mission of extending the Kingdom‐reign of God into the dark, unreached places of the world.

God desires abundant life for His followers. His heart is to give good gifts to every believer, to bless them and to meet their deepest needs. One of the most critical gifts of God is spiritual freedom, where believers encounter healing from past wounds, receive and extend forgiveness, find release from sin and bondage, and experience the goodness of God's presence. In this process of renewal, their true identity as sons and daughters begins to be regained.

God uses His followers as the primary instrument to share the good news of Jesus Christ to the world. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, believers are charged to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them about the Christian faith. Every believer is called to courageously proclaim the gospel of Jesus, understanding that the battle is not against others but against the spiritual forces of evil and darkness in the heavenly realms. In this battle, God has a special plan for Israel and the Jewish people, knowing that their redemption in Jesus means greater spiritual riches for the world.

The Holy Spirit reveals all that is true, teaching and reminding Christians of what Jesus said and did. He is equal with God (and is indeed God) as the source of genuine life and freedom. Through Him we are empowered to be witnesses of the gospel of Jesus to the entire world, walking in the spiritual gifts He provides and living in the Godly character that He refines.

A growing, devoted faith in Jesus hungers for His presence, extravagantly worships Him, and longs to hear His voice. When we draw near to God, He draws near to us with a desire give us life and all good things. When we seek His presence in worship, God responds and longs to speak to us. His voice is often heard through His Word, through prayer, and through other believers.

The Bible (i.e. the Word of God, the holy scriptures) is the primary revelation of who God is and the ultimate standard for what is true. Inspired by God and without error, it has both authority and power to transform any person and to change any spiritual atmosphere.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. While Jesus, through His death and resurrection, extends the gift of salvation to us, we must receive that gift by believing in Him and surrendering to His rule and reign in our lives. We demonstrate our faith in Jesus through a genuine heart of repentance, obedience to Him, baptism, and communion.