Beltway Weekend Services (Audio)

Living God’s way will come at a cost (Matthew 5:10-12). Scripture is clear that all who desire to live a Godly life in Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). When we align our hearts, desires, choices, and actions to Jesus and His kingdom, we stand in direct opposition to the world and culture around us. We begin to spiritually stink (2 Corinthians 2:14-16). If we do not spiritually stink to the world around us, then we may need to examine how we are living. But when we expect and embrace life as Jesus intends – a life that inevitably leads to persecution – we are promised blessing and eternal, heavenly reward. When persecuted, we are positioned for incredible growth both individually and as a church in depth and breath. When persecuted, we purposefully respond with blessing and kindness, choosing to pray for those who are persecuting us rather than responding in harshness or hatred.

Sermon from May 5, 2024

God goes to extraordinary lengths to bring peace to our chaos, to heal our brokenness. Part of our response to how God works and moves in us to bring peace is to testify to what He has done, to share with others how He has brought wholeness (Psalm 107:2; Mark 5:18-20). Another part of our response is carrying the peace God has given us into the chaotic, fragmented situations and environments of those around us. God loves, honors, and blesses when we intentionally do this. Though we have a real enemy who desires nothing more than our death and destruction, we can confidently face the battle knowing that we possess the shalom of God and have been given the weapons we need to effectively resist the enemy (Ephesians 6:11, 1 Peter 5:8).

Sermon from April 28, 2024

Blessed homes do not wish for peace; they make it (Matthew 5:9). Every person experiences conflict in their relationships; it is inevitable, especially in our homes with those we are closest to and spend the most time with. Even mature followers of Jesus can have disagreements and struggles (Acts 15:36-40). It is a reality that if we are pursuing Jesus diligently, peace in relationships does not just happen. We must be intentional in taking steps to create peace with others. We become peacemakers in our relationships by utilizing the acronym P.E.A.C.E.

P – Prayerfully plan a meeting.
E – Empathize with their opinions and feelings. A – Attack the problem, not the person.
C – Cooperate as much as possible.
E – Emphasize reconciliation, not resolution.

Sermon from April 21, 2024

A pure heart is a vital ingredient to a blessed life and home (Matthew 5:8). In fact, the condition of our heart – that place of our desires, emotions, choices, and motives – is so important that we are taught to guard it above anything else (Proverbs 4:23). Jesus is clear that those with a pure heart not only receive blessing, but they will see God. The challenge, however, is that there is no such thing as partial purity; something is either pure or impure. If we are not careful, we can easily believe the lie that we are mostly pure, that if we polish up our behavior externally that we are deemed pure internally. Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for being clean on the outside but full of greed and self-indulgence on the inside (Matthew 23:25-26). Thankfully, Jesus offers us purity and cleansing through relationship with Him. When we confess our impurity and sin in repentance, it is His blood that cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness (1 John 1:7 -10). His desire for us is that we give Him all of our heart, as well as all of our soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37).

Sermon from April 14, 2024

Christ-centered homes are blessed (Matthew 5:6). Though most people desire happiness (or blessing), it seems exceptionally elusive. Experiencing circumstances that are consistently pleasant and a life relatively free from trouble is nearly impossible. In contrast, Jesus teaches that blessing has more to do with being on the right path than good circumstances. Even if the road is challenging, Jesus makes the promise that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied. Unfortunately, we tend to look for satisfaction in the wrong places: in pleasure, performance, possessions, positions, and popularity. None of these are intended nor have the capacity to satisfy our deeper longings. If we want to see blessing in our homes, we must be willing to change our priorities, our use of time, and our use of money. Having a Christ-centered home that is blessed means giving each member of our family the best opportunity to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Sermon from April 7, 2024

Surrender to God imparts resilience (Matthew 26:36-39). We daily navigate the chaos and uncertainty of the world around us, leaving many hopeless, worried, and anxious. Jesus experienced a similar struggle, saying to some of His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane that His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Despite this mental and emotional distress, Jesus still had the resilience and resolve to go to the cross. He had the hope necessary that enabled Him to face the grave. That hope and resilience came through His surrender to God. In His agony, Jesus modeled to us surrender by embracing God’s will over His own. When we embrace Easter as Jesus embraced Easter – giving up control and surrendering to God fully – God imparts resilience, strength, hope, peace, and joy to us.

Sermon from March 31, 2024

Communion connects us to the resurrection power of Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:17-30). The practice of communion is a great equalizer and unifier. It reminds us that we all need a savior, regardless of our socio-economic status, nationality, race, or history. We take communion together simply as a community of the forgiven. When we engage in it, we are experiencing the presence of Jesus in a special way (contrary to either extreme of transubstantiation or mere symbol). It positions us before our Heavenly Father to receive power to say no to sin and yes to His ways, to have courage to stay in step with where He is leading us, and to have faith to ask Him to meet every need and desire we have in our lives, even if He says no. We take communion in humility and weakness – and not casually – because we need the power of the resurrection to be and live more like Jesus.

Jesus gives us a clear guardrail on the narrow road that leads to abundant life: beware of false teachers (Matthew 7:15-20). Jesus gives this warning because He knows how susceptible we are to the teachings and influence of false teachers. When we embrace false teachers and their ideas, we begin to make small, subtle decisions that eventually lead us significantly away from the life God has for us. The good news is that truth – namely, Jesus – silences false teachers and their philosophies (John 14:6). We recognize and illuminate what is false by knowing what is authentic and real, by knowing Him. As we seek to know Jesus, He leads us to greater understanding and acceptance of His Word and the core pillars of our Christian faith. It is Scripture and these core tenets of our faith that help us identify and resist false teachers.

Sermon from March 17, 2024

Carefully examining our lives and minimizing distractions protects us and acts as a guardrail on the narrow road that leads to abundant life (Ephesians 5:15-21). One of the primary tools the enemy uses against us is distractions, which often lead us to choosing what is good over what is best. We know with confidence that we are prioritizing what is best and eliminating distractions when we are seeking Jesus first and His kingdom. Seeking Jesus first and His kingdom means we are spending time in His presence, engaging His Word and actively praying. It means we are purposefully and regularly investing into Biblical community and participating in the services and ministries of the church. It also means we are looking for ways to serve and bless others.

Sermon from March 10, 2024

Growing in both grace and truth acts as a guardrail on the narrow road of following Jesus (Mark 8:14-21). Jesus warns His followers to watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod (Mark 8:15). Jesus is saying that there are small, subtle yet sinful ideas and beliefs that can carry significant influence in our hearts and run us off the narrow road that leads to life. The yeast of Herod represents the idea that we get to decide what is true for us. It minimizes or even rejects God’s truth. It dismisses temptation and sin, and anyone who calls out sin is being judgmental. The yeast of the Pharisees emphasizes external rules and behaviors. It looks down on others in pride, which ultimately leads to hypocrisy. Walking in both grace and truth guard against either of these extremes. Those growing in grace and truth know God as holy and forgiving, hate sin immensely and love people radically, and want to be like Jesus and know it can only happen by God’s power at work in them.

Sermon from March 3, 2024

The fear of the Lord is a guardrail keeping us on the narrow road (Matthew 10:17- 30). Though we are created for relationship with God and with others, sin has drastically affected our God-given desire for acceptance. If we are not careful, we will want human praise more than praise from God. Without guardrails, we will seek the approval of others by obsessively trying to please them, by performing in such a way as to garner their attention. Having a healthy fear of God – where we are utterly in awe of who He is – keeps us from perpetual people-pleasing and positions us to receive the abundant life He has to offer us (Matthew 10:28-30; John 10:10). We grow in our fear of God by intentionally spending time getting to know Him better, by focusing on who He is and who He is revealed to be in Scripture.

Sermon from February 25, 2024

God’s abundant blessing as we live generous lives is tied to our hearts (Mark 12:41-44). Jesus makes it clear to His followers, when He highlights a poor widow who gave all she had (two copper coins) into the temple treasury, that the amount of our giving is significantly less important than the condition of our hearts when we give. In seeking to live a life of generosity, it is not just the act of giving that we need to focus on. The position of our hearts as we give matters. If we practice generosity on any level (i.e., relationally, financially, in serving, etc.), we will experience blessing. This is the law of sowing and reaping, and it is undefeated and irrefutable. But how we reap, and the totality of what we reap is intricately tied to the heart behind it. God calls us to be a cheerful giver, not a bitter or reluctant giver (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). God offers more blessing, or fuller blessing, when we are generous with the right heart.

Sermon from February 18, 2024

To be truly Christ-like is to excel in generosity (2 Corinthians 8:7). Jesus is (and has been) generous beyond what we can imagine. Out of His incredible love for us, He set aside His heavenly place to enter our sinfulness and messiness so that we could know Him and have eternal life (John 3:16; Philippians 2:5-8). Though He was rich, for our sake He became poor, so that by His sacrifice we could become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). As His followers, we desire to be like Him in heart, character, and action. This is why we are encouraged in Scripture to excel in the grace of giving, to have the same mindset as Jesus, especially in generosity. Because of the generosity of those who gave to Beltway Park in 2023, we as a church were able to serve and bless countless lives within our church family, within our local community and region, and to the ends of earth.

Sermon from February 11, 2024

We cannot outgive God (Acts 20:32-35). Though it seems upside down from what is normal in our culture, we find provision and abundance when we embrace firstfruit generosity with our finances. From Malachi 3:10, firstfruit generosity means tithing 10% of our personal profit or income to the storehouse (e.g., your local church where you go for spiritual provision and mission). The giving of our finances and personal resources is the only place from Scripture where we can test God. His promise is that if you practice firstfruit generosity He will throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it (Malachi 3:10; Luke 6:38). We take steps of faith in this area by planning a percentage to give, making generosity a priority, and always prayerfully listening to how God may be leading you to be generous beyond tithing.

Sermon from February 4, 2024

Every follower of Jesus is a tool – used in tandem with other Jesus followers – to be the church and reach people for Jesus (1 Corinthians 12:12-14). Or as Paul wrote, we are the body of Christ, made up of many parts. Each part as God’s workmanship has a significant role to play, created intentionally to accomplish good works. When any part does not function as it should, it affects and hurts the whole body. But when we discover what kind of tool God has made us to be and give of ourselves in serving as that tool, we experience fulfillment and become more blessed.

Sermon from January 28, 2024

Saved people serve people (1 Peter 4:7-11). The call for all Jesus followers, even at the end of the age, is not to simply hang on and survive. We are challenged to serve, to use a portion of our time, talents, and skills to give to others. In fact, Jesus taught His disciples that the greatest among His followers is the one who serves (Luke 22:24-26). It is what Jesus modeled, who did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:26 -28). When we receive salvation through Jesus by faith, we accept it by following and emulating His life and heart of serving.

Sermon from January 21, 2024

Found people find people (Acts 1:4-8). The world is desperate for all that Jesus offers, and it is our responsibility as His followers to be a witness to the people around us. If we truly care about them, we cannot keep the good news of all that Jesus has accomplished for us to ourselves. Even if being a witness looks weird, makes us uncomfortable, or even puts a relationship at risk, it is worth the possibility that someone lost be found. Thankfully, we can be witnesses for Jesus to those around us through the power of the Holy Spirit. He gives us strength, especially when we feel inadequate, unprepared, and afraid. And a helpful tool in being a witness is the acronym BLESS (Begin with Prayer, Listen, Eat, Serve, Share your Story).

Sermon from January 14, 2024

It is more blessed to give than receive, especially in friendship (Acts 20:35). The research is clear: good relationships keep us happier and healthier. It is what Paul modeled and taught the elders of the church in Ephesus. We are not just blessed but more blessed (i.e., doubly blessed, blessed squared) when we give of ourselves for the sake of others. The way up is by going down, having a heart of a servant in total dependance upon God (Philippians 2:5-7). We find ourselves when we lose ourselves (Matthew 16:25), particularly in relationships. When we make friendships about us, with the intent to control the benefits and outcomes of the relationship, we become increasingly lonely. It simply does not work. But when we give in friendship with deep love, care, and affection – when our mindset is giving rather than receiving – it produces powerful and lasting connection (Acts 20:36- 38).

Sermon from January 7, 2024

God wants to give us a supernatural power to have joy (Luke 2:8-11). At the birth of Jesus, an angel of the Lord appeared to nearby shepherds and proclaimed to them good news of great joy concerning the Savior of the world. Christmas – the coming of Jesus – is meant to bring us immense joy. His birth reveals God’s heart for us, that the King of Kings, the Creator of the universe, and the One who is above all rule and authority wants us and is for us. He takes great delight in His followers and rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). With the help of the Holy Spirit, that reality enables us to live with a contagious joy regardless of our circumstances.

Sermon from December 17, 2023

Faith is believing that God is who He says He is, and that He will do what He says He will do (Hebrews 11:1-3). Like in the movie The Polar Express, the presence of doubt is real and affects everyone, especially when it comes to the birth of Jesus and who He is. We struggle to believe fully in Jesus because of skepticism, pain, and disappointment. But when we do believe, it pleases God and positions us for blessing and reward. When we embrace genuine faith in Jesus, our lives are transformed, our faith begins to produce action, and God shows up and moves in powerful ways.

Sermon from December 10, 2023

Christians live not to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45). Like Paul quoting the storytellers of his day (Acts 17:28) to share the gospel of Jesus and His kingdom, movies and television today often echo elements of the story. It is these elements that stir God-given desires within us, like the desire for love and acceptance, the desire to see good triumph over evil, and the desire for adventure. In particular, the Christmas movie It’s a Wonderful Life points to the truth that Jesus came not to be served but to serve, to give His life as a ransom for many. And even though Jesus alone is the ransom for sin, we as His followers should emulate Him and seek to give our lives for others. We are God’s workmanship, created and designed to do good works – things that matter and have an eternal impact (Ephesians 2:10).

Sermon from December 3, 2023

What kind of soil are you (Mark 4:2-9, 14-20)? God is sowing the seed of His truth, and how we respond to that truth – the kind of soil we are – determines whether a harvest is produced or not. That harvest is the abundant life Jesus promises to those fully surrendered to His reign and rule in their lives (John 10:10). Some people are disinterested paths where Satan immediately snatches the truth away, squelching any hope of God’s truth producing fruit. Others are rocky ground where despite significant encounters with Jesus never develop deep roots; their seed is scorched by the heat and pressures of life. Some are thorny soil where any spiritual growth is choked out by the convenience and worries of day-to-day life. And then some are good soil where a miraculous harvest beyond expectation emerges. We test and determine what kind of soil we are by purposefully examining the fruit of our daily lives. Are we tending and cultivating the soil of our souls, staying connected to other followers of Jesus, stepping out in faith, and spending regular time in worship? When our soil is good, our roots grow deep, and we help build up the roots of those around us.

Sermon from November 26, 2023

When it comes to Jesus’ return and the end of the age, we must be prepared for both suddenly and to persevere (Matthew 25:1-13). With the current Israeli war in Gaza, many people are wondering and asking: is this the end? Jesus was asked the same question by His disciples. He warms them strongly to be sure that no one leads them astray, and that no one knows the day or the hour except our Heavenly Father. Jesus then, using the Parable of the Ten Virgins, teaches about end times and His return. Because the precise timing of His return is known only by God, the appropriate question is not: is this the end? The right question is: are we ready? Whether Jesus returns today or beyond our lifetime, are we prepared either way? Regardless, we are called to contend in prayer against the demonic spirit of the day that desires to destroy the Jewish people (Psalm 122:6-8). The promise of Scripture is that God has not forsaken the Jewish people, and that a day is coming when they collectively embrace Jesus as their Messiah. When that happens, the world will experience an outpouring of even greater spiritual riches (Romans 11:11-12).

Sermon from November 19, 2023

Our words matter (Proverbs 18:21). The Bible is clear: the tongue has power to bring life or death. The struggle, however, is that even though our words are powerful – like a rudder of a boat, a horse’s bit, or small spark that starts a forest fire – the tongue is untamable in our own strength (James 3:7-8). On our own, we are powerless to use our words to bring life. Only by the Holy Spirit and the saving grace of Jesus can our language be transformed and become life -giving. A changed heart leads to words of life (Luke 6:45). When our words bring life, they encourage others, are kind and compassionate, and express forgiveness.

Sermon from November 12, 2023

Judge not, that you be not judged (Matthew 7:1-2). These words of Jesus are often culturally understood to mean that we should never say or believe that another person is wrong. Jesus, however, had a different concept in mind in this part of His Sermon on the Mount. To judge is to hold a final verdict in our minds about another person’s worth or destiny that is different from the truth of God about that person. It is seeing people as less than God sees them, and it is often adopted or developed in us from our society, our family of origin, and/ or our wounds (wounds from others, or self-inflicted wounds because of our sinful choices). All ungodly judgments are ugly in the eyes of God because they contradict the gospel. Jesus paid the price of His life for every person, giving them all immeasurable worth. As His followers, we are designed and called to love others (and ourselves) like He loves them. We rid ourselves of judgments – and their torment – by asking our Heavenly Father to graciously reveal them, to forgive us for believing them, and to show us what He thinks about that person or group of people instead. We then intentionally confess our agreement with what is true.

Sermon from November 5, 2023

Unforgiveness produces torture; forgiveness yields freedom (Matthew 18:21-35). When we become followers of Jesus, we are forgiven a spiritual debt we could never pay. It is because we have been forgiven much that we can and should forgive others. When we refuse to extend forgiveness to someone, it is a significant act of dishonor against God and against the forgiveness we have received from Him. Unforgiveness gives the enemy the right to torment our lives, to keep us in bondage and to keep us from the abundant life God offers us. On the other hand, walking in forgiveness is incredibly liberating. Forgiveness is a deliberate choice, not a feeling. It does not require trust, nor does it mean we forget. But for those who desire lasting freedom, forgiveness is not optional.

Sermon from October 29, 2023

We were made for a transformed life with a renewed mind and changed beliefs (Romans 12:2). We all have lenses, or belief systems, that shape how we see the world and how we live. Those beliefs often come from our life experiences, from our family history and what was said or modeled in our home, from significant hurt and trauma, or from what we have culturally or socially seen and embraced. When we have an experience, it leads to a belief; that belief creates an expectation, which influences behavior. When we begin to conform to the world, we develop ungodly beliefs that produce choices and actions with destructive consequences. God offers us an alternative: a transformed life where our minds are renewed and our we beliefs align with the Bible and with the heart and character of God. We renew our minds by taking our thoughts captive and making them obedient to Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:5), by confessing our beliefs so that we may be healed (James 5:16), and by stepping into forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32).

Sermon from October 23, 2023

More comes as we recognize lies and replace them with truth (2 Corinthians 10:3- 6). We are at war. It is an unseen battle that plays itself out in our physical world. It is a battle for our minds, for the way we think. What we think matters immensely because our thoughts determine our choices and actions. Therefore, the enemy’s primary weapon to steal, kill, and destroy is to corrupt our thinking, to get us to believe lies. Lies are at the heart of all that is destructive in our lives. Thankfully, God has given us His power to renew our minds, to identify the lies we have embraced, and to make every thought obedient to Jesus. Confession is a key tool to bring our thoughts into alignment with what is true and with Jesus as the source of truth. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we use confession to call out a lie and replace it by speaking the truth of God’s Word.

Sermon from October 15, 2023

More is found as we hear and follow God’s voice (John 10:1-10). Jesus is our Good Shepherd, and each of us as His followers – as His sheep – can and should know His voice. Hearing the voice of God, however, is not automatic; it is something we must learn and grow in. The primary way God speaks to all people throughout history is through the Bible. It is not merely a book to be read, but it is God’s voice to be heard. Every other means of hearing God is filtered, tested, and discerned through the Bible. Another important way God speaks is through impressions, which is a thought or idea that comes from Him. All impressions should be consistent with the Bible and generally provide specific guidance on how to fulfill a Biblical command or principle. Often impressions are contrary to how we normally think and require us to rely on God for strength and courage. Impressions from God also lead us to love Him and others more. In whatever way we hear God, it is not enough to simply affirm that He speaks. We must desire to hear His voice and position ourselves to receive what He wants to say.

In Christ, everything changes (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). In Him, who we are – our identity – is transformed. In Christ, we become new creations and are adopted into His family. In Him, we move from being spiritual orphans and slaves to being His sons and daughters, heirs to His inheritance. In Christ, we begin a journey into freedom and healing that impacts generations to come.

Sermon from October 1, 2023

Freedom is rooted in what Jesus did and not what we do (John 19:29-30). Contrary to the common belief of our culture, we cannot generate enough power or strength to get free. Instead, freedom comes when we plug in to and yield to what Jesus did on the cross. When we connect and yield to Jesus, the message of the cross affects our lives directly and empowers us to become free, to become like Him. What Jesus did on the cross is more than enough, which is why He could say tetelestai (it is finished). Through Him, our debt is paid, justice is served, our life is built, and victory is obtained.

Sermon from September 24, 2023

Freedom is found as we trust the Father’s heart (Matthew 6:9; John 14:6). Jesus came to restore us to our Heavenly Father, to see and know His goodness. When we want to know what kind of Father God really is, we do not look to our circumstances or even to our earthly father. Instead, we discover what kind of Father God really is when we look at Jesus, the cross, and the empty tomb. He is a Father who sings in pride over His children, who is slow to anger and abounding in love, who runs to His children to cover their shame, and who is always there and never leaves. We can yield to God and submit to His authority because we know that He is beyond good as a Father.

Sermon from September 17, 2023

Freedom is a promise that must be possessed (Galatians 5:1). While many people have embraced the lie that real change is impossible and carry an overwhelming sense of hopelessness, Jesus came to set us free. The freedom He offers us is the ever-increasing ability to become more and more like Him, to live as God designed us to live. That promise of freedom, however, is not automatic. We can be alive in Jesus and still not be free. Just as He commanded Lazarus to come out of the tomb and be unbound, He calls us to be both made alive and loosed in Him (John 11:38-39). Possessing our promise of freedom is an ongoing journey of yielding to the leading of the Holy Spirit in what we think and what we do.

Sermon from September 10, 2023

Geoffrey Turner closes out the Coffee Cup Christianity series in week five by providing context around Joshua 1:9. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 

Often, we make decisions based on a risk-reward analysis, from financial decisions to career choices, etc. Rewards outlined in scripture for believers, including God’s promises to be our strength, provide for our needs, and give us purpose and peace. While God’s promises are awe-inspiring, they also come with risks.

Leading to the book of Joshua, the Israelites’ journey from slavery in Egypt to their current point, setting the stage for Joshua 1. God instructs Joshua to lead the Israelites into the promised land after the death of Moses. God promises Joshua that he will be with him and emphasizes the need to be strong and courageous, as there are challenges ahead. Despite being so close to the reward, God repeatedly tells Joshua to be strong and courageous because the promises of God do not automatically happen. There is a common misconception that God's promises will materialize without any effort or risk on the believer's part. Faith requires action and often involves taking risks. The Lord often calls us to obey before we truly understand. It is obedience that unlocks understanding. Joshua, as a new leader, had to confront the risk of not being trusted by the people, the fear of failure, and the challenges of crossing the Jordan River. However, the rewards of God's promises are always worth the risks!

Sermon from September 4, 2023

Week four of the Coffee Cup Christianity series, David McQueen provides context around Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

This common verse is often quoted for its promise of prosperity and hope, which many equate to monetary prosperity. However, when you understand the full context in Jeremiah and about the original audience – the Jewish exiles in Babylon, you will gain a deeper perspective on prosperity. True prosperity comes from seeking and knowing God, rather than merely seeking material wealth or comfort. Genuine prosperity involves an ongoing pursuit of knowing God deeply. Be encouraged to seek God with your whole heart, where you’ll find joy and fulfillment that comes from knowing Him intimately. He is worth pursuing!

Sermon from August 27, 2023

David McQueen focuses on Lamentations 3:22–23: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” for week three of the Coffee Cup Christianity series. This common verse will find most followers of Christ acknowledging God's faithfulness during favorable times but struggling to do so during times of sorrow and hardship. To best understand this verse, we must understand the context in which the Book of Lamentations was written – a period of immense suffering, destruction, and darkness following the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians. The author, Jeremiah the prophet, has seen affliction and felt abandoned by God. The verses of Lamentations express his anguish, but they also serve as a reminder of God's patience, steadfast love, and promises throughout Israel's history. Pastor McQueen encourages honesty in facing difficult emotions and wrestling with God, using Jeremiah's example. Faith begins with acknowledging feelings but doesn't end there. Faith calls one to remember God's goodness and promises, as exemplified by Jeremiah. In looking in the New Testament and the significance of Jesus' sacrifice, Jesus experienced darkness to bring light and hope. How you speak to yourself is important, we must recall God's goodness, and choose to focus on the cross, as it is a reminder of God's ultimate act of love and hope. Be encouraged to declare God's goodness, especially in difficult circumstances!

Sermon from August 20, 2023

In the second series of "Coffee Cup Christianity" David McQueen explores the misunderstood concept of God's love using John 3:16 as a central theme “For God so loved the world…” In looking at this scripture outside of context, one can interpret God's love in ways that align with personal desires, rather than its true meaning. Pastor David emphasizes the need to surrender to Jesus' leadership to receive God's love. He draws parallels between natural birth and spiritual rebirth, highlighting the importance of a fresh start and being forgiven. God's love is received through embracing the reality of being condemned and perishing due to sin. The cross's significance is explained as a symbol of God's love, paying the price for humanity's sins. Listen to understand more about God's love and its transformative power for your life!

Sermon from August 13, 2023

Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." is a widely known and quoted verse, one that you light find printed on a coffee cup. But not understanding this verse in the full context of how it was written can lead to unrealistic expectations and potential crises of faith. David McQueen shares a personal experience, where he believed this verse would lead his team to victory but ended up facing failure, causing doubts about God's trustworthiness.

David emphasizes the importance of understanding the immediate context of the verse and using the entirety of Scripture for accurate interpretation. He highlights the Apostle Paul's situation when writing this verse from prison, indicating that it's not a promise of guaranteed success or comfort, but rather a call to find contentment and strength in Christ regardless of circumstances. Be encouraged to find peace and strength in Christ, trusting that His grace is sufficient for whatever challenges lie ahead.

Sermon from August 6, 2023

Leif Hetland discussed the emotional burdens of guilt from the past, shame in the present, and fear of the future. He emphasized that fatigue is a significant weapon used by the enemy, often attacking when we are worn out. Leif encouraged self-love as God loves us and advised against dwelling in the past but embracing the transformation process. Belief in Jesus leads to salvation, and believing that Jesus believes in us leads to transformation. He highlighted that free individuals can help free others. In the book of Revelation, Jesus is referred to as a lamb 24 times, but only as a lion once. He encourages us to love like Jesus, depending on the Holy Spirit to show us when to approach and love as a lamb.

Sermon from July 30, 2023

Faith is more about staying the course than starting the race. The culture of quick results causes us to emphasize the beginning. Yet the Word of God seems to reveal the opposite. The Bible seems to hammer this idea of staying, persevering, and finishing. In Haggai chapter 2, God calls the people to rebuild the temple. As they begin to build, they fall into comparison, becoming discouraged and eventually giving up. The quickest way to destroy something is to compare it to something else. Yet, another discouragement the people of God face is despising small beginnings. So again, they were discouraged. Hear how God responds and encourages them to be strong and do the work! When facing discouragement, we must remember that we are never alone in our journey because Jesus changed everything. Through Jesus and His resurrection power, we can accomplish everything He calls us to do and stay the course! By relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be strong and do the work, step by step, brick by brick.

Sermon from July 23, 2023

John 2:1-11 takes us to a wedding in Cana, where Jesus performs His first recorded miracle, turning water into wine. This miracle reveals not only the miraculous power of Jesus but also speaks to deeper spiritual truths like the goodness of God, the sufficiency of Jesus, and abundant joy. As children of God, our joy is not dependent on our circumstances; rather, it flows from the heart of God. It is a gift that springs forth from knowing and experiencing the goodness and love of our Heavenly Father. God's goodness is unwavering, and His desire is for us to experience abundant joy in all aspects of life. Jesus, in His miraculous act, showcases His sufficiency. He takes the ordinary, represented by water, and transforms it into something extraordinary. This serves as a powerful reminder that Jesus is more than enough to meet our needs, desires, and longings. He has the power to transform our lives, bringing fulfillment and abundant blessings. Moreover, the passage teaches us that God's best follows obedience. Jesus instructs the servants to fill the jars with water, and they obeyed. As a result, they witnessed the miracle of transformation. Obedience paves the way for God's best in our lives. It aligns us with His perfect plan and opens the door for blessings and breakthroughs. Lastly, we learn that joy needs to be refreshed. In the story, the wine provided at the wedding ran out. But Jesus, in His abundance, provided the finest wine, refreshing the celebration. Similarly, in our lives, our joy may wane or deplete at times. However, when we turn to Jesus, He refreshes and replenishes our joy, bringing newness and fullness to our hearts.

Sermon from July 16, 2023

Have you ever worked hard for a long time at something that was good and right, but it just didn’t pan out like you thought it would? You thought things would be better by now, but they’re not. We have this tendency to expect big and fast results, especially when we’re doing the good thing, the God thing. And when we don’t see the expected results, it can cause disappointment and make us question if it was God’s will to begin with.

Often we think if God is calling me to do something, He’ll make it easy. But what we need to understand is that the closer we get to doing something that matters to the heart of God, the more likely we are to face opposition. When we’re trying to follow God’s will, difficulty isn't a sign that God's against us. Often, it's a sign that we’re on the right track. When opposition comes, ask God to enable you, empower you, and lead you to choose the difficult right over the comfortable wrong.

But what if it doesn’t work? Results are God's responsibility, but obedience is ours. We’re not responsible for the results, but we are responsible for the obedience.

This is what’s happening in the Book of Haggai, a story of re-building the temple of God. Listen as Jake Mills discusses the hardships that unfold in this book, where the Jews are trying to do what God has called them to do, but they face many challenges and even give up for 14 years. The prophet Haggai is going to help empower the people to do the difficult right over the comfortable wrong and move back into obedience, living in God’s will.

Sermon from July 9, 2023

There are many times our lives can feel like a sandcastle. We spend time worrying about the wrong wave coming at the wrong time and potentially wiping out our sandcastle. But Jesus tells us if we build our foundation on the Rock, we can wave-proof our life! Jesus further tells us how to build our foundation on the Rock – by hearing the words of Jesus and doing them. A byproduct of truly hearing the words of Jesus is action. The wise man is a doer, and the foolish man is only a hearer. Jesus warns us to not be like the foolish man, building his house on the sand. If our foundation is anything other than in Jesus, it is sand, and we are susceptible to every storm of life. The storms of life cause us to lean into Jesus even more. Every testimony we share is a testimony of a weathered storm. Jesus offers us a house built so securely on the Rock that no matter what waves, winds, or storms come our way, we’re secure.

Sermon from July 2, 2023

It is impossible for us to have the life God has for us if we don’t learn to hear Him. Learning to hear the voice of the Lord in the middle of the storm changes everything. The invitation to hear the Lord is for you. Scripture is one of the primary ways that the Lord is speaking to us. However, we don’t read scripture so we can check off a box. We read scripture so we can hear the still small voice of the Lord. The Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is one of the main ways we hear His voice.

Sermon from June 25, 2023

God calls us to radical faith. Hebrews 11:1 says "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Faith is taking the step God is calling us to even if it doesn't make logical sense. When we step out in faith, we experience God's power and provision. In Matthew 14:22-33, the disciples are on a boat in the middle of the night on the Sea of Galilee and they see Jesus walking on top of the water coming toward them. They were terrified and cried out in fear. Jesus says (v. 27) "Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid." Then Peter answered Him saying (v. 28-29) "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." Jesus said to come and Peter got out of the boat and came to Jesus walking on top of the water. But, Peter took his eyes off of Jesus because he was distracted by the wind and waves. He began to sink and called to Jesus to save him. So Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. The wind ceased and the disciples worshipped Jesus, the true Son of God. The enemy would love for us to not take steps of faith out of fear of failure, difficulty or distraction. But whenever we take our eyes off Jesus, we miss our walk on water moments of faith. Faith requires us to step out of the boat and when we do, we experience God's power and provision. Then, whenever we fail, reach out to Jesus who is reaching out to us (2 Cor. 12:9-10).

Sermon from June 18, 2023

We all experience storms. A situation or circumstance that just feels like it is overwhelming or all consuming. In Mark 4:35-41 Jesus was with his disciples on a boat in the Sea of Galilee, when a great windstorm arose. The waves were breaking into the boat, the disciples were scared and overwhelmed but Jesus was asleep on a cushion. So they woke Him up asking "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” We can relate to “do you not care,” because many of us have said those exact same words whenever the storm in our own life have felt too great. Colossians 1:16-17 "For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Everything is subject to the “Peace, be still” of the Lord. We can never allow the presence of a storm to cause us to doubt the presence of God. Just because Jesus isn’t physically here, like He was in the boat with the disciples, doesn’t mean the presence of God and His power are outside of our grasp. John 16:7 "I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." We have the opportunity for our hearts and our minds to be guarded in the very blood of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. Incredible things happen in us when we choose to focus on Him in worship and submit our storms to Him in prayer.

Sermon from June 11, 2023

Sermon from June 4, 2023

More courage is required. If we truly desire to live in the abundant life of Jesus – if we hunger for that not only for ourselves but our kids, our grandkids, our friends and co-workers – there is a foundational facet of our faith we must actively put-on. The journey of following Jesus is us actively becoming who we already are. In Jesus we’ve been made a new person – born again.  But we must mature – grow – into everything we already are. God so longs for us to have everything He designed us to have that His heart aches when we say no to what is needed for abundant life. And the reason we typically say no to the Spirit, the reason we grieve the Holy Spirit, is…fear. Courage is foundational to productive faith. Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” It takes courage to live a life of obedience, a life seeking to not grieve the Spirit. Life as a follower of Jesus isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes courage to stand on biblical truth when it is not only no longer accepted in our culture but attacked. Courage is foundational to productive faith. It takes courage to persevere when wickedness is on the rise.

Sermon from May 28, 2023

Kindness is compassion in action (Ephesians 4:32). A key part of putting on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness, is extending kindness to one another. Unfortunately, many wrongly associate being kind with weakness. God demonstrates both kindness and righteousness, both kindness and power (Psalm 23:6; Jeremiah 9:24). He shows that it is possible to have boundaries and be kind, to disagree with someone and be kind, to take decisive action and be kind, to be angry at injustice and still be kind. In fact, when were powerless against sin, God in His kindness sent Jesus. And because we are recipients of God’s kindness, we are called to be instruments of kindness to others.

Sermon from May 21, 2023

Jesus came to give us abundant life (John 10:10). In fact, Jesus boldly proclaims that He is the bread of life (John 6:35), which was a hard teaching for many of His disciples at the time. Jesus makes the promise that those who come to Him hungry and thirsty will be blessed and filled (Matthew 5:6). Jesus even taught His followers to ask their Heavenly Father for their daily bread (Mathew 6:11). This echoes Proverbs 30:8-9, where Agur son of Jakeh declared to the LORD: give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

Sermon from May 14, 2023