The Darrell Johnson Podcast

Living as Citizens of the Land Called Gospel | Week 2 | In this sermon, Darrell delves into the underlying reason for Paul’s joy as expressed in the opening chapter of his letter to the church at Philippi.

Despite his own imprisonment and news of conflict within the church, Paul is anything but discouraged or fearful. His unwavering confidence in the surety of God finishing the work that God started undergirds his joy and fuels his love and affection for the Philippians. Fully captivated by the gospel of Jesus Christ and fully convinced of God’s power to bring the “good work” that He began in his people to completion, Paul instructs his listeners to live boldly in light of the good news of Christ's salvation and the certainty of God’s activity.

For God only begins what He intends to perfect.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C. | September 14, 2014 | Philipians 1:1-9

Living as Citizens of the Land Called Gospel | Week 1 | In this first episode of our new series on Paul’s letter to the church in Phillipi, Darrell takes us into what we need to know in order to hear his word. Really hear - so as to join the group gathered in a living room in downtown Phillipi. As we listen to Paul’s message, we hear his chief reason for writing - to exhort us to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ (2:27). We hear a call to live lives which are self-evidently shaped by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Unpacking this exhortation, we can more clearly see an invitation in the text to deeper friendship with one another. It's a friendship that points us to the relationship that’s at the centre of everything - between Father Son and Spirit.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C. | September 7, 2014 | Philippians 1

A man resurrected from the dead? Really? How is it that we can believe what we read in the Gospels to be true - that Jesus really was raised from the dead?

21st-century skeptics find themselves in good company with people who first heard the Good News. And yet, within months, thousands of people throughout the Roman Empire came to believe that the news was true & their lives were renewed.

What happened between skepticism and faith?

In this sermon, Darrell teaches from Luke 24:1-11, taking us into the data offered in the New Testament. Through this exposition, we come to see that faith in the Jesus of Easter is a leap of faith, but it is not a leap in the dark.

The Way Church, Vancouver, B.C. | April 9, 2023 |Luke 24:1-11

Total darkness in the middle of the day, rocks splitting, graves opening, the curtain in the temple torn in two - what does it all mean?

In this Good Friday message, Darrell teaches from Matthew 27 on Jesus’ death. He explains how we can read all of this as a response to Jesus’ cry from the cross: “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”(46).

As we work through this passage, we come to see that Jesus suffers this abandonment in our place. Instead, the cry we hear from the cross is “Come - just as you are”. We find that the curtain has been torn and we sinners can press in to the presence of the Holy One through His sacrifice. Hallelujah!

Tenth Church, Vancouver, B.C. | April 7, 2023 |Matthew 27: 45-55

People In Sync | Week 9 | In this sermon, Darrell works through the eighth and final Beatitude of Jesus found in Matthew chapter 5. This beatitude addresses the “persecuted blessed.” To be in sync with Jesus and His kingdom means we can expect to be treated the way Jesus was treated. Followers of Jesus can anticipate opposition, even persecution because they crave right-relatedness with him. Darrell asks, “If the world system, secular or religious, could not handle Jesus doing his gospel - what’s going to happen to those who go carry this same message ?” This sermon closes with three words of encouragement in the face of persecution from Jesus, as he promises “theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C. | February 28, 2010 |Matthew 5:3-12

People In Sync | Week 8 | In the seventh beatitude — blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, invites us — ordinary, broken people, to become partners in his divine work of making shalom in the city. We are called to make a fresh commitment to our gospel vocation to be peace-makers, not just seekers, lovers, or keepers, but makers. As Darell expressed, Jesus bestowed on us incredible dignity to be peacemakers. 

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C. | February 21, 2010 |Matthew 5:3-12

People In Sync | Week 7 | In this episode, Darrell Johnson focuses on Jesus’ description of his kingdom people in Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Breaking the message into two sections around the text (pure in heart, see God), Darrell helps us understand that being pure in heart is not about perfection, but rather a fruit of the One who is purity coming to dwell in our hearts, enabling us to see Him in everything - the most beautiful sight.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C. | February 14, 2010 |Matthew 5:3-12

People In Sync | Week 6 | In this episode, Darrell Johnson explores what Jesus means when He says: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" (Matthew 5:7). As Darrell works through the text, he asks why mercy is a mark of those in whom the Kingdom dwells, what exactly is this mercy that Jesus blesses, and does this text suggest that we merit mercy by being merciful? Through this exposition, Darrell unpacks the significance of mercy in the journey of those who have been touched by Jesus and His good news. We come to understand that mercy deeply shapes who we become and our relationship with God.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C. | February 7, 2010 |Matthew 5:3-12

People In Sync | Week 5 | In this message, Darrel walks us through the fourth Beatitude in Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for Righteousness for they will be satisfied”. In this beatitude, Jesus enters into all our thirsts and restores in us a hunger for which we were created

When we come to Jesus he awakens an even deeper longing for him - all of our longings in the final analysis are longings for God. 

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C. | January 31, 2010 |Matthew 5:3-12

People In Sync | Week 4 | Blessed are the meek for they (and only they) shall inherit the earth… Really?

Darrell helps us understand the nature of this seemingly upside-down beatitude and its outrageous promise. Through the words of David in Psalm 37, the life of Moses, and the person of Jesus, we learn that meekness is not weakness or passivity but rather it is the true power that defines the coming Kingdom of God. How can anyone become truly meek? Only through the good news of the Meek One, Jesus Christ, taking hold of our hearts. How do we know the meek will inherit the earth? Because all things belong to the Meek One; He made the earth and delights to give it to His own, both now and forever.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C. | January 24, 2010 |Matthew 5:3-12

People In Sync | Week 3 | In part three of People in Sync, Darrell's sermon series on the beatitudes, he clarifies one of the more difficult statements made by Jesus, “Blessed are those who are mourning.” How can those in a state of mourning see themselves as fortunate? Darrell helpfully reframes these mourners as “God’s aching visionaries,” those who look to Christ and see what can be and grieve about what is. Not only does this beatitude permit us to grieve, but it reminds us that as we open ourselves up to grief, we find ourselves strangely comforted because God’s comfort is with us.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C. | January 17, 2010 |Matthew 5:3-12

People In Sync | Week 2 |Welcome back to the Darrell Johnson Podcast for Week 2 of our People in Sync series, where we journey through the Beatitudes. Today, we dive deep into Jesus' promise: "Blessed are those who are poor in spirit." Join Darrell as he unravels the essence of being poor in spirit and its profound connection to embracing the gospel. Is there a moment when our spirits can be rich? Let's explore these thought-provoking questions together in this enlightening episode.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C. | January 17, 2010 |Matthew 5:3-12

People In Sync | Week 1 | Welcome to a new series from Darrell, on Matthew 5:1-12 - commonly known as the Beatitudes. In this sermon, Darrell Johnson offers an introduction to the passage. Through five observations, Darrell helps the listener grapple with the seemingly upside-down nature of the eight Beatitude statements and reveals the portrait Jesus is painting of His “kingdom-embracing”, and “blessed-are” people. Warning; you may find that we are the ones living upside-down and Jesus is turning things right-side up! 

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C. | January 10, 2010 |Matthew 4:12-5:12 

On this special episode of the Darrell Johnson Podcast, we are sharing a recent interview that Darrell had with The Canadian Church Leaders Network (CCLN). In this episode, we join Jason, who leads CCLN, and Darrell as they explore themes like the art of preaching, going the distance in ministry and marriage, and Darrell’s thoughts on the ancient Ten Commandments’ continued relevance in a modern world. Throughout the entire conversation, there is one thread that continually emerges as vital: the pastor's job is to guide people toward abiding in Jesus. We hope this conversation serves you to that important end.

Canadian Church Leaders Network, Vancouver, B.C. | November 27, 2023

Christmas According to John | Week 3

In the final sermon of this Christmas series, Darrell continues his exposition of John 1 by making the case that our greatest need as humans is to see the glory of God. This deep human desire to behold glory is at the heart of John’s gospel and for John, the whole life of Jesus is one sustained manifestation of the glory of His Father.

In this way, the Christmas story is not only filled with great wonder but with the incredible manifestation of the glory of God in the infant Jesus.

As you listen, we hope, along with Darrell, that you are caught up in the great and glorious wonder of the incarnation, and we wish all of you a very merry Christmas.   

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C. | December 14, 2014 | John 1:1-18

Christmas According to John | Week 2

Darrell calls these opening verses of the Gospel of John an “overture,” because it not only sets the stage for what is to come but draws us step by step more deeply into an ever greater sense of wonder. He breaks down words and concepts like logos, bios, zoé, and cosmos to prove that Jesus is in fact the Life and the Light of the world, begotten not made and therefore God. 

Darrell expands Jesus’ claim that because we have seen Him, we have seen God:  because we have seen Jesus we have seen humanity, who we are, who we are supposed to be, and who, by grace, we can become.

He explains why even though the Light has come, the world is still in darkness, and ends on the triumphant note that the darkness can never overcome the everlasting light.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C. | December 7, 2014 | John 1:1-18

Christmas According to John | Week 1

The month of December can be a busy time of year in our modern world, yet it is during this Christmas season that the cultural spotlight shines on Jesus more than perhaps any other time of the year.

This Christmas, Darrell invites you to soak in the opening verses of the Gospel of John, a passage that takes us into the very heart of the Advent Christmas Season. Join Darrell as he takes us back before Bethlehem, to the very beginning.

For as we enter into this special time of year, we celebrate how the one who has existed for all eternity, the Divine Creator, has put on human flesh and come into the world so that we too might live toward God, in sync with the one who gives us life. 

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C. | November 30, 2014 | John 1:1-18

Listening To Jesus Pray For Us | Week 4 | In this final episode in our series on John 17, Darrell talks about the conversations that take place in sacred spaces. In the New Testament, we see many interactions between Jesus and the Father but the most clear and defining moments are here in John 17 and in Hebrews 1-2 where we witness God finally speaking to us about his Son. Both these scriptures open our eyes to see the deep affection, trust, and union between the Father and Son. And here, Darrell invites us to consider the sacred spaces in our own lives, where we also join in on this Divine conversation. This is Darrell in the final week of “Listening to Jesus Pray For Us.”

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | May 24, 2015 | John 17:1-26

Listening To Jesus Pray For Us | Week 3 | In part 3 of this 4 part series, Darrell proclaims that our invitation to listen to Jesus pray to His Father is an invitation into the very center of the universe. It is one thing to hear Jesus preach, but it is another thing to hear Jesus pray. And as he prays for us, he prays that we would be unified with Him and the Father. We are being invited to join in the intimate dance at the heart of the Trinity. In this sermon, Darrell helps us go deeper into understanding this inner life of the Trinity and what it means for us to be included in the mysterious oneness of the triune God. I’ll hand it off to Darrell to take us in.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | May 17, 2015 | John 17:1-26

Listening To Jesus Pray For Us | Week 2 | In part 2 of the series “Listening to Jesus Pray for Us,” Darrell highlights from John 17 how Jesus' deep desires for his disciples are revealed to us in this prayer. Jesus prays that we may know God, by knowing Him, the one God sent. He wants us to be set apart, by following His way in the world. Then ultimately, in Jesus’ own journey, he wants to be glorified so that the Father is glorified and that we may also be partakers in the glory of this Divine relationship. Here’s Darrell continuing in John 17.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | May 10, 2015 | John 17:1-26

Listening To Jesus Pray For Us | Week 1 | In this first episode of Darrell’s sermon series on John 17 called “Listening to Jesus Pray For Us," Darrell invites us to step into John’s gospel with him and listen to Jesus’ prayer to His Father. With the cross on the horizon, Jesus pours out his heart in the presence of his disciples. This passage provides a window for us into what Jesus prays, not just for the disciples, but also for us. This was the central request of the disciples, and here, in the intimacy of this moment, we too get to say: Jesus, teach us to pray.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | May 3, 2015 | John 17

Perhaps you’ve wondered how to relate to the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament, or whether or not these ancient words are even relevant for today. In this sermon Darrell speaks to these wonderings by explaining how the living God frees human beings to flourish by giving the Ten Commandments to protect and enhance our freedom. Darrell proposes that these commandments are a gift of grace, and they are enduring promises to humans from the Creator that tell us how we best function in the created order. While all fall short of this standard, Jesus frees us, not by discarding or watering-down the law, but by offering believers two things: pardon and power.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | September 10, 2017 | Exodus 20:1-7

Following Jesus Into His Sermon On The Mount | Week 15 | At the end of this fifteen part series Darrell asks us, “how are we to respond to the way the greatest preacher who ever lived ends the greatest sermon ever preached?” In this final section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus lays before us the crisis of decision that has been building throughout His message. What are we going to do with Him? Are we going to trust Him or not? And what does trusting Him really look like? Darrell helps us see that following Jesus and His way has always been the inherent design for being truly human. Jesus invites us into life… What is our response?

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | May 6, 2012 | Matthew 7:13-29

Following Jesus Into His Sermon On The Mount | Week 14 | In Matthew 7:1-12, Jesus sums up the whole of the Sermon on the Mount in one sentence. This one sentence has become widely known as the golden rule: “in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” In this sermon, Darrell suggests that in this clear, succinct, and brilliant little sentence, Jesus is identifying 3 ways that all of us wish to be treated and calling us to do the same in our relating to others. Then, by following this one little command, we become a new people.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | April 29, 2012 | Matthew 7:1-12

Following Jesus Into His Sermon On The Mount | Week 13 | Continuing from last week, in this sermon Darrel calls us to follow Jesus’ command to stop worrying and being anxious. This is not simply a suggestion, but a command. He explains that freedom from anxiety will only come from making wise decisions out of the three major movements of the heart that Jesus highlights within the text. The message is an exhortation that amid the chaos in the world around us, God cares for us more than all the birds and flowers–therefore we can trust him, and be at peace.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | April 22, 2012 | Matthew 6:19-34

Following Jesus Into His Sermon On The Mount | Week 12 | Join Darrell as he preaches one of his favorite texts—a favorite, he says, because it is a text he most needs to hear. And so do we. Anxiety is an epidemic in our time. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6 that worry is the dominant symptom of making unwise choices relative to three movements of the human heart: what we treasure, how we see life, and who or what our true Master is. Thankfully, Jesus the Preacher on the Mount, wades into our anxious thoughts and can answer our prayers.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | April 15, 2012 | Matthew 6:1-18

Following Jesus Into His Sermon On The Mount | Week 7 | In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses obviously critical issues like murder, anger, adultery, lust, marriage and remarriage. But what about when Jesus addresses his people about making oaths? How is this as big of an issue as murder or adultery? In this sermon, Darrell unpacks the problem of making oaths and why words matter to Jesus, especially words of promise.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | February 26, 2012 | Matthew 5:33-37

Following Jesus Into His Sermon On The Mount | Week 6 | This sermon is a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5. Focusing on verses 27 to 30, Darrell gives insight into the call for us to follow Jesus’ radical approach in crucifying the flesh which results in a better relationship with Him and with those around us.  Darrell reveals how lust relates to our deeper, more holy longings. And how in this teaching, Jesus is showing himself to be a protector of those very longings and the souls of the ones he loves.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | February 12, 2012 | Matthew 5:27-30

Following Jesus Into His Sermon On The Mount | Week 5 | In this message, Darrell unpacks Matthew 5:21-26 and Jesus’ teaching on anger. In it, he follows the thread from the Old Testament command of “you shall not murder,” all the way to the deep reservoir of anger within the human heart. Showing that just as murder is displeasing to God, damaging to relationships, and deserving of judgment, so too is the nursing of anger within our heart. The title of this message is “As Quickly As Possible” as Jesus exhorts his disciples to deal with anger in a speedy manner, revealing how our relationship with God is deeply intertwined with our relationships to one another.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | February 5, 2012 | Matthew 5:21-26

Following Jesus Into His Sermon On The Mount | Week 4 | At the heart of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is His bold Messianic claim that He has come to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. In this message, Darrell walks us through the ways in which Jesus fulfills this ancient Law with all its rules and requirements for righteousness, and illuminates how Jesus–as the perfect embodiment of this Law–reveals the intention and heart of God. Darrell also explores what it means for us to be invited to follow Christ into a new way of living, a way that restores our right-relatedness to God and to each other, a life for which we were created.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | January 29, 2012 | Matthew 5:17-20

Following Jesus Into His Sermon On The Mount | Week 3 | In this sermon, Darrell invites us to consider Jesus’ teaching on his beatitude people being the salt and light of the Earth. By using the two metaphors of salt and light, Jesus is revealing three things: his understanding of the world’s condition when left to itself, the role that His people are to play in the world, and the way His people are to fulfill this role. In a world that is filled with death and darkness, Jesus points to his followers in this sermon and in essence says “there is nothing more useful than you.”

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | January 22, 2012 | Matthew 5:1-16

Following Jesus Into His Sermon On The Mount | Week 2 | We want to be the kind of humans who Jesus calls “blessed.” In the introduction to this series, Darrell explained that we cannot separate The Sermon on the Mount from the Preacher on the Mount. As we look to and know the Preacher on the Mount, we better understand how to live out the Sermon on the Mount. We are called to be a part of the new humanity that images itself after Jesus, joining Him in the restoration of this Earth. The beatitudes point us to Jesus and to the promises that this new humanity will be worked into us and out of us - we need only follow Him.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | January 15, 2012 | Matthew 4:12-5:12

Following Jesus Into His Sermon On The Mount | Week 1 | This message is the start of a new series on the Sermon on the Mount, with the message Darrell fittingly named “The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached.” The Greatest Preacher who ever lived amazed the first hearers. He spoke with an authority never before demonstrated by even the most educated or articulate religious elite of that time. Before diving into the series, we are reminded that the Sermon on the Mount is powerless, unattainable, and merely a frustrating set of ideals if we separate it from The Preacher on the Mount - Jesus Christ. Who is He? Let us lean in and listen as Matthew paints a picture of our Lord and Saviour, leaving us forever changed as He draws us closer to Himself.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | January 8, 2012 | Matthew 5-7

This week, through looking at Jesus’ responses to those who wished to follow Him in Luke 9:57-62, Darrell shows us the true cost of making Jesus our Lord. He becomes the utmost authority over our lives, and His will precedes both our own desires and the demands our society and even our families place on us. We will be called to live by the standards of a heavenly kingdom and hold loose what we have on this earth, ready to follow Jesus no matter what. He becomes our true home, our ultimate source of security. How will we respond?

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | March 11, 2018 | Luke 9:57- 62

It was on a mountain, a high mountain, Jesus helps three disciples Peter, James and John discover the reason for living way down in the valley. In this sermon on the Transfiguration event in Matthew 17, Darrell works through three aspects of this mountain-top event, so that we too can discover the reasons for living down in the valley. As Jesus, the Son of Man, chooses the cross, takes the path of a Suffering Servant, we are called to take this paradoxical way of life and follow him. Knowing that Jesus alone is the healer, the redeemer, the revealer and the bringer of the kingdom, we must remain intimately attached to and deeply rooted in Jesus.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | February 11, 2018 | Matthew 17:1-8

Darrell’s opening question underlies this entire exposition of John 6:22-42 - why did Jesus come? Layer by layer the message reveals the transformative answer - Jesus came to invite us into eternal life. Eternal life that is more than a dimension beyond the grave, it is creative life, inexhaustible life, abundant life, radiant life, pure and purifying, love and joy that we enter into in Jesus right now - and for all eternity. This is why Jesus came.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | January 14, 2018 | John 6:22-42

Making Maturing Disciples of Christ | Week 9 | Darrell finishes this series in John 10, using the imagery of the shepherd and his intimate relationship with his sheep. He then invites us to see that although Jesus is not physically present, He is still with us and continues to speak to us and encourages his audience that it is possible to hear Jesus’ voice. Darrell concludes his message by identifying the means Jesus uses to communicate to His people and providing guidance on how to confidently discern Jesus’ voice amid all the lies, noise, and misleading voices vying for our attention and affection.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | June 30, 2013 | John 10: 1-30

Making Maturing Disciples of Christ | Week 8 | This week, Darrell dives deep into Apostle Paul’s exhortation in Galatians 5:16-18 to walk by the Spirit and how doing so means you won’t carry out the desires of the flesh. Walking by the Spirit means putting Jesus at the center of our lives and living our lives for Him and with Him. It is only through walking by the Spirit that we develop the fruits of Spirit and become more like Jesus. This act does not come naturally to us, so we must learn to be ruthless towards our sinful desires and work together with the Holy Spirit to put it to death. This is done through developing a rhythm of abstinence from the things of this world and taking time to engage with the Holy Spirit through spiritual practices.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | June 23, 2013 | Galatians 5:13-25

Making Maturing Disciples of Christ | Week 7 | This week, Darrell dives deep into Apostle Paul’s exhortation in Galatians 5:16-18 to walk by the Spirit and how doing so means you won’t carry out the desires of the flesh. Walking by the Spirit means putting Jesus at the center of our lives and living our lives for Him and with Him. It is only through walking by the Spirit that we develop the fruits of Spirit and become more like Jesus. This act does not come naturally to us, so we must learn to be ruthless towards our sinful desires and work together with the Holy Spirit to put it to death. This is done through developing a rhythm of abstinence from the things of this world and taking time to engage with the Holy Spirit through spiritual practices.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | June 16, 2013 | Galatians 3:1-3, 5:16-25; 6:7-8

Making Maturing Disciples of Christ | Week 6 | “Walk by the Spirit,” writes the apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians, urging followers of Jesus to surrender to the new way of Christ so that the old way– the way of the flesh– is put to death. In this message, Darrell explores this text that gets at the heart of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Our flesh, with all its warped desires, self-centredness, and earthly drives, resists the Spirit, but the Spirit has power to overcome the flesh and to form in us the very character traits of Christ. As we continue to walk by the Spirit, the Spirit bears fruit in our lives, displaying the life of Jesus in us, showing us to be His disciples. 

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | June 9, 2013 | Galatians 5:16

This message is from the Christmas Eve of 2016, and here Darrell preaches from Luke 2:10-12. The big idea Darrell drives home is the Christmas story is about more than a baby being born, but a new leader being born. Jesus Christ, the one who would form a new government that will truly administer justice, make peace and heal the hearts of people. And the big question we all have to answer in response to this great birth is “Where is this baby, this new leader, wanting to lead me?”

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | December 24, 2016 | Luke 2:10-12

Making Maturing Disciples of Christ | Week 5 | This week, Darrell speaks on Paul's letter to the Romans and how we are meant to be a living sacrifice to God. Jesus’ disciples didn't choose him, he was the one who chose the disciples, it was him who initiated and anointed them. Because Jesus chooses us, we must be a living sacrifice to the living God since the only thing we have to offer is our life to God. When we encounter this calling, it often comes with six factors that inform us on God's calling for us and how to best serve the Lord as a living sacrifice. Darrell breaks down these factors and what they might look like so that when they happen, we are encouraged to respond in obedience.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | May 26, 2013 | Romans 12:1-8

Making Maturing Disciples of Christ | Week 4 | It is a privilege to be a follower of Jesus, but the real question is, what does it take to grow up as a follower of Jesus? In Acts 2:37-47 Luke shows us the fellowship that developed amongst the crowd after the day of Pentecost and what they devoted themselves to. In this message, Darrell takes it a step further by breaking down the importance of their devotion and how it correlates to a fellowship with the triune God. A spirit-animated community that spends time in the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | May 12, 2013 | Acts 2:37-47

Making Maturing Disciples of Christ | Week 3 | Darrell invites us to do an exercise of renewing the mind by putting on three different lenses — western, eastern, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. We see different realities through these three sets of lenses. As Jesus called us to come, and follow him, we are invited to put on the gospel glasses every day, in every situation. Through this set of glasses, we see a Person in the center of reality. A living Person — Crucified and Risen, offering us Himself, making all things new. Through the gospel glasses, the rest of reality also comes into focus. We see that our lives have meaning - that each one of us has been uniquely gifted to participate in the life of God and His mission in the world.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | May 5, 2013 | Romans 12:1-8

Making Maturing Disciples of Christ | Week 2 | As we listen to the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:1-8, we hear about the unspeakable privilege that Jesus is giving us, to come, participate in serving the world through his Body. Darrell Johnson uses the term “hard-wired” to express and live-out a participation in the life of the Triune God. Each of us has been graced to participate in a unique way. We in the Body of Christ cannot operate alone, we must work together. Darrell unpacks the seven gifts or “wirings” in a practical, helpful way, encouraging us to exercise our gifts as an expression of one of the key functions of a maturing  disciple of Jesus Christ.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | April 28, 2013 | Romans 12:1-8

Making Maturing Disciples of Christ | Week 1 | In this introductory message to a series on discipleship, Darrell cracks open the question of how a follower of Jesus Christ is meant to function in the real world. At the heart of this ‘real world’ is the audacious truth that “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to [Jesus].” To truly live in this Real World as His disciple is an ongoing, intentional formation process by which we learn to know as Jesus knows, believe as Jesus believes, and trust as Jesus trusts. As we stay connected to Jesus through His Word, through prayer, community, service, and other practices that help us spiritually grow, we mature as His disciples and become more and more like the One we follow.

First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | April 14, 2013 | Matthew 28:16; Ephesians 4:11; Colossians 1:28

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