Beltway Weekend Services (audio)

Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, as seen in Matthew 5:13-16. In a world that is desperate for hope and direction, this passage reminds us of our vital role in bringing God's light into dark places. Yet, as Christians, it’s all too easy to lose sight of our identity and purpose as salt and light. We may become inward-focused, retreating from the very world we are called to influence. That’s why it’s crucial for us to be intentional, to pre-decide that we will influence those around us for Christ and reflect His love in every opportunity. Sermon from October 6, 2024 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"

Faithfulness starts with a decision: I will be faithful 100%. Though it comes with difficulty and a price, faithfulness is worth it. Faithfulness means we pre-decide to trust God (and not ourselves) and aim to see every interaction as an opportunity to add value, every resource as an opportunity to multiply, and every prompting as an opportunity to obey God. Stepping out in these areas requires risk but faithfulness honors God, and God honors faithfulness. Pre-decide today to be good soil: to listen to God's Word, accept it and walk in faithful obedience. Sermon from September 29, 2024 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"

If God is not first in your life, nothing else will work right. If we are not careful, we can slip into a mode of being a part-time follower of Jesus instead of faithfully and passionately pursuing Him with whole-hearted devotion. That devotion does not accidentally happen; we will never inadvertently get close to Jesus. We must choose to think ahead and pre-decide to seek Him first. When we do pursue Him, it begins to affect what we think about, how we spend our money, how we make decisions, and how we spend our time. Our hearts will begin to break for the things that break His heart. When we are devoted to Jesus with everything we have, He empowers us to minimize distractions and to live out our love and faith through our connection with Jesus. We are intentional in spending time with Jesus by establishing a clear time, place, and plan to be with Him. Sermon from September 22, 2024 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park C

We are more sinful than we think we are. And we are not as strong as we think we are in resisting temptation. Because our willpower against temptation will wane and wear out, we must pre-decide to move the line farther away from sin. We must magnify the cost of giving in to temptation, so that sin loses its luster. And we must map our escape, so that if we are hit with temptation, we know exactly what we will do; God always provides a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13). Why resist temptation tomorrow if you have the power to eliminate it today? No one plans to significantly damage their life through sin, but it happens all the time. The problem is that we rarely plan to not sin. Sermon from September 15, 2024 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"

Sermon from September 8, 2024

Teaching pastor, Geoffrey Turner, wraps up the Overcoming Discouragement series by teaching us that in the Lord, our labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58. It’s easy to look upon someone else’s reward and see the good without the difficulty. But the reality is, there is no reward without difficulty and sometimes discouragement. We have a Heavenly Father that wants to reward those that seek Him! Hebrews 11:6 and Galatians 6:9. Jesus tells us to be steadfast, immovable, and faithful to what God calls us to do. In due season, we will reap from what we have sown into. Jesus left the disciples by encouraging them not to give up in doing good for as believers, we have the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, helps us learn, empowers us, and gives us strength! Sermon from September 1, 2024 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"

Pastor David McQueen speaks to how Jesus is currently preparing a place in heaven for those that are anticipating His return, to bring us home to be with Him for all eternity, John 14:1-7. But we should not think of eternity as boring by any stretch of the imagination. Heaven is reigning with the Lord and reigning means we will reign over, we will work, and that work will be significant, that of royalty. All that is fulfilling in work will be ours, and all that is problematic will be gone because the curse is removed. Heaven is home! Heaven is release from pain, death, and sadness. Heaven is all things renewed. It is reunion! 1 Corinthians 2:9 “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” How encouraging it is to know that Jesus is preparing a place for His believers and longing to come and bring us home! Sermon from August 25, 2024 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Pa

Teaching Pastor Geoffrey Turner speaks of the Hope of Heaven within our Overcoming Discouragement series. He breaks down Revelation 21:1-8 and highlights how heaven is revitalization. Revelation, written by John, speaks to a new heaven and a new earth. Currently, we’re living on the old earth and those in heaven are in the old heaven. When Jesus returns, He’ll usher in the new heaven and the new earth. We’ll be given similar, but new bodies. We will live in true and complete healing, in all aspects. We will see our loved ones that have passed before us, that were in Christ, and it will be a glorious homecoming. Heaven will no longer be a place we see dimly, but one we’ll experience face to face. Another way we overcome discouragement is by living in the hope of heaven! Sermon from August 18, 2024

The second sermon within the Overcoming Discouragement series, Pastor David McQueen shares encouragement by knowing Hell is Defeated! During Jesus’ ministry, He spoke on hell at least 33 times. We know that because of sin, every human is destined for hell, a forever place of torment where people pay for their sins apart from God. But John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish (spend eternity in hell) but have eternal life. Jesus paid the price for sin; He went into the grave – the same grave that would forever separate every human from God – and He rose victorious!! And now, every human, no matter what they have done can be forgiven, restored, and freed from hell by surrendering their life to be a follower of Jesus!! Sermon from August 11, 2024

Teaching pastor Geoffrey Turner introduces a new sermon series, Overcoming Discouragement. He points out how we often have a focus problem, where we focus on the wrong thing, the “problem” or area of concern. Rather we should have an eternal focus that can transform our present reality. Paul’s letter to the people of Corinth spoke of the discouragement they were in. Paul encourages them not to lose heart nor keep their focus not on the things seen, but to focus on the eternal things unseen. Discouragement will always come for us as we focus on things that will be wasted away instead of on eternity. We must set our minds on the eternal, as focusing on the eternal encourages us! Sermon from August 4, 2024 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"

Pastor David McQueen wraps up the sermon series over the Book of James and discusses how community is a nonnegotiable necessity for an abundant life. James, half-brother to Jesus, encourages us to persevere to the end so we may become mature and lacking nothing. At the end of his letter, James tells us one final facet for a life that lives more and more in abundance, that community is nonnegotiable. God designed us for community. We’re to encourage, speak truth, and help each other take our next steps with Jesus in love. Sermon from July 28, 2024

Teaching pastor Geoffrey Turner speaks on the power of prayer and looks at what the book of James has to say about our prayer life. Prayer often plays a relatively small role in our lives and it’s easy to underestimate the importance of prayer and its potential impact on our daily lives. James 5:13-18 gives us a big overview of the importance of prayer in every season. When we pray, we are to pray in faith, knowing God is able and will move! He may not answer as we expect, but He will move. Prayer is powerful and we’re to make it a habit, our first go to, in every circumstance. Have faith God will move! Remember what He has done and be confident in what He will do. Sermon from July 21, 2024 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"

Pastor David McQueen continues through the book of James, breaking down James 5:7-11 over patience in suffering. James, brother to Jesus, tells us to wait like the farmer for the precious fruit of the earth, begin patient about it. The Father wants everyone to reap a harvest of precious fruit with our lives. God is bringing about the harvest, but facets of that harvest happen over time. It is why the apostle Paul implored us in Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” But patience doesn’t mean being passive, we are to warn, encourage, help, and serve. Biblical patience is radically loving people so they can obtain God’s harvest in their lives. Biblical patience is radically pursuing God and obeying Him, trusting He will bring the harvest at the appropriate time. Sermon from July 14, 2024 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Geoffrey Turner challenges us to look carefully at how we are walking and to seize the day. When the apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he told them to “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-17. We don’t want to look up and wonder where the time went, wondering how we spent it. James 4:13-17 navigates the truth that time is fleeting and we’re to seize the day. We shouldn’t get caught up in looking into the future, as tomorrow is not promised to us. James explores us to shift our perspective, asking us to think about eternity. When we do so, our past and future are just a vapor. Rather than looking at our days with responsibility, we should look at them as opportunities for Kingdom work. If we are seeking first the Kingdom, God will provide for our needs, we don’t need to be anxious or worry about anything. When we keep our eyes and minds on eternity, it changes the way we live in the here and now, because ever

Geoffrey Turner discusses healthy conflict. Conflict is inevitable. We often experience conflict in unhealthy and negative ways by withdrawing, escalating, negatively interpreting, or invalidating. Proverbs 18 speaks a lot on conflict. While conflict is inevitable, unhealthy conflict is avoidable. Paul says in Romans 12:18 “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Not only is unhealthy conflict avoidable, but healthy conflict is attainable!  In James 4:1-5, James highlights how we have conflict because we don’t get what we want. Healthy conflict is largely determined by our reaction to these unmet expectations through deliberate effort and grace. Healthy conflict requires humility, a life submitted to the Lord where we draw near to Him. Sermon from June 30, 2024 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"

David McQueen shares how we can be confident and secure in SAVING faith! The crux of Christianity is wrapped up in one word: Save (Luke 19:10). Different from Paul writing about faith from God’s perspective, the book of James, written by the half-brother to Jesus, addresses faith from a human perspective. James 2:17-19 tells us how faith without works is dead… for even the demons believe and shudder. James and Matthew warn us that one of the ways the enemy keeps people from being saved is to convince them they have faith when they really don’t. Jesus says that faith that saves doesn’t just say the right words, give intellectual assent to right doctrine, but does the will of my Father in heaven. The evidence of saving faith is in the growing fruit, the surrender and obedience to the Lord! Sermon from June 23, 2024 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"

We all consciously or unconsciously form opinions about people based on surface level attributes. However, partiality opposes the gospel and blocks its spread. James 2:1-13 reminds us to avoid favoritism based on superficial aspects and extend mercy to others. Let's strive to see those around us through the lens of mercy and grace, just as God does. As believers, our actions should never push others away from knowing that Jesus died for them. When we view people the way the Father views them, the gospel advances. Sermon from June 16, 2024 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"

Words wield a power greater than we can imagine. In verse 8, James tells us that no human can tame the tongue. But in Luke 18:27, Jesus tells us what is impossible with men is possible with God! Jesus came to do for us and in us what we cannot do ourselves – including taming the untamable. By surrendering our words to Jesus, we have power to be silent or the power to speak life! Sermon from June 9, 2024 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"

James 1:19 tells us to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. James wants us to know to be quick to hear, not just to hear. Hearing is an active process, not a passive action. Being quick to hear changes our relationship with God and with others. We miss out on the life God has for us when we don’t hear Him. We cannot truly walk in relationship with the Father without hearing His voice. Being intentional to provide space to hear from Him in prayer time, sitting still before the Lord, meditating on His Word, listening to how He speaks through others, are some ways in which we can position ourselves to hear. Learning to hear, reshapes how we live! Sermon from June 2, 2024 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"

Everyone is tempted by something. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 tells us that no one is immune to temptation. But it also tells us that God is faithful, He will not let us be tempted beyond our ability and He will always provide a way of escape. James 1:14-17 also tells us that we are all tempted by our own desires. Desire however, is not the problem. How we choose to fulfill those desires can be. Satisfying our desires outside of the Lord will lead us on a path to death. James 4:7 tells us we overcome temptation by first submitting ourselves to the Father and His Lordship in our lives, then we have the power to fight back and resist the enemy. Don’t wait for temptation to come knocking on the door, know what lures you in and be proactive in resisting the enemy! Sermon from May 26, 2024 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"