Beltway Weekend Services (audio)

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 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"

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).

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 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"

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 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"

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 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"

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 o

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

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 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"

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

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 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠⁠"

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

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

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 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠"

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 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠"

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 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠⁠"

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

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 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "⁠⁠Beltway Park Church⁠⁠"

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 ac