Beltway Weekend Services (audio)

Jesus died that we might live in joy (Hebrews 12:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:16). This truth shouts to us in some of the unusual, lesser-known details – the Easter eggs – of Jesus’ crucifixion. One such Easter egg is that God chose to make the world completely dark the last three hours that Jesus was on the cross (Matthew 27:45). In His last moments, Jesus identifies with the darkness we all feel. As He cries out and yields up His spirit, the earth shakes, saints come out of their graves, the curtain in the temple is torn, and instantly light returns. That light was the eradication of the effects of sin and darkness. And that last shout or cry of Jesus may have been not a cry of despair or anguish but a shout of joy (Hebrews 12:2). Another Easter egg is the tearing of the veil in the temple (Matthew 27:51). God tore the veil, which separated humans from the presence of God in the most holy place in the temple, so that we could come freely and boldly into His presence (Hebrews 10:19-22). All these things that took pl

We are better when we grow together (Ephesians 4:13-16). We miss out on true growth – on the abundant life God has for us – when we attempt to navigate our faith journey alone. Maturing as a follower of Jesus is intricately tied to unity in our relationships with other followers of Jesus, to walking in healthy partnership with other believers. Just as Adam needed a helper in the garden of Eden, Jesus as the perfect son of God chose to surround Himself with twelve imperfect men in day-to- day community and fellowship. As Christians, we are each part of a body and are designed to live in collective healthiness as each part fulfills their intended roles and responsibilities. Unhealthiness arises when believers either walk in disunity or do not know their specific part or role. When we function as a healthy body, with each part fulfilling their distinct calling and destiny, the gospel of Jesus and His kingdom advances and lives are transformed. Sermon from March 19, 2023 To watch this sermon or other sermons, sub

Living for Jesus means living in unity (Ephesians 4:1-6). Unity is not based on who we are or what we do, nor is it based on a code, cause, political platform, or preference. Unity is based on the salvation we have received through Jesus, that we bear His name and are a part of His family. And because of this reality, unity is not something we create. It is something we maintain and guard so that we do not lose it. And unity is not uniformity, nor is it an enemy of diversity. Rather, unity in Christ celebrates our differences, and it welcomes all regardless of their background, abilities, giftings, or history. He is the unity in our diversity. Unity fights against selfishness and is protected by humility, gentleness, patience, and loving endurance. The world will know that we are Jesus followers by our love for one another and our unity. Sermon from March 12, 2023 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "Beltway Park Church"

We are called to practice gratitude in every situation (Colossians 3:17; Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18). Gratitude has a distinct, positive impact on our relationships, as well as our physical and mental health. It enhances empathy, reduces aggression, improves self-esteem, and leads to better sleep. But gratitude does not happen naturally. It must be purposed and practiced. That is why Psalm 107:2 tells us to let the redeemed of the LORD say so. There is power in verbalizing our gratitude to our Heavenly Father, friends, family, and co-workers.  Sermon from March 5, 2023 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "Beltway Park Church"

While politics are important, they are not of first importance (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:20). When we become followers of Jesus, we give our primary allegiance to the kingdom of God and become ambassadors of that kingdom. Our first concern must be people meeting Jesus and experiencing a transformation of heart through Him. Unfortunately, politics and laws cannot resolve the issue of sin and our need for a savior. This does not mean that politics are unimportant. We should continually vote for righteousness with grace, kindness, and respect. We should contend for righteous laws that bless as many people as possible – believers and non-believers in Jesus – without trying to make people Christians through legal means. In this pursuit, Christians will not always agree on political matters. We can be unified on the centrality of Jesus and His kingdom and disagree over political philosophies and strategies. When there is disagreement, we must model the heart of God’s kingdom by loving those with whom w

Flee sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:9-20). God created sex to bond the body, soul, and spirit of a man and woman together within a marriage relationship. Sex is a tool designed to help two become one (Ephesians 5:31). Anything outside of this design and purpose is sexual immorality and causes tremendous harm and damage on countless levels. Though not an exhaustive list, throupling, homosexuality, swinging, open marriages, pornography, lust, and adultery are all forms of sexual immorality that will never satisfy the longings of our heart and soul. Only Jesus, and drawing near to Him, will bring the satisfaction we desire deep within. Thankfully, Jesus forgives and redeems us from all forms of sexual sin if we give our lives to Him. What He accomplished on the cross is greater than any of our sins, and in Him we can experience freedom and healing. Sermon from February 19, 2023 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "Beltway Park Church"

God created sex within marriage to be amazing and enjoyable (Genesis 2:20-25). He is pro-sex, having established that a man and woman, in marriage, are to leave their parents and become one flesh with each other. Beyond just procreation, God desires that sex be life-giving and fully satisfying (Song of Solomon 4:12-16, 7:7-8), that we should be intoxicated with love for one another (Proverbs 5:16-19). The key to this kind of sexual relationship – that is physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual – is submitting ourselves to our spouse (Ephesians 5:22-29). When it comes to sex, the primary focus of a married couple should be on their spouse and what they need or desire. They should aim to outdo one another in showing love and honor in the ways their spouse best receives it (Romans 12:10). Sermon from February 12, 2023 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "Beltway Park Church"

Jesus accepted people without affirming the sins in their lives (Luke 19:5-8). He led with grace without compromising truth (John 1:14), especially when approaching difficult topics like gender identity. Engaging this issue requires us to understand that every individual is born with a sinful nature which manifests itself differently in every person. And it is important to note that an inclination or tendency towards a particular behavior does not necessarily make it morally right or wrong. We must go to the Bible to see if it addresses the matter, to see if it defines what is God’s intended design versus what is sinful. On the issue of gender identity, the Bible establishes two genders: male and female (Genesis 1:27). It does not consider sex and gender to be two separate aspects of a person, and it consistently prohibits crossing gender boundaries. The Bible also makes it clear that Jesus came to free everyone from deception, confusion, and sin no matter how it affects our lives. Sermon from February 5, 202

We contend for all life. When it comes to difficult and weighty issues of our day, like abortion, we must look to Jesus as our example. He was full of grace and truth, accepting people without affirming the sins in their lives (John 1:14; 8:5-11). He showed people their worth and value while also offering them opportunity to change. This is a model for how the church should respond to those who have chosen or experienced abortion. When it comes to the unborn, scripture sees those in utero as no different from babies who have already been born. The being in the womb, according to the Bible, is a defenseless human person of great value and potential. And because the enemy is out to destroy every life, abortion not only robs life from the unborn but also robs life from the parents as well. Thank God that He offers forgiveness, healing, and freedom. There is no condemnation in Jesus (Romans 8:1). Instead, He graciously heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3). Sermon from January 29, 2023 T

Do you want a refill of God’s Spirit (Ephesians 5:15-18). Every person, regardless of their ethnicity or background, desires hope, joy, and satisfaction. Unfortunately, many seek to find that satisfaction – and to escape the pain and challenges of reality – in excessive alcohol, mind-altering drugs, unbridled materialism, and/or sexuality without boundaries. God is gently yet clearly telling us that there is a better way to deal with the difficulties of living in our fallen, evil world: being continually filled with His Spirit. When we are continually filled with the Spirit, we are empowered to become like Jesus, to embrace His truth, and live out His purposes for our lives. We position ourselves to be continually filled by the Holy Spirit when we step into encouraging community, engage in worship, practice exaggerated thanksgiving, and audaciously serve others.

We can – and should – understand what the will of God is for our lives (Ephesians 5:15-17). His will always leads to what is best. The providential will of God refers to the things that He has determined to do no matter what. The moral will of God refers to the commands in His Word that we can freely choose to obey or disobey. And the personal will of God are the unique things the Father wants to do in our individual lives. The more we surrender to the providential will of God, and the more obedient we are to His moral will, the easier it is to hear the personal will of God for our lives. Our understanding and alignment with His will is directly proportional to how much we reject the patterns of this world, are transformed by the renewing of our minds (which comes through His Word) and foster a deeper relationship with Him Sermon from January 15, 2023 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "Beltway Park Church"

Fuel the fire of your faith (Ephesians 5:15-16). With so many things and people vying for our time and attention, it is incredibly easy to become distracted and unfocused. If we are not careful in how we live – being sober-minded and wise in our choices – we give opportunity to the enemy to keep us from God’s best. Our Heavenly Father longs for us to have the best He designed for us, but we must choose to embrace Him and His ways. One of the wisest choices we can make to step into God’s best for us is to fan into flame a passion for Him and His presence. God is passionate, and He calls us to never be lacking in our own zeal (Isaiah 9:6-7; Romans 12:11). Passion is not optional for the Christian journey but instead empowers us to choose God’s best for our lives.

Happy New Year!  Sermon from January 1, 2023

Worship is when we treasure Jesus above all (Luke 2:19, 51). Mary, the mother of Jesus, was as ordinary as any of us. She was mostly likely an inexperienced teenager from a family of little means or wealth. She was not from an important city nor was she exceptional in school or in a particular craft or trade. Most likely she could not read or write. Yet, when she is visited by the angel Gabriel and told that she would be the mother of Jesus (the Messiah), her response is extraordinary, “…I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Her response has to do with one word: treasure. Mary had allowed the greatness of God and His heart for humanity to so capture her heart that she treasured Jesus above all. Like Mary, we are called to treasure Jesus in word and deed above all, to orient our lives around Him. This is what it means to extravagantly worship Him. Sermon from December 18, 2022 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "Beltway Park Church"

Extravagant obedience leads to abundant life (Luke 2:41-52). When Jesus is twelve years old, His parents (Joseph and Mary) accidentally leave Him in Jerusalem as they head back to their hometown of Nazareth. Once they realize that Jesus is not with them, they return to Jerusalem and eventually find Him in the temple sitting and talking with the teachers. Though fully God and fully man with exceptional insight beyond his age, Jesus chooses to model obedience to His parents and returns with them to Nazareth. And because of His obedience, He increases in wisdom and favor with God and man. The same principle applies to us: our obedience to God leads us to the life we truly desire. Our obedience to Him shows that we love Him and trust the grandeur of His heart. Sermon from December 11, 2022 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "Beltway Park Church"

Nothing is more extravagant than God’s heart for us (John 1:1-3). In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth because He wanted to love us. In His all-sufficiency, glory, and goodness, He had no need to create. But He desired for us to experience His love, and to freely choose to love Him in return. The critical question is this: why did God, in all His perfection and holiness, enter our messy, sinful, chaotic world? The motive of His extravagant heart and love defies all logic and beckons us to place of deep reflection, meditation, and prayer. God wants us to know profoundly the height, width, breadth, and depth of His immeasurable love. Sermon from December 4, 2022 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "Beltway Park Church"

Jesus will always show up just in time (Genesis 22:1-18). The difficulties we face are tests and opportunities for us to fully trust the goodness and provision of God. Our trust and obedience to God amid our struggles produces steadfastness and maturity in us. Just as Jesus – the angel of the LORD – appears to Abraham right as Abraham is about to sacrifice his son Isaac, Jesus will always appear and come through for us in His perfect timing. Though it seemed like a complete contradiction that God was asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac after God promised Abraham to make him the father of many, Abraham trusted and obeyed. He had seen the faithfulness of God before, knew that God was trustworthy, and understood that delayed obedience leads to delayed provision. God was already working and providing for Abraham, and He is still working and providing for us, even when we do not see it. Sermon from November 27, 2022 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "Beltway Park Church"

Jesus longs for us to mature so He can bless us (Genesis 32:22-32). Though God blesses humanity in countless ways just because of who He is, the blessings that satisfy the deeper longings of our hearts (e.g. for peace, joy, confidence, etc.) must be wrestled for. Just as Jacob wrestled Jesus – in what Biblical scholars call an Old Testament Christophany – and received His blessing, the way we wrestle for blessing is by living in obedience, by knowing and living out the ways of God. The greatest blessings from God do not always lead to immediate ease, comfort, or convenience. Instead, the greatest blessings come when we can experience the presence of God, see His face, and know Him profoundly within our hearts. Sermon from November 20, 2022 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "Beltway Park Church"

Jesus never quits on anyone (Exodus 3:1-14). Our failures, mistakes, and weaknesses are not greater than He is. He is the LORD – Yahweh or Yehovah – and His name is the answer to every question, the solution to every problem, and the fulfillment of every longing or desire deep within us. He is our strength when we are weak, and He calms every fear. He seals every prayer and wins every battle. At His name, angels bow, demons quake, our sin is vindicated, and our authority is validated. Jesus never quits on anyone because He knows He can overcome anything we may be facing. That is why He is the God of second chances. Sermon from November 13, 2022 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "Beltway Park Church"

Seasons are inevitable and are for our benefit (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11). According to King Solomon, there is a time for everything under the heavens. And each season, regardless of how amazing or how difficult it may be, has meaning and purpose in God’s eyes. He desires that we see Him moving and working in this season, and that we receive all that He has for us in preparation for the next season we are stepping into. Sermon from November 6, 2022 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "Beltway Park Church"