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 J…

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 Go…

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 cir…

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 menta…

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,…

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 …

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…

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…

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 …

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 l…

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 …

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 spirit…

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 no…

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 22:24-2…

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,…

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 ot…

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 Kin…

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. …

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…

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…

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…

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 …

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 de…

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 ag…

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 hav…

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 s…

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. …

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 …

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…

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 Jes…

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 …

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 youwherever you go.” Often, we make decisions based on a risk-reward analysis, from financial decisions to…

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 pros…

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 tim…

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 emphasize…

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, whe…

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. Be…

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 …

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 circumst…

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, …

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 Jes…

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 …

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 …

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 H…

Sermon from June 4, 2023 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "Beltway Park Church"

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…

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; J…

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 Heav…

Followers of Jesus are called to no longer steal but to work hard for God’s glory (Ephesians 4:28). If we have given our lives to Jesus, we are engaged in a spiritual battle to put off the old self and to put on the new self, to think and act differently from the world around us. Part of putting off the old self means we should no longer steal. We …

God-like purity is seen through the way we use words (Ephesians 4:29). The Bible is clear: God is holy and is like no other. In particular, God is like no other inpurity. Putting off the old self and putting on the new self (Ephesians 4:22-24) means becoming like God in purity. Such purity is intimately connected with our words because what we spea…