Confronting the Racism in Our Hearts
Racism is a problem in our country today. Even with all of the progress we have made as a country, there is still a deep-seated mistrust of people who are unlike us. The reality is that racism has always existed, and will always exist in this world. It is a result of sin. We all have a sin nature. It is sometimes easier to get outraged against racism outwardly than to examine ourselves inwardly and make real changes. In Ephesians 2:11-22 we are reminded that God didn't send Jesus to just one group of people, He sent Jesus to the entire world. As Christians we are called not just to stand against racism in our country, but to stand against racism in our own hearts. We are called to be people of reconciliation. When we focus on being reconciled to God and Man we can bring reconciliation through Christ.
This message was presented at FBCVA on August 13, 2017.
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- Aug 16, 2017Confronting the Racism in Our HeartsConfronting the Racism in Our HeartsRacism is a problem in our country today. Even with all of the progress we have made as a country, there is still a deep-seated mistrust of people who are unlike us. The reality is that racism has always existed, and will always exist in this world. It is a result of sin. We all have a sin nature. It is sometimes easier to get outraged against racism outwardly than to examine ourselves inwardly and make real changes. In Ephesians 2:11-22 we are reminded that God didn't send Jesus to just one group of people, He sent Jesus to the entire world. As Christians we are called not just to stand against racism in our country, but to stand against racism in our own hearts. We are called to be people of reconciliation. When we focus on being reconciled to God and Man we can bring reconciliation through Christ.This message was presented at FBCVA on August 13, 2017.
- Aug 7, 2017Ahithophel: The Good, the Bad and the UglyAhithophel: The Good, the Bad and the UglyThere are many well-known people in the Bible, but there are also many who are not as well-known. But even though we may not remember their names, there is still much we can learn from them.In this stand-alone message, Pastor Mike looks at the story of Ahithophel as recorded in 2 Samuel 16 & 17 - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Wise counsel described Ahithophel's life, but there was a bitterness that defiled his life. In the end, a bad legacy defined his life. There are three things that stand out in this story: a good start doesn't guarantee a good finish, earthly accolades don't guarantee eternal rewards, and the legacy we leave is determined by the legacy that we live.This message was presented at FBCVA on August 6, 2017.
- Aug 2, 2017Do Not Keep It to YourselvesDo Not Keep It to YourselvesMany churches today are not teaching the Bible. As a result there are many people who do not know basic truths about God. Even among people who profess to be born-again Christians, there are many who do not know much about their faith beyond how to be saved. Psalm 78 addressed a similar problem among the Israelites. They had forgotten what God had done through out their history - the very things God told them to remember and to teach to their children.In this message, Kyle Essary walks through Psalm 78:1-8 to show what we are to pass on to future generations and why we are to pass it on. He also reminds us that it all starts at home, and continues at church.This message was presented at FBCVA on July 30, 2017.
- Jul 24, 2017Faith Works: Life SaversFaith Works: Life SaversThe last two verses of James are a fitting closing because they express what James has been teaching throughout his letter. There will be people who outwardly name the name of Jesus, but inwardly have no faith. They may do wonderful things in His name, but they don't really know him. They have the appearance of godliness, but there has been no inner transformation. They are hearers of the Word, but not doers. James wants to be sure no one is deceiving themselves concerning their salvation.In this final message from the Faith Works series, Pastor Mike unpacks James 5:19-20. He shows us characteristics of a false faith, the reality of the situation, the identity of the life savers, and the ultimate goal.This message was presented at FBCVA on July 23, 2017.
- Jul 17, 2017Faith Works: Suffering? Pray!Faith Works: Suffering? Pray!James 5:13-18 has been used a a proof passage for faith healing as well as a belief that sickness is caused by sin. But as Pastor Mike points out in this message from the Faith Works series, this passage is more about prayer than healing. That isn't to say that God doesn't miraculously heal people as a result of prayer. But in this passage we see church leaders, individuals, and the congregation all encouraged to pray. There are four words that describe the result of prayer: Comfort, Restoration, Fellowship, and Power.This message was presented at FBCVA on July 16, 2017.
- Jul 10, 2017Faith Works: Doing Right When You’ve Been Done WrongFaith Works: Doing Right When You’ve Been Done WrongWhen was the last time that you were mistreated? Maybe it came in the form of a promise that was not kept. Maybe you were promised something that you didn't get. Maybe it came in the form of someone who treated you badly in some way. Maybe you were taken advantage of. All of us at one time or another or in some way or another have felt mistreated.The believers that are being addressed in James 5:7-12 may have felt this way. They were being taken advantage of in the workplace. They were being persecuted in the world. As Pastor Mike unpacks this passage, we learn that when we feel mistreated we should look upward and be calm, look inward and be clean, and look backward and be challenged.This message was presented at FBCVA on July 9, 2017.
- Jul 3, 2017Faith Works: Money TalksFaith Works: Money TalksOur view of money and material possessions changes as we mature. We begin to understand the value of things. Many even believe that their success is determined by the quantity and quality of their wealth and possessions. James 5:1-6 addresses those who put their trust in their possessions. In this passage, their misery is revealed and their motives are rebuked. You may not have the wealth of the truly wealthy, but you can still have the attitude. Genuine faith is demonstrated by how we value our wealth and possessions.This message was presented at FBCVA on July 2, 2017.
- Jun 26, 2017Faith Works: The Perils of Playing GodFaith Works: The Perils of Playing GodAccording to James 4:13-17, we must be careful when making plans for the future. The Bible tells us that there is wisdom in planning. But James makes it very clear that it is easy to factor God out of the everyday decisions of our lives. We want to involve God in the big decisions. We want to call on Him when we are in trouble, but we don't give Him any thought until we need Him. We treat Him like a genie in a bottle. Sometimes we even think we can advise God on what His plans for our lives should be.Any plans we make need to take three things into account:1. We have no idea what the future will bring.2. We have no assurance of a long life.3. We have no right to ignore God's will for our lives.This message was presented at FBCVA on June 25, 2017.
- Jun 19, 2017Faith Works: Wisdom and FriendshipFaith Works: Wisdom and FriendshipJames is intensely practical in his writing. James cuts to the chase and separates those who are merely "professors" of the faith and those who are "possessors" of faith. It's not enough to say you have faith if that faith isn't authenticated in how you live your life. A genuine saving faith is revealed in our works, in our words, and in our wisdom. In James 3:13-4:12, James contrasts two ways of living - one based on the wisdom of the world, and one based on the wisdom of God.In this message, Pastor Mike looks at two kinds of wisdom, two kinds of friendship, and two kinds of speech.This message was presented at FBCVA on June 18, 2017.
- Jun 12, 2017Faith Works: Taming the TongueFaith Works: Taming the TongueThe average person spends about one-fifth of their life talking. In fact, if all of our spoken words were put into print, we would each fill a 50-page book in one day. Since we use words so often, it makes sense that god's Word would contain instructions about how to use them. The book of James tells us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Our culture has flipped this principle around. We are all too quick to speak and voice our opinions.In this message from the Faith Works series, Jace Williamson, FBCVA Student Pastor, looks at James 3:1-12 to show that our words are powerful, and they reveal our true self. If you can control your tongue, you can control yourself.This message was presented at FBCVA on June 11, 2017.
