- Sep 25, 2017Hold Firm: God
- Sep 20, 2017Hold Firm: The ScripturesHold Firm: The Scriptures: Many evangelicals today don't have a firm grasp on doctrine. For some, doctrine seems too stuffy. For others, it is frightening to sift through the complexities of theology. But doctrine determines how we think, and how we think determines how we act. Doctrine is a systematic understanding of what Scripture teaches,so to get a firm grasp of doctrine, we need to be certain of the authority of Scripture. In this message, Pastor Mike takes a look at what the Baptist Faith and Message says about Scripture, in light of 2 Timothy 3:14-17.This message was presented at FBCVA on September 17, 2017.
- Sep 12, 2017Hold Firm: Get a GripHold Firm: Get a GripWhat do we, as a church, believe? It isn't enough to say, "We believe the Bible." We need to be more specific. In this series of messages, titled Hold Firm, Pastor Mike will walk through The Baptist Faith and Message and its basis in Scripture to clarify what we as a church believe."He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it." Titus 1:9 (ESV)This message was presented at FBCVA on September 10, 2017.
- Sep 5, 2017God Speaks in the StormGod Speaks in the StormAs we watch events unfold in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, we may be overwhelmed by the devastation. We may be tempted to ask "Why, God?" How could a good God allow this to happen? Job encountered similar devastation in his own life, and although he didn't curse God, he did ask, "Why?" In Job 38, God answered, but not in the way Job expected. God gave Job some powerful questions to ponder. Job gained a new perspective, and his story gives us powerful lessons to learn.This message was presented at FBCVA on September 3, 2017.
- Aug 28, 2017Consumers and ContributorsConsumers and ContributorsWe are born consumers. As infants, we rely on our parents to feed and clothe us. But as we grow, we learn to do these things for ourselves. And, as we mature, we learn to contribute more to our families and, eventually to society.Christians are intended to be contributors, both to the church and to the community. But many people who attend church are consumers. We want to sit and be fed rather than to serve. Jesus came, however, to move us from a self-centered, consumer mentality to an others-centered, contributor mentality.In this message, Pastor Mike draws from Matthew 16:24-28 to ask the question, "As a church will we be a collection of consumers, or a coalition of contributors?" We were born to consume, but we are born again to contribute.This message was presented at FBCVA on August 27, 2017.
- Aug 21, 2017Who Do You Think You Are?Who Do You Think You Are?Who do you think you are? It is a probing question. We struggle at times with our identity - not knowing our place in this world. We try to define who we are by what we wear, what we do for a living,the image that we present on social media. In this stand-alone message, Pastor Mike looks at Genesis 1:26-28 to see what God says about our identity, then examines Genesis 3:1-5 to expose what Satan tries to tell us about ourselves.This message was presented at FBCVA on August 20, 2017.
- 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.
