Sermons
Sermons from Bay Vista Baptist ChurchThe Challenge of the Christian Life
“Perception is reality” has become a truism of conventional wisdom in recent years. Our perception of ourselves as holy is often different from the world’s perception of us as hypocrites; how do we live so that the world sees that we are as we perceive ourselves to be?
A Call to a Lifestyle of Holiness
Holiness is a concept that is probably skewed in our minds. Far from just an outside appearance, holiness is a commitment of the heart, mind, and actions, and has been commanded of God’s followers since the early days of the Old Testament. Peter emphasizes to the “church under fire” that we must focus on holiness.
The Promise of a Living Hope
After introducing himself, Peter writes a celebration of praise to the Lord. This reminds us that we have a living hope, based on God’s mercy and Jesus’ completed work, that will carry us through (and be strengthened by) the struggles we encounter.
Remember Whose We Are
Peter wrote two letters to churches that became part of the New Testament. The first of these was written to a church body that was beginning to suffer persecution, and as he opens this letter, he immediately reminds the believers Whose they are. Through the work of the Father, the Spirit, and the Son, we have been made His own.
Suppertime Promises
Before Jesus was arrested and crucified, He instituted what we call the Lord’s Supper during a Passover meal with His disciples. This meal was established as a remembrance of the sacrifice He was about to make; however, there are several promises contained in this meal for His followers.
Fear Reveals Faith
How we react when we experience fearful circumstances is an indicator of our faith. What if these fearful circumstances are an opportunity for us to deepen our faith in God?
Jesus and the Father's Purpose
The Bible is nearly silent about Jesus from His birth until His earthly ministry. There is one vignette, however, with Jesus as a 12-year-old boy, that illustrates His commitment and how He was growing. We should strive to follow His example; if the literal Son of God needed to grow, how much more do we?
Rejoice in the Promise of Salvation
Joy is the focus of the fourth Sunday of Advent. When Mary arrived at her cousin Elizabeth’s home, and was immediately recognized as the mother of the Savior, she sang a song of joy to the Lord. Her song shows us four different aspects of the way God works among His people.
The Promise of the Coming Messiah
Faith is the focus of the third Sunday of Advent. John the Baptist proclaimed that someone else was coming who was more powerful than he was, and that while John was baptizing with water, this One would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. This is a promise that can be believed, especially since it has already come to pass!
Hope in Salvation
The second Advent candle represents hope. When John was born, his father Zechariah presented a song to the Lord that spoke of salvation not in the future tense, but in the past perfect tense. His song shows us that we can live in the peace of salvation today, while we look forward to the ultimate fulfillment of hope.