Sermons
Sermons from Bay Vista Baptist ChurchLiving Water for the Quilombolas
TJ and Kerrie Helsel are missionaries with LINC-UP Missions, working with the Living Water Project to provide safe drinking water for the Quilombola tribe in Brazil. They shared their work, how God brought them to this ministry, and the call on all Christians to spread the gospel.
The Victor
Through His resurrection, Jesus proved that He has the victory over sin, death, and the grave. In addition to that, it also opened the door for each of us to have a relationship with God that goes far beyond just an escape from hell.
Christ, Our Example
Jesus not only came to give Himself as a sacrifice for our sins; He also set an example for us to follow as we attempt to live for Him. He not only showed us how to live in a culture that is opposed to the things of God, He also showed us that He came to complete a work that we could not do ourselves.
Harmony
When the instruments of an orchestra are tuned together, and their players follow the conductor, there is great harmony; what happens before the tune-up, though, is more like a cacophony. Peter describes the way Christians should relate to the world by using the word “harmony;” how are we to be harmonious in this cacophonous world?
Wives and Husbands
Peter continues his instruction to the church under fire with encouragement to wives and husbands. Though these verses have been used negatively by some, their intent establishes wives and husbands as equal in the eyes of God, encourages wives who find themselves in difficult circumstances, and challenged husbands’ view of their wives as property.
Submission to Authority
Some people feel that “submission” is a dirty word. However, Peter encourages his readers that submission is not only something we should do to earthly governments and one another, it is the model that Jesus showed us as He walked this earth.
The Warfare That Leads to Witness
Spiritual warfare often focuses on forces outside of us - governments, demons, and the like. However, spiritual warfare is best waged within ourselves, and being victorious in that warfare helps us live the lives we were meant to live, and can open opportunities for witness to others.
Remember Who We Are
The world wants to tell us that we are no good, small-minded, and worthless. The same thing happened in Peter’s day, but he reminds these believers of their unique identity because they have been chosen by God.
The 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.