Sermons
Sermons from Bay Vista Baptist ChurchThe 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.
Grateful for a Living Hope in God
Hope is a recurring theme throughout Scripture; Paul even identifies, along with faith and love, as something that will last forever. Our hope is not some vague expectancy; rather, it is a living hope in a living God.
Grateful Hearts Praise God
Gratitude is not something that is easily taught; however, when we look at all that God has done for us, gratitude is a natural response.
A Prayer for Help Based on God's Love
Today’s psalm is a psalm of lament, not a psalm of thanksgiving. However, even in his lament, David recognized and thanked God for the many evidences of His love and provision. Like him, even in our pain, we should remember God’s love toward us.
Thankfulness for an Answered Cry
David had several occasions where he cried out to God, and this passage is his song of thankfulness to God after one of those occasions. Although separated by thousands of years, David’s needs parallel our needs today, and God is still waiting to respond to our cries.
Receiving Rewards
Jesus had done a lot to discourage people from following Him, telling them that He was offering a difficult life, not an easy one. In this passage, though, He shifts a bit and gives us principles regarding the rewards that are connected to faithful service.
Criteria for Judgment
Although some interpretations vary on today’s text, there are a few principles we can glean from it. The judgment described in this passage is based on service that demonstrates an active faith. As James put it, quite bluntly, faith without works is dead.
Living in the Light of Christ's Return
Jesus is coming back. So what? This is not a heretical question; what impact is the knowledge of Christ’s impending return having on us as we live and serve day-to-day? More importantly, what does the Bible say that impact should be?
What a Good Deacon Brings to the Table
When the early church was experiencing growing pains, the apostles decided that they should appoint seven people to help with the work. As these men ministered, they strengthened the unity of the church, brought it focus, and enabled even greater growth. This is the prototype of today’s deacon.