Bay Vineyard Sermon Audio

Hope can be defined as anticipating a future that is better than the present. Sam explores how we can put our hope in the grace of God, the forming work of God, the Kingdom of God, and the return of the King.

Charlotte Buxton explores what it looks like to cultivate a posture of joy in our lives. ‘Joy needs to be a consciously chosen way of living and thinking.’

In the first week of Advent Sam explores the great gift of peace that we can access in Jesus. How can we live in that peace? What are the practices we can apply to our life that help us live as a non-anxious presence in the world?

Sam interviews the Rev Frank Ritchie, who shares his story. He explores the impact of his early years, how he engages with God through contemplative prayer, and how the priority of his life is now union with God.

The bible encourages us that we can all participate in the prophetic. Sharon McNabb shares her journey in growing in this gift, and lays a foundation for what a healthy prophetic culture looks like today.

In the second week of the "Seek You" prayer and fasting season, Sam looks at how God rewards us as we seek Him. By choosing to apprentice ourselves to Jesus, at first we are revealed, then we are restored, and then we are renewed. And secondly, when we seek Him, we step into the greatest reward, His presence with us.

As we begin the 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting, Sam looks at Jesus temptation in the wilderness, which frames why we are doing this time of prayer and fasting. You can find more info, and download the resources at www.bayvineyardchurch.org/21days

Ryan Kaarsemaker shares how we can grow in depth and passion for both personal and corporate prayer. Looking at the story of the Moravians, he inspires us in what can happen when a group of people are committed to building an ongoing prayer culture.

Sam begins our "Seek first" series. What does it look like to seek God and His Kingdom as the main priority in our lives?

Children's and families pastor Charlotte Buxton explores the topic of prayer. Why do we struggle to pray? What does Jesus say about prayer? And even if we feel like we have our "L" plates on, how can we build a life of prayer?

In a time of cultural complacency, God is stirring the church to reclaim its passionate culture. Fasting is a spiritual practice that helps us outwork our passion, grow our passion, and helps us walk into greater intimacy and power as we hunger after God.

In a time of cultural weariness, lethargy and cynicism, we are invited to allow Jesus to empower us with His spirit, and form us into a people where passion is normal.

The cross is more than a song or piece of jewellery, rather than a way of life. Jen Harvey unpacks what it looks like to find life by embracing a cross, which paradoxically invites us to true life.

Much of what our generation calls “culture,” Jesus and the writers of the Bible call “the world” - a system of ideas, values, practices and social norms that are institutionalized into a culture that is organized around rebellion against God and the redefinition of good and evil. How do we keep from getting assimilated by the world?

Our habits either sow to the flesh, and reap slavery, or the spirit, and yield a destiny of life and freedom. By applying spiritual disciplines to our lives, we can position ourselves to walk with the spirit, and increasingly live a life of great freedom, peace, joy and love!

There is an inner tug-of-war between the spirit and the flesh, we so often do things that give us pleasure in the short term, but rob of us of happiness in the long term. What does the bible say about this? And how can we life "the good life"?

Ryan Kaarsemaker explores the tools we can use to overcome the Devils attempts to mess up our lives. We have both offensive and defensive tools available to us. Ryan paints a vision of what our lives can look like, living in the freedom that results from living in truth.

In this talk Sam Harvey unpacks Jesus teaching on the Devil and how he uses lies as his principal weapon. Sam then looks at the mental mind maps we all have, and how these can either help us or hinder us walk into the "good life" we all long to live.

Sam gives an overview of the "live no lies" series exploring how this moment in history is challenging, but also a gift. Its important that we normalize the reality that we are at war, with the devil, the flesh and the world. Empowered by the Spirit we can overcome and our souls flourish

Jo and Ryan Kaarsemaker share their journey facing cancer over the last year, what they have learnt, and what God has done in their lives over this time. They bring enormous wisdom, depth and encouragement to us all as they vulnerably share their story.

Guest speaker Matt Stott shares about his experience of the global church, and the reality that God loves the church!

Guest speaker, Steve Graham invites us to be filled with wonder, not only with who God is, and His creation, but in his thoughts towards us!

Guest speaker Steve Graham reminds us that the church is called to be a place where the glory of God is present! We are to hold together the different dynamics of being an organization, a community of love, but also a place where heaven, Gods glory is present.

Sam Harvey reminds us of the invitation to not just be believers in Jesus, but followers of Jesus. He then unpacks what that looks like, and the ways BVC is endeavoring to be a church that has a strong discipleship culture. We launched "huddles", mirco accountability groups on this Sunday. You can find out more about them here https://bit.ly/3OIBzE8

In this sermon, our children's and families pastor Charlotte Buxton shares her journey cultivating a "defiant joy". She shares some practical ways to live this out, and challenges us to pursue a life marked by the joy of the Lord!