Bel Air Church

Eternity is not the alternative to this earth, it is the redemption & restoration of this earth. In the book of Revelation, when John uses the word "new", there is no implication of discard of the old. More accurately, the old is made new, and so dramatically that there is no trace of "old" left. Believers live in the middle of that transition. We are effectively suspended...

The church is Christ's hands and feet to our broken world. On this special Global Sunday, three members of our very own congregation were interviewed by Dr. Sams. They shared stories of healing, reconciliation, and God's power to save from places like Haiti, Columbia, and the Congo. That probably would have been enough hope for one Sunday. But there was more. Jocelyn White from Internati...

The church is Christ's hands and feet to our broken world. On this special Global Sunday, three members of our very own congregation were interviewed by Dr. Sams. They shared stories of healing, reconciliation, and God's power to save from places like Haiti, Columbia, and the Congo. That probably would have been enough hope for one Sunday. But there was more. Jocelyn White from Internati...

Brokenness can consume us. Our physical eyes fill us with stories that can weigh us down so much we're unable to move. Now it's not that bad all the time, but if we see what we think we see, the world is very sad, and very broken. But it is not forever. There exists another reality, a forever reality, one we cannot see with our physical eyes, filled with an eternal celebration meant for...

Once again, Dr. Sams examines one of our core values, impact, and contrasts the true essence of it with what our culture would have us believe impact is. Our culture gives credit only to those who break through, those who achieve "success" by leveraging the efforts of many others. But in reality, we all cause impact. We affect each other - for the better and for the worse. The question i...

Once again, Dr. Sams examines one of our core values, impact, and contrasts the true essence of it with what our culture would have us believe impact is. Our culture gives credit only to those who break through, those who achieve "success" by leveraging the efforts of many others. But in reality, we all cause impact. We affect each other - for the better and for the worse. The question i...

Once again, Dr. Sams examines one of our core values, impact, and contrasts the true essence of it with what our culture would have us believe impact is. Our culture gives credit only to those who break through, those who achieve "success" by leveraging the efforts of many others. But in reality, we all cause impact. We affect each other - for the better and for the worse. The question i...

We have co-opted the word "community" to mean something less than it should be. Our culture tells us that community primarily consists of those like us: fellow workers, or artists, or hobbyists... even believers... and other classes we shouldn't use to divide up communities like race, or socio-economic status. None of this has anything to do with what Scripture teaches us about comm...

We have co-opted the word "community" to mean something less than it should be. Our culture tells us that community primarily consists of those like us: fellow workers, or artists, or hobbyists... even believers... and other classes we shouldn't use to divide up communities like race, or socio-economic status. None of this has anything to do with what Scripture teaches us about comm...

What does it mean to be healthy? We assume Scripture can only speak to our spiritual health, and that this is of paramount importance. But scripture isn't limited to spiritual health. In fact, many stories in the bible inform how we are to live, or more accurately, to thrive. Christ wants us to have life and life to the full. How does that work itself out? Dr. Sams explores exactly that quest...

What does it mean to be healthy? We assume Scripture can only speak to our spiritual health, and that this is of paramount importance. But scripture isn't limited to spiritual health. In fact, many stories in the bible inform how we are to live, or more accurately, to thrive. Christ wants us to have life and life to the full. How does that work itself out? Dr. Sams explores exactly that quest...

Often we confuse courage with bravery, and there is definitely some overlap. But courage and bravery aren't really the same thing. Particularly when looking at Christ, bravery and courage are not at all the same thing. Dr. Sams shows us in Scripture what it means to be courageous. Within the lesson is a little gem of truth that can help us unlock the courage in our own hearts. Don't miss...

Expounding on the first of five values we are choosing to emphasize at Bel Air Church, Dr. Sams shows us the difference this week between cultural hospitality and Christian hospitality. Check out this introductory video here: Resources for a life of following Jesus, every day, everywhere, with everyone.

Expounding on the first of five values we are choosing to emphasize at Bel Air Church, Dr. Sams shows us the difference this week between cultural hospitality and Christian hospitality. Check out this introductory video here: Resources for a life of following Jesus, every day, everywhere, with everyone.

More than the start of a new sermon series, Dr. Sams begins a new chapter in the history of Bel Air Church. Revealing 5 biblical values to help our church follow Jesus everyday, everywhere, with everyone, Dr. Sams exhorts us to engage with our church in new ways - in ways that will help us become more like the family of God. This is a new beginning. Would you watch and ponder how you can join us o...

More than the start of a new sermon series, Dr. Sams begins a new chapter in the history of Bel Air Church. Revealing 5 biblical values to help our church follow Jesus everyday, everywhere, with everyone, Dr. Sams exhorts us to engage with our church in new ways - in ways that will help us become more like the family of God. This is a new beginning. Would you watch and ponder how you can join us o...

David and Goliath is one of the best known stories in the bible. As a young shepherd boy, David presents himself to King Saul as Israel's champion against Goliath, the champion of the Philistines. A giant soldier, arrogant, and seemingly impossible to defeat in battle, Goliath taunted Israel for weeks. We know David defeats him, calling upon the name of the Lord as his primary aid. But this i...

What a super-quirky miracle God worked when Joshua's army conquered Jericho. God's ways are so much higher than our own. We bring our own agendas and desires to our life situations, then wonder if God is on our side. Dr. Sams reminds us that there is but one proper response when we wonder about God's position on our matters. I could tell you, but the good Dr. Sams says it so much be...

What a super-quirky miracle God worked when Joshua's army conquered Jericho. God's ways are so much higher than our own. We bring our own agendas and desires to our life situations, then wonder if God is on our side. Dr. Sams reminds us that there is but one proper response when we wonder about God's position on our matters. I could tell you, but the good Dr. Sams says it so much be...

Furnaces are real. None of us are ever going to face the fiery furnace of Nebuchadnezzar. But almost all of us will face challenges that drag us down further into despair than any other event before it. Loss is the furnace of today. And how do we overcome loss? How do we understand the furnace of suffering and loss when our spiritual convictions mandate we live in joyful praise of God? Hear the go...

Interestingly, God's miracles seem to come only when certain conditions are met. There must be a need, an insufficient way to fill that need, and humility enough to accept the help. Dr. Sams show us Christ's most visible miracle in scripture, and uses it to help us remember Christ's invitation to us. We have an insufficient offering. But would you watch, and remember what God does w...

Interestingly, God's miracles seem to come only when certain conditions are met. There must be a need, an insufficient way to fill that need, and humility enough to accept the help. Dr. Sams show us Christ's most visible miracle in scripture, and uses it to help us remember Christ's invitation to us. We have an insufficient offering. But would you watch, and remember what God does w...

Somehow, our culture has identified the bed as the apex of intimacy. Sadly, the church is not immune to this claim. But scripture teaches us the truth, and this Sunday, Rev. Keenan Barber reminds us of the story of the woman with the alabaster jar who washes Jesus' feet with her hair and her tears. The setting for all this was a table - a dinner at Simon the Pharisee's house. We invite y...

When a paralytic appears to a packed house on the edge of their seats to hear what Christ has to teach, the proverbial needle flies right off the record. While Christ was teaching, a hole in the ceiling appeared, and a paralyzed man was lowered through it. How rude! But as Mike Morgan shows us in the Scriptures, Christ has orchestrated this moment to show his followers that faith embraces the inte...

Bad things happen to us all. Death owns us. Loss of family. Loss of spouse. Loss of job. Loss of home. We all fall into a pit from time to time, sometimes unto death. It is a product of our fallen world. Dr. Sams shows us how Christ uses the pit to redeem our experience so that it is not a waste. In fact, this is one of the most amazing characteristics of God. He takes the brokenness of our fallen...