Belay Church Podcast

Belay’s Theme for 2025 is grounded in Isaiah 54:2: “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.” This call to EXPAND challenges us to examine areas of life where God is calling us to grow—in faith, responsibility, and reliance on Him. This expansion isn’t about physical growth but heart and perspective shifts. Thro...

Paul Durbin’s message examines the extent of God’s love using Ephesians 2:1–10 as a guide. Just as Elizabeth Barrett Browning counts the ways she loves in her famous sonnet, today’s question is, "How does God love us?" Through a deeper look at Scripture, we see seven profound ways God's love is expressed: He loves us in our sin, loves us when we don’t deserve it, loves us to life, loves us enough...

In this message, Christian Braly reflects on the significance of the Incarnation—the mystery of God becoming flesh in Jesus. The Incarnation reveals God’s profound love, justice, and mercy, bridging the gap caused by humanity’s sin and brokenness. It’s through Jesus that the invisible God is made visible, offering restoration, healing, and divine purpose to a world marred by sin. This message invi...

Paul Durbin’s message challenges us to consider how we, as followers of Jesus, can continue being sent like He was sent. In John 20:21, Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” The word “AS” points to the manner of Jesus’s mission and reminds us to reflect His example in how we live and love. Paul outlines four key actions to keep living missionally: Show Up (incarnate Jesus’s lo...

In this message, Paul emphasizes that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today and are meant to actively bless and empower the Church. Too often, our theology about spiritual gifts is shaped by negative experiences or disappointments rather than the truth of Scripture. But as the Bible teaches in 1 Corinthians 12-14, the Holy Spirit desires to equip believers with both purity (fruit) and power (...

Paul Durbin’s message explores the question: How do we develop the fruit of the Spirit in our lives? Using John 15’s imagery of the vine and branches, Paul emphasized that just as fruit grows through intentional care, believers grow spiritually through four key processes: Dying, Pruning, Abiding, and Considering. To grow the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), we must die to ourselves, allow...

Paul Durbin’s message explains that the Holy Spirit, often compared to a dove, plays key roles in the lives of believers. By breaking down the word DOVE, we understand that the Holy Spirit Draws us into relationship (with Jesus and other believers), Occupies and Overflows in our lives, Veers & Steers us through temptation and challenges, and Empowers us for service and mission. Each function of th...

In this message, Duane Henders shared about how our lives, like bread, are meant to be blessed, broken, and given to others. Drawing from Matthew 26, where Jesus breaks the bread and shares it at the Last Supper, Duane emphasizes that God loves to bless us, but He also desires to break us—not to harm, but to shape us for His purpose. Finally, we are "given" to others, becoming a vessel through whi...

In this message, Pastor Paul introduces us to the Holy Spirit, the often-misunderstood third person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit isn't just a mystical force but a Person of the Trinity, actively working in the lives of believers. Throughout the Old Testament, the Spirit came upon particular people at appointed times for specific purposes, but after the resurrection of Jesus, we see the Holy Spi...

Kevan Ho’s message takes us through one of the most critical moments in the Gospels, when Jesus asks His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" This isn't just a casual question—it’s deeply personal and confronts us all. Peter’s bold response, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” leads Jesus to declare that the church will be built on such a foundation. But Kevan also reminds us that f...

In this message, Paul talks about spiritual grit—not just the human determination that pushes us through tough situations, but a Holy-Spirit-fueled grit built on faith and reliance on God. Drawing examples from Scripture, we see that people who develop spiritual grit often go through difficult, "pit" seasons. The story of the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15 and Mark 7 shows a powerful example of hol...

In this message, Abbi Sulaski vulnerably shares her personal experiences with spiritual warfare, anger, and identity struggles, highlighting how they surfaced during different seasons of life. Through her journey, she discovered the power of quick obedience to God’s call, the role of community in her healing, and tools like fasting and prayer to push back against spiritual battles. Drawing from Sc...

In this message by Pastor Paul Durbin, we explore the question, What kind of giving fits? Looking through the lenses of tithing, freewill offerings, and almsgiving, Pastor Paul discusses the biblical foundations of each and how they align with God's design for generosity. Giving financially is not just transactional, but an act that builds up others and ourselves. Through the principles of giving...

In this message by Paul Durbin, we explore four responses that fit when God speaks or moves: speedy obedience, eager teachability, wholehearted belief, and baptism. Through the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8, we see powerful examples of these responses. Philip responded immediately to God's direction, and the Ethiopian showed an open, teachable heart, prompt belief, and a willi...

In this message, Paul Durbin walks us through a portion of 1 Timothy 2, examining how Apostle Paul instructs Christians to pray. Drawing from his own experiences as a first-generation Christian, the Apostle Paul models four types of prayer: petitions (specific requests), prayers (general requests), intercession (humbly approaching the king), and thanksgiving (gratitude before the answer). The focu...

In this message by Pastor Paul Durbin, he discusses the essence and purpose of preaching in the context of a Christian community. He starts by affirming that preaching God’s Word is fundamental to a healthy church, citing Apostle Paul's guidance to Timothy on the necessity of preaching. He describes three types of preaching—Textual, which explores questions from specific Bible passages; Topical, w...

Pastor Paul shares a reflection on the theme of "Does it fit?" using personal anecdotes and scripture to explore what it means for worship elements to be fitting in church. He emphasized that everything done within a congregation should be aimed at building each other up and conducted in an orderly manner, as stated by Paul in 1 Corinthians. The sermon delved into the significance of music in wors...

Chris Trombetta shares his journey in missionary work, focusing on renovating churches while also providing outreach and evangelistic efforts. He emphasizes the importance of faith in receiving healing from God, detailing four areas of healing: the brokenhearted, the torn spirit, the restored soul, and physical healing. By illustrating biblical examples and personal anecdotes, Chris urges Belay to...

In this message by Pastor Paul Durbin, he explores the ingredients necessary for God to perform miracles through us, rather than just for us. He emphasizes three main points: having eyes that see beyond our own needs, developing a heart that feels with Christ-like compassion, and maintaining a mind that remembers and focuses on Jesus' previous acts of kindness. Paul encourages us to adopt these at...

In this message by guest speaker Jerrod Williams, he explores the power, authority, and significance of the name of Jesus. He emphasizes that the name of Jesus holds unparalleled power in the universe, offering salvation, healing, and victory over sin and Satan. Pastor Jerrod encourages Belay to pray, meet, and live in the name of Jesus, highlighting the transformation and miracles that can occur...

In this message by Pastor Paul Durbin, he emphasizes the importance of guarding your heart by examining the rules you live by, being honest about your motivation to follow Jesus, and being more mindful of what your heart consumes than what your mouth consumes. Through scriptural references and practical examples, Pastor Paul invites us to anchor our morality in the unchanging Word of God, apprecia...

Jared German candidly shares his life journey from being a missionary kid in the Philippines to struggling with addiction, depression, and a tumultuous relationship with faith. Born into a small-town Missouri family, his story is a heartfelt testament to his battles and the turnarounds that shaped him. From the streets of Manila to a jail cell in Missouri, Jared's tale embodies resilience and the...

In this message by Pastor Paul Durbin, he explores the question, 'What do I do if I am sinking?' through the story of Peter walking on water from Matthew 14. He emphasizes that being in difficult situations does not always mean a mistake has been made, and reassures listeners that Jesus is always interceding for us. Pastor Paul encourages recognizing God's presence, discerning between valid and in...

Pastor Paul Durbin explores the story of Jesus feeding thousands with five loaves and two fish from Matthew 14. He outlines five key ingredients for experiencing miracles: God's constant compassion, facing impossible situations, taking steps of faith, being thankful in advance, and having a willingness to share. Durbin emphasizes that while faith doesn't guarantee an automatic miracle, it is essen...

Nolan and Kami Sanders share their heartfelt journey and experiences as disciples of Jesus. They highlight the concept of discipleship, drawing from their personal stories of awakening to God's call from childhood and throughout adulthood. Together, they emphasize the importance of being apprentices to Jesus, sharing the gospel, and fostering simple church movements. Kami recounts her inspirationa...