Beltway Weekend Services (Audio)

Saved people serve people (1 Peter 4:7-11).  The call for all Jesus followers, even at the end of the age, is not to simply hang on and survive. We are challenged to  serve , to use a portion of our time, talents, and skills to give to others. In fact, Jesus taught His disciples that the greatest among His followers is the one who serves (Luke 22:24-26). It is what Jesus modeled, who did not come...

Found people find people (Acts 1:4-8).  The world is desperate for all that Jesus offers, and it is our responsibility as His followers to be a witness to the people around us. If we truly care about them, we cannot keep the good news of all that Jesus has accomplished for us to ourselves. Even if being a witness looks weird, makes us uncomfortable, or even puts a relationship at risk, it is worth...

It is more blessed to give than receive, especially in friendship (Acts 20:35). The research is clear: good relationships keep us happier and healthier. It is what Paul modeled and taught the elders of the church in Ephesus. We are not just blessed but more blessed (i.e., doubly blessed, blessed squared) when we give of ourselves for the sake of others. The way up is by going down, having a heart...

God wants to give us a supernatural power to have joy (Luke 2:8-11).  At the birth of Jesus, an angel of the Lord appeared to nearby shepherds and proclaimed to them good news of  great joy  concerning the Savior of the world. Christmas – the coming of Jesus – is meant to bring us immense joy. His birth reveals God’s heart for us, that the King of Kings, the Creator of the universe, and the One wh...

Faith is believing that God is who He says He is, and that He will do what He says He will do (Hebrews 11:1-3).  Like in the movie  The Polar Express , the presence of doubt is real and affects everyone, especially when it comes to the birth of Jesus and who He is. We struggle to believe fully in Jesus because of skepticism, pain, and disappointment. But when we do believe, it pleases God and posi...

Christians live not to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45). Like Paul quoting the storytellers of his day (Acts 17:28) to share the gospel of Jesus and His kingdom, movies and television today often echo elements of the story. It is these elements that stir God-given desires within us, like the desire for love and acceptance, the desire to see good triumph over evil, and the desire for adventure....

What kind of soil are you (Mark 4:2-9, 14-20)?  God is sowing the seed of His truth, and how we respond to that truth – the kind of soil we are – determines whether a harvest is produced or not. That harvest is the abundant life Jesus promises to those fully surrendered to His reign and rule in their lives (John 10:10). Some people are disinterested paths where Satan immediately snatches the truth...

When it comes to Jesus’ return and the end of the age, we must be prepared for both suddenly and to persevere (Matthew 25:1-13).  With the current Israeli war in Gaza, many people are wondering and asking: is this the end? Jesus was asked the same question by His disciples. He warms them strongly to be sure that no one leads them astray, and that no one knows the day or the hour except our Heavenl...

Our words matter (Proverbs 18:21).  The Bible is clear: the tongue has power to bring life or death. The struggle, however, is that even though our words are powerful – like a rudder of a boat, a horse’s bit, or small spark that starts a forest fire – the tongue is untamable in our own strength (James 3:7-8). On our own, we are powerless to use our words to bring life. Only by the Holy Spirit and...

Judge not, that you be not judged (Matthew 7:1-2). These words of Jesus are often culturally understood to mean that we should never say or believe that another person is wrong. Jesus, however, had a different concept in mind in this part of His Sermon on the Mount. To judge is to hold a final verdict in our minds about another person’s worth or destiny that is different from the truth of God abou...

Unforgiveness produces torture; forgiveness yields freedom (Matthew 18:21-35).  When we become followers of Jesus, we are forgiven a spiritual debt we could never pay. It is because we have been forgiven much that we can and should forgive others. When we refuse to extend forgiveness to someone, it is a significant act of dishonor against God and against the forgiveness we have received from Him....

We were made for a transformed life with a renewed mind and changed beliefs (Romans 12:2).  We all have lenses, or belief systems, that shape how we see the world and how we live. Those beliefs often come from our life experiences, from our family history and what was said or modeled in our home, from significant hurt and trauma, or from what we have culturally or socially seen and embraced. When...

More comes as we recognize lies and replace them with truth (2 Corinthians 10:3- 6).  We are at war. It is an unseen battle that plays itself out in our physical world. It is a battle for our minds, for the way we  think . What we think matters immensely because our thoughts determine our choices and actions. Therefore, the enemy’s primary weapon to steal, kill, and destroy is to corrupt our think...

More is found as we hear and follow God’s voice (John 10:1-10).  Jesus is our Good Shepherd, and each of us as His followers – as His sheep – can and should know His voice. Hearing the voice of God, however, is not automatic; it is something we must learn and grow in. The primary way God speaks to all people throughout history is through the  Bible . It is not merely a book to be read, but it is G...

In Christ, everything changes (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).  In Him, who we are – our identity – is transformed. In Christ, we become new creations and are adopted into His family. In Him, we move from being spiritual orphans and slaves to being His sons and daughters, heirs to His inheritance. In Christ, we begin a journey into freedom and healing that impacts generations to come. Sermon from October...

Freedom is rooted in what Jesus did and not what we do (John 19:29-30).  Contrary to the common belief of our culture, we cannot generate enough power or strength to get free. Instead, freedom comes when we plug in to and yield to what Jesus did on the cross. When we connect and yield to Jesus, the message of the cross affects our lives directly and empowers us to become free, to become like Him....

Freedom is found as we trust the Father’s heart (Matthew 6:9; John 14:6).  Jesus came to restore us to our Heavenly Father, to see and know His goodness. When we want to know what kind of Father God really is, we do not look to our circumstances or even to our earthly father. Instead, we discover what kind of Father God really is when we look at Jesus, the cross, and the empty tomb. He is a Father...

Freedom is a promise that must be possessed (Galatians 5:1).   While many people have embraced the lie that real change is impossible and carry an overwhelming sense of hopelessness, Jesus came to set us free. The freedom He offers us is the ever-increasing ability to become more and more like Him, to live as God designed us to live. That promise of freedom, however, is not automatic. We can be al...

Geoffrey Turner closes out the Coffee Cup Christianity series in week five by providing context around Joshua 1:9. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Often, we make decisions based on a risk-reward analysis, from financial decisions to career choices, etc. Rewards outlined in script...

Week four of the Coffee Cup Christianity series, David McQueen provides context around Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This common verse is often quoted for its promise of prosperity and hope, which many equate to monetary prosperity. However, when you understand the full cont...

David McQueen focuses on Lamentations 3:22–23: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” for week three of the Coffee Cup Christianity series. This common verse will find most followers of Christ acknowledging God's faithfulness during favorable times but struggling to do so during times of so...

In the second series of "Coffee Cup Christianity" David McQueen explores the misunderstood concept of God's love using John 3:16 as a central theme “For God so loved the world…” In looking at this scripture outside of context, one can interpret God's love in ways that align with personal desires, rather than its true meaning. Pastor David emphasizes the need to surrender to Jesus...

Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." is a widely known and quoted verse, one that you light find printed on a coffee cup. But not understanding this verse in the full context of how it was written can lead to unrealistic expectations and potential crises of faith. David McQueen shares a personal experience, where he believed this verse would lead his...

Leif Hetland discussed the emotional burdens of guilt from the past, shame in the present, and fear of the future. He emphasized that fatigue is a significant weapon used by the enemy, often attacking when we are worn out. Leif encouraged self-love as God loves us and advised against dwelling in the past but embracing the transformation process. Belief in Jesus leads to salvation, and believing th...

Faith is more about staying the course than starting the race. The culture of quick results causes us to emphasize the beginning. Yet the Word of God seems to reveal the opposite. The Bible seems to hammer this idea of staying, persevering, and finishing. In Haggai chapter 2, God calls the people to rebuild the temple. As they begin to build, they fall into comparison, becoming discouraged and eve...