Berean Baptist Church - Portage, MI - Sunday Sermons

Pastor Ryan Bump

Joshua 5 Pastor Bill Abernathy After the events of Joshua 3-4, we’d expect God to immediately direct Israel to attack Jericho, but Israel isn’t spiritually ready. Joshua 5 shows us how WE need to prepare spiritually for the battles of our lives

Joshua 4 Pastor Bill Abernathy At first glance, Joshua 4 doesn’t seem to add much to the story of the crossing of the Jordan in chapter 3, but it does. The author uses repetition to drive home what is required if we want the pursuits of our lives to be purposeful.

Joshua 3 Pastor Bill Abernathy The crossing of the Jordan River is a familiar story, but one with a powerful message to us as we think about making our pursuits purposeful in 2023. The story helps us with following into the unknown.

Luke 17:11-19 Pastor Jim Galvin

Hebrews 4:14-16 Pastor Ryan Bump When we face difficult circumstances in life, knowing someone is there to comfort and listen can make all the difference in the world. Having someone who understands, sympathizes, and brings about change is even better.

Joshua 2 Pastor Bill Abernathy If we weren’t familiar with the book of Joshua, chapter 2 would shock us. Why are we telling the story of a Gentile woman – and especially “one like her?” The story of Rahab reminds us of God’s sovereign and gracious work. A theme Israel and we need!

Joshua 1:10-18 Pastor Bill Abernathy Last week we saw God lay out a challenge for Joshua to take the land. God promised him that He would be with him and that His Word would guide Joshua to victory. As the story expands we see that this is NOT just Joshua’s task.

Joshua 1:1-9 Pastor Bill Abernathy This morning we begin a series in the book of Joshua – “Purposeful Pursuit.” My prayer for myself and for Berean in this new year is that we will pursue God and His plan for us. Joshua demonstrates what that is like. From these early verses we can see 3 bedrock truths for our purposeful pursuit.

Philippians 1:27-30 Pastor Bill Abernathy Paul is writing from prison to the believers at Philippi. He hopes to come to them, but even if he can’t, he wants them to resolve to live their lives “worthy of the gospel.” His goal is that they will show the truth of the gospel by how they live. This is a resolution worth keeping by you and me in 2023. But what does it look like?

Matthew 2:1-12 Pastor Bill Abernathy Our Advent series, “Who is This Baby?” concludes today by examining how Matthew identifies Jesus as the King. But what kind of King is He? As he answers that question, Matthew introduces us to 3 groups who receive different invitations to come to Jesus.

John 1:1-14 Pastor Bill Abernathy Our Advent series, “Who is This Baby?” concludes today by examining how Matthew identifies Jesus as the King. But what kind of King is He? As he answers that question, Matthew introduces us to 3 groups who receive different invitations to come to Jesus.

Isaiah 7:1-17; Matthew 1:18-23 Pastor Bill Abernathy One of the best-known verses about Advent is Isaiah 7:14 (quoted in Matthew 1:23), but have you ever considered what the context tells us about this baby?

2 Peter 3:8-18 Pastor Bill Abernathy This morning we draw our Core Values series to a close. There are certainly more we could study, but we close with this very Advent appropriate theme. We, as God’s people, must lift our eyes above today to the consummation of God’s plan and root our hope in it.

Matthew 6:5-15 Pastor Bill Abernathy It’s very easy to say that prayer is a core value; it’s much harder to make it so. When it comes to praying, we all, no matter how long we’ve known Jesus, come as learners. Who better to teach us than our Master as He gives one of His longest lessons on prayer.

Missionary Guest Speaker, Esteban Mora Santa Rosa de Pocosol, Costa Rica

2 Corinthians 8:1-15 Pastor Bill Abernathy Berean’s history has been one of generosity. It is a core value. But often when we think of giving we have a wrong perspective of what it’s all about. Paul helps us understand that giving of our finances, our time and our abilities is an important discipline.

Acts 17:16-34 Pastor Bill Abernathy In every generation the Church faces the challenge of being relevant in its ministry while never compromising the truth. In this story Paul helps us see what truth-anchored relevance looks like.

Colossians 3:12-17 Pastor Bill Abernathy By its very definition, a local church consists of people; people in relationship. Thus, one of Berean’s core values is that those relationships are grounded in God’s grace and demonstrating grace. Colossians 3:12- 17 helps us see what it looks like when people who have experienced God’s amazing grace (3:12a), give grace to others.

Colossians 1:9-14 Pastor Bill Abernathy We are looking at what is really important in the life of Berean: God Glorifying Worship; Bible-Centered Teaching; and Ever-Expanding Witness were the 1st three core values we examined. All 3 of them influence the 4th: Christ-Centered Transformation. God wants us to be changing, and Paul prays that for the Colossians and us. But what does it mean?

Colossians 1:15-17 Guest Speaker: Spencer Valeri

LaMar & Joanna Salley Missionaries to Costa Rica

Jennifer DeKryger Missionary to Mango, Togo, West Africa

John 3:1-8; 1 John 5:1-5 Guest Speaker: Spencer Valeri