Bismarck Community Church Sermon Podcast

Continuing our summer series "One Three Nine," guest speaker Dennis Sailer dives into Psalm 139:11–12 to explore how we navigate the difficult, dark seasons of life. Dennis reminds us of the profound truth that to God, the darkness shines as bright as the day. When we feel overwhelmed by difficult circumstances, God’s omnipresence breaks through to deliver us from the domain of darkness....

Continuing our summer series "One Three Nine," guest speaker Mark Krenz walks us through Psalm 139:9–10 to tackle a question we all face at some point: Is God truly present, or is He distant during our hardest moments? Looking at the imagery of "deep waters," Mark reminds us that God actively pursues an intimate, personal relationship with each of us. No matter how deep or diff...

Continuing our summer series "One Three Nine," guest speaker Marcus Staley dives into Psalm 139:6–8 to remind us of the powerful promise that God's Spirit is always with us. When life feels too overwhelming or great to understand, Marcus uses the illustration of pointillism art to show how we often get stuck zooming in on a single, difficult moment while God is painting a beautiful,...

Continuing our summer series "One Three Nine," guest speaker Randy Palmer explores Psalm 139:4–5 and what it means to be securely "hemmed in" by God. Looking at Luke 17:21, Randy challenges us to see that God's kingdom isn't found in worldly institutions or power, but is actively dwelling within us and moving in our midst through the Holy Spirit. Even in a broken worl...

Pastor Jim Ellis kicks off our summer series on Psalm 139 by focusing on verses 1–3 and the foundational truth that God intimately knows everything about us. While we often hide behind facades out of fear or shame, this passage reminds us that the Lord sees to our very core and loves us still. Our deepest longing is to be fully known and fully loved, and true transformation begins when we stop hid...

Guest speaker Pastor Jared Lee returns to BCC to explore David’s cry for help in Psalm 40:1–12, reminding us that spiritual growth rarely happens in a straight line. When we find ourselves stuck in the messy, overwhelming middle of life, true growth begins when we stop striving in our own strength and start waiting on God to rescue us. Even when the journey feels unsteady, we can trust that Jesus...

In the finale of our "Plant a Garden" series, Pastor Jim Ellis looks at John 15:15–17 and the ultimate goal of the Gardener: a harvest of fruit born out of true friendship with God. We explore how cultivating an experience-based friendship ( philos ) with Jesus is the very vehicle He uses to transform our hearts. As the series concludes, we are challenged to examine what keeps us from sp...

Pastor Jim Ellis turns to John 15:12–14 to explore how Jesus prunes our lives so that we can truly fulfill His commandment to love one another. While pruning can be painful, it is the process God uses to shape a community defined by sacrificial, life-laying-down love. Moving from abiding to action, we are invited to actively co-labor with God in the world.     STAY CONNECTED  🗓️ This Week at BCC:...

In this message from John 15:10–11, Pastor Jim Ellis explores how Jesus patiently walks with us as we grow—even when our roots feel exposed by life's challenges. We discover that true obedience isn't a burden, but an invitation to follow Christ’s example of agape love, leading us into the fullness of His joy.    STAY CONNECTED  🗓️ This Week at BCC: https://bismarckcc.org/this-week-at-bcc...

Pastor Jim Ellis continues our "Plant a Garden" series by looking at John 15:8–9 and the "hidden" work of spiritual growth. Just as phosphorus strengthens a tree's roots, Jesus feeds and strengthens us as we abide in Him, allowing us to bear the fruit of the Spirit and bring glory to the Father.   STAY CONNECTED  🗓️ This Week at BCC: https://bismarckcc.org/this-week-at-bcc...

 In this installment of "Plant a Garden," Pastor Jim Ellis explores the "if" statements of John 15:6–7 and what it truly means to be united with Christ. We look at how Jesus "waters" our lives through His Word and prayer, inviting us to be vulnerable in our requests not to change God’s mind, but to deepen our trust in Him as co-laborers in His kingdom.  STAY CONNECTED...

Continuing our "Plant a Garden" series, Pastor Jim Ellis focuses on John 15:5 and the repetitive call to "abide" in Christ. We explore how spiritual fruit isn't something we strive to produce on our own, but is the natural result of our union and connection with the True Vine. STAY CONNECTED  🗓️ This Week at BCC: https://bismarckcc.org/this-week-at-bcc/   🙏 Prayer Request...

Pastor Jim Ellis kicks off our new series, "Plant a Garden," by exploring the "I Am" statement of Jesus as the true vine and God as the gardener in John 15:1-17. We learn what it means to truly abide in Christ, allowing Him to prune our hearts—His chosen location for a garden—so that we can bear genuine, life-giving fruit. STAY CONNECTED  🗓️ This Week at BCC: https://bismarckcc...

On this Easter Sunday, Pastor Jim Ellis explores the life-changing reality of the Resurrection through the accounts in John 20 and 21. From the empty tomb to a morning breakfast by the sea, we are challenged to move past our forgetfulness, remember the truth of the risen Christ, and step into a personal relationship with Him. STAY CONNECTED  🗓️ This Week at BCC: https://bismarckcc.org/this-week-at...

On this Palm Sunday, Pastor Jim Ellis explores the four Gospel accounts of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This message reminds us that even when we are stubborn or forgetful, Jesus remains our King who comes in humility to save us from our sins. STAY CONNECTED  🗓️ This Week at BCC: https://bismarckcc.org/this-week-at-bcc/   🙏 Prayer Request: https://bismarckcc.aware3.net/form/T38OdWE?auth...

Pastor Jim Ellis concludes our series in Colossians by looking at the final greetings in chapter 4:7–18. This message, "Remember My Chains," focuses on the central importance of remembering all that God has done for us as we walk in His grace. STAY CONNECTED  🗓️ This Week at BCC: https://bismarckcc.org/this-week-at-bcc/   🙏 Prayer Request: https://bismarckcc.aware3.net/form/T38OdWE?auth...

In this final message of our "Joy in the Mystery" series, Pastor Jim Ellis looks at the book of Philemon. Exploring the "appeal" Paul makes in verse 9, we see how the Gospel transforms our relationships—moving us from acting out of compulsion to choosing to walk in a "lay-your-life-down" kind of love for one another. STAY CONNECTED  🗓️ This Week at BCC: https://bismar...

Pastor Jim Ellis explores Colossians 4:2–6, highlighting how our private prayer life fuels our public witness. This message challenges us to persist in prayer as a way of aligning with God, walking in wisdom toward those outside the faith, and letting the "mystery" of the Gospel naturally flow through our gracious speech. STAY CONNECTED  🗓️ This Week at BCC: https://bismarckcc.org/this-w...

Pastor Jim Ellis explores Colossians 3:18–4:1, providing seven practical ways to apply this scripture to our daily lives and relationships. The core of this message is a call to put on agape love—the kind of self-giving, life-laying-down love that Christ modeled for us all. STAY CONNECTED  🗓️ This Week at BCC: https://bismarckcc.org/this-week-at-bcc/   🙏 Prayer Request: https://bismarckcc.aware3....

Pastor Jim Ellis dives into Colossians 3:1–17 to ask the practical question: What does it actually mean to "put on love"? This message explores how we are called to intentionally set our minds on Christ and "clothe" ourselves in His love every single day. STAY CONNECTED  🗓️ This Week at BCC: https://bismarckcc.org/this-week-at-bcc/   🙏 Prayer Request: https://bismarckcc.aware3...

Pastor Jim Ellis continues our Colossians series by exploring what it truly means to "walk in Him" (Col. 2:6). We discover that because God is the initiator of our salvation, we no longer have to strive in our own strength; when we walk with Christ alone, we truly flourish. STAY CONNECTED  🗓️ This Week at BCC: https://bismarckcc.org/this-week-at-bcc/   🙏 Prayer Request: https://bismarck...

What is the greatest secret of the Christian life? Pastor Jim Ellis continues our series in Colossians by exploring the profound reality of our "Union With Christ." Looking at Colossians 1:24-2:5, we discover that the mystery once hidden for ages is now revealed in a life-changing truth: Christ in you, the hope of glory. STAY CONNECTED  🗓️ This Week at BCC: https://bismarckcc.org/this-we...

What does it look like to practically "participate" in the love of Christ? Pastor Jim Ellis looks at 1 Corinthians 13 to show us how love is the essential ingredient for discipleship and the primary way we become people worth imitating. STAY CONNECTED  🗓️ This Week at BCC: https://bismarckcc.org/this-week-at-bcc/   🙏 Prayer Request: https://bismarckcc.aware3.net/form/T38OdWE?authToken=_...

Who is Jesus, really? Pastor Jim Ellis dives into the opening of Colossians, exploring the "Cosmic Supremacy" of Christ and how the mystery of His presence brings a deep, unshakable joy to our lives. STAY CONNECTED  🗓️ This Week at BCC: https://bismarckcc.org/this-week-at-bcc/   🙏 Prayer Request: https://bismarckcc.aware3.net/form/T38OdWE?authToken=__token__ 🎁 Give Online: https://bism...

What does it look like to drop everything and follow Jesus? Tristan Kinworthy explores Mark 1:14-20, looking at the moment the first disciples were called and what that same invitation means for us today. STAY CONNECTED  🗓️ This Week at BCC: https://bismarckcc.org/this-week-at-bcc/   🙏 Prayer Request: https://bismarckcc.aware3.net/form/T38OdWE?authToken=__token__ 🎁 Give Online: https://bismarckc...