WeAreIBC

Join Student Pastor Dustin for a powerful celebration of Camp 1451 and a life-changing message from 1 Kings 18:20–40, as referenced in the sermon file 6.28. 26--AllenBonnell.txt. This special service highlights the incredible movement of God among 212 teenagers—the largest camp attendance in church history—resulting in public confessions of faith, rededicated lives, and over 1,000 doors knocked on...

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a powerful message titled He Rules, based on Daniel 4:19-37 and 1 Peter 5:6. Beginning with a call to prayer for those impacted by recent local flooding—including our own flooded Richmond campus BCM—and reflecting on the massive global scale of the World Cup and America's 250th anniversary, this sermon uncovers the absolute sovereignty of God over all human history, n...

Join Pastor Brent Foley for a special Father's Day message at Immanuel Baptist Church. Diving into 1 Peter 5:6-7, this sermon hits home on how the lessons we teach most passionately at the end of our lives are often the lessons that we learned most painfully in our youth. Through personal stories and powerful biblical history, Pastor Brent breaks down what it truly means to live under the hand of...

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a powerful message titled "The Gravity of Pride and the Beauty of Grace," as we take a deep dive into the mandatory mark of biblical humility. Drawing from 1 Peter 5 and John 21, this sermon contrasts the destructive reality of human hubris with the healing power of God’s restoration. The message highlights key principles for breaking free from arrogance and stepping...

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a powerful message kicking off a three-part series on Humility Toward Others, drawing from John 13:1-17 and 1 Peter 5:5. Fresh off an incredible week of Vacation Bible School—celebrating over 500 children across three campuses, 400 volunteers, and 31 life-changing decisions for Christ at Lucid—this sermon highlights why humility is a mandatory mark of a true disciple....

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for the conclusion of our series in 1 Peter, focusing on 1 Peter 5:6–11. In this message, we learn how to face intense pressure, anxiety, and spiritual warfare by choosing surrender over control. The sermon highlights several key principles for moving from worry to peace: - Releasing Our Burdens: We are called to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, acknowledgin...

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a powerful message from 1 Peter chapter 5, verses 1 through 5, titled A Good Shepherd. Preached over Memorial Day weekend, this sermon transitions from reflecting on the heavy price of earthly freedom to examining the divine structure God established to protect and guide the local church through the storms of life. The message focuses on the character and call of chur...

Join Pastor Scott Cannon for a powerful message exploring what happens when our faith is put on trial. Diving into 1 Peter 4:12–19, this sermon reveals that there is meaning, purpose, and a divine intention behind the difficult seasons we experience. Using an illustration from an arborist, Pastor Scott explains how trees develop a “root flare” at their base to widen and anchor themselves when faci...

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a special Mother's Day message at Immanuel Baptist Church. While the genealogies of the ancient world typically focused on men to settle legal and land rights, Matthew’s Gospel includes four "speed bumps" in the lineage of Jesus—four women whose stories were scandalous, messy, and unexpected. In this message, "Four Faces of Courage," we explore how God’s grace works t...

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a convicting message from 1 Peter 4:1–11. In a world that interprets events through many different lenses, Peter calls believers to "arm themselves" with a biblical worldview—interpreting life through the reality of Christ’s suffering and His imminent return. This sermon explores how to "number our days" so that every moment counts for eternity. If you knew Jesus was...

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a powerful and deep dive into one of the most discussed passages in the New Testament. In this message, "From Suffering to Supremacy," we explore 1 Peter 3:18–22, focusing on the absolute victory of Jesus Christ over sin, death, and every spiritual authority. The sermon tackles the "difficult verses" of Peter’s letter while keeping the focus on the main point: It’s al...

Join Pastor John Owens from our Williamsburg Campus for an impactful message in our 1 Peter series. In a society that often watches, reviles, and questions the motives of believers, how should we respond? Drawing from 1 Peter 3:8–17, this sermon explores how we can live as models of a "living hope"—a hope that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. The message outlines three powerful ways to mo...

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a timely message on God’s intentional design for men, women, and marriage. In this study of 1 Peter 3, we move past the confusing messages of modern culture to explore the deeper biblical truth: that men and women are equal in worth but uniquely different in design. The sermon focuses on how to build a flourishing marriage through the "Ancient Ways" of Scripture: - Ch...

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a powerful Easter message exploring the heart of the Gospel: Substitution. We all know the feeling of wishing we could take the place of a loved one in pain, but while we are limited, God is not. In this study of 1 Peter 2, we celebrate the reality that Jesus Christ did for us what we could never do for ourselves. The sermon dives into the "Great Exchange" and the phy...

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell as we continue our study in 1 Peter. In this message, “Carrying the Family Name,” we explore what it means to live out our new identity as members of God’s household. Just as a dollar should look like a dollar, a Christian should reflect the image and character of their Heavenly Father. The sermon focuses on three key markers of our spiritual heritage: - Remember Who You...

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a powerful message on spiritual maturity and growth. In this study of 1 Peter 2, we examine the essential question for every believer: “Got Milk?” Just as a physical body needs nourishment to survive, our spiritual lives require a specific kind of fuel to reach maturity. The sermon focuses on three key principles for growing in your faith: - Reject What Kills Love: Pe...

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a powerful message on our identity and purpose as believers. In this study of 1 Peter 1, we explore what it means to be born again into a "New Family" and how that transformation should impact every area of our lives as we prepare for Easter. The sermon focuses on four key markers of our new identity in Christ: - Set Your Mind on Jesus: Drawing from Peter’s instructio...

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell as we continue our journey through the book of 1 Peter. In this message, titled "A Living Hope," we look at how Peter—a man who intimately knew the pain of failure and the beauty of restoration—encourages believers facing intense trials and persecution. The sermon explores the bedrock of our security in Christ: - Rooted in Mercy: Our salvation is not based on our performa...

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell as we begin a new study in the book of 1 Peter. In this opening message, "The Elect Exiles," we are introduced to a letter written to believers facing intense cultural pressure and government persecution. Peter’s words provide a timeless anchor for anyone feeling like an outsider in today’s world. The sermon dives into the foundational truths of our identity in Christ: -...

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for the powerful conclusion of our "40 Days of Ancient Ways" series. In this message, we explore the spiritual discipline of worship—not as a mere Sunday morning activity, but as a total life response to the revelation of who God is. Drawing from the heart of King David in Psalm 103, we learn what it means to truly bless the Lord: - Remember His Benefits: We often forget...

Join Pastor Dustin Rife for a high-energy message in our “40 Days of Ancient Ways” series. In this sermon, we explore the legendary accounts of David’s Mighty Men from 2 Samuel 23, discovering that greatness in God’s kingdom isn’t about where you start, but who you choose to follow and how you respond in the heat of battle. The message dives into the qualities that forged these “broken people” int...

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for week five of our series, "40 Days of Ancient Ways." In this message, we explore one of the most remarkable conversations in history: Abraham’s intercession for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. This passage challenges us to ask: Is anyone truly "too far gone" for the mercy of God? The sermon breaks down the heart of intercessory prayer and God’s righteous character: -...

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for week four of our "40 Days of Ancient Ways" series. In this powerful message, we explore the spiritual discipline of confession and why it is essential for moving from the "grave" of our past into the freedom of Christ. Using the story of the resurrection of Lazarus in John 11, the sermon highlights the journey from bondage to liberation: - The Weight of the Secret: We...

Join Pastor Scott Cannon for a powerful message in our “40 Days of Ancient Ways” series titled “The Power of Surrender.” Through the lens of Genesis 32, we explore the life of Jacob—a man who spent his entire life wrestling with people, only to find himself in a life-changing wrestling match with God. The sermon highlights three key phases of Jacob’s journey that reflect our own: - Jacob the Decei...

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for week two of our series, 40 Days of Ancient Ways. In this message, we dive into the life of Hannah from 1 Samuel 1, a woman who was desperate in her longing and tired of settling for "filler" when God had so much more for her soul. The sermon explores the reality of living in a broken world and how to navigate deep emotional distress: - Brokenness and Culture: Hannah l...