Fairfax Bible Church: Recent Episodes
Fairfax Bible Church
Sunday sermons and discipleship podcasts from Fairfax Bible Church in Fairfax, VA. Our mission is to glorify God by making disciples of all nations as we live in loving community.
Big Idea: Friendship is part of God’s design for a fruitful life—not a distraction from itA good friend gives...1. Constant Love (Pr. 17:17; 18:24; 27:10)2. Honest Counsel (Pr. 27:6, 9, 17; 28:23)3. Safe Cover (17:9)
Big Idea: The wise person controls their anger; their anger does not control themAnger, in and of itself, is not sinful, but does reveal our hearts (Pr. 14:29)Anger is often the result of our influences (Pr 15:1, 22:24-25)To be slow to anger, become unoffendable (Pr 19:11)
Big Idea: Wherever there are lost people we should proclaim the name of Jesus boldly, contextually, and with welcome for the lost.1. Church planting establishes a gospel presence in the center of culture.2. Church planting reaches the broken and builds bridges to the lost3. Church planting proclaims the gospel in a culture of confusion4. Church planting declares Christ with boldness and clarity in every context.
Big Idea: Wisdom is a feast for those who fully commit themselves to it1. Wisdom’s feast is bountiful and life-giving (9:1-6)2. Folly’s feast is phony and deadly (9:13-18)3. Wisdom’s blessing is only for the committed (9:7-12)
Big Idea: Our resurrected purpose comes through seeing the resurrected King Jesus1. To know Jesus (v 1-14)2. To love him (v 15-17)3. To love his church (v 15-17)4. To sacrificially follow him (v 18-25)
Big Idea: Wisdom is a beautiful, loving mother who offers us life if we will just listenThis mother is...1. Impartial (8:1-9)2. Precious (8:10-11)3. Prudent (8:12-13)4. Generous (8:14-21)5. Work of God in Creation (8:22-31)6. Not To Be Ignored (8:32-36)
Big Idea: We are wise to listen to our Father’s lectures because they are full of love and lifeTen Parental Lectures: 1:8–19; 2:1–22; 3:1–12, 21–35; 4:1–9, 10–27; 5:1–23; 6:1–5, 20–35; 7:1–27Address: “My son...”Charge: “Listen up...”Motivation: “This is good for you...”Imperative: “Do this/don’t do that”Summary: “Wickedness leads to death, righteousness leads to life”
Big Idea: Proverbs reveals our need for wisdom and where we can find itThe wisdom of Proverbs...1. Originates with a young, wise king (1:1)2. Gives knowledge and skill to the young and inexperienced (1:2-4)3. Invites the teachable to learn well (1:5-6)4. Founded on the fear of the LORD (1:7)
Big Idea: To truly see the risen Christ, you must first believe in the suffering Christ1. Blinded by false expectations (24:13-24)2. Blinded by unbelief (24:25-27)3. Believing is seeing (24:28-35)
Big Idea: On the cross, Jesus offers sinners forgiveness and welcomes sinners with open arms.In Jesus we have...Jesus offers sinners forgiveness (v. 32-37)Jesus welcomes sinners with open arms (v.38-43)
Big Idea: Eternal life in Jesus is our victory, our confidence and our protectionIn Jesus we have...Victory over the world because we believe God’s testimony (5:4-12)Confidence in prayer because we ask and God hears us (5:14-17)Protection from the devil because we know the real God (5:18-21)
Big Idea: Those who know God love like God because God is loveThose who love like God...Receive his love that came down to them (4:9-11)Remain in his love that lives in them (4:12-19)Reciprocate his love that flows out of them (4:20-5:3)
Big Idea: God gives us his Spirit so we can confidently detect truth and errorDo they confess the real Christ? (4:2-3)Do they listen to God’s message? (4:5-6)
Big Idea: Genuine Christians are known by genuine Christian loveChristian love...Resists hate (3:12-15)Gives itself (3:16-17)Walks in truth (3:18-24)
Big Idea: God’s kids can have confidence they are his because they have the family traitsGod’s kids...Purify themselves in the hope of God’s love (3:1-3)Do right because they know Jesus, the Righteous One (3:4-7)Cannot imitate the devil because God’s DNA is in them (3:8-10)
Big Idea: It’s the last hour, so make sure you have the real Christ.The Real (2:20–21, 24–25, 27)• Anointing• Truth• Promise—eternal life• Remain in Jesus!
Big Idea: Your restored relationship with God requires you to reject a relationship with the worldYour relationships:Restored with God (2:12-14)Rejecting the world (2:15-17)
Big Idea: Eternal life begins with Jesus1. Jesus is eternal life embodied (1:1-2)2. Jesus is eternal life embraced (1:3)3. Jesus is eternal life enjoyed (1:4)
Big Idea: Silence and solitude is quieting the noise and withdrawing from the world in order to be alone with God.1. What is silence & solitude?2. Why is silence & solitude important to us?
Big Idea: A weekly pattern of rest can help us delight in and depend on the ultimate person of rest1) The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath (Mark 2:27)2) The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath (Mark 2:28)
Big Idea: Fasting is probably the best thing you’re not doing.Fasting is associated with:1. Confession2. Humility3. Preparation
Big Idea: Frequent prayer is fundamental to our relationship with GodAccording to Jesus, prayer is...1. By example (11:1)2. With purpose (11:2-4)3. In faith (11:5-13)
Big Idea: The blessed life is enjoyed by those who seek the Lord every day in his word.
Enjoy a short Christmas devotional from Matthew Nicosia from our 2024 candlelight service.
Big Idea: The final battle will be fierce, but God will raise his people in the endThe battle is...1. Fought beyond what our eyes can see (10:1-21)2. Focused on God’s people (11:1-45)3. Finished when God raises his faithful ones (12:1-13)
Big Idea: God’s people boldly confess their sin because God is putting an end to their sin1. A prayer of confession (9:1-19)2. A declaration of love (9:20-23)3. A prophecy of hope (9:24-27)
Big Idea: The powers want to break God’s people, but God’s hand will break the powers in the end.The powers...1. Break each other for control (8:3-8, 20-21)2. Are energized by Satan to break God’s people (8:9-12, 22-25a)3. Will be broken by God’s all-powerful hand (8:13-19, 25b-26)
Big Idea: The beasts may rage, but the King will reign!1. Welcome to the zoo (7:1-8, 19-25)2. The Judge is coming (7:9-12, 26)3. The Son of Man reigns forever (7:13-14, 18, 22, 27)
Big Idea: Even lions are no match for our God, so give him your unflinching loyalty1. Daniel’s loyalty to the living God (6:1-13)2. God’s power over ravenous lions (6:14-24)3. King Darius’ declaration about who is really in charge (6:25-28)
Big Idea: The proud flaunt their perceived worth, but God holds the scales1. The pride of a foolish ruler (5:1-12)2. God holds the scales (5:13-31)
Big Idea: Human rulers may talk a good game, but only God is truly in charge1. Warning (4:4-27)2. Humiliation (4:28-33)3. Sanity (4:34-37)
Big Idea: We can boldly resist wicked, earthly powers because our God is a more powerful Deliverer1. The king’s arrogant wickedness (3:1-7)2. Three young men’s bold resistance (3:8-18)3. God of Israel’s powerful deliverance (3:19-30)
Only the God of heaven can reveal the future because only he controls the future1. The king’s dream stumps his advisors (2:1-13)2. The God of heaven reveals the dream to Daniel (2:14-23)3. The future revealed: the God of heaven reigns forever! (2:24-45)4. The king acknowledges the God of heaven... for now (2:46-49)
In exile...1. God is in control (1:1-7)2. God requires faithfulness (1:8-14)3. God saves his people (1:15-21)
To have a significant impact for the poor . . .1. We have to be Jesus Kingdom minded about the poor2. We have to be committed to God’s missional purpose of the local church
Big Idea: Working for Christ is an inside out endeavorJesus-centered, inside out work has a renewed:1. Scope (3:23a)2. Focus (3:23b)3. Motivation (3:24)
Big Idea: Walking with Christ is a together endeavorThe “togethers” of our walk:1. Calling (4:1)2. Attitudes (4:2)3. Purpose (4:3-6)
Big Idea: Worshiping Christ is an all-of-life endeavorWorship...1. Begins with visualization (12:1a)2. Leads to presentation (12:1b)3. Results in transformation (12:2)
Big Idea: Above all God expects justice, kindness and humility- Justice: mishpat- Kindness: hesed- Humility: ṣnʿ
Big Idea: Jesus gives us only two options: choose life or choose death1. Two roads (7:13-14)2. Two trees (7:15-23)3. Two foundations (7:24-27)
Big Idea: For right relationships, we must see clearly1. See yourself clearly (7:1-5)2. See others clearly (7:5-6)3. See your Father clearly (7:7-12)
Big Idea: Treasure Christ and His kingdom. Trust Jesus.1. Heavenly treasures are better treasures (v19-21)2. Two warnings about earthly treasures (v22-24)3. Trust Him (v25-34)
Big Idea: Jesus call us to live rightly for God’s reward, not people’s applause1. Giving rightly (6:2-4)2. Praying rightly (6:5-15) 3. Fasting rightly (6:16-18)
Big Idea: Jesus completes God’s law and he shows us what truly right living looks like.1. Jesus completes the law (5:17-20)2. Jesus reveals truly right living (5:21-48)
How should a Christian handle new pronouns? Should a Christian ever go to a gay wedding? Listen to Pastor Matthew and Elder Matt discuss these and other pressing questions from the congregation in this roundtable discussion on gender and sexuality. To learn even more about this topic, listen to our sermon series titled "What Does the Bible Really Say About Gender & Sexuality" on our website.
Big Idea: The good life begins in our hearts and moves out to the world.1. The portrait of the good life (5:1-12)2. The good life displayed (5:13-16)
Big Idea: Disciples of Jesus, as we reflect His image more and more, always have a next step.1. You know what to do. You’re already doing it. Do so more and more. (v1-3)2. Take a next step to conquer sin in your private life (v3-8)3. Take a next step to love others in your public life (v9-12)
Big Idea: Working for the Glory of God starts with a new identity as he equips and commissions us for the work he’s given us to do.1. We work from our identity (v1-2)2. We work as those who are equipped (v3-5)3. We work with unity in community (v6-11)4. We work by being commissioned (v6-11)
Those who have been saved by God must embrace his heart for the nations 1. Jonah disobeys God (1:1-16) 2. God saves Jonah (1:17-2:10) 3. God saves Nineveh (3:1-10) 4. Jonah loves himself (4:1-8) 5. God loves the nations (4:9-11)
Big Idea: Wisdom is about who you know, not what you knowWisdom’s Feast (9:1-6)Folly’s Feast (9:13-18)The Invitation (9:7-12)
Big Idea: The church’s witness keeps on going at all times and in all placesThe witness of a good reputation (28:17-22)The witness of a bold message (28:23-28)The witness of a faithful presence (28:30-31)
Big Idea: Jesus overcomes every obstacle for those he sends to witness1. Jesus protects through a storm and a shipwreck (27:1-44)2. Jesus heals from a snake bite and a fever (28:1-10)3. Jesus delivers Paul to his promised destination (28:11-16)
Big Idea: Successful witnessing is faithful witnessing1. Like Felix, some people are alarmed but unrepentant (24:1-27)2. Like Festus, some people are curious but self-centered (25:1-27)3. Like Agrippa, some people are knowledgeable but hard-hearted (26:1-32)4. But like Paul, our job is to faithfully tell others about Jesus and pray they would believe the gospel (26:29)
Jesus gives us courage to witnesseven through intolerance, injustice and violence1. Paul pursues unity (21:17-26)2. Paul faces intolerance (21:27-22:22)3. Paul suffers injustice (22:23-23:5)4. Paul is threatened by violence (23:6-10)5. Jesus encourages Paul to keep witnessing (23:11)
Big Idea: Jesus’ family is our identity and our communityJesus’ family is…1. Our Identity2. Our Community
Big Idea: The gospel of Jesus qualifies us and motivates us to pursue sexual integrity for God’s glory.Sexual integrity matters because . . .1. God has qualified us for his kingdom (6:9-11)2. Our bodies have become one with Christ’s body (6:12-17)3. Our bodies have become temples of the Holy Spirit (6:18-20)
Big Idea: We all experience sexual brokenness because of our fall into sin1. We rejected the Creator and his design (Gen. 3:1-7; Rom. 1:18-25)2. God gave us up to our desires (Rom. 1:26-32)3. But, God isn’t done with us . . . (Rom. 2:3-4)
Big Idea: The Lord is our Difference Maker
Because the Lord is our Difference Maker…
-
No one and nothing can stop him from fulfilling his promises to us.
-
Our victory is found in the power of his presence, especially when we feel weak.
-
His plan for us is simply to trust and obey even when we don't know exactly what the future holds.
Big Idea: An encountering with Jesus marked by change, and a call to focus and following Him
-
When you encounter Jesus, your life will change (John 21:18-19)
-
When you encounter Jesus, He will call you to focus and flow (John 21:20-22))
THE ILLNESS
1) Greed (13-15)
2) Misplaced Hope (16-19)
3) Selfishness (20-21)
THE PRESCRIPTION
1) Be Content (22-27)
2) Seek His Kingdom (28-32)
3) Be Generous (33-34)
1) How can we be secure in our salvation?
Our salvation is secured by the work of Christ!
2) How can we be secure in the love of Christ?
The work of Christ guarantees the love of Christ forever.
BIG IDEA: Jesus is the faithful Son who overcomes temptation so we can, too.
-
Three temptations
a. Bread (vv. 3-4)
b. Glory (vv. 5-8)
c. Protection (9-12) -
Three implications
a. Worship the faithful Son.
b. Live a Spirit-filled life.
c. Learn to fight temptation.
BIG IDEA: The words of Scripture function like no other words and we need them like no other words.
-
Scripture changes us to glorify God (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
-
Scriptures needs to be communicated (2 Timothy 4:1-2)
-
Scripture competes with our cravings (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
BIG IDEA: Love is always the answer
-
Love is always superior. (12:31-13:3)
-
Love is always clear. (13:4-7)
-
Love is always. (13:8-13)
BIG IDEA: “Thanksgiving is a supernatural, heartfelt response of joy based on the character and promises of God.”
-
Give thanks for God is good and loving (v1)
-
Give thanks for God’s redemptive work (v2-3)
BIG IDEA: “Sitting at the feet of Jesus is always the best choice”
Sitting at the feet of Jesus means:
-
Focusing on Jesus relationally
-
Following Jesus’ teaching faithfully
-
His sacrifice proves that He loves you more than anyone, He is worthy of our worship.
-
Because of His sacrifice, I should draw near to Him, hold the gospel tight, and intentionally minister to others in my church.
BIG IDEA: Find peace in the person of Jesus
-
Find peace in the gospel of Jesus (8-12)
-
Find peace in the glory of Jesus (13-14)
-
Find peace in the grace of Jesus (14)
BIG IDEA: Only Jesus can provide a better hope that gives us certainty in His work and our future.
-
We hope for better…Jesus is better (18-23)
-
We hope for what we can’t control…Jesus is in control (24)
-
We hope for what hasn’t happened yet…Jesus came, and He’s coming again (25)
Lie #1: Your sin has no impact on your relationship with God (6-7)
Lie #2: You can be completely free from sin right now (8-9)
Lie #3: Does God call you a sinner? You’re not! (10)
BIG IDEA: Because of the grace of God, we are generous
-
Grace is rooted in love (1-8)
-
Grace is reciprocated to others (9-15)
-
God’s majesty overwhelms and overpowers us (1, 9)
-
God uses the weak to embarrass the strong (2-4)
-
God allows frail humans to govern his world (5-8)
BIG IDEA: “God will take care of his people, so put your trust completely in him alone.”
-
Declare the reason for anxiety
-
Dig out the root of anxiety
-
Depend on the remedy for anxiety
BIG IDEA: “You began in Christ alone. Keep going in Christ alone. Christ is everything.
-
We walk in Christ by looking back at who and what we received (v 6)
-
We walk in Christ firmly rooted and continually built on a secure foundation (v 7a)
-
We walk in Christ with overflowing and increasing gratefulness for grace (v 7b)
Three foundational things God wants us to know about Him from Genesis 1:
-
I must listen to Jesus and obey because His word is powerful.
-
I have nothing to fear because God is providential
-
I can trust God because His design is good.
-
We don’t just repent from something, we repent to someone.
-
Repentance isn’t just behavior, it’s posture
-
Repentance is not a one-shot deal
-
All ministry isn’t good ministry (v. 6-8)
-
A Voice, A Vision, and Value (v. 9)
-
The sweetness of submission is that is keeps us connected to God’s calling (v. 10)
Our body grows…
-
When we look more like Christ (13)
-
When we know the Word of God (14-15)
-
When we work for Christ in unity (11-12, 16)
BIG IDEA: Our Lord is mightier than any trial we will ever face.
-
Our Lord reigns. (1-2)
-
Our trials roar. (3)
-
Our Lord stands victorious. (4-5)
BIG IDEA: God is love; and if we are to love one another, we must come to know God through His Son.
-
The source of love is God (7-8)
-
The gift of love is Christ (9-10)
-
The completion of love is one another (11-12)
Genuine faith hears and does God’s word by…
-
Listening (v 19-21)
-
Checking my Fruit (22-25)
-
Pursuing Purity (v 26-27
BIG IDEA: “God’s mission is not meant to be lip service, but life service”
-
God uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary (v 5-6)
-
God is glorified when we are unified (v 5-11)
-
I am inadequate, so I must be dependent (v 3-4)
-
God is faithful and I am grateful (v 6)
-
Living on mission will cost you everything, but it is worth it all (v 6-14)
Will & Jewell join Ryan to talk about how to approach dating from a Biblical perspective, answering questions about singleness as a gift, challenges in dating, and the ultimate goal of dating (hint: it's NOT marriage).
-
Because my Shepherd is leading me, I have all I need (1-3)
-
Because my Shepherd is with me, I have no reason to fear (4)
-
Because my Shepherd is inviting me, I enjoy Him (5-6)
BIG IDEA: "Keep your eyes on our unchanging Savior because He will always be who He's always been."
-
Jesus is the Ultimate Man we look to
-
Jesus can always be trusted because He is always the same
BIG IDEA: "Thinking with the right perspective leads to the right actions"
-
Intentionally think about your hope (13)
-
Imitate your Father's holiness (14-16)
My value is based on…
-
God’s love for me, not my performance
-
What God says of me, not popularity
-
Belonging to God, not my possessions
BIG IDEA: "The ultimate purpose for your thinking is to know God so that you can love God."
-
Know the purpose for your mind
-
Love God with all of your mind
"When you think biblically you will live differently because you will be able to discern rightly what God wants for you."
-
Think biblically
-
Discern rightly
-
Live differently
BIG IDEA: "There's an urgency to keep getting gospel work done here and around the world!"
-
Avoid foolish arguments (vv.8-9)
-
Discipline divisive people (vv.10-11)
-
Keep a Kingdom mindset (vv.12-15)
BIG IDEA: "We need to constantly rehearse the gospel to ourselves"
3 reasons why...so that you will:
-
Have compassion on other sinners (v.3)
-
Place your confidence in God's work in you (vv.4-7)
-
Be careful to do good works (v.8)
BIG IDEA: "The gospel calls us to be good citizens and neighbors in our community.”
-
Be a submissive citizen who works for the good of our community (v. 1)
-
Be a kind neighbor who loves everyone in our community (v. 2)
One of our 6 pursuits at Fairfax Bible Church is "Fervent Prayer" - we will seek the Lord, His will, and His way with hearts humble before Him and confident in his plan.
Adrian and Angel follow-up on our Prayer Night by discussing what it means to be a praying church, how to pray without ceasing, and how fasting fits into our spiritual disciplines.
BIG IDEA: "The gospel teaches us how God wants us to live and why.”
-
Say “No!”
-
Say “Yes!”
-
Say “Come!”
-
Say “Thank You!”
-
Say “Let’s Go!”
BIG IDEA: "You have a role to play so that our community is shaped by the gospel and reaches our culture with the gospel."
-
Your life can influence others in the church
-
Your life can reach unbelievers outside the church
After growing up in the Philippines, Ms. Lilia made her way to the United States to pursue a career in the medical field. Her life has been marked by story after story of Lilia's faithfulness to God and God's faithfulness to her. She was encouraged to share these stories with the world, which she recounts in her book, Lilia: My Life in the Hand of the Maker.
BIG IDEA: "If we're going to be a community shaped by the gospel, our elders have to call out any message that contradicts the gospel!"
-
We have to know what is false teaching
-
We have to know how to deal with false teachers
BIG IDEA: "Elders lead by example so that the church is a community shaped by the gospel"
-
We need leaders who care (v. 5)
-
We need to be examples of godly families (v. 6)
-
We need to be examples of godly character (vv. 7-8)
-
We need to be taught sound doctrine (v. 9)
Jesus’ call to follow Him in the Bible sounds pretty intense and even radical. But is that because we have excused away His words and settled for a more comfortable version of discipleship? If we honestly look at what Jesus said, what seems “radical” should really just be normal Christianity. Anything less just isn’t discipleship.
BIG IDEA: "A growing church is a community shaped by the gospel. So we have to preach the gospel!"
-
We preach the gospel so that you will believe
-
We preach the gospel so that you will be godly
-
We preach the gospel so that we will be a loving community
BIG IDEA: “No matter what you’re going through, you can grow in your faith when you humble yourself and trust that God is your salvation”
-
Get low in worship (vv.1-2)
-
Remember while you wait (vv.3-16)
-
Trust Him no matter what (vv.17-19)
How can you initiate conversations with unbelievers? How can you start creating opportunities to share your faith as opposed to merely looking for opportunities?
Ian, Emma, and Kathie share stories about how they've been able to share their faith and provide some practical tools and tips to help us as we seek to live sent in our community.
BIG IDEA: “Learn your lesson now from God’s coming judgment on all the proud and unrighteous!”
-
You have the assurance of God’s victory
-
You have to learn to humbly trust Him
BIG IDEA: "Sometimes we just have to wait and have faith that God's plan is perfect."
-
Wait for it
-
Live by faith
Adrian Zhang was born in China and eventually made his way to the United States with his family. In this episode, he walks us through what his life was like before meeting Christ, how he came to know Christ, and what his life has been like since.
BIG IDEA: “God is working in our world even when it’s difficult to see or understand.”
-
Take your struggles with the world directly to the Lord (1-4)
-
You may be shocked by His sovereignty (5-11)
Jeff, Matt, and Dave recap 2020 and reflect on what the Lord has been doing and teaching us this year.
BIG IDEA: "In Jesus, we can enjoy the presence of God!"
-
He wants to be with us
-
He is with us even when things are hard
-
He will be with us and never leave us
-
We will be with Him forever
Struggling to develop a habit of reading your Bible? Looking for how to build a plan for your reading? Matt and Hannah take a look at Psalm 1 and talk about how reading your Bible every day proves its value time after time.
Mentioned Resources:
Bible Project Read Scripture Plan: https://www.readscripture.org/
BIG IDEA: "Let's carry out the mission with self-control"
-
Don't forget you're dead to sin.
-
Don't be controlled by sin but by the Spirit.
-
Don't even give your sinful desires an opportunity.
-
Delight yourself in the Lord.
-
Discipline yourself to run for the prize.
Ryan and Abe talk about social media, specifically how to engage on social media as Christians. By looking at some danger zones and going through some questions to ask before hitting "post" or "reply", they offer a biblical way to engage on social media for the glory of God.
BIG IDEA: "Let's carry out the mission with gentleness"
-
Evangelize with gentleness (1 Peter 3:15)
-
Disciple with gentleness (Galatians 6:1)
We all deal with anger - it may explode, simmer, or seem dormant, but we all experience anger. With anger defined as what we experience when we perceive something is WRONG and IMPORTANT, Matt and Ryan discuss anger from a biblical viewpoint as it relates to the character of God.
BIG IDEA: "In Christ you can do what is good, and that goodness will shine in the dark."
-
Live in light of who you are in the Lord (5-8)
-
Learn what is good so that you can please the Lord (9-14)
BIG IDEA: “True believers receive Jesus and show it by their kindness”
-
You will demonstrate your faith by your kindness to your brothers and sisters
-
You will be joyfully surprised that your kindness was done to Christ
There’s so much information coming at us right now from many different directions. How do we read, listen, watch and consume news and media with biblical wisdom? This is a timely discussion for our church.
BIG IDEA: "Be patient as you're making disciples just as the Lord has been patient with you"
-
Patiently admonish the idle
-
Patiently encourage the fainthearted
-
Patiently help the weak
-
Jesus brings us peace by making us whole with the Father
-
Jesus brings us peace by making us whole with each other
BIG IDEA: "You can be full of joy right now because of what Jesus has and will accomplish"
-
We have peace with God (vv.1-2a)
-
We have hope of the glory of God (v.2b)
-
We have hope even in suffering (vv.3-5)
BIG IDEA: Follow the Spirit to avoid the flesh and grow in the fruit of godliness
-
“Follow the Spirit to avoid the flesh…”
-
“…and grow in the fruit of godliness”
In Mark 1:21-45 we see that Jesus is the Powerful, Popular, Prayed-up, Pitying Preacher. He is constantly seeking ways to serve the physical needs of the people without losing sight of his ultimate goal of meeting the spiritual need of everyone. Let us also not lose sight of the gospel that motivates us to serve others and make disciples.
What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? As a church we want to make sure that we are striving for a quality of discipleship and not just quantity. As we continue through Mark chapter one we can see and follow the example of Jesus as he calls the disciples to follow him.
We are starting our new sermon series through the Gospel of Mark. We start in chapter 1 by asking the question, what happens if we misunderstand Jesus? Misunderstanding Jesus can be the difference between life and death, joy and despair, truth and lies, meaning and purpose. Mark's writings will help us to understand and believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
On this Reformation Sunday, we are thankful for how God preserved and used His Word, and we hope you grow in your appreciation for hearing these words every Sunday: "Let's open our Bibles."
How do we, as disciples of Jesus, handle our finances? How we view and how we use our money reveals what your heart values most. Disciples of Jesus view and use their finances through the wisdom found in God's Word.
We believe that God has called us to live our lives in uncommon community. In this community we also believe that God would have us serve each other. We will not be able to do this successfully unless we, as a church, thrive for a posture of service. This posture can change our perspective and help impact our church community.
By God's grace our church has been growing this year. Exciting as that may be, numbers do not automatically mean mature growth in our people. Are we fulfilling our mission to glorify God by making disciples? At the heart of our uncommon community is a deep desire and need for God's Word. The Bible is what we need if we're going to see mature disciples growing and multiplying at Harvest.
We are proud to live in Northern Virginia. Except for the traffic, we love it here. For everything that we love there is one thing that is universally difficult to find, and that is, community. Because of Jesus' work on the cross we are a part of the body of Christ. Because of Jesus you are part of this Uncommon Community, and we belong together.
Where are you looking for satisfaction? How would you finish this sentence, "If I could just have ______, then I'd be happy." Psalm 63 tells us where we should be looking for satisfaction in life. When we seek God and see Him, His glory is satisfying and it makes us sing.
We love living in Northern Virginia. The diversity of culture and economy makes the DMV truly unique. Within our love for our community there is also a desire to see the lives of Northern Virginia transformed by the glory of God. God's glory is like a waterfall, overwhelming yet satisfying. When we experience His glory we will be changed.
We are celebrating 5 years of God at work at Harvest Fairfax. As we look ahead to this next year and beyond we are trusting God for 100 stories of lives changed by the glory of God. Catch this vision and share your story at www.harvestfairfax.org/100stories
Summer is sadly over but that only means that we have a new ministry to look ahead to with new visitors to our church. We have an axciting opportunity to create a culture of invitation that touches everyone we come in contact with. God will use our humility, love, and urgency to invite others to follow him.
The people of Ninevah repent and God withholds his wrath on the city. This should mean some kind of celebration from Jonah right? Wrong. Jonah has a spiteful heart. A spiteful, self-centered heart is sick. As he has throughtout the entire book, Jonah holds a mirror up to our lives and makes us examine our hearts.
When was the last time you're amazed by God? In Jonah chapter 3 we see God at work in an amazing way in the city of Ninevah. Today, God continues to give grace that none of us deserve. We need only repent to experience this amazing grace.
We have come to the most famous part in the book of Jonah...the "big fish." If this part of the story has ever caused you pause, it's ok. God is big enough for our questions and, as with Jonah, He is big enough for our mess. Whatever mess you find yourself in today you can be encouraged that God saves us out of our mess.
As we continue our study through the book of Jonah we find our main character running physically and spiritually from God. The further Jonah runs the more we see God demonstrating his sovereignty over Jonah himself and the people he comes in contact with. Are you running from God? Let Jonah offer you warning and encouragement that it is foolish to run from God and that God is always ready to take you back.
Despite what you may have learned in Sunday School, the book of Jonah is not about a big fish. Jonah tells the story of our great God, His sovereignty, and His love for you, me and the nations. Much like the rest of God's Word it requires us to look at ourselves and see where God would challenge us to encounter Him in a personal way.
July has been our month of service. We have organized several projects designed to help our church engage our community through acts of service. After July is over do the acts of service stop also? We see in matthew 5 that Jesus would have shine our light not only for good works but to glorify our Father in heaven.
How do we make an impact in Northern Virginia? There are a lot of people who are trying to do good in our community. Many of them are not Christians. So what is the difference in what we’re trying to do? What makes us distinct is that we have what the world needs and that is the good news of the gospel.
We are not a church that is only interested in us. We believe God has placed us here to imapact Northern Virginia. We want to serve our neighbors. Are you a godly neighbor? Do you pass the Neighbor Test? Do you love God by loving your neighbor?
God has called disciples of Jesus Christ to not only be unafraid witnesses but to also seek the welfare of their city. We find this message from the prophet Jeremiah. It is here that we start our Go Beyond series. We want to go beyond our church walls and our comfort zones to serve the people of Fairfax County. Visit our website for the sermon and more details about Go Beyond.
Have you ever had a complaint with God? You wouldn't be the first. The Psalms are full of people complaining to God about their circumstances. Fortunately, God is bigger than our circumstances and greater than our complaints. God is always faithful to complete what he starts. God's plan always results in His praise.
Spiritual warfare is not won by desire, resolve or willpower. Our strength to win spiritual battles comes from God alone. Ephesians 6 lays this out for us and gives us weapons and defenses to stand in this battle. Have you been STUMBLING lately? You might be under attack! You can turn right now and ask for help from the only One who does not lose.
Ephesians 6 opens the subject of slavery. Does the Bible condone slavery? As we study this chapter we see that Paul is planting the seeds of the gospel on the inside so that the walls of this institution can’t contain it and they burst with the downfall of slavery. The Bible does NOT condone slavery. The gospel guts it from the inside out so it can’t live.
Parenting is not for the faint of heart. It's hard. God has given us a special responsibility to teach our kids to know & love Christ. We only have a limited time to teach our kids so we need to WHAT and HOW God would have us raise them.
Modeling our lives after the teachings of the Bible can make us look radically different from the culture we live in. This is especially true when it comes to marriage. The marriages within the church should look different from the rest of Northern Virginia. When we fear Jesus, we will joyfully embrace our countercultural roles that God has set up for husbands and wives.
What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Is the Spirit's filling only for big moments in life and deep emotional experiences? As we continue studying Ephesians we see that we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit today and every day for every circumstance.
Do you love the light? In Ephesians 5, Paul challenges Christians to "walk in the light." This truly is a challenge because we live in a world that loves the darkness. Sexual immorality is an especially dangerous trap for the Christian and Paul offers warning and encouragement as we continue to walk in the light.
When a church experiences growth it is easy to associate the church's growth with your own spiritual growth. Are you growing? Ephesians 4 gives us a few steps that we can take to ensure we are continuously growing disciples of Jesus Christ.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is an unbelievable story. This story is the reason we celebrate on Easter Sunday. Can you believe it? The whole purpose of the gospel of John is to make a case for us to believe that Jesus really is who he says he is and believing in the risen Savior is both reasonable and rewarding.
Do you want to be a part of a growing church? God has given us unique gifts to use to serve his church. When each part of the body is working properly it builds up the body of Christ and our church will grow.
Paul is not interested in the Ephesians merely learning some interesting information. He is expecting them to make some changes in the way they live. As we enter into the second half of this letter we find that it is full of practical application. Because who you are, changes how you live, and how you live matters.
A lot has happened in the Ephesian church. Lives have been changed and the church is growing. The Apostle Paul knows this dramatic change is not their own doing. And if they are going to keep it up they need to be strengthed by God. As we continue in Ephesians 3 we see Paul's prayer for the church is God's desire for us today.
Are you all in for Christ and His Church? We are all at varying degrees of commitment when it comes to our involvement in the church. As we continue our sermon series through the book of Ephesians we are reminded that going all in for Christ is always worth it. When you are gripped by the gospel you will go, even through agony, for the glory of God.
Our church family is full of different demographics representing various ethnicities, nations, languages, cultures, levels of education, occupations, economic situations, and ages...we are very DIVERSE! These differences that we celebrate have the potential to build walls between us. Praise God that the cross of Christ breaks down these walls and we are reconciled.
The world is full of artists who have created beautiful masterpieces. However, we forget the greatest masterpiece of all - us! If we are living in Christ, then he has redeemed your story and created a beautiful testimony for each and every one of us. We are His masterpiece. This is who we are.
We are continuing our series through the book of Ephesians. The apostle wants to hit home the fact that God does not value us based on our performance for Him. Our hope, value and power come from who we are in Christ.
Have you have ever had a moment where you came to grips with the fact that your life was a mess? No matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t fix it. In Christ, your story doesn't stop there. We have hope. By the power of the gospel and the promise of the Holy Spirit, there are better days ahead. This is who we are.
The book of Ephesians serves as a mirror for us to see the reality of WHO we are in Christ and HOW we live in light of that reality. Our first look in the mirror is a foundational truth: we are chosen by God. That gives us incredible assurance and we can stop looking in all the wrong mirrors. And best of all, God gets all the glory!
In sports, half-time is used to assess the first half and look forward to a strong finish in the second half. The theme for church this year has been in the form a prayer, "God, work." This Sunday we took a look at how God has already been answering this prayer and how we are going to continue to seek God's will for our church in 2017.
Forgiveness is not always easy. In fact, it's usually quite difficult. But the Bible is very serious about God's people choosing to forgive. At Harvest, we want to be a church that forgives without limits. Jesus gives us very clear instruction in Matthew 18 on how to do this. So, who do you need to forgive?
We end our worship service every Sunday with the words, "You are loved." Every church wants to be and considers themselves a "loving church." But we want to be a church that loves without condition. Wouldn't it be great to be a part of a church like that? This is what we do.
How do we respond to people coming into our church community that are different? We want to be a church that welcomes without judgment. Are we that church? Christ challenges us through his example in Luke 7 to examine ourselves in this area. This is the first sermon in our three-part series entitled, "This is What We Do."
Last week we looked at the Lord's Prayer and asked, who are we praying to? Once you know WHO you’re talking to, you know WHAT to pray for. What we pray for is not simply a matter of personal application but our prayer life impacts the whole church. If our church is to grow, we need to grow in our prayers as well.
How’s your prayer life lately? Do you love to pray? Is growing your prayer life one of your New Year's resolutions? For the next two weeks we will be looking at Christ's teaching to see how his example might give us a foundation for a year full of prayer.
In Matthew 2 we are introduced to the villain of the Christmas story. Jesus has only been born and just his presence on earth is a threat to the kingdoms of man. But, the tension between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of man only adds to the magnificence and miraculous nature of the manger scene.
Throughout the book of Matthew we find people discovering who Jesus is. Who you believe Jesus is will greatly effect what you expect him to do. John the Baptist in Matthew 11 found himself in this situation. We too will be faced with this question and find that our expectations of Jesus are not too high, but too low.
We all love the Christmas season to varying degrees. Everyone has their favorite Christmas traditions and maybe even their favorite Christmas story in the Bible. One that gets overlooked many times is the genealogical record found in Matthew 1. Here we see that to be all in for Christmas is to be all in for the gospel. How we respond to the Christmas story is a direct reflection of how much weight we place on the gospel in our life. So, let’s go all in.
We accomplish our mission to "Glorify God" by fulfilling the Great Commission. So, let’s be really clear on what that means. Pastor Jeff gives us to imperatives from Matthew 28 on how we can help Harvest accomplish this mission. Are you with us?
When you’ve got a job to do you’ve got to roll up your sleeves and get to work! We’ve got a job to do. Our mission at Harvest is to glorify God through the fulfillment of the Great Commission in the spirit of the Great Commandment. This mission is not just some statement to hang on the wall that nobody really cares about. It reminds us: We’ve got a job to do! Work for Christ means you’re actively serving in His Church. So, let’s get to work!
Colossians 1:10 tells us to, "walk in a manner worthy of the Lord." Your "walk" is how you live and how you live matters. So how's your walk? To help us answer this question Pastor Jeff gives us three affirmations that you’re walking in a manner worthy of Christ.
At Harvest we believe a growing disciple of Jesus Christ worships Christ, walks with Christ, and works for Christ. Over the next three weeks we are going to unpack these three W's. This Sunday we are looking in John 4 where Jesus himself tells us that God wants you to be a True Worshipper.
October 31, 1517, is the day that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door at Wittenburg in Germany. This started, what we know today as, the Reformation. The history of the Reformation reminds us of the urgency in making sure we understand with clarity the power of the gospel. When we get the gospel right, that changes everything.
We have come to the end of this letter. Today we finish preaching through our first book of the Bible together. God was at work in the Thessalonian church. God is at work in his church today. With a strong foundation in the hope of the gospel, we too, can be UNSHAKEN.
Our church family is not perfect, but, we are family. At the end of Paul's letter to the Thessalonians he gives several ways for us to rightly handle the relationships within the church.
We saw last week at the end of chapter 4 that Paul was encouraging the Thessalonian church with this incredible hope: JESUS IS COMING AGAIN! The question now is, are you ready? Pastor Jeff gives us three reminders from 1 Thessalonians 5 that help us to live like we're ready for Jesus to return.
One of the reasons Paul was writing this letter to the Thessalonians is that he wanted to give the church hope. Uncertainty and the unknown can be scary. But, we have an unshaken hope because Jesus is coming again!
Eat, sleep, work, repeat? Does this feel like your life at times? As Paul continues to encourage the Thessalonian church we find three reasons for the basic command for us to work. We need to get a correct theology of work because we don’t always look at work as a good thing. God gave us work and work is another opportunity to glorify Him.
Every Sunday we close our worship service with the phrase, “you are loved.” Do we mean that? We want to be a church where everyone knows that phrase to be true. We need God’s help to love and embrace our church as family. We need God’s help to love as he loves us.
When God works, that changes EVERYTHING! We want him to go above and beyond our plans and do what only he can do. As we look ahead our theme for the year is a simple prayer, "God, work."
Have you ever wanted to know God's will for your life? In 1 Thessalonians 4 Paul gives us insight into what God's will is, but it might not be exactly what we're hoping for. While we sometimes might feel that God's will is unknowable, we find in the scriptures that God wants us to know and obey his will.
When you stand for the values of God's Kingdom in opposition of the world's upside down kingdom there will be a number of consequences. We find this when we look at the example of Paul in Acts 17. Pastor Jeff offers us some "warning labels" for us to consider as we continue to represent Christ's kingdom in the world we live in.
How we respond to crisis has everything to do with our view of God. God wants to use the crisis in our lives to draws us closer to him and put his greatness on display. Pastor Rick Donald shares with us from 1 Samuel how God’s Word would have us respond to crisis in a way that brings us closer to God.
This is our third and final sermon in our sermon series, "Upside Down Kingdom." This week we are talking about God’s view on sex. The message of our world is that sex is for “me.” In Hebrews 13 we find that God’s message is that sex is for marriage. We look to God’s Word for instruction and help on how to live according to God’s plan for sex and also for forgiveness when we fall short.
The topic of money is always a touchy subject in church. But, God’s Word has a lot to say about money. In a culture that loves money we want to honor God with ours.
The values of the world are upside down when compared to those of Christ’s Kingdom. However, since we are living in the world as we seek to follow Christ we are seen as upside down. Our sermon series, Upside Down Kingdom, challenges us to be watchful of the worldly views that can easily sneak their way into our everyday way of life.
Our mission at Harvest Bible Chapel is to make disciples in Fairfax. This is where God has called us to live and work. What is your part? How can you be a part of the mission here in northern Virginia? Pastor Jeff gives us 5 challenges from Colossians to point us in the right direction to reach or friends and neighbors with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Psalm 103:2 says, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Remembering who God is and what he has done is so important to the Christian because remembering stokes the fire of our hearts to worship God.
Psalm 51 is the prayer of David after he is confronted with his sin. As we read and learn from his prayer of confession and repentance we find that we too, while grieving the sin in our life can find joy and freedom in God's forgiveness.
Psalm 1 and 2 compliment each other and in a way, serve as an introduction to the book of Psalms as a whole. Psalms is more than a book of songs and prayers. It is instructive. We see that in these first two chapters as we learn how choosing godliness leads to worshipping the one true God.
One of our 4 pillars at Harvest is "Unsahamed Adoration." We want to lift high the name of Jesus in worship because he is worthy. In Psalm 122 we see that we have been given an invitation to worship the Lord. How are you going to answer that invitation?
How you talk to people sets the tone for your relationships. Our words can build up and tear down. This week we get into the Scriptures and see how God would have us talk to each other.
We are starting a new sermon series called, "Let's Talk." We want to learn how to talk to the most important people in our lives and that starts with God. One of our pillars at Harvest is "believing firmly in the power of prayer." Lets look at Luke 18 to see what God would have us talk to Him.
When you read old letters sent to a loved one you can read between the lines and get the context of what’s been happening. You can see the different event experienced, the emotions shared, and their desires. As we read Paul's letter to the Thessalonian church it has been abundantly clear that Paul LOVES the people of this church. Do you love your church? Do you love the people of Harvest Bible Chapel Fairfax?
The word, establish, could be defined as, set up on a firm or permanent base. This is an important time for our church to be established in God's Word. With God's Word as our foundation we will remain unshaken.
In times of turmoil perspective can be reassuring. In 1 Thessalonians 2, the apostle Paul is reassuring the church that they are not alone. The church today can benefit from this perspective as we face uncertain times.
In 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12 Paul continues to set the example of how we can represent Christ well as we serve him. We want to be good stewards of Jesus name as we seek to share the gospel with the world around us.
Harvest Bible Chapel is grounded in Jesus Christ and built upon four pillars. The first pillar is Unapologetic Preaching. We want to proclaim the authority of God's Word without apology. 1 Thessalonians 2 has a message for those doing the preaching. Pastor Jeff challenges us to always be in prayer for the men God has called to lead us.
We're living in uncertain times under the weight and pressure of a culture of immorality and ungodliness that's increasingly hostile towards the values of the Kingdom of Christ. As we start our new series in the book of 1 Thessalonians we will see what it takes to be prepared for whatever this fallen world might have to offer. We know that with a strong foundation in the hope of the gospel we will be UNSHAKEN.
We finish our series, Encounter Christ, looking at the effect Jesus had on his disciples, transforming them from timid, doubting men to unafraid witnesses of the gospel.
In Mark 10 we are introduced to a rich, young ruler who encountered Christ. His response to Christ serves as a warning and a challenge to not hold on to our earthly treasure lest we miss the eternal treasure of Jesus himself.
Trends come and trends go. What do you do when Jesus is the trend? Pastor Jeff offers us a few warnings to make sure that Jesus is not just a passing trend in your life.
Working for Christ can be challenging. It often requires sacrificing of time and energy above what we are giving elsewhere. But, it is always worth the sacrifice because of who Jesus is and what he has done for us. In Mark 6 we see the disciples learn this lesson and are challenged to do the same.
There were over 500 witnesses to Jesus after his resurrection. What would happen if we put those witnesses on trial? We would find lives changed by the resurrection story. This Easter Sunday, Pastor Jeff invites you to let the Resurrection Story of Jesus change YOUR story as well.
Pastor Jeff is starting a new sermon series where we study the narratives of people who "Encounter Christ." These narratives will show us that when we encounter Christ our lives change. In this first sermon of this series, Pastor Jeff preaches from Luke 5, challenging us to "leave the boat."
Our Director of Worship, Ben Garcia, shares with us how being a part of a church plant has changed his perspective on what it means to serve like Jesus in a local church. He shares with us a special message for our church from John 13.
Every Sunday we ask is God gonna show up at Harvest Bible Chapel. Because when God shows up it makes all the difference. Thats what makes us a “vertical church.” Yet, if we need God to show up then why don't we ask? Pastor Jeff Hoenshell challenges us from the book of Ephesians to ask God to show up.
One of our Four Pillars at Harvest is "Lifting high the name of Jesus in worship." This commitment to worship keeps us focused on Jesus Christ as the center of our church. Until we can get the vertical relationship wth Christ right our horizontal relationships will be out of order. Pastor Gary Becker shares with us from Hebrews and encourages us to "Stay Vertical."
A farmer has to put in the work of sowing seed before he can see the fruit of the harvest. As we seek to share our faith and see people give their lives to Jesus, we too must do our part to join God's work of reaching our world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.