The practice of prayer is essential to a vibrant faith. Jesus teaches us to pray, “Give us today our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). That short line is about more than food. It is an invitation to trust God each day with our real needs…physical, emotional, and spiritual. In the Lord’s Prayer, we start with worship (“Our Father… hallowed be Your name”)…

Prayer is hard because prayer really matters. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He started with two simple words: “Our Father” (Matthew 6:9). That opening changes everything. Prayer isn’t trying to impress God with perfect words. It’s coming to a loving Father who knows us, wants us, and invites us close. In Jesus, we’re adopted sons and dau…

For the past eight weeks, we’ve learned what it means to chase the Wild Goose—the Holy Spirit—and to break free from the cages that hold us back: responsibility, routine, assumptions, guilt, failure, and fear. This final week is an invitation to run wild; to live fully alive in Christ and run the race He’s set before us. Paul writes, “Run in such a…

Fear suffocates the plans and purposes God places in our lives. It keeps faith “on the bench” instead of in the game. Scripture shows a better way: God told Joshua three times, “Be strong and courageous…for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:6–9). We don’t work up courage on our own; courage grows from God’s presence, God’s pr…

Failure is part of every human story. From Adam and Eve hiding in the garden to Peter denying Jesus three times, even the heroes of faith stumbled. The problem isn’t whether we fail—it’s how we respond. Failure often drives us to hide in shame or try to fix ourselves, but that only keeps us stuck. Jesus shows us a better way. In the story of the pr…

Assumptions are powerful. They shape how we see ourselves, God, and the world around us. But often our assumptions are cages that keep us from the Spirit-led life God intends. Moses assumed he was disqualified because of his past failure, his lack of eloquence, and his limitations (Exodus 3–4). Yet God still called him to lead Israel out of Egypt, …

Life often runs on routine. We wake up, work, eat, sleep, and repeat. Routines can be healthy—bringing order, comfort, and stability—but they can also slip into ruts, where life runs on autopilot and faith loses its passion. Mark Batterson warns: “What happens is this: the sacred becomes routine. And we not only forfeit spiritual adventure but we a…

Following Jesus often means stepping out of what feels “safe” or “responsible” and saying yes to His leading. In Matthew 10:16–20, Jesus told His disciples He was sending them out like sheep among wolves—hardly safe! Yet He also called them to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Faith is this paradox: living with wisdom while trusting God in…

Following Jesus was never meant to be “safe and predictable.” In this series we’re using the Celtic picture of the Holy Spirit as a Wild Goose—not tame, not controllable, but good and trustworthy (John 3:8). Pastor Geoffrey challenged us to move off the “safe stool” and begin the chase: say yes to new birth in Jesus, seek God with courage, and surr…

Finishing up our "Be Still" series, Pastor David explores the profound strength found in stillness, reminding us that it is not weakness but the power to trust God and meet Him in the midst of our noisy culture. We delve into Ezekiel's vision of a life-giving river, flowing from the altar and growing ever deeper, bringing gladness, joy, satisfactio…

This week Pastor Geoffrey emphasizes the vital importance of stillness, rest, and Sabbath as sacred obedience and holy resistance in a culture of noise, asserting that stillness is strength and allows for trust in God. He addresses the pervasive issue of stress, noting that 80% of people are severely and significantly stressed out, a challenge he p…

This week we kick off a new series called "Be Still". As followers of Christ, we’re invited to stop and rest in Him when the world around us never slows down. This sermon illustrates stillness with a powerful analogy: a clenched fist represents holding onto control, while an open hand signifies letting go and trusting God. At the heart of the messa…

Toby Slough explores how personal crises serve as powerful catalysts for profound and lasting transformation. Often referred to as a "moment," "inflection point," or "hitting rock bottom," these are the experiences that, despite being deeply feared, hold the potential to radically transform an individual's life. The speaker shares his own "rock bot…

This message challenges society's widespread moral relativism by highlighting humanity's inherent, instinctive understanding of absolute truth and justice. The sermon delves into the eternal reality of God's judgment, explaining that all humanity will stand before the Great White Throne, where the dead will be judged according to their deeds. For f…

In this message, "Grace Upon Grace," Pastor David challenges us to truly grasp the profound question: "How far is too far for God's grace?". While we may intellectually know the answer, David explores our struggle to believe that nowhere is too far and nothing is too much for God's grace. This struggle is illustrated through challenging examples li…

Are you hungry for real power – something that can truly transform your life and overcome the chaos, hardship, and brokenness we all face? Join us as we explore the deep human longing for heroes and a force that can conquer evil, a desire often seen in the cheering crowds at superhero movies like Avengers. While Hollywood offers thrilling "fairy ta…

In a world that never stops—where hustle is glorified, busyness is expected, and stillness is often mistaken for laziness—God offers us something radically different: rest. In this powerful message, special guest Toby Slough unpacks the tender and transformative words of Psalm 23, focusing on the line, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” God,…

The story of Nehemiah reminds us of a timeless truth: God has always been in the business of rebuilding what’s been broken. From the divided kingdom of Israel to the destruction and restoration of Jerusalem, Scripture shows us that God's heart is not to punish but to redeem, restore, and strengthen His people. Using the book of Nehemiah as a prophe…

Are you ready to discover how God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary and eternal things? Following the story of Esther, who was a young Jewish orphan, demonstrates how she courageously saved her people from genocide, illustrating that God works even when unseen and highlighting the importance of building community to surround you. The…

Do you ever struggle to follow through on your commitments, or find it hard to trust that others—including God—will keep their promises? As we continue in our series, Pastor Geoffrey traces God's consistent character through key Old Testament covenants, centering on the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7), where God promised King David an eternal dynasty…

This week we kicked off a new series entitled "Long Story Short" where we will spend the rest of the summer, taking a 30,000-foot view of the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, highlighting key moments, covenants, and people. Starting at the beginning with "Creation," we dive into Genesis 1, 2, and 3 to explore the foundational truth of how …

As we conclude our sermon series about taking back our families, we turn our attention to Jesus' call in Matthew 5: "You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world". This is a command for every believer to not hide their faith or blend in, but to engage and influence the culture for Jesus. To be salt means having a genuine faith, rad…

Navigating technology can feel like a love-hate relationship, offering incredible benefits but also potential for damage and distraction. In this message, we dive into biblical principles and explore how technology is meant to be a servant, not a master, and how the power of Christ allows us to avoid being mastered by anything. This includes reflec…

We all know that what we eat affects our physical health, but have you ever considered how what you feed your heart affects your spiritual, emotional, and relational health? In this message, we look deeper at Proverbs 4:23 and the importance of guarding our hearts, because everything we do flows from them. Just like junk food can lead to a sick bod…

This special commissioning service marked a significant and sacred moment in the life of Beltway Park Church as Pastor Geoffrey Turner was officially commissioned and anointed by the Elders to step into the role of Lead Pastor. Grounded in the promise of Philippians 1:3–6, it marked the beginning of a new season—anchored in God’s enduring faithfuln…

Speak wisely; people are listening (James 3:2-12). We all have a story of when our words hurt someone else, or of when we have been hurt by the words of someone else. We intuitively know that words are powerful, and yet we often treat them like they’re not. Treating words lightly produces heavy and damaging consequences. Scripture is clear that our…

Parents can most help their kids love God by walking the walk and talking the talk (Deuteronomy 6:5-7). The best thing we can do for our kids – for their relationship with God – is to let them see in our lives that we really believe what we say we believe. Our goal should be to love Jesus radically and personally. We ultimately cannot control or pr…

Thriving marriages fight for purpose, not perfection (Ephesians 5:21-30). Without question, marriage is under attack, and we are often losing the battle because of passivity. The truth is that no one stumbles into a healthy marriage; it requires work and effort. It requires mutual submission to one another, as well as unconditional and sacrificial …

The foundation for abundance in our families is prayer (Matthew 7:7-8). The resurrection of Jesus – what we celebrate at Easter – is the D-Day for humanity in our war against Satan and sin. As followers of Jesus, we receive victory over sin, death, and hell. But the war is not over; we will not reach V-Day until Jesus returns. In the meantime, we b…

The battle belongs to the LORD of Hosts (1 Samuel 1:10-18; Matthew 28:1-10). We all face battles we cannot finish or win on our own, whether it is in our workplace, relationships, finances, physical or mental health, sin or destructive habits, etc. Thankfully, the heart and nature of God is to fight for us. He is Yahweh Tsabbaoth – the LORD of Host…

God provides every need as we radically follow Him (John 19:28-30). With three words on the cross – it is finished – Jesus makes it clear that God is Yahweh Yireh, the LORD who provides. Jesus on the cross has many parallels to Genesis 22:1-14, where Abraham obeys God and demonstrates great faith in taking steps to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Just as…

Radical focus on God gives strength for the battles of life (John 16:33). Without question, life can be crushingly hard and unfair. That is why the victory of Jesus on the cross over death, hell, and the grave is so powerful. He has overcome the world and promises us strength to overcome its difficulties. We receive that strength and hope when we l…

Death is the way to life (John 19:16-17; Luke 9:23; John 12:24). It is the way to abundance, the way to living out our purpose and being fruitful. We are called to be living sacrifices, to die in some way while we are still physically alive and breathing. The command to God’s people in the Old Testament was to consecrate themselves, to be holy (Lev…

Jesus came to show us that God is our healer (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:17). Through the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament, the Messiah – who we now know is Jesus – would be a suffering servant. The prophet predicted that His pain would bring healing. Jesus indeed experienced physical pain through scourging, wearing a crown of thorns, and being hi…

Failure paralyzes us. Jesus restores us. Peace sends us (Luke 22:33-62). Peter – one of Jesus’ closest friends and followers – experiences the weight and crippling effect of his own failure and shame. Just hours after swearing allegiance to Jesus at their last meal together, Peter denies knowing Jesus three separate times. At his third denial, a ro…

God wants us to truly know Him, not just know about Him (Exodus 3:13-17; Matthew 1:21-23). When we know God and walk in relationship with Him, we experience life transformation and step more into all that He has for us. It is in knowing God that we begin to grasp more fully grasp that He is I AM, the fulfillment and embodiment of all the covenants …

Jesus meets us at the well and invites us to drink His living water (John 4:1-26). In the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus models for us as His followers how to lead people to a transformational encounter with Him. At the well, Jesus connects with the Samaritan woman and recognizes her value. He recognizes that she has some…

Generosity brings joy because of what God does in people for eternity (2 Corinthians 8:7, 9:6-7). In the Old Testament after forty years in the wilderness, God promises Israel land – every place the sole of their feet would tread will be given to them (Joshua 1:3). But they had to possess the land and battle for it. Though the land was promised, it…

Radical gratitude to God unleashes the power of the Spirit in us (Ephesians 5:18-20). When it comes to knowing the will of God, the Apostle Paul is clear that we are to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). In fact, one of the ways we keep God’s Spirit from doing His powerful, li…

Gratitude shapes how we view everything (Colossians 3:16-17). The enemy we face, and the world around us, invites us into a life burdened by ingratitude. We are exceptional in carrying (and sometimes verbalizing) our frustrations and discontentment, with a heart of criticism. God calls us to thankfulness, which is a powerful shift of our attitude a…

Without action there is no love (1 John 3:16-18). This truth is seen most clearly in Jesus, who demonstrated His love for us by laying down His life for us; while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8). In other words, God did for us in Jesus what we could never do for ourselves. In response, we choose to love God with all that we ar…

A transformed mind aligns us with God’s greatest plans, purposes, and promises (Romans 12:1-2). We all want to fit in and to feel accepted by others; it is hardwired into us. We naturally want to be liked and affirmed by those around us, and sensing the breakdown of acceptance is instantly overwhelming and uncomfortable. God has a better way! He ch…

The Platinum Rule: be to others as Jesus is to me (Luke 6:27-36). Our natural tendency, when we are hurt or oppressed by others, is to respond in kind. Our default reaction to our enemies and to those who persecute us is an eye for an eye. But God calls us to a different response, to a better way. The golden rule that Jesus gives us is to do to oth…

The peace of God overcomes our anxiousness (Philippians 4:5-9). We all have situations and relationships that are producing tension, restlessness, and anxiousness. Thankfully, God proclaims that we do not have to live continually in that place. We can quit our anxiousness, and can have hope and peace, because He is near. God sees, knows, and cares …

Hearing God’s voice unlocks the life He designed for us (Luke 1:39-45). After her angelic encounter and becoming supernaturally pregnant, Mary hurriedly travels to visit her relative, Elizabeth. As Mary enters the home of Elizabeth and greets her, Elizabeth – without knowing Mary is pregnant – is filled with the Holy Spirit, hears from the Spirit o…

The Holy Spirit – the true Spirit of Christmas – empowers the impossible (Luke 1:26-38). Just as the Holy Spirit participated in the supernatural creation of the world, the Holy Spirit also came upon the virgin Mary and supernaturally placed the incarnate Son of God (Jesus) into her womb (Genesis 1:1-2, 26-28; Luke 1:35). God accomplishes the impos…

True joy and fulfillment in our lives will never happen without a life of gratitude (Luke 17:11-19). In fact, gratitude changes the way we see the world around us. When Jesus heals ten lepers, only one (a Samaritan) immediately turns back towards Jesus and falls at His feet to give thanks and praise. Before anything else, this one leper offers grat…

Sermon from November 24, 2024 To watch this sermon or other sermons, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: "Beltway Park Church"

Anyone who wants to be first or the greatest must be the very last, and the servant of all (Mark 9:33-37). These words of instruction and correction come after Jesus asks His disciples: what were you arguing about on the road? Jesus is direct with His disciples, knowing that they had been arguing about who is the greatest among them as they travele…