Beacon Community Church

The Invasion

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:41:33 GMT

7/20/08: John Mury, continuing our Back to Basics series, examines reality of the person of Jesus Christ. Can you ignore that Jesus claimed to be God and just follow his moral teachings? John discusses C.S. Lewis' "trilemma" of "Liar, Lunatic, or Lord" and what it means for our understanding of Jesus and God. He also looks at the more modern objection of "legend" surrounding Christ's divinity and how these objections are often misleading at best.

Back to Basics - Week 04 Handout

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:41:25 GMT

Questions and resources for our Back to Basics series on C. S. Lewis' book "Mere Christianity."

Mere Christianity - Week 04 (Chapters 7-8)

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:37:14 GMT

Chapters 7-8 of Mere Christianity for Beacon's "Back to Basics" summer series.

Rival Gods

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:40:17 GMT

7/13/09: How do you deal with the problem of evil in this world? That's the question Mike Bost asks as we continue our series, "Back to Basics". Based on the book, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Mike examines how four common worldviews answer the question of evil and how they compare to Christianity as revealed by the Bible.

Back to Basics - Week 03 Handout

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:04:29 GMT

Questions for chapter 6 in "Mere Christianity" for the July 13th service.

Mere Christianity - Week 03 (Chapter 6)

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 06:59:34 GMT

Chapter 6 (Rival Conceptions of God) from "Mere Christianity."

Wriggling in Our Seats

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:59:49 GMT

7/6/08: John Mury continues our Back to Basics series, focusing on the question of right and wrong. What is morality? Why do we continue to believe in the idea of fairness or right and wrong even when more and more people don't believe in the concept of absolute truth? In the context of these questions, John discusses current trends in our culture and how we view the idea of truth and morality.

Back to Basics - Week 2 (Handout)

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:42:23 GMT

Questions for chapters 3-5 of Mere Christianity, week 2 of our summer 2008 Back to Basics series.

Mere Christianity - Week 02 (Chapters 3-5)

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:36:16 GMT

Chapters 3-5 of Mere Christianity, read by John Mury (again, sans British accent).

The Law of Human Nature

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:18:28 GMT

6/29/08: John Mury begins our series "Back to Basics," a study based on the book Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. This week, John looks at the Law of Human Nature, a concept C.S. Lewis bases in the fact that all human beings yearn for purpose and meaning, yearn to be more than they actually are. Why do we believe in the concepts of right and wrong, fairness, and goodness? Are these just absurd quirks of our existence, or are they proof that we are created for something more?

Back to Basics - Week 1 (Handout)

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:08:13 GMT

Questions for Week 1 of "Back to Basics," which is Chapters 1-2 in "Mere Christianity."

Mr. Big Shot

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:59:32 GMT

6/22/08: John Mury uses the example of Naaman (2 Kings 5) to demonstrate how sometimes God can work through humble, mundane events to radically change our lives. Continuing in our series on the Biblical virtue of humility, John encourages us to not get so caught up in how important we are that we might miss out on what God wants to do--even through humble, ordinary acts.

Mere Christianity - Week 01 (Chapters 1-2)

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:19:38 GMT

On June 29th, we being our summer series Back to Basics, covering C. S. Lewis' book Mere Christianity. For those who prefer listening over reading, we will podcast the chapters from the book in advance of each Sunday. With that in mind, you'll find the Preface and first 2 chapters of Mere Christianity below (sans British accent).

If you're old-skool (and cheap), you can read the book on-line here.

The Big Head

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:07:36 GMT

6/15/08: John Mury discusses humility using the prayers of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector as illustrations. Found in Luke 18:9-14, we have examples of self-esteem: one out of control and another conscious of his sinful state. John asks the question, "Perhaps we need an 'I exam'?" This message also ties in with the celebration of Father's Day, asking us to consider how even earthly fathers want to love and give gifts to their beloved children. Might not God love us even more than an earthly father?

Power Play

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:07:14 GMT

Continuing in our series on Humility, John Mury talks about the sons of Zebedee and how they wanted to be the greatest in the kingdom. This message is based in the passage Matthew 20:20-28. This service is a part of Beacon's Kid Connection where we actively involve our children in our worship service.

It's Not About Me

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:56:59 GMT

Starting off our new series on the biblical virtue of humilty, John Mury looks at the Genesis story of the Tower of Babel and what it has to say about human nature, God's nature, and the value of humility.

Just Wait

Wed, 28 May 2008 17:19:25 GMT

John Mury continues our discussion of the Biblical virtue of patience with a study of the Israelites crossing the river Jordan into the Promised Land and their battle at the city of Jericho.

Hold On

Mon, 19 May 2008 16:45:32 GMT

In this month's Kid Connection, we learn the value of patience and hanging in there—even when we are tempted to rush things. John Mury teaches on the value of patience and shows how the Israelite spies showed patience and wisdom.

Too Late

Mon, 12 May 2008 23:58:42 GMT

Continuing our series on the biblical virtue of patience, John Mury delivers a message on how lacking patience will cost you. Drawing upon the history of the Israelite people and their initial fear and doubt over entering the Promised Land, John discusses how moving without God's blessing will cost us. Sometimes it doesn't seem too bad, but eventually the error of moving without God will become apparent. This message was delivered on Mother's Day, May 11.

Keep On

Sun, 04 May 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Starting our new series on the biblical virtue of patience, Joe McGarry delivers a message about the Israelites and their first attempt to enter the promised land. In the midst of trials and troubles, if we patiently wait on God to fulfill his promises, we will see our hopes made real.

Restore

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:00:00 GMT

As part of our monthly Kid Connection service, Mike Bost shares the joy that comes from restoration. God can restore you, even when you've messed up (John 21:1-17; Acts 2:14,22-25,36-41). Mike Bost is one of our elders and full-time staff with U.S. Campus Ministry (uscm.org). Delivered on April 27th as the conclusion to our series on the biblical virtue of joy.

Rejoice

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Continuing our series on joy, we discuss how we are able to rejoice because even when things seem bad. In the midst of these bad times, we can know that God is with us (Luke 24:36-48; John 20:19). Presented by Joe McGarry on April 20th, 2008.

The Stevensons - Missionaries to the Philippines

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Micah, Rachel and their daughter Sojourner Peace will be heading back to the Philippines where they will serve as teachers in a school that serves the children of missionaries. In this April 13th presentation, they share the nature and importance of their work.

Remember (The Last Supper)

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:21:56 GMT

In a special message about the Last Supper, we examine what the Passover meal meant to Christ, and the depth of his love for his disciples in his last moments here on earth. This message is a part of sermon series on joy. What greater way to explore the meaning of joy than to look at what Christ accomplished for all in his death and sacrifice and how he wants us all to love one another?

It's Really In There!

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:00:00 GMT

As a part of our special Kid Connection program, John Mury explores some of the interesting and unexpected things that can be found in the Bible. Can you say "substitutionary atonement?"

Arrested and Tried

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:15:34 GMT

The Palm Sunday teaching about how Jesus showed incredible courage entering Jerusalem that day. Jesus already knew how the story was going to end, what going to Jerusalem would ultimately mean; despite all the pain and suffering that awaited him, Jesus chose to go to Jerusalem, to die on the cross in our place. Jesus Christ is our greatest example of the Biblical virtue of courage.

In the Lion's Den

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Sunday message for March 9, 2008. "In the Lion's Den" is a continuation of our series on the Biblical value of courage. Drawing from the account of Daniel 6:1-28, we find that God is bigger than our biggest problem.

A Queen's Stand

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 21:00:00 GMT

In his upcoming book Overcoming Your Shadow Mission, John Ortberg explains how each of the main players in the book of Esther faced a critical choice. Each person had to choose between a higher calling and a shadow mission - a dark, trivial or self-serving path. Xerxes lived for his image. Haman lived for an ego-driven quest for more, more, more. Mordecai and Esther had the courage to use their gifts for something greater. The bad news is that without help, all of us will eventual succumb to our shadow missions. The good news is that Jesus understands, having resisted the incredible pull of his own shadow mission. What's your shadow mission? Who is your Mordecai?