Burlington Baptist Church Podcast

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world." He was asserting that His presence on the earth made everything brighter and better and that He was a direct revelation of God, Himself. Light illuminates, light diminishes the darkness, light eradicates evil, light draws attention to that which is high and holy. Jesus did all of that and more. Would you allow Jesus to be your light? Perhaps to shine His light into the dark places of your soul? Would you become a shining reflection of His light? Living in the light, moving out of the darkness, it changes everything. Let your light shine! Join us this weekend and learn how.Support the show

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world." He was asserting that His presence on the earth made everything brighter and better and that He was a direct revelation of God, Himself. Light illuminates, light diminishes the darkness, light eradicates evil, light draws attention to that which is high and holy. Jesus did all of that and more. Would you allow Jesus to be your light? Perhaps to shine His light into the dark places of your soul? Would you become a shining reflection of His light? Living in the light, moving out of the darkness, it changes everything. Let your light shine! Join us this weekend and learn how.Support the show

Jesus often compared Himself and His Father to shepherds. He used this imagery when He wanted to describe how God cares for His children. He made it clear that God deals with us with compassion, concern, and care as a shepherd would to his sheep. The tougher comparison is that of you and I, as Christ-followers, being compared to sheep. Sheep have a lot of unsavory characteristics. They are stubborn, stupid, vulnerable, filthy, and easily influenced, just to name a few. Does that sound like anybody you know? Maybe we are more like sheep than we want to admit. Bottom line is that we are all in need of a GOOD SHEPHERD! Be here this weekend and meet Him for the first time or get to know Him again.Support the show

Jesus often compared Himself and His Father to shepherds. He used this imagery when He wanted to describe how God cares for His children. He made it clear that God deals with us with compassion, concern, and care as a shepherd would to his sheep. The tougher comparison is that of you and I, as Christ-followers, being compared to sheep. Sheep have a lot of unsavory characteristics. They are stubborn, stupid, vulnerable, filthy, and easily influenced, just to name a few. Does that sound like anybody you know? Maybe we are more like sheep than we want to admit. Bottom line is that we are all in need of a GOOD SHEPHERD! Be here this weekend and meet Him for the first time or get to know Him again.Support the show

We begin a very important series this weekend, "The Big Day" weekend, entitled I AM JESUS. The series is based on Jesus' I Am statements in the gospel of John and offer us profound insight to who Jesus really was and what His hope for us is. In John 15, Jesus tells us that He is the Vine, that His power comes from His connection to God and that if we are connected, we will know the truth and we will be filled with His power. Spiritual fruit comes from that connection, it could even be said that everything good about us comes from being connected to the "true vine". Without that connection, we are helpless and hopeless. How about you? Feeling a little lost? Maybe lonely or empty? Just generally not where you should be. Come this weekend and find a new connection, an eternal connection to the VINE.Support the show

We conclude "Losing My Religion" by considering the lesson of the figless fig tree. It appeared to be a perfectly healthy fig tree, green and lots of leaves, but it had no fruit. This tree was a great irritant to Jesus and He used it as an example of the futility of religion. Religion has a perfectly fine outward appearance, but the reality is that often it has very little meaningful substance. It might look like it is "of God", but truth is it's man-made. Thus, sometimes we need to "lose our religion", so we can focus on things that really matter. I hope to see you Sunday.Support the show

We conclude "Losing My Religion" by considering the lesson of the figless fig tree. It appeared to be a perfectly healthy fig tree, green and lots of leaves, but it had no fruit. This tree was a great irritant to Jesus and He used it as an example of the futility of religion. Religion has a perfectly fine outward appearance, but the reality is that often it has very little meaningful substance. It might look like it is "of God", but truth is it's man-made. Thus, sometimes we need to "lose our religion", so we can focus on things that really matter. I hope to see you Sunday.Support the show

"Losing My Religion" continues this weekend with a look at Luke 15 where religious activity and a personal relationship with God collide head-on in the story of the Prodigal Son. We see a repentant sinner, a loving God and an unforgiving religious person all play their roles in this classic parable. Jesus makes it clear that the party takes place when repentance and grace meet and that self-righteous people will always miss the party. If you are religious, you don't think you need a redeemer. If you are self-righteous, you don't think you need a savior. If you are good enough, you don't think you need grace. Count me in with the prodigal, the guy who is slowly making his way home, ready to plead for mercy! How about you?Support the show

"Losing My Religion" continues this weekend with a look at Luke 15 where religious activity and a personal relationship with God collide head-on in the story of the Prodigal Son. We see a repentant sinner, a loving God and an unforgiving religious person all play their roles in this classic parable. Jesus makes it clear that the party takes place when repentance and grace meet and that self-righteous people will always miss the party. If you are religious, you don't think you need a redeemer. If you are self-righteous, you don't think you need a savior. If you are good enough, you don't think you need grace. Count me in with the prodigal, the guy who is slowly making his way home, ready to plead for mercy! How about you?Support the show

This weekend, we will consider how easy it is for us to fall into the trap of religion, rituals and rules. So often, we simply go through the motions and never consider why we do what we do. Our faith can become performance-driven and lose it's focus. In Matthew 12, Jesus is questioned about his lack of adherence to the religious laws of the day and his answer is simply, "My Father values mercy over sacrifice." Thus, we learn what matters to God, mercy, grace, forgiveness, compassion, and love. But somewhere along the way, the church forgot that we make it about orthodoxy and rules. We aren't much different from the Pharisees. Every week, I have a conversation or two with someone who is upset because somebody is doing something that doesn't jive with their rules or rituals. Matthew 12 makes it clear that's not what being a Christ-follower is supposed to look like. When the church becomes rigid and harsh, we repel those who are searching for Christ. We fail to do precise

This weekend, we will consider how easy it is for us to fall into the trap of religion, rituals and rules. So often, we simply go through the motions and never consider why we do what we do. Our faith can become performance-driven and lose it's focus. In Matthew 12, Jesus is questioned about his lack of adherence to the religious laws of the day and his answer is simply, "My Father values mercy over sacrifice." Thus, we learn what matters to God, mercy, grace, forgiveness, compassion, and love. But somewhere along the way, the church forgot that we make it about orthodoxy and rules. We aren't much different from the Pharisees. Every week, I have a conversation or two with someone who is upset because somebody is doing something that doesn't jive with their rules or rituals. Matthew 12 makes it clear that's not what being a Christ-follower is supposed to look like. When the church becomes rigid and harsh, we repel those who are searching for Christ. We fail to do precise

This weekend, we begin a brand new series entitled, "Losing My Religion". We will explore the positive value of trading your religion for a relationship with Jesus Christ. Beginning at the Tower of Babel, mankind commenced on a journey to reach to Heaven, to see God and to understand Him, to earn His favor. But, we never succeeded. We were never wise enough, moral enough or RELIGIOUS enough. Thus, God determined to visit us. To become one of us, He gave us the opportunity to trade our "filthy rag" righteousness for His perfection. Now, we don't have to look for Him. He finds us. To access His grace and His salvation, we simply accept His gift and trust His word. We lose our religion and we gain a life-changing relationship that fits us for Heaven. So, join us for the next 4 weeks and "Lose Your Religion".Support the show

This weekend, we begin a brand new series entitled, "Losing My Religion". We will explore the positive value of trading your religion for a relationship with Jesus Christ. Beginning at the Tower of Babel, mankind commenced on a journey to reach to Heaven, to see God and to understand Him, to earn His favor. But, we never succeeded. We were never wise enough, moral enough or RELIGIOUS enough. Thus, God determined to visit us. To become one of us, He gave us the opportunity to trade our "filthy rag" righteousness for His perfection. Now, we don't have to look for Him. He finds us. To access His grace and His salvation, we simply accept His gift and trust His word. We lose our religion and we gain a life-changing relationship that fits us for Heaven. So, join us for the next 4 weeks and "Lose Your Religion".Support the show

A beautiful story of love, forgiveness and redemption is found in the prophetic writings of Hosea. The book parallels the relationship between God and Israel and Hosea and his wife, Gomer. Over and over again, Israel would move in and out of relationship with God and the same thing happened between Hosea and Gomer. She was a former prostitute and she unexpectedly left her marriage and returned to her former life. Despite the hurt and the shame, Hosea searched till he found her and paid the purchase price for her freedom. It is critical that you remember that is exactly what God has done for each of us through Christ. We are less than consistent in our faith, often we rebel or literally run away from Him. But, He continues to pursue us and continues to pour out His mercy on us. Unmerited, undeserved, unlimited and unchanging mercy.Support the show

A beautiful story of love, forgiveness and redemption is found in the prophetic writings of Hosea. The book parallels the relationship between God and Israel and Hosea and his wife, Gomer. Over and over again, Israel would move in and out of relationship with God and the same thing happened between Hosea and Gomer. She was a former prostitute and she unexpectedly left her marriage and returned to her former life. Despite the hurt and the shame, Hosea searched till he found her and paid the purchase price for her freedom. It is critical that you remember that is exactly what God has done for each of us through Christ. We are less than consistent in our faith, often we rebel or literally run away from Him. But, He continues to pursue us and continues to pour out His mercy on us. Unmerited, undeserved, unlimited and unchanging mercy.Support the show

It is very easy to waver in our faith. Sometimes, it seems that our doubts are greater than our assurances and that our fear overwhelms our faith. Thus, it is comforting to know that Abraham, who is scripturally synonymous with the word faith, had a few struggles himself. After God told he and Sarah that they were going to become parents at extremely advanced ages, there was more doubt than faith. Matter of fact, they laughed out loud (LOL). So, even the most faithful among us have faithless seasons. These are times when God seems to be silent; when our fear overwhelms our faith. I want to remind you that even when we are faithless, God is still faithful. When we are weak, He is strong. When we are fearful, He calms us. When we doubt, He proves Himself. Join us Sunday as we look at the relationship between Sarah and Abraham and answer the question, "how old is too old"?Support the show

It is very easy to waver in our faith. Sometimes, it seems that our doubts are greater than our assurances and that our fear overwhelms our faith. Thus, it is comforting to know that Abraham, who is scripturally synonymous with the word faith, had a few struggles himself. After God told he and Sarah that they were going to become parents at extremely advanced ages, there was more doubt than faith. Matter of fact, they laughed out loud (LOL). So, even the most faithful among us have faithless seasons. These are times when God seems to be silent; when our fear overwhelms our faith. I want to remind you that even when we are faithless, God is still faithful. When we are weak, He is strong. When we are fearful, He calms us. When we doubt, He proves Himself. Join us Sunday as we look at the relationship between Sarah and Abraham and answer the question, "how old is too old"?Support the show

We begin this weekend with one of the most unique couples found in scripture, King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Their relationship was like fire and ice. It seems like they did everything backwards and against the will of God. As a result, they suffered the ultimate punishment. Look at 1 Kings 21 for the details. You will find proof positive that the wrong relationship or a relationship with the wrong person will literally destroy you. If you are struggling through a difficult time in your relationship(s), this will be a good message for you to hear because Ahab and Jezebel's horrific relationship will make you feel a little better about yours (no matter how bad it is, believe me theirs is worse.). Support the show

We begin this weekend with one of the most unique couples found in scripture, King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Their relationship was like fire and ice. It seems like they did everything backwards and against the will of God. As a result, they suffered the ultimate punishment. Look at 1 Kings 21 for the details. You will find proof positive that the wrong relationship or a relationship with the wrong person will literally destroy you. If you are struggling through a difficult time in your relationship(s), this will be a good message for you to hear because Ahab and Jezebel's horrific relationship will make you feel a little better about yours (no matter how bad it is, believe me theirs is worse.). Support the show