Grace Church Of The Bay Area

The enemy pride is God, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). Christ, our Lord and Savior, Himself was humble (Phlippians 2:3-8). Listen as Pastor Roger teaches the how we as believers must live with heart attitudes of humility.

Today, Pastor Roger concludes his series on four qualities of a biblical elder. This time, focusing on describing the right motivation for a godly elder. And setting an example of being a faithful Christian. But what can we do to encourage the elders in our church? Listen along to learn more.

Not everyone aspires to be an elder in the church, nor is everyone qualified to be an elder. But that doesn’t mean this sermon is not for you. We should understand today’s passage because this is God’s Word. But also, because we need to understand what a biblical elder looks like. And today, Pastor Roger sets our expectation, according to the spiritual qualifications God requires. Listen along to learn more.

When it comes to God’s judgement, there is no middle ground. Someone is either a child of God, in which case he receives God’s discipline. Or an enemy of God, in which case he will be condemned for his sin. And when persecution does come, we must always look up. Listen along to learn more about what that means, as Pastor Roger brings us today’s sermon.

We have learned that suffering will come to us as Christians. And that trials are allowed in our lives to refine us. Now looking to today’s sermon, Pastor Roger explains that when suffering does come, we should find comfort in knowing that we have the Holy Spirt resting on us. Giving us comfort in the midst of persecution. But are you really suffering for the right reasons? Are you really suffering for Christ? Listen along to learn more. (Due to technical difficulties, a portion of today’s sermon was not recorded.)

In this edition of Fifth Sunday Q&A, Pastor Roger answers questions from the GCBA congregation on the topics of alcohol, smoking, the disqualification of pastors and elders, tithing, singleness in ministry, and spiritual gifts.

Biblically, happiness is based on your ever changing circumstances. Joy is based on our never changing God. How does this look like in the midst of persecution? Listen to Pastor Roger as he preaches on the first of seven components of persecution to remember to maintain your joy.

Having faithful friends starts with being a faithful friend. Listen to Pastor Jon Szeto as he teaches on Biblical friendship in the final session of the 2019 GCBA retreat series Marks of Maturity.

Do you struggle with forgiving others? How do you know you have truly forgiven someone who has sinned against you? Join Pastor Jon Szeto in Session 3 of the Marks of Maturity series.

Do you think you’re good enough for God? Listen as Pastor Jon teaches on the perils of self-righteousness, the prescriptions to this sin, and the blessings we experience in our relationship with God and as a church family when we repent.

What is spiritual maturity? Is it the number of theological books you have read or the number of church events that you regularly attend? Are you a mature Christian? Join us at Grace Church of the Bay Area’s annual church retreat as Pastor Jon Szeto teaches the first of four sessions on the marks of a mature believer - a deep faith in God.

Listen to Pastor Roger's sermon on biblical service in the body of Christ.

Learn the first 4 of 5 present-day priorities of every Christian in light of difficulty and persecution.

Responding to Christ's victory through suffering (Part 2 of 2).

Since Christ has suffered and claimed victory over sin, we as followers of Christ should have the same mindset of being willing to suffer for His Name’s sake, since we have already partaken of that victory from sin. Listen along to learn more, as Pastor Roger teaches us six responses to Christ’s victory through suffering. And encourages us to redeem the time.

When life is moving smoothly, joy comes easy to us. However, during the time that Paul wrote his letter to the saints at Philippi, circumstantially, he had very little reason to rejoice. And yet, he affirmed that, “I will rejoice”. Because, despite his unknown future, he knew the outcome, that he would be vindicated. Listen along to learn more, as Pastor Daisuke Okada teaches us four reasons we can have a joy filled life.

Just like we see in God’s salvation of Noah in the ark, even though He was patient for 120 years, only eight people were saved from His wrath. We too live in a time where so few are saved. A salvation not based on external washing, but an internal salvation, a pledge to Christ, that, apart from His resurrection, there would be no true victory over sin and death. Listen along to learn more as Pastor Roger brings us today’s sermon.

What makes us different from the world is what’s inside, our heart attitude. We pursue Christ from our hearts. And we understand that in our pursuit of Christ, suffering is inevitable. However, our encouragement is found in knowing that since Christ was victorious in His suffering for righteousness, we will be too, because of Christ. And what His suffering, and victory entailed, is found in verse 18, and the focus of Pastor Roger’s sermon today.

You have two basic options, do right or do wrong. And with both options you have the same potential consequence – to suffer. To suffer for righteousness, or to suffer because of sin. In today’s sermon, Pastor Roger concludes his series on suffering well. Explaining that suffering is all under the power and sovereign plan of God. That we would suffer for the sake of righteousness. And respond well, without the fear of man, but boldly praising God.

When it comes to suffering as a Christian, it is not a matter of if, but when. Suffering is part of being a Christian. So how are you going to respond? In today’s sermon, Pastor Roger begins his series on suffering well. He points out that our measure of what is “good” must not be defined by the world, but rather as defined in Scripture. He also explains that as our confidence in God increases, our fear of man decreases. That we must trust in the Lord. Listen along to learn more.