Bay Area Community Church

You might be thinking, “Okay, Greg - Aaron talked about how discipleship is holistic. Last week you said discipleship is intentional. That’s just two of the nine and I’m already feeling overwhelmed!” I imagine that’s how many might feel. Is being a disciple mainly about doubling down to “will” our way into these essentials? Absolutely not! This week we will discover the power available to us to become more like Jesus. It’s not will power. It’s not our own performance. The power for change comes through the indwelling Spirit who is like a river of living water inside us. Of all nine, in my opinion, this one is the key to becoming more like Jesus. I’m looking forward to this Sunday as we see how discipleship is Spirit-led.

As a church, we are looking at the “way” of becoming more like Jesus. Said another way, we are becoming His disciples. This quote by Dallas Willard is convicting: “The problem of spiritual transformation among those who identify themselves as Christians today is not that it is impossible or that effectual means are not available. The problem is that it is not intended. People do not see it and its value and decide to carry through with it. They do not decide to do the things Jesus did and said.” We are intentional about so many things: Planning for a vacation, retirement, a career path, a wedding, parenting children, financial goals. Why is it that we lack intentionality when it comes to the most important thing in all of life – becoming like Jesus? Join us this Sunday as we explore the importance of being intentional as followers of Jesus.

The process of becoming more like Jesus is holistic - there's no part of our lives, personalities, activities or habits that is untouched by the all-encompassing transformation process. However, it's easy to ignore (or forget) this reality, and when we do, the results can be disastrous. Join us this weekend as we outline the first of our 9 discipleship essentials and hopefully together we can all become more like Jesus! 

God has big plans for you this year! And I can tell you exactly what it is. I’m quite confident. God’s plan for you this year (and every day) is to become more like Jesus. Everything else is secondary. Everything else bows the knee to us becoming a disciple of Jesus. Last week I shared one of my favorite Oswald Chambers quotes: “My determined purpose is to be my utmost for His highest – my best for His glory.” This determination involves a commitment of our wills to be our best for His glory. This Sunday we will take the next step and ask, “What does it look like to be a disciple of Jesus; to become more like Jesus.” What the Lord has been teaching us might surprise you because we’ve seen, through all our efforts, that we haven’t had it right.

Easter, Christmas and Vision Sunday are my three favorite Sundays of the year. This Sunday is Vision Sunday! Get ready to be encouraged and challenged as you hear some of the remarkable things God is doing through the Bay Area family, and how He is calling each of us to deeper levels of commitment. As I was praying about what to share, the Lord brought to mind a phrase from Oswald Chamber, “my best for His glory.” This is the challenge Jesus is setting before me and each of us. Will we give our best for His glory in becoming more like Jesus? Will we truly give ourselves to becoming passionate, maturing disciples of Jesus? You won’t want to miss this Sunday. And if you have friends who are curious as to what Bay Area is all about, bring them with you!

Work - when you read that word, do you get excited about your occupation or a sense of deep dread (or both?). Most people will spend the majority of their waking hours of adulthood working some kind of job, and yet satisfaction levels are often very low (even if the pay is very high). What's the deal? Are we supposed to like our jobs? What counts as a job anyway? This weekend we're doing a quick dive into a Biblical Worldview of Work - just in time to take Monday off. See you then! 

This Sunday we are excited to announce that LightHouse Pastor Sammy Foster will be bring the message as we close out our series, Catalyst! Sammy is a dynamic pastor who's been leading and cultivating a strong community in Glen Burnie for the past 13 years. It's only fitting that our lead pastor Greg St. Cyr trades places and shares how God is moving here at Bay Area and brings his passion for the Lord to LightHouse. 

This Sunday I will share my “final” catalyst message with you. The following Sunday, August 27 we are in for a very special treat as Sammy Foster, the lead pastor of Lighthouse Church in Glen Burnie, will close out our Catalyst series sharing from his personal life. You won’t want to miss hearing from the Lord through Sammy. That same Sunday I will be at Lighthouse Church finishing their series on “Hearing the Voice of God.” 

So what is this last catalyst message from me? It has to do with the barrier of “reputation.” Let me ask you a few questions: Are you overly concerned about what others think? Are you conflict averse? Do you have a hard time saying no? Do you succumb to peer pressure rather than standing up for what is right? Are you afraid to tell others about Jesus? If so, it is likely that your concern over reputation is hindering your walk with the Lord. Could you, in fact, be a people-pleaser? Join us this Sunday as we discover the catalyst that blows up the barrier of people-pleasing.

This week we jump back into our series Catalyst. A catalyst is something that causes rapid change. Our goal in life is to rapidly change into the likeness of Jesus. That happens as barriers to our spiritual growth are removed. Barriers such as our need for control or seeking our security in the wrong things. This Sunday we will look at the barrier of unfulfilled expectations. Life has a way of disappointing. Our dreams and hopes often go unfulfilled. Disappointment easily leads to a distancing of our relationship with God and others. What is the catalyst that blows up the barrier of unfulfilled expectations?

Have you ever had the experience of realizing that something you assumed was true, was actually false? Having an assumption or belief proven wrong can be a difficult experience, unless the correction proves to be better than we imagined possible. This week we will experience Jesus working beyond the assumptions and beliefs of everyone and proving that what he offers is much more than anyone could have imagined. Just like those in this week’s story, we will be challenged by Jesus’ bold claims and asked, “Do you believe this?”