The mission of Brandywine Valley Baptist Church is to introduce people to Jesus Christ and help them follow Him. We do this because we believe that Jesus transforms lives. Our core values guide us in accomplishing our mission. This sermon reviews our vision for ministry in 2019 and beyond.

In this sermon, Pastor Nate accepts a challenge to demonstrate that believing in God is actually the most reasonable and rational explanation of reality. There are four reasons to consider. First is the big God behind the "Big Bang." Second is a fine-tuned universe that sustains life. Third is the existence of transcendent beauty, desire and meaning. Fourth is that belief in God is an anchor for morality. The sermon also addresses the scriptural explanation for unbelief while affirming the ultimate evidence of God's existence--Jesus Christ.

When those who claim to be Christ followers distort God's word, it draws skepticism from the watching world. This skepticism isn't a problem with Jesus; it is criticism due to the cultural Christianity of those who fail to take Jesus' words seriously. Being on the right side of history means that Christians align their lives with God and His Son. This sermon examines two historical periods in which Christians did "get it wrong:" American institutionalized slavery and the German church's response to Anti-Semitism. Learn how Christians today can ensure that they are true disciples who don't slip into Cultural Christianity and end up on the wrong side of history.

God invites believers, seekers and skeptics to "come and see;" therefore, the Church should be a safe place to ask hard questions about the Christian faith. This sermon addresses questions regarding the reliability of scripture, examining the cohesive story in the Bible, the tradition of oral transmission, the issue of textual errors and the preservation of scripture. There is compelling evidence to conclude that the Bible is the most trustworthy ancient document in existence.

This sermon exhorts us to consider how the historical event of the resurrection of Jesus impacts us today. Ephesians 1:18-23 tells us that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is living in us. This power enables us to overcome our own "super villains": the shame of our past and the fear of our future. The great news is that Jesus permanently removed our guilt and shame, replacing them with His righteousness. His death and resurrection give us a personal, secured future in which we are loved, and we get to love with God and others.

Chapters 1-6 in the Book of Daniel are primarily a historical narrative. Beginning with chapter 7, Daniel writes of his God-given vision of the future. This chapter is so significant that it is called a "passage of primary reference," quoted by Jesus Christ as well as the apostles Paul and John. We learn of five earthly kingdoms that are personified by various beasts. The sixth and final kingdom, however, describes God's eternal kingdom ruled by the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. Daniel's vision inspires today's Christ followers to be bold as lions and gentle as lambs.

In Daniel chapter 6, we find the well-known account of how Daniel miraculously survived, unharmed, when he spent the night in a lion's den by order of King Darius. Two things became clear to the king: 1. Daniel's God is real; and 2. King Darius had been manipulated by his own administrators to trap Daniel. There are lessons for us in this account as well. God is sovereign; everyone and everything is under His authority. Our lives are to proclaim God.

In Daniel chapter 5, we read that King Belshazzar, like his grandfather King Nebuchadnezzar, turns to Daniel to interpret the mysterious writing on the wall that appears during his lavish party. Belshazzar offers Daniel wealth, possessions, power and influence, revealing those things the king considers most significant and valuable. Daniel responds that the king has weighed the wrong things and has come up short. What about us? When God weighs us, what is He measuring? How can we be sure that we will “tip the scales?” The answer lies in humility and trust in Christ’s perfect fulfillment of the law’s requirements.

Daniel 4 is an account of how King Nebuchadnezzar learned a difficult lesson about his pride. Through God's judgment, the king learned that the journey from self pride to praising God came through the valley of humiliation. There are lessons that apply to us today. Pride gets pleasure from self-sufficiency. Pride is claiming to be the author of what is a gift. It is clear from Nebuchadnezzar's experience that God is able to humble those who walk in pride. The cure for pride is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Daniel chapter 3, we see that God protects his chosen representatives in the fiery furnace when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar's gold statue. Their bold faith in God gives them the courage to stand by their convictions and informs their choices. We as Christians are challenged to exercise this same kind of faith that refuses to bow down and is spiritually fireproof. Just as with these men, God can use our faith to convince critics of Christianity. God also saves us through His son Jesus Christ. The Son walked through the fires for us. In what area is God calling us to exercise bold faith?