April 5, 2026

When 3,000 Hearts Were Pierced in a Single Day

Rarely does a single sermon shake an entire city to its core. In this episode, we explore the explosive events of Pentecost, where Peter's bold, uncompromising message convicted 3,000 people in Jerusalem and launched a movement that would change history forever.

Following Jesus's 40 days of teaching after his resurrection, the disciples gathered in an upper room alongside over 120 believers, uncertain and fearful of persecution. Then a sound like a mighty rushing wind filled the place, tongues of fire appeared, and everything changed. The transformation from fearful, hiding disciples to bold, joyful witnesses is genuinely remarkable, and it's remarkable precisely because it was real.

What does it actually look like when a church stops prioritizing comfort and starts prioritizing truth?

Larry shares a Wednesday night gathering where people encountered a profound sense of awe that no lighting rig or music production could manufacture. He draws on John MacArthur's insight that prayer is "the slender nerve that moves the muscles of omnipotence," connecting the early church's daily devotion to its extraordinary growth.

Practically speaking, this episode challenges the post-COVID drift toward online isolation, celebrity leadership strategies, and a diluted gospel that skips judgment and repentance entirely.

Listen to this episode and rediscover what the church was always meant to be.

April 5, 2026

March 29, 2026

What happens when truth cuts straight to the heart? On the day of Pentecost, Peter delivered a message that wasn't gentle or seeker-friendly—he confronted his listeners directly with their rejection of Christ. The response was immediate: they were "pierced to the heart" and desperately asked what they must do.

Here's what strikes me about Peter's sermon: he didn't soften the blow. He proclaimed that Jesus, whom they crucified, had risen and ascended to God's right hand. This kind of direct, convicting preaching moved three thousand people to salvation—not through strategic programs or comfortable messaging, but through the Holy Spirit's power working alongside biblical truth.

(The disciples had been praying in that upper room, after all.)

The call was clear: repent, be baptized in Jesus's name, and receive the Holy Spirit. But notice that genuine repentance isn't just accepting Jesus's love—it's mourning over sin itself, experiencing deep conviction, and completely changing direction. True conversion requires this kind of heart-piercing moment, this sudden recognition of our sinfulness and God's holiness.

Have you experienced that kind of conviction?

Because Peter's message carries weight for us today, Larry emphasizes that we're all inherently sinful and separated from God's perfect righteousness. Only through genuine repentance and faith in Christ can we receive salvation—a promise extending to all whom God calls to himself.

Tune in to discover how authentic gospel preaching transforms hearts and why modern churches need to recover this bold, Spirit-led approach to ministry.

March 22, 2026

Surprisingly, the disciples at Pentecost weren't speaking gibberish—they were speaking known languages that the diverse Jerusalem crowd actually understood. Larry walks us through Peter's first sermon, delivered after Jesus's ascension when the Holy Spirit filled the apostles, and explains how this moment marked the beginning of what Scripture calls "the last days" (which have now continued for two thousand years). While critics accused the disciples of being drunk, their behavior was actually bold and confident, a dramatic transformation from the fearful followers they had been before encountering the risen Jesus.

With over 500 eyewitnesses having seen the resurrected Christ, Peter didn't hold back in confronting the Jews who had rejected Jesus. Through his Spirit-filled proclamation, he quoted the prophet Joel and referenced apocalyptic signs from Revelation—blood, fire, smoke, and celestial changes—that will precede Christ's return and thousand-year reign. Despite their rejection, Peter extended an invitation for all to be saved.

Larry makes a compelling case that modern churches have lost focus on what matters most. (We've gotten distracted by impressive production and comfortable self-help messages.) What did Peter's faithful preaching accomplish at Pentecost? The result was staggering: approximately 3,000 people were saved in a single day, demonstrating the power of authentic biblical proclamation over polished entertainment.

Could your church benefit from prioritizing God's Word over production quality?

Listen to discover how Spirit-filled preaching, not technological elements, brings genuine spiritual transformation.

March, 15, 2026

When 3,000 People Heard the Gospel in Their Own Language

In an upper room in Jerusalem, something extraordinary happened. After Jesus' ascension, 120-plus disciples waited as instructed—then experienced a sound like rushing wind and tongues of fire. When filled with the Holy Spirit, they began speaking in languages they'd never learned, allowing devout Jews from numerous nations to hear the gospel in their native tongues.

But here's where things get complicated (and controversial). The speaker contrasts this biblical account with modern televangelist practices, recalling a charismatic service where hundreds left disappointed when they didn't speak in tongues as promised. According to Scripture, tongues were simply known languages—not ecstatic utterances—that served as signs to unbelievers and demonstrated apostolic authority.

Paul actually prioritized prophecy over tongues because it edifies the entire church body rather than just the individual. Using musical analogies, Paul argued that speaking without interpretation serves no purpose. Even though Paul himself spoke in tongues more than others, he valued five understandable words above thousands in unknown languages.

Larry emphasizes that believers should be filled with the Spirit daily—not just on Sundays—through prayer and devotion to God's Word. The missionary result? Approximately 3,000 people repented and were baptized.

What does walking in the Spirit throughout your week actually look like?

Listen to discover how this ancient event challenges modern church practices.

March 15, 2026

March 8, 2026

A sudden, rushing wind. Tongues of fire. And 120 believers who would never be the same.

The disciples gathered in Jerusalem on Pentecost—the 50th day after Passover—waiting for something they couldn't quite anticipate. When the Holy Spirit arrived, it wasn't gentle or subtle. The room shook, and these once-fearful followers became bold proclaimers of God's mighty deeds in languages they'd never learned. This wasn't just a miraculous moment; it marked the birth of the church itself and the fulfillment of Jesus's promise to baptize believers with the Holy Spirit.

But here's where many Christians get confused (and it matters more than you might think). Baptism of the Spirit happens once at salvation—when you're placed into Christ's body. Being filled with the Spirit? That's meant to be continuous, ongoing, daily. We're never commanded to seek baptism again, but Scripture repeatedly tells us to be filled. It requires emptying ourselves of worldly distractions—yes, even social media—and saturating our minds with God's Word.

Is kindness alone enough to make a kingdom impact? The answer might challenge your understanding of what it means to walk in the Spirit.

Discover how this ancient event transforms how we live today.

March 1, 2026

Remarkably, over 500 eyewitnesses to the resurrected Jesus gathered in Jerusalem after traveling from the Mount of Olives—a Sabbath day's journey of two thousand cubits. The early church faced a crucial decision: replacing Judas among the apostles. Through prayer and casting lots, they selected Matthias, trusting God's sovereignty even in what appeared to be chance.

Here's something worth considering: what fears—social judgment, cultural pressure, or something else—keep you from openly sharing your faith today?

The transformation was dramatic. These same disciples who once hid in fear became bold witnesses, praising God publicly in the temple. (Their forty days with the risen Christ changed everything.) They understood that waiting for the Holy Spirit wasn't passive idleness but active preparation through prayer and seeking God. This mirrors other biblical examples like Moses's forty years in the wilderness or Paul's three-year period of study after his conversion.

When believers truly encounter God, they should become more committed prayer warriors, not less engaged. The early church demonstrates that God's plan has always been equipping believers to go into the world and make disciples, not modifying the church to appeal to the lost. Authentic relationship with God through the Holy Spirit provides direct access to divine wisdom—something far deeper than simply seeking signs or easy answers.

Ready to discover what active waiting looks like in your own faith journey?

March 1, 2026

February 22, 2026

Here's the thing about church planting: when you're one year in and searching for permanent space, God's provision becomes thrillingly real. Larry announces a new sermon series through Acts, starting with chapter 1:1-11, to help his young congregation understand what the early church looked like and what role each member will play in their church's future. (This isn't just Bible study for Bible study's sake.) Over 500 people witnessed Jesus alive after his crucifixion, and that physical resurrection changed everything for the disciples. They went from complete despair after watching their teacher brutally executed to becoming bold proclaimers of the gospel. What transformed them so dramatically? The risen Christ himself.

Larry explains that Jesus appeared multiple times over 40 days, showing his wounds as proof. But when the disciples expected talk about establishing an earthly kingdom, Jesus redirected their focus. He commissioned them to spread the gospel throughout the world and build God's church through the Holy Spirit's power. The message for today's believers: churches exist to glorify God and expand His kingdom, not to serve our personal preferences. Bible Fellowship Church was founded with three purposes: edifying one another, equipping members to know God and share their faith, and primarily glorifying God.

Ready to discover how this applies to your church involvement? Listen to the full message.