Bay Ridge Christian Church

True and lasting joy is found not in changing circumstances, but in the unchanging presence of God. “You will fill me with joy in your presence”(Psalm 16:11). As 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 reminds us, we can “rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances” because Christ is always with us. *Due to some technical difficulties, the first 3 minutes of this teaching were lost. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/a-holy-joy-yet-i-will-rejoice/

Holy fellowship calls God's people to honor, encourage, help, and patiently care for one another. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/a-holy-fellowship/

Holy waiting is not passive — it is the wide-awake, sober, light-filled life of those who know Christ is coming, live in light of that Day, and encourage one another to do the same. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/holy-waiting/

Sin is disobeying or not conforming to God’s law perfectly. 1 John 3:4; Romans 3:20 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/what-is-sin

The first Adam disfigured the image of God in which we were created, and left us a legacy of sin and death. The second Adam came to forgive our sins, restore God's image in us, adopt us into His family, and make us the firstfruits of His renewed creation, which He will one day bring to glorious completion. Matthew 9:9-13 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/sinners-made-new/

Because Jesus died and rose again, death cannot separate believers from Him — their spirits are immediately with Christ at death, their bodies will be raised when He returns, and nothing in life, death, or eternity can break their union with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/a-holy-hope/

The kingdom is God’s promise of redemption to his sovereign rule, which was fulfilled by Jesus Christ’s perfect life and sacrifice on the cross, allowing us to be adopted heirs into the kingdom. Daniel 7:13-14 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/the-kingdom/

Holy ambition is not the pursuit of fame, platform, or recognition — it is the God-given aspiration to live quietly, work hard, and love others through faithful service in the callings God has given us. 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/a-holy-ambition/

Because God has called His people out of impurity and into holiness, sexual purity is not a cultural preference but a divine command — one the Holy Spirit empowers us to keep. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/a-holy-sexuality/

God empowers His people to overflow with love — and this love, far from opposing holiness, is precisely what produces it, establishing the church as a holy community of love as it looks forward to the return of Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/a-holy-community-of-love/

Because spiritual warfare is real and Satan actively opposes the faith, God's people must anchor their joy not in circumstances but in His faithful work in the lives of those they love — a joy no enemy can destroy. 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:10 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/a-holy-joy-during-unholy-war/

God's holy people are continually formed by an eager, faith-filled reception of His Word, while those who reject it find themselves increasingly hardened against God Himself — to their own ultimate destruction. 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/a-holy-response-to-the-word-of-god/

Holy ministry is always done before the face of God — springing from pure motives, expressed in Christlike gentleness and holiness, and sustained through conflict until God rewards faithful labor with fruit. For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/a-holy-ministry/

Oliver Asher, President of ANM, is at BRCC to give an update on what they are working on. For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/the-work-of-advancing-native-missions-anm/

What is wrong with idols if we know they are false? How do idols shape our identity? How do idols lead us to immorality?

Knowing who we are as God's holy, chosen people shapes how we live — joyfully receiving His Word, turning from false gods, faithfully proclaiming His Gospel, and eagerly waiting for His Son from heaven. 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/a-holy-chosen-people/

Human rebellion produces hearts of ingratitude, but the Gospel forms hearts that overflow with thankfulness - expressed to God in prayer and in verbal gratitude to others. 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/a-holy-prayer-of-thanks/

In the New Covenant, God has poured out His Spirit on all believers to empower them so that as they grow in their delight in Him, the Gospel and its blessings will be spread throughout the world. Acts 1:8; 2:42-47 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/devoted-mission/

Because the Father delights to commune with His children, the Spirit draws believers into prayer — first in the gathered worship of the Church, and then overflowing into a daily personal life of prayer — so that their hearts flourish in ever-deepening delight in Christ. Acts 2:42 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/devoted-prayer/

God feeds and forms His people as the Spirit works through the sacrament of the Lord’s Table in the worship of the gathered church so that their hearts flourish in ever-deepening delight in Christ, which then spills over into their daily lives, including meals shared with others. Acts 2:42 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/devoted-the-lords-table/

God forms and deepens His people's delight in Him through the Spirit-given gift of fellowship — binding them to Christ and to one another in unity, worship, generosity, and shared mission. Acts 2:42-47 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/devoted-fellowship/

God feeds and forms His people as the Spirit works through the Word — in the worship of the gathered church and in personal daily devotion — so that their hearts flourish in ever-deepening delight in Christ. Acts 2:42 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/devoted-the-word-of-god/

Deep delight in God is not primarily cultivated through isolated spiritual practices but through the devoted corporate worship described in Acts 2:42, where the gathered church receives the means of grace that fuel and sustain our personal walk with God. Acts 2:42 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/devoted-worship/

Unlike Old Covenant believers who experienced the Spirit's presence only occasionally and externally, every New Covenant disciple has been baptized with the Holy Spirit and is therefore fully equipped and empowered to grow in devoted engagement with the spiritual disciplines that deepen our delight in God. Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/devoted-the-spirit-filled-life/

John's vivid, detail-rich account of the empty tomb and the risen Jesus is the testimony of a genuine eyewitness who wants every reader to encounter the same risen King who called Mary's name that morning and transformed her grief into worship and witness. John 20:1-18 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/encountering-jesus-the-risen-king/

From the palm-waving crowds of Israel to the Greek God-fearers seeking an audience with Jesus, Palm Sunday reveals that Jesus is not merely the King of Israel but the King of all nations whose cross will draw every people, tribe, and tongue into His eternal kingdom. John 12:9-33 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/encountering-jesus-the-king-of-the-nations/

When the rich young ruler calls Jesus “good,” he is confronted with the truth that only God is truly good and he is helpless to manage his own salvation. Fortunately for us, God’s goodness means we are not without hope and Christ’s doing what the ruler could not, giving up everything, points us to our only source of true righteousness and real salvation. Luke 18:18-30 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/encountering-jesus-the-ultimate-good/

In this passage, Jesus shows that prayer is about more than requests—it shapes our hearts to reflect God’s will. We are called to pray boldly, forgive freely, depend daily, and persist faithfully, trusting our good Father. Luke 11:1-13 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/encountering-jesus-through-prayer/

When we encounter Jesus the Savior, the depth of grace and forgiveness we have received overflows into extravagant love and gratitude and changes how we see others. Luke 7:36-50 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/encountering-jesus-the-savior/

In a world that worships power, Jesus rules a Kingdom where His disciples are called to descend with Him into costly servant-hood - for this is the mark of true greatness. Mark 10:32-45 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/encountering-jesus-the-servant/

To encounter Jesus the King is to follow a crucified Messiah — and to take up a cross of your own. Mark 8:31-38 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/encountering-jesus-the-king-who-came-to-die/

Jesus challenges us to answer who He truly is—not merely a prophet or teacher, but the Messianic Son of God Who builds and sustains His Church and restores us to relationship with God. Matthew 16:13-20 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/encountering-jesus-the-messianic-son-of-god/

In contrast to the pressures of life, false gods, destructive sins, and crushing legalism that create unrest, Jesus offers Himself as the true rest—calling us to learn from Him and experience the peace that comes from His presence. Matthew 11:28-30 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/encountering-jesus-the-true-rest/

Jesus is the True Son of God who withstood Satan’s temptations and obeyed God to save us and help us to resist Satan. Matthew 3:16-4:11 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/encountering-jesus-the-true-son-of-god/

Believers, families, and churches are fed and formed by the reading and teaching of the Word of God. Nehemiah 8:1-8 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/fed-and-formed-by-the-word-of-god/

God invites us to hope in Him by shaping souls that are characterized by humility and quiet calm. Psalm 131 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/shaping-a-humble-quiet-soul/

A sacrament is a special symbol given by God to His people that, when received in faith, serves as a sign and seal of His promises to us, functions as a means of grace to strengthen us, and through which we testify of our faith in Him and His promises. Romans 4:11; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; Romans 6:3-4 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/understanding-the-sacraments/

Though God often hides His face, He has not hidden His heart. He rules by providence and reveals Himself in Jesus Christ, who showed us the face of God and supplied grace and love enough to save the world. Isaiah 45:15 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/the-hidden-god-who-saves-and-rules/

Luke 15 is an invitation of grace for the outcasts and a warning for the insiders. It's not about morality (just do the right thing), and it's more than God's pursuit of us (but not less), it's a warning meant to inspire us towards repentance, joy, and embracing a grace for the outcasts. Luke 15 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/Grace-for-the-Outcasts/

The story of the first Christmas, recorded in Matthew 1 and 2, is full of surprises, each of which reveals an aspect of the Gospel that still has the power to amaze us today. Matthew 1-2 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/christmas-surprises/

In a stunning Christmas surprise, the Magi - pagan scholars skilled in religious texts, dreams, and the stars - become the first Gentile worshipers of Jesus, foreshadowing God’s plan to call followers from every nation. Matthew 2:1-23 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/surprise-worshipers/

In a surprising twist, the news about Jesus unmasked three responses still common today: Herod’s hostile fear, the religious leader’s complacent indifference, and the Magi’s joyful worship. Matthew 2:1-18 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/surprise-reactions/

Jesus' miraculous conception confronted Joseph and Mary with a scandalous, faith-testing situation that required radical obedience, revealing how God fulfills His ancient promises through the most surprising means. Matthew 1:18-25 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/surprise-pregnancy/

Matthew’s genealogy presents Jesus as the royal Son of David, the promised Seed of Abraham who will bless all nations, and the Savior who redeems a family tree—and a world—marred by startling sin and scandal. Matthew 1:1-17 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/surprise-family-tree/

Christians are called to uphold the living apostolic tradition—not as empty ritual, but as the unchanging truth received with a faith that is alive, growing, and joyfully obedient to God’s Word. Matthew 15:6-9; 1 Corinthians 11:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:15 (ESV) For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/we-believe-in-the-living-tradition/

All Christians are called to be part of local churches where they are led and cared for by elders, worship God, learn the Scripture, receive the sacraments, pray together, serve one another, and carry out the Great Commission together. 1 Corinthians 1:1-2 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/we-believe-in-the-local-church/

Christians believe in God’s one Church, which is composed of all who believe in Jesus Christ, is set upon the foundation of Jesus Christ laid by the apostles, and is built through the ages by the work of the Spirit to be the dwelling place of God in the earth. Ephesians 2:19-22 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/we-believe-in-the-church/

Christians believe in the Trinity - the one true God eternally exists as one God in Three Persons - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father, Son, and Spirit are distinct Persons, but are one in being, power, and glory. Deuteronomy 6:4, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/we-believe-in-the-trinity/

Christians believe that Jesus is the One True God, our Creator and Redeemer, Who became human for us and for our salvation. John 1:1-18 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/we-believe-in-the-deity-of-christ/

The Friend of Sinners is a scandal to the self-righteous, but the only hope for those who know their shame and seek forgiveness. Luke 7:36-50 For more resources on this teaching please visit https://brcc.church/teachings/scandalous-grace/