WeAreIBC

In Luke 5:27–32, Scott Cannon shows how Jesus moved toward Levi, called him to follow, and transformed his life through the good news of the gospel. Levi responded by leaving everything, following Jesus, and inviting others to meet Him. This sermon challenges believers to move intentionally toward people, share their own story of what Christ has done, and invite others into a gospel conversation. Because every person is affected by sin, everyone needs the Great Physician, and Jesus offers salvation to all who repent and trust in Him.

In 2 Peter 3:1–13, Pastor Allen Bonnell explains that Jesus Christ will certainly return, even though scoffers deny His promise and His coming seems delayed. God’s patience is not denial or forgetfulness; it is mercy, giving people time to repent and trust in Christ. The day of the Lord will bring righteous judgment, so every person must be ready. Believers can look forward with hope to a new heaven and a new earth, living now in holiness, godliness, and confidence in the righteousness of Christ.

In 2 Peter 2:12–22, Pastor Allen Bonnell warns believers to watch for false teachers whose self-indulgence leads to destruction, whose promises of freedom produce slavery, and whose knowledge of Jesus never results in genuine transformation. Through Peter’s vivid pictures of waterless springs, a dog returning to its vomit, and a washed pig returning to the mire, this sermon calls us to examine the fruit of our faith. True conversion is more than religious knowledge or outward behavior; it produces repentance, love for God, and a changed life through the Holy Spirit.

In 2 Peter 2:1–11, Pastor Scott warns about the reality of false teaching within the church. False teachers often use Christian language, distort Scripture, and quietly lead people away from Jesus for selfish gain. Believers must know God’s Word so well that they can recognize counterfeit teaching and test every message by biblical truth. God is loving, holy, and just, and He will judge rebellion and deception. At the same time, the Lord knows how to rescue, preserve, and sustain His people through every trial.

In 2 Peter 1:12–21, Connections Pastor Nathaniel Gray explains why Christianity is grounded in historical reality rather than cleverly invented myths. Peter’s eyewitness account of the Transfiguration, God the Father’s affirmation of Jesus, and the fulfillment of biblical prophecy confirm the authority of God’s Word. Scripture shines like a lamp in spiritual darkness, pointing us to Jesus, the bright morning star. Because this message is true, believers are called to obey God, study His Word, reject isolation, and take their next step in biblical community.

Pastor Allen Bonnell teaches from 2 Peter 1 that forgiveness is the beginning of the Christian life, not its destination. God has provided everything believers need for life and godliness, but spiritual maturity requires intentional obedience and dependence on the Holy Spirit. Peter calls Christians to grow in virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love so they will bear lasting fruit, gain confidence in their faith, and faithfully follow Christ through every season of life.

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell as we begin a powerful new sermon series walking through 2 Peter. Written from "Babylon" (Rome) under the fierce persecution of Nero, this letter contains the urgent last words of the Apostle Peter before his martyrdom. What would you say if you knew your days were short?In this opening message covering 2 Peter 1:1-4, we unpack three foundational truths that anchor us in a world directly opposed to God: -- Level Ground at the Cross: Discover why your faith stands in equal positioning with the greatest saints of history. We are all equally lost without Christ and equally saved by His imputed righteousness through the "Great Exchange." -- Relationship vs. Information: Intellectual data is not enough. Learn the crucial difference between merely knowing about God and intimately experiencing His living voice, presence, and daily grace. -- Power to Overcome: We are saved and sustained by the explosive dynamite power (dunamis) of God alone, not temporary human willpower or rugged self-reliance.Pastor Allen also shares a powerful update from our recent mission trip to Cosby, Tennessee, where 40 team members ran a Vacation Bible School born out of hurricane relief efforts and witnessed 8 teenagers come to Christ. Learn what it means to be granted a new divine nature, escape the corruption of this world, and experience a total spiritual metamorphosis in Jesus.

Join Student Pastor Dustin for a powerful celebration of Camp 1451 and a life-changing message from 1 Kings 18:20–40, as referenced in the sermon file 6.28.26--AllenBonnell.txt. This special service highlights the incredible movement of God among 212 teenagers—the largest camp attendance in church history—resulting in public confessions of faith, rededicated lives, and over 1,000 doors knocked on to share the Gospel.The sermon unpacks Elijah’s legendary showdown against the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, delivering a timely and piercing question to this generation: "How long will you go on limping between two different opinions?" If the Lord is God, follow Him!Key Themes From the Message: -- The Danger of Fence-Sitting: Elijah confronts a culture paralyzed by compromise and idolatry. Idultery is anything we put before God, and true humility means stepping off the fence to completely surrender to His lordship. -- No Response from False Idols: The prophets of Baal shouted, cut themselves, and begged for hours, but there was no voice or response. Idols created by human hands will always leave you empty and hollow. -- The Fire Fall of Yahweh: Elijah repaired the broken altar, saturated the offering with water to eliminate all human explanation, and called upon the Lord. God answered instantly by fire, consuming the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the water. -- Extreme Heat for Extreme Opposition: We face severe spiritual opposition in our schools, workplaces, and culture. But when the fire of God's presence is hot enough within us, we can burn through any obstacle.Following the message, hear direct, raw testimonies from Immanuel students (including Ian, Aubrey, Gannon, Emma, Addison, Gage, Reagan, Clay, Hayden, Anna Jo, Jax, Jackson, and Journey) sharing how God broke through their anxiety, isolated sin, and self-reliance during camp.Every person has a name, every name has a story, and every story matters to God. What is keeping you from turning your heart completely back to Him today?

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a powerful message titled He Rules, based on Daniel 4:19-37 and 1 Peter 5:6. Beginning with a call to prayer for those impacted by recent local flooding—including our own flooded Richmond campus BCM—and reflecting on the massive global scale of the World Cup and America's 250th anniversary, this sermon uncovers the absolute sovereignty of God over all human history, nations, and leadership.The message unpacks King Nebuchadnezzar's prophetic dream of the fallen tree to deliver three foundational truths about God's authority: -- God gives leadership to whom He pleases: Every position of leadership—from presidents and pastors to bosses and parents—is a delegated stewardship, not absolute ownership. True humility begins when we recognize that all earthly authority is loaned to us by the Most High. -- God is active in the affairs of men: History is never random, and God is never merely watching from a distance. He directs, raises up, and removes rulers according to His perfect timing. Through powerful historical turnarounds, like George Washington’s miraculous retreat at Brooklyn Heights under a dense blanket of fog and Benjamin Franklin's call to prayer at the Constitutional Convention, we see that God actively governs human events. -- God is able to humble the proud: Pride is not a minor personality flaw; it is outright insurrection against the King of kings. Just as the mighty Babylonian king was driven to the fields to eat grass like an ox until he finally lifted his eyes to heaven, God will break our self-reliance to bring us to a posture of true spiritual sanity.Our ultimate hope does not rest in Washington, politics, or political rulers, but in the throne of heaven. True peace and restoration come only when a humble people turn from their sins and acknowledge that heaven rules. Bring your anxieties, lay down your pride, and anchor your soul in a King whose dominion knows no end.

Join Pastor Brent Foley for a special Father's Day message at Immanuel Baptist Church. Diving into 1 Peter 5:6-7, this sermon hits home on how the lessons we teach most passionately at the end of our lives are often the lessons that we learned most painfully in our youth. Through personal stories and powerful biblical history, Pastor Brent breaks down what it truly means to live under the hand of God.The message focuses on three distinct ways God uses His hand in the life of a believer: - His Mighty Hand: Recognizing God's sovereign power and shifting our perspective away from the myth of the "self-made man". We are reminded that every resource, breath, and success comes entirely from Him. - His Correcting Hand: Understanding that a loving Heavenly Father corrects His children for their own good. Looking at Moses smashing the stone tablets and David's heavy season of unconfessed sin, we see why we must refuse to be as stubborn as a mule. - His Exalting Hand: Seeing how God fundamentally restores and exalts the humble. Just as Peter went from a painful public denial to boldly preaching at Pentecost where 3,000 souls were saved, God can do immeasurably more through us when we stop serving a small God.Don't let pride keep you from surrendering to God's plan. Pull out the spiritual splinters before they get infected, trust His outstretched arm, and find courage for the unique assignment He has placed on your life today.

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a powerful message titled "The Gravity of Pride and the Beauty of Grace," as we take a deep dive into the mandatory mark of biblical humility. Drawing from 1 Peter 5 and John 21, this sermon contrasts the destructive reality of human hubris with the healing power of God’s restoration.The message highlights key principles for breaking free from arrogance and stepping into grace: -- The Danger of Pride: Discover why pride is an active rebellion against God's design. When Scripture says "God opposes the proud," it uses a strict military term meaning He aligns His forces and draws up battle lines against the arrogant. We look at historical warnings from Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, and King Herod to see the gravity of self-exaltation. -- Peter's Fall and Brokenness: We trace the infamous overconfidence of Simon Peter—from boldly claiming he would never fall away to completely denying Christ three times under pressure. -- Restoration by the Shore: Dive into the powerful scene in John 21, where the resurrected Jesus meets a broken Peter by a charcoal fire. Instead of bringing a fire of judgment, Jesus sets a fire of provision, asking Peter three times, "Do you love me?" to legally cover and restore each point of his past denial. -- Application for Life and Family: Learn the essential parenting and relational principle modeled by God Himself: we must firmly oppose pride and rebellion, but instantly pour out grace, comfort, and safety to anyone who is contrite and broken.No matter how far you feel you have wandered from the Savior, His arm is long enough to reach you. Trade your self-sufficiency for absolute surrender and learn that His grace is always greater than your past.

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a powerful message kicking off a three-part series on Humility Toward Others, drawing from John 13:1-17 and 1 Peter 5:5. Fresh off an incredible week of Vacation Bible School—celebrating over 500 children across three campuses, 400 volunteers, and 31 life-changing decisions for Christ at Lucid—this sermon highlights why humility is a mandatory mark of a true disciple.True humility is rarely practiced but desperately needed. In this study, we look at the night of the Last Supper to explore three marks of Christlike humility: -- Humility serves with no concern for status: See how Jesus, the King of kings, willingly laid aside His outer garment, put on a servant's apron, and washed the dirty, grimy feet of His disciples. True humility means choosing to serve where there is no personal benefit or applause. -- Humility is a proper perspective of self: We look at Simon Peter’s prideful resistance to being served by Jesus. Pride isn't always loud and obnoxious; sometimes it shows up as an inability to receive help or an obsession with controlling our circumstances. Understanding your secure value in Christ frees you from the trap of public opinion. -- Humility lives for a bigger purpose: Having spiritual knowledge is not enough—even the demons know who God is. Jesus promises that true blessing comes only when we put our faith into active practice. Learn what it looks like to "wash feet" in your home, marriage, and workplace today.

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for the conclusion of our series in 1 Peter, focusing on 1 Peter 5:6–11. In this message, we learn how to face intense pressure, anxiety, and spiritual warfare by choosing surrender over control.The sermon highlights several key principles for moving from worry to peace: - Releasing Our Burdens: We are called to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, acknowledging that He is in total control of our situations. True humility requires dropping our pride and relinquishing our desire to control our lives, our finances, and our families, which only escalates anxiety. - The Art of Casting: The word "cast" means to forcibly throw your entire weight, grief, and anxiety onto the Lord. Using a practical fishing rod illustration, Pastor Allen demonstrates how we frequently cast our worries out to God but immediately reel them back in through continuous worry. - God’s Watchful Care: God does not just passively know about your struggles; He actively cares for you like a nurse treating a patient, attentively watching over every detail of your personal life. - Purpose in the Resistance: Much like resistance bands used in physical therapy, God allows troubles, hardships, and anxieties to enter our lives to strengthen our areas of weakness and help us grow.This message also celebrates the recent Peru mission trip where 14 team members shared the gospel with 280 people and witnessed 8 professions of faith. Learn why true peace is found not in rugged self-reliance, but in complete surrender to the timing and care of a faithful God.

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a powerful message from 1 Peter chapter 5, verses 1 through 5, titled A Good Shepherd. Preached over Memorial Day weekend, this sermon transitions from reflecting on the heavy price of earthly freedom to examining the divine structure God established to protect and guide the local church through the storms of life.The message focuses on the character and call of church leadership, detailing what a true under-shepherd looks like: - A Vital Personal Experience: True leadership stems from a deep, growing relationship with Jesus. God constantly cares more about our character than our comfort, and our holiness than our happiness, dynamically chiseling away what does not belong to conform us into the image of Christ. - The Heart of an Under-Shepherd: Pastors are called to live among the flock and truly smell like sheep. Unlike cattle which are driven heavy-handedly, sheep must be willingly led. Because sheep are naturally defenseless and prone to wander into danger or follow each other off cliffs, God establishes elders to guide, feed, and protect them. - The Three Structural Warnings: Peter commands elders to lead with specific boundaries: 1) Not under compulsion but willingly out of a divine calling; 2) Not for financial or shameful gain, but out of absolute zeal for God; 3) Not heavy-handedly lording authority over the flock, but serving as a living example. - The Call to Voluntary Submission: True safety and spiritual flourishing are found when we willingly place ourselves under God-ordained authorities, including government, employers, marriage covenants, and church elders. Pride resists authority, but humility allows us to thrive within the body of Christ.Pastor Allen concludes with a practical challenge for church owners to commit three hours a week to their spiritual health: one hour in corporate worship, one hour serving others, and one hour in a smaller Life Group community to be truly known.

Join Pastor Scott Cannon for a powerful message exploring what happens when our faith is put on trial. Diving into 1 Peter 4:12–19, this sermon reveals that there is meaning, purpose, and a divine intention behind the difficult seasons we experience.Using an illustration from an arborist, Pastor Scott explains how trees develop a “root flare” at their base to widen and anchor themselves when facing heavy winds. In the same way, the fierce storms of life are designed to flex our spiritual muscles, breaking us down to build us back up into more mature, deeply rooted followers of Jesus.The message unpacks three distinct types of human suffering:• Common Suffering: Hardships that happen simply because we are human beings living in a broken world, like sickness or a leaky utility.• Carnal Suffering: Consequences and pain that we bring upon ourselves through our own sinful choices, pride, or compromises.• Christian Suffering: Intentionally facing trials, mockery, or systemic pressure simply for choosing to stand up for righteousness and the name of Jesus.To navigate these fiery ordeals, Pastor Scott outlines five keys to standing firm:1. Realize suffering is bound to happen: Salvation is a completely free gift, but living it out puts a spiritual target on your back.2. Rejoice when suffering does happen: True joy is a conscious internal choice based on our confidence in Jesus, allowing us deep fellowship with Him.3. Refuse to be ashamed: Do not run from situations that put your faith on display; proudly stand as a Christian to provide a watching world with evidence that God is real.4. Remember the reward you will receive: Earthly athletic trophies eventually tarnish and fade, but enduring light afflictions for Christ produces an incomparable eternal weight of glory.5. Remain faithful to God: Entrust your soul to your faithful Creator even when the situation makes no sense, trading your fragile self-reliance for deep reliance on Him.Don’t quit on God in the middle of the fire. Lean directly into the wind and allow the trial to refine, prove, and strengthen your testimony.

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a special Mother's Day message at Immanuel Baptist Church. While the genealogies of the ancient world typically focused on men to settle legal and land rights, Matthew’s Gospel includes four "speed bumps" in the lineage of Jesus—four women whose stories were scandalous, messy, and unexpected. In this message, "Four Faces of Courage," we explore how God’s grace works through brokenness and outsiders: - Tamar (Courage to Pursue Justice): We look at the "messed up" story of Tamar, who courageously pursued what was right when she was neglected and treated unjustly by those meant to protect her. - Rahab (Courage to Change): A Canaanite prostitute who risked her life to hide Israelite spies. Her story reminds us that no matter how we were raised, we have the courage to turn in a new direction when faced with the truth of God. - Ruth (Courage to Trust): An outsider from Moab who gave her life away to care for her mother-in-law. Ruth teaches us what it looks like to take refuge under the wings of the God of Israel without any guarantees. - Mary (Courage to Surrender): A teenage mom who accepted God’s calling despite the certainty of rumors and social pressure. Her humble submission paved the way for the Savior of the world. Whether your family tree is full of "Cousin Eddies" or you feel like an outsider today, this message is a reminder that God never wastes your wounds. He uses the most unlikely people to advance His kingdom.

Join Pastor Allen Bonnell for a convicting message from 1 Peter 4:1–11. In a world that interprets events through many different lenses, Peter calls believers to "arm themselves" with a biblical worldview—interpreting life through the reality of Christ’s suffering and His imminent return.This sermon explores how to "number our days" so that every moment counts for eternity. If you knew Jesus was coming back in just one year, how would your priorities change? We look at four radical expressions of Christian love that should define our lives in these last days: - Love Expressed in Forgiveness: Discover how love "covers a multitude of sins" by choosing to let go of grudges and covering the shame of others rather than exposing it. - Love Expressed in Hospitality: Moving beyond dinner with friends, we look at "radical ordinary hospitality"—opening our homes and lives to those we disagree with to further the Gospel. - Love Expressed in Service: Every believer is given a spiritual gift for the common good. We discuss what it means to be an "owner" rather than just a "member" of the church, sacrificing rights to serve others. - Love Expressed for God's Glory: Life is not about our own happiness, but about God’s glory. Learn why the sooner we realize life isn't about us, the more our joy will explode.The message concludes with a challenge to check your direction. If you realize you’re heading the wrong way spiritually, today is the day to turn around. Following Jesus is a "right now" decision.