Archive for category Pastor Bryon

Ridiculous Faith – Psalm 34

Feb 16

Posted by Big Island BC Admin in Pastor Bryon, Sermons | 1 Comment

Friends,

What a beautiful day to be in worship today!  This past week I saw several instances of people putting their hope and faith in places other than God.  Whether it was Obama, our Congress, sports stars, actors, pop stars…well the list goes on.  We have some real problems in this world…some of them may be solved and others may linger for a long time, but ultimately, both in the big and small issues of this world, our hope and trust should be in nothing else but God and His sovreignty.

I love the verse that says in God we will “lack no good thing.”  I was having a pity-party Friday afternoon and as I was carrying the groceries in the house, it hit me.  How many couldn’t afford their groceries?  How many people in our world are starving for food, for faith, for hope?  And I am blessed with each of these.  I don’t want to diminish your stresses and concerns, but I do want to ask…where are you looking for hope?  In what or whom have you put your trust?

You can listen to the sermon here: Ridiculous Faith – Psalm 34 (size= ~39mb)

Scriptures Referenced:

  • Psalm 34
  • 1 Samuel 21:10-15
  • Psalm 111:5, Exodus 16, Matthew 6:25-33
  • Isaiah 46:3-4
  • Job 2:10
  • Proverbs 3:5-6
  • Isaiah 41:10
  • Romans 8:28, 31-38
  • John 16:33

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What Book Are You Reading?

Feb 9

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Friends,

I am down in Jacksonville, FL for a pastor’s conference with Annie right now.  We have had a chance to hear some of the best preachers in Southern Baptist life currently as well as other well known speakers.  It has been a tremendous blessing to hear and be fed by the Word.  This really hit home as we were driving back to the hotel just a few minutes ago.  There was a billboard up on the interstate with this line, “If this isn’t your book, you don’t have the real book.”  Sounds like a good tag line for the Bible, doesn’t it?  Alas, this was an ad for a phonebook.

We are being surrounded by bad news in the media these days.  Every station is covering what the problems are and how they are being handled or what plan someone is coming up with.  I suspect that in each of your homes you are being impacted in some way by the current situation, and many of you have had moments of fear, and wondered whatever shall we do?

Pull out your Bible!  Read it, study it, pray over it, let it speak to you!  If you are looking for answers to the world problems around you let me say this, “If you don’t have His book, you don’t have the book.”

I found myself reading Psalm 111 tonight, I’d love to hear where God leads you as you search for His Word in these troubling times.  God Bless…

Pastor Bryon

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Reflexions 2.5.09

Feb 5

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Friends,

Tonight I did something for the 1st time…I became a Priceline negotiator!  Was trying to get a rental car for a trip, and started at a low price that Clark Howard (ClarkHoward.com) recommended…priceline told me that I was too low and was I sure of the price?  So I bumped up just a little, put in my bid, and “bam!” I had a rental and saved 67%!  Yeah, I’m pretty psyched, gotta admit it.
So I saved a decent amount, and proud of it.  I am one of those people that almost anytime I am making a purchase I do research and research and the more research!  I’ve discovered websites and companies I never heard of but have gotten great deals on all kinds of stuff.  I think we all enjoy feeling like we got a good deal.

But, as I thought about this, do we ever try to negotiate the cost down with God?  Are there ever moments when we are asked to give a certain amount (mentally, physically, financially, spiritually, time, etc.) towards something and we very much want to do it, but….we aren’t sure we want to pay full price?

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  – 2 Corinthians 9.6-7 (NIV)

I don’t think Christians in general are lacking the desire to give to God what He asks and desires from us.  I believe the issue is more that we are typically unwilling to pay full price, almost like we are wondering if Wal-Mart has it for less!  It’s almost like we are bidding to try and serve God for the lowest price possible sometimes.  Maybe it’s giving more of our time for service, Bible study, prayer; or maybe it’s more time investing in the spiritual health of our family.  Or maybe it’s giving more of our resources.  But in each of these I think we are all guilty sometimes of trying to find the minimum amount needed to achieve something for God.

The great irony is that none of this belongs to us anyway.  Anything we have…money, time, etc…is a gift from God and when we use it for Him we are simply returning to Him a portion of what He has blessed us with.

And consider this…does God ever negotiate with us with how He grants us His grace and salvation?  Does He ever love on us in a minimal way?  Absolutely not!  How about we stop trying to just get by with our stewardship towards God, and give Him all that He deserves!?

I won’t be in worship with you this Sunday as Annie and I will be away at a Pastor’s Conference.  Cody will bring the message and I’m sure you will be blessed.  See you soon!

Grace and Peace
Pastor Bryon

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The Waterboy – Mark 14.12-16

Feb 1

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Friends,

Another great day to be in the house of the Lord!  I wanted us to look at the story of a man carrying a jar of water and think about how even the mundane, anonymous tasks make a difference in the Kingdom of God.  And even though this man will never have his name known by us and there wasn’t any spotlight put on him, he served his purpose.

You and I need to remember that no matter what our purpose and calling within the church and the Kingdom, it is never about us and always about giving glory to God and His Son, Jesus Christ.  Tonight in the Super Bowl only a select few individuals will have their name mentioned or highlighted, and yet it will take everyone on that field to make it all happen.

How about you?  Are you fulfilling your role and purpose within His Kingdom?  It isn’t about how much credit or acclaim you get from the people around you, it whether your Creator looks upon you and says, “Well done, my good and faithful servant!”  Your thoughts?

The Waterboy – Mark 14.12-16 (Rev. Bryon LePere) (file size = ~20mb)

Scriptures Referenced:

  • Mark 14.12-16
  • 1 Samuel 10.1-5
  • Romans 12.3-5
  • 1 Corinthians 12.27
  • Galatians 6.14
  • Ephesians 2.8-9

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Six Feet Under – Romans 6.1-14

Jan 25

Posted by Big Island BC Admin in Pastor Bryon, Sermons | 1 Comment

Friends,

What a great time in worship this morning!  Of course, I’m biased because any baptism service is a great service.  In my sermon I looked at the symbolic act of baptism and reminded of that in our baptism we are buried with Christ and His death and than raised up with Christ and His Resurrection.

Jesus, when He died, was fully dead.  As scripture tells us, he “emptied himself.”  We also, when we become Christians, must strive to make our sinful nature fully dead and buried.  In the same way, just as Christ in His Resurrection was fully alive, we should strive to allow the Holy Spirit to be fully alive within us.

But I realize that nobody’s perfect, so let’s be honest.  This doesn’t happen over night; but we should work and pray in a way that we grow closer and closer into the image of Christ.  This is called sanctification and is what should strive for until our time of glorification when we are taken up to be with God in Heaven.  May God bless you as you seek to live this out each and every day.  Your thoughts?

Click below to listen/download this sermon.  (File size = ~20mb)

Six Feet Under – Romans 6.1-14 by Pastor Bryon

Scriptures Referenced:

  • Romans 6.1-14
  • 1 Corinthians 15.3-4
  • Isaiah 25.8, Revelations 1.18
  • Philippians 2.8-9
  • 2 Corinthians 5.17
  • Galatians 5.19-21
  • Galatians 5.22-23
  • 1 Peter 5.8
  • 2 Peter 3.18, Philippians 2.12
  • 1 Peter 4.1-3, 1 Corinthians 6.9-11
  • 1 Thessalonians 5.23-24

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Reflexions – 1.22.09

Jan 23

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REFLEXIONS 1.22.09

Friends,
Happy New Year! It seems that 2009 is already moving quite fast. And this past week has certainly been historical. I know that most everyone witnessed the inauguration of Barack Obama as our new president. I caught most of it either on tv or radio. It was hard not to be proud of our country. I was particularly interested in hearing Rick Warren’s invocation prayer.
There was controversy leading up to his prayer because some of his stated views did not match up Obama’s. Many felt that he should not have been asked at all, while some thought it was Obama’s way of reaching out to the evangelical community. As I listened to his prayer, there were a couple of things that touched me:

1. It was authentic. I thought it truly reflected Warren and his faith. I would expect a rabbi to do a Jewish prayer, for example. I think it is unreasonable to ask a Christian pastor to do a prayer that does not acknowledge Christ. When I am asked to do weddings, I tell the couple that I will do what I feel reflects a Christian wedding. Makes sense to me.

2. It didn’t assume faith upon everyone. When Warren referred to Christ, he described Him as “the one who changed my life.” I believe that Christ has the power to change everyone’s life, but only if they accept it. I thought Warren’s words here were very well done.

3. As much as it did not assume anything upon anyone, it was also very inclusive. When Warren started saying the Lord’s Prayer, I immediately wondered how many people in that crowd were saying it with him. Yes, the US is a very diverse country, but the overwhelming majority still claims Christianity as their faith. I thought this was an excellent way of drawing many in the crowd into the moment.

I’m sure there is more, but these were some of my thoughts. How about you? What surprised/impressed you the most at the inauguration?
I do feel we need to be sensitive to others in how we project our faith. But being sensitive does not mean that we compromise who we are and what we believe. Romans 1.16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” (NIV) Never compromise your beliefs and your faith!
Hope to see you Sunday!

Blessings
Pastor Bryon

Special Note: Our church website officially has podcasts now. You will be able to download my sermons within 24 hours of worship each week. In addition, you can find a recording of Chris Brown, Curtis Goff, Bob Brooke, Evelyn Goff, and Susan Brown singing Because He Lives and Victory in Jesus from a few weeks ago. Awesome track! Each of these will be a .mp3 file. Email me if you have any questions.

–
Rev. Bryon LePere
Pastor
Big Island Baptist Church
434.610.6125
pastorbryon@gmail.com

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Because He Lives & Victory in Jesus

Jan 22

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Friends,

On Sunday, January 4th, we were blessed in our regular worship service with special music Chris Brown, Curtis Goff, Bob Brooke, Evelyn Goff, and Susan Brown.  Click on the link below to download this group singing Because He Lives and Victory in Jesus.  (File size=8mb)

Because He Lives & Victory in Jesus

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A NEW COVENANT – Hebrews 10.19-25

Jan 22

Posted by Big Island BC Admin in Pastor Bryon, Sermons | No Comments

Friends,

This is certainly a little behind, but on Sunday, January 4th, I asked us to think about how we treat our family members around the dinner table.  If we treat our family members with positive love and kindness, then this is how we should also treat our fellow church family members.  The passage in Hebrews reminds us to undergird our lives with faith, hope, and love.

Click below to download and listen to my message.

A New Covenant, Hebrews 10.19-25

Warning!  This is a large file…if you are on dial-up, click on the file before you go to bed, and by the time you wake up for breakfast it should be done.  Seriously…

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FREELY GIVE – Matthew 10.1-16

Jan 20

Posted by Big Island BC Admin in Pastor Bryon, Sermons | 1 Comment

Friends,

Yesterday I looked at the text where Jesus calls His 12 disciples together and then sends them out in ministry.  We see a diverse group, called out (not asked), and empowered to go out and accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God.

In the same way, we as members of the body of Christ are a diverse group called out and empowered to go out and do great things for the Kingdom.  But also, we are at our best when we work together.

Do you know what’s inside a 9v battery?  As I researched this, I found out that it actually contains 6 individual AAAA batteries.  A 9v battery is a sum of its parts, and is at full power when each of these work together at full capacity.  In the same way, the church is not a just a group of individual units, but should be working as the sum of its parts.  Whether it is missions, prayer, fellowship, outreach, worship, etc., we are most powerful when we are working together, in step with and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

How about you?  Are you meeting your potential?  Are you giving that energy out as a part of the body of Christ, working together with your brothers and sisters in Christ?  Tell me your thoughts…

Scriptures referenced:

  • Matthew 10.1-16
  • Matthew 28.18-20
  • Romans 12.4, 1 Corinthians 12.12
  • 1 Corinthians 1.26-29
  • 2 Timothy 3.17

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DON’T BE A WISE MAN – Matthew 2.1-12

Jan 12

Posted by Big Island BC Admin in Pastor Bryon, Sermons | 3 Comments

Friends,

Happy New Year!  What a wonderful start to the year it has been for us in worship.  Yesterday I preached from Matthew 2.1-12, the story of the Magi, or Wise Men.  It is a familiar story, but as I read it this past week, it struck me that after they brought their gifts, they are never heard from again.  I’m not attempting to put them down, they certainly fulfilled their prophetic purpose.  But, there are so many other stories within the Gospels where a person or group has a singular encounter with Christ, and then we never hear of how their lives were changed.

This got me thinking, what can be told of our story after our life-changing encounter with Christ?  As much as there is a need for us to continue to bring others into the family of God through evangelism, I believe we also need a greater level of commitment and perseverance in faith.

After watching the horde of people at the Y exercising on Saturday I wondered…how many of these were starting their year off strong but would fade as the year continues?  Likewise, Christians often begin their faith or a new year off great in terms of Bible study, prayer, tithing, missions, and worship.  But how often do we fade in one of these areas?

Our Father God is faithful, and never fades from that commitment to us.  Likewise, we should seek to be strong in our commitment to Him.  What are you doing with your time/talents/finances?  Have you kept the faith?  Thinking about your original life-changing encounter with Christ, where are you now?  The wise men came and brought their gifts, never to heard from again.  Don’t be a wise man.

Scriptures Referenced:

  • Matthew 2.1-12
  • Deuteronomy 7.9
  • Matthew 9.37
  • Matthew 25.14-30
  • Mark 15.21, Acts 13.1, Romans 16.13
  • Luke 9.23
  • Acts 2.42, Acts 20.31-32
  • 1 Peter 4.19

Your thoughts?  Share them with us!

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