Bear Creek Community Church

By: Bear Creek Community Church
  • Summary

  • Bear Creek Community Church in Lavon, Texas exists to help people experience a full and meaningful life through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This podcast is primarily the weekly Sunday teaching from worship gatherings. https://www.bc3.church/
    Bear Creek Community Church
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Episodes
  • No More Striving: Resting in the Sufficiency of Christ's Work | Colossians 2:8-15
    Aug 11 2024

    In this insightful sermon, Pastor Bart Blair delves into Colossians 2:8-15, unpacking powerful truths about our salvation through Jesus Christ. The main message is clear: stop trying to pay for something that's already been paid for. Through faith in Jesus, we have been set free from the burden of religious rules and practices, and we no longer need to strive to earn God's approval.


    Pastor Bart provides historical context for the Colossian church, explaining how they were grappling with various philosophical influences and religious practices that were detracting from the simplicity of the gospel. He emphasizes that Jesus is the fullness of God in human form, and through Him, we have access to the Father. No other intermediaries or spiritual beings are necessary.


    One of the key points Pastor Bart makes is that when we come to faith in Christ, God performs a spiritual circumcision, cutting away our sinful nature. However, he acknowledges the struggle we still face with sin, likening it to phantom pain in an amputated limb. He encourages us to starve our sinful nature and feed our spiritual nature to grow in holiness.


    The sermon also highlights the significance of baptism as a public declaration of our identification with Christ's death and resurrection. Through this powerful act, we demonstrate that our old self has been buried with Christ, and we have been raised to new life by the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.


    Central to Pastor Bart's message is the concept of our spiritual debt being canceled through Christ's sacrifice on the cross. He explains that our sin created an IOU that we could never pay, but Jesus took that debt and nailed it to the cross, clearing it once and for all. This has disarmed the spiritual forces that once held us captive and publicly shamed them through Christ's victory.


    The sermon concludes with a powerful reminder from Pastor Bart that we don't need religious practices or special prayers to earn God's favor. It is by faith alone in what Christ has done that we are saved. He encourages listeners to live in constant celebration of the victory that Jesus has won for us and to trust fully in the sufficiency of His work on the cross.


    Throughout the message, Pastor Bart uses relatable anecdotes and illustrations to drive home key points, making complex theological concepts accessible to a broad audience. His passionate delivery and clear explanations make this sermon an excellent resource for anyone seeking to understand the depths of God's grace and the freedom we have in Christ.


    Those who have struggled with legalism, guilt, or a sense of inadequacy in their faith will find great encouragement in Pastor Bart's teaching. By directing our focus back to the finished work of Christ, he helps listeners break free from the cycle of striving and rest in the assurance of their salvation. This sermon from Pastor Bart Blair is a must-listen for anyone desiring to grow in their understanding of the gospel and experience the abundant life that Jesus promised.

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    38 mins
  • The Uniform You Wear | Colossians 2:1-10
    Jul 21 2024

    Pastor Bart Blair explores the concept of identity in Christ using the metaphor of a uniform. He begins by describing a youth soccer team wearing distinctive pink jerseys, emphasizing how uniforms identify team membership and unity of purpose.


    Blair then delves into Colossians 2:1-10, where Paul addresses the church in Colossae. Paul expresses deep concern for their spiritual well-being, urging them to remain rooted in Christ and not be swayed by false teachings or philosophies.


    The sermon highlights several key points:


    1. Believers should be unified in love and understanding of Christ.

    2. All wisdom and knowledge are found in Christ, not in secret mysteries or human traditions.

    3. Christians must be careful not to be deceived by seemingly reasonable arguments that lead away from the gospel.

    4. Followers of Jesus should be deeply rooted in Him, not easily swayed by cultural winds.

    5. The fullness of God dwells in Christ, and believers are filled with His presence.


    Blair emphasizes that our primary identity should be in Christ, not in careers, hobbies, or worldly success. He warns against putting on the wrong "uniform" - seeking identity in empty pursuits rather than in Jesus.


    The pastor concludes by reminding listeners that our true identity comes from Christ's sacrifice on the cross. While it's humbling, it should also motivate believers to represent Jesus well in the world.


    Overall, the sermon challenges Christians to examine where they find their identity and to ensure they are wearing the right "uniform" - one that clearly identifies them as followers of Christ.

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    42 mins
  • Five Indicators of Personal Spiritual Growth
    Jul 7 2024

    Colossians 1:28-29


    Pastor Bart Blair delivers a practical sermon on spiritual maturity and growth as a Christian. He emphasizes that becoming more like Jesus is a lifelong process of sanctification, requiring hard work and dependence on the Holy Spirit's power. Blair outlines three essential systems for a healthy church: evangelism (sharing the good news), discipleship (helping people grow in Christlikeness), and empowerment (utilizing spiritual gifts to serve the church's mission). He also provides five indicators of personal spiritual growth: increasing love for God and others, growing in humility and servanthood, developing a hunger for God's Word, consistently exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit, and persevering through trials. Blair encourages listeners to engage in daily devotions, serve others using their gifts, and conduct a self-assessment based on the fruit of the Spirit. By focusing on these areas individually, the church as a whole can become more like Jesus and fulfill its potential.

    The following scriptures are referenced in this sermon:

    1. Matthew 28 (The Great Commission - Go and make disciples, baptize them, and teach them)

    2. Galatians 5:22-23 (The fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control)

    3. Ephesians 4:12 (Pastors are to equip the saints for the work of ministry)

    4. 1 John 4:7-8 (Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.)

    5. Philippians 2:3-4 (Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.)

    6. James 1:2-4 (Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.)

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    47 mins

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