*Please note that this sermon has experienced audio issues so you might hear an echo. We have tried our best to reduce it post production. We appreciate your patience. 

The world is full of those who want control or influence over our lives. There’s the promise of peace, security,  contentment everywhere we look. But there is One who claims authority and promises He is coming soon to place everything else in subjection. We are to welcome His return and begin now to find our peace in Him today. 

It’s normal to have doubts or questions in a time of crisis or suffering. Why would a good God allow bad things to happen especially to people who follow Him and worship Him? It’s hard to have joy when things aren’t merry and bright. But by centering ourselves on the King and His promises are we able to see that He is, indeed, working all things for good, and there we can find joy.

Repentance isn’t a very popular concept. Perhaps because it requires us to acknowledge wrongdoing. It can be even more difficult because it means the end or death of something we’ve likely enjoyed. But it also means the birth of something even better! When we really believe that Jesus is King and is a better king than I could ever be, suddenly repenting and making myself ready for His coming becomes quite easy.

Kevin McAlister knew when the Wet Bandits were coming to rob his house, to which he famously says, “When they come back, I’ll be ready.” Seems obvious, and yet, in the busyness of life we get so distracted that we often don’t give our faith much of a thought. Jesus warns, however, that as the once and future King He will most assuredly return one day to consummate His Kingdom and He intends to find us doing what He instructed us to do.

Not much can be more frustrating than an unresolved ending. We’re left without closure and comfort as to what happened to the characters or what came next. An unresolved ending, however, does indicate there’s more to come, which is exactly how the book of Exodus ends. There’s a greater exodus and greater redemption still to come.

It’s one thing to know facts about someone and an entirely other thing to actually know them. God’s desire is not for religion but for relationship. He doesn’t want us to just know about Him but to know Him and be known by Him. To be redeemed means to enjoy the presence of God every day.

Rules are restrictive. They limit who we are, what we can do, and the fun we can have along the way. But our Designer knows how we are meant to work and, thus, gives us instructions how to best live. The Law shows us what God is actually like and how we can flourish in His design for the world.

How quickly we can forget something that has just happened. One would think that after watching a sea parted that you’d be riding that spiritual high for quite a while, and yet, just like that, God’s people begin to complain. It seems, then, that our bigger issue is not finding redemption from something, but inwardly learning how to live in surrender to something that is not ourselves.

Here is the video we showed at the start of the message (at 85 seconds in to the message): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERYukmba5Vg

Worship is more than just music. Worship is a work of those who have been redeemed. Its focus is on who the Redeemer is and what need we have to be rescued. Worship is the proper response to salvation.

Whereas nearly 9 in 10 people claim belief in God, just exactly who that God is and what He or She or It is like differs based on who you ask. For most people it's a matter of opinion or religious dogma, but the Bible says only God Himself can answer this question. And to both the Israelites and Egyptians He reveals that He is the One who saves.

Exodus 5-14 | Whereas nearly 9 in 10 people claim belief in God, just exactly who that God is and what He or She or It is like differs based on who you ask. For most people it's a matter of opinion or religious dogma, but the Bible says only God Himself can answer this question. And to both the Israelites and Egyptians He reveals that He is the One who saves.

Exodus 1-4 | We tend to think of freedom as to what we’re freed from. Could be debt, chattels, a bad job, or a wicked government. As Christians we talk about redemption as freedom from sin and death, but we don’t often think as much as what we’re freed to. Turns out, we’re all slaves, it’s just a question as to slaves to what. As Bob Dylan sang, “You're gonna have to serve somebody. Well, it may be the Devil or it may be the Lord but you're gonna have to serve somebody.”

Life is full of “middles” - awkward, uncomfortable and often overlooked. From Ruth and Naomi to Moses and the Israelites, God’s people have always wrestled with the tension of the in-between. So how do we live with faith, hope and endurance while we wait for God’s promises to be fulfilled?

Ruth 4 | The most extraordinary thing we’ll ever do with our lives is be used by God in the building of His Kingdom. Sometimes He do so in “big” ways but other times it may be “small,” and the thing is we may never know in this life all that He was doing. The key then is simply keeping our eyes on Him, desiring more than just an extraordinary life but, really, desiring an extraordinary redeemer.

Ruth 3 | Sometimes we have the best of intentions, but we still are guilty of trying to force God’s hand. Sometimes we think He needs our assistance. But a heart that desires to live an extraordinary life will do so in humility seeking God’s glory and will even in the small tasks of life.

Ruth 2 | One of the things that make life feel so “ordinary” is that we don’t perceive where God is present and in work in us or around us. In between the mountain tops and valley lows, it can feel like much of life is coasting on the planes. The key, then, to the extraordinary life is in trusting in the invisible ways God draws us closer to both Himself and to the family of His people.

Ruth 1 | Living in a world that has no interest in the things of God nor in submitting under His lordship, it can be easy to be subtly influenced by such things and led astray. Often, one of the biggest factors that stands in the way of us leading extraordinary lives of faith are the personal compromises we make with sin.

The biggest enemy we face, perhaps, is monotony. Day in and day out it's the same old routine. Even as followers of Jesus it can feel like we're just waiting for heaven and then the new age to come. The Book of Proverbs has stated emphatically, however, that this life matters greatly, and if we seek God with all our hearts and minds and His Wisdom then each of our lives can matter greatly, too.

Theologian Thomas Aquinas called friendship "the most prized thing on earth." Two other great thinkers once said, "I get by with a little help from my friends." History testifies to the importance of having people in our lives, and yet, in 2025, this seems harder to attain than ever. Thanks to a litany of factors very few people today can honestly say they have true friends, even in the church. All the more reason, therefore, for us to consult the wisdom of God on how to be friends once again.

To be blunt, deep down we all know we're failing on this front. Maybe we cope by saying we're doing better than "them", but more likely we all have something in our family lives that we feel guilty over. At best, we're phonies. Understanding, however, the grace we have in the family of God empowers us not to be burdened by our shortcomings but instead to strive in love together toward the master plan.

The pen is mightier than the sword. Seems absurd if you find yourself just armed with a ballpoint pen in an alley against a guy with a sword, but this saying points to the ripples and waves words can make versus one stroke of the sword. In fact, the Bible tells us that in the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God. Truly, death and life are in the power of the tongue.

Money can be a source of great blessing as well as a source of great stress. No matter your income it can feel like you never have enough. And as one lyricist once remarked, “It's like the more money we come across the more problems we see.” The Proverbs show us how we should think about things like wealth and poverty and, more importantly, demonstrate the kind of heart we should exhibit when it comes to money.

Maybe you pray about major life decisions, but what about the small ones? Do you think God cares or has a plan for what you do for dinner or what outfit you wear today? If He does, how can we know the answer? Is life one of just constant guessing as to whether we're pleasing God and doing the right thing? We tend to either over-think our decisions or not think enough about them at all. God does care, though, and desires to give us the grace and wisdom we need daily to follow Him in everything we do.

We work hard all week to make it to the weekend. We work hard all year to take that nice vacation. We work hard for decades so that we can retire. Have you noticed, though, how busy your weekends are, or how tired you are after your vacation, or how you do more in retirement than you did when you were working? It would seem we haven’t quite figured out this work thing. The Proverbs show us that right working is a mindset and worldview that holds not the task itself as its focus nor even the end itself, but the One to whom it’s for.

Our students are leaving in the morning to make a difference in Philadelphia, PA, so let's take this opportunity to see how that impact can happen right here, among our community of faith in Virginia Beach.

In a world where we're all trying to get ahead, self-promotion seems to be the key. Thanks to social media, anyone can become famous, where fame itself becomes the goal. This type of pride and self-absorption, however, is destructive and, ironically, ultimately produces the opposite effect. Humility, we see, then, is not thinking less of yourself, but, rather, thinking of yourself less.

Imagine there were an owner's manual to your life. Something that gave you both the instructions and the perspective needed to navigate through each and every season. What if there were something like that for the whole world, as if the creator of all things shared his blueprint and left instructions for us? That's precisely what God offers in sharing His wisdom with us through the Scriptures. The question is whether we will continue to insist we can do it on our own or, finally, lean on His understanding in all things.

Group think is easy. Whether it's our peers or something we see on our screens, it's easy to just go along with what everyone else does and believes. On top of that, the work of developing wisdom and persevering in its pursuit can be exhausting and costly. But the Proverbs assure us that the treasure of wisdom is worth it!

Wisdom is not just knowing facts but knowing how to process life and react in any given moment. It's a skill and an art ... and one seemingly absent from our society today. Rather than just dig in our heels on views we've taken from cable news or social media, God invites us to explore His design for the world and learn how to think.

LOOKING TO JESUS IN THE LORD'S SUPPER - 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

What did Jesus mean when He told His disciples that they must eat His flesh and drink His blood to have eternal life? What about during the Last Supper when He said of the bread, "This is my body," and of the wine, "This is my blood,"? Different denominations have suggested a spectrum of beliefs concerning what Communion is and what it means. Looking at Paul's first letter to the Corinthians we'll see where exactly Jesus is whenever the Church observes this ordinance.

Our Student Minister, Beth Anderson, concludes the "I Have a Question" series with a message on how to deal with guilt. Guilt can either crush us or lead us closer to Jesus-it all depends on what we do with it. The Bible is full of people who wrestled with guilt, and their stories show us the difference between being destroyed by it and being restored through it. Judas gave up in his guilt, but Peter ran to grace. David brought his sorrow to God and found healing. Guilt doesn't have to be the end of the story-because with God, it can be a gateway to grace.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE?

Revelation 21:1-5 | Benjamin Franklin summarized one great truth about human life when he said, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” But death is far less certain than one may think. Is death it? Despite all the speculation from culture and even church tradition what actually happens at death? And what happens next?

Job 2:10 | If God is good and all-powerful, then surely, He wouldn’t allow pain? Or even if He did allow it to bad people, then not good people…right? But sometimes the bad in this world thrive and the good suffer. What about the innocent born into poverty, famine, or abuse? Suffering seems to be an obvious indictment against God and even against His existence. What is His answer?

Questions aren’t a bad thing to ask, nor are they forbidden by God. On the contrary, because He loves us and wants a relationship with us God invites and encourages our questions. But we’re to ask them in humility, reverence, and faith. Only through that lens will we then be able to maintain trust and hope in the hardest of circumstances. Only then will we be ready to be used by Him for the great big thing He has planned for us and His world.

Henry David Thoreau argued, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” We all struggle to find meaning in our day-to-day lives and often question if there is any bigger purpose. The people we read of in the Bible probably felt no differently, despite what we can now see in hindsight. The story of Jacob’s sons reminds us that God is at work in the little things to bring about His big promise.

Is Jesus really the Lion  of Judah? Or do we prefer a tame Lion, perhaps de-clawed without fangs. It seems that in the western church we have domesticated this young Jewish rabbi who turned the world upside down with his teaching. Many in the church seem to invite Jesus into their already busy lives so that  Jesus can follow US, rather than we following HIM. On Sunday, let's look  at the ways we tend to TAME Jesus into something we like better than the Jesus who calls us to radical obedience and discipleship.

While human history has been dominated by those who would seek to make a great name for themselves, the modern era has produced an obsession with fame and celebrity like none before. Nearly everyone wants to be known and famous. God, however, has something bigger and better in mind: Not to bring individual fame and glory, but adoption into a family that will last forever.

The Bible tells us that it is God’s kindness that is meant to lead us to repentance and trust, but sometimes what God does in our lives, or allows, doesn’t feel like kindness. Ultimately, though, Jacob’s frustrations help us to have faith in all circumstances showing us how much God cares for our well-being and how He will ensure He gets us there.

HERE'S THE DEAL: The power of a promise relies on three things: (1) Is the promise-maker trustworthy, and (2) Is the promise-maker able to come through, and (3) Is the promise itself good. In the book of Genesis, as the world begins to take shape and people do as they please across the globe, God makes a promise about how all things will turn out. We just have to decide if the promise meets these three criteria.

HERE'S THE DEAL: Our day to day lives can feel inconsequential. At best, we think we might be making a little difference, but how far can one person’s effect really extend? God’s great big plan, however, is accomplished through individuals, and if we believe in His spoken promises then we can live daily knowing He’s always doing something big in us.

HERE'S THE DEAL: How many times would you try to help someone, who continually turned you down and insulted you, before you just gave up on them? Genesis 5-9 feels like God giving humans the chance for a massive do-over and yet, when all is said and done, nothing changes. Just how true to His promises will He remain?

HERE'S THE DEAL: Where did things go  wrong? How did we get here if the world God made was good and did what  He created it to do? Something clearly went wrong. Against God’s good  design for the world human beings tried to devise their own plans and  with that broke God’s good world. But even their rebellion couldn’t stop  God as His grace is greater than all our sin.

HERE'S THE DEAL: The Bible opens by definitively showing us the Plan for the whole world and who the Plan-Maker is. The opening chapters aren’t interested in telling us how the world was made, but rather Who made it and why He did. Only when we know Him can we then know ourselves and what He wants to do in this world through us.

HERE'S THE DEAL: We were made into a family. No matter how different we may be or what stage of life we may be in, we’re called into this together! This Sunday we celebrate and worship all together that reality and explore how Jesus desires to continue His mission in us through the work of the Holy Spirit. Patrick will also have a special Kid's Time message on December 29, Jesus Has Come, Now What? We will also have a baptism during the service, Gabby Walker. Stick around for the light brunch after the service.

Most of us would say we “know” the nativity story. We can picture the scene and probably even describe what happened 2000 years ago. But the Journey of the Magi, or Wise Men, appears as a challenge to us. It’s a passage not so much about the journey to the birth of Jesus, but about our journey home afterwards. This Christmas Eve we pause to look at the kingdoms of our lives anew in light of the birth of the King.

HERE'S THE DEAL: From wars, famines, natural disasters, economic turmoil, political and social division, the world seems pretty messed up. Very little feels safe and secure and, worst, we feel so helpless and powerless to do anything about it. But God’s promises reveal to us His plans to topple the proud and mighty and exalt the hurting and the lowly. Jesus is coming back to heal this broken world and make all things new, and that is our PEACE.

HERE'S THE DEAL: It’s the most wonderful time of the year where we’re all supposed to feel joyful, merry, and bright. What is JOY, though, and from where does it come? And what does thinking about the salvation and judgment of God have to do with any of it? Or with Christmas? It turns out that when we fix our eyes on the right things and prioritize the things of God in our lives, we might just get a little joyful as a result.

HERE'S THE DEAL: John the Baptist's call to prepare the way for the Lord resonates deeply during Advent, a season that emphasizes faith and anticipation. As he proclaims a message of repentance, we're reminded of the urgency to realign our hearts and lives. This passage invites us to reflect: What valleys in our lives need filling? What mountains must be made low? What obstacles stand in the way of our relationship with God? God calls us to make room for His transformative presence as we anticipate Jesus coming again,

HERE'S THE DEAL: Whether it be because of global events around the world or crises and struggles in our own life, it can be hard to feel optimistic. But the advent season is a time to remember Jesus doesn’t call us to put on a good face or try to find the brightside in life. Rather, we are to remember His promises and His works, having confident HOPE that He is coming back to finish what He started.

HERE'S THE DEAL: Why was the tomb empty? All who hear the story of Jesus must offer an answer, and yet Jesus Himself has already told us. Only by revisiting His Words can we leave our old lives behind and faithfully follow him.

HERE'S THE DEAL: In the climax of his story, Mark shows us the most shocking thing yet about Jesus: How with the empire's very own instrument of death and shame, Jesus secures the victory of God over sin and evil demonstrating He is the true King.

SMALL GROUPS: Be sure to participate in a Bible study this Sunday at 9:30 or 11:00. Remember that life change happens in small groups, being in circles rather than rows. kgbc.us/groups

GOING DEEPER INTO COMMUNITY: Are you interested in going deeper into Patrick's messages? Looking for a way to apply the truth we heard on Sunday? Check out these small group discussion questions: kgbc.us/class

HERE'S THE DEAL: It's easy to look back at someone's failure and say, "Oh, if I had been there..." We'd all like to think that if we had been by Jesus' side for three years we would have listened to Him and remained faithful. But as we near the climax of Mark's Gospel we find that only Jesus alone was able to fulfill the mission of God.

HERE'S THE DEAL: People need real reasons to have faith in Jesus, it’s not about just taking a leap of blind faith. There are some good reasons to consider Jesus. In this section in Mark, Jesus addresses his spiritual authority, tells a story of God’s sovereignty and our stewardship, re-emphasizes our kingdom citizenship, addresses an issue of the distorted theology, clarifies the great commandment, affirms his deity, warns those who call themselves religious leaders, and concludes with an example of godly giving.

HERE'S THE DEAL: in times of hardship of just dreaming about our futures, we can find ourselves unintentionally viewing Jesus as  some magical genie there to grant us three wishes. But the road to  Jerusalem (and ultimately Calvary) requires us to pause on Who the King is and what His Kingdom really offers and asks of us.

It’s one thing to say we are a Christian, but following Jesus is a life of faith, constantly dying to oneself and one’s way of thinking. In the glory of Jesus’ transfiguration, we see the cost of discipleship and begin to see what it looks like in the Christian life for the rubber to meet the road.

Just as our bodies hunger and thirst for nourishment, so too our souls pant for sustenance and safety. Mark shows us this week how everything in this world will fail us, which is why Jesus brings His Kingdom and meets us saying, “I Am. Don’t be afraid.”

HERE'S THE DEAL: It can be human nature to lower our expectations to avoid disappointment, but with Jesus we see in our passage that our expectations for His Kingship aren’t high enough! He intends to do above and beyond all we could ask for or think of.

HERE'S THE DEAL: Many things can unite or divide us into groups and communities. But with Jesus there is only one factor: Him! As He builds His family in ways totally unexpected, we are each challenged with one question, "Will we believe and follow Him or not?".

HERE'S THE DEAL: What could go wrong with healing disabilities and not skipping meals? Apparently, a lot! In five little encounters the people begin to realize that Jesus is more than just a miracle worker... which begins to expose everyone's true colors.

HERE'S THE DEAL: Even in His own times, people had assumptions about who Jesus was. He healed the sick and drove out demons, but His ministry ran much deeper than that. Rather, His miraculous works point us to a message He preached about Himself and this very reality of life, which challenges us just as much today to answer who we think Jesus is.

HERE’S THE DEAL: Philippians 4:10-23 | The topic we all hate discussing in church: Money. But it’s unavoidable as money shapes everything about our lives and our society. The call to Kingdom Citizenship shows us a higher and lasting investment we can make not simply with our money but how we view all we have. 

Be sure to participate in a Bible study this Sunday at 9:30 or 11:00. Remember that life change happens in small groups.

WORSHIP KIDSTYLE: Please remember that Worship Kidstyle (Grades 1-3) is taking the summer off. We will continue to take care of nursery age children through Kindergarten children during the 11:00 worship time. Worship Kidstyle is back on September 8.

SPECIAL EMPHASIS:

    Midweek @ King’s Grant begins on Wednesday September 4     Farmers’ Market happens this next Thursday, September 5     Pop-up Sunday for Kids through Students is September 8.

HERE’S THE DEAL: Philippians 4:2-9 | Kingdom Citizenship isn’t something theoretical. Christian theology isn’t just a series of concepts to commit to memory. These are things for every Christian and every church to do! What might our family of faith look like if we were to start practicing Kingdom Citizenship? It'd claim to every square inch of our existence. 

SUNDAY WORSHIP: On August 18, join us for Sunday worship service at 9:30 or 11:00 AM. Patrick Edwards will continue his teaching series called CITIZEN, with a message called, "The Meaning of Kingdom Citizenship" from Philippians 3:12-4:1.

HERE'S THE DEAL: Philippians 3:12-4:1 | Following Jesus isn’t just a Sunday morning thing or something you can turn on and off. Like getting married or having a child, Kingdom Citizenship is a whole new reality that is meant to effect one’s total life and outlook. Jesus has laid claim to every square inch of our existence. 

HERE’S THE DEAL: Philippians 3:1-11 | We all have labors of love, things that require a lot of work and investment but are so worth whatever the cost. While the Christian life may seem costly at times, and certainly so to a lost world watching us, there is indeed nothing better we could do with our lives than know Jesus and follow Him in His purposes. For the Kingdom citizen suffering can actually become an occasion for great joy!

HERE’S THE DEAL: Eventually the rubber must meet the road. The Christians life is one, therefore, of active passivity. The power to live as citizens of the Kingdom of heaven rests in Jesus, but we need to put that into action. Each day we are to work it out.

HERE’S THE DEAL: Leaders, rulers, and champions tend to carry a certain bravado about them. Hyping oneself up and promoting one’s own brand seems to be how one gains followers. Jesus used His power and privilege, though, to serve and give Himself a ransom for the many. This week’s passage shows us how Jesus is both the power and model for Kingdom Citizenship. 

Be sure to participate in a Bible study this Sunday at 9:30 or 11:00. Remember that life change happens in small groups.

MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT: The Children’s Ministry and Centrikid Camp.

HERE’S THE DEAL: In a country so divided, especially during an election cycle, it seems that there is nothing that people can agree upon today. Jesus empowers His people, however, to live in a different way, for it is through our unity in the cross that a lost world around us will see the truth of the Gospel. 

Be sure to participate in a Bible study this Sunday at 9:30 or 11:00. Remember that life change happens in small groups.

1. The Church’s unity is essential to fulfilling its mission (1:27-30)

This is a common theme in the book, the trials and tribulations that came as we follow Jesus. But this isn’t a meant to be a message of doom and gloom. Rather, suffering does three things...  1) Suffering has a redemptive nature  2) Suffering tests our convictions  3) Suffering testifies to the gospel and glory of God. 

2. The Church’s unity depends upon a Christ-oriented view of one another (2:1-4)

The Church must demonstrate its Kingdom Citizenship in... 1) Racial Unity 2) Socio-Economic Unity 3) Multi-Generational Unity

On July 14, join us for Sunday worship service at 9:30 AM or 11:00 AM. Patrick Edwards will continue his first teaching series through Paul's letter to the Philippians. The series is called, “Citizen,” from Paul's letter to the Philippians. The message this week is "The Task of Kingdom Citizenship" from Philippians 1:12-26.

HERE'S THE DEAL: While there are many privileges and benefits that come with citizenship, there are also responsibilities. As we’ve been freely granted citizenship in God’s Kingdom, we now have a calling to represent King Jesus in everything, whether that be in times of plenty or times of hardship.

1. Into His body that we may walk in His salvation and proclaim it. (1:1-6)

2. Living as a Partnership (1:7-11)

We find that as the love of Christ transforms our lives personally, our church (our koinōnia), as it shapes the way we think and act, this work should find its intended end in the fruit of right living.

A Partnership in the Gospel

1. Shares in the financial support of the mission

2. Loves and cares for one another

3. Grows in the knowledge of God’s Word

4. Produces a holy people

To put it simply, Paul prays that believers would actually look like citizens of the Kingdom.