Sermons by Category

Christian Life

Fulfilling Your Ministry Calling     07/25/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


After we said that we are God’s priests, all of us should be able to ask ourselves whether or not we are fulfilling the ministry that God has called us to do. Looking at Ephesians 4:11-12, it is quite obvious that there are different ministries in the church where we could serve – like some being evangelists, while others are called to be pastors. Just like in our church, we have many ministries where you can choose to serve. You could be one of the ushers, Sunday-school teachers, worship leaders, choir or praise band singers, and many others. There are literally many opportunities and ministries to choose from. And yet, in most cases, there are many believers who have not yet responded to any ministry responsibility. Here in BCI, we know we have more than 10 percent of our people serving. And because we believe that it is God’s will that we all serve Him, we want to continually encourage as many members as possible to participate in our ministries. In fact, one of the goals we have for this year (2010) is to increase active participation in the ministries to 90%

Priesthood of Believers     07/18/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


In God’s eyes, all believers are esteemed as ministers of Jesus Christ. Although, there may be different ministries, God has called every Christian into an active service – He literally has saved us to serve Him. After Paul had met Jesus on the road going to Damascus, God has sent His servant Ananias to reveal to him God's purpose for his life. Acts 9:15 states it clearly: 'But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel."' Later, Paul would fulfill his calling as Christ’s apostle to the Gentiles. And as he ministered to the churches, he communicated this plain teaching about God’s people being saved to serve God. Listen to Ephesians 2:10: " For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." This is a direct statement about believers being prepared in advance to do good works. These good works represent our services to God. Whenever we exert an effort to help others become closer to Jesus Christ, we are literally fulfilling our calling.

Pursuing the Power of the Spirit     06/27/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


One of the most basic truths we must acknowledge as Christians is the fact that we are dependent creatures. We are absolutely dependent on Jesus Christ to lead us through this life with all our struggles with sin until we arrive victoriously in the very presence of our gracious Father in heaven. When we try to live independently from Him, our lives will tend to be more painful and complicated. The good news is: God is very much aware of this. He knows exactly how much we need Him and so He has always made Himself available for us through Jesus Christ. We, who know Jesus Christ as our personal savior, should never be ignorant of the fact that we don’t have to go through life by ourselves. God is always there ready to assist us every time we need Him.

The Calling of Fatherhood     06/20/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


It is truly tragic that in America today, fatherlessness has become one of the greatest social evils. The most recent statistic shows that nearly 40 percent of all American children do not live with their fathers. Before they reach age 18, more than half of all U.S. children will spend at least a significant part of their childhood living apart from their fathers. Many sociologists believe that it is the principal cause for many social problems like poverty, juvenile delinquency, teen pregnancy, domestic violence, etc… We need to be alarmed with all of these and pray that God will intervene bringing revival in the hearts of our fathers.

Performing Through Your Spiritual Gifts     06/06/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


Since the beginning of man, God has already conveyed His desire for man to work and partner with Him. Genesis 1:26 reveals this intention: Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." Thus, after Adam and Eve were created they were given the privilege to oversee and develop everything on earth. Evidently, they were never created to be idle; they were given the opportunity to perform according to their skills in cooperation with God, and for the honor of God. However, this partnership was broken when man chose to sin against God. Instead of being conscious of working with and for God, Man became obsessed and consumed by advancing himself. Literally, all his energies, talents, and resources were used no longer used to honor God, but to pursue personal gains and glory. The truth of the matter is: the victory of Jesus Christ on the cross was not only to bring man to a close communion with God; it is also design to restore him to a productive partnership with God.

Seeking Consistent Obedience     05/30/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


Is there a basis in the Bible that if you want to be happy in this life or blessed in life, you need faith and obedience? Absolutely! We said that if we believe in God, we will obey Him regardless of consequences. We have to believe that He knows what is best for us, and He has our best interest in His heart, so we can obey Him in whatever He commands for us to do. Take for example, in our natural faith; we go to our doctor because we are sick. And so, he prescribes us a medicine; if you don't drink the medicine because of your lack of faith towards Him, do you think you will get better? Certainly not! Same is true in our relationship with God. If we truly believe that He wants the best for us, then we have to obey Him.

Living in Faith     05/16/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


Have you ever wondered why other people would experience God's supernatural activities more than others? The right answer is found in Matthew 9:27-31, particularly v. 29. The reality is: God is able to engage us according to our faith in Him. As much as God wants to connect with us or manifest His power to us, if we don't believe in Him, we won't acknowledge it as from Him. For many people, it would only be perceived as luck or another coincidental event.

Christ, The Faithful Friend     05/02/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


Since God has created us as social beings, it is quite natural for us to pursue friendships. I’m sure, today, there are people in your life that you consider as casual friends, and they are usually your acquaintances. Then, you also have close friends; these are the people you get to see on a regular basis. Lastly, there are those whom you trust the most, you refer to them as our best friends or our committed friends. There is no question that great friends are gifts of God to us because they can definitely boost our happiness in life.

Overcoming Our Daily Temptations     04/25/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


When the Lord Jesus Christ taught His disciples to pray, he impressed upon them the need to seek God’s help regarding life’s temptations. He included these words – “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13). But, if we examine our prayers today, how many of us would seriously go to God everyday being conscious of our need to be victorious against our temptations. You know, my fear is we have been so used to falling into sin to the point that we anticipate asking God for forgiveness, rather than asking Him to give us the ability to say no to sin. And because of this, we are the ones missing out in experiencing a far more blessed life in Christ Jesus.

Growing Through Trials     04/18/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


One of the most difficult questions to answer is the problem of pain and suffering on the part of the righteous. Somehow, people in general assume that life’s troubles are always caused by evil thoughts and actions. However, when we go to the Bible, we would find some God-loving, righteous-living individuals who have gone through severe troubles. Remember Daniel in the Old Testament. He did his best to live out his faith righteously without compromise, but because of some corrupt government officials who were envious of him, he ended up being arrested and thrown into the den of lions (Daniel 6). How about John the Baptist in the New Testament? He faithfully preached about the coming of Jesus Christ only to be persecuted and beheaded by King Herod Antipas (Matt. 14:1-12). In fact, it is safe to say that all great men in the Bible have had their share of troubles. Do you have the right perspective whenever the Lord allows you to go through trials? They should not make us bitter, but better. Remember, God is using them to help us grow.

Boldly Sharing Jesus     04/11/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


The late Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, had challenged millions of Christians around the world to boldly share the Lord Jesus Christ by asking two simple, but powerful questions: 1. What is the most important experience of your life? The obvious answer would always be – “Knowing Christ as my Savior is absolutely the most important experience in my life.” 2. What is the most important thing that you can do to help another person? Again, the answer is always the same – “Help him or her to know Christ.”

Taking Up The Cross     04/04/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


The crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ was undoubtedly very difficult and painful. But God has to allow it in order for Him to be able to bestow forgiveness and eternal life to everyone who would believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. In other words, the cross was God’s appointed way to a life of victory and blessings. That is why there is a celebration of resurrection. Christ did not end on the cross; He resurrected to declare a message of victory and blessings.

Overcoming the Hindrances     03/21/10

Pastor Ed Ramos

Categories: Christian Life


About three weeks ago, during prayer rally I spoke about the hindrances that happen in the life of every believer. There’s this spiritual hindrances of un-confessed sin that obstruct us to get closer to God. There’s this physical hindrance, these are the habits and behavior, like addictions, alcoholic and some vices that destroy our lives from being everything God wanted us to be. Another is the emotional hindrance. These are the painful experiences of our past that holds us back to keep us strong in the Lord. And the last is the fear of failure and it concerns about our future. I also spoke about the parameters. These are the rules and guidelines from the word of God that once you declare, you have given the power and authority over these hindrances. Today, the weapons we can use on How We Can Overcome these Hindrances in life is through *Prayer, *Praise, and *Word of God. These weapons of our warfare are mighty. They have been tested throughout the ages. And every time you use them, it reminds you that the battle belongs to the Lord. But it’s up to you, how you use them. When you complained about what you are going through, rather than praise God for what you are going to, you create a hindrance. But when you worship the Lord, you destroyed that hindrance. You may be at war today child of God but you have the reason to rejoice because the battle belongs to the Lord.

Investing for Eternity     03/14/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


One sermon that really makes many Christians feel uncomfortable is a sermon on giving. But, this is one of the most basic teachings in the Bible that we cannot avoid and ignore. Both the Old and New Testaments have discussed money quite extensively. In fact, if you study the Bible, there are more than two thousand references for money, which is five times more compared to prayers. And then, in Gospels of the Jesus (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), two out of every three stories Jesus told had to do money. But, let me impressed to you where the greatest satisfaction really comes. It is when you give to the Lord’s work and because of your giving people will be saved and transformed in Christ.

Celebrating in Worship     03/07/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


Time and again, we as Christians should take the time to examine our motives whenever we come to church. Is it possible that we no longer enjoy coming to church because we see this discipline as an obligation more than a privilege? Or maybe it is because as Christians, this is what we’re supposed to do on Sunday, but not really understand why we need to do it. I know many times it is so easy to find ourselves in this predicament.

Your New Family     02/28/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


Today, it is not unusual to meet Christians who no longer believe in the importance of joining a church. Many have formulated some excuses why they are having difficulty in joining. The most common excuses you would hear are: • Services are long and boring • Sermons are irrelevant for their lives • Christians are judgmental and hypocrites • Churches ask for money all the time • Churches have too many conflicts within • Bad experiences in the past Only one of these excuses is enough to keep someone from church. Now, beside these excuses, there are also those who do not join the church because of personal inconvenience like Sunday being the only day off they have and they need to do other things or others has to work all the time. With all of these excuses that people are coming up with, I feel that we as God’s people should be able to really understand what God is saying about the church and why we should seek to be a part of it

United in Baptism     02/21/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


When a person commits his or her life to Jesus Christ, God has given a symbol to show that he or she belongs to Jesus Christ. This Christian symbol is called Baptism. Unfortunately, there are so many professing Christians today who no longer value baptism in the same way the first century Christians did. Perhaps, all the confusions about how it should be done, or who should have it have contributed so much to the devaluing of it.

The Privilege of Access     02/14/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


The idea of having access or a means of approaching is a familiar concept among the Jews. Since the Old Testament, they needed the priests in order to be their access. In the Temple where they can find the presence of God, they are only allowed up to the outer courtyard. The high priest was the only person who can draw himself to God once a year. And even he must properly prepare himself to stand before God because any unconfessed sin can cause him his own life. The effective work of Jesus Christ on the cross has satisfied the demands of the law so that today every believer has the privilege to approach God. This is the emphasis in the passage we have read in Hebrews – Jesus Christ is now our Great High Priest in heaven and we are able to confidently approach through our prayers the throne room of the Almighty God of the universe.

A Healthy Spiritual Diet     02/07/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


Almost everyone would agree with the old adage, “You are what you eat.” In other words, if an individual wants to be healthy physically, he or she must be committed to healthy eating. How many times do you usually feed your physical bodies in a day? On a minimum, we all eat three times a day. What if I tell you, try eating only once a week? Do you think you would survive? Absolutely, impossible! But, the truth is: the majority of Christians today get satisfied with a once a week meal. Many wait for the church feeding program offered on Sundays. No wonder many Christians are barely surviving, churches are stagnant; and worse, the kingdom of God is not advancing.

A Dwelling Place for God     01/31/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


Another significant benefit of our salvation in Christ is the fact that we become a permanent dwelling place of Jesus Christ through the presence of the Holy Spirit in us. For many people, salvation is just forgiveness of sins and going to heaven, but examining this doctrine, we all need to learn that there are more. God has also thought of our day to day struggle as believers while we are here on earth. This is the blessing of Christ’s indwelling.

Secured for Eternity     01/24/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


The salvation that God has accomplished through His one and only Son, Jesus Christ is truly a great salvation. Once a sinner embraces it, it guarantees absolute deliverance from the time he or she takes hold of it until it is completed in heaven. Unfortunately, there are a lot of Christians who are constantly struggling to believe that it is possible for them to be consciously assured of their salvation while they are still waiting to go to heaven.

The New Birth in Christ     01/10/10

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Back to Basics

Categories: Christian Life


We begin with the most basic doctrine of the Bible - New Birth. If you examine the Bible, it is quite evident that both the Old and New Testaments focus on God's provision to man's greatest need, which is salvation.

The Protection Psalm     11/22/09

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Growing Up with the Psalms

Categories: Christian Life


Psalm 121 is a great pilgrim song. It is written to remind all of God's people concerning God's protection to them in times of their journeys. Since all of us are in this journey of life, we need to also know the kind of protection that is available for us:

The Repentant Psalm     11/08/09

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Growing Up with the Psalms

Categories: Christian Life


In Psalm 51, David humbled himself before God and sought His forgiveness and restoration. I believe this is a great Psalm to study because in one way or another we can all relate to the story of David. We are all creatures of failures. David can show us how we should respond to God when we have offended Him because of our sins.

The Comforting Psalm     11/01/09

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Growing Up with the Psalms

Categories: Christian Life


Psalm 46 was written by the Sons of Korah, the Levites assigned as worshippers in the temple, after God's people had been delivered from the Assyrians during the time of King Hezekiah. This Psalm had been a great source of comfort to many of God's people.

The Shepherd's Psalm     10/11/09

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Growing Up with the Psalms

Categories: Christian Life


Psalm 23 is considered the most popular of all the Psalms and the most memorized chapter in the entire Bible. King David's deep and intimate understanding of God had allowed him to experience some amazing blessings in his life. The Psalms would serve as his testimony about his God. In here, you will find David not only describing his God but literally boasting about his God.

The Blessed Man     10/04/09

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Growing Up with the Psalms

Categories: Christian Life


Psalm 1 is known as the Blessed Man Psalm. The word "Blessed" is the key in understanding the passage. This is a familiar word in the Scriptures which could properly be translated as "O, how happy." What is significant about this word is that it answers for us one of our most basic pursuits, which is happiness.

The Preparedness of the Soul Winner     07/26/09

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Sharing Jesus without Fear

Categories: Christian Life


To commit yourself to actively share the Gospel, you must be prepared to share every time God gives you the opportunity. The apostle Peter is encouraging all of us to be prepared. He anticipates the fact that God in His providence would bring certain individuals to us who would be curious about the hope we possessed in Christ.

Compassion for the Lost     07/05/09

Danny Co

Series: Sharing Jesus without Fear

Categories: Christian Life


Billy Graham has said, "The evangelistic harvest is always urgent. The destiny of men and nations is always being decided. Every generation is strategic. We are not responsible for the past generation, and we cannot bear full responsibility for the next one. But we do have our generation. God will hold us responsible as to how well we fulfill our responsibilities to this age and take advantage of our opportunities." We are all called to bring the gospel to our culture today. There are no exceptions. But many of us, if we were honest, would admit that we are not doing that.

The Power of the Gospel     06/28/09

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Sharing Jesus without Fear

Categories: Christian Life


The specific study highlights the apostle Paul because of his example in being a believer who was never afraid or embarrassed to share the Gospel of the Lord. Without question, he is one of the greatest preachers and missionaries who have ever lived. What made him extraordinary was his healthy perspective that the Gospel is the power of God to salvation.

Heavenly Passion     04/26/09

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: So, What's the Upside?

Categories: Christian Life


Looking at the Scriptures, there is no doubt that we who belong to Christ have been the object of His passion. Christ was very passionate about us that he gave up His own life just to save us. He paid the price. His passion for us is the greatest love story that any man could ever know. This heavenly passion for us defines who we are -- we are sons and daughters of God.

No More Empty Rituals     04/19/09

Pastor AJ Camota

Series: So, What's the Upside?

Categories: Christian Life


Why do we do the things we do? As a child, we may do things out of fear: I don't want to be spanked... so I will listen to what my parents say and not punch my little sister. We may do things out of duty... We meet deadlines because we have to. We do things out for no good reason at all. I recall reading a book by author Joshua Harris titled Boy Meets Girl, in it he tried to shed some light on the ins and outs of "Christian" courtship. He wrote this book as a follow up to his previous book entitled I Kissed Dating Goodbye. This book blew the minds of Christian young people everywhere. The problem arose when people starting thinking in terms of dating vs. courtship. In feeling that courtship was the more Godly approach, many people starting following strict rules, blueprints, in their relationships. The author noted that while we should avoid fleshly immorality we should also avoid legalism.

"Just Two Stars?!"     03/15/09

Rev. Steve Allen

Series: Reservation

Categories: Christian Life


Occasionally God allows us to encounter people who have hesitations or reservations about making a commitment to Jesus Christ. Perhaps some of you are struggling to fully embrace Jesus because of some doubts in your heart. We will discuss how a poor image of Christians causes some to have reservations. To keep it interesting, we have compared the themes of these messages with making a hotel reservation. That's why when you look at the themes for this series, they seem to suggest reasons for not pursuing a hotel reservation. As Pastor Jerry has already stated it, "in a way, the point is, 'If something keeps you from Christ, it also keeps you from making a reservation in heaven.'"

It's All About Love     02/15/09

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: 40 Days of Love

Categories: Christian Life


Would you say, my number one goal in life is to be happy? Or to be loved? Or my number one goal in life is to succeed at my career, or to get married and raise a family. If you haven’t ever thought it through, you need to think it through because your answer to that question is what I call your dominant life principle.

Slaying the Giant of Shortsightedness     02/08/09

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Slaying the Giants

Categories: Christian Life


Shortsightedness is a common visual condition in which a person can see close objects clearly, but objects in the distance appear blurry or unclear. Unfortunately, there are so many people who have become shortsighted in life. They only see things as they appear at the moment and are unable to see life 10, 20, or 50 years from now. Would you consider yourself shortsighted? The Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, provides sufficient warning against it.

Slaying the Giant of Selfishness     02/01/09

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Slaying the Giants

Categories: Christian Life


Does man exist for himself? Did God really put us on earth just so we can advance ourselves and live a happy life? To live life simply for oneself may sound repulsive and unacceptable, but the reality is: there are many people whose ultimate goal in life is the pursuit of their personal happiness. Believe it or not, even great men of the Bible are not exempted from this attitude. Solomon started out being so blessed because of the wisdom that God bestowed upon him. He sought for this wisdom because he wanted to adequately serve the nation of Israel. However, his heart eventually turned from serving others to serving and living for himself. I hope you won’t miss the last verse. He ended up being disappointed because his pursuit turned out to be empty and meaningless. Can you imagine the frustration?

Slaying the Giant of Strongholds     01/18/09

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Slaying the Giants

Categories: Christian Life


It is always disturbing when we hear stories about Christians who deceived fellow Christians because we know it impacts the causes of Christ in negative ways. And it is so easy to pass judgement on people who have been disgraced without being aware of our struggles of living double lives. Is it possible that we are doing our best to hide our own obsessions or addictions? Continuing on the series on Slaying the Giants, I would like to talk about this very sensitive topic about strongholds. For most people, these are commonly known as obsessions or addictions. We need to confront and defeat these strongholds if we want God's best in our lives.

Slaying the Giant of Self-Sufficiency     01/04/09

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Slaying the Giants

Categories: Christian Life


Self-sufficiency is dangerous, and anyone can easily fall into this attitude. Just like in the life of Goliath, image, possessions, and experience can easily contribute to such an attitude. In life, we need to constantly guard ourselves from it. Even God’s people need to take heed. In the Old Testament, whenever God’s people had enjoyed some prosperity, they were most vulnerable to self-sufficiency.

Pursuing Greater Productivity     12/28/08

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Categories: Christian Life


Our highest goal as a church family is encapsulated in our purpose statement – Leading people to a life of commitment and productivity in Christ. Our salvation goes beyond having the assurance of going to heaven, or enjoying the blessings of an abundant life. We must, while waiting to go to heaven, use our one and only life to bring honor and glory to Him who saved us by making a difference in the lives of others. Productivity is our highest priority, without undermining the value of commitment. The reality is: they should always go together. The more committed we are, the more productive we become.

Change in Attitude     08/10/08

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Glorious Change

Categories: Christian Life


Personal improvement has always been considered as one of the natural drives of human beings. People are consistently looking for ways to improve themselves. The only problem is: so many people give physical enhancement the highest priority. What kind of personal improvement have you taken for yourself lately? Are you at all conscious of any area in your life that needs improving? Until we embrace the fact that we have some responsibilities in our attitudes, we will never be able to live a life that brings honor and glory to God. Just like God’s people in the Old Testament who missed out on the Promised Land because of their hardheartedness, we can suffer if we do not choose to change our attitudes. Therefore, let’s consciously desire to change into Gods glorious image.

Set for Change     08/03/08

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Glorious Change

Categories: Church Life, Christian Life


The Bible explicitly claims that genuine faith in Christ produces a changed life. The apostle Paul himself who experienced the changing power of God declared in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” In other words, the people who really have been saved are people who are changing. It is easy for anyone to talk about his or her religion, but everyone who does it must recognize that he or she must have the life to validate it. Beloved, if you know Jesus, you are set to change. I trust that you are ready to commit yourself to full cooperation with the work of transformation that God wants to do in you.

Defining True Success     09/23/07

Rev. Jerry Lepasana

Series: Thank God It's Monday

Categories: Christian Life


How do you define success? Every person has his or her definition of success.However, when you look at what the Bible says, The Bible says that success is not defined by what you see. It’s not defined by the external things of society.