Mountain View Baptist Church

The Damascus Road

6/6/2021

This was the last service from Pastor Darrell. He will be moving on to wherever God leads.

One of the most thrilling and significant transformations in the Bible is the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. In essence, Saul had to lose his religion in order to gain Christ. His conversion reminds us that the road to becoming fully alive in Jesus often involves a painful deconstruction of our faith. Sometimes we have to lose our religion in order to find the truth. In Darrell's last message as Senior Pastor of Mountain View, he encourages the church to keep trusting Jesus no matter how difficult the road ahead might get.

Acts 9

Video of Service

The End of the Beginning

5/30/2021

The older I get, the more people I meet caged by bitterness, even Christians. You can't miss their venomous speech in some social media circles. How hard it is for us to remember that no matter how bad a former president, pastor, spouse or boss acted towards us, God still used that person for good in our lives. In our final study of 1 Samuel, we find the inspired author surprising us with an honorable conclusion to Saul's legacy. The King who ruled with such a poor record is remembered with rich devotion. It is another example of God's grace in the Old Testament.

1 Samuel 31, 2 Samuel 1:1-10

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A Man After God's Own Heart

5/23/2021

The distance from despair to delight, sorrow to celebration cannot be measured in miles but it is a real road with a real beginning and end. We see David walk this road throughout 1 Samuel but especially in chapter 30 as his worst fears come to pass only to be evaporated by God's intervening kindness. Darkness leads to dawn for David as we read about the finishing touches put on a royal foundation ready to support a new King with a God saturated heart.

1 Samuel 30

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No Way Out

5/16/2021

Dutch philosopher and Christian scholar Erasmus once said, "Bidden or unbidden, God is always present." Whether we ask Him or ignore Him, God is always at work around us. He refuses to be a spectator to history. One of the best illustrations of this is found in 1 Samuel 29 where David's deceit and despair have put him into a big mess. As we begin to wrap up our series in 1 Samuel, we find God putting the final touches on David's ascent to the throne of Israel.

1 Samuel 29

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Any Witch Way But Up

5/9/2021

The law of gravity, discovered by Newton, states that things tend to be pulled downward. Simply put, “What goes up, must come down.” The law of thermodynamics says "All things are breaking down." There is another all encompassing law found throughout the pages of Scripture. It goes like this: We reap what we sow. Or in the modern vernacular: “What goes around comes around.” In today’s study from 1 Samuel 28, we find Saul reaping what he has sown. Having lived a life of disregard for God and His word, he is now reaping the tragic results.

1 Samuel 28

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David's Despair

5/2/2021

The Bible often tells us troubling things about the people God chooses to be His instruments of change. When we see the heroes of the faith up close, we become less awed by their character and more inspired by God's. In 1 Samuel 27, the inspired writer shows us just how prone God's people are to wander, prone to leave the God they love as David seeks refuge from Saul among the Philistines. The more we get to know the future king of Israel, the more astonished we are at his weaknesses and sins. In today's message, we consider how despair can drive the strongest believer into making poor decisions.

1 Samuel 27

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Testimony Sunday

4/25/2021

In today's service, we hear from two of our members - Elaine and Wes Pierce - about how Jesus changed their lives. Their stories of God's grace remind us that Jesus came to save sinners who could not save themselves - no matter how "good" we may be.

Video of Service

Great Expectations

4/18/2021

George Reeves was an American actor best known for his role as Superman in the 1950's television series, Adventures of Superman. He often made guest appearances at public events, but his fame wasn't without risks. Kids kicked him in the shins or threw rocks to see if he was the "real" Superman or a "pretend". One public appearance was especially dangerous when a young fan brought his dad's handgun to see if bullets would bounce off his chest. After convincing the boy they could but the bullets would ricochet and might hit him or others, the danger was averted. Young fans wanted to know - is he real or pretend?

As Christians we too need assurance that our hero is invincible. There are times when we too need to know if the Jesus we follow is real or pretend. In todays' passage from 1 Samuel, David discovers again that no matter the circumstances, God will always come to his aid.

1 Samuel 26

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Abigail Rescues David - Part 2

4/11/2021

Did you know it was socially unacceptable for women to travel with men who were not their husbands in ancient times? Did you know that it was also rare for women to have an income producing job? So why did Jesus include women in his entourage? Jesus included women because he loved them and needed them. He was showing the world that women have just as important a role to play in God's kingdom as men. One of the best illustrations of this from the OT is 1 Samuel 25 where Abigail rescues the future King of Israel from himself and God's judgement.

1 Samuel 25

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The Tombstone Story

4/4/2021

She stands 305 feet tall and weighs 250,000 pounds. Covered in a thin layer of copper, she welcomes all who come into New York Harbor with these words, "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..." The Statue of Liberty is more than a statue. It is more than concrete and copper construction. It is an icon, a symbol that represents something much larger than itself. The same is true for the American Flag or the Vietnam Memorial. In Matthew 28, we have another example of an image representing something much greater than itself. Every scene of the passion narrative from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday has profound significance but the resurrection scene is the climax. And one of the best symbols of the resurrection of Jesus is an angel sitting on his tombstone.

Matthew 28:1-10

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The Humble King

3/28/2021

One of the most gifted thinkers of the last century was pastor and author A. W. Tozer. His sincere love of God poured out in his books, such as, The Knowledge of the Holy, where Tozer makes this statement: “What comes into our mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us…" If that is true, then we want to make sure our thoughts of God are thoughts from God. In other words, we want to make sure that what we believe about God is in fact from God. As we step away from 1 Samuel to celebrate Resurrection Sunday, we find both Old and New Testament writers showing us how to think of God as He really is and not what this world often teaches us to believe about Him.

Matthew 21:1-17

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The Two Paths

3/21/2021

What do you call it when a fellow staff pastor leaves your church and takes several of your members with him to start another? In most cases, it's called a church split! Here at Mountain View however, it's called Sojourn. Jeff Winters is our special guest speaker today. Jeff served as our Associate Pastor for many years before partnering with us to launch Sojourn in West Haven. We are privileged to sit under Jeff's teaching today as he guides us through Psalm 1, giving us a unique look at the two different paths of life we must choose to walk while living on earth.

Psalm 1

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Abigail Rescues David

3/14/2021

I read recently about a church sign that posted this one- liner: "Anger is just one letter short of being… danger." Uncontrolled, unrighteous anger is a dangerous emotion. In our study of 1 Samuel today, we read of a man struggling with rage and the person who saved him from that rage. Surprisingly, the man enraged is not Saul but David. And the person who rescues David is a lady named Abigail. Like a bright light shining against the dark backdrops of David's anger and her husband's foolishness, Abigail personifies the grace of God saving David from a horrific act that would have haunted him the rest of his life. David's anger tells us two things about our relationship with Jesus today.

1 Samuel 25:1-31

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Integrity Matters

3/7/2021

Some people are willing to do anything and everything to be successful and later suffer the consequences. In gaining the world they forfeit their soul. Others, like David of the Bible, are unwilling to do anything to be successful and enjoy the consequences. Being a person of integrity is not easy in today’s world (has it ever?) but it is worth the journey. We continue our study of the lives of Saul and David today from 1 Samuel 24.

Video of Service

Testimony Sunday

2/28/2021

In today's service, we hear from two of our members about how Jesus changed their lives. Their stories of God's grace remind us that Jesus came to save sinners who could not save themselves.

Video of Service

Attributes of Godly Leaders

2/21/2021

What does strong leadership look like in today's world? Can a leader be both strong and humble? Can they have close friends? In today's continuing study from 1 Samuel 23, we find leadership qualities in David that apply to all of us whether we hold a formal title or not.

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What Should Be Our Response to COVID?

2/14/2021

What should our response to the coronavirus pandemic be? In today’s message Pastor Charles applies several passages of Scripture to how we should think and act during this difficult time.

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Characteristics of Abusive Leadership

2/7/2021

God gives leaders to empower and protect, not punish and persecute. One of the saddest reversals of this divine plan, even horrific, is King Saul's systematic slaughter of God's priests in the city of Nob. Saul's jealousy of David has driven him to do the unspeakable. His actions reveal characteristics of abusive leadership that are alive and well today. We pick up our study in 1 Samuel 22.

Video of Service

The Law of Love

1/31/2021

In his book, The Jesus I Never Knew, Philip Yancey relates a story told to him by a friend who worked with the “down and out” in Chicago. The friend told him that a woman of ill repute in wretched straits, homeless, sick, and unable to buy food for her daughter came to his shelter. Through sobs and tears, she confessed that in order to make ends meet, she needed her daughter to help in “the business.” Yancey’s friend could hardly bear to hear her sordid story. He had no idea what to say and finally asked if she ever thought of going to a church for help. “Church!” She cried. Why would I ever go there? I was already feeling terrible about myself. They would just make me feel worse.”

In 1 Samuel 21, we find a man in similar circumstances, “down and out” in wretched straits, homeless and hungry, looking for help among God’s people. Instead of being made to feel worse, he is helped and encouraged. It is a beautiful illustration of the grace God’s people can give today when relationships are valued above strict rule keeping.

Video of Service

Community Matters

1/24/2021

Their friendship stood in stark contrast to the world around them. Political chaos, war, immorality, religious apathy and constant civil unrest littered the national landscape. Sound familiar? We could very well be talking about current events and yet these are descriptions of life in Israel over 3000 years ago. As we pick up our study in 1 Samuel 20, we read where Jonathan and David's love for each other highlights the value of covenant community. Their God centered relationship stands as a reminder that we too can experience an oasis of life in the middle of a dry desert through meaningful relationships

1 Samuel 20

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Responding to Rejection

1/17/2021

Everybody experiences rejection from time to time, but where do you turn when the most powerful man in the country has a bounty on your head? Where do you run when there is no place to run? Where do you hide when there’s no place to hide? In 1 Samuel 19, we find David fleeing Saul for his life. His response to Saul's murderous plots provide important insights for when we too experience rejection and trouble.

1 Samuel 19

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Marks of Maturity

1/10/2021

If your athletic abilities are like mine, you don’t want the ball in your hands when the game is on the line. You’d much rather others more talented take the final shot, throw the final pass, score the final points. In many ways, the world of sports is one huge illustration of the local church. The local church is a team- a community and no one person is more important than another. Though we all have different roles and responsibilities, each of us play an important part in our overall effectiveness. Problems arise when me, mine and my become more important than we, us and our. As we resume our study of 1 Samuel today, we find in King Saul a picture of me, mine and my and in David a picture of we, us and our. Two important marks of maturity are revealed through the contrasting character of Saul and David.

1 Samuel 18

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Fear Not! - Encouragement for the New Year

1/3/2021

Today we hear from Jim Panagoplos:

I’m sure many times throughout this past year we would scratch our heads and wonder what in the world is going on. Oftentimes as the struggles became more personal, we would even ask God why me. In those moments we can become more discouraged; more disillusioned; frustrated. Our perspective becomes distorted and our circumstances look insurmountable. But God in His providential ways comes to us and brings encouragement and hope in the midst of our darkest times. In Isaiah 43:1-7 we look at the encouragement He gives to Israel during their captivity in Babylon and see that those same words then can be applied to our lives today.

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The Scandal of Christmas - Part 3

12/27/2020

God becoming flesh and blood on this “dirty tennis ball of a planet” is a glorious truth the angels of heaven could hardly believe. What is even more staggering is that when the God of the universe became flesh and blood, he entered our world not with the riches of royalty but the rags of poverty. The circumstances surrounding his birth did not come with power and applause but shame and rejection. We have been looking at the birth of Jesus through a different lens this year. The lens of scandal and tension. In today's final sermon from this series, we consider how the favor of heaven often brings trouble on earth.

Luke 2:33-35

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The Scandal of Christmas - Part 2

12/20/2020

The Bible invites us to ask hard questions. God’s Word doesn’t try to hide the tension caused by doubts and the uncertainties of life. One such example is found in the account of Christ’s birth - two very different stories from Matthew and Luke. Which is correct? The differences invite us to consider our own doubts and how to overcome them.

Matthew 2 and Luke 2

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<<Previous

The Damascus Road

The End of the Beginning

A Man After God's Own Heart

No Way Out

Any Witch Way But Up

David's Despair

Testimony Sunday

Great Expectations

Abigail Rescues David - Part 2

The Tombstone Story

The Humble King

The Two Paths

Abigail Rescues David

Integrity Matters

Testimony Sunday

Attributes of Godly Leaders

What Should Be Our Response to COVID?

Characteristics of Abusive Leadership

The Law of Love

Community Matters

Responding to Rejection

Marks of Maturity

Fear Not! - Encouragement for the New Year

The Scandal of Christmas - Part 3

The Scandal of Christmas - Part 2

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