On the Lord’s Day (Sunday), we at Westlynn Baptist gather to worship the Lord by singing a mixture of biblically rich songs with musical instruments. Sunday Worship Sundays at 10 am 1 341 27th St E, No rth Vancouver, BC This Sunday Our Worship Services. On the Lord’s Day (Sunday), we gather together to worship in accordance with the pattern established in the New Testament. We worship the Lord by singing a mixture of biblically rich contemporary songs, faithful hymns that have stood the test of time, and modern adaptations of metrical psalms (Ephesians 5:19). We complement our singing with musical instruments, ensuring they enhance rather than overpower the voices of God’s people, our primary instruments of praise. During the service, we have a dedicated time reserved for pastoral prayer in which we intercede for the needs of our congregation, city, nation, and our global community. Although our worship service is primarily done in English, we offer live translation into Farsi and Russian for all parts of our service. During musical worship, the lyrics for our songs are displayed in all three languages on the screen. During the scripture readings, prayer times and preaching of God’s Word, a live translation of the service can be followed through our provided wireless audio kits with earbuds. During the sermon portion of the service, children under 10 are invited to join Sunday school classes tailored to their age group. The rest of the congregation sits under expository (explaining the scriptures) preaching from God’s Word. It is our usual practice to preach books of the Bible verse by verse in order to hear what the whole counsel of God has to say to us. In accordance with Jesus’ commands, we come together regularly (first Sunday of each month) to partake in the Lord’s Supper. On these occasions, we do not offer children’s programs as we want to encourage families to worship together. After communion, following the worship service, we gather together for a church-wide lunch. Visiting us for the first time? Find out how to get here . Livestream and Fellowship Hall Seating. For those who prefer, we have alternative seating in our Fellowship Hall just a few steps away from the main sanctuary. A live video link of the service is displayed on a large screen for everyone to see and participate in worship. For those who are ill or unable to worship in-person, we offer livestream access. We do not believe that joining with fellow believers via livestream for convenience sake is spiritually healthy nor part of the New Testament vision for how believers are to be incarnationally present with each other. Therefore, our livestream is only available by request to those who cannot attend services due to illness, health issues, temporary travel, and other reasons. All requests for livestream links are reviewed by the elders.

Biblical Counselling I need to talk to someone What is Biblical Counselling ? Biblical counselling is the soul care ministry of God’s people under the oversight of God’s church, dependent upon the authority and sufficiency of God’s Word through the work of the Holy Spirit. Biblical counselling seeks to reorient disordered desires, affections, thoughts, behaviours, and worship toward a God-designed image of man with the purpose to restore people to a right fellowship with God and others. Biblical counselling is fundamentally a theological task. The work of understanding the problems which require counselling and of helping people with those problems requires theological faithfulness and submission to the way God explains life. The aim of Biblical Counseling is not only to deal with a sinful habit, a difficult relationship, or a chronic illness or a loss. Its final and long-term aim is Christlikeness, a life lived in purity and holiness of heart and mind, in action, speech, attitudes and thoughts. Biblical counseling ministers to the inner man (our heart, mind, or soul) where transformation by God’s Word through the Holy Spirit starts, and it results in biblical change in the outer man (our bodies, behaviour, and speech) living to love, worship and serve God. Why Biblical Counselling ? We believe that God’s Word, the Bible, is sufficient to resolve life’s most challenging situations and questions. Though followers of Christ are made right with God by Christ alone, through faith alone, not through good works, they continue to live in a corrupt world and in weak and totally deprived bodies. By ministering God’s truth, Biblical counseling partners with the believer in pursuing a biblical way of thinking and living every day, to please God and to become more like Christ (progressive sanctification). Faith leads to works, to a disciplined life and commitment to live to serve and please our Maker and Redeemer, which is our God given goal on earth. When Do I Know I Need Biblical Counselling ? When you struggle with unbiblical ingrained habits (of thinking, speech, or behaviour), a difficult relationship, grief, chronic illness, anxiety, anger, depression, temptations you cannot overcome, or any other life circumstance where you need to know God’s will, work, and perspective. How and W here Can I Get Biblical Counselling ? You can contact us via the link below by completing the Personal Data Inventory (PDI) form and emailing it back to us. We shall respond within a week. Biblical Counselling

The team at Westlynn Baptist Church is filled by those who are in submission to God as taught in the New Testament: the local church is a plurality of biblically qualified male elders who serve as the spiritual shepherds or pastors of the flock. Our Team " Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth ." —2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV) We believe the New Testament teaches that God’s pattern for the governance of the local church is a plurality of biblically qualified male elders who serve as the spiritual shepherds or pastors of the flock. The term “pastor,” “elder” and “overseer” are used interchangeably in the New Testament to describe the leaders of God’s church. Paul instructed Titus to appoint not just one elder but multiple elders in every town (Titus 1:5). Paul and Barnabas at the conclusion of their first missionary journey appointed multiple elders—not just one—in all the churches that they planted (Acts 14:23). Elders must be qualified according the qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 and have a significant role to play in terms of caring for God’s people. Whether this is in being responsible for finances (Acts 11:30), engaging in theological discussion (Acts 15:2,4,6,22-23), ensuring that God’s Word is properly applied (Acts 16:4), or praying for the sick (James 5:16), they are responsible to God who appointed them to watch over His sheep (Acts 20:28). Pastors-Elders . Samuel Chua Lead Pastor Samuel Chua Email Sam Chua (MDiv, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as the lead pastor. Sam was born and raised in Burnaby and has a heart to see God’s Word faithfully preached from pulpits in every part of the city. He is married to Esther and they have five children. Prior to entering pastoral ministry, Sam worked in industry as a computer engineer and then as a graduate student researcher at The University of British Columbia. Pastor-Elder Mike Parsons Email Mike has served as an elder at Westlynn for many years and has also been involved in pastoral ministry for several decades. Mike and his wife Pearl, have a passion for prayer and can often be found leading times of prayer and encouraging others to pray. Pastor-Elder David Gileff Email David has served as an elder and in ministry for many years both in Westlynn and in his previous church. By day he works as a lawyer, but he also invests a significant amount of time in serving the Russian Language Ministry of our church as well as using his accordion-playing skills in corporate worship. He is married to Taya and together they have six children. Pastoral Apprentice Markos Fehr Email Markos, not Marcos and not Marcus, has served as a pastoral apprentice at Westlynn since January 2024. He is also currently in the process of finishing his Master of Divinity degree (M.Div). He has a heart for missions and seeing the Gospel go to the unreached, especially in Nepal. David Gileff Mike Parsons James Wong Markos Fehr Servants of the church at Westlynn . Janet Campbell Administrator Janet Campbell Email Finance Alex Vergeychik Email ESL Classes Scott N. Email Building Bibot Legaspi Email Music Ministry Yuji Stobbe Email Children's Ministry Joeun K. Email Kitchen Kim Cleland Email Men's Ministry Casey Cleland Email Children's Ministry Daniel Z. Email

Westlynn Baptist Church includes a Farsi language ministry which translates Sunday morning worship services and has a Farsi service with lunch every third Sunday. Bible studies are held during the week. فارسی دومین و چهارمین یکشنبه هر ماه ۱۲:۰۰ ظهر تبقه پایین چهارشنبهها ساعت ۵:۳۰ عصر - کلاس انگلیس ساعت ۷ عصر - جلسهٔ کتابمقدس - آنلاین و حضوری به زبان فارسی یکشنبهها ساعت ۱۰ صبح - پرستش خدا و موعظهٔ کلام خدا به زبان انگلیسی با ترجمهٔ فارسی برای اطلاعات بیشتر و یا درخواست دعا، اینجا را کلیک کنید تا هم بتوانیم برای شما در دعا باشیم و هم بتوانیم باهم در ارتباط باشیم

The Russian Language ministry of Westlynn Baptist Church. Богослужение на русском языке каждое воскресенье кроме первого воскресенья месяца 12:30 p m Русскоязычное служение проходит каждое воскресенье (кроме первого воскресенья месяца) в главном зале в 12:30. Мы собираемся для пения, общения и проповеди Слова Божьего на русском языке. Русскоязычное служение — это одно из направлений деятельности нашей церкви. Во время англоязычных богослужений церкви осуществляется синхронный перевод на русский язык. Также, изучение Библии и общение на русском языке проходят в малой группе на дому. Русскоязычное служение направлено на удовлетворение духовных потребностей русскоязычных иммигрантов и беженцев из разных стран. Кроме того, мы регулярно размещаем наши проповеди на канале YouTube, чтобы сделать их доступными людям по всему миру. Вот ссылка подписаться на наш YouTube канал. Если у вас есть вопросы, предложения или желание потрудиться в русскоязычном служении церкви Westlynn, пожалуйста, сообщите нам через email . Благодать вам и мир от Бога Отца и Господа нашего Иисуса Христа!

The Bible uses the image of a “body” to describe the Church. Our human bodies are healthy only when each individual part (or “member”) of our body is functioning together as one unit. Likewise, theologically each individual Christian is a part of a larger body: the Church. Westlynn Baptist Church believes in these main principles to membership: Doctrinal unity, commitment to living life in Christian community, recognition of church leadership and mutual accountability in holiness. Membership Become a Member Being a Member of the Church Body . “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” — Romans 12:4-5 The New Testament repeatedly uses the image of a “body” to describe the Church (Romans 12:4, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Ephesians 3:6, 4:1, 4:4, 4:10-16, 5:23, 5:30, Colossians 1:18-24, 2:19, 3:15). Our human bodies are healthy only when each individual part (or “member”) of our body continually shares in the life of the body as a whole, doing its part to cooperate with and serve all the other members of the body. Likewise, the theological fact that each individual Christian is part of a larger body (the Church) implies that Christians should grow in their connections—to each other, to their leaders (e.g., pastors-elders and teachers), and ultimately, through their participation in the church body, to Christ, who is the head of the Church (Ephesians 4:11-16). How do we apply this biblical truth in our local church? One way our church does this is by encouraging church membership through voluntary participation in a membership process. In practical terms, what biblical aims are fulfilled by engaging in a membership process, rather than, for example, just considering everyone who attends our public gatherings to be a member? 1. Doctrinal unity. Not everyone who attends our worship services is a Christian. Even if someone considers themselves a Christian, not everyone shares our core Scriptural and theological convictions. However, the church cannot act in unity unless there is basic agreement on the essentials of the Christian faith that was “once for all delivered to the saints”—i.e., the truths that must be proclaimed, lived out and carefully safeguarded by the church (Amos 3:3; Eph. 4:1-6; Jude 3). Church membership is your public affirmation of adherence to our church’s Statement of Faith—which is the essential foundation for all that our church is or does. 2. Commitment to living life in Christian community. We know that not everyone who attends our church is willing to commit to continually sharing their life with other members of the church, specifically, by loving one another (John 13:34-35, Romans 12:10, 13:8, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 John 4:7-12); carrying one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2); serving, teaching and admonishing one another (1 Peter 4:10, Galatians 5:13; Col. 3:16); regularly gathering together for mutual encouragement (Hebrews 3:13, 10:24-25; Acts 2:42), being held spiritually accountable by submitting to one another and confessing sins to one another (Ephesians 5:21, James 5:16); living in harmony together (Romans 12:16); and bearing with one another and forgiving each other where necessary (Romans 15:7, Ephesians 4:2, 4:32, Colossians 3:13), for example. Significantly, the biblical teaching to live life together and to use our spiritual gifts in love to serve one another in the church arises directly from the biblical metaphor of the Church being the Body of Christ (Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4:16). Becoming a church member is your public affirmation of these biblical obligations and the Westlynn Church Membership Covenant represents your promise to other church members to fulfil these and other biblical teachings as to how Christians should live together in love (John 13:34-35; Romans 12:4-8; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4:16). 3. Recognition of church leadership. The same Bible passages that speak of the Church as the Body of Christ also mention spiritual leadership gifts. For example: (a) Romans 12:6-8 mentions that the gifts given to the Body include teaching and leading; (b) in Ephesians 4:11-14, God gives the gift of certain kinds of leaders including pastors-teachers “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” to lead us to spiritual maturity; and (c) 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 also lists several categories of leadership gifts. Ultimately, Christ is the head of the Church (Ephesians 4:15-16; Colossians 1:18). However, Scripture clearly teaches that Christ rules His Church partly through the leadership of a group of godly and biblically qualified pastors-elders (Acts 14:23, 20:17, 20:28, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-2; Philippians 1:1, James 5:14). Members of the church are called to submit to the godly leadership of a local church’s pastor-elders (1 Pet. 5:5; Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Corinthians 16:15-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 1 Timothy 5:17). Membership in the church expresses your recognition of—and submission to—the biblical teaching that Christ, as the Chief Shepherd, has appointed pastors-elders in the church who are accountable to Him for shepherding your soul (Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2-4, Hebrews 13:17; Ephesians 4:11-12; John 21:15-17). Similarly, pastors-elders need to know for whom they will be held responsible before God (Hebrews 13:17). Membership thus provides spiritual and practical clarity in church polity (governance). At Westlynn Baptist Church, our pastor-elders generally require someone to be a member (or to be working towards that end) in order to be entrusted with a specific church ministry. 4. Mutual accountability in holiness. God intended the church to faithfully represent Jesus to the world by us living holy lives, both individually and together as a community (1 Peter 1:15-16; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14; Titus 2:11-12; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; Ephesians 4:24; 1 Timothy 4:7-8). The early church recognized that not everyone who attended church services or who professed faith in Christ was truly a Christian. For example, the church distinguished between church members in good standing, unbelieving “outsiders,” and apostates or heretics: see 1 Corinthians 14:22-25; Colossians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 13:5; 1 John 2:19, 3:6-10; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Timothy 1:18-20, 4:1-2, 2 Timothy 3:1-8; Jude 3-4. For the first category (faithful Christians), the church is a means of sanctification (i.e., helping us fight against sin), challenging sinful behavior and calling members to repentance (Galatians 6:1-2; James 5:16; Hebrews 3:12-13,10:24-25; Matthew 18:15-17; Romans 15:14; James 5:19-20). The Great Commission is fulfilled only if the church teaches and directs her members to obey Christ in all that he taught personally or through the Apostles, a process we call “discipleship” (i.e., learning to be a disciple of Jesus by following his teachings and being conformed to his personal example of holiness): see Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 8:29, 12:2, 13:14. Discipleship requires discipline both on a personal level and as a church. Therefore, in cases where a member is persistently ungodly and unrepentant after repeated warnings, the church as a whole is called to remove such persons from membership as a sign that these members do not represent Christ and, indeed, are in danger of being excluded from God’s Kingdom if they fail to repent of their sinful conduct (Matthew 18:15-17; James 5:19-20; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, 6:9-11). In summary, the practice of church membership promotes spiritual accountability as follows: (1) first, it is a means for the church’s leadership and members to challenge one another to grow in holiness and godliness by defeating sin through the power of the Spirit; (2) second, we protect the reputation of Jesus Christ in the world by publicly affirming which faithful Christians the church believes belong to Christ; and (3) in the event that a member is persistently unfaithful, church membership is the basis of church discipline, by which the church attempts in love to restore a sinner to Christ in order to save their soul (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:4-5; James 5:19-20). Jesus Christ established the Church for our own good. A Christian needs to understand—and live out—the biblical truth that “we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:4-5). The leadership of Westlynn Church is persuaded that voluntary membership in our church through our Membership Covenant is an important part of the discipleship process, whereby Christians can declare that they are members of Christ by their membership in a particular local church (Westlynn) and the means by which the church, on its part, calls upon her members to obey Scripture in all that it teaches about life together as a spiritual family. If you are a follower of Jesus and want to explore becoming a member of the Westlynn church family and/or seek to be baptized as a sign of your discipleship to Jesus Christ, please contact Pastor-Elder David Gileff or Elder Mike Parsons about our Membership and Baptism class, which is being held on demand at the church on Friday evenings at 7:00 pm. — David Gileff Steps to Become a Member . Register for and complete a church membership class with David Gileff . Review the Westlynn church covenant then sign, snap a photo/scan, and send back to David Gileff. Review Statement of Faith (Baptist Faith and Message 2000) . Write a 1-page testimony (or more if you want) about how you came to know Jesus and send it to David Gileff. Upon completion of the above, schedule an interview with David Gileff to review your application. If you have not been baptized, schedule a date to read your testimony in front of the congregation and be baptized. Your name will be brought forward at our next congregational meeting. The congregation will then listen as you share your testimony (unless it was already read at your baptism) and vote to receive you into membership at the church. Become a Member

At Westlynn Baptist Church we administer expository (explaining the scriptures) preaching from whole books of the Bible verse by verse, to hear what the whole counsel of God has to say to us. Menu Latest Featured Sin Great God Sermons YouTube Podcasts Latest Latest Content . Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Now Playing The Shadow of the Saviour: Melchizedek | Christmas in Genesis | Sam Chua 54:36 Play Video Now Playing The Fine Line of Love | 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 | Markos Fehr 58:14 Play Video Now Playing Knowing Christ | Dr. Mark Jones | Westlynn Baptist Church Men's Ministry | Men's Breakfast 53:15 Play Video Featured Featured Sermons at Westlynn Play Video Play Video 47:04 What is a woman? What does it mean to be a woman? Can a biological male be a woman or a mother? A society that lacks a biblical worldview is confused and in conflict about these questions. Transgender activists are challenging widely-held cultural, moral and religious beliefs about biological sex and gender that humanity has held for millennia. There is cultural pressure to affirm that a woman is anyone who lives and identifies as female even though they may have had a different sex at birth. Many non-Christians, feminists, and even atheists see transgender ideology as lacking any scientific basis and as undermining the rights of biological women, e.g., to exclusive access to women-only spaces, to fair competition in women’s sports, or even to be recognized as distinct from biological men. Christians are called to respect God’s design for womanhood and manhood while showing love and respect to all persons, including those who erroneously advocate for transgender ideology. God's revelation of human nature in Scripture is counter-cultural but wise. In this sermon, Pastor Sam Chua examines the Bible's countercultural view of women and motherhood: What the Bible says about how women, together with men, jointly represent the image of God, how women have been gifted with the ministry of demonstrating God’s love through motherhood and child-bearing; and finally, how women are called to spiritual warfare through a godly lifestyle and service to family and others. God stands against all oppressors and will judge individuals and cultures that try to crush women. 0:00 - Can a man be a woman? Can a woman be a father? 3:02 - 3 things that God teaches us 4:23 - 1. God’s image in women 5:54 - Equality of man and woman corrupted by sin 7:40 - Doublethink, facts vs feelings 14:14 - Speak truth in love 15:20 - 2. God’s gifts to women 16:06 - Childbearing and motherhood 19:03 - Biological constraints and exception fallacy 21:33 - Inner and outer beauty in women 26:06 - 3. God’s war for women 29:48 - Women straying after satan 31:19 - Christian women strike the devil 33:11 - Men should protect women who are physically weaker 37:27 - So, what is a woman? 38:29 - To biological males identifying as women 41:11 - To single women: disciple other people 46:16 - Closing prayer Please share your thoughts below in the COMMENTS. How is the current cultural confusion about the definition of womanhood and manhood hurting men and women? You are free to agree or disagree with us, but please be RESPECTFUL of others views. Disrespectful comments towards others may be removed. If you disagree, before posting your disagreement, please LISTEN to the ENTIRE sermon, because your objection may have already been anticipated and addressed. Speaking truthfully about sexuality or gender is now DANGEROUS. Pastor Sam Chua explains CANCEL CULTURE and gives a Christian response here: https://youtu.be/f5V4hSY3COE For more Bible-based messages, see the following playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5V4hSY3COE&list=PLC4qiksnO68ohUXc0fUbpM7NJPlid7JJB Pastor Sam Chua Sermon on Mother's Day, May 14, 2023 (2023-05-14) http://www.westlynnbaptist.com TOPICAL INDEX: Christian Scripture and theology, theological anthropology, Mother's Day, motherhood, womanhood, women's rights, women's ministry, cancel culture. #women #mothersday #motherhood #womanhood #womensrights #equality #culture #bible #sermon #preaching #church #northvancouver #northvan Play Video Play Video 43:03 Make Mothers’ Day (Plural Possessive) Great Again May 12, 2019 - Pastor Sam Chua at Westlynn Baptist Church. #northvancouver #vancouver #westvancouver #northvan #yvr #burnaby #bc #canada #mothersday #motherhood #genderequality #women #sermon Play Video Play Video 50:17 Recovering Biblical Fatherhood from the Origins of Father’s Day June 21, 2020 - Pastor Sam Chua at Westlynn Baptist Church. #northvancouver #vancouver #westvancouver #northvan #yvr #burnaby #bc #canada #fathersday #fatherhood #father #fatherlove #genderequality #men #sermon Play Video Play Video 53:42 Is abortion = murdering babies? Pastor's take on the controversy (Proverbs 31:8-9) May 15, 2022 - Pastor Sam Chua at Westlynn Baptist Church. While the medical community defines abortion as removal of product of conception before term, Pastor Sam believes that abortion should not be used as a means to end the voiceless lives of unwanted sons and daughters. The Bible tells us that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God, and that any kind of murder is immoral. So, is abortion wrong even when continuing the pregnancy endangers the mother's life? Is abortion wrong if the pregnancy is a result of rape? Is abortion wrong if the infant will be born with birth defects? What can we do to bridge both sides of the argument? #northvancouver #vancouver #westvancouver #northvan #yvr #burnaby #bc #canada #sermon #preach #abortion #controversial #babies #infants #birth Play Video Play Video 46:10 When the TRUTH is OFFENSIVE (Matthew 14:1-12) with #subtitles March 5, 2023 - It's DANGEROUS to speak the truth in our culture. George Orwell and Dr. Jordan B. Peterson have warned against the sickness of a culture that would forbid its citizens to speak the truth, or worse still, demands acquiescence to falsehood and lies. Bill C-4 may criminalize free speech and religious practice, as Christians, Muslims and civil liberties organizations have pointed out. Such legal threats suppress truthful and open discussion of key spiritual and moral questions related to gender, sexuality, LGBTQ issues, abortion, or euthanasia (now euphemistically renamed as "MAiD" or "medical assistance in dying"). While Bill C-4 purports to make "conversion therapy" illegal, many have pointed out that the law is deliberately vague and broad enough to be weaponized against politically incorrect opinions including the work of Christian leaders and counselors. Speaking the truth may be defined as a crime or as "hate speech," so that those who speak it -- are canceled. Still, God's servants have always spoken the truth, even when it cost them dearly. When the Prophet John (John the Baptist) spoke out boldly against King Herod's sexual sin, i.e., his adultery and incestuous relations, he got put in jail for his troubles and was later beheaded. For what? For speaking God's truth about sexual immorality. What does the Bible teach us about continuing to speak God's truth to our culture, even when it's dangerous? As we count the cost of speaking the truth, how can we be as courageous and bold as John the Baptist was? 0:00 Intro 0:32 Do we have free speech? 0:59 The truth threatens us 1:48 Voltaire's definition 2:20 Free speech is in doubt 2:32 Bill C-4 (conversion therapy) is dangerous 5:30 Jordan Peterson's critique of compelled speech 6:47 Who gets to define "hate speech"? 7:35 George Orwell's definition of liberty 7:48 Why the Bible is offensive to many 8:30 What if the law criminalizes Biblical truth? 13:21 The problem of a guilty conscience 17:40 The godly confront their culture's sins 18:36 Our culture has redefined sin 19:05 Why Canadians say "sorry" so much 21:07 The Canadian Gospel: peace at the expense of truth 25:25 The unvarnished truth still pulls on the human heart 31:25 Are you a slave to your passions? Here's why. 33:20 Cowardice is a sin of omission 35:12 The godly will suffer as a witness 37:08 How Hugh Latimer faced down a king 40:26 Suffering with courage for Jesus Sermon by Pastor Sam Chua, March 5, 2023 (with subtitles for #deaf viewers) Westlynn Church, North Vancouver, Canada Bible text: Matthew 14:1-12 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+14%3A1-12&version=ESV http://www.westlynnbaptistchurch.com Postscript: Here is a long list of Canadian organizations opposed to Bill C-4: https://ccrweb.ca/en/organizations-calling-defeat-bill-c-4 In our video thumbnail, we didn't use the CANADIAN spelling for the word "cancelled". We're so sorry! (We are tempted to explain the joke, but you'll have to watch the whole sermon... sorry again!) TOPICS: Christian Scripture and theology, speaking the truth in a hostile culture, Christian views of sex, gender identity and sexual immorality, John the Baptizer, Yahya, Bill C-4 (previously, Bill C-6), cancel culture, definition of hate speech, freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, and civil liberties. #truth #johnthebaptist #bible #jesus #church #northvancouver #northvan #freespeech Play Video Play Video 50:05 The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached (Matthew 5:3 – 7:29) February 16, 2020 - Pastor Sam Chua at Westlynn Baptist Church. #northvancouver #vancouver #westvancouver #northvan #yvr #burnaby #bc #canada #sermon #sermononthemount #greatestsermon #preaching #preach #matthew5 #matthew6 #matthew7 #lifechanging Load More Browse by Series . The Anatomy of Sin - Pastor Sam Chua Play Video Play Video 51:41 The Nature of Sin September 5, 2021 - Pastor Sam Chua at Westlynn Baptist Church Play Video Play Video 51:20 The Curse of Sin September 12, 2021 - Pastor Sam Chua at Westlynn Baptist Church Play Video Play Video 49:30 The Sin of Pride September 19, 2021 - Pastor Sam Chua at Westlynn Baptist Church Luke 18:9-14 Play Video Play Video 49:30 The Sin of Greed September 26, 2021 - Pastor Sam Chua at Westlynn Baptist Church Luke 12:13-21 Play Video Play Video 44:40 The Sin of Envy November 14, 2021 - Pastor Sam Chua at Westlynn Baptist Church Play Video Play Video 51:26 The Sin of Gluttony November 21, 2021 - Pastor Sam Chua at Westlynn Baptist Church Sin How Great Is Our God - Pastor Sam Chua Play Video Play Video 48:19 How Great Is Our God (1 Chronicles 29:11-13) July 4, 2021 - Pastor Sam Chua at Westlynn Baptist Church. #northvancouver #vancouver #westvancouver #burnaby #bc #canada #church #sermon #preach #howgreatisourgod #biblestudy #1chronicles #blessed #fedandsatisfied #commandments #notburdensome #joyfulobedience #obedience #socialmedia #vanity #selfabsorbed #worshipgod #joyofworship #heartofworship #knowinggod #godneverfails Play Video Play Video 48:33 The Glory of God in Creation (Psalm 104:1-24) July 11, 2021 - Pastor Sam Chua at Westlynn Baptist Church. #northvancouver #vancouver #westvancouver #burnaby #bc #canada #church #sermon #preach #howgreatisourgod #psalm104 #praisethelord #praiseandworship #joyofoworship #godscreation #growinthelord #growinfaith #thevineandthebranches #truevine #ostrich #ants #beetle #universe #milkyway #solarsystem #speckofdust Play Video Play Video 47:10 The Glory of God in His Lovingkindness (Exodus 34:6-7) July 18, 2021 - Pastor Sam Chua at Westlynn Baptist Church. #northvancouver #church #sermon #biblestudy #howgreatisourgod #jacob #jacobinthebible #lifeofjacob #lovingkindness #immutablegod #unchanginggod #patientgod #loveispatient #loveiskind Play Video Play Video 45:06 The Glory of God in Suffering (Psalm 88) August 1, 2021 - Pastor Sam Chua at Westlynn Baptist Church. #northvancouver #vancouver #westvancouver #burnaby #bc #canada #church #sermon #preach #howgreatisourgod #suffering #sufferingforhissake #sufferingforgod #painfullife #relationshipwithgod #relationshipwithjesus #gloryofgod #glorifythelord #glorifygod #lifemotivation #inspirationalsermon #biblestudy #jobinthebible #bookofjob #thebookofjob #steadfastlove #slowtoanger #perseverance #joyinsuffering #painandsuffering #prayersinpain #godschildren #worthyoflove Play Video Play Video 51:42 The Meticulous Sovereignty of God (Psalm 88) Aug 8, 2021 - Pastor Sam Chua at Westlynn Baptist Church #northvancouver #vancouver #westvancouver #burnaby #bc #canada #church #sermon #preach #howgreatisourgod #suffering #sufferingforgod #sovereigntyofgod #godspurpose #purposefulliving #purposefullife #purposeoflife #godsplan #godsplanforme Play Video Play Video 51:24 The Grace of God in the Life of Jonah (Part 1) (Jonah 1-2) August 15, 2021 - Pastor Sam Chua at Westlynn Baptist Church #northvancouver #vancouver #westvancouver #burnaby #bc #canada #church #sermon #preach #howgreatisourgod #jonah #jonahinthebible #bookofjonah #prophetjonah #graceofgod #graciousgod #disobedience #patience #godspatience #patientgod #godsrebuke Load More Great God

Your tithes and offerings support the ongoing work of the Lord through Westlynn Baptist Church. We thank the Lord for your faithful giving! Give As we continue to streamline our administration, we have come up with various procedures to make it easy for you fulfill your tithes and offerings which support the ongoing work of the Lord through Westlynn. 1. Direct Debit (recommended method) a. Please click the link above to download the form. Fill in the parts highlighted in yellow, plus the amount of donation in the "Fixed" box. Automatic tithing of a fixed amount will be done on the 1st of each month. b. Members who contribute a fixed amount regularly should take advantage of this method, as it is almost fully automated for you and helps us reduce administration. 2. INTERAC e-transfer a. This is for any amount (especially large one-time donations), since there are no fees. b. Can give directly from your bank account. c. Please send your tithe/offering to the email "info @ westlynnbaptist . com" (delete the whitespaces, password not needed, auto-deposited into our account). For your tax receipt, send us an email with your full name and address so that we can issue your tax receipt by February of the following year. Please make sure your name matches the name used for e-transfer. 3. Online giving a. This is useful if you want to give occasional gifts using a credit card. b. Note that although you will receive a tax receipt for 100% of the amount you give, Westlynn will receive the amount less fees (currently 2.8%). c. You will get your tax receipt directly from Charitable Impact and not from us. Please note that we do not have control over the deadlines that they specify for tax receipting for the tax year. d. Giving: Westlynn Baptist Church | Canadahelps.org 4. Mail a cheque a. We provide this as an additional service at this particular time. b. Please mail it to the church address: 1341 East 27th Street, North Vancouver, BC V7J 1S6 and send an email us to let us know. 5. Put your Tithe in the donation box on Sunday a. Please use an offering envelope and make sure you fill out everything, for tax receipting purposes. In His love and service, —Damian Yap (on behalf of the Finance Team)

There is hope in this troubled world, for we hope in the eternal God who is faithful and unchangeable. There is Hope I want to talk to someone True Rest, True Satisfaction. “All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.” This revealing verse from the Bible (Ecc. 1:8) shows the inadequacy of material things to satisfy our deepest longings. How is it possible that depression rates are at an all time high, even though the world is more developed than ever? Netflix, boredom shopping, free quality healthcare; these things cannot satisfy the human soul. Because the human soul has been made for more than the temporal. So why is he looking for satisfaction in what cannot satisfy? The only God, out of the abundance of his goodness and mercy, made man good, upright, in his own image. Our forefathers, Adam and Eve, lived in perfect harmony with God. Yet, they disobeyed Him, and through their disobedience brought a curse on themselves and their offspring. Has anyone ever told you that you look like your parents? It’s similar when it comes to our spiritual condition; we all inherit the same self-centered sinful heart. Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This is a problem for mankind, because no sin (or sinner) can be in the presence of God. If the average citizen of a country can’t get an audience with the prime minister, how will sinful man approach the transcendent, holy God? Our sin causes us to be separated from the only source of joy and peace, and we deservedly incur the judgment of eternal death in hell. In the midst of this dark prospect, we read this in the Bible (Rom. 6:23): “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This is the good news of the gospel. God, out of the abundance of his love, made a way for sinful man to be saved from his sins. Jesus Christ came to earth about 2000 years ago, lived the sinless life you and me couldn’t live, and died the death that you and me deserved. As he was hung on the cross, the Son of God bore the wrath of God (Is. 53:5). He paid the debt. He reversed the curse. And after three days he was raised from the grave, proclaiming to the whole world that he is victorious over death. There is Hope. And now He is able to say this to anyone and everyone (Matt. 11:28): “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Are you restless? Are you tired of the disappointing and wearisome quest for pleasure in earthly things? The answer does not lie in another suscription, another ticket for a concert, or another relationship. Rather, Jesus says that the answer lies in coming to Him for rest. What does this mean? It means to repent of your sins and believe in Christ. To understand that you are a condemned sinner. To understand that your good works cannot blot out your sins, but that by believing in Christ, his perfect righteousness is given to you. To see Christ as your greatest treasure, for whom you are willing to lose it all (Matt. 16:24). And so here is the promise for you (Acts 10:43): “everyone who believes in him [Jesus] receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” It is only in this where the restlesness of mankind can be addressed (1. Pet. 3:18a): “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.” Christ came to restore to mankind what they had lost in Adam and Eve: a right relationship with God. It is in this reconciliation, as our sins are blotted out as we believe in Christ, that true joy and peace can be found. And so, it is appropriate for you to hear the question that was asked the disciples when they came to find Christ’s dead body (Luke 24:5b): “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” Things of earth cannot satisfy your eternal soul. It is as you see with your spiritual eyes the beauty of Christ, and as your hear about the love of God in sending Christ to redeem condemned man, that you will be truly satisfied. Come to Christ today and find true rest and true satisfaction for your soul! I want to talk to someone

At Westlynn Baptist Church we believe “online church” is not a substitute for gathering in-person. While the church is certainly more than just a weekly gathering, it is also no less than a gathering of believers. Livestream Sundays at 10:00 am Request Livestream Request Livestream . The pattern of worship established by the New Testament for the Church, the bride of Christ, is local bodies of believers gathering together to sit under the teaching of God’s Word. To be in fellowship, to break bread together, and to devote themselves to prayer (Acts 2:42). In addition, the Greek word for church, ekklēsia, in the New Testament refers to Christian “assemblies” or “congregations” who had become followers of Christ. This is why “online church” is not a substitute for gathering in-person. Although a church is MORE than just a weekly gathering, it is also no less than a gathering. It is a gathering, an assembly of believers, an outpost, that makes visible the invisible Kingdom of God that has come and will one day spread throughout the whole earth. If you are unable to attend Westlynn Baptist Church due to illness, being out of the country for work, vacation, or for some other reason that makes you unable to be present in the sanctuary/fellowship hall at the times of worship, kindly fill out our request form to be given the livestream link. Our livestream is a tool that is meant to support those who are unable to attend through no fault of their own. It is not meant to facilitate or encourage a pattern of not gathering for worship. The new link will only be updated 30 min before the service on the day. For technical support, please email us.

Westlynn Baptist Church events and registration. Find out what is going on and get involved. Events Weekly Calendar Multiple Dates Westlynn Evangelism Walk Sat, Mar 07 Details Multiple Dates Care Centre Seniors' Service Sun, Mar 08 Details Multiple Dates Westlynn Evangelism Walk Sat, Mar 21 Details Multiple Dates Westlynn Evangelism Walk Sat, Apr 04 Details Overflowing Women's Conference Sat, Apr 11 Details Multiple Dates Care Centre Seniors' Service Sun, Apr 12 Details CNBC Spring Gathering Fri, Apr 17 Details Multiple Dates Westlynn Evangelism Walk Sat, Apr 18 Details Multiple Dates Westlynn Evangelism Walk Sat, May 02 Details Multiple Dates Care Centre Seniors' Service Sun, May 10 Details Multiple Dates Westlynn Evangelism Walk Sat, May 16 Details Journey Together: Marriage & Family Conference Sat, May 23 Details Multiple Dates Westlynn Evangelism Walk Sat, Jun 06 Details Multiple Dates Care Centre Seniors' Service Sun, Jun 14 Details Multiple Dates Westlynn Evangelism Walk Sat, Jun 20 Details Multiple Dates Westlynn Evangelism Walk Sat, Jul 04 Details Multiple Dates Care Centre Seniors' Service Sun, Jul 12 Details Multiple Dates Westlynn Evangelism Walk Sat, Jul 18 Details Load More

Westlynn Baptist Church is a Christian denomination that believes the whole Bible is true and is God's inspired and authoritative word. At Westlynn we agree with The Baptist Faith & Message 2000. Menu The Scriptures God Man Salvation God's Grace The Church Baptism The Lord’s Day The Kingdom Last Things Evangelism Education Stewardship Cooperation Social Order Peace & War Religious Liberty The Family What We Believe Statement of Faith Baptist Faith & Message 2000 The Scriptures Salvation Menu God God's Grace Man The Church Baptism Last Things Stewardship Peace & War The Lord's Day Evangelism Cooperation Religious Liberty The Kingdom Education Social Order The Family The Scriptures The Scriptures . The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation. Exodus 24:4 ; Deuteronomy 4:1-2 ; 17:19 ; Joshua 8:34 ; Psalms 19:7-10 ; 119:11 ,89 ,105 ,140 ; Isaiah 34:16 ; 40:8 ; Jeremiah 15:16 ; 36:1-32 ; Matthew 5:17-18 ; 22:29 ; Luke 21:33 ; 24:44-46 ; John 5:39 ; 16:13-15 ; 17:17 ; Acts 2:16ff .; 17:11 ; Romans 15:4 ; 16:25-26 ; 2 Timothy 3:15-17 ; Hebrews 1:1-2 ; 4:12 ; 1 Peter 1:25 ; 2 Peter 1:19-21 . God God . There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. A. God the Father God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men. Genesis 1:1 ; 2:7 ; Exodus 3:14 ; 6:2-3 ; 15:11ff .; 20:1ff .; Leviticus 22:2 ; Deuteronomy 6:4 ; 32:6 ; 1 Chronicles 29:10 ; Psalm 19:1-3 ; Isaiah 43:3 ,15 ; 64:8 ; Jeremiah 10:10 ; 17:13 ; Matthew 6:9ff .; 7:11 ; 23:9 ; 28:19 ; Mark 1:9-11 ; John 4:24 ; 5:26 ; 14:6-13 ; 17:1-8 ; Acts 1:7 ; Romans 8:14-15 ; 1 Corinthians 8:6 ; Galatians 4:6 ; Ephesians 4:6 ; Colossians 1:15 ; 1 Timothy 1:17 ; Hebrews 11:6 ; 12:9 ; 1 Peter 1:17 ; 1 John 5:7 . B. God the Son Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord. Genesis 18:1ff .; Psalms 2:7ff .; 110:1ff .; Isaiah 7:14 ; Isaiah 53:1-12 ; Matthew 1:18-23 ; 3:17 ; 8:29 ; 11:27 ; 14:33 ; 16:16 ,27 ; 17:5 ; 27 ; 28:1-6 ,19 ; Mark 1:1 ; 3:11 ; Luke 1:35 ; 4:41 ; 22:70 ; 24:46 ; John 1:1-18 ,29 ; 10:30 ,38 ; 11:25-27 ; 12:44-50 ; 14:7-11 ; 16:15-16 ,28 ; 17:1-5 , 21-22 ; 20:1-20 ,28 ; Acts 1:9 ; 2:22-24 ; 7:55-56 ; 9:4-5 ,20 ; Romans 1:3-4 ; 3:23-26 ; 5:6-21 ; 8:1-3 ,34 ; 10:4 ; 1 Corinthians 1:30 ; 2:2 ; 8:6 ; 15:1-8 ,24-28 ; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21 ; 8:9 ; Galatians 4:4-5 ; Ephesians 1:20 ; 3:11 ; 4:7-10 ; Philippians 2:5-11 ; Colossians 1:13-22 ; 2:9 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 ; 1 Timothy 2:5-6 ; 3:16 ; Titus 2:13-14 ; Hebrews 1:1-3 ; 4:14-15 ; 7:14-28 ; 9:12-15 ,24-28 ; 12:2 ; 13:8 ; 1 Peter 2:21-25 ; 3:22 ; 1 John 1:7-9 ; 3:2 ; 4:14-15 ; 5:9 ; 2 John 7-9 ; Revelation 1:13-16 ; 5:9-14 ; 12:10-11 ; 13:8 ; 19:16 . C. God the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service. Genesis 1:2 ; Judges 14:6 ; Job 26:13 ; Psalms 51:11 ; 139:7ff .; Isaiah 61:1-3 ; Joel 2:28-32 ; Matthew 1:18 ; 3:16 ; 4:1 ; 12:28-32 ; 28:19 ; Mark 1:10 ,12 ; Luke 1:35 ; 4:1 ,18-19 ; 11:13 ; 12:12 ; 24:49 ; John 4:24 ; 14:16-17 ,26 ; 15:26 ; 16:7-14 ; Acts 1:8 ; 2:1-4 ,38 ; 4:31 ; 5:3 ; 6:3 ; 7:55 ; 8:17 ,39 ; 10:44 ; 13:2 ; 15:28 ; 16:6 ; 19:1-6 ; Romans 8:9-11 ,14-16 ,26-27 ; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14 ; 3:16 ; 12:3-11 ,13 ; Galatians 4:6 ; Ephesians 1:13-14 ; 4:30 ; 5:18 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:19 ; 1 Timothy 3:16 ; 4:1 ; 2 Timothy 1:14 ; 3:16 ; Hebrews 9:8 ,14 ; 2 Peter 1:21 ; 1 John 4:13 ; 5:6-7 ; Revelation 1:10 ; 22:17 . Man Man . Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. The gift of gender is thus part of the goodness of God’s creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love. Genesis 1:26-30 ; 2:5 ,7 ,18-22 ; 3 ; 9:6 ; Psalms 1 ; 8:3-6 ; 32:1-5 ; 51:5 ; Isaiah 6:5 ; Jeremiah 17:5 ; Matthew 16:26 ; Acts 17:26-31 ; Romans 1:19-32 ; 3:10-18 ,23 ; 5:6 ,12 ,19 ; 6:6 ; 7:14-25 ; 8:14-18 ,29 ; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31 ; 15:19 ,21-22 ; Ephesians 2:1-22 ; Colossians 1:21-22 ; 3:9-11 . Salvation Salvation . Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. A. Regeneration , or the new birth, is a work of God’s grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Saviour. B. Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favour with God. C. Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person’s life. D. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed. Genesis 3:15 ; Exodus 3:14-17 ; 6:2-8 ; Matthew 1:21 ; 4:17 ; 16:21-26 ; 27:22-28:6 ; Luke 1:68-69 ; 2:28-32 ; John 1:11-14 ,29 ; 3:3-21 ,36 ; 5:24 ; 10:9 ,28-29 ; 15:1-16 ; 17:17 ; Acts 2:21 ; 4:12 ; 15:11 ; 16:30-31 ; 17:30-31 ; 20:32 ; Romans 1:16-18 ; 2:4 ; 3:23-25 ; 4:3ff .; 5:8-10 ; 6:1-23 ; 8:1-18 ,29-39 ; 10:9-10 ,13 ; 13:11-14 ; 1 Corinthians 1:18 ,30 ; 6:19-20 ; 15:10 ; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 ; Galatians 2:20 ; 3:13 ; 5:22-25 ; 6:15 ; Ephesians 1:7 ; 2:8-22 ; 4:11-16 ; Philippians 2:12-13 ; Colossians 1:9-22 ; 3:1ff .; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ; 2 Timothy 1:12 ; Titus 2:11-14 ; Hebrews 2:1-3 ; 5:8-9 ; 9:24-28 ; 11:1-12:8 ,14 ; James 2:14-26 ; 1 Peter 1:2-23 ; 1 John 1:6-2:11 ; Revelation 3:20 ; 21:1-22:5 . God's Grace God's Purpose of Grace . Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility. All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. Genesis 12:1-3 ; Exodus 19:5-8 ; 1 Samuel 8:4-7 ,19-22 ; Isaiah 5:1-7 ; Jeremiah 31:31ff .; Matthew 16:18-19 ; 21:28-45 ; 24:22 ,31 ; 25:34 ; Luke 1:68-79 ; 2:29-32 ; 19:41-44 ; 24:44-48 ; John 1:12-14 ; 3:16 ; 5:24 ; 6:44-45 ,65 ; 10:27-29 ; 15:16 ; 17:6 ,12 ,17-18 ; Acts 20:32 ; Romans 5:9-10 ; 8:28-39 ; 10:12-15 ; 11:5-7 ,26-36 ; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2 ; 15:24-28 ; Ephesians 1:4-23 ; 2:1-10 ; 3:1-11 ; Colossians 1:12-14 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 ; 2 Timothy 1:12 ; 2:10 ,19 ; Hebrews 11:39–12:2 ; James 1:12 ; 1 Peter 1:2-5 ,13 ; 2:4-10 ; 1 John 1:7-9 ; 2:19 ; 3:2 . The Church The Church . A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its two scriptural offices are that of pastor/elder/overseer and deacon. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor/elder/overseer is limited to men as qualified by Scripture. The New Testament speaks also of the church as the Body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation. Matthew 16:15-19 ; 18:15-20 ; Acts 2:41-42 ,47 ; 5:11-14 ; 6:3-6 ; 13:1-3 ; 14:23 ,27 ; 15:1-30 ; 16:5 ; 20:28 ; Romans 1:7 ; 1 Corinthians 1:2 ; 3:16 ; 5:4-5 ; 7:17 ; 9:13-14 ; 12 ; Ephesians 1:22-23 ; 2:19-22 ; 3:8-11 ,21 ; 5:22-32 ; Philippians 1:1 ; Colossians 1:18 ; 1 Timothy 2:9-14 ; 3:1-15 ; 4:14 ; Hebrews 11:39-40 ; 1 Peter 5:1-4 ; Revelation 2-3 ; 21:2-3 . **Note: This article was amended June 14, 2023, by action of the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention** Baptism and the Lord's Supper . Baptism Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming. Matthew 3:13-17 ; 26:26-30 ; 28:19-20 ; Mark 1:9-11 ; 14:22-26 ; Luke 3:21-22 ; 22:19-20 ; John 3:23 ; Acts 2:41-42 ; 8:35-39 ; 16:30-33 ; 20:7 ; Romans 6:3-5 ; 1 Corinthians 10:16 ,21 ; 11:23-29 ; Colossians 2:12 . The Lord's Day . The first day of the week is the Lord’s Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. Activities on the Lord’s Day should be commensurate with the Christian’s conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Exodus 20:8-11 ; Matthew 12:1-12 ; 28:1ff .; Mark 2:27-28 ; 16:1-7 ; Luke 24:1-3 ,33-36 ; John 4:21-24 ; 20:1 ,19-28 ; Acts 20:7 ; Romans 14:5-10 ; I Corinthians 16:1-2 ; Colossians 2:16 ; 3:16 ; Revelation 1:10 . The Lord’s Day The Kingdom The Kingdom . The Kingdom of God includes both His general sovereignty over the universe and His particular kingship over men who willfully acknowledge Him as King. Particularly the Kingdom is the realm of salvation into which men enter by trustful, childlike commitment to Jesus Christ. Christians ought to pray and to labor that the Kingdom may come and God’s will be done on earth. The full consummation of the Kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age. Genesis 1:1 ; Isaiah 9:6-7 ; Jeremiah 23:5-6 ; Matthew 3:2 ; 4:8-10 ,23 ; 12:25-28 ; 13:1-52 ; 25:31-46 ; 26:29 ; Mark 1:14-15 ; 9:1 ; Luke 4:43 ; 8:1 ; 9:2 ; 12:31-32 ; 17:20-21 ; 23:42 ; John 3:3 ; 18:36 ; Acts 1:6-7 ; 17:22-31 ; Romans 5:17 ; 8:19 ; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 ; Colossians 1:13 ; Hebrews 11:10 ,16 ; 12:28 ; 1 Peter 2:4-10 ; 4:13 ; Revelation 1:6 ,9 ; 5:10 ; 11:15 ; 21-22 . Last Things Last Things . God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord. Isaiah 2:4 ; 11:9 ; Matthew 16:27 ; 18:8-9 ; 19:28 ; 24:27 ,30 ,36 ,44 ; 25:31-46 ; 26:64 ; Mark 8:38 ; 9:43-48 ; Luke 12:40 ,48 ; 16:19-26 ; 17:22-37 ; 21:27-28 ; John 14:1-3 ; Acts 1:11 ; 17:31 ; Romans 14:10 ; 1 Corinthians 4:5 ; 15:24-28 ,35-58 ; 2 Corinthians 5:10 ; Philippians 3:20-21 ; Colossians 1:5 ; 3:4 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 ; 5:1ff .; 2 Thessalonians 1:7ff .; 2 ; 1 Timothy 6:14 ; 2 Timothy 4:1 ,8 ; Titus 2:13 ; Hebrews 9:27-28 ; James 5:8 ; 2 Peter 3:7ff .; 1 John 2:28 ; 3:2 ; Jude 14 ; Revelation 1:18 ; 3:11 ; 20:1-22:13 . Evangelism and Missions . It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man’s spirit by God’s Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness undergirded by a Christian lifestyle, and by other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ. Genesis 12:1-3 ; Exodus 19:5-6 ; Isaiah 6:1-8 ; Matthew 9:37-38 ; 10:5-15 ; 13:18-30 , 37-43 ; 16:19 ; 22:9-10 ; 24:14 ; 28:18-20 ; Luke 10:1-18 ; 24:46-53 ; John 14:11-12 ; 15:7-8 ,16 ; 17:15 ; 20:21 ; Acts 1:8 ; 2 ; 8:26-40 ; 10:42-48 ; 13:2-3 ; Romans 10:13-15 ; Ephesians 3:1-11 ; 1 Thessalonians 1:8 ; 2 Timothy 4:5 ; Hebrews 2:1-3 ; 11:39-12:2 ; 1 Peter 2:4-10 ; Revelation 22:17 . Evangelism Education Education . Christianity is the faith of enlightenment and intelligence. In Jesus Christ abide all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. All sound learning is, therefore, a part of our Christian heritage. The new birth opens all human faculties and creates a thirst for knowledge. Moreover, the cause of education in the Kingdom of Christ is co-ordinate with the causes of missions and general benevolence, and should receive along with these the liberal support of the churches. An adequate system of Christian education is necessary to a complete spiritual program for Christ’s people. In Christian education there should be a proper balance between academic freedom and academic responsibility. Freedom in any orderly relationship of human life is always limited and never absolute. The freedom of a teacher in a Christian school, college, or seminary is limited by the pre-eminence of Jesus Christ, by the authoritative nature of the Scriptures, and by the distinct purpose for which the school exists. Deuteronomy 4:1 ,5 ,9 ,14 ; 6:1-10 ; 31:12-13 ; Nehemiah 8:1-8 ; Job 28:28 ; Psalms 19:7ff .; 119:11 ; Proverbs 3:13ff .; 4:1-10 ; 8:1-7 ,11 ; 15:14 ; Ecclesiastes 7:19 ; Matthew 5:2 ; 7:24ff .; 28:19-20 ; Luke 2:40 ; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 ; Ephesians 4:11-16 ; Philippians 4:8 ; Colossians 2:3 ,8-9 ; 1 Timothy 1:3-7 ; 2 Timothy 2:15 ; 3:14-17 ; Hebrews 5:12-6:3 ; James 1:5 ; 3:17 . Stewardship Stewardship . God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer’s cause on earth. Genesis 14:20 ; Leviticus 27:30-32 ; Deuteronomy 8:18 ; Malachi 3:8-12 ; Matthew 6:1-4 ,19-21 ; 19:21 ; 23:23 ; 25:14-29 ; Luke 12:16-21 ,42 ; 16:1-13 ; Acts 2:44-47 ; 5:1-11 ; 17:24-25 ; 20:35 ; Romans 6:6-22 ; 12:1-2 ; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 ; 6:19-20 ; 12 ; 16:1-4 ; 2 Corinthians 8-9 ; 12:15 ; Philippians 4:10-19 ; 1 Peter 1:18-19 . Cooperation . Christ’s people should, as occasion requires, organize such associations and conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over the churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine, and direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner. Members of New Testament churches should cooperate with one another in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for the extension of Christ’s Kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christ’s people. Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New Testament. Exodus 17:12 ; 18:17ff .; Judges 7:21 ; Ezra 1:3-4 ; 2:68-69 ; 5:14-15 ; Nehemiah 4 ; 8:1-5 ; Matthew 10:5-15 ; 20:1-16 ; 22:1-10 ; 28:19-20 ; Mark 2:3 ; Luke 10:1ff .; Acts 1:13-14 ; 2:1ff .; 4:31-37 ; 13:2-3 ; 15:1-35 ; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 ; 3:5-15 ; 12 ; 2 Corinthians 8-9 ; Galatians 1:6-10 ; Ephesians 4:1-16 ; Philippians 1:15-18 . Cooperation Social Order The Christian and the Social Order . All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society. Means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth. Exodus 20:3-17 ; Leviticus 6:2-5 ; Deuteronomy 10:12 ; 27:17 ; Psalm 101:5 ; Micah 6:8 ; Zechariah 8:16 ; Matthew 5:13-16 ,43-48 ; 22:36-40 ; 25:35 ; Mark 1:29-34 ; 2:3ff .; 10:21 ; Luke 4:18-21 ; 10:27-37 ; 20:25 ; John 15:12 ; 17:15 ; Romans 12–14 ; 1Corinthians 5:9-10 ; 6:1-7 ; 7:20-24 ; 10:23-11:1 ; Galatians 3:26-28 ; Ephesians 6:5-9 ; Colossians 3:12-17 ; 1 Thessalonians 3:12 ; Philemon ; James 1:27 ; 2:8 . Peace and War . It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ they should do all in their power to put an end to war. The true remedy for the war spirit is the gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of the world is the acceptance of His teachings in all the affairs of men and nations, and the practical application of His law of love. Christian people throughout the world should pray for the reign of the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 2:4 ; Matthew 5:9 ,38-48 ; 6:33 ; 26:52 ; Luke 22:36 ,38 ; Romans 12:18-19 ; 13:1-7 ; 14:19 ; Hebrews 12:14 ; James 4:1-2 . Peace & War Religious Liberty Religious Liberty . God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Church and state should be separate. The state owes to every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the state more than others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of any kind. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men, and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil power. Genesis 1:27 ; 2:7 ; Matthew 6:6-7 ,24 ; 16:26 ; 22:21 ; John 8:36 ; Acts 4:19-20 ; Romans 6:1-2 ; 13:1-7 ; Galatians 5:1 ,13 ; Philippians 3:20 ; 1 Timothy 2:1-2 ; James 4:12 ; 1 Peter 2:12-17 ; 3:11-17 ; 4:12-19 . The Family The Family . God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race. The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God’s image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation. Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God’s pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents. Genesis 1:26-28 ; 2:15-25 ; 3:1-20 ; Exodus 20:12 ; Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ; Joshua 24:15 ; 1 Samuel 1:26-28 ; Psalms 51:5 ; 78:1-8 ; Psalms 127 ; Psalms 128 ; 139:13-16 ; Proverbs 1:8 ; 5:15-20 ; 6:20-22 ; 12:4 ; 13:24 ; 14:1 ; 17:6 ; 18:22 ; 22:6 ,15 ; 23:13-14 ; 24:3 ; 29:15 ,17 ; 31:10-31 ; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ; 9:9 ; Malachi 2:14-16 ; Matthew 5:31-32 ; 18:2-5 ; 19:3-9 ; Mark 10:6-12 ; Romans 1:18-32 ; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16 ; Ephesians 5:21-33 ; 6:1-4 ; Colossians 3:18-21 ; 1 Timothy 5:8 ,14 ; 2 Timothy 1:3-5 ; Titus 2:3-5 ; Hebrews 13:4 ; 1 Peter 3:1-7 .