The First Striking of the Rock

Exodus 17:1–7  |  November 8, 2026  |  BCBC/IOUC  |  Rev. Paul Wang

Introduction

Why did Moses strike the rock? Once something happens the first time, it can easily happen a second time, right? Today’s passage tells us about the first time Moses struck the rock. In fact, the second time, God did not tell Moses to strike the rock. He told him to speak to it. But Moses followed his old habit and simply assumed he should strike it again. Water did come out, but because of this, Moses was not allowed to enter Canaan! Let us look at our first point. Continue reading “November 08, 2026 The First Striking of the Rock” →

This Food Is Called Manna

Exodus 16:13–36; 11/01/2026; BCBC / IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang

Introduction

Just one month after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived in the Wilderness of Sin, and the food they had brought with them was gone. They grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, “If only we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and ate our fill!” (Exodus 16:3). It seemed that only yesterday they had witnessed the Red Sea part and the bitter waters of Marah turn sweet, yet today they had already forgotten God’s grace. Continue reading “November 01, 2026 This Food Is Called Manna “ →

The Lord Hears Your Complaints

Exodus 16:1–12  |  October 25, 2026  |  BCBC/IOUC  |  Rev. Paul Wang

Introduction

Notice the time and place recorded in the opening verse of this chapter: “on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt.” The Israelites left Egypt on the fifteenth day of the first month (Numbers 33:3). So exactly one month had passed since the Exodus. What had they witnessed a month earlier? The ten plagues, right? On the night when the firstborn of Egypt were struck down, the blood of the lamb protected their homes. Just a few weeks earlier, they had crossed the Red Sea on dry ground and watched the pursuing army drown in the waters. At the seashore they sang praises, played tambourines, and danced, proclaiming that the LORD is mighty (Exodus 15). Continue reading “October 25, 2026 The Lord Hears Your Complaints” →

The Good Life

Galatians 5:1-15; 10/18/2026; IOUC/BCBC; Brother Mike Lei

Peace brothers and sisters. My message today is “The Good Life”. We will be look at Galatians 5:1-15. Let’s pray before we start.

In the book “Battle For the American Mind” the authors talked about how teaching and education molded the minds of the child from an early age. The Greek word “paideia” means “education” or “learning”. Continue reading “October 18, 2026 The Good Life “ →

Who Has First Place in My Life?

Genesis 22:1–19; 10/11/2026; BCBC/IOUC; Minister Flora Chen

Introduction

Brothers and sisters, peace be with you!  Today, I would like to share with you a very important question: Who has first place in my life?  Perhaps our immediate answer would be, “Of course, God does!”  But, brothers and sisters, what if what God asks us to give up is precisely the person we love the most?  What if what God asks us to surrender is actually the very blessing that He Himself has given us?  And what if God’s will conflicts with our own plans? Can we still say, “Lord, You are still first in my life”?  That is the question we are going to reflect on today. Continue reading “October 11, 2026 Who Has First Place in My Life?” →

When Human Schemes Fall Apart

Genesis 16:1-6  4/10/2026; IOUC; Sister Xiang

Has anyone noticed that the passage we are looking at today is the same passage we studied in August in the message titled “Abram’s Silence”?  Today, our focus is on another person—Sarai.  According to this passage, Sarai was the one who initiated this whole drama of having a child through a surrogate. This is the first time in Scripture that she clearly expresses her opinion in words. She had been silent before, but when she finally spoke, it was anything but insignificant. Her words set in motion a chain of events that would become a spark for more than a thousand years of conflict and bloodshed in the Middle East. Continue reading “October 4, 2026 When Human Schemes Fall Apart” →

O God, My Soul Longs for You

Psalm 42; 09/27/2026; IOUC; Brother He Zhao

Introduction

Praise the Lord! This time I chose Psalm 42 as the Scripture passage for the sermon. Whenever I choose a passage, I consider what God has recently been impressing upon my heart in my own life. Recently, perhaps because of the pressures of life and work and the entanglement of my old self, I have become distant from God. I keep unconsciously scrolling through videos and watching many interviews, and I just cannot quiet myself down to read the Bible and pray. I wanted to find a printed Bible, but I could not even find it! Watching time pass minute by minute, I felt restless while lying flat and doing nothing. When Preacher Fang Zhong asked me what passage I would preach on, Psalm 42 naturally came to mind. Continue reading “September 27, 2026 O God, My Soul Longs for You” →

Children of a New Covenant

Galatians 4:21–31; 9/20/2026; Brother Mike Lei

Good morning. My message today is “Children of a New Covenant.” We will be looking at Galatians 4:21–31. We will be talking about three points today:

1. The Two Covenants — verses 21–26
2. Rejoice in Desolation — verse 27
3. Cast Out the Slave Woman — verses 28–31

Continue reading “September 20, 2026 Children of a New Covenant” →

How to seek God’s will?

Gen. 24:1-67;   9/13/2026; BCBC/IOUC; Minister Flora Chen

Introduction

Brothers and sisters, peace be with you.

How to seek God’s will is a subject that God’s children often talk about, and it is also something that can leave us feeling confused. How, then, should we seek God’s will? How can we know whether what we are seeking is truly from God or simply from ourselves? Continue reading “September 13, 2026 How to seek God’s will?” →

Lot: A Warning to Us

Genesis 19:1–38; 06/09/2026; IOUC; Brother Zhao He

Introduction

Lot was Abraham’s nephew. At first, God called Abraham’s father, Terah, to leave Ur! Abraham took Lot with him! They went to Haran, where Terah died. When Abraham was called by God to go to the Promised Land, he also took Lot with him! It can be said that Abraham treated Lot as his own son! Before Abraham had Isaac, Lot even appeared likely to inherit Abraham’s estate all along! Continue reading “September 06, 2026 Lot: A Warning to Us” →