Bakersfield First Assembly Podcast

June 21, 2026

I Am an HEIR

<p>We find ourselves exploring a profound truth about our identity as believers through the lens of 1 Peter. The apostle writes to scattered, suffering Christians who felt abandoned and rejected by society, yet he addresses them with remarkable words: they are elect exiles, chosen by God despite their circumstances. This paradox reveals something extraordinary about our spiritual inheritance. We learn that as followers of Christ, we possess three transformative realities. First, we have a living hope anchored not in our circumstances but in the resurrection of Jesus. Unlike happiness that depends on happenings, this hope remains unshakeable because it rests on an empty tomb and a living Savior. Second, we hold an inheritance described with three powerful words: imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. Everything in this world decays, but what God has reserved for us never spoils, never loses its beauty, and remains perfectly pure. Third, we are guarded by God's power through faith. Like a military garrison protecting a city, countless hosts surround us to ensure we reach our eternal destination. The message challenges us to shift our perspective from feeling like outcasts to recognizing ourselves as royal heirs. When suffering makes us doubt God's goodness, we must remember that our identity is not determined by temporary struggles but by eternal promises. We are not abandoned; we are chosen, protected, and destined for glory that will never fade.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Chapters</p><p>Chapter 1: Introduction: The Triple Option and Life's Choices</p><p>0:00 - 7:06</p><p>An introduction using the football triple option as a metaphor, leading into Peter's letter to struggling churches who felt unseen and abandoned.</p><p>Chapter 2: A Living Hope Through the Resurrection</p><p>7:06 - 19:11</p><p>We explore what it means to have a living hope rooted in Christ's resurrection, which is not dependent on circumstances but on eternal promises.</p><p>Chapter 3: An Imperishable Inheritance Reserved for Us</p><p>19:11 - 37:47</p><p>We examine our inheritance as heirs of God, which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven and guarded by God's power.</p><p>Chapter 4: Guarded by Faith Through Trials</p><p>37:47 - 47:00</p><p>We discover how God's power guards us through faith during trials, and how the resurrection secures our past, present, and future.</p>

June 14, 2026

I Am A New Creation

<p>This powerful message takes us deep into the heart of what it means to be transformed by Christ through the waters of baptism. At its core, we encounter the profound truth of 2 Corinthians 5:17 - that in Christ, we are new creations, with the old passing away and the new coming forth. The teaching beautifully unpacks baptism not as a mere ritual, but as a spiritual declaration of our identity, a public proclamation that we belong to Jesus. Through Romans 6, we discover that baptism represents a burial of our old sinful nature and a resurrection into new life with Christ. The message challenges us to remember our baptism day as a transformational moment, a spiritual ID card that declares we have been washed, sanctified, and justified. What makes this particularly compelling is the recognition that baptism serves multiple purposes: obedience to Christ's command, a public witness to our faith, and a proclamation of spiritual authority that gives the enemy a black eye. We're reminded that transformation isn't about waiting until we're good enough - if we wait for that, we'll never come. Instead, baptism is about declaring that Jesus has made us good enough through His blood. The testimonies woven throughout remind us that real people in our midst are experiencing radical life change, moving from bondage to freedom, from shame to celebration.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Chapters</p><p>Chapter 1: Understanding New Creation Identity</p><p>0:00 - 6:37</p><p>We explore what it means to be a new creation in Christ through baptism, examining 2 Corinthians 5:17 and understanding our transformed identity.</p><p>Chapter 2: The Biblical Foundation and Meaning of Baptism</p><p>6:37 - 15:00</p><p>We dive deep into Romans 6 and other scriptures to understand baptism as a symbolic burial of our old self and resurrection into new life with Christ.</p><p>Chapter 3: Four Reasons Why We Get Baptized</p><p>15:00 - 24:00</p><p>We examine the four primary reasons for baptism: obedience to Christ's command, public witness, spiritual authority, and evangelistic opportunity.</p><p>Chapter 4: Walking Daily in Your New Identity</p><p>24:00 - 30:00</p><p>We are challenged to remember our baptism daily, not letting our faith grow stale but continually living as those who have been washed, sanctified, and justified.</p><p>Chapter 5: Celebration of New Creations</p><p>30:00 - 35:11</p><p>We witness the baptism of several individuals and are invited to celebrate transformation, with an open invitation for anyone ready to go public with their faith.</p>

June 7, 2026

Who I Am Not