BHBC :: Ensley Campus

Helen Keller once said, “Better to be blind and see with your heart than to have two good eyes and see nothing.” Brett Bellamy looks at another of Jesus' interactions with a crowd in Luke to remind us to have a heart that seeks Him. He cares and has the power to transform our lives!

Have you ever gone grocery shopping and decided you didn't need a cart? Then remembered the most important thing that wasn't on your list? It's hard to pick something up when your arms are already full. Brett Bellamy looks at two encounters in our Storytellers series that contrast the ways people approach Christ and encourages us to lay down lesser things to receive what Jesus has for us.

Most days do you feel like you can tackle life on your own, or do you regularly hit your knees in prayer? Trent Heaton looks at another parable in Luke that contrasts two people's prayers, as he invites us to see our desperate need for the Savior.

What prayers have you stopped praying? Are there things you've brought to God for years that you feel like He still hasn't answered; or maybe He hasn't answered the way you had hoped He would? Brett Bellamy continues our Storytellers series in Luke with a parable that encourages us to not lose heart as we bring our heart's desires to the Lord in prayer.

Do you find yourself asking God more often for what you want, or thanking Him for what He has already given you? Brett Bellamy jumps back into our Storytellers series in Luke with a story that highlights a characteristic that should mark our lives.

As our culture continues to become more and more socially isolated, the biblical model of community seems more and more foreign. Brett Bellamy continues our Storytellers series with three of Jesus' teachings that invite us to pay attention to ourselves so we can better serve and love others.

We have new life found in the resurrection of Christ, but how does that work itself out in our lives today? In our last week of The Greatest Story series, Brett Bellamy looks at the general plan and prescription from Jesus in Luke 24 and then dials in on Peter's specific journey with denial and restoration, using John 21.

Have you ever heard a story too good to be true, then found out that it WAS true? This Easter Brett Bellamy shares the best part of The Greatest Story. What seemed like nonsense to a band of discouraged disciples, set the world on fire with the hope of the resurrection!

Many misunderstandings of the cross existed at the time of the crucifixion and today. Brett Bellamy will examine four misunderstandings from the Pharisees, Scribes, and Roman Soldiers. By looking at these misunderstandings, we will better understand Jesus and His death on this Palm Sunday.

How much would you endure to help someone? In part two of The Greatest Story, Brett Bellamy explores the excruciating reality of the coming hours for Jesus, as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. He had every reason to walk away, but He didn't. He faced it all for you.

The final week leading up to Jesus' crucifixion began with crowds welcoming Him as a king. Gary Heim kicks off a 5-week Easter series exploring the significance of this moment as Jesus turned His focus to what lay ahead.

Living like Jesus means living counterculture. Everywhere you look people are stepping over each other to get ahead, competing with their neighbors to have the best stuff, and cutting corners to achieve the “easy life.” Brett Bellamy looks at another story Jesus shared with His disciples that helps us better understand what He means that “The first shall be last.”

God wants our hearts! We sometimes go through the motions, but miss the point. Brett Bellamy looks at an interaction between Jesus and the Pharisees in Luke and reminds us that loving God and loving others, isn't just about following rules. It first requires humility and repentance.

It's hard to look in the mirror and see our faults and shortcomings. Yet to truly grow as a Christian, we need to humbly confess our sins, repent, and accept the love that God so freely gives. Brett Bellamy examines the response of the older brother in the second half of The Prodigal Son story to help us see what it takes to truly know the love of the Father.

Last week, we learned about the joy when a lost coin and a lost sheep are found. How much greater is the joy when a lost son is found! This week Brett Bellamy focus on the third part of this parable and invite us into the celebration!

Have you ever found something that you thought was gone for good–maybe a set of keys or ring that has sentimental value? Brett Bellamy shares an incredible parable in our Storytellers series, that reminds us just how deeply we are loved and about the JOY God has every single time someone who is lost, is found!

Perseverance pays off! If you give up halfway up the mountain, you'll miss the amazing view from the top. Trent Heaton reminds us in our next section of Luke, that following Jesus is not easy. We must count the cost, prepare our hearts, and remember that we don't walk the road alone. The cost of discipleship is great, but the reward is worth it!

When was the last time you were invited to dinner? How about an eternal dinner? Brett Bellamy opens the next parable in our Storytellers series, inviting us to have a heart of humility, hospitality, and hope in response to God's invitation. How will you respond?

Jesus' heart is for us! He endured the cross because of His confidence in the Heavenly Father's plan and because of His great compassion for us. Gery Heim continues our series in Luke with a story of an encounter Jesus had with a Pharisee, and encourages us to follow Jesus' example as we live on mission for Him.

The topic of Hell is neither popular nor comfortable. As Brett Bellamy continues our series in Luke he helps us discover how even something so challenging points to the love and open arms of Jesus.

What do a seed, yeast, a viral video, or a small fire all have in common with the gospel? Brett Bellamy looks at two parables in our next section of Luke and encourages us to be diligent in spreading the gospel. Our work is not in vain.

Have you ever had to make a choice to do what was right, instead of what was expected? Brett Bellamy opens the next section in our Luke series and shares a story where Jesus had to make that exact choice in the midst of controversy.

The new year is the perfect time for a fresh start. It is good to reflect on the past while we project toward the future. Don Denyes invites us to consider Paul's perspective in Philippians 3 as we set goals for 2025.

Have you ever been surprised and wished you knew what was coming, so you could have been better prepared? Brett Bellamy continues our series in Luke and reminds us that we alredy know how the story ends. While we wait for Jesus' return, we have work to do!

O come, let us adore Him! Christmas is the most wonderful time of year, yet can be difficult for so many who are hurting. Brett Bellamy shares the HOPE we have in knowing that Jesus, our Emmanuel, is both with us and for us! Invite a friend and come lift your candle high, as we sing, dance, and worship Jesus Christ our Lord!

It's hard to live without worry if we don't have a right view of God and His love for us. Building off last week's teaching, Brett Bellamy digs deeper into Luke and Philippians and gets practical about the process of letting go of worry and anxiousness.

What keeps you up at night? Are you worried about your future, your kids' future, or maybe the state of the world? Brett Bellamy jumps back into our Luke Storytellers Series and helps us trade our worldly perspective for a heavenly one.

The holidays are are good time to slow down and reflect on God's provision. Sounds good, right? Yet, if we were honest, how often do we believe that what we have or have accomplished, is because of OUR hard work? Are we storing up treasures here instead of focusing on God's Kingdom? Brett Bellamy look at a parable in Luke to help us keep the right perspective.

Prayer can be confusing. How do we know if we are praying for the right things? Do we pray too often or not enough? Are our prayers aligned with God's will? As Brett Bellamy continues our Storyteller series, they'll dig deeper in Luke to help us understand more about coming to God with our hearts.

Are you sad, frustrated, or overwhelmed with something in your life right now? Have you prayed about it? As Brett Bellamy continues our Storytellers series in Luke, he invites us to bring our needs to God in prayer. Even if God chooses not to answer the way we hope, we will still be secure in our loving Father's arms.

Who has hurt you? Who do you distrust? Are you at war with anyone in your heart? That person is your neighbor. As Brett Bellamy explores the parable of the Good Samaritan, we'll see one of the most radical calls on our lives as Christinas–we are to love even our enemies. Jesus loved first and we are to “do likewise.”

The pressures of life! As soon as you read that, what came to mind? Maybe you have one big thing that consumes you or maybe a long list of them that keeps you from engaging more fully in our mission to always make disciples. Brett Bellamy continues our series in Luke and invites us to follow Jesus' example to step away to pray and commune with God, so we can be refreshed and ready.

Life is about choices. One of the biggest ones we face each day requires us to decide if we will serve others or serve ourselves. Brett Bellamy explores the next section in our Luke series and invites us to consider what it means to pick up our cross daily and follow Jesus.

When you are in need, who do you call–your parents, your best friend, or do you cry out to Jesus? How do you feel when someone sees your need and responds? As Brett Bellamy continues our Storyteller series in Luke, he shares the story of Jesus' miraculous provision, the impact His compassion had, and encourages us to follow Jesus' example and show compassion to others.

Do you find yourself praying for a miracle? How do you respond when the answer is different than what you desired? In part two of this teaching, Trent Heaton continues to dive into the true purpose of miracles; exploring their place in our faith-walk today and reminding us that we have been given hope, not from the possibility of a miracle alone, but from the God of Miracles Himself.

Jesus' ministry was marked by miracles. There are still miracles today. Have you experienced one personally? Have you prayed for one that never happened? Brett Bellamy explores our next section in Luke and reminds us of the ultimate miracle–the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that saves us from our sin.

Who is Jesus to you? Is He your Lord and Savior or just a legend with no real impact on your life? Brett Bellamy continues our series in Luke and invites us to see who Jesus really is, as well as the power He has over sin and darkness.

When life gets tough, where do you turn? Do you rely on your own abilities or knack to solve problems? Or do you turn to Christ? Brett Bellamy continues our Storyteller Series in Luke and reminds us that we can trust Jesus, knowing that He will either calm the storm or sit with us in the boat as life crashes around us.

Those who have ears, let them hear! Sounds easy enough, right? Yet there are so many things in our lives that can keep us from hearing or seeing the good news God has for us. Brett Bellamy relaunches our Storyteller series in Luke with a teaching on the parable of the soils, and helps us open our hearts to receive God's gifts.

We are called out of darkness into light! Magnify Ensley is a place where that light shines bright. Brett Bellamy opens the book of Acts and invites us to reflect on the call we have to share that light to reach others with the good news, and to take steps to deepen our connections in this community.

How many of us looked at the calendar and gave a little sigh of relief knowing that we have Monday off? Yet God's plan for work is crucial in how He created, calls, and provides for us. Brett Bellamy opens the book of Colossians and explores the ways we can bring glory and honor to God through our work.

When the anxieties and trials of life come, where do you turn? Brett Bellamy shares a lesson from Paul as we close out our summer series, A Cross Shaped Life, and looks at the invitation we have to not be anxious, but take everything to God in prayer and find peace in Christ Jesus.

It is so easy to forget why we may have walked in a room, especially as we get older! Yet, it can be so hard to forget our past mistakes and regrets. Brett Bellamy continues our summer series and examines what Paul is asking us to forget so we can press on to what lies ahead.

What is the “good life” and how do you know if you are living it? The world's answer looks a lot different than what Paul calls us to in Philippians 3. Brett Bellamy unpacks what it looks like to leave everything behind, for the sake of knowing Christ!

Any famous athlete or musician can tell you that talent can only take you so far. You have to invest, day after day, into becoming great. Ben Phebus continues our summer series and shows us that the Christian life is not so different. You are saved the moment you accept Christ as your Savior, but it takes diligent discipline to transform our old lives into ones that look more like the greatest of all time, Jesus.

What comes to mind when you think about humility? Is it a person in your life who showed you grace when you wronged them, a boss who shared credit for a new product, or maybe a famous athlete who gave glory to God for their success? Brett Bellamy continues our summer series in Philippians and points us to the greatest example of humility ever known, Jesus Christ.

What does it look like to allow the gospel to shape your life? What if your life doesn't look like you expected? Stu Quackenbush kicks off our summer series, A Cross Shaped Life in the book of Philippians to help us rest, refocus, and examine how Christ is calling us to live.

When is the last time that you felt strong, overwhelming emotion over God's gracious, undeserved, and life-altering love for you? Brett Bellamy continues our Storyteller's series in Luke and points us to how understanding the depth of mercy we have received, supercharges our passion for Christ and energizes our worship of Him in all that we do.

We all struggle from time to time with doubt. Life's circumstances can really throw us for a loop and cause us to question God. We aren't alone. Even those who saw Jesus' miracles firsthand, questioned Him when things didn't go the way they expected. Steve Welch shares the grace Jesus offers, even when we stumble and doubt.

What does it mean to tell the story at Ensley? Brett shares our mission, vision, and values as he explores how we strive to “Always Make Disciples” at Magnify Ensley.

Has someone in your life shown you compassion? Maybe a kind word or deed when you were hurting? Brett Bellamy invites us to follow Jesus' example from Luke 7 and be a light in this dark world by sharing the words and love of Jesus to those around us in need of a Savior.