This week, through looking at Jesus’ responses to those who wished to follow Him in Luke 9:57-62, Darrell shows us the true cost of making Jesus our Lord. He becomes the utmost authority over our lives, and His will precedes both our own desires and the demands our society and even our families place on us. We will be called to live by the standards of a heavenly kingdom and hold loose what we have on this earth, ready to follow Jesus no matter what. He becomes our true home, our ultimate source of security. How will we respond? First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | March 11, 2018 | Luke 9:57 ..read more

It was on a mountain, a high mountain, Jesus helps three disciples Peter, James and John discover the reason for living way down in the valley. In this sermon on the Transfiguration event in Matthew 17, Darrell works through three aspects of this mountain-top event, so that we too can discover the reasons for living down in the valley. As Jesus, the Son of Man, chooses the cross, takes the path of a Suffering Servant, we are called to take this paradoxical way of life and follow him. Knowing that Jesus alone is the healer, the redeemer, the revealer and the bringer of the kingdom, we must rema ..read more

Darrel’s opening question underlies this entire exposition of John 6:22-42 - why did Jesus come? Layer by layer the message reveals the transformative answer - Jesus came to invite us into eternal life. Eternal life that is more than a dimension beyond the grave, it is creative life, inexhaustible life, abundant life, radiant life, pure and purifying, love and joy that we enter into in Jesus right now - and for all eternity. This is why Jesus came. First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | January 14, 2018 | John 6:22-42 The Bible Course by the Canadian Bible Society | www.biblesociety.ca/thebible ..read more

Making Maturing Disciples of Christ | Week 8 | This week, Darrell dives deep into Apostle Paul’s exhortation in Galatians 5:16-18 to walk by the Spirit and how doing so means you won’t carry out the desires of the flesh. Walking by the Spirit means putting Jesus at the center of our lives and living our lives for Him and with Him. It is only through walking by the Spirit that we develop the fruits of Spirit and become more like Jesus. This act does not come naturally to us, so we must learn to be ruthless towards our sinful desires and work together with the Holy Spirit to put it to death. Thi ..read more

Making Maturing Disciples of Christ | Week 7 | This week, Darrell dives deep into Apostle Paul’s exhortation in Galatians 5:16-18 to walk by the Spirit and how doing so means you won’t carry out the desires of the flesh. Walking by the Spirit means putting Jesus at the center of our lives and living our lives for Him and with Him. It is only through walking by the Spirit that we develop the fruits of Spirit and become more like Jesus. This act does not come naturally to us, so we must learn to be ruthless towards our sinful desires and work together with the Holy Spirit to put it to death. Thi ..read more

Making Maturing Disciples of Christ | Week 6 | “Walk by the Spirit,” writes the apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians, urging followers of Jesus to surrender to the new way of Christ so that the old way– the way of the flesh– is put to death. In this message, Darrell explores this text that gets at the heart of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Our flesh, with all its warped desires, self-centredness, and earthly drives, resists the Spirit, but the Spirit has power to overcome the flesh and to form in us the very character traits of Christ. As we continue to walk by the Spi ..read more

This message is from the Christmas Eve of 2016, and here Darrell preaches from Luke 2:10-12. The big idea Darrell drives home is the Christmas story is about more than a baby being born, but a new leader being born. Jesus Christ, the one who would form a new government that will truly administer justice, make peace and heal the hearts of people. And the big question we all have to answer in response to this great birth is “Where is this baby, this new leader, wanting to lead me?” First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | December 24, 2016 | Luke 2:10-12 Mailing List | www.darrelljohnson.ca/#subscr ..read more

Making Maturing Disciples of Christ | Week 5 | This week, Darrell speaks on Paul's letter to the Romans and how we are meant to be a living sacrifice to God. Jesus’ disciples didn't choose him, he was the one who chose the disciples, it was him who initiated and anointed them. Because Jesus chooses us, we must be a living sacrifice to the living God since the only thing we have to offer is our life to God. When we encounter this calling, it often comes with six factors that inform us on God's calling for us and how to best serve the Lord as a living sacrifice. Darrell breaks down these factors ..read more

It is a privilege to be a follower of Jesus, but the real question is, what does it take to grow up as a follower of Jesus? In Acts 2:37-47 Luke shows us the fellowship that developed amongst the crowd after the day of Pentecost and what they devoted themselves to. In this message, Darrell takes it a step further by breaking down the importance of their devotion and how it correlates to a fellowship with the triune God. A spirit-animated community that spends time in the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC | May 12, 2013 | Acts ..read more

Making Maturing Disciples of Christ | Week 3 | Darrell invites us to do an exercise of renewing the mind by putting on three different lenses — western, eastern, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. We see different realities through these three sets of lenses. As Jesus called us to come, and follow him, we are invited to put on the gospel glasses every day, in every situation. Through this set of glasses, we see a Person in the center of reality. A living Person — Crucified and Risen, offering us Himself, making all things new. Through the gospel glasses, the rest of reality also comes into focus ..read more