Matthew 6 is an interesting passage about priorities and focus for the believer. Throughout the passage, Jesus tells those who follow Him to order their lives in such a way that the kingdom of heaven comes first. Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:19–21 “Do not lay up for…
Introduction This week it’s VBS week at our church. Each day our church is filled with children learning truths about who Jesus is. This week, for our devotional, I wanted to take the memory verses for each day and highlight where we see these same truths reflected in some of the songs we sing on a regular basis. Day 1:…
Scripture References: Daniel 1:6, 3:15-17, 4:37, Mark 14:34-35, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, Introduction: “There is hope in every trialFor I can trust the LordHe will turn my heart towards HimAnd help me bear the thornSo in faith I follow JesusOn the road not understoodFor I know that He is workingFor His glory and my good’ – ‘His glory and my good’…
How would you answer this question: “Who or What Is First in Your Life?” I’ve been around long enough to know that, in your answer to that question, you probably lied to yourself a little. You, like me, probably picked something that was important, but likely wasn’t the most important thing. It’s not something we do on purpose; we’re just…
Scripture References: Jeremiah 29:4-9, 11, 13, Jeremiah 44:11-16, Deuteronomy 30:19, Hebrews 13:8 Introduction: It’s Grad Sunday at First Baptist Church this week! During this season, many of us are likely writing out a few graduation cards. If I had to take a guess, one of the more common Bible verses we may see written on one of these cards is…
Scripture References: Ezekiel 37:3, 7-10, 23-28 Ephesians 2:4-6, Colossians 2:13, Genesis 1:2, 2:7, Revelation 21:1-4. Introduction: 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” -Ezekiel 37:3 ESV This exchange between God and His prophet Ezekiel comes in the midst of a dismal scene which may be familiar…
When I first got started in ministry, I was at a church that was adding a contemporary service. Since it was new, we didn’t expect many people to attend. So, to help shrink the size of our sanctuary, the pastor bought nice ropes to section off some pews and encourage everyone to sit in a certain area of the sanctuary.…
Every week Pastor Chuck puts together a study guide for his sermon that includes discussion and reflection questions at the bottom. One of the questions for this week is: “Where in your life are you most tempted to compromise your convictions in order to avoid pressure, conflict, or discomfort?” This week’s sermon is on integrity, and Pastor Chuck will be…
When I was interviewing for the Youth Director position at First Baptist, I was asked a question that made me stumble. Having served in church ministry for a number of years, I felt I could pretty well predict what questions would come my way. But then they asked one I didn’t see coming: “Where do you see yourself in five…
This week’s sermon focuses on the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 2:18–3:20—the moment when sin enters the world through their disobedience. Each week, as part of his sermon, Pastor Chuck shares a “big idea” for his sermon, this week’s is especially fitting for a week where we learn about sin and celebrate communion. The big idea: “When we…