First Baptist Church Thomson, GA
717 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 days ago -First Baptist Church, Thomson, GA seeks to help people love God, love each other, and serve the world together. Our worship and sermons are designed around those three core values.
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Episodes
Learning the ABC's of God's Word - Audio
July 07, 2024 15:42 - 41 minutes - 13.4 MBPsalm 119 is organized into 22 stanzas, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. By organizing this psalm about God’s Word around the alphabet, you could say it literally instruct us in the ABC’s of God’s Word! The message of Psalm 119 is that the Bible is sufficient for all areas of life, from A to Z, and a life lived on God’s Word is a life as ordered and reliable as the alphabet. Two major themes emerge: WHY we should value the Word of God and HOW we show that we value the Word of God.
Learning the ABC's of God's Word - PDF
July 07, 2024 15:42 - 196 KB application/pdfPsalm 119 is organized into 22 stanzas, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. By organizing this psalm about God’s Word around the alphabet, you could say it literally instruct us in the ABC’s of God’s Word! The message of Psalm 119 is that the Bible is sufficient for all areas of life, from A to Z, and a life lived on God’s Word is a life as ordered and reliable as the alphabet. Two major themes emerge: WHY we should value the Word of God and HOW we show that we value the Word of God.
God, Our Warrior King - PDF
June 30, 2024 21:12 - 181 KB application/pdfIn Psalm 29, we saw God as enthroned over nature—the Lord is enthroned over the Flood. He is King over the storm, as His voice thunders throughout the Land. Today, we will discover in Psalm 47 that God is also enthroned over the nations—He is the King over all peoples, kingdoms, armies, and leaders. Psalm 47 teaches us how to approach the battles of life—before, during, and after, with trust in, worship to, and proclamation of our Warrior King.
God, Our Warrior King - Audio
June 30, 2024 21:12 - 40 minutes - 13 MBIn Psalm 29, we saw God as enthroned over nature—the Lord is enthroned over the Flood. He is King over the storm, as His voice thunders throughout the Land. Today, we will discover in Psalm 47 that God is also enthroned over the nations—He is the King over all peoples, kingdoms, armies, and leaders. Psalm 47 teaches us how to approach the battles of life—before, during, and after, with trust in, worship to, and proclamation of our Warrior King.
The Weight of Worship: Glory! - PDF
June 23, 2024 15:35 - 197 KB application/pdfPsalm 29 is a beautiful psalm and great example of Hebrew poetry, yet is often neglected. Through this psalm, David celebrates our God who is the omnipotent King and Lord above the storms. He challenges us to acknowledge and worship our awesome God who is King over all Creation. This psalm teaches us important truths about who, why, and how we worship.
The Weight of Worship: Glory! - Audio
June 23, 2024 15:35 - 43 minutes - 13.7 MBPsalm 29 is a beautiful psalm and great example of Hebrew poetry, yet is often neglected. Through this psalm, David celebrates our God who is the omnipotent King and Lord above the storms. He challenges us to acknowledge and worship our awesome God who is King over all Creation. This psalm teaches us important truths about who, why, and how we worship.
Embracing Greatness: A Call to Men - Audio
June 16, 2024 14:34 - 40 minutes - 13.2 MBPsalms 111 and 112 together remind us of God’s blessings on His people, and His expectations of His people. While these psalms are about God’s blessings on and expectations of the people of Israel, we can apply them to ourselves today, and I think they especially apply to men who are husbands, fathers, leaders, and mentors.
Embracing Greatness: A Call to Men - PDF
June 16, 2024 14:34 - 181 KB application/pdfPsalms 111 and 112 together remind us of God’s blessings on His people, and His expectations of His people. While these psalms are about God’s blessings on and expectations of the people of Israel, we can apply them to ourselves today, and I think they especially apply to men who are husbands, fathers, leaders, and mentors.
Diving Deep into Friendship with God - Audio
June 09, 2024 14:39 - 42 minutes - 13.5 MBThis sermon in the Psalms is connected to our church's VBS theme for this year: SCUBA--Diving into Friendship with God. We could spend lifetimes searching and studying the ocean depths. Scientists are constantly finding new forms of life in the deepest, darkest reaches of the seas. We can spend not only our lifetimes, but all of eternity searching out God's wisdom and ways, and still not fully plumb their depths! Our friendship with God—an adventure that will never end, a treasure chest we’ll...
Diving Deep into Friendship with God - PDF
June 09, 2024 14:39 - 177 KB application/pdfThis sermon in the Psalms is connected to our church's VBS theme for this year: SCUBA--Diving into Friendship with God. We could spend lifetimes searching and studying the ocean depths. Scientists are constantly finding new forms of life in the deepest, darkest reaches of the seas. We can spend not only our lifetimes, but all of eternity searching out God's wisdom and ways, and still not fully plumb their depths! Our friendship with God—an adventure that will never end, a treasure chest we’ll...
Learning the Art of Worship - Audio
June 02, 2024 14:47 - 36 minutes - 12.1 MBA.W. Tozer wrote, “God wants worshippers before workers; indeed, the only acceptable workers are those who have learned the art of worship.” Tozer was commenting on our tendency to elevate serving the Lord as workers above serving the Lord as worshippers. If we’re not careful, worship becomes a performance, a job to accomplish. We can allow our egos and preferences to get in the way. When that happens, who or what are we actually worshipping? God, ourselves, or other people’s approval? Psalm...
Learning the Art of Worship - PDF
June 02, 2024 14:47 - 183 KB application/pdfA.W. Tozer wrote, “God wants worshippers before workers; indeed, the only acceptable workers are those who have learned the art of worship.” Tozer was commenting on our tendency to elevate serving the Lord as workers above serving the Lord as worshippers. If we’re not careful, worship becomes a performance, a job to accomplish. We can allow our egos and preferences to get in the way. When that happens, who or what are we actually worshipping? God, ourselves, or other people’s approval? Psalm...
Christ Our Refuge when the Nations Rage - Audio
May 26, 2024 14:24 - 43 minutes - 13.8 MBJust as Psalm 1 gives us the purpose of the Book of Psalms, Psalm 2 reveals the message of the Psalms: that no matter what is happening in our lives or world, God is on His throne, and He invites us to live as citizens of His eternal Kingdom. Through this messianic psalm of hope, we discover how we can respond to world around us with confidence and compassion, trusting that Jesus is King and is coming again!
Christ Our Refuge when the Nations Rage - PDF
May 26, 2024 14:24 - 198 KB application/pdfJust as Psalm 1 gives us the purpose of the Book of Psalms, Psalm 2 reveals the message of the Psalms: that no matter what is happening in our lives or world, God is on His throne, and He invites us to live as citizens of His eternal Kingdom. Through this messianic psalm of hope, we discover how we can respond to world around us with confidence and compassion, trusting that Jesus is King and is coming again!
This Is The Way - Audio
May 19, 2024 17:37 - 42 minutes - 13.5 MBIn this first sermon in this series of messages from the Psalms, we discover how Psalm 1 introduces us to the overall purpose of the Psalms: to reveal how God's instruction is the pathway to a life of blessing and abundance, of happiness and holiness. The psalmist presents two pathways we can chose to walk down--an ascending path that leads to the presence of God where we experience the abundant life Jesus promises, or the spiraling descent into depravity and corruption that ends in ruin. Whi...
This Is The Way - PDF
May 19, 2024 17:37 - 199 KB application/pdfIn this first sermon in this series of messages from the Psalms, we discover how Psalm 1 introduces us to the overall purpose of the Psalms: to reveal how God's instruction is the pathway to a life of blessing and abundance, of happiness and holiness. The psalmist presents two pathways we can chose to walk down--an ascending path that leads to the presence of God where we experience the abundant life Jesus promises, or the spiraling descent into depravity and corruption that ends in ruin. Whi...
Our High Priest Who Prays for Us - PDF
May 12, 2024 14:16 - 191 KB application/pdfJesus’ longest prayer is found in John 17—the High Priestly Prayer. Jesus prayed this on the night He was betrayed. This sermon focuses on Jesus’ priorities, the kinds of things Jesus prays for His followers—for us! This can give us some clues as to what we should prioritize in our prayers.
Our High Priest Who Prays for Us - Audio
May 12, 2024 14:16 - 36 minutes - 9.99 MBJesus’ longest prayer is found in John 17—the High Priestly Prayer. Jesus prayed this on the night He was betrayed. This sermon focuses on Jesus’ priorities, the kinds of things Jesus prays for His followers—for us! This can give us some clues as to what we should prioritize in our prayers.
Transformed by His Touch - Audio
May 05, 2024 14:51 - 36 minutes - 9.95 MBThrough Luke, we see that Jesus is the perfect Son of Man, what Paul calls the new and better Adam, and how He came to serve and save by God’s transforming power. And in today’s passage, we will see how Jesus meets us at our greatest point of need, in our lowest moments, and sees us through seasons of suffering.
Transformed by His Touch - PDF
May 05, 2024 14:51 - 187 KB application/pdfThrough Luke, we see that Jesus is the perfect Son of Man, what Paul calls the new and better Adam, and how He came to serve and save by God’s transforming power. And in today’s passage, we will see how Jesus meets us at our greatest point of need, in our lowest moments, and sees us through seasons of suffering.
Modeling a Servant's Heart - PDF
April 28, 2024 14:35 - 185 KB application/pdfIt's no surprise that Jesus calls Christians to have a servant attitude and to be generous with our time and resources. But we can struggle to follow Jesus’s example of selfless service. We sometimes need a refresher to sharpen our skills as servants of God. Following the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus uses the failure of the disciples to cast out a demon to illustrate the qualities and attitudes we need if we are going to follow His example and have the heart of a servant.
Modeling a Servant's Heart - Audio
April 28, 2024 14:35 - 39 minutes - 10.7 MBIt's no surprise that Jesus calls Christians to have a servant attitude and to be generous with our time and resources. But we can struggle to follow Jesus’s example of selfless service. We sometimes need a refresher to sharpen our skills as servants of God. Following the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus uses the failure of the disciples to cast out a demon to illustrate the qualities and attitudes we need if we are going to follow His example and have the heart of a servant.
Matthew: Preaching the Kingdom of God - Audio
April 14, 2024 15:18 - 37 minutes - 10.3 MBIn this new sermon series, we will look at a snapshot of Jesus from each of the four Gospel accounts, focusing on how that Gospel writer emphasizes an aspect of Jesus's character and/or ministry. In this message, we look at King Jesus and what He preached about God's Kingdom using parables. Matthew 13 contains several parables about what the Kingdom of God is like and how we relate and connect to the Kingdom.
Matthew: Preaching the Kingdom of God - PDF
April 14, 2024 15:18 - 189 KB application/pdfIn this new sermon series, we will look at a snapshot of Jesus from each of the four Gospel accounts, focusing on how that Gospel writer emphasizes an aspect of Jesus's character and/or ministry. In this message, we look at King Jesus and what He preached about God's Kingdom using parables. Matthew 13 contains several parables about what the Kingdom of God is like and how we relate and connect to the Kingdom.
Encountering the Living Lord - PDF
March 31, 2024 16:20 - 147 KB application/pdfEaster changes everything! We serve a Living Lord and one day we will join Him in Heaven and enjoy Him for all eternity. But that’s not the whole story. We must not only look to Jesus for a ticket to Heaven. Like Mary, we have an opportunity to encounter the risen Jesus TODAY! And that encounter has the power to change everything in our lives and in our world. I want to challenge us to think about Jesus’ Resurrection and how an encounter with the Living Lord can give us new life right now—not...
Encountering the Living Lord - Audio
March 31, 2024 16:20 - 32 minutes - 11.7 MBEaster changes everything! We serve a Living Lord and one day we will join Him in Heaven and enjoy Him for all eternity. But that’s not the whole story. We must not only look to Jesus for a ticket to Heaven. Like Mary, we have an opportunity to encounter the risen Jesus TODAY! And that encounter has the power to change everything in our lives and in our world. I want to challenge us to think about Jesus’ Resurrection and how an encounter with the Living Lord can give us new life right now—not...
A Garden Called Gethsemane - PDF
March 24, 2024 17:54 - 141 KB application/pdfThe Garden of Gethsemane was a favorite spot for Jesus and His disciples to spend time together when they came to Jerusalem. It is a beautiful garden, a peaceful garden perfectly suited for prayer. But it is far more than that. It was a garden of pressure, prayer, and priorities. Through this message, we discover what Jesus faced that night out of love for us and submission to the Father's will, we see a pattern for our prayers, and are forced to examine our priorities.
A Garden Called Gethsemane - Audio
March 24, 2024 17:54 - 40 minutes - 13.8 MBThe Garden of Gethsemane was a favorite spot for Jesus and His disciples to spend time together when they came to Jerusalem. It is a beautiful garden, a peaceful garden perfectly suited for prayer. But it is far more than that. It was a garden of pressure, prayer, and priorities. Through this message, we discover what Jesus faced that night out of love for us and submission to the Father's will, we see a pattern for our prayers, and are forced to examine our priorities.
Promise: God's Great Rescue Plan - Audio
March 17, 2024 17:22 - 39 minutes - 12.5 MBIn the middle of God’s judgment on Adam and Eve and the Serpent, God reveals His plan to redeem fallen humanity: A descendant of Eve will someday confront the snake. The snake will deliver a wounding bite to his heel, but this Promised One will deliver a fatal blow to the snake. Despite our sin, God has not given up on us and His world. He will someday make it good once more! Revelation gives us a beautiful picture at the end of time, where we see the effects of sin completely reversed. Parad...
Promise: God's Great Rescue Plan - PDF
March 17, 2024 17:22 - 166 KB application/pdfIn the middle of God’s judgment on Adam and Eve and the Serpent, God reveals His plan to redeem fallen humanity: A descendant of Eve will someday confront the snake. The snake will deliver a wounding bite to his heel, but this Promised One will deliver a fatal blow to the snake. Despite our sin, God has not given up on us and His world. He will someday make it good once more! Revelation gives us a beautiful picture at the end of time, where we see the effects of sin completely reversed. Parad...
Sin and Separation: How We Lost Paradise - Audio
March 10, 2024 15:07 - 40 minutes - 12.7 MBThe world is not how God created it to be. We no longer live in Paradise. What went wrong? How did we get here? And what do we do about it? We'll start with Genesis 3, but we can’t just lay all the blame at Adam and Eve’s feet. That’s where it started to go downhill, but they are merely the first example of a pattern we are all guilty of, and are still tempted by every day, and it’s a pattern Jesus overcame so that we might be set free to resist it as well. In this message we look at the patt...
Sin and Separation: How We Lost Paradise - PDF
March 10, 2024 15:07 - 165 KB application/pdfThe world is not how God created it to be. We no longer live in Paradise. What went wrong? How did we get here? And what do we do about it? We'll start with Genesis 3, but we can’t just lay all the blame at Adam and Eve’s feet. That’s where it started to go downhill, but they are merely the first example of a pattern we are all guilty of, and are still tempted by every day, and it’s a pattern Jesus overcame so that we might be set free to resist it as well. In this message we look at the patt...
Choices: A Tale of Two Trees - Audio
February 25, 2024 15:35 - 37 minutes - 11.9 MBWhen God created people in His image, He gave us moral agency--free will, the freedom of choice. Representing that freedom to choose, God placed two special trees in the Garden of Eden: The Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. In this sermon we consider this basic choice that God wove into Creation. A simple choice that is essential to what it means to be human. A simple choice that turned Creation upside down, introduced sin, death, and suffering to all humanity, and nece...
Choices: A Tale of Two Trees - PDF
February 25, 2024 15:35 - 182 KB application/pdfWhen God created people in His image, He gave us moral agency--free will, the freedom of choice. Representing that freedom to choose, God placed two special trees in the Garden of Eden: The Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. In this sermon we consider this basic choice that God wove into Creation. A simple choice that is essential to what it means to be human. A simple choice that turned Creation upside down, introduced sin, death, and suffering to all humanity, and nece...
Rhythm: Work. Rest. Repeat. - Audio
February 18, 2024 20:11 - 45 minutes - 13.9 MBWe desperately need a reset when it comes to a healthy work-life balance. We need a new rhythm--the one God created us to live by—work, rest, repeat. Too often, people fall into the extremes of either overworking to the point they neglect family and health, or being lazy with no drive to achieve, produce, or provide. The Bible tells us both are equally sinful and unhealthy. By lookin at Genesis 1-3, we can discover God's plan for how we are to work and live in a 6-and-1 rhythm of work and rest.
Rhythm: Work. Rest. Repeat. - PDF
February 18, 2024 20:11 - 171 KB application/pdfWe desperately need a reset when it comes to a healthy work-life balance. We need a new rhythm--the one God created us to live by—work, rest, repeat. Too often, people fall into the extremes of either overworking to the point they neglect family and health, or being lazy with no drive to achieve, produce, or provide. The Bible tells us both are equally sinful and unhealthy. By lookin at Genesis 1-3, we can discover God's plan for how we are to work and live in a 6-and-1 rhythm of work and rest.
Dominion: Stewarding God’s Good Creation - PDF
February 11, 2024 18:13 - 184 KB application/pdfThe environment, especially the topic of climate change, is on the forefront of a lot of minds. We hear and read stories in the news, hear a lot from politicians, as well as in the entertainment media. However, the ways we think about the climate and how we care for the Earth all depends on our worldview. In this sermon, we begin by looking at what the Bible teaches about where we’ve been and why we’re here, what the source of evil and suffering is today, and where this world is heading. Base...
Dominion: Stewarding God’s Good Creation - Audio
February 11, 2024 18:13 - 38 minutes - 12.3 MBThe environment, especially the topic of climate change, is on the forefront of a lot of minds. We hear and read stories in the news, hear a lot from politicians, as well as in the entertainment media. However, the ways we think about the climate and how we care for the Earth all depends on our worldview. In this sermon, we begin by looking at what the Bible teaches about where we’ve been and why we’re here, what the source of evil and suffering is today, and where this world is heading. Base...
One Flesh: A Marriage Made in Paradise - Audio
February 04, 2024 15:53 - 39 minutes - 12.4 MBWe've heard expressions like "a match made in Heaven," but we all know there are no perfect marriages, because there are no perfect husbands or wives. But at one time, there was a marriage made in Paradise. Genesis 2 gives amazing insights into the truth about marriage and some principles that will go a long way in helping us to develop thriving marriages and families.
One Flesh: A Marriage Made in Paradise - PDF
February 04, 2024 15:53 - 162 KB application/pdfWe've heard expressions like "a match made in Heaven," but we all know there are no perfect marriages, because there are no perfect husbands or wives. But at one time, there was a marriage made in Paradise. Genesis 2 gives amazing insights into the truth about marriage and some principles that will go a long way in helping us to develop thriving marriages and families.
Set Apart: Distinctly Designed with Dignity - PDF
January 28, 2024 19:56 - 170 KB application/pdfLast week we looked at what Genesis 1-2 tells us about the WHY of our creation. But in this message, I focus on the WHAT—what makes us different from anything else God made? What is our relationship with the rest of creation? What difference does all of this make in our lives and world today?
Set Apart: Distinctly Designed with Dignity - Audio
January 28, 2024 19:56 - 40 minutes - 12.6 MBLast week we looked at what Genesis 1-2 tells us about the WHY of our creation. But in this message, I focus on the WHAT—what makes us different from anything else God made? What is our relationship with the rest of creation? What difference does all of this make in our lives and world today?
Imago Dei: Bearing the Image of God - Audio
January 21, 2024 16:57 - 37 minutes - 11.9 MBLast week we looked at what Genesis 1 specifically teaches about who God is. Today, we turn to what the Creation account tells us about who we are. The shift is evident in Genesis 1:26. In this sermon we will see what it means to bear the image of God, how sin has masked and marred that image, but how Christ came to redeem us and restore the image of God within us, as we are conformed into the image of Christ.
Imago Dei: Bearing the Image of God - PDF
January 21, 2024 16:57 - 175 KB application/pdfLast week we looked at what Genesis 1 specifically teaches about who God is. Today, we turn to what the Creation account tells us about who we are. The shift is evident in Genesis 1:26. In this sermon we will see what it means to bear the image of God, how sin has masked and marred that image, but how Christ came to redeem us and restore the image of God within us, as we are conformed into the image of Christ.
Creator: What Creation Reveals About God - Audio
January 14, 2024 14:33 - 40 minutes - 12.6 MBSince none of us were there when "God created the heavens and the earth," we have to rely on what He has revealed to us in His inspired Word. As we saw last week, one of the purposes of Genesis 1 (and of the entire Bible) is to reveal to us the truth about God. In this sermon, we discover seven truths about God that are revealed within Genesis 1:1-2:3.
Creator: What Creation Reveals About God - PDF
January 14, 2024 14:33 - 182 KB application/pdfSince none of us were there when "God created the heavens and the earth," we have to rely on what He has revealed to us in His inspired Word. As we saw last week, one of the purposes of Genesis 1 (and of the entire Bible) is to reveal to us the truth about God. In this sermon, we discover seven truths about God that are revealed within Genesis 1:1-2:3.
Creation: The Message of Genesis 1 - Audio
January 07, 2024 15:55 - 41 minutes - 12.8 MBThis sermon introduces this new sermon series in Genesis 1-3 with an overview of where we will be going as we look at how Genesis 1-3 speaks to the most important issues of our day and serves as the foundation for a biblical worldview. As the inspired Word of God, we must take Genesis 1-3 at face value, treating it seriously, and spiritually discerning what God's message is for us. In this sermon, I share six key truths that Genesis 1 tells us about God, the world He made, the people He made ...
Creation: The Message of Genesis 1 - PDF
January 07, 2024 15:55 - 194 KB application/pdfThis sermon introduces this new sermon series in Genesis 1-3 with an overview of where we will be going as we look at how Genesis 1-3 speaks to the most important issues of our day and serves as the foundation for a biblical worldview. As the inspired Word of God, we must take Genesis 1-3 at face value, treating it seriously, and spiritually discerning what God's message is for us. In this sermon, I share six key truths that Genesis 1 tells us about God, the world He made, the people He made ...
Crossing Over into a New Year - Audio
December 31, 2023 14:42 - 44 minutes - 14.1 MBAs we cross into a New Year, we know that things will change, that we face expected and unexpected blessings and struggles. Yet our God remains the same. While we don't know what 2024 holds, we trust that God is already there preparing us and the way. Moses’s message to Israel as they were about to cross the Jordan into a new land can help us know how to prepare to cross over into the new year with confidence and courage.
Crossing Over into a New Year - PDF
December 31, 2023 14:42 - 140 KB application/pdfAs we cross into a New Year, we know that things will change, that we face expected and unexpected blessings and struggles. Yet our God remains the same. While we don't know what 2024 holds, we trust that God is already there preparing us and the way. Moses’s message to Israel as they were about to cross the Jordan into a new land can help us know how to prepare to cross over into the new year with confidence and courage.