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
The Promise of the Newborn King - Audio
November 27, 2022 18:32 - 22 minutes - 7.12 MBOn this first Sunday of Advent, we look at Isaiah 9:1-7, where the prophet was speaking words of hope to the people of Judah who were facing God's judgment for their wickedness. They were walking in darkness, feeling hopeless and helpless. But Isaiah promised that their King was coming, who bring light into darkness and bring them from gloom into joy.
Winning the Wanderer - Audio
November 20, 2022 19:46 - 37 minutes - 12.9 MBJames calls us to look out for one another as we struggle, stumble, and sometimes fall. Out of the overflow of God’s mercy in our lives, we should mercifully get in each other’s way, and turn one another back when we begin to drift off course.
Winning the Wanderer - PDF
November 20, 2022 19:46 - 175 KB application/pdfJames calls us to look out for one another as we struggle, stumble, and sometimes fall. Out of the overflow of God’s mercy in our lives, we should mercifully get in each other’s way, and turn one another back when we begin to drift off course.
Practical Principles for Powerful Prayer - PDF
November 13, 2022 15:02 - 182 KB application/pdfJames has been called the "Proverbs" of the New Testament. James helps us focus our faith into practical ways to live. However, James' next topic is something too many people consider as impractical--prayer. What they fail to see is that prayer is one of the most powerful things we can do. when we pray in faith, seeking God's Will to be done, the Lord hears and responds. Prayer should be the first way we put our faith to work. In today’s passage, James gives us some practical principles for p...
Practical Principles for Powerful Prayer - Audio
November 13, 2022 15:02 - 39 minutes - 13.4 MBJames has been called the "Proverbs" of the New Testament. James helps us focus our faith into practical ways to live. However, James' next topic is something too many people consider as impractical--prayer. What they fail to see is that prayer is one of the most powerful things we can do. when we pray in faith, seeking God's Will to be done, the Lord hears and responds. Prayer should be the first way we put our faith to work. In today’s passage, James gives us some practical principles for p...
Living in the Last Days - Audio
November 06, 2022 16:34 - 42 minutes - 14 MBJames' original audience felt they were living in the last days. It was a time of uncertainty, fraught with dangers and difficulties, and it seemed as if things couldn’t get worse. 2,000 years later, we often wonder the same thing! As we face uncertain times, concerned about our own current difficulties and potential dangers, we wonder if these are the last days. How are we to live in uncertain times? How should we live in light of the fact that Jesus will return at a time we won't expect? Ho...
Living in the Last Days - PDF
November 06, 2022 16:34 - 169 KB application/pdfJames' original audience felt they were living in the last days. It was a time of uncertainty, fraught with dangers and difficulties, and it seemed as if things couldn’t get worse. 2,000 years later, we often wonder the same thing! As we face uncertain times, concerned about our own current difficulties and potential dangers, we wonder if these are the last days. How are we to live in uncertain times? How should we live in light of the fact that Jesus will return at a time we won't expect? Ho...
Wealth Gone Wrong - Audio
October 30, 2022 19:33 - 34 minutes - 12.2 MBJames challenges our worldly perspectives on wealth--is it good or bad or neither? Are money and possessions for our enjoyment and benefit or for the good of others and the pursuit of God's Kingdom? James offers a word of stern warning, assesses the real worth of our "stuff", and gives us an audit of our practices in how we view and handle wealth.
Wealth Gone Wrong - PDF
October 30, 2022 19:33 - 166 KB application/pdfJames challenges our worldly perspectives on wealth--is it good or bad or neither? Are money and possessions for our enjoyment and benefit or for the good of others and the pursuit of God's Kingdom? James offers a word of stern warning, assesses the real worth of our "stuff", and gives us an audit of our practices in how we view and handle wealth.
Who Is in Charge? - Audio
October 23, 2022 15:10 - 30 minutes - 11.3 MBIn today's passage, James links his themes of Faith and Humility to help us rightly understand Who is in charge of our lives. James specifically deals with two areas that are transformed when we humbly trust God to be in charge: how we speak to about each other, and how we plan for the future.
Who Is in Charge? - PDF
October 23, 2022 15:10 - 172 KB application/pdfIn today's passage, James links his themes of Faith and Humility to help us rightly understand Who is in charge of our lives. James specifically deals with two areas that are transformed when we humbly trust God to be in charge: how we speak to about each other, and how we plan for the future.
The Best Kind of Friendship - Audio
October 16, 2022 15:28 - 33 minutes - 12.1 MBHow do we resist our sinful, fleshly impulses? How can we break-up with the world and devote ourselves wholly to friendship with God? There is nothing we can do to earn or muster such a fellowship with God. But in His grace, God enables us to have a deepening relationship with Him. James outlines four ways we can embrace a friendship with God that transforms our lives.
The Best Kind of Friendship - PDF
October 16, 2022 15:28 - 182 KB application/pdfHow do we resist our sinful, fleshly impulses? How can we break-up with the world and devote ourselves wholly to friendship with God? There is nothing we can do to earn or muster such a fellowship with God. But in His grace, God enables us to have a deepening relationship with Him. James outlines four ways we can embrace a friendship with God that transforms our lives.
World War Me - Audio
October 09, 2022 21:24 - 34 minutes - 12.4 MBRev. Ben Tarver begins James 4 with a look at James's warning to us about not being friends with the world. He describes an inner war that rages within us and among us as we follow sinful worldly desires that never fulfill.
Wisdom: True or False? - Audio
October 02, 2022 14:52 - 39 minutes - 13.4 MBWho do you consider as wise? Where do you go for direction, guidance, and truth? James gives us a litmus test to see if the "wisdom" we have is true, godly wisdom or false worldly wisdom. I pray you’ll use James’s litmus test to evaluate what kind of wisdom are you pursuing? What are you building your life on? The solid rock of Christ’s wisdom, or the shifting sands of worldly philosophy?
Wisdom: True or False? - PDF
October 02, 2022 14:52 - 171 KB application/pdfWho do you consider as wise? Where do you go for direction, guidance, and truth? James gives us a litmus test to see if the "wisdom" we have is true, godly wisdom or false worldly wisdom. I pray you’ll use James’s litmus test to evaluate what kind of wisdom are you pursuing? What are you building your life on? The solid rock of Christ’s wisdom, or the shifting sands of worldly philosophy?
The Power of Our Words - PDF
September 18, 2022 17:19 - 187 KB application/pdfThroughout his letter, James focuses on three tests of faith: how we talk, how we live, and how we serve others. In James 3:1-2, he turns his full focus on controlling our tongues. Of all the ways in which we need discipline and self-control, we need none so much as in watching our words.
The Power of Our Words - Audio
September 18, 2022 17:19 - 36 minutes - 12.6 MBThroughout his letter, James focuses on three tests of faith: how we talk, how we live, and how we serve others. In James 3:1-2, he turns his full focus on controlling our tongues. Of all the ways in which we need discipline and self-control, we need none so much as in watching our words.
A Fruitful Faith - PDF
September 11, 2022 17:08 - 175 KB application/pdfJames makes his closing arguments for why a deedless faith is dead, and only a fruitful faith that works can be saving faith. He points us to two key witnesses: Abraham and Rahab. We will discover in this message that Paul and James are in complete agreement on the nature of salvation and how faith works together with our actions to produce growing followers of Jesus.
A Fruitful Faith - Audio
September 11, 2022 17:08 - 39 minutes - 13.5 MBJames makes his closing arguments for why a deedless faith is dead, and only a fruitful faith that works can be saving faith. He points us to two key witnesses: Abraham and Rahab. We will discover in this message that Paul and James are in complete agreement on the nature of salvation and how faith works together with our actions to produce growing followers of Jesus.
Fruitless Faith - PDF
August 28, 2022 15:47 - 183 KB application/pdfIn this sermon, I explore an often misunderstood passage about the relationship between "faith and works." James is challenging us to examine our faith to see if it is a fruitless or fruitful faith. He uses a hypothetical debate to help us see that a faith that doesn't work, that doesn't bear fruit, is dead. It's as useless as a screen door on a submarine.
Fruitless Faith - Audio
August 28, 2022 15:47 - 37 minutes - 12.9 MBIn this sermon, I explore an often misunderstood passage about the relationship between "faith and works." James is challenging us to examine our faith to see if it is a fruitless or fruitful faith. He uses a hypothetical debate to help us see that a faith that doesn't work, that doesn't bear fruit, is dead. It's as useless as a screen door on a submarine.
The Folly of Favoritism - PDF
August 21, 2022 15:36 - 171 KB application/pdfJames explores further the principle of compassionate service to those who are downtrodden and distressed. He gives us five powerful reminders why we must not neglect the poor and show favor to the rich. We can think of these as 5 Reasons to Reject the Folly of Favoritism.
The Folly of Favoritism - Audio
August 21, 2022 15:36 - 37 minutes - 12.9 MBJames explores further the principle of compassionate service to those who are downtrodden and distressed. He gives us five powerful reminders why we must not neglect the poor and show favor to the rich. We can think of these as 5 Reasons to Reject the Folly of Favoritism.
Marks of True Faith - Audio
August 14, 2022 15:39 - 33 minutes - 12 MBJames warns his readers three times in chapter 1 "not to be deceived." We are good a self-deception, especially when it comes to our inherent goodness or religiousness. James challenges us to test our "religion" to see if we possess a true "faith that works." As we look at James’ test, each of the three Marks of True Faith, we must examine ourselves, our faith, and our relationship with Jesus.
Marks of True Faith - PDF
August 14, 2022 15:39 - 178 KB application/pdfJames warns his readers three times in chapter 1 "not to be deceived." We are good a self-deception, especially when it comes to our inherent goodness or religiousness. James challenges us to test our "religion" to see if we possess a true "faith that works." As we look at James’ test, each of the three Marks of True Faith, we must examine ourselves, our faith, and our relationship with Jesus.
Becoming Doers of the Word - PDF
August 07, 2022 15:12 - 177 KB application/pdfJames explains how the Word of God enables us to overcome inner temptations, endure outer trials with joy, and experience the fullness of God’s blessing. As we look at this passage, keep in mind the title of this sermon series—“Faith that Works.” It’s not enough to just read, know, and believe God’s Word—we must be Doers of what it says.
Becoming Doers of the Word - Audio
August 07, 2022 15:12 - 35 minutes - 12.6 MBJames explains how the Word of God enables us to overcome inner temptations, endure outer trials with joy, and experience the fullness of God’s blessing. As we look at this passage, keep in mind the title of this sermon series—“Faith that Works.” It’s not enough to just read, know, and believe God’s Word—we must be Doers of what it says.
The Truth About Temptation - PDF
July 31, 2022 14:38 - 181 KB application/pdfJames turns from dealing with the outward trials we face to our inner struggle with temptation. In doing so, he clears God of any wrong-doing (God isn't the one who tempts us) and indicts the true culprit (hint: look in the mirror). James makes it very clear where sin and temptation come from, how temptation works against us, and what the solution is to our sin problem.
The Truth About Temptation - Audio
July 31, 2022 14:38 - 36 minutes - 12.7 MBJames turns from dealing with the outward trials we face to our inner struggle with temptation. In doing so, he clears God of any wrong-doing (God isn't the one who tempts us) and indicts the true culprit (hint: look in the mirror). James makes it very clear where sin and temptation come from, how temptation works against us, and what the solution is to our sin problem.
Dealing with Life's Ups and Downs - PDF
July 24, 2022 15:30 - 165 KB application/pdfHow do we face times of testing and trial in our lives when it just doesn’t seem fair? How are we to think about the ups and downs of life? James brings us some paradoxical truth that can help us deal with life's unique challenges in both our highs and lows.
Dealing with Life's Ups and Downs - Audio
July 24, 2022 15:30 - 41 minutes - 13.8 MBHow do we face times of testing and trial in our lives when it just doesn’t seem fair? How are we to think about the ups and downs of life? James brings us some paradoxical truth that can help us deal with life's unique challenges in both our highs and lows.
Wisdom for Our Woes - Audio
July 17, 2022 15:39 - 41 minutes - 13.9 MBJames 1:5 gives us the second imperative command in James's letter. Verse 2 commands us to consider it a great joy when we face trials. Now, we are commanded to gain wisdom. In this sermon, we look at what James tells us about the importance of godly wisdom in facing trials, and how we can gain the wisdom we lack.
Wisdom for Our Woes - PDF
July 17, 2022 15:39 - 169 KB application/pdfJames 1:5 gives us the second imperative command in James's letter. Verse 2 commands us to consider it a great joy when we face trials. Now, we are commanded to gain wisdom. In this sermon, we look at what James tells us about the importance of godly wisdom in facing trials, and how we can gain the wisdom we lack.
Count It All Joy - PDF
July 10, 2022 15:47 - 187 KB application/pdfIn this new sermon series on James, we will focus on how the doctrines we believe influence the ways we behave, or how our faith should be translated into actions. James' focus is on having a faith that works. In this sermon, I introduce the book of James and then focus on James 1:2-4 and how we should respond to the variety of trials and difficulties we face in life.
Count It All Joy - Audio
July 10, 2022 15:47 - 38 minutes - 13.2 MBIn this new sermon series on James, we will focus on how the doctrines we believe influence the ways we behave, or how our faith should be translated into actions. James' focus is on having a faith that works. In this sermon, I introduce the book of James and then focus on James 1:2-4 and how we should respond to the variety of trials and difficulties we face in life.
Religious Liberty - PDF
July 03, 2022 20:27 - 201 KB application/pdfDr. Matt Ward walks us through the history of religious liberty in the United States, the meaning of the article on Religious Liberty in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message, and how we live in light of both.
Religious Liberty - Audio
July 03, 2022 20:27 - 41 minutes - 9.88 MBDr. Matt Ward walks us through the history of religious liberty in the United States, the meaning of the article on Religious Liberty in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message, and how we live in light of both.
Stewardship - Audio
June 26, 2022 17:10 - 41 minutes - 9.93 MBUsually, when a preacher talks about stewardship, everyone thinks he’s just going to talk about money. True, money is one of the primary ways the Bible talks about stewardship, but this concept goes much further and deeper than our wallets. It involves the entirety of our lives as followers of Jesus. Ultimately, stewardship isn’t a matter of our bank accounts, but of our hearts.
Stewardship - PDF
June 26, 2022 17:10 - 169 KB application/pdfUsually, when a preacher talks about stewardship, everyone thinks he’s just going to talk about money. True, money is one of the primary ways the Bible talks about stewardship, but this concept goes much further and deeper than our wallets. It involves the entirety of our lives as followers of Jesus. Ultimately, stewardship isn’t a matter of our bank accounts, but of our hearts.
Monumental: Celebrating God's Greatness - PDF
June 19, 2022 15:20 - 156 KB application/pdfIn this message, I am introducing the main points our kids will be discovering in this week’s VBS. Through the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis, we can discover and celebrate the greatness of God's love, presence, plan, and power.
Monumental: Celebrating God's Greatness - Audio
June 19, 2022 15:20 - 39 minutes - 13 MBIn this message, I am introducing the main points our kids will be discovering in this week’s VBS. Through the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis, we can discover and celebrate the greatness of God's love, presence, plan, and power.
The Family - Audio
June 12, 2022 14:15 - 39 minutes - 9.59 MBMore than ever before, it is incumbent on God’s people to present a clear, biblical view of God’s purpose and plan for the family. Of all the areas where our world needs the preserving power of Salt and the illumination of the Light, it’s these issues involving families—especially marriage and children.
The Family - PDF
June 12, 2022 14:15 - 172 KB application/pdfMore than ever before, it is incumbent on God’s people to present a clear, biblical view of God’s purpose and plan for the family. Of all the areas where our world needs the preserving power of Salt and the illumination of the Light, it’s these issues involving families—especially marriage and children.
In Being Salt and Light - Audio
June 05, 2022 14:01 - 45 minutes - 10.8 MBIn looking at the Baptist Faith and Message article on The Christian and the Social Order, we use Jesus' illustration of being salt and light to focus on how we are to be the people of God in today's culture. We examine the biblical worldview and ethic on issues like race, abortion, gender, and sexuality. In a dark and decaying culture, now more than ever we need to shine the light of God's truth and be His preserving agent in the world.
In Being Salt and Light - PDF
June 05, 2022 14:01 - 168 KB application/pdfIn looking at the Baptist Faith and Message article on The Christian and the Social Order, we use Jesus' illustration of being salt and light to focus on how we are to be the people of God in today's culture. We examine the biblical worldview and ethic on issues like race, abortion, gender, and sexuality. In a dark and decaying culture, now more than ever we need to shine the light of God's truth and be His preserving agent in the world.
Peace and War - PDF
May 31, 2022 14:33 - 186 KB application/pdfAs Christians, our relationship and responsibility to our nation is never more difficult than when it comes to war. We wrestle with questions like: Is war ever justified? If Jesus calls Christians to be peacemakers, is it right to ever take up arms to defend ourselves, our homes, or our country? If so, what principles guide us in war and self-defense?
Peace and War - Audio
May 31, 2022 14:33 - 32 minutes - 7.92 MBAs Christians, our relationship and responsibility to our nation is never more difficult than when it comes to war. We wrestle with questions like: Is war ever justified? If Jesus calls Christians to be peacemakers, is it right to ever take up arms to defend ourselves, our homes, or our country? If so, what principles guide us in war and self-defense?
We Believe...In Cooperation - Audio
May 22, 2022 15:14 - 37 minutes - 8.97 MBCooperation is a conditional value that is clarified with three questions: With whom do we cooperate? Why do we cooperate? and How do we cooperate? How we answer these questions is critical for our identity as Baptists and how we do ministry together with others.
We Believe...In Cooperation - PDF
May 22, 2022 15:14 - 175 KB application/pdfCooperation is a conditional value that is clarified with three questions: With whom do we cooperate? Why do we cooperate? and How do we cooperate? How we answer these questions is critical for our identity as Baptists and how we do ministry together with others.