Richmond's First Baptist Church

Jesus Taught what Jesus Learned: Which Did the Will of the Father?

Jesus Taught what Jesus Learned: Is it right for you to be angry?

The Balance Podcast - Episode 8 - Shirley Ramsey

Lynn Turner Shirley Ramsey Mental Health for Youth

When in Romans: Welcoming the Weak

Dr. Jim Somerville concludes his sermon series, "When in Romans."

The Balance - Episode 7 - Karen Rice

The Body of Christ

Dr. Somerville takes a break this week from his 'When in Romans' sermon series to talk about a problem that everyone will recognize is happening in our country, and that is the fracturing of our society into like-minded communities of people who share similar ways of life, beliefs and politics.  To do this as a church weakens the entire edifice, and Dr. Somerville uses Pauls words from 1 Corinthians 12 to encourage us by understanding that the body is strongest when it has all of it's variou...

When in Romans: Living Like Christians

Dr. Somerville continues his 'When in Romans' sermon series today and he laments that often our culture has a very negative image of what a Christian is, and he offers some ways that we as Christians can counter that image. Listen in!

When in Romans: With Minds Transformed

Dr. Somerville continues his summer sermon series today asks, "What did you bring to worship today?" It's a question that has been asked for thousands of years as people came to worship God, especially the Jews.  And it's still a good one to ponder today as we are entering into worship each week.  What are we bringing that can be an offering to God?

When in Romans: Merciful to All

The Balance - Episode 6 - Jeannine Panzera

When in Romans: Wholehearted Belief

Dr. Somerville continues his When in Romans summer sermon series today tackling the topic of salvation, and what we feel we must do to save ourselves.  This is one that will challenge and hopefully enlighten you as well.  Listen in!

The Divine Family

We know from Dr. Somerville's message last week that nothing can separate us from the love of God.  And that's true, but what about the inevitable heartache, sorrow, or despair that we will experience in life?  How do we explain them if God loves us so much?  Or preacher today, Lynn Turner, has some words to encourage and inspire us.  Listen in.

When in Romans: More than Conquerors

Dr. Somerville continues his 'When in Romans' sermon series today, and in it he asks, "Is there anything worse than death?"  It's a thought provoking question and worth listening to the sermon to find out.

When in Romans: Children of God

As Dr. Somerville continues his 'When in Romans' sermon series he emphasizes the point that Paul is making that through our baptism we become the 'children of God.'  And as 'children of God' we stand to inherit every good thing God has to give.  Though we now live in an imperfect world, we have the vision that one day all will be made right.  It's a vision to hold on to.  Enjoy hearing Dr. Somerville explain all of this and more.

The Balance - Episode 5 - Patsy Parkinson and Sandy Shelton

When in Romans: Life and Peace

Dr. Somerville returns to his 'When in Romans' sermon series today, and today continues talking about how to have peace with God.  He speaks of a sponge as an illustration of how we can do that, so you'll want to listen in and see how he connects the two!

Rest For Your Soul

In Dr. Somerville's absence today Dr. Allison Collier brings us a message about soul rest.  It's interesting that in really finding rest Jesus tells us that we need to take a yoke upon ourselves.  That doesn't sound very restful, but once you listen to Dr. Colliers sermon today it will make perfect sense.  Don't miss this wonderful message!

Hide and Seek

A sermon by Steve Blanchard

When in Romans: Buried with Christ

Dr. Somerville continues his "Buried with Christ" sermon series, and today he tells us that the way to truly find life is to lose it.  Sounds like a contradiction, but listen in and it will soon make perfect sense.

When in Romans: Peace with God

Dr. Somerville is into the second week of his "When in Romans" sermon series, and this week he speaks of peace with God in the context of the recent news that the Southern Baptist Convention has voted to remove some member churches from the convention because of their stance on women being pastors.  It's a powerful sermon!

The Balance - Episode 4 - Erica Whitaker

When in Romans: Reckoned Righteous

Dr. Somerville starts a new sermon series today titled, "When in Romans."  Paul is his primary topic today and he's trying to teach the  Gentiles, and Jews as well, about righteousness.  And he says it's not so much about keeping the law.  It's more about faith!

Grace, Love, and Communion

Ever had trouble understanding the doctrine of the Trinity?  Dr. Somerville breaks it down in his sermon today that may be just the catalyst for your comment, "Ah, now it get it!!"  Listen in.

Peter Remembers Pentecost

Dr. Somerville takes the voice of Peter today to give us a "First Person" look at the day of Pentecost.  Listen in for an inspiring sermon!

When I Find Myself in Times of Trouble

Rev. Don Davidson is out guest preacher today.  He tells us that in life we will have times of trials and troubles, they are unavoidable.  But God is there for us, taking care of us as we look to him for strength.  Listen in as he elaborates.

The Well-Remembered Word: Remembering the Promise of the Spirit

Dr. Somerville wraps up this sermon series with some final works from the Apostle John, and John is making the case for Jesus as the Comforter.  Listen in.

The Well-Remembered Word: Remembering the Comfort of Christ

Dr. Jim Somerville preaches that sometimes heaven is not a place, it's a person. A person you most want to be with.

The Well-Remembered Word: Remembering the Comfort of Christ

Dr. Jim Somerville preaches that sometimes heaven is not a place, it's a person. A person you most want to be with.

The Balance - Episode 3 - April Haynes

The Well-Remembered Word: Remembering the Good Shepherd

This week Dr. Somerville uses the voice of the Apostle John, the Beloved Disciple, to deliver his message.  And John uses the term 'Good Shepherd' to talk about Jesus and how he came to take care of us, not take advantage of us as thieves and robbers may.  Jesus came that we might have life, and have it abundantly.  Have you found abundant life through Jesus?  Listen in if you need help finding that.

The Well-Remembered Word: The Disciples Remember

Dr. Somerville continues his Well-Remembered series, talking today about the experiences and memories of the two disciples that Jesus met on the road to Emmaus.  They initially could not recognize Jesus, and when they did he vanished.  Just as their eyes were closed to the reality of Jesus among them, could our eyes be closed to the reality of what God may be doing in the world today?  Open our eyes Lord that we may see!

The Well-Remembered Word: Thomas Remembers

A lot of people call Thomas from the Bible, "Doubting Thomas." But what if he could tell his own story? Dr. Jim Somerville talks about that in this sermon.

The Well-Remembered Word: Mary Remembers

Happy Easter.  Dr. Somerville imagines a conference in the 1st century where some of the people how knew and loved Jesus best met to remember him several years after his ascension.  What would people like mary Magdalene, Thomas and the two disciples who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus and John, say about him?  Listen in for a very unique take on the Easter Story!

The Balance - Episode 2 - Emma Tilley

Decisions, Decisions: Palms or Passion?

On this Palm Sunday, when we celebrate Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, there is still a sadness associated with the event.  From the high of today, there will be the depths of human suffering and heartache by Friday.  Palms or Passion - which is it?  Listen and learn.

Station #8: Jesus Dies On The Cross

Decisions, Decisions: Can These Bones Live?

Dr. Somerville talks about the Valley of Dry Bones today, and uses the bones return to life and vitality as a possible way to describe a revitalizing of the church in America after it's years of slow decline. He makes some fascinating points, so this video is well worth a listen!

Decisions, Decisions: Where Will You Look?

As Dr. Somerville continues his "Decisions, Decisions" sermon series he poses the question as to how you look at yourself and others, or maybe more importantly, how does God look at us and them.  How should that affect our perspective in the matter?  Listen in!

Decisions, Decisions: "Is the Lord Among Us or Not?"

Dr. Somerville continues his preaching through the Old Testament, and today he is talking about the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, ready to stone Moses because they have no water to drink where they have stopped.  God had provided manna and quail for them to eat, yet they still could not trust God to provide water for them and their livestock.  How often do we lack faith and trust in God when he has so clearly provided for us in the past?  Is the Lord Among Us or Not? 

The Balance - Episode 1 - Josh Farmer

Decisions, Decisions: "Can You Trust God's Promises?"

Today's sermon is all about trust in God, even when you don't know what life is going to throw at you.  Abraham had to make a choice to trust God why he called him to leave his family and go to the place that God was going to show him.  Perhaps you can relate even better to the story that Dr. Somerville shares about the time he had to trust when the rug had been pulled out from under his feet.  Listen in!

Decisions, Decisions: "Will You Give In?"

Dr. Somerville starts a new sermon series today entitled, "Decision, Decisions."  And he starts off with one of the most monumentous decisions in the history of mankind - the decision by Adam and Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit, the fruit that would give them the capacity for knowing good and evil.  It's a good place to start in this series and he challenges us with some decisions that we have to make.  Listen in!

Be Curious, Not Judgmental: What Do We Do When Jesus Changes?

Dr. Somerville introduced KOH2RVA (Kingdom of Heaven to Richmond, Virginia) shortly after he came to Richmond's First Baptist Church, and bringing KOH2RVA has been our church's mission ever since.  In today's sermon he talks about such a time when the Kingdom of Heaven came to earth.  It's a good sermon to listen to during these days when we feel that the Kingdom of Heaven is so far away. 

Be Curious, Not Judgmental: Are you talking to me?

Amanda Lott is our preacher today during Martha Stearns Marshall Month of Preaching, by having a woman preach during the month of February.  She's speaking today about anger, and Jesus' words in Matthew 5 when he speaks on this during the Sermon on the Mount.

Be Curious, Not Judgmental: "Why Do We Have to Be Salt?"

On, becoming light of the world and salt of the earth.  Listen in!

Be Curious, Not Judgmental: A Divine Attitude Adjustment

Be Curious, Not Judgmental: "What Were They Thinking?"

Why would the first disciples drop everything that their lives were built upon to follow Jesus?  That's hard for us to wrap our heads around these day, but listen in and Dr. Somerville might have some helpful insights that will help make more sense of their actions .

Be Curious, Not Judgmental: Where Are You Staying?

Dr. Somerville continues his sermon series today and says that if you spend time with Jesus, your life can be changed.  Is that true? You may get the answer to that question by listening in!

Be Curious, Not Judgmental: "What Are You Doing Here?"

In his new sermon series, "Be curious, Not Judgmental," Dr. Somervilles ends the sermon with the question, "Where else would I be?"  It is specifically referring to being here in church on Sunday morning, however the question can be viewed with a much deeper lens.  Listen in to see how he arrives at his conclusions.

No Longer a Starry-Eyed Bride

Today Dr. Somerville helps walk us across the brigde from the Christmas season into a new year.  And today he wants us to remember the commitments that we've made in the past to friends, family and our church, and to consider renewing the covenants that we have made with them.  Sure, a lot of things may have changed since we initially made those covenants, but today is a great day to remember why we made them in the first place and resolve to keep them strong in the future.