Richmond's First Baptist Church

Truth Revealed

Dr. Somerville finishes his "Truth" sermon series talking about light. In our lives we have direct light and reflected light.  Listen in as he describes the differences and how they point us to the truth about God.

Unconventional Truth

Continuing his "Truth" sermon series, Dr. Somerville shares that in a TED talk by Karen Armstrong, she says that religion is not about beliving things but is about behaving differently.  With that in mind, how we treat those who are different from us takes on a whole new meaning. Listen in...

Upside-Down Truth

Dr. Somerville continues his "Truth" sermon series and today he is comparing the different ways that Matthew and Luke mention "Blessed are the poor in spirit" vs "Blessed are you who are poor," and how that can change the way we approach rich and poor.

Getting Personal

Ruth Szucs is our Martha Stearns Marshall preacher for February 2022. As she shares her story of coming to faith, she strongly relates to Peter's relationship relationship with Jesus. His relationship to Jesus was, and our relationships with Jesus can be adventures that are meant to be lived and embraced.  May it be so for you today.

Threatened by the Truth

Dr. Jim Somerville continues his "Truth" sermon series by preaching form Luke 4, where Jesus is visiting in his hometown synagague.  What he has to say doesn't get quite the reception that one might think he would.  Listen in and see why.

Preaching the Truth

Dr. Jim Somerville continues his sermon series on "Truth," and he shares about Jesus in his hometown synagogue proclaiming that the word of God from the Torah he had just read had been "fulfilled in your hearing."  God is still speaking today.  Are we still listening?

What Kind of Truth Is This?

Continuing his "Truth" series, Dr. Somerville delves into Jesus' first miracle, changing water into wine.  How does this teach us about truth?  Enjoy your listen, and ponder what we can learn about the nature of God through this.

Marked by Truth

This is the second of Dr. Somerville's sermon series on Truth.  A lot of how you perceive truth is dependent on your perception and understanding of God.  Once you understand that better, you can begin to understand the truth that Jesus gives us.

Searching for Truth

Dr. Somerville begins a new sermon series today titled "Searching for Truth".  Today, as throughout history, people are searching for truth, and with so many voices from so many places coming at us today it can be hard to know what is truth these days.  In his sermon here Dr. Somerville offers some ways to know where truth can be found.

Helpless Love

Robert Thompson preaches about the differences between Helpless Love and Hopeless Love.

Advent Treasures: Love

Dr. Somerville concludes his Advent Sermon Series talking about love. It's Love that came at Christmas, in the form of a baby called Jesus, who was the incarnation Love and the incarnation of God.

Advent Treasures: Joy

Dr. Somerville continues his "Advent Treasures" sermon today preaching about joy.  Sometimes it sneaks up on us, and sometimes we see it coming a long way off, but regardless joy is there in so much of life.  In this season especially let's find joy and act on it too.  There's more than enough to just hoard it; we need to share it!

Advent Treasures: Peace

Justin Pierson preaches the second of four Advent Treasures sermons during our Advent season.  He focuses on peace today, asking us what we would consider peace to be and then exploring how Jesus birth and peace relate to one another.

Advent Treasure: Hope

Dr. Somerville begins and Advent sermon series entitled, "Advent Treasures."  Today he talks about hope.  And more specifically our hope in the return one day of Jesus.

It Hasn't Been Easy

Dr. Jim Somerville brings an encouraging Thanksgiving message. The past couple of years have been difficult navigating the effects of the virus, but we are coming out of that time and we have so much to be thankful for as life slowly returns to normal.

Faith of Our Mothers: Mary

Dr. Somerville finishes this "Faith of Our Mothers" sermon series talking about Mary, the mother of Jesus. Did she know what she was getting into when she said "Yes" to the angel Gabriel?  How could she, but by faith she did say "Yes", and the course of the world was changed because of it.  What is your yes?

Faith of our Mothers: Hannah

Dr. Jim Somerville continues the "Faith of Our Mothers" series, Today he talks about Hannah today, and how she is able to trust God, even when all those around her are saying she is childless because of her sin.  Listen and see how God works through Hannah.

Faith of Our Mothers: Naomi

Dr. Somerville preaches the second of the four part series entitled, "Faith of our Mothers."  Today he talks about Naomi, and how she, through difficult circumstances is able to arrange for Ruth's provision.  And through that the stage is set for the future appearance of King David, and eventually Jesus.

Faith of our Mothers: Ruth

Dr. Allison Collier preaches today, and begins our latest sermon series entitled, "Faith of our Mothers."  Today she starts that series talking about Ruth, a woman who had some difficult choices to make, and didn't back down in the face of adversity.

Following The Rules: Healing

Jim Somerville wraps up his 'Following the Rules" sermon series with a sermon focusing on the distinctions between being cured from some affliction and being healed, and how it is important to understand the distinction between the two.

Following the Rules: Success

Dr. Jim Somerville says that the way of following Jesus will often be filled with humility, suffering, being baptized by fire and almost never looks like success, but on the other side of it all there is new life.

Following the Rules: Seeking Life

If you knew that somewhere in your future, there was a moment that would change your life forever, would you seize it?

Following the Rules: Relationships

Jesus is known for "upsetting the apple cart" when it came to how the Pharisees viewed God's rules as set forth in the Old Testament.  In fact he was setting new rules based on how God truly intends for us to live and relate with others.

Letting the Outsiders In: Enemies

Dr. Jim Somerville preaches about the fact that we are divided in so many ways in our nation, whether that be politically, religiously, culturally or in other ways, and specifically how that relates to how we are trying to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. But maybe, Dr. Somerville says, we are just doing things differently than others may do them. We should be careful that we are not making enemies of them when the real enemy may be within us.  Jesus is telling us that "Whoever is not a...

Letting the Outsiders in: Believers

Dr. Jim Somerville continues his sermon series entitled "Letting the Outsiders in."  Today he talks about children, how Jesus welcomed the little children, called them the 'least of these', and warned people about leading them astray. He lists a series of characteristics of children that we would be good to emulate.

Letting the Outsiders in: Unbelievers

Dr. Jim Somerville talks about reasons that people outside of the church (not-members) are hesitant to come or visit our church, and offers some ideas about how we are a place that they should want to plug into.

Letting the Outsiders In: the “Other”

Jim Somerville tackles a difficult saying that Jesus uttered to a Syrophoenician woman who had asked him to heal her daughter. © 2021 Jim Somerville

The Passion of the Poet

Bread of Life: Where Else Would We Go?

In his fifth sermon from the "Bread of Life" series, Dr. Jim Somerville talks about what went wrong when Jesus preached to 5,000 people that dwindled to twelve disciples.

Bread of Life: Not For Everyone

In his fourth sermon from the "Bread of Life" series, Dr. Jim Somerville talks about the living bread that came down from heaven, and the promise that anyone who eats this bread will live forever. John 6:51-58 © 2021 Jim Somerville

Bread of Life: Live Forever

In the third sermon from his Bread of Life series, Pastor Jim Somerville shifts the bread theme from physical bread to spiritual bread, based on Jesus saying in John, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever." John 6:35, 41-51   August 8, 2021 © 2021 Jim Somerville

Bread of Life: Never Hunger

In the second sermon in his Bread of Life series, Pastor Jim Somerville extends an invitation to become more and more like Jesus and to be truly satisfied as we take Him in as The Bread of Life.  "Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'” - John 6:24-35 August 1, 2021 © 2021 Jim Somerville

Bread of Life: Eat Your Fill

As Dr. Somerville begins his five week Bread of Life series, he challenges us today to consider that though we can think our resources or gifts are few, in his hands they can be multiplied far beyond our imagination.  Miracles can happen When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him he said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” Philip answered him, “Six months' wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” July 25, 2021 © 2...

Making it Personal

Jim Somerville's sermon from the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, July 18, 2021.

Something New Springs Forth; Do You See It?

Ann Carter's sermon from the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, July 11, 2021.

Salt and Light

Dr. Allison Collier's sermon from the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, July 4, 2021.

Too Much to Too Little

Pastoral Resident Justin Pierson's sermon from the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, June 27, 2021.

What in the World Is Going On in Here?

A sermon by Dr. Phil Mitchell June 20, 2021 © 2021 Phil Mitchell

Prayer Matters

Rev. Lynn Turner's sermon from the Third Sunday after Pentecost, June 13, 2021.

When the Last Day Comes

Rev. Robert Thompson's sermon from the Second Sunday after Pentecost, June 6, 2021.

Making the Trinity Personal

Annie Campbell's sermon from Trinity Sunday, May 30, 2021.

We're Not Drunk, Just Full of Spirit

Rev. Steve Blanchard's sermon from the Day of Pentecost, May 23, 2021.

Living the Life of the Ages

Dr. Jim Somerville's sermon from the Seventh Sunday of Easter, May 16, 2021.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!

Dr. Jim Somerville's sermon from the Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 9, 2021.

Love Beyond Measure

Dr. Jim Somerville's sermon from the Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 2, 2021.

Beloved Children

Dr. Jim Somerville's sermon from the Third Sunday of Easter, April 18, 2021.

One in Heart

Pastoral Resident Justin Pierson's sermon from the Second Sunday of Easter, April 11, 2021.

Seeing and Believing

Dr. Jim Somerville's sermon from Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021.

Introduction

Introduction and prayer for Stations of the Cross 2021 at Richmond's First Baptist Church.

Hosanna to the King

Dr. Jim Somerville's sermon from Palm Sunday, March 28, 2021.