As the person who oversees the Music Ministries at First Baptist I’ve spent a lot of time over the last year or so engaging with books, blogs, sermons, and podcasts centered around the topic of “worship.” What I’ve found is that the term “worship” has a broad usage within Christian circles. Some use it to mean literal singing, others refer…
I’m sure you’ve heard the adage, “Work smarter, not harder.” For some reason, I have been very slow to learn that lesson. More often than not, when I’m working on a project, I don’t take the time to think about ways to save energy or make the work easier—I just try to power through as quickly as possible. Inevitably, what…
Have you ever noticed how we tend to pray more—or perhaps pray at all (when prayer is not a part of our daily lives)—when we find ourselves in desperate situations? There have been times when I’ve offered to pray for a loved one of someone I know does not yet have a relationship with God. I’ve never been turned down…
Scripture references: Psalm 18, Exodus 2:10, Exodus 15, John 16:33 Introduction: “Your name is a strong and mighty towerYour name is a shelter like no otherYour name, let the nations sing it louder‘Cause nothing has the power to saveBut your name” – ‘Your Name’ by Paul Baloche I find myself drawn to songs and songwriters who use imagery in their…
In my many years as a Youth Pastor, I have encountered numerous ways to communicate the gospel message. One of my favorites comes from an organization called Dare2Share. I appreciate it because it is easy for me to remember and simple enough to communicate. They call it “Life in 6 Words,” with the six words being: God, Our, Sins, Paying,…
What do you believe? Perhaps there is not a more fitting week to address this question than leading up to a Baptism Sunday! As we see our brothers and sisters in Christ, one by one, step into that water…each one has their own unique story and unique journey to get where they are today. God has authored their life journey…
From time to time, I encounter a term that is widely used in Christian communities but sounds completely foreign to me. More often than not, my confusion stems from my own limited vocabulary 🙂. The first time I came across the term “Means of Grace” and had to take a short detour to understand it better. My summary of “Means…
Introduction: to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. -Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV Putting off the old self…putting on the new self. This will be a central theme in…
What was the last thing you were so excited about that you couldn’t stop talking about it? Maybe it was a movie you saw, a book you read, or a milestone moment in your family—like the birth of a child or grandchild, or perhaps a big wedding. For me, it was the 2024 Detroit Lions season… which was amazing—until it…
Introduction: “Your will above all elseMy purpose remainsThe art of losing myselfIn bringing You praise “ “In my heart and my soulLord I give You controlConsume me from the inside out Lord” These lyrics are from the song: “From the inside out”. This song has always remained close to me for many years. When I think about why this song…