Beginning this weekend, I will be preaching a new sermon series entitled “Overcoming: Living Christ’s Victory.” This is the premise: we have no reason to live defeated lives; we have every reason to live victorious lives. Christ died to make us new people. We are His new creation; all things have become new. We have been crucified with Christ. The …
Living In Uncertain Times
You and I live in uncertain times. Amazingly, that often seems to be the most certain experience we have. Think with me about all the areas we struggle with. Will we have a nuclear Iran? Will our country deal with it adequately or hope it goes away? What about our economic situation? Health care? The breakdown of the family and …
Our Dreams For Our Student Ministry
Recently, we examined the make-up of our church. The Saturday/Sunday Bible study attendance is made up of 48% under age 18 and 52% 18 and up. Those numbers picture a very healthy church. If the numbers were skewed in either direction, the church would be unhealthy. Today I want to write about our Student Ministry (7th-12th grades). We all know …
Why Good Things Happen At Church
Years ago, I preached a sermon on why good things happen at church. The sermon fit what God was doing at First Baptist Church during that time. We had just begun to grow and had started a second worship service. The sermon came from the Book of Acts and we looked at the qualities of the first century church. The …
Deacon Selection Upcoming
Beginning in August, my preaching plan will involve a sermon series from Acts called “Turning Points.” The Book of Acts shows a series of turning points that changed everything. One way to look at Acts is seeing how God worked in Acts to break down barriers. As I have been studying and planning for the sermons, several recurring points have …
The Baileys’ Plans For July
Several years ago, the congregation of First Baptist Church insisted that Martha and I take some extended time to get away. At first, we had to be compelled to do so (what were we thinking?), but since then we look forward to the time. We deeply appreciate our church’s concern for us and look forward to having most of the …
Yikes! Public Schools Begin August 8!
Yikes! Public schools begin August 8! We have a lot to do before August 8 in the form of camps, ministries, and outreach. Let me give you an idea of what we are planning for the remainder of the summer before school begins. First, we have a mission team in Bogota, Columbia, teaching English as a second language. They are living and teaching …
A Final Look At A Good Week
It’s hard not to feel good about happy, well-behaved children and loving, Godly leaders. That is what we have experienced this week I want to thank all of you who have volunteered. Each of you has other places to be and other things to do, yet you chose to give this week to children, to the church, and to God. …
Have You Forgotten To Pray?
Prayer characterized our Lord, and it characterized the early church. Again and again, the Book of Acts describes the apostles as praying. They prayed in the upper room and they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. They prayed Peter and Silas out of prison. Throughout Luke’s look at the church, the people prayed. Why is it that something so …
We Work and Serve Because He Lives
This weekend is very special because in a special way we celebrate the resurrection of Christ. The resurrection of Jesus is crucial to our faith. In fact, Paul stated that without the resurrection our preaching is in vain and we are still in our sin. “If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men …