A Solid Foundation

This message begins our series "Living Called Out: Being God's People In the World." In this message, we see that the mission of the church goes back further than Matthew 28 all the way to the Children of Israel immediately after they left Egypt. The mission hasn't changed: to take the message of a God who loves and saves to people who don't know the message. Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Sulphur, LA

This series through Jonah talks specifically about how today's churches act a lot like Jonah in our attempts at outreach and our responses mirror his toward people that we deem 'undesirable' for our church. The doors must be open and the Gospel must be preached. Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Sulphur, LA

The final message in this series looks at, specifically, weak preaching but, generally, at any faulty view of the power and priority of scripture. No church needs teaching that only encourages good behavior and happiness without the life-transforming power of the gospel. As a matter of fact, happiness and good behavior aren't even possible without the gospel. Paul wanted to make sure that Timothy...

Jesus died to reconcile people to God. He also died to reconcile people to each other. Paul, in his letter to the church in Ephesus, makes clear that there is now a singular race of Christian that is neither Jew nor Gentile, black nor white, male nor female. The church should reflect that unity and seek to achieve that unity with the lost, which can only be accomplished through personal salvation...

The recording begins, about 21 minutes, with a special time of reflection, lament, and prayer for the lost lives of the men in Baton Rouge and Minneapolis and the police officers in Dallas, as well as for the divide in our country to be bridged and for the gospel to shine through. This is the second message of this series. In it, we see that the church's focus is to be outward, toward the fields t...

This is the first of a three message series looking at big-picture church fundamentals. We will take a negative view, as in what is not needed, and then show through the course of the message the positive, what is needed. This message rejects a weak gospel and shows why a strong, pure, well-presented gospel is exactly what all churches need. Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Nixon, TX

Following on the heels of His teaching about possessions is Jesus' teaching about worry. The two go hand-in-hand: if we have set up our possessions as god, and placed our heart there, then we will be in constant fear of their failure because of their fragility and inability to satisfy. We thus set up another idol: worry. Jesus has words of comfort to replace our worry. Michael Linton, Pastor FBC N...

Stuff can get in the way of our relationship with God. People, like our family, can, too. And these often do. But we must be determined not to let that happen. Only the good we do in obedience to the Father will last. Everything else goes away. Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Nixon, TX

Once we have placed our faith Jesus Christ for salvation, we are then told to follow in obedience by being baptized. Why? What does it do? Why is it important? This passage from Romans helps explain why we are Baptists. Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Nixon, TX

When you accept the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, your life is radically changed. You are a new creation with the purpose of good works. You don't have to clean yourself up before you come to Jesus. Come to Jesus and let Him clean you up. Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Nixon, TX

Tomorrow is no guarantee for any of us. The rest of this day is no guarantee for any of us. There is an urgency in the decision we will make about Jesus, and it will affect our eternity. What we do with Jesus matters today and forever, and you aren't promised another day to make that decision. Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Nixon, TX May 15, 2016

In order to receive the salvation that the gospel provides, one must make a personal response to the free offer. That response involves, first and foremost, faith in Jesus Christ. This message examines that personal response. Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Nixon, TX May , 2016

The third message of our series "The Gospel" focuses on the sufficiency of Christ. He was exactly what was needed for our salvation, uniquely fit for providing atonement. This message briefly explains what we mean. Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Nixon, TX May 1, 2016

The second component of the gospel is the offensive of sin. While our culture has rendered the term 'offensive' nearly meaningless, our sin is nevertheless an offense to God and the reason for His wrath and our condemnation. But there is hope. Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Nixon, TX April 24, 2016

This is the first message in a series where we break down The Gospel into six components. This first component is the 'g' of gospel, God's Character. In it, we see not just what God is like, but what God is, and what dynamic that creates in our relationship with Him. Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Nixon, TX April, 17, 2016

Often, the most profitable prayer we can pray is to pray scripture back to God. Is it biblical? Is it useful? How is it done? These are all questions that are answered in this message. Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Nixon, TX April 3, 2016

Jesus' final instruction in modeling prayer for us is that we must forgive those who have wronged us. As a matter of fact, our desire to forgive others is a direct indication of our salvation. And on this day, when forgiveness was bought for everyone on the cross of Calvary, we must examine ourselves to see if we forgive, and to see if we have received the forgiveness God offers through Jesus. Mic...

The last request of The Model Prayer is one for protection, both from and in temptation. It exposes our weakness in combating temptation, and our need for rescue by God from temptation. Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Nixon, TX March 20, 2016

In our prayers, there must be a recognition that God provides everything we need: from daily food to forgiveness. Jesus models that recognition for us in this passage. Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Nixon, TX March 6, 2016

In our prayers, we must trust God. We can trust Him to know what is best, but we also must trust Him enough to do what He says. Our prayers should reflect that trust. Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Nixon, TX February 21, 2016

This is the eighth message in the series "The Church's Report Card", the third where we look at the church at Smyrna. In this message we find out the reward for perseverance and courage: no judgment. Just what does no judgment mean? And is that worth all that the church will have to endure? Jesus answers these questions for us. Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Nixon, TX September 9, 2012

This is the sixth message in the series "The Church's Report Card", the first where we look at the church at Smyrna. In this message we see what the Christians in Smyrna had to endure for their faith. Are we willing to endure the same? Are we living in such a way that we would even come close to these persecutions? Do we get an A+ in perseverance? Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Nixon, TX August 26, 20...

This is the seventh message in the series "The Church's Report Card", the second where we look at the church at Smyrna. In this message we see that the church is to have courage in the face of persecution - even persecution that ends in death. Do we have the courage enough to face the persecution of name-calling? We have to be a church of courageous Christians. Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Nixon, TX...

This is the fifth message in the series "The Church's Report Card", the third where we look at the church at Ephesus. In this message we understand the reward for those that heed the message and repent. The question is, though, do we have ears to hear? Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Nixon, TX August 19, 2012

This is the third message in the series "The Church's Report Card", the first on the church at Ephesus. In this message we see what Jesus had to say about the right and wrong kind of tolerance in the church at Ephesus. We'll also see how we as the church today grade on the same issue. Michael Linton, Pastor FBC Nixon, TX August 5, 2012