FBC CTX Growing in Grace Podcast

Peter wrote in 1 Peter 3:15 that we should be prepared to give a defense to anyone who asks us a reason for the hope that they see within us. Of course, the Holy Spirit gave him these words when he was writing his epistle, but I am curious if perhaps he had one particular day in his life when he was asked about the hope within him. Acts 2:22-24 is part of Peter’s response to the crowds in Jerusale...

The theme of our upcoming Spring Bible Conference (each evening at 6:00pm March 23-25) is “Times of Refreshing” based upon a message given by Peter after a lame man was healed. The crowd began to look at the Apostle as though he performed the amazing miracle. The seasoned fisherman turned disciple knew that the people were giving the credit to the wrong person. It was God’s power that had raised t...

“The troubles of my heart are enlarged bring me out of my distresses.” -- Psalm 25:17 After hearing her mention that she would like to get back into shape, a friend recommended that Georgene Johnson consider running. So, without any preparation whatsoever, Georgene signed up for the Akron 10K (6.2 miles). Her comment after finishing the race was, “This was not what I signed up for!” Georgene came...

Sunday Message recorded 16 March 2025 by Senior Pastor Victor Morrison First Baptist Church - Columbus, TX, USA 1700 Milam St. Columbus, TX, USA 78934

After the Lord miraculously delivered the people of Israel out of bondage in Egypt, they were slowly making their way through the wilderness toward the Promised Land. Unexpectedly, they encountered trouble along the way. They were attacked by the Amalekites, desert nomads dwelling in the northern Negev and descendants of Esau. This was their first fight, but it would not be their last. As we revie...

The Greek Mathematician Archimedes once said, “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” You may have some colossal problems that you would like to move from your life into the hands of the Lord. I would suggest that our faith is the lever and God’s Word is the fulcrum that can be make a difference in real life. Today we are going to look at the F...

Husbands, Love Your Wife Like This… 1. Hearing the Perspective of Your Wife 2. Honoring through the Protection of Your Wife 3. Helping the Partnership with Your Wife 4. Hindering Prayers for Your Wife Wives, Love Your Husband Like This… 1. Embracing the Duty of Submission to Your Husband, 3:1 2. Practicing the Influence of Submission to Your Husband, 3:1-2 3. Adorning with the Beauty of Submission...

Let’s look at five verses in the book of Colossians that are addressing the theme of glorifying the Lord at work. How do we know this? Out of five verses there are 5 references to the Lord in the context of how we behave in the workplace. If the theme of Colossians is the supremacy of Christ, then it makes sense that we should exalt Him on the job not just on Sunday mornings. Some people, however,...

Have you ever heard Robert Frost’s poem,  The Road Not Taken ? It begins with this verse, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth.” Psalm 1 seems to stand in a similar location to where Robert Frost must have been standing when he wrote that famous poem....

Can a toxic person remove your inner peace and joy? David began Psalm 5 with a groan. Why? Many bible scholars feel that he was grieving over the rebellion of his son, Absalom. He wasn’t a two-year old throwing a temper tantrum, this young man had arranged a dangerous military coup to overthrow King David. The king had to flee from the capital city of Jerusalem, seeking shelter and refuge out in t...

Since followers of Christ are called to be the lights of the world (Mt. 5:14-16), what better way to shine for Jesus than during the Christmas season? It’s a perfect setup to display Christ. So, how should we string the "lights of Christmas" during the Christmas season? John would tell us in the way we live our lives and in the words of hope that we share with others. The Apostle John examines the...

He Was Marvelous in How He Came, 9:6 He Is Majestic in Who He Is, 9:6 He Will Be Mighty in What He Will Do, 9:6-7 --- Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations   Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison   First Baptist Church 1700 Milam Street Columbus, TX, USA 78934 http://fbccolumbustx.org/

The Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to pen the words of Galatians around 48/49 AD just after he had completed an eighteen month mission trip. He heard that then new disciples that he had made in Galatia were facing false teaching in the new churches across the region. The Judaizers were insisting that salvation was through good works, but Paul knew the truth that we are saved not by our good...

The Lord Jesus Christ said that the reason He came to this earth was “…to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10. This is also the mission of the church. Christ’s disciples are to rescue those who are perishing in their sin. Jude 23 says, “save others by snatching (pulling) them out of the fire…” Let’s look at a biblical example of a great rescue story. Jeremiah the prophet warned the people of Je...

After successfully performing a heart surgery on a woman, the heart doctor was not able to massage her heart into beating again. So, he removed his surgical mask, knelt down beside her and whispered these words,  “Mrs. Johnson, this is your surgeon. The operation went perfectly. Your heart has been repaired. Now tell your heart to beat again.” This true story from Ohio reminds me of another t...

Long before there was a Thanksgiving Day on the calendar, many godly men and women were giving thanks for their blessings not once a year but daily. I love to reflect upon the rich heritage that we as Americans have in the tradition of Thanksgiving which started with the Pilgrims back in 1621. Although not explicitly stated, I am certain that thanks to the Lord was offered before the days of...

In the sixteenth psalm, David composed a very personal hymn in response to the goodness of God across the story of his life. We know it was personal because of his frequent use of the personal pronoun within the eleven verses of this psalm. Despite the hard times that David experienced in his life, he amazingly looked with contentment and gratitude for his blessings. I know that he didn’t write th...

After successfully performing a heart surgery on a woman, the heart doctor was not able to massage her heart into beating again. So, he removed his surgical mask, knelt down beside her and whispered these words,  “Mrs. Johnson, this is your surgeon. The operation went perfectly. Your heart has been repaired. Now tell your heart to beat again.” This true story from Ohio reminds me of another t...

The New Testament records these three words 10 times, “He is able”. Today we are going to learn from one of these passages what the Lord Jesus Christ is able to do. We will focus our attention on Hebrews 2:14-18. The closing verse of our text says, “…He is able to help those who are being tempted.” Since Hebrews 10:1-2, 11 signals that the temple was still in operation in Jerusalem, most bible sch...

There are two great needs in the churches across America today. We need more intercession for others and more illumination through a great spiritual awakening. Ephesians 1:15-23 seems to chart the way in praying for those around us to experience an enlightenment. In our text today we will hear Paul assure the disciples in Ephesus that he was praying for them the following,  “…having the eyes...

Jeremiah 17 begins with a confrontation of Judah over the seriousness of their sin in the eyes of God by comparing it to something engraved with the point of a diamond. Their sin was also serious in terms of the drastic consequences they would soon encounter for their poor choices, namely exile “ in a land that you do not know ”. So, how were they to live in exile in Babylon? Should they trust in...

Let’s look at what Jesus taught regarding the construction of a strong prayer life in Matthew 7:7-12. By chapter 7, Matthew had already recorded several times that Jesus referred to the prayer life of His men. He mentions prayer in the Gospel of Matthew 16 times. The Bible uses the term pray or prayer 316 times. For example, Matthew wrote in chapter six where Jesus gives us the model prayer, “And...

Jesse Reno invented a moving device he dubbed an “inclined elevator”. He publicly introduced it at Coney Island in the Fall of 1896 where within one week 75,00 people took a ride on the innovative conveyor belt. He had submitted a patent for his invention in 1892. It had no steps, just a single platform that could move 3,000 individuals per hour. He even equipped it with handrails for safety. The...

“…the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.” Paul wrote a letter to Philemon during his first imprisonment in Rome, perhaps around 60-61 AD. Out of the four prison epistles, Philemon is without question the most personal. Paul had won Philemon to Christ during his third missionary journey while he was evangelizing Ephesus. Even though Philemon was from Colossae, he must have travel...

We are almost to Labor Day. The Bible affirms work and condemns laziness and idleness. As a matter of fact, there is. Liberty University publication that lists 43 different occupations found in the pages of Scripture. There is nothing wrong with good, ole fashion work. There is something wrong, however, with those who would attempt to work and try to earn salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 remind us that...