First Baptist Church of Orange Park - Sermon Audio

As Christians, we know we are to love one another. Yet, the problem most often is that even if we do, we love with the wrong type of love. Loving one another with a love reserved for an item means that unconditional, permanent, selfless love is not offered. Pastor David Tarkington preaches on February 14, 2021 at First Baptist Church of Orange Park on this agape love God gives us and expects us to...

Sermon preached at First Baptist Church of Orange Park on Sunday, February 7, 2021. Pastor David Tarkington looks to John 4 regarding Christ's revelation true worship being in spirit and truth. In our culture, worship is often considered a synonym to music or singing, but it is much more than that. Pastor David answers the question "What does it mean to worship in spirit and truth?"

The healthy church is comprised of healthy Christians. This series on health covers areas that we, as believers, must address. We do not cover all areas, but some vital ones. Our service to to God is expected and yet, it is not simply a duty, but an act of worship. Pastor David Tarkington looks to Psalm 100 for today's check up.

It's clear that God expects his children to be generous in their lifestyles and in their giving. This is not a "you need to tithe" sermon, but a focus on the grace of God shown upon us as his children and how this motivates us to live generously.

The proclamation of the Word of God is a non-negotiable for being an obedient, healthy, church. Pastor David Tarkington preaches from Romans 10 and 2 Timothy 4.

Staff Evangelist Andres Lavanderos looks to Psalm 92 as he reminds us why the church gathers on the Lord's Day weekly for worship and for rest in Christ.

There are many designations of local church that people use - friendly, good, welcoming, large, etc. All are good designators, but there is a descriptor that we must seek to maintain at all times - the healthy church. In this sermon Pastor David Tarkington begins the new year by reminding us how Scripture reveals that the local body must be one that prays continually and expectantly. Prayer is not...

The wise men who brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Christ, after following a star, have much tradition surrounding them. Yet, there is very little about them in Scripture. Who are these men? Who are the Magi? What is known about them and better yet...why should we care?

This Christmas Eve we look at the long family trees of Joseph and Mary and how God redeemed them "in the fullness of time." Also, and to our great good, God invites us into his family tree. You do not have to remain simply a creation of God, you can become a child of his.

We have seen the Nativity scenes and know the characters who are supposed to be represented. What about the dragon? Yes, there is a dragon at the Nativity. Today, we see the birth of Christ from heaven's perspective with the reminder that God has shown us how his grand story ends. Spoiler Alert: God wins, so fear not!

You do not get the full story of Christmas if you only focus on the story of the birth of Christ. In this message Pastor David Tarkington begins with the story of the cross where fear seemed to be reigning in the lives of the disciples and others following Jesus. Some today are facing the same type of fear and yet, they may say "I'm not afraid, just frustrated." The truth is fear and frustration a...

Fear has been and continues to be one of the greatest weapons in the arsenal our enemy. In this age of pandemic many, even Christians are feeling overwhelmed with fear and anxiety. God, however is not afraid and his sovereignty remains, as always, intact. Faith overcomes fear.

Acts 12:24-13:3. In this sermon, preached November 29, 2020 by Pastor David Tarkington, we examine three elements of an obedient church.

Acts 12:1-24. This sermon was preached November 22, 2020 by Pastor David Tarkington. Peter is arrested. God rescues him. The church fights the enemy with the most powerful weapon in its arsenal. This is an incredible story of rescue in Acts 12, but it is not just history. God is still rescuing. The church must continue fighting as it did in the first century.

Acts 11:1-18. This sermon was preached November 15, 2020 by Pastor David Tarkington. In this service we celebrated the baptism of Ricky, a veteran who was at the point of considering ending his life until God rescued him. This is a great story of the ministry to veterans of our partner Operation Barnabas. Then, we celebrated two families in this service who stepped up to the first milestone of our...

Acts 11:1-18. This sermon was preached November 8, 2020 by Pastor David Tarkington. When Peter returned to Jerusalem after dining in the Gentile Cornelius's home and sharing Christ with him, other believers (and leaders of the church) were livid. Peter addresses this and God gives us insight into how we must live knowing that all are welcome to come to God through Jesus Christ.

Acts 10:34-48. This sermon was preached November 1, 2020 by Pastor David Tarkington. When Peter preached at Cornelius's home to the gathered friends and family of the centurion, it was a repeat, somewhat, of the sermon preached at Pentecost. While the context and audience were different, the gospel was and is the same. This is the reminder to all believers that God shows no partiality. The gospel...

Acts 10:21-33. This sermon was preached October 25, 2020 by Pastor David Tarkington. Today we look at how God connected and united Peter and Cornelius. We also see how this relates to our sending Jordan and Melissa Floro as church planters in New York City. Commissioning service for Floros and baptisms of Judson & Annie Floro.

Acts 10:9-20. This sermon was preached October 18, 2020 by Pastor David Tarkington. Cornelius, the Gentile centurion is told by God send for Simon Peter to tell him what it means to follow Christ. The only challenge is that no where in Peter's mind was it even conceivable that God would want someone like Cornelius in his family. God was doing a major work on Cornelius, but also on Peter. There's m...

Acts 10:1-8. This sermon was preached October 11, 2020 by Pastor David Tarkington. Pastor David shares about our town's history regarding race relations and the first interracial school in the town (and state) that existed until pressure from the state and community shut it down in 1917. What does that have to do with Acts 10? Peter is soon to meet Cornelius - the first Gentile who will become par...

Have you ever read a story or watched a movie and it hit you "I've read or seen this before," but you know you haven't? You know, it's familiar and seems like something you've already read or seen, but it's different, even if just a bit, this time. When Peter enters Lydda and then Joppa in this portion of Acts, he (well, actually God through him) performs two miracles that are carbon copies of one...

Pastor David Tarkington continues in our series through the book of Acts. When Saul/Paul became a follower of Christ, he was transformed completely. However, he was not initially welcomed into the fellowship of believers and the church, primarily due to his past. He needed something...someone...an advocate. Saul's story reminds us that each of us needs an advocate. Thanks be to God he provides one...

The enemy of the church Saul is confronted by Christ while on his way to Damascus to arrest and imprison followers of Christ. This is one of the most dramatic conversion stories in church history, but it is truly no different than any other Christ-followers when you look at the details. In this sermon Pastor David explains how every Christian has been sought, saved, and sent.

Remember the "See 'n Say"? You know, the toy for preschoolers that has the spinning wheel that tells what each animal on the farm says. Pastor David Tarkington reminds us that this can remind us to have the eyes to see as God would desire and to actually speak the message of the gospel to others. We must see and say.

The Singermans have been serving in Northern Uganda for 2.5 years with the IMB Borderlands team. They are currently stateside on a re-assignment because of complications with COVID-19, but they are enjoying spending time with family and connecting with friends.    They work specifically with Sudanese refugees in Arua town, where they live, and in the surrounding refugee camps. Kevin and his wife V...