Bethany Baptist Church, Lubbock, TX

Every person will be remembered for something. Long after possessions and accomplishments fade, what remains is a person’s character, testimony, and the kind of life they lived. As we reflect during Memorial Day weekend, we are reminded that people are remembered not only for how they died, but for how they lived. The question is not whether we will be remembered, but what we will be remembered fo...

When the disciples had that opportunity, they did not ask Jesus to teach them how to preach, lead, or perform miracles. Instead, after watching His consistent and powerful prayer life, they simply said in Luke 11:1, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Their request reveals that prayer is not something we naturally understand, but something we must learn. Many believers know about prayer, yet struggle to dev...

From an early age, many people become familiar with preaching, yet familiarity can often lead to distraction, indifference, or even resistance. In a culture driven by entertainment and shortened attention spans, many churches have softened or reshaped preaching to appeal to what people want to hear rather than what they need to hear. But Scripture gives a different command. “I charge thee therefor...

John 4:4 may seem like a simple travel detail, but it reveals a powerful truth. The Bible says, “And he must needs go through Samaria.” Jesus was not merely passing through Samaria on His way to Galilee. He was moving according to divine purpose. There was a woman who needed grace, a city ready to hear the Gospel, and disciples who needed to learn the heart of God. While others avoided Samaria, Je...

You need to be saved; You need to live like you’re saved; & You need to help others be saved.

We are to draw near to God; We are to hold fast to our faith in God; & We are to consider one another.

We have all seen it happen when someone who seemed strong, steady, and faithful suddenly falls. And when they do, the damage is never small. It affects families, shakes churches, and brings reproach upon the name of Jesus Christ. Moments like these remind us of a sobering truth: this can happen to anyone. That is why we must not focus on the failure of others, but examine our own hearts. Our text...

This morning, we come to the final and most sobering warning in Hebrews. After showing that Jesus is better than all, the writer gives a clear caution: it is possible to hear the truth, be around the truth, and even appear to follow it, yet never truly be saved. When confronted with the gospel, there are only two responses, belief or rejection. There is no middle ground. This passage calls us to e...

In this message, the temporary honor of men is weighed against the eternal honor of God. The honor of men is flattering, fleeting, and even fatal because it does nothing about sin. However, the honor of God transforms sinners into His children; clothes them in His righteousness; establishes them as His kings and priests; and makes them into His eternal heirs.

We are living in a time when truth is often treated as something flexible, shaped to fit personal views and culture. That mindset has even crept into the church, where truth is sometimes softened or adjusted instead of firmly upheld. But the church is defined by its relationship to the truth, not by anything else. Paul reminds us that the church is the pillar and ground of the truth in a shifting...

“We shall go on to the end...whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.” —Winston Churchill; “Never give in—never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Ne...

Prayer is not meant to be shaped by personal preference, comfort, or human reasoning, but by the leading of the Spirit of God. Scripture makes this clear: what seems right in human thinking can lead the wrong way, while the Spirit gives life and direction that the flesh cannot provide. The challenge is not simply whether prayer is happening, but what is guiding it. Just as direction is sometimes r...

There are moments in life when something begins with excitement, hope, and a sense that everything is finally coming together. You can see the progress, feel the momentum, and even celebrate what has already been accomplished. But just as quickly as it starts, something shifts. What once felt certain becomes uncertain. Doubt grows louder, obstacles appear, and the very thing that seemed so promisi...

Life has a way of placing us in moments where we know what God has said, yet everything around us makes obedience feel difficult. Sometimes it is not rebellion that holds us back, but hesitation, fear, or the weight of past delays. We find ourselves standing at the edge of what God has called us to do, wondering if now is the right time, if we are ready, or if it is even worth it. Ezra 5 brings us...

Spiritual wandering rarely happens all at once. It is usually quiet and gradual, one small step at a time, until a person finds themselves farther than they ever intended to go. Often they do not even realize it, convincing themselves it is just a temporary season. But what feels temporary can quickly become a new normal. That is why the closing of James is so powerful. Rather than ending the lett...

Our words have the power to build up or tear down, and that matters because people are often carrying far more than we can see. Sometimes what makes the difference is a simple word of encouragement at the right moment. But before we can truly encourage others, we have to understand what we have in Christ ourselves. In Hebrews 10, the writer reminds us that because of what Jesus has done, we have d...

The first deacons in Jerusalem were appointed because real needs in the church were being overlooked, and God would not allow His people to ignore those who were hurting. From the beginning, deacons were called to serve, not to rule. They are not spiritual overseers or decision-makers over the pastor, but faithful servants who help care for the church and support the ministry of the Word and praye...

Most believers don’t struggle with whether prayer works in theory; we struggle with whether it works when we pray. We know it’s important, biblical, and commanded, yet deep down we wonder: does it really make a difference? It’s easy to think prayer is powerful for people like Moses, Elijah, or Paul, but not for ordinary believers. James ends his letter by correcting that mindset and answering a cr...