Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

Dr. Alan Cole begins with a humorous story about a snowball fight between fifth and sixth graders, then transitions to discuss how we face avalanches of homework, responsibilities, and struggles that can feel overwhelming like being hit by snowballs or crushed by closing walls. Scripture Text Psalm 46 Main Points or Ideas God's Sovereignty Over Catastrophic Events (verses 1-3)  - God is our re...

The president of Baptist Church Planters, Jon Jenks, uses a coaching analogy to teach Matthew 28:16-20. He compares pastoral ministry to coaching, where you break things down step by step and use experienced players to help younger ones. Scripture Text Matthew 28:16-20 Main Points or Ideas Gospel Belief  - Like a five-tool baseball player, disciples need five essential components. It starts with g...

Dr. Keith Kobelia discusses how we live in a world where people constantly seek recognition and fame, but challenges students to be content serving faithfully even when they are not recognized, using examples of unnamed servants in Scripture. Scripture Text 2 Corinthians 8:16-24 Main Points or Ideas A Faithful Servant Serves Commendably  - The first unnamed brother had praise "in the gospel t...

Pastor Gary Walton, serving with Harvest Ministries on Guam, asks the fundamental question "What is it that you really want?" and warns about covetousness as potentially the number one danger for young adults in the next ten years. Scripture Text Luke 12:15; Exodus 20:17 Main Points or Ideas Covetousness Affects My Focus  - Covetousness sets our hearts on things of earth rather than thin...

Pastor David Strope emphasizes that when God says something is "good," it's really good, and focuses on the understated truth from Hebrews 13:9 that "it is good for the heart to be established by grace." Scripture Text Hebrews 13:7-11 Main Points or Ideas See the Excellence of Christ  - The book of Hebrews presents Christ as infinitely superior to any human priest. He is th...

Greg Baker from the Church Ambassador Network challenges students to view government through a biblical lens rather than an American perspective, emphasizing that Christians are citizens of heaven, loyal to a different king and kingdom. Scripture Text Romans 13:1-4 Main Points or Ideas Government is an Institution of God  - Government comes up 2,000 times in the Bible. God only made three institut...

Carl Kerby explores what he considers the best evidence for God's creation, examining amazing creatures and their design features while building toward his ultimate answer that God's Word itself is the strongest evidence. Scripture Texts Psalm 19:1; Genesis 1:1 Main Points or Ideas Amazing Creatures Display Design  - Kerby showcases several incredible animals including the Moloch Horridus...

Using his background as an air traffic controller, Carl Kerby explains how "bottom strip" was a term used when controllers were overwhelmed - they needed to get back to the most critical aircraft first. He applies this concept to show how Genesis serves as Christianity's foundation when everything gets crazy in our culture. Scripture Text Genesis 1:1; Ephesians 4:14; 2 Timothy 3:16 M...

Dr. Dennis Wilkening shares a personal story about being cut from his junior high basketball team while his twin brother made it, using this experience to illustrate the incredible privilege and impact of being chosen by God for ministry. Scripture Text 1 Timothy 1:12 Main Points or Ideas The Excitement of Being Chosen  - Just as making a sports team brings excitement, privileges, and recognition,...

Dr. Paul Hartog examines 1 Peter 3:15 in its broader context to show that Christian apologetics involves more than just intellectual arguments - it requires spiritual weapons of harmony, disciplined speech, and faithful suffering that demonstrate the reality of our faith. Scripture Text 1 Peter 3:8-17 Main Points or Ideas Harmony and Community  - The first spiritual weapon is unity within the chur...

Pastor Kurt Skelly teaches from the unusual battle in 2 Chronicles 20 where musicians led the way and God fought for His people, showing that the real battle was won before the actual fighting began through proper spiritual preparation. Scripture Text 2 Chronicles 20:1-13 Main Points or Ideas Stop  - When Jehoshaphat faced a coalition of three armies, he first stopped and called for a fast through...

Pastor Kurt Skelly explores how the well-intentioned practice of excellent customer service in churches can inadvertently create a consumer mentality that undermines genuine discipleship and spiritual growth. Scripture Text Romans 12:13 Main Points or Ideas Good Customer Service Creates Loyal Customers  - While excellent service is valuable in business and initially helpful in churches, it can cre...

Drawing from his experience in a town of 2,000 people in Michigan's Upper Peninsula where he has developed numerous community outreach strategies, Pastor Jason LaFlamme shares practical ideas for small-town pastors to connect with their communities. Scripture Texts 1 Timothy 3:7; 1 Corinthians 3:6; Ecclesiastes 3:1 Main Points or Ideas Community Presence Matters  - Pastors should be well thoug...

Dr. Paul Hartog examines how early Christians responded to the common practices of abortion, infanticide, and infant exposure in the Roman world, showing the consistent and pronounced opposition of the early church to these practices. Sources Various early Christian documents including the Didache and writings of Church Fathers Main Points or Ideas Abortion Was Common in Ancient Rome  - The Roman...

Gracia Burnham reflects on Jesus' promise that "in this world you will have tribulation," sharing insights from her captivity experience and the reality that following Christ often involves suffering that we would never choose. Scripture Text John 16:33; 1 Corinthians 1:8-9; Hebrews 13:3 Main Points or Ideas Suffering Is Guaranteed for Christians  - Jesus promised tribulation in this...

As a pastor for many years, Dr. Dean Taylor explores how hobbies can contribute to pastoral health and longevity, drawing from historical examples of clergy who were pioneers in beekeeping and examining both the benefits and cautions regarding hobbies in ministry. Scripture Text 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Timothy 6:17 Main Points or Ideas Biblical Foundation for Hobbies  - While...

Gracia Burnham shares personal experiences from her 376-day captivity with her husband Martin by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in the Philippines. Through show-and-tell with clothes worn in the jungle, she relates their harrowing experience and the lessons God taught her during this trial. Scripture Texts Various passages Main Points or Ideas Show and Tell with Jungle Clothing  - Gracia displays...

Dr. Dean Taylor addresses the critical need for friendship and support in ministry, drawing from military concepts of "battle buddies" and the reality that pastors often face isolation and burnout when they try to soldier on alone. Scripture Texts Acts 16:1-10; Acts 21:1-18; Acts 22:22; Acts 23:10; Acts 24:23; Acts 27:1-44; Colossians 4:14; Philemon 23-24; 2 Timothy 4:10-11, 16-17 Main P...

Dr. Marty Herron addresses the common ministry experience of becoming discouraged and impatient during difficult seasons, using personal illustrations and the biblical account of Israel in Numbers 21 to show how God's people can overcome the enemy of impatience. Scripture Text 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Numbers 21:4-9 Main Points or Ideas The Entrance of Discouragement  - Discouragement often come...

Pastor Josh Crockett addresses the need for Christians, especially those in ministry, to be spiritually alert in light of Christ's imminent return, warning against the spiritual fog of worldliness and calling believers to put on the armor of light. Scripture Text Romans 13:11-14 Main Points or Ideas Awake Out of Spiritual Sleep  - Because salvation is nearer now than when we first believed, Ch...

Faith Taylor talks to women about the inevitable reality of conflict and criticism in ministry, helping them understand how to respond in a way that glorifies God and maintains unity in the body of Christ. Scripture Text Philippians 4:1-3; Philippians 1:27-28; Philippians 2:1-4 Main Points or Ideas Expect Conflict  - Even godly women like Euodia and Syntyche, who labored in the gospel, experienced...

Dr. Marty Herron presents a practical discipleship tool based on 1 Timothy 6, providing seven specific targets to help new believers become men and women of God rather than leaving discipleship to vague generalities. Scripture Text 1 Timothy 6:11-12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Main Points or Ideas Seven Discipleship Targets  - 1) Dependence on God (unreserved lifetime commitment), 2) Devotion to Others (un...

Three experienced pastors (Dr. Dennis Wilkening, Dr. Dean Taylor, and Dr. Jim Tillotson) share their experiences in church planting, church growth, and developing missional strategies. Scripture Text Various passages referenced throughout the discussion Main Points or Ideas Administrative Framework for Growth  - Developing ministry director positions and pastoral roles using Exodus 18 as a model,...

Mike Hartwig contrasts two pastors' stories - one who died at 37 with no insurance leaving his family in crisis, and another who retired at 62 with over $1 million in assets due to proper planning, showing there's a right way and wrong way to prepare financially for ministry. Scripture Text Proverbs 27:23; Proverbs 22:7; Numbers 8:25 Main Points or Ideas Know the State of Your Flocks  - Pa...

In this ladies-only session, Gracia Burnham reflects on finding songs of praise and joy even in the darkest circumstances of captivity, drawing parallels between her experience and the Jews in Babylon who struggled to sing joyful songs in a foreign land. Scripture Text Psalm 137; Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 12:1-2 Main Points or Ideas When We're at the Bottom, We Look Up  - Like the Jews by the r...