Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

Dr. Dean Taylor spoke to the students about having a complete view of who Jesus is. He examines the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24. He dissects the disciples’ limited view of the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection and their reluctance to claim these truths. Dr. Taylor then shows how Jesus graciously shows the disciples the truth in the same way the Lord works with peop...

Dr. Will Senn charges the students to consider the commands of Ephesians 5:18. He addresses the question of the Christian and alcohol by presenting three positions: the immoral excess of "Bacchus," the moderate drinking of "Calvin Cool," and the abstaining conviction of "Lemonade Lucy" — a nickname coined for First Lady Lucy Hayes, who refused to serve alcohol in the...

Mark Davis challenges the students to consider what they are devoted to or most excited about. He examines the early church right after Pentecost and what they devoted themselves to in light of the good news of Jesus Christ. Mark also gives a firm exhortation to stay persistent in the truth instead of feelings, to be in firm fellowship with other believers, to eat together and invest in one anothe...

Dr. Marty Herron opened the spring semester with a message about Christian maturity and spiritual growth. He works through the blessings the believer has through God and how maturity happens. Dr. Herron stressed the importance of not misunderstanding the process of sanctification, which is spiritual growth and maturity in Christ. He worked through Romans 5 and how tribulation works patience, which...

Dr. Herron looks at Luke 19 and the familiar story of Zacchaeus the tax collector. He shares Jesus’ compassion and drawing near to the man. Scripture Text Luke 19:1-9 Main Points or Ideas Three Snapshots of the Story 1. The City — A Place of Luxury Jericho was nicknamed "Little Paradise" in the first century and "the City of Palms" Wealthy people built vacation homes there; pol...

Dr. Les Ollila reflects on the increasing cultural hostility toward Christ and Christmas, connecting it to the age-old enmity described in Genesis 3:15. He organizes his Christmas message around three sets of threes drawn from Matthew 2 and Luke 2. Scripture Texts Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 2:8-14 Main Points or Ideas 1. Three Groups at the First Christmas The politicians abhorred him — Herod was threat...

Dr. Ollila spoke about dreams and how the Christian can live and fulfill his/her dream. He looks at the life of Joseph and how he had conviction before he faced crises and did not conform to sin. Scripture Texts Genesis 37:1-11; Genesis 39 Main Points or Ideas How Does a Dream Become a Reality? 1. Have Conviction Before You Face a Crisis (Genesis 37:1-11) Know what you believe and why you believe...

Richard Stratton speaks to the students about how God’s grace is so expansive and sufficient in both the highs and the lows. He points out that nothing can keep one from God’s grace but oneself. God’s grace saves and sanctifies, and grace can be obtained through going to God boldly and through humbly going to Him. Scripture Text Titus 2:11-12 Main Points or Ideas Definition and Power of Grace Grac...

Dr. Jim Tillotson preaches from Titus 3 as Paul instructs Titus to remind believers in Crete—a culture that hated authority and practiced verbal slander as a fine art—how Christians are to conduct themselves as salt and light in the world. Scripture Text Titus 3:1-3 Main Points or Ideas What Christians Are to Be (verses 1-2) Be subject to rulers and authorities — God appoints all governing authori...

Dr. Dan Brown speaks to the students about how fear causes us to miss out on ministry. He tells the story of the 100 prophets of God that lived in fear and Elijah’s courage to stand up against 450 prophets of Baal. Dr. Dan shows how fear can make someone miss out on many opportunities to see how God works. Elijah worked in defiance against the prophets of Baal, but 100 prophets who were hiding in...

Dr. Mark Lounsbrough spoke in chapel about worry and rest. He looks at how worry robs the believer of rest and encourages the students to cry out to God because He hears. He also urges the students to approach the throne of God with grace boldly. God's help is available in times of trouble. Scripture Texts Philippians 4:6-7; Hebrews 4:8-16 Main Points or Ideas Philippians 4:6-7 - Praying with...

Tom Hlad encourages the students that no matter what their degree is, they are still servants of God. He looks at 1 Timothy 4 and lists three “tools” for the students to be equipped with. They need spiritual health, to set an example, and to faithfully endure. Scripture Text 1 Timothy 4:6-16 Main Points or Ideas Spiritual Health (verses 6-10) As an athlete needs physical health to compete, believe...

Brian Baker speaks about the grace of God and its power in the life of the believer. He looks at the end of Titus 2 and how the grace of God saves, trains, and motivates believers. He encourages the students to fill their minds with God’s Word and see their value in God’s grace. Scripture Text Titus 2:11-14 Main Points or Ideas 1. The Grace of God Saves Us Salvation is available to everyone throug...

David Shedd walks the students through the story of Elijah the Prophet and his conversation on the mountain with God, seeing that He was not finished with him yet. He examines the scope of God’s infinite love, that what God has in store through trials are unexpected blessings, and that there should be no presumptions to try and know God’s reasons for these trials. Scripture Text 1 Kings 18-19 Main...

Dr. Jim Tillotson states that humans can live only one second without hope. He shows that Satan wants to crush hope but encourages students that hope is tied to God Himself. Dr. Jim also encourages the students to put their hope in God even when life is at its worst. Scripture Texts Titus 2:11-15; Romans 15:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 1 Timothy 1:1; Romans 6:17-22; Revelation 1:13-17 Main Points or...

Adam Beecher, pastor of New City Church in Ankeny, speaks to the students about Cain and Abel. He looks at the story of Scripture from the very beginning and gives context to how God first gives whispers of the gospel. He looks at the root of anger and the type of love Cain and Abel had for God. Scripture Texts Genesis 4:1-16; Hebrews 11:4; Hebrews 12:24; Matthew 5:21-22 Main Points or Ideas The E...

Dr. Brent Belford speaks from 1 Corinthians 1 on how God uses weak people for His gospel and His glory. He looks at what God does with weak people and why God does it the way He does. He encourages the students to consider their calling and gives examples from Scripture of weak and unlikely people that God used for His gospel. Scripture Texts 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; 1 Corinthians 2:1-4; 1 Samuel 16...

Chaplain George Youstra walks through the example of Abraham and Isaac and God’s provision of the ram. Youstra gives examples from his own life of how God provided for him and how God also used him to be the “ram in the thicket” for others. He asks the students if they are willing to meet the needs of others and share the gospel with them. Scripture Texts Genesis 22:1-13; Romans 12:1 Main Points o...

Dr. Steve Petit shares how shame works and how it can be overcome. He states the reality that shame is stubborn, going back to the Fall of Man in Genesis 3, where it exposed sin and doubt of God’s character. Petit then shares that shame is despised. He shares that it is a painful experience, and that even Jesus despised it, as Hebrews 12 describes. Scripture Texts Genesis 2:25; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Joh...

Dr. Jason Ormiston shares from Acts 19 how the gospel created new beginnings in the city of Ephesus. He encourages the students to know and share in God’s Work. He shares that God desires them to know His Word, engage in what they have been called to, understand the role of the Holy Spirit, and to understand the unity of the church. Scripture Text Acts 19:1-7 Main Points or Ideas Understand Script...

Dr. David Anderson, president of Maranatha Baptist University, spoke on loving your neighbor with a Christlike love. He retells the story of the Good Samaritan, stating this as Jesus’ opportunity to reach the young lawyer with God’s Word, sharing the application of the greatest commandments being to love God and love people. Dr. Anderson shows that the young lawyer understood Jesus and equated lov...

Dr. Paul Hartog encourages the students to be unified as believers to Christ. He states that all enmity is abolished, a new body is formed through grace, and that as the church, there is equal access to God. Scripture Text Ephesians 2:13-18 Main Points or Ideas Through Christ, an Old Enmity Is Abolished - "But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood...

J.D. Enosh addresses the security believers have in an uncertain world as the people of God who are always under the protection of the Most High. The shadow of God is not an occasional place but a constant, abiding place—it is to dwellers, not visitors, that the Lord promises protection. Scripture Texts Psalm 91:1-8; Isaiah 32:2; Song of Solomon 2:3; Psalm 63:7; Isaiah 49:2; Isaiah 51:16; Psalm 91...

Pastor Tim Capon spoke about sharing the gospel with others. Using the example of Philip in Acts 8, he encouraged the students to go where God sends them, to get involved in the lives of people, to guide people through the Scriptures, and to give them the gospel. Scripture Text Acts 8:25-39 Main Points or Ideas Go Where God Sends You - An angel directed Philip to go toward the south to the road fr...

Jim Schneider walks through different ways we can live godly in an ungodly world. He uses the example of the life of Daniel to teach the students different qualities of godliness that stand out against the ungodly world. Scripture Text Daniel 1:8; Daniel 6:1-23 Main Points or Ideas Purity of Heart Toward God - Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's meat o...