FBC Allen - Sermons

Passage: Mark 1:16-39 Jesus demonstrated unprecedented authority that transformed everything He encountered. When He called ordinary fishermen to follow Him, they immediately left their nets behind. His teaching carried divine weight, unlike the religious leaders who merely quoted others. Demons recognized His power and obeyed His commands without resistance. Sickness fled at His touch, and entire...

Passage: Mark 1:1-15   Mark begins his Gospel by introducing John the Baptist as God's herald, announcing the arrival of Jesus the King. After 400 years of silence, God spoke audibly at Jesus' baptism, declaring Him His beloved Son. Jesus then proclaimed that the kingdom of God had drawn near, calling people to repent and believe. When the King of the universe arrives, everything changes and deman...

Passage: Psalm 37:7,34 & 38:15 Waiting is a universal human experience that becomes especially challenging when we're waiting on God. The Bible teaches that waiting brings strength and requires patience and trust in God's character. We can wait well by letting worship overlap with our waiting, being honest about our emotions, choosing anticipation over dread, staying proactive without getting...

Passage: Luke 2:15-20 The shepherds who witnessed the angelic announcement of Jesus' birth teach us how to respond when God speaks. They acted with urgency, found exactly what God promised, and immediately shared the good news with others. Their amazement at God's love should mirror our own response to the gospel. God's love isn't just a feeling but demonstrated action - He sent His Son to die for...

Passage: Luke 2:12-14 In a world filled with chaos and uncertainty, the birth of Jesus offers us lasting peace that transcends our circumstances. The angels' announcement of peace on earth wasn't what anyone expected, especially given the corrupt and violent world of that time. Yet God's ways are not our ways, and His message was one of grace rather than judgment. We often lack peace because of th...

Passage: Luke 2:11 Jesus' birth was unlike any other in history because God clearly announced who this baby was through angels. Jesus is our Savior who rescued us through His sacrificial death on the cross, taking on our guilt so we could have forgiveness and eternal life. He is the Christ, the long-awaited deliverer who frees us from bondage to sin and calls us to trust Him completely rather than...

Passage: Luke 2:8-10 The Christmas story reveals God's incredible choice to announce Jesus' birth to lowly shepherds rather than kings or rulers. This demonstrates that the gospel is good news for everyone, regardless of social status or past mistakes. The angel's message of great joy wasn't just about a baby being born, but about the source of joy Himself arriving on earth. Jesus offers a unique...

Passage: Acts 16:6-40 Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned for obeying God's call to preach the gospel in Philippi. Instead of complaining, they praised God at midnight in their prison cell. Their worship led to a miraculous earthquake that freed all prisoners and resulted in the jailer's salvation. This story reveals that obedience is the highest form of worship because it expresses submissi...

Passage: Mark 10:17-22 Following Jesus requires complete surrender, as illustrated by the rich young ruler who couldn't let go of his possessions. True discipleship means dying to ourselves and asking three key questions: Who has your heart? What are you willing to pay for Jesus? What keeps you from giving Him your whole heart? First Baptist Allen is experiencing God's movement through expanding m...

Passage: Psalm 107 Psalm 107 calls us to give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and enduring mercy. We have four biblical reasons to praise God: He has redeemed us at the ultimate price, He satisfies our deepest longings, He delivers us from bondage, and He is worthy of our praise. The sacrifice of praise means thanking God in difficult circumstances, not necessarily for them. When life brings s...

Passage: 2 Chronicles 20 When facing impossible battles, King Jehoshaphat chose to seek the Lord first rather than relying on military might. He proclaimed a fast and reminded the people of God's past faithfulness. God promised to fight the battle for them, instructing them to position themselves and watch His salvation. In an unprecedented move, Jehoshaphat sent singers ahead of the army, praisin...

Passage: James 5:13-20 James concludes his epistle by emphasizing prayer as the essential response to every life circumstance. Whether facing suffering, experiencing joy, or dealing with sickness, prayer should be our first response, not our last resort. Effective prayer requires humility, righteousness, and surrender to God's will. James uses Elijah as an example of how God works through the fait...

Passage: James 5:1-12 The imminent return of Jesus Christ should fundamentally transform how we live today. James 5:1-12 reveals three key ways this reality should impact our daily lives. First, we must do the good that is in our power to do without delay, acting with holy urgency rather than putting off acts of service and kindness. Second, we should take heart and find strength in God's faithful...

Passage: James 4:11-17 Discover how your faith in God directly impacts the way you speak about others and plan for your future. This powerful message explores James 4:11-16 and reveals the connection between trusting God and controlling our speech patterns. Learn the difference between biblical discernment and sinful judgment, and understand why slanderous speech reveals a lack of trust in God as...

Passage: John 4:1-10 James 4 delivers a powerful message about how conflicts with others often stem from the battles within our own hearts. The passage reveals that our desires for pleasure, pride, and worldly thinking create wars within us that manifest as external conflicts. God offers greater grace to the humble while resisting the proud. Through ten urgent commands, James calls believers to ge...

Passage: James 3:13-18 True wisdom is not just about knowledge, but about applying that knowledge correctly in our lives. James teaches that godly wisdom is demonstrated through good conduct and meekness, contrasting sharply with worldly wisdom which is characterized by envy and self-seeking. While worldly wisdom may seem appealing with its promise of immediate gratification, godly wisdom—pure, pe...

James 3:1-12 reveals that our speech is one of the hardest things to control, yet what comes out of our mouths reveals the true state of our hearts. Using powerful metaphors like a bit in a horse's mouth, a ship's rudder, and a spark starting a forest fire, James illustrates how our small tongues can have enormous impact. While we cannot tame our tongues through our own strength, God can transform...

Passage: James 2:14-26 Faith that doesn’t move into action is no faith at all. In James 2 we see that real belief in Jesus shows up in everyday choices, from kindness at school to courage when it costs. This message invites you to trust Christ fully and live a faith that shines bright in a world desperate for hope.

James 2:1-13 challenges Christians to avoid showing favoritism based on external factors like wealth or appearance. When we make snap judgments about others, we reveal sin in our hearts, deny the mercy God has shown us, and reject the royal law of loving our neighbors as ourselves. God's law, described as 'the law of liberty,' actually brings freedom when we follow His command to love others witho...

True religion, as described by James, is not about outward appearances but about inner transformation through Christ. It involves being swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Believers must actively lay aside sin, deeply receive God's Word, and be doers rather than just hearers. Pure religion manifests in caring for the vulnerable, like orphans and widows, while maintaining personal holi...

James 1:12-18 provides powerful insights on overcoming temptation. Temptation doesn't come from God but from our own desires, and when these desires conceive, they give birth to sin, which ultimately leads to death. God provides three keys to victory: remembering His goodness through gratitude, avoiding self-deception through humility, and maintaining focus on Christ. Like Jesus in Gethsemane who...

The Gospel of Jesus Christ acts as God's level, reducing everyone to the same frame of reference regardless of social status. It elevates the lowly, as seen in biblical figures like Abraham, David, and Rahab, while humbling the proud by putting wealth and status in proper perspective. This great equalizer teaches that everything good comes from God, our worth comes from Christ rather than circumst...

James, the half-brother of Jesus who once mocked Him but later became a church leader, wrote to persecuted Jewish Christians about finding joy in trials. He teaches that trials test our faith and produce patience, leading to spiritual maturity. When facing difficulties, we should look to God's work in us rather than letting circumstances define us. James encourages believers to ask God for wisdom...

Legacy 2030 is First Baptist Church Allen's vision, focused on building upon strengths and passing values to the next generation. The plan centers on three key areas: Missions (expanding local and international outreach), Media (updating the 25-year-old worship center technology), and Ministries (particularly strengthening young adult programs). This vision is supported by a new weekly prayer gath...

God reigns sovereign over all creation, including our past, present, and future. The genealogies in Genesis 10-11 reveal God's hand working through human history, connecting Noah to Abraham and foreshadowing future events. The Tower of Babel story demonstrates how human pride often emerges from God's blessings, yet God's will ultimately prevails. Understanding God's sovereignty transforms our pers...