FBCWest

What decision will you make before the pressure comes? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego face a life-or-death test. King Nebuchadnezzar commands everyone to bow before his golden image, but these three men had already made their commitment: they would worship God alone. When given one final chance to compromise, they refuse. They declare that God is able to deliver them. But even if He does not, the...

Love is not merely a feeling, preference, or sentimental idea. Biblical love is an action rooted in the love God has already shown us. Scripture calls believers to love in several distinct ways: to love the Lord completely, to love our neighbor as ourselves, to love our enemies, to love one another as Christ loved us, and for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Love is patient...

Biblical faith is not assumption, wishful thinking, or simply believing hard enough for something we want. True faith is believing what God has said and trusting that He will do what He has promised. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Abraham becomes a key example: he obeyed when God called him, journeyed...

Forgiveness is one of the hardest things God calls us to do. Many people say unforgiveness harms us emotionally or physically, but Scripture shows that refusing to forgive carries an even deeper spiritual consequence. Jesus commands us to forgive others as God has forgiven us in Christ, not merely once, not only when it feels easy, and not only after someone asks. Through the parable of the unforg...

Many Christians know they should read the Bible and should study the Word of God. Scriptures are not merely helpful literature or religious advice. Scriptures are God-breathed, profitable for teaching, correction, reproof, and training in righteousness. The Bible reveals who God is, teaches us how to live, corrects us when we wander, strengthens us in righteousness, gives encouragement and hope, a...

What is the difference between happiness and joy? There is Christian call to rejoice always. Happiness often depends on circumstances, but biblical joy is rooted in the Lord, His salvation, His Word, and the hope we have in Him. Joy is not meant to stay hidden. Rejoicing means expressing the joy God has placed within us. Believers are to rejoice even though one's own life included suffering, perse...

The Tongue by First Baptist Church of Westminster, California

Has anyone ever failed to keep a promise they made to you? Have you ever failed to keep a promise yourself? In this message, we look at the promises of God and why His Word can be trusted. Unlike people, God does not make promises He cannot keep. He is faithful, and because He is faithful, believers can hold fast to hope without wavering. This sermon walks through several promises God has given to...

Anxiety is one of the most common struggles people face, but God gives us a better answer than simply masking it or coping with it. Peace is not the temporary peace the world offers, but the peace Jesus gives. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.” His peace is not based on perfect circumstances, personal control, or the absence of trouble. It is rooted in who He is and what...

What does it mean to be called by God? Many Christians assume that God’s calling is limited to pastors, missionaries, or those in formal ministry. But Scripture shows that every believer has been called by God for His purpose. Paul explains that God does not call people because they are wise, powerful, noble, or impressive by worldly standards. Instead, God chooses ordinary people so that His powe...

Where do we look for love? What happens when we look in the wrong places? In this message, Pastor Joe teaches from Scripture about the permanent, initiating, and unshakable love of God. The Bible tells us that God does not wait for us to love Him first. He loved us while we were still sinners, sent His Son as the payment for our sins, made us alive in Christ, and calls us His children. This sermon...

What does it really mean to be blessed? In this message, we’re challenged to move beyond thinking of blessings as temporary or material and instead see the deeper, lasting spiritual blessings God has given us. Drawing from Ephesians 1, we discover that believers are not just lucky or fortunate—we are chosen, redeemed, forgiven, and sealed by God, with an eternal inheritance that cannot be taken aw...

Balaam could not curse the people of God, but he still found a way to profit. In this message, the story moves from Numbers 25 back to Numbers 31 to reveal the tragic truth: Israel’s fall into idolatry and sexual immorality did not happen by accident. It came through Balaam’s counsel and evil advice designed to bring God’s people into sin when open opposition had failed. What Balaam could not acco...

Sermon Notes Matthew 27:62 - 66 Because they were afraid that the disciples might steal Jesus’ body make the grave secure by posting guards Matthew 28:1 - 7 Jesus is resurrected the women discover the empty tomb are told that Jesus was not there and tell the disciple Matthew 28:8 - 10 Jesus meets with His disciples Matthew 28:11 - 15 Guards tell the officials about the resurrection, but they bribe...

A man hired to discern and influence the future cannot even see what is directly in front of him. Instead, his donkey sees what he cannot, and in doing so, saves his life. As Balaam travels with the leaders of Moab, motivated by the promise of money and honor, God stands against him. An angel blocks the path, but Balaam is spiritually blind. Three times the donkey turns aside, protecting him, and...

As Balak, king of Moab, becomes terrified of Israel, he sends messengers to hire Balaam to curse God’s people. Balaam at first refuses because God tells him not to go and not to curse Israel. But when a more distinguished delegation arrives with the promise of greater honor and greater payment, Balaam asks again and reveals the deeper problem: a heart tempted by profit more than obedience. This se...

The life-and-death crisis Israel faced in the wilderness. After speaking against God and Moses, the people were bitten by fiery serpents and many died. When they finally confessed their sin, Moses interceded for them, and God gave an unexpected remedy. Sermon Notes Numbers 21:4 & 5 Because the people had to travel around Edom, they spoke against Moses Numbers 21:6 God sends fiery serpents to bit a...

God’s people face another crisis: no water, renewed complaints, and rising pressure on Moses. After Miriam dies, the congregation contends with Moses and Aaron, blaming them and accusing them of bringing the people into a “wretched place.” Instead of solving anything, their complaining produces nothing. Moses and Aaron do what God’s people should have done from the beginning: they fall before the...

Miracles did not stop Israel’s unbelief or grumbling. To demonstrate His sovereignty, God gave His people a clear sign, confirming His chosen priesthood and silencing their rebellion. On our own, we are prone to spiritual rebellion as well. But God sent Jesus so the Law could be fulfilled, and through Him we can live in alignment with God. Sermon Notes Numbers 17:1 – 4 Collecting 12 rods with name...

Very few people are willing to stand in the gap, and even fewer are willing to do so for people who complain about them, blame them, or even hate them. Aaron step into that very place. After rebellion and judgment, the people continue to grumble against Moses and Aaron. God’s wrath begins, and a plague spreads through the camp. At Moses’ instruction, Aaron takes his censer, runs into the midst of...

A direct rebellion against God’s appointed leadership, and a judgment so dramatic it leaves no doubt who the Lord has chosen. Korah, along with 250 leaders of renown, rises up against Moses and Aaron, claiming that “all the congregation is holy” and accusing Moses of exalting himself. The issue isn’t Moses’ ego. It’s the people’s refusal to accept God’s authority and God’s choices. Sermon Notes Nu...

Israel makes the same mistake twice. First, they say, “we can’t,” then they say, “we can,” and they are wrong both times. Because the deciding factor was never their ability but weather God was with them. After God’s judgment that the older generation would die in the wilderness, the people mourn and then attempt to take the Promised Land anyway. Moses gives them a clear warning that they will not...

When things don’t go according to our plans, we often ask God to fix the situation. But then try to tell Him how to do it. We see why that approach can be spiritually dangerous and why Scripture warns us to be careful what we ask for. Sermon Notes Numbers 14:1 – 4 The people say it would have been better if they had died in Egypt or the wilderness. They appoint another leader Numbers 14:5 – 10 Mos...

At the moment Israel stood on the edge of the Promised Land, and faced a decision shaped by two conflicting reports. After God delivered them from Egypt, provided for them in the wilderness, and brought them to Canaan’s border, the Lord told Moses to send spies into the land. The spies returned after 40 days confirming exactly what God had promised: the land truly was “flowing with milk and honey....

Most of us struggle with one of two extremes: thinking too highly of ourselves or too lowly of ourselves. Scripture calls us to something better: an accurate, God-centered understanding of who we are. In Numbers 12, God teaches a painful but necessary lesson in humility when Miriam and Aaron criticize Moses. God confronts their arrogance directly, defends His servant, and Miriam is struck with lep...