First Baptist Church Longview

Why do we keep God at a comfortable distance even when He has moved heaven and earth to be near us? Walking through the story of Exodus, Pastor Collin traces God's determination to be with His people — from the Passover to the tabernacle. Each step points forward to Jesus, the true Lamb who opens the way into God’s presence. The invitation is clear: stop standing far away and come close.

What do you do when your life feels like one failure after another — and you wonder if God has finally given up on you? Tracing the book of Genesis, Pastor Collin highlights a repeated pattern of human failure met by God’s unwavering faithfulness. From Adam to Joseph, God consistently brings beauty out of brokenness. Because of Christ, your failures will never outlast His faithfulness.

What does it really mean to live a good and successful life—and what if our definition is completely off? In 2 Corinthians 11:16–30, Pastor Ty Gist reflects on Paul's life and demonstrates how true success is shaped by sacrifice, weakness, and service rather than achievement. A life aligned with Christ often looks very different from what the world celebrates. Redirect your ambition toward faithfu...

Have you ever settled for a Savior while quietly keeping the crown for yourself? Following the thread of prophecy from Genesis through Daniel and culminating in Acts 2:36, Pastor Collin shows that Jesus is both Messiah and Lord. Accepting His salvation inevitably means submitting to His authority. Bow before Him in every area of life, trusting that His rule brings life, not restriction.

What if the title Jesus used most for Himself is one we rarely reflect on? Tracing the phrase “Son of Man” from Daniel’s vision to Jesus’ own words before the high priest, Pastor Collin reveals a figure who holds divine authority yet embodies humble service. The One who could claim ultimate power chose instead to give His life as a ransom. Wherever you carry influence, use it not for yourself but...

What would it look like to finally see a Savior who is both everything you need and everything you've ever longed for? In Revelation 5, Pastor Collin presents Jesus as both the Lion of Judah and the slain Lamb, revealing a glory that is expressed through sacrifice. These images come together to show that His power and His mercy are inseparably joined. Rather than searching for something beyond Chr...

Are you still trying to score points with God, carrying guilt and striving to earn what you could never achieve on your own? In John 19:28–42, Pastor Collin points to Jesus’ final words, “It is finished,” as a declaration that the work of redemption is complete. Connecting the garden of Eden with the garden of the resurrection, Pastor Bullard shows that Jesus did not merely end something; He began...

What if the noise and busyness of life are keeping you from the very thing your soul most desperately needs? Returning again to Elijah in 1 Kings 19, Pastor Collin shows how God met him not in dramatic displays of power, but in a quiet whisper that prepared him for what came next. Intimacy with God cannot be borrowed; it must be cultivated personally through attentive listening and reflection on S...

What happens when you finally stop long enough to face what's actually going on inside you? In Luke 5:16 and the account of Elijah in 1 Kings 19, Pastor Collin shows that silence and solitude open the door to honest encounter with God. Like Elijah, who poured out every part of his heart, real intimacy begins when we stop pretending and come as we truly are. Set aside time this week for uninterrupt...

What if the noise and busyness of your life are actually keeping you from the one thing your soul most needs? Using the image of stirred-up water alongside Elijah’s exhaustion in 1 Kings 19, Pastor Collin begins a series on silence and solitude by revealing how God meets His people in stillness. The gentle whisper that reached Elijah reminds us that God’s deepest invitation is not to more activity...

Do you ever feel surrounded by people yet profoundly alone? Closing the *In His Image* series, Pastor Collin points to the early church in Acts 2, along with Ephesians 4 and Hebrews 10, as a model of genuine, life-giving community. Spiritual growth does not happen in isolation but through shared life and intentional relationships. Step into authentic connection and begin living out the “one anothe...

Are your daily habits actually pulling you away from the very thing your soul longs for most? Looking at Deuteronomy 6:4–9 and 1 Corinthians 9:24–27, Pastor Collin explains how spiritual disciplines function like a trellis, supporting growth in Christ. Transformation does not happen through effort alone, but through intentional rhythms that create space for God to work. Evaluate what your life is...

Have you ever noticed how hard it is to simply be still — and how rarely your mind is fully present? Drawing from Romans 8:6, Colossians 3:2, John 15, and voices like Brother Lawrence, Pastor Collin emphasizes how distraction quietly shapes our lives. What you dwell on directs where you go. Practice returning your attention to God throughout the day and discover a deeper, growing connection with H...

What if the greatest battle you face every day isn't external — but the war for your own mind? Through Genesis 3 and Matthew 4, Pastor Collin shows how deception has always been the enemy’s strategy, and how truth was Jesus’ response. The stories we believe shape who we become. Begin identifying the lies you hear and replace them with truth from Scripture as you follow Christ more closely.

Are you being shaped by intention or by default? Following the biblical idea of “the Way,” from Deuteronomy to Jesus’ declaration in the Gospels, Pastor Collin shows that formation into Christ’s image happens through a lifelong journey. You are already being shaped by something — the question is what. Pastor Bullard invites you to examine your habits, beliefs, and community, and begin intentionall...

What happens when your spiritual growth stalls and God feels distant — and you don't even realize why? Drawing from John 12, Isaiah 57, James 4, and the letter to Laodicea, Pastor Collin reveals repentance as the essential step that leads to real transformation. Like a seed that must die before bearing fruit, growth requires humble surrender again and again. Come honestly before God and let His gr...

What if the most important question in life isn't "What should I do?" but "Who should I be?" Opening the series *In His Image*, Pastor Collin traces humanity’s identity from Genesis 1 to its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. God’s ultimate desire is not behavior management, but transformation into the likeness of His Son. Pastor Bullard leaves listeners with a simple question: how deeply do you truly d...

What would you do if God sent you a letter — would you open it expecting good news or bad? In Luke 2:8–14, Pastor Collin points to the moment when angels announce Jesus’ birth to humble shepherds in the night. God’s arrival is not a threat but an invitation — a Savior for all people, regardless of their past. Salvation is not earned but received, where God receives the glory and we receive His pea...

Have you ever stared at a circumstance you didn't see coming and struggled to find any purpose in it at all? In Luke 2:1–7, Pastor Collin highlights how Caesar’s decree unknowingly fulfilled Micah’s ancient prophecy, placing Jesus exactly where He needed to be. What appears chaotic is still under God’s direction. If you're facing something unexpected this season, remember that His grace and purpos...

Have you ever wondered what angels are really like, beyond the peaceful images we tend to imagine? Walking from Genesis 3 to Luke 1–2, Dr. Kip Salser shows that angels serve as powerful messengers who carry out God’s purposes, especially surrounding the coming of Christ. Every appearance ultimately directs attention not to the messenger but to God’s redemptive plan. Let that shift your focus towar...

What do you do when you've been waiting on God so long that His promises feel like they belong to another era? Opening Luke 1, Pastor Collin points to Zechariah and Elizabeth, whose long silence mirrors the centuries of waiting before the first Christmas. When the story resumes, it reminds us that God’s faithfulness has never stopped unfolding. He has heard your prayers, He always keeps His promis...

What would it look like if you traced every good thing in your life all the way back to its source? In Psalm 136, Pastor Collin highlights the repeated reminder that God’s steadfast love endures forever, connecting every blessing to His covenant faithfulness. From creation to redemption, every gift is an expression of undeserved grace. Let gratitude reshape your perspective this week by recognizin...

What does it mean to truly worship when you're just not feeling it? In Psalm 95, Pastor Collin shows how the call to worship flows not from emotion but from the reality of who God is. Worship engages every part of us, yet it is ultimately grounded in faith that remembers His character and works. Today is the moment of grace — hear His voice, bow in response, and enter into the rest He provides.

Have you ever felt the weight of guilt pulling you away from God rather than toward Him? In Psalm 32, Pastor Collin walks through David’s experience of hiding sin and the freedom that comes through confession. Concealing sin deepens the burden, but bringing it into the light opens the way to grace and restored relationship. If you've been carrying something too long, come honestly before God and r...

Have you ever walked through a season of darkness so heavy that even prayer felt like shielding yourself from blows? In Psalm 88, Pastor Collin explores a rare passage that offers no resolution, giving voice to deep and unresolved grief. Even there, God hears, sees, and remains present in the silence. Because Jesus entered that darkness and overcame it, your pain is never wasted and your faith is...