First Baptist Church Thomson, GA

C.S. Lewis famously said that every person must decide if Jesus was a liar, a lunatic, or the Son of God. In a similar way, either Jesus' first century followers were lying, hallucinating, or telling the truth about a Risen Jesus. In this sermon we focus in on the claims of some people that the disciples lied about Jesus' resurrection. If they did, they broke every rule for telling a convincing li...

C.S. Lewis famously said that every person must decide if Jesus was a liar, a lunatic, or the Son of God. In a similar way, either Jesus' first century followers were lying, hallucinating, or telling the truth about a Risen Jesus. In this sermon we focus in on the claims of some people that the disciples lied about Jesus' resurrection. If they did, they broke every rule for telling a convincing li...

The Cross was not the end of Jesus's story. The Tomb wasn’t the end of the story. But neither is the Resurrection—Instead, it’s a new beginning to a new story that never ends! Just as Easter allows us to look back at Crucifixion Friday and call it Good, so the reality of Christ’s Resurrection reframes all our lives going forward. We must see all suffering, grief, and fear in light of the Empty Tom...

The Cross was not the end of Jesus's story. The Tomb wasn’t the end of the story. But neither is the Resurrection—Instead, it’s a new beginning to a new story that never ends! Just as Easter allows us to look back at Crucifixion Friday and call it Good, so the reality of Christ’s Resurrection reframes all our lives going forward. We must see all suffering, grief, and fear in light of the Empty Tom...

In this message, I finish this sermon series with a focus on the last two words from Jesus before He died on the Cross. Together these two words are spoken at the finish, as Jesus completes the race He came to run, finishes the work He came to accomplish, reveal two truths about Jesus's saving work, it's finality, its completion, and the promise of future rest for all who believe in Him.

In this message, I finish this sermon series with a focus on the last two words from Jesus before He died on the Cross. Together these two words are spoken at the finish, as Jesus completes the race He came to run, finishes the work He came to accomplish, reveal two truths about Jesus's saving work, it's finality, its completion, and the promise of future rest for all who believe in Him.

In his first three sayings from the cross, Jesus focused on those around Him—forgiveness for those putting Him to death, a promise of eternal life to the thief at His side, and provision for His mother. The next two sayings continue to reveal Jesus’s human and divine nature, of the eternal weight of our sin, the incomprehensible grace of our God, and how Christ meets our great physical and spiritu...

In his first three sayings from the cross, Jesus focused on those around Him—forgiveness for those putting Him to death, a promise of eternal life to the thief at His side, and provision for His mother. The next two sayings continue to reveal Jesus’s human and divine nature, of the eternal weight of our sin, the incomprehensible grace of our God, and how Christ meets our great physical and spiritu...

The seven words, or statements, Jesus made from the cross bear special significance because they are the words spoken from this place of death, spoken at the conclusion of His earthly ministry, spoken by a man who was about to die. They can be summed up in two categories: the first three Jesus spoke for others, while the last four concerned Himself. In this message, we focus on the three statement...

The seven words, or statements, Jesus made from the cross bear special significance because they are the words spoken from this place of death, spoken at the conclusion of His earthly ministry, spoken by a man who was about to die. They can be summed up in two categories: the first three Jesus spoke for others, while the last four concerned Himself. In this message, we focus on the three statement...

The final two commands in Ephesians 6:10-20 are to Pray and Be Alert. These are indispensable parts of God's battle plan for the believer. John Bunyan called it the Weapon of "All-Prayer," and it is how we take up and put on the Full Armor of God. Paul gives us six qualities of prayer that are necessary to stand firm against Satan.

The final two commands in Ephesians 6:10-20 are to Pray and Be Alert. These are indispensable parts of God's battle plan for the believer. John Bunyan called it the Weapon of "All-Prayer," and it is how we take up and put on the Full Armor of God. Paul gives us six qualities of prayer that are necessary to stand firm against Satan.

In this sermon series, we've learned that there is a spiritual battle happening all around us, and even within us. We must know our enemy and identify his strategies. So far, our strategy has to been to stand firm and resist Satan's schemes. To that end, God has gifted us with spiritual armor, which we are responsible to take up and put on. Up to this point all the parts of God’s Armor have been d...

In this sermon series, we've learned that there is a spiritual battle happening all around us, and even within us. We must know our enemy and identify his strategies. So far, our strategy has to been to stand firm and resist Satan's schemes. To that end, God has gifted us with spiritual armor, which we are responsible to take up and put on. Up to this point all the parts of God’s Armor have been d...

In this sermon, we discover Satan's three-fold strategy to steal, kill, and destroy. We identify the flaming arrows he shoots to attempt to steal God's Word from our hearts, kill the fruit and work of God in our lives, and destroy our witness. And we see how the shield of faith protects us from each of these attacks.

In this sermon, we discover Satan's three-fold strategy to steal, kill, and destroy. We identify the flaming arrows he shoots to attempt to steal God's Word from our hearts, kill the fruit and work of God in our lives, and destroy our witness. And we see how the shield of faith protects us from each of these attacks.

The Helmet of Salvation protects us in similar ways as the Belt of Truth and the Breastplate of Righteousness. We need to protect our mind from Satan’s deceiving lies and false teachings—it is after all a helmet meant to protect the head. But it specifically deals with our salvation, which like the Breastplate of Righteousness, assures us against Satan’s accusations meant to discourage us and caus...

The Helmet of Salvation protects us in similar ways as the Belt of Truth and the Breastplate of Righteousness. We need to protect our mind from Satan’s deceiving lies and false teachings—it is after all a helmet meant to protect the head. But it specifically deals with our salvation, which like the Breastplate of Righteousness, assures us against Satan’s accusations meant to discourage us and caus...

Shoes go with readiness, and for soldiers they are vital parts of their armor, enabling them to stand their ground in combat and move forward their objectives on the battle field. As Christians, God has given us Gospel shoes--to make us ready to stand and to go, to make our feet beautiful as we share the Good News of God's peace.

Shoes go with readiness, and for soldiers they are vital parts of their armor, enabling them to stand their ground in combat and move forward their objectives on the battle field. As Christians, God has given us Gospel shoes--to make us ready to stand and to go, to make our feet beautiful as we share the Good News of God's peace.

Continuing to look at the Full Armor of God, given to us so we can withstand Satan's attacks and resist his schemes, we turn from what seems like the least coverage—the belt—to what appears to offer the most coverage, the breastplate. We will discover how the Breastplate of Righteousness can guard our hearts from the accusations of the Devil, who wants Christians to live defeated and discouraged l...

Continuing to look at the Full Armor of God, given to us so we can withstand Satan's attacks and resist his schemes, we turn from what seems like the least coverage—the belt—to what appears to offer the most coverage, the breastplate. We will discover how the Breastplate of Righteousness can guard our hearts from the accusations of the Devil, who wants Christians to live defeated and discouraged l...

The first piece of the Full Armor God that Paul presents is the belt of truth. Belts may not seem like a vital piece of armor, but the belt is what holds the rest of the pieces together. It is what the sword and shield hang on. Truth is what all the parts of our spiritual armor hang on. It is what holds us and our faith together. We need the Belt of Truth to help us stand firm against Satan's sche...

The first piece of the Full Armor God that Paul presents is the belt of truth. Belts may not seem like a vital piece of armor, but the belt is what holds the rest of the pieces together. It is what the sword and shield hang on. Truth is what all the parts of our spiritual armor hang on. It is what holds us and our faith together. We need the Belt of Truth to help us stand firm against Satan's sche...

The United States Army has four pillars for combat-readiness; four things necessary to be fully prepared for war: Manning, Training, Equipping, and Leader Development. In Ephesians 6:10-13, Paul gives Christians our own Four Pillars of Readiness. As we identify these pillars, let us evaluate ourselves—Are we combat-ready for the spiritual battles we face every day?