First Baptist Joplin

John Swadley | John 8:34-36 This week's message reminds us that the freedom Jesus offers is far greater than simply doing whatever we want. Through John 8, we discovered that true freedom is found only in Christ. Because of His sacrifice, we are free from the penalty of sin, being transformed daily from the power of sin, and can look forward to one day being completely free from the presence of si...

John Swadley | Luke 23:39-43 This compelling message confronts one of the most common misconceptions about eternity: that good people go to heaven. Looking to the thief on the cross, we discover that our hope isn't found in our morality, our efforts, or trying to be "good enough." Scripture makes it clear that every one of us falls short, and no amount of good works can earn God's favor. The incre...

Joshua Bloyd | Joshua 24:14-15 This encouraging message challenges men to lead their homes with unwavering conviction because they serve a faithful, covenant-keeping God. Drawing from Joshua 24, we're reminded that godly fathers reject the idols of culture, choose to stand for truth, and lead their families by both word and example. A godly man is called to be a prophet, priest, protector, provide...

John Swadley | Psalm 143:10  This message reminds us that knowing God's will isn't about chasing mysterious signs. It's about faithfully following the God who has already revealed Himself. Through Psalm 143:10, we discover three dimensions of God's will: His providential will that cannot be stopped, His moral will that leads to a better life, and His personal will that He faithfully reveals as we...

John Swadley | Luke 23:13-25 Suffering is one of life's hardest questions, but Scripture reminds us that God has not abandoned us in the middle of our pain. This message explores why suffering exists, pointing us back to humanity's brokenness, God's perfect justice, and the hope of eternity. Even when life feels unfair, God is still at work, using our trials to shape us, strengthen our faith, and...

Ed Barlow | Hosea 2:16-20  This powerful message centers on the Hebrew word 'chesed' - a covenant love that costs everything yet gives freely. Through the dramatic story of Hosea and Gomer, we encounter a stunning portrait of divine love that refuses to let go. We are the unfaithful bride who has wandered away time and again, yet God pursues us with relentless love, paying the ultimate price throu...

John Swadley | Judges 6:1-6 This powerful message takes us into the story of Gideon from Judges chapter 6, revealing how we can find divine help in the midst of life's battles. We discover that Israel endured seven years of oppression by the Midianites—living in caves, losing their crops, and watching their livestock stolen—all because they had turned away from God. When Israel finally cried out f...

John Swadley | Deuteronomy 6:4-9 This powerful message takes us deep into Deuteronomy 6, one of Scripture's most foundational passages on passing faith to the next generation. The message presents a compelling paradox: if we want our children to love God, we must first examine our own hearts. We cannot give what we don't possess. The call to love God with all our heart, soul, and might isn't burde...

John Swadley | Ephesians 6:2 In this Mother’s Day message, Pastor John explores Ephesians 6:2 and what it truly means to “honor your father and mother.” Through heartfelt stories, humor, and biblical truth, he reminds us that honoring moms goes beyond a holiday. It means recognizing the weight they carry, showing genuine appreciation, and living lives that reflect the faith and sacrifice they pour...

John Swadley | John 13:3-5 This encouraging message from John 13:3-5 reminds us that life is shaped by three defining questions: Where did you come from? Where are you going? And what will you do while you’re here? Through the example of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet, we’re challenged to embrace a life of humble service rooted in our identity in Christ. This message calls us to move beyond liv...

John Swadley | Matthew 16:24-26 In a world where we constantly misplace our socks, keys, and countless other items, there's something far more precious that we cannot afford to lose: our souls. This powerful message from Matthew 16 confronts us with Jesus' penetrating question: 'What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?' Like the mother on Northwest Airlines...

John Swadley | Matthew 9:35-38 This powerful message from Matthew 9:35-38 challenges us to move beyond passive belief into active participation in Christ's mission. We're invited to see people not as the world sees them—by their appearance, success, or social standing—but as Jesus sees them: souls in need of a Shepherd. This message calls us from the safety of observation into the transformative e...

John Swadley | Luke 5:4-11  This powerful message takes us deep into the world of first-century discipleship, revealing what it truly means to follow Jesus rather than simply believe in Him. Through the story of Peter's call in Luke 5, we discover that being a disciple is fundamentally different from being a mere believer. We learn three essential lessons: our goal is to become like Jesus, not jus...

John Swadley | 1 Corinthians 15:12-14 This powerful message confronts us with an undeniable truth: our entire Christian faith stands or falls on the historical reality of the resurrection. The message challenges us to recognize that Christianity isn't based on wishful thinking or philosophical ideals, but on eyewitness testimony from people who saw Jesus alive after His crucifixion. The resurrecti...

John Swadley | Revelation 1:18  This powerful message takes us on a journey through three crowns that tell the complete story of our salvation. The crown of thorns represents more than physical suffering; it connects directly back to sin's curse after the fall. The crown of glory reminds us that death could not hold Him - He is the living one who conquered the grave. And finally, the crown of life...

John Swadley | Luke 5:17-20  This powerful message challenges us to reconsider what we truly need versus what we think we need. Through the story of four friends who literally tore a hole in a roof to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus, we discover that our greatest need isn't health, prosperity, companionship, or significance. It's forgiveness. We live in a world where prayer requests focus on...

John Swadley | Luke 6:27-36 This powerful teaching from Luke 6:27-36 challenges us to examine the most radical aspect of Christian love: loving our enemies. We're confronted with Jesus' counter-cultural command to do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who abuse us. We discover that enemies aren't just obvious adversaries; they're anyone who's hard to love—diffi...

John Swadley | Matthew 18:21-22 This powerful exploration of forgiveness challenges us to wrestle with one of Christianity's most difficult commands. The message unpacks what forgiveness truly means, clearing away common misconceptions. We're offered three practical exercises to strengthen our forgiveness muscles: monitoring those imaginary conversations we have with people who hurt us, identifyin...

John Swadley | Luke 5:12-15 This powerful message takes us into the heart of Jesus' ministry through the story of a leper in Luke 5:12-15, revealing what grace truly looks like in action. His story becomes our story when we recognize that we too were once infected with sin, separated from God, and in need of a miraculous touch. The message challenges us to examine our own 'untouchables'—those grou...

John Swadley | John 13:34 At the heart of our faith journey lies a simple yet profound command from Jesus in John 13:34 - to love one another as He has loved us. This message challenges us to examine whether our spiritual maturity is truly growing by asking a penetrating question: Has our capacity to love others actually expanded over the years? This isn't about compromising biblical truth or beco...

John Swadley | 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 This powerful exploration of 1 Corinthians 13 challenges us to move beyond understanding love as merely a feeling and embrace it as a deliberate choice that springs into action. We discover that love is patient and kind, not envious or boastful, not arrogant or rude. The challenge before us is clear: will we let God's supernatural love flow through us to create...

John Swadley | 1st Corinthians 13:1-3 This powerful message confronts us with a challenging truth: we can have all the right words, all the biblical knowledge, powerful faith, generous giving, and even willingness to sacrifice everything—yet if we lack love, it all amounts to nothing. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 13, we're reminded that Christlike love isn't a feeling that comes and goes, but a deli...

John Swadley | Luke 16:11 What if the way we handle our money is actually a spiritual test? This powerful message from Luke 16:11 challenges us to see that God uses our relationship with money as a measure of our spiritual maturity. When we align our financial lives with God's word, we experience not just financial freedom but spiritual breakthrough. The reminder that God is 'Mr. French Fry'—that...

John Swadley | 1 Timothy 6:5-11 We live in a culture that constantly whispers a seductive lie: just one more purchase, one more upgrade, one more happy meal will finally satisfy us. This message explores the profound wisdom found in 1 Timothy 6:6-11, where Paul presents us with two radically different paths for our financial lives. The challenge before us isn't about guilt over having nice things—...