First Baptist Shreveport

Ronney Joe Webb - A Baby Changes Everything - 1 Corinthians 15 •If it weren’t for a loving God, there would be no baby.  Good loves us so much that God wanted a relationship with us by sending his son to earth.   •If there were no baby, there would be no sinless man. Jesus did what we cannot do - be perfect in every way. •If there were no sinless man, there would be no cross. Jesus’ death is the p...

Come and Worship: The Visit of the Wise Men Weekly Devotional 12.30.2024 “And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11  After Jesus was born, the wise men gave gifts that showed their admiration for Him and aff...

Today is the third Sunday in Advent when we light the candle of love.  What is Christmas if not a story of love reaching across time and space and dimensions - from the heavenly realm to the earthly?  When the Bible wants to describe the divine motivation for all that Jesus has done, it goes to this:  "For God so LOVED the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him will not...

Glory to God in the Highest: The Birth of Jesus Weekly Devotional 12.23.2024 “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:11-12 The Château de Versailles is unlike any other palace and stands in stark contrast to the birthplace of King Jesus. Instead of an el...

Discover Joy - Luke 2:8-14 - Dr. Jeff Raines  We don't have to manufacture joy or hold onto joy but instead discover joy because it's not an emotion we have to figure out how to feel. Our impulse and our world says that joy is found in youth, in money, in getting things, in feeling good.   But joy comes more in the seeking and in the struggle. Joy is what happens when the Holy Spirit int...

My Soul Magnifies the Lord: The Birth of Jesus Foretold Weekly Devotional 12.16.2024 “And Mary said: My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” Luke 1:46-48 Announcements are important because they focus on a single event that will happen in the future and the importance of the event. One of the most significant...

People of Peace - Luke 1:67-79 - Dr. Jeff Raines  How are you doing with peace today? Is peace hard for you to find? Our world is bombarded by elements that are designed to take away our peace - all kinds of barriers for us to REALLY experience Gods peace.  It’s ironic that in this very season of Christmas where we celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace that we often feel WITHOUT peace.  In o...

Looking Back and Looking Forward: Prophecy & Promise Weekly Devotional 12.9.2024 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14  An essential element of many stories in the sci-fi realm is a singular person who is the promised one who will come to care for the marginalized and oppressed people and bri...

December 1, 2024 - Lauren McCoy Isaiah 40 - a word of comfort from God while the Israelites are in exile  “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31  Sometimes we're impatient for the grace of God but God teaches us to wait and to hope.   The Israelites are ask...

The Father Of, the Son Of: Genealogies to Jesus Weekly Devotional 12.2.2024 “This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham….Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.” Matthew 1:1;17 Genealogies are an essential part of our lives. We all have curiosity...

November 24, 2024 - Ryan McCoy Grateful and Faithful [Luke 17:11-19]  Paul, from the confines of unjust imprisonment, gave us instructions to praise and thank God for everything.  It's easy to give thanks when everything is going well.  But the true Christian virtue of gratitude is a lifestyle.  We give thanks in ALL circumstances.  It is the natural expression of a sincere and growing faith....

The Lord Had Given Thanks: Being Thankful This Season Weekly Devotional 11.25.2024 “ Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Our Thanksgiving is closely modeled after Jesus giving thanks. While Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks and spend time with loved ones, Jesus giving thanks is all about fe...

November 17, 2024 - Dr. Jeff Raines  Living According to the Word [Psalm 119:9-16] What are your first memories of the words of Scripture? Has the Word of God become a part of you?  "Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the Lord."   Psalm 119:1  Synonyms for law here are: Torah, statute, decrees, word, commandment, precepts  The blessed life comes from putting...

Which is the Greatest?: Questions Jesus Answered Weekly Devotional 11.18.2024 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 19:16-17  What do you think is an essential quality in a close friend? Think for a moment about this question. The way you just answered this questio...

November 10, 2024 - Dr. Jeff Raines  Active Compassion [Matthew 25:31-46] Do you help vulnerable people?  Does it make it into your calendar or your budget?  Today's step:  Practice Care for the Vulnerable  Do we show compassion and grace like Jesus has shown to us?  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did f...

Who, What, Where, Why?: Questions Jesus Asked Weekly Devotional 11.11.2024 “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” Matthew 16:26 Many of the questions Jesus asks cause his followers and accusers to stop, reflect, and answer honestly what they think and believe about topics ranging from His Lordship and...

November 3, 2024 - Dr. Jeff Raines  Do Not Fear - [Isaiah 41:8-10] Why are you afraid?  Fear is one of the most powerful human motivators.   But we are not meant to live in fear.  It's damaging to our bodies and relationships and distorting to our souls. This week there is a political storm where fear is used as a motivator on all sides.   One of the most repeated commands is scripture is &qu...

In the Beginning was the Word: Jesus at Creation Weekly Devotional 11.4.2024 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:1-3 “The beginning of Hobbits lies far back in the Elder Days that are now lost and forgotten….Yet it is clear that Ho...

October 27, 2024 - Dr Jeff Raines  More! Think about the word "more." What drives us to always want more?  Is "more" bad? What is the "more" in your heart?  What is driving you?  “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 2...

Weekly Devotional 10.28.2024 Divine Mystery: Fully God and Fully Man “A life without passion is not living, it’s merely existing.” This quote has been attributed to Leo Buscaglia, an author and professor who specialized in what it means to be human, who also said, “A life without love, no matter how many other things we have, is an empty, meaningless one.” When these quotes are taken together, Bus...

October 20, 2024 - Dr Jeff Raines  What is our most important job as Christians?  Before Jesus ascended, he left us with these words:  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…” Acts 1:8  We are to add our voice to those witnesses.  We must have an authentic experience with Jesus and live lives of transformation consistent with the gospel. We...

Grace, Love, and Fellowship: Jesus and the Trinity Weekly Devotional 10.21.2024 “ May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14 Correctly understanding the Trinity is critical to understanding who God is and the person and work of Jesus. Before diving in, we must understand that theology for knowledge's...

Hungry and Thirsty, For What? - John 6:25-40 and Matthew 5:6 - Ronney Joey Webb.  When was the last time you were really hungry and thirsty? We go through life hungering and thirsting for food and water, but some of us spiritually malnourished.  What gives us life? Jesus offers the ultimate food - a relationship with God the Father through the sacrifice of his life. He calls himself the bread of l...

Threefold Office: A Greater King Weekly Devotional 10.14.2024  “God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:15-16 Jesus serves as our greater King, the one who is God, was appointed by God, overcame sin, and rules over all cre...

October 6, 2024 * Dr Jeff Raines  "Stop Stealing Stuff"  40 steps closer, today's step:  Don't steal and reject the hold of greed.   “You shall not steal.” Exodus 20:15  "Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of his making."  Proverbs 16:11  When do you find yourself at the mercy of others?  It's common for us to be in a si...