Houston's First Baptist Church

In the midst of the Coronavirus and all that is happening in our city, nation, and world, you are probably experiencing a lot of emptiness: empty shelves, empty stadiums, empty classrooms, and empty churches. As your emptiness is revealed, you can trust in the fullness of Christ. Make Him your refuge, and ask Him to fill you up so that you can help others do the same.

By looking at Philippians 3 through an accounting perspective, Paul shows us not the balance sheet but the imbalance sheet of knowing Jesus. There is nothing we can do to balance the sheet, and our resume will never be good enough. It is Jesus alone that erases our debt. Surrender to Him, and live in His power.

If our pace and our perspective are the foundation of our lives, and if Jesus Christ is our heartbeat, then we are going to be able to make a difference in people’s lives around us. Who’s your one? Continue to pray and share with them, and make it your aim to walk with Jesus in 2020.

Is your legacy limited or launched? Pride can limit your legacy, but faithfulness and a heart that elevates the Lord can launch you. Let’s keep our heart and focus on the Lord, and let’s celebrate all that God is doing in our lives and the lives of others.

We will all face battles this year. Give your battle and your fear to the Lord. Trust in His presence, worship Him, and wait to see His victory. Through it all, God is making you more and more like Him.

We all know the feeling of fear; It’s part of the human experience. Invite God into your fear and allow it to draw you closer. What was once troubling will be transformed into a comforting fear and reverence of Him.

What importance do you place on the word of God in your life? It will shape not only your future but also your present. Let this be the year that you are closer to Jesus than you have ever been, and do this by treasuring His word.

How is your faith? Is it wobbly? Are you daily knowing Him, praying in His power, living in His love, and longing for His return? These four things give you solid a foundation for our final resolution of 2020 — walking in His strength.

We all need meaningful relationships, especially in this time where loneliness is at an all time high. First, begin with Jesus. He is the truest friend you will ever experience. And upon that solid rock of Jesus, be the spouse, be the parent, be the kid that you were called to be.

We began this decade with rest-olutions — a call to rest and sabbath in the Lord. From that place, we move to resolutions. This year, instead of filling our resolutions with to-dos, let’s have our resolutions be more about who we want to be, and let the to-dos naturally flow from that.

What is the state of your heart? Is it hurried or at peace? Make a resolution this year to rest. The sabbath is God’s provision for us, and we need it. Pray for courage to remove what is needed to create margin, and ask for faith to truly rest.

Bartimaeus was a man that suffered so much, but in the moment of crisis, he stood tall, he spoke up, and he ran to Jesus. He didn’t let anything hold him back. May we be the same kind of people who throw off restraints and are willing to intercede fervently for God and His heart for our lives.

Whether the family you will see over Christmas is difficult or easy to be with, arrive filled up and show genuine concern. Let offenses roll off your back, and let your proven character shine.

As you navigate this busy Christmas season, interact with people in such a way that makes a difference in their life. Put grumbling and complaining aside, and let God work in you so that He Shines through you.

Jesus may have come as a baby, but He is so much more. He lived and died a sinless life, so that we can worship Him in our hearts as King. Is He your focus this holiday season? When He is, the tension and stress can give way to His peace.

When you think about your life and the things God has done for you, does your heart respond appropriately to God’s work? Pray God would help you to have a heart with a vertical focus that responds in thanksgiving and praise.

There is so much above us. Yet, in God’s choosing, He made us but a little lower than the heavens. We are made in His image, and we were created with purpose. Let this cause you to look up in awe and live from a place of humble surrender before Him.

There is a reason for the season that you are in. No matter the trials or blessings, trust the Lord and give Him your yes. Make it a point to rest in the Lord and encounter Him in whatever season you’re in.

If we want to leave a legacy, we have to pay attention to how God made us and to God’s will. This life, more than anything, is about being shaped into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of God the Father. That is all that is going to matter when we stand before Him at the end of our life.

If you’re feeling frustrated in midlife, give it to the Lord and experience the freedom of knowing that God has something more for you. There is a reason for the season that you’re in. Lean into trusting the Lord, and lean into the relationships that God has placed in your life.

Parents, as you lead, steward your child’s heart and not just their behavior. Lead them in trust of the Lord and a generous life. And recognize that not every lesson has to come from you; allow life and the Lord to bring instruction and discipline as well.

Parents, your children don’t need perfection, they need your presence. God wants to use you uniquely in their lives through the ups, downs, joys, and struggles. Make your family a priority and your home a place where their hearts are built up. To find the cellphone contract mentioned in the message, click the message notes link in the message details block below or use the the link below the messa...

Married couples, let’s enjoy marriage. Have some fun. Prioritize prayer and encouragement. Walk in the ways of God. Learn to fight fair. When you do these things, you will grow in your relationship, and you will begin to look more like Jesus.

One of God’s last words to the church on marriage involved two commands. A husband is to love his wife, and a wife is to respect her husband. While this may seem simple, these two commands are contrary to our nature. If we don’t walk with empathy and a heart that seeks to understand the goodwill of one another, we will find ourselves on what Dr. Emerson Eggerichs calls the "crazy cycle." Listen to...

In marriage, we can sometimes find ourselves in the crazy cycle, and though it may not seem like it, there is a way out. We can break the cycle when we realize marriage is about loving and respecting Jesus through our spouse and living for His “well done.”