Olivet Baptist Church

From the beginning of eternity, God has had a plan. And in this passage we get a glimpse into the eternal plan of God for the church. In short, God's plan is that the church would display His greatness by searching out the richness of Christ and by embodying oneness. That is our task as a church. Pastor Kevin Craft

The church is supposed to be growing to look more and more like Jesus. But how does that happen? God has given the role of pastors to the church to equip the saints. He has also given every member the role of serving each other and speaking the truth in love to each other so that the church is built up to look like Jesus.  Pastor Kevin Craft

Nothing happens by accident in God’s world. God's guiding hand is behind everything that is going on around us and in us. This should lead us to complain less, worry less, hope more, and worship more as we understand more of the scope of God's wisdom and power. [This was recorded during our parking lot service, so the wind interfered with the audio some] Pastor Kevin Craft

Where you start and where you're going determines the pathway you need to take to get there. As a church, the Bible tells us how we came about, where we'll end up, and the pathway that we are to walk toward that final destination. And in every stage, we see a consistent biblical emphasis: holiness. Jesus died to create a holy people, and we can be sure that he will complete His work of holiness in...

Do you ever read the book of Acts and want to be a part of a church community like that? A church that is growing, a church that is committed to each other and building each other up, even through internal and external conflict and persecution? While there are some extraordinary works of God throughout the book of Acts, there is one consistent factor that is repeated throughout the book: The word...

Prayer gives us insight into our hearts and is a normal means that God uses to train our hearts to desire what He desires. When we pray, Jesus says we should focus on God's glory instead of on ourselves. We have the confidence that our prayers will be heard and answered by a good Father who always gives us what is best. Pastor Kevin Craft

What do we truly need? Often this question is answered with a pyramid of needs, starting with physical needs, and safety needs, and then belonging and love and self-esteem needs. This hierarchy of needs is what saturates our culture. But the Bible announces to us a different perspective on what we truly need. This passage in Nehemiah demonstrates what the people truly needed.  Pastor Kevin Cr...

What is the best news that you could hear this week? In Luke 2, the angel announces to the shepherds the best news of great joy - that Jesus, the Savior, the Christ, the Lord, has been born. This is the good news of Christmas, and it is good news of great joy for us right now.  Pastor Kevin Craft

God's often uses what is overlooked and undervalued to display His power and wisdom. Isaiah prophesies a coming King who would have wisdom and power, but who would also be humble and replace oppressive rule with a easy and light yoke. This coming King would also bring righteousness and peace, and would draw all the nations to Himself. Pastor Kevin Craft

If we can't see the results with our own eyes, will we still believe what God says? That is the kind of faith Abraham demonstrates in this passage as he faces death having only received a small portion of the grand promises that God has made to him. This passage gives us insight into how God's promises are developed and kept throughout the Bible. Pastor Kevin Craft

Tests show us what is inside of us. They reveal our hearts. In the moment of testing, will we hold fast to God, or will we be unwilling to let go of the things that are dear to us if it is the path He leads us down? Pastor Kevin Craft

The human eye has the incredible ability to zoom in and out quickly and focus on items near and far. When we read and think about the Bible, it is helpful to not only zoom in and see what God is saying in this specific passage, but it is also helpful to zoom out and see how this passage fits in with the rest of the Bible. When we do this, we see that Abraham not only teaches us wisdom, but also pr...

We don't always know how life will work out. We like to keep our options open just in case things don't work out. But as Isaac is born we see that faith fully commits to the plan of God. Abraham demonstrates this kind of faith, and the Apostle Paul says this is the kind of faith that saves us. 

When we fear people more than God, when we sin, do we mess up God's plan? No. God will always keep His promises and work out His plan, even when it takes divine intervention to change the trajectory of events. Pastor Kevin Craft

Sin destroys. Sodom and Gomorrah shows us the wickedness of sin that is rooted in the hearts of humanity and the judgment that it deserves. It also shows us God's faithfulness to His promises and ability to deliver and bring good even in the midst of judgment.  Pastor Kevin Craft

We like immediacy. We want good to come to come to us quickly and punishment to come quickly to those who have wronged us. In this passage, God shows Abraham how his justice and righteousness is perfect and merciful. As we begin to think like God thinks in terms of justice and righteousness, we will better equipped to show the world what God is like so that others may know Him.  Pastor Kevin...

The Promised Child It seems impossible that life could come from Abraham and Sarah. And yet God shows that it's not too hard for Him. He promises a child and He gives a child. God is able to bring life, even when it seems impossible.  Pastor Kevin Craft

What does God do after we sin? Does He reject us and cast us out? Does He scold us? Genesis 17 shows us that God's response is different than our natural response and teaches us how to respond as our heavenly Father does.  Pastor Kevin Craft

Waiting is hard. How should we wait (and how should we not)? Genesis 16 shows us how Abram and Sarai didn't wait well, giving us examples of a God we can trust and wait on. Pastor Kevin Craft

How do we know that God will do what He says? When we have doubts or simply don't know, how does God respond? Genesis 15 shows that God responds to doubts and fear by reminding us that He is our shield and reward, reminding us of His promises, and reminding us that He has entered into a relationship with us.  Pastor Kevin Craft

How do you feel when you accomplish something and nobody notices? How do you feel when you don't get credit for something you've done? In Genesis 14, Abraham has a victory over four kings, and afterwards he is met by Melchizedek who blesses him and says that God has won this victory. God did that. All of the good we accomplish is God's work in us. We get to exult in His work and He gets the credit...

Associate Pastor Mike Rodrigue

Associate Pastor Mike Rodrigue

What do you do after you sin? Abram responded after his sin by returning to the Lord in Genesis 13. This chapter also shows us a godly way to work through conflict, make decisions, and a reminder to remember and hold onto the promises of God in faith. Pastor Kevin Craft

What does it mean to be a sojourner without fear? Abram sojourns in Egypt during the famine, and gives us a compare and contrast with how Peter tells us to be sojourners.  Pastor Kevin Craft