Second Thoughts with Austin Gentry

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | In Revelation 2-3, Jesus gives a word to 7 different churches, and he saves perhaps his severest, most sobering message last - one that would be particularly for the church of Laodicea. Jesus indicts them for their spiritual lukewarmness, a message all churches can heed today. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | God gives Hosea a message to the people of Israel about His great love for them. Contrary to the conventional prophetic words, this message, however, would be a demonstration more than a declaration - a powerful illustration the Israelites wouldn't easily forget. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The prophet Amos gives God's message to the northern kingdom of Israel: a message of grave warning about God's justice, but also an appeal about God's grace. Chapter 5 features God's appeal through Amos to seek Him and live. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Amos preaches a message of justice upon the people of God for their cheap, self-indulgent Christianity; however, he shares with them that their judgment did not come out of nowhere. Instead, it came after countless times, over-and-over-and-over again, where God sought to wake them up first,  yet to no avail. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Amos might be one the most unpopular prophets in all of Israel because he spoke what needed to be said most when people wanted to hear it the least. He levels charges against the people of God, not just the enemies of God; because if there's no justice inside the community of God's people, then we shouldn't vocalize its absence elsewhere.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | King Josiah leads the final reform of Israel, bringing spiritual revival and renewal. But there is no secret or complexity to what brings revival and renewal; what was true back then is just as true for us today.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | 2 Kings 12 features King Jehoash, a king who technically did the right things, but only because of the godly influences in his life. A closer look into his life reveals a lack of personal faith all along. His life and legacy symbolizes a relationship to God without priority, passion, or personal investment. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The nation of Israel is in distress, and they have no where to turn, except to the LORD. What they discover is that their big obstacles and few options and viable outcomes were too small, too narrow for God. He provided in an unconventional, unexpected way.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Elijah challenges the Israelites, the prophets of Baal, and King Ahab in one epic showdown on Mount Carmel. His message is clear: when people follow the Yahweh, you run instead of limp, you experience life instead of drought. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | King Asa inherits the southern kingdom of Judah - and it's in an abysmal condition. But he begins making reforms that will change the culture for the better. What he did and how he did it provide us a helpful template for what to do to grow in godliness and righteousness in our own lives. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | 1 Kings 12 documents "Rehoboam's Folly," where certain burdens unmet by God are driving  certain decisions that are destructive. How do we make good decisions? What's the driving force behind them? 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | 1 Kings 11 documents the end of King Solomon's life, which ends on a tragic note. The ending of his life, however tragic, offers two things that couldn't be more relevant for how we live our lives today: a sobering warning, but also a deep promise. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | 1 Kings 8 documents the apex moment of King Solomon's life and legacy: the completion of the Temple of God in Jerusalem. 1 Kings 8 documents the day the Temple is finally completed and ready, like a big ribbon-cutting moment, featuring its initiation, dedication, benediction, and celebration. Even though the Temple is long gone, it represents an important...

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | When Solomon was only 20 years, God came to him in a dream, granting him a request of whatever he desired. Solomon asks for wisdom, and God gave it abundantly. The following story shows us how we perceive wisdom, how we receive wisdom, and how God gives wisdom. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | In light of the end and Jesus' return - looming ever so increasingly day by day - we have the temptation to neglect our daily responsibilities on this earth, in looking forward to the next. But according to the Apostle Paul, this tendency is rooted in a wrong view of work and our calling for today. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Amidst all the doctrinal instruction about the end times, the antichrist, and judgment day, there is a singular question couched into that conversation that matters more than anything else: Am I saved? Am I right with God? And how do I know? In the following text, the apostle Paul provides some authenticating signs of a genuine, saving faith, because assurance...

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul talks about the mysterious figure, the Antichrist, and the signs associated with his coming and reign. And even more so, the essence of this antichrist that is alive and active today. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Paul gives the Thessalonian believers an exhortation about taking their next step. Likewise, how do we grow in faith and love? 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Paul, Silas, and Timothy finish their letter to the church at Thessalonica by outlining a whole host of practical applications of what it looks like when the gospel messages bears on the life of the believer. In it, we can see 8 main practical applications. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Without knowledge of the end, it will be impossible to assign meaning to the now. How can we live our lives meaningfully in the present? Knowing what's to come and what will happen at the very end. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | When it came to the second-coming of Jesus, the end of the world, and the resurrection of the dead, the church at Thessalonica had questions - like most of us do about these things. But according to Paul, these questions are not just a matter of truth and information, but of hope and transformation. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The opening verses of 1 Thessalonians 2 detail the way that believers grow in authentic, Christian community. It comes by sharing our losses, sharing our gains, and sharing our mission. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The Apostle Paul commends the early church at Thessalonica for many reasons; but his affirmation of them provides a litmus test for us to see what authentic faith really looks like, especially when the 'rubber meets the road.' 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The book of Daniel is full of sensational stories, miraculous events, impressive feats of faith, and stunning demonstrations of God's faithfulness. But there's one common denominator in all of these stories: a life built on the faithfulness of prayer.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Daniel 4 recounts the spiritual growth of King Nebuchadnezzar - from his salvation to his sanctification - all before he becomes a footnote in the the story of God's sovereign purposes on earth. Even though Nebuchadnezzar is a king, God grows and sanctifies him just like He grows and sanctifies all of us.