Second Thoughts with Austin Gentry

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Daniel 3 features one of the most famous stories of the Bible, where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are thrown into the fiery furnace for their faith in God and refusal to worship King Nebuchadnezzar. The story gives us timeless principles to live by and profound insights into our culture today, about what it means to worship God while living in Babylon. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | In chapter 37, God gives Ezekiel a vision of a valley of dry bones, representing the nation of Israel - what their spiritual life is like and how they have felt for years. God promises, however, to resurrect their dead hearts and give them new life. He does so through His Word, His Spirit, and His People. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | In the book of Ezekiel, God gives a word to many different nation who have treated Israel with contempt. In chapter 28, God speaks directly to the King of Tyre, a king who 'has it all' but defames God by glorifying himself. The following audio focuses on how we, too, ought to steward God's blessings to us. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | There are certain prayers that God does not answer; because if He did, He would be reinforcing our own sin and destructive habits. Here's why we ought to submit to his general, clear Word before asking for a special, specific word. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The letter of Philemon is Paul's shortest letter in the New Testament, but perhaps his most conversational and impactful about how the gospel bears on day-to-day Christian living and relationships. In only 335 words, Paul gives a compelling answer for how to reconcile with one another, and in doing so, refresh our relationship with God in Christ.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The church at Colossae was navigating through the delicate, yet demanding, distinctions and decisions of falsehood and truth. But even more than that, their confusion with their own Old Testament presented a point of contention. Paul gives resolution and clarity--precisely what they needed to hear back then, and what we need to hear today, too. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Paul's letter to the church at Colossae is one of exhortation that right believing leads to right living. Paul shows us how to approach doctrine, what is the right doctrine about Jesus Christ, and what is the right doctrine about salvation. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Paul ends his letter to the church at Philippi by ending on the high note of contentment. According to Paul, it is the highest demonstration of applying the gospel to our lives, and also the highest demonstration of what it means to partner with other believers for the kingdom's sake.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Paul's letter to the Philippians is all about gospel partnership; and in the following letter, he addresses many facets of partnership. In chapter 4, he shows the church how to navigate through the inevitability of disputes that will still allow for continued, future partnership together.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The Apostle Paul indicates that there is only two ways to build an identity, and therefore, grow as a person and believer: Finding our identity in our own resume, or in Christ's righteousness. Philippians 3 shows where each foundation leads.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | In his letter to the Philippian believers, he encourages them that God has a 'rather-more' grace in store. While suffering might reveal wrong motives, it can also refine us in more ways than we can imagine. What if your suffering was about more than just you? 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX |  Paul's message to the church at Philippi is one of gospel partnership, joy, and gratitude. As he shows us, partnership is critical to perseverance in our walk with Christ. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Death is the only certainty of life. Under the sun, the grave is unfair; its purpose is evil and madness. But under heaven, grace is unfair; and death is is redeemed for good. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Ecclesiastes, a book on the wisdom and meaning of life, gives us a balanced view of wisdom itself. In chapter 7, we see a 'wholly' type of wisdom, the holy kind that comes from God: Jesus.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The book of Ecclesiastes is one of the least familiar books of the Bible, but it features one of the most popular passages in all of the Bible: "There is a season for..." King Solomon shows us why time is meaningful, and ultimately, how it can be redeemed and stewarded for eternity.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The book of Job ends on a note of humble trust, reconciliation and restoration, and an experience of abundance, beauty, complete inheritance, and fullness. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Elihu is a friend of Job who gives truly godly counsel. In contrast to Job's other friends and their harsh comments, questions, and counsel, Elihu gives a Job a right view of God, a real reason to trust, and a warning to be mindful of, and a promise to stay grounded in. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | When we suffer, we tend to ask the question, "Why?" But after that has run its course, we then switch gears and start asking another question: "Where?" We look in a myriad of ways to different people, places, and things to answer our deepest, most difficult questions. By looking at Job's 'where,' we find wisdom for our own &a...

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | When Job suffered, he learned a host of important truths in the valley. He learned what friendship does and does not look like in suffering, how to grieve and learn in your suffering long-term, and how to hope in future grace of the gospel promise. By looking at Job's life, we see great encouragement for our own. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The book of Job starts off with God's providential plan, namely, to allow Job to suffer. Though Job's suffering happened 4000 years ago, his suffering and God's plan in our suffering, relates just as much to us today. God is the same God, has a plan for us, and is using even the worst of our suffering in redemptive--not vindictive--ways for His...

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | On the road to Emmaus, Jesus reveals himself to two of his disciples, yet in a mysterious, enigmatic way. Why be so coy and confounding, immediately after the resurrection? Jesus had a bigger reason than just a 'spiritual high' - it would be something else that would sustain them for the rest of their lives.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | In Luke 22, Peter follows Jesus at a distance and then ends up denying Jesus 3 times. We are all like Peter: We count the costs, keep our distance, and deny Jesus' lordship in our lives. The good news of the gospel is that Jesus draws near to us and claims us, and does so at the cost of his very life.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | In the Lord's Supper, Jesus connects himself to perhaps the most sacred tradition in all of Judaism: The Passover. He shows us what the meal points back to, what it means for us now, and what promise it makes about the future. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Maybe you remember singing the song 'Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he...' back in Sunday School as a child. It's true, the song makes light of Zacchaeus and his small stature; but Zacchaeus' story is a heavy one, packed with large biblical themes. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The Triumphal Entry is more than just Jesus' celebratory entry into Jerusalem during Passover. It's laden with strangeness, irony, and prophesy. There's darkness and destruction, but there's also truth and hope.