North Anderson Baptist Church

We all know what it feels like to be wronged. When someone insults us, mistreats us, damages our reputation, or treats us unfairly, something within us wants to make things right—and often, we want to make sure the other person pays. In Matthew 5:38–42, Jesus confronts our instinct for retaliation and calls His followers to a radically different response. Rather than living for revenge or trying t...

Our words may seem like an ordinary part of everyday life, but Jesus reminds us that they reveal something extraordinary about our hearts. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges His followers to move beyond carefully worded promises and religious-sounding language and become people whose words can simply be trusted. Our speech should be pure, our words should be true, and our commitments sho...

As we continue our journey through Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, we come to some of His most challenging words about lust, sexual purity, marriage, and divorce. Jesus reminds us that God’s concern is not merely with what we do outwardly, but with what is happening within our hearts. He calls us to take sin seriously, to pursue purity and faithfulness, and to honor the covenant of marriage while exte...

It is easy to feel pretty good about ourselves when we measure righteousness by the things we have not done. Most of us can hear the command, “Do not murder,” and immediately think, “Well, I’ve got that one covered.” But as Jesus continues the Sermon on the Mount, He refuses to let us stop at the surface. He takes God’s Law and brings it directly to the human heart, showing us that sin is not mere...

Who or what has the final say in your life? We live in a culture that constantly tells us that we are the ultimate authority—that we should define truth for ourselves, determine what is right and wrong, and follow our own desires. But Jesus confronts that assumption in Matthew 5 and reminds us that God’s Word is not outdated, disposable, or subject to our approval. He did not come to abolish the L...

We live in a world that desperately needs what followers of Jesus are called to bring, yet we can sometimes wonder how ordinary people can make any meaningful difference in such a complicated and increasingly dark culture. Jesus answers that question with two remarkably ordinary images: salt and light. He doesn't tell His followers to become famous, powerful, or impressive; He simply says, “You ar...

We live in a world filled with conflict—divided families, fractured friendships, political hostility, church disagreements, and relationships damaged by words and actions that are difficult to take back. In the midst of all this division, Jesus offers a radically different calling to His followers: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” Notice that Jesus does not simpl...

Every human heart longs to see God—to know that He is real, that He is near, and that He is at work in our lives. Yet Jesus gives us a surprising answer to the question of who experiences that blessing: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” In a world that often measures purity by outward appearance, religious performance, or moral achievement, Jesus points beyond what others can...

We live in a world that is often quick to judge, slow to forgive, and eager to see people get what they deserve. We can become experts at recognizing the failures of others while conveniently overlooking our own need for grace. But Jesus continues the Sermon on the Mount by calling His followers to something radically different: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” After teach...

Every one of us knows what it feels like to be hungry or thirsty. Those desires are so powerful that they capture our attention until they are satisfied. Yet beneath our physical appetites lies an even deeper hunger—a longing for purpose, peace, joy, and lasting fulfillment. Our world offers countless ways to satisfy that hunger through success, possessions, relationships, entertainment, or person...

Our world celebrates the people who are the loudest, strongest, most influential, and most successful. We are told that if we want to get ahead, we must promote ourselves, demand our rights, and prove our worth. Yet as Jesus continues the greatest sermon ever preached, He once again turns our assumptions upside down. After teaching that true blessing begins with recognizing our spiritual poverty a...

Last week, Jesus confronted one of our greatest misconceptions by teaching that true blessing begins, not with self-confidence, but with recognizing our spiritual poverty before God. This morning, He takes us one step further on the path of discipleship. At first glance, His next statement seems even more surprising: "Blessed are those who mourn." In a culture that pursues happiness at all costs,...

Everyone wants to be happy, fulfilled, and blessed, but few people agree on where those things are found. Our world tells us that blessing comes through success, achievement, influence, wealth, or self-sufficiency. The people who first heard Jesus preach faced similar pressures, looking to religious performance, political power, social withdrawal, or cultural influence as the answer to their probl...

Every Fourth of July, Americans celebrate the freedoms and blessings we enjoy as citizens of this nation. We give thanks for those who have sacrificed to preserve our liberty, and we recognize that living in a free society is a gift that should never be taken for granted. Yet as followers of Jesus Christ, we are reminded that while we are grateful citizens of an earthly nation, our ultimate citize...

Few things are more discouraging than watching carefully laid plans unravel or facing seasons of unexpected hardship. In those moments, it is easy to wonder if God is still at work or if suffering has somehow interrupted His purposes. Yet throughout Scripture, we see that God often accomplishes His greatest work through circumstances that appear to be setbacks. Following Stephen's martyrdom, the e...

Here's a one-paragraph sermon introduction based on your notes: Most people admire courage from a distance, but few know what it means to stand firm when faithfulness comes at a personal cost. Throughout history, God’s people have faced moments when obedience to Christ brought opposition, rejection, and even suffering. In Acts 6 and 7, we encounter Stephen, a man full of grace, power, and the Holy...

One of the greatest challenges any growing church will face is not persecution from the outside, but problems that arise from within. As the early church expanded rapidly in Jerusalem, new opportunities for ministry also brought new opportunities for misunderstanding, conflict, and division. In Acts 6, we find a congregation confronted with a legitimate complaint that threatened the unity of the b...

There comes a moment in every believer’s life when obedience to Christ collides with the expectations of the world. In those moments, we must decide who will ultimately have our allegiance. In Acts 5, the apostles stand before the most powerful religious authorities in Israel and are commanded to stop preaching about Jesus. Their response is simple, courageous, and unforgettable: “We must obey God...

Few passages in Scripture are as startling and uncomfortable as the story of Ananias and Sapphira. In a season when the early church was flourishing—marked by unity, generosity, and the powerful work of the Holy Spirit—we suddenly encounter a sobering reminder that God is not only loving and gracious, but also holy. At first glance, the punishment seems shocking. Why would God respond so severely...

When pressure rises and opposition comes, our natural instinct is often to retreat, panic, or fight back. But in Acts 4, the early church responded differently. After Peter and John were threatened for preaching Jesus, the believers did not gather to complain, strategize, or hide—they gathered to pray. And their prayer reveals the source of true Christian boldness. They anchored themselves in the...

In a world that celebrates tolerance and personal truth, one of the most offensive claims a person can make is that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. That is exactly why Peter and John were arrested in Acts 4—not for performing a miracle, but for boldly proclaiming that the crucified and risen Jesus alone has the power to save. The same Gospel that brought healing to a crippled man also e...

From the very beginning, humanity has longed for relief from pain, brokenness, and suffering. We search for healing in medicine, success, relationships, money, or self-improvement—hoping something in this world can finally make us whole. In Acts 3, a man who had been lame from birth sat daily at the temple gate asking for help, expecting only a few coins to survive another day. But what happened n...

In our culture, the word “church” can mean many different things—a building, a service, an institution, or even just another event on the calendar. But Acts 2 gives us a much deeper and more beautiful picture. After thousands respond to the gospel, they are not simply counted as converts; they are brought into a new kind of family—a community united by truth, shaped by the gospel, devoted to one a...

How does a small group of ordinary people, with no power, no platform, and no influence, suddenly spark a movement that changes the world? Acts 2 gives us the answer—not human strategy, but divine power; not clever messaging, but a clear proclamation of the gospel; and not casual interest, but a life-altering response. As the Holy Spirit comes, the message of Jesus is boldly declared, and hearts a...

In Acts 1, we were given a promise—but in Acts 2, that promise becomes power. What begins as a small group of ordinary believers waiting in obedience suddenly becomes the launching point of a movement that will change the world. The birth of the church is not marked by buildings, programs, or influence, but by the unmistakable work of the Holy Spirit filling and empowering God’s people for His mis...