Episodes

Tuesday Feb 23, 2021
The Letters to the Seven Churches: Laodicea, Be honest with yourself 2-21-21
Tuesday Feb 23, 2021
Tuesday Feb 23, 2021
God wants us to be discerning when it comes to true spirituality! We have an almost unlimited capacity to deceive ourselves: we ignore facts, compare ourselves to those who are ‘worse’ than we are, and sometimes even lie to ourselves, all in order to feel good about ourselves. The church at Laodicea was doing just that; by measuring their spirituality against other churches and groups, rather than God’s eternal teachings, they saw themselves as spiritually healthy and righteous. Jesus condemned them, though, because the truth was they were spiritually dead! Their self-deception separated them from God, and made them almost useless to Him. The church was called to repentance; Jesus offered to come into their lives if they would only open up their hearts to Him.
The best way you can support our Ministry is by sharing these podcasts with your friends and family.
We also need your financial contributions to make our Ministries a possibility. You can contribute online at https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/
If you would like to stay up to date on all things FBC, download our App by clicking here https://a3a.me/firstbaptistofindependence or by Liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/1stBaptist/
Thank you for listening. We will see you next week.

Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Letters to the Seven Churches: Philadelphia 2-7-21
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Even though Jesus calls us in His Church to all we can to reach the world around us, we have to accept the fact that many will reject Jesus, no matter what we do! We must remember to evaluate our church’s ministries by the standards Jesus himself used, and make sure our loyalties remain with him that the approval of those in this world. God rewards those who are faithful, and will care for them into eternity.
The best way you can support our Ministry is by sharing these podcasts with your friends and family.
We also need your financial contributions to make our Ministries a possibility. You can contribute online
If you would like to stay up to date on all things FBC, download our App by clicking here or by Liking our Facebook page
Thank you for listening. We will see you next week!

Tuesday Feb 02, 2021
Letters to the Seven Churches: Sardis, It’s all about the Gospel! 1-31-21
Tuesday Feb 02, 2021
Tuesday Feb 02, 2021
It’s all about Jesus! We’ve heard people say that, and it is particularly true for the way the Church is to function. Everything we do is to either explain the work of Jesus in our salvation, or to demonstrate how life can be different, and better, when it revolves around him. The early church in the city of Sardis forgot this; they did many things well, but they had moved away from a focus on the salvation that is in Christ – and Jesus condemned them for it! We are to be always faithful to Jesus: to share the message of salvation through his death on the cross, and the resurrection from the dead, in everything we do.
The best way you can support our Ministry is by sharing these podcasts with your friends and family.
We also need your financial contributions to make our Ministries a possibility. You can contribute online at https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/
If you would like to stay up to date on all things FBC, download our App by clicking here https://a3a.me/firstbaptistofindependence or by Liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/1stBaptist/
Thank you for listening. We will see you next week.

Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
Letters to the Seven Churches: Thyatira: Don’t Give Up! 1-24-21
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
Those who have the ability to lead others can have a tremendous impact on a church – for good, or for evil! It is important that church members monitor the strong in their church, to ensure that their influences are good, moral, and Bible Based. Even as they continually test the spirits in their congregation, though, a healthy church will never let an individual or group lead them from engaging in ministry to others. The ministries of the church are to be always faithful to scriptural teachings and based upon faith, rather than on the strong personalities in the congregation.
The best way you can support our Ministry is by sharing these podcasts with your friends and family.
We also need your financial contributions to make our Ministries a possibility. You can contribute online at https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/
If you would like to stay up to date on all things FBC, download our App by clicking here https://a3a.me/firstbaptistofindependence or by Liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/1stBaptist/
Thank you for listening. We will see you next week.

Tuesday Jan 19, 2021
The Letters to the Seven Churches: Pergamum, The Teachings of the Faith 1-17-21
Tuesday Jan 19, 2021
Tuesday Jan 19, 2021
Jesus calls on His church to teach spiritual and moral truth, and correct those that distort that truth. We must learn to be alert to the teachings of those in our church, and be willing to ask them to explain themselves, and even challenge them if they say something that does not sound ‘according to the Bible.’ There have always been false teachers and teachings in the church; when these false teachings are allowed to develop a foothold, they may turn people away from the true faith, or lead them to act in a way that may bring physical, emotional, or spiritual harm to someone. As always, God blesses us for our faithfulness to Him, and brings joy into our lives when we obey his teachings.
The best way you can support our Ministry is by sharing these videos with your friends and family.
We also need your financial contributions to make our Ministries a possibility. You can contribute online at https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/
If you would like to stay up to date on all things FBC, download our App by clicking here https://a3a.me/firstbaptistofindependence or by Liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/1stBaptist/
Thank you for listening. We will see you next week.

Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
Letters to the Seven Churches: Smyrna, The Risk of Sincere Faith 1-10-21
Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
From the very beginning of the Church, God’s people were often under attack! At times they were oppressed and persecuted by those around them simply because they were different than others; sometimes it was because their faith challenged the other faiths in the area. Too, the various political powers often chose to oppress the Christians for a variety of reasons. Regardless, it was hard to follow Jesus! In the church at Smyrna there was persecution, and Jesus spoke to them in the Revelation to acknowledge their faithful suffering, and encouraged them to ‘keep the faith.’ For those that suffer for their faith there are blessings, both in this life, and in the life that is to come. We are to be strong as we endure the sufferings of this life, and keep the faith!
The best way you can support our Ministry is by sharing these podcasts with your friends and family.
We also need your financial contributions to make our Ministries a possibility. You can contribute online here
If you would like to stay up to date on all things FBC, download our App by clicking here or by Liking our Facebook page
Thank you for listening. We will see you next week.

Tuesday Jan 05, 2021
Letters to the Seven Churches: Ephesus: The Case for Responsibility 1-3-2021
Tuesday Jan 05, 2021
Tuesday Jan 05, 2021

Tuesday Dec 29, 2020
God's Great Gifts to Humanity: A God-given ethic for life 12-27-20
Tuesday Dec 29, 2020
Tuesday Dec 29, 2020
God loves us – and He wants to help!
Can you remember a couple of individuals that made an impact in your life, such as a family member or teacher/mentor? We all have people in our lives that have shaped and taught us – it is one of the ways God “gifts” us - with good teachings and influences. He does this because He loves us, and wants to instill within us an ethic for life. An “ethic” is simply an overall approach to life and relationships – the set of ideas and controls that guide your life!
The teachings God sends us are based upon His eternal love for us all.
King David understood this: Psalms 25:4-6, 8-10
David acknowledges that God’s ways are based on His desires to provide a path for life and salvation. Here are a couple of things David mentions:
A Godly Ethic for life
Based on God’s eternal wisdom: “For they have been from of old.” (v.6) God’s knowledge and wisdom are eternal! The path of life is the same in every age, and every culture. What actions and characteristics led to life and joy thousands of years ago, can do the same today. A godly lifestyle is never ‘out of date’ this kind of life can always guide us on a path that leads to joy and fulfillment. It may not be popular, and it may lead one to live in a way that seems outdated, but God’s wisdom and teachings are eternal, because they are based upon God’s eternal character!
It is for everyone: “Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.” (v.8) As you know, God created us all as equals, and the creation and fall story – that of being created in God’s image and without sin, and then choosing to sin – is everyone’s story! And just as the story of God’s salvation to come was for those in the original story, so too is the offer of salvation to all of us through the knowledge of the Gospel. God instructs sinners in “the way” – the way of life, and the way of salvation. We all need to hear this message!
When people hear the instruction of God and begin to live their lives as God teaches, their lives get better: more stable, healthier relationships, and less of the self-destructive actions that come so naturally to us all.
God’s ways shape our lives
A life based on God’s teachings will develop and follow the ‘ethic’ of God.
Whenever there is a big change in one’s life, there are a variety of factors and behaviors to consider. For instance, if an overweight middle-aged man such as myself wants to ‘get in shape,’ there are many things to address: diet: sugar and meats and vegetables; heart: cholesterol and blood pressure and conditioning; even ‘lifestyle’: watching tv often, walking, etc. There is no “one” thing to do, and only doing one thing won’t make much difference. It is the same for so many areas of life: even the effort to develop an ethic for life that is from God!
-Whenever we talk about a ‘path’ of life, particularly an ‘ethic’ from God, we aren’t talking about any one practice or idea – it is a collection of beliefs and practices that make up an ‘ethic’ towards life!
Jesus addressed this truth in his Sermon on the Mount. READ Matthew 7:24-27
Jesus used the analogy of one building a house: if you build upon a solid foundation, your house would stand in a storm; if you build upon sand, however, the house would fall. Jesus, making this point in vv.24, and 26, said this: “acts upon them. . . does not act upon them.” If you build your life on his teachings it will stand, if you do not, it will crumble.
Here are just a few of the parts of a ‘solid foundation,’ or “godly ethic’ Jesus mentioned in his sermon on the mount:
Elements of a Godly Ethic
Healthy relationships, 5:3-10: A high value in the Christian faith
Sincerity, 5:20: The problem with the Pharisees was their hypocrisy, and all saw it.
Emotional restraint, 5:21-24: This ‘fruit of the Spirit,’ is a primary factor of life-success.
Financial gifts, 6:2: Vital to the faith is not only the practice of sharing with those in need; it is also important to resist being too tied to one’s possessions.
Developing this godly ‘ethic’ for life is always a good and profitable practice – for everyone! This ‘ethic,’ when lived consistently, becomes a way by which God works within our lives. God can use us, and bless us as we live out our faith.
The best way you can support our Ministry is by sharing these videos with your friends and family.
We also need your financial contributions to make our Ministries a possibility. You can contribute online at https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/
If you would like to stay up to date on all things FBC, download our App by clicking here https://a3a.me/firstbaptistofindependence or by Liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/1stBaptist/
Thank you for listening. We will see you next week.

Tuesday Dec 22, 2020
God's Great Gifts: The Gift of Healthy Relationships 12-20-20
Tuesday Dec 22, 2020
Tuesday Dec 22, 2020

Monday Dec 14, 2020
God’s great gifts to Humanity: Answers to our spiritual questions 12-13-2020
Monday Dec 14, 2020
Monday Dec 14, 2020