FBC Independence Podcast

I recently came across a story, told by a college professor, about an experience she had in which she believed God had clearly directed her in a specific situation.

 

The Professor (Joan) told the story of a young woman (Sherry) in one of her classes who was dressed poorly and looked a little ‘shabby’; she also kept to herself and dropped her eyes when she spoke to the teacher and others in the class.  One day, as the young lady was walking out, she said “goodbye” to her, and as the woman walked out, she heard a voice in her head clearly say, “Give her the money in your wallet.”  The professor felt a little odd about the situation and so resisted.  She did look in her wallet and found a $20 bill; not much to lose, she thought.  By the time she walked into the hallway to find her, Sherry had gone out the door and was nowhere to be found.  Joan didn’t think any more about it, thinking she had imagined the whole thing.  She was an active Christian and willing to help, but she had never had an experience in which she thought God might be speaking to her!

 

A few weeks later into the semester, and nothing had changed.  Joan had spoken to Sherry but had never mentioned the experience to her or offered her any money.  And then, one night, it happened again: as the young woman walked out, Joan heard that voice in her head again, “give her the money in her wallet.”   She quickly dug out her wallet and found $40, twice the amount as before.  She leapt to her feet and ran out into the hallway, and chased down the young woman.  She caught up to her and blurted out, “I’ve never done this sort of thing before, but I’m Christian, and I feel like God has told me to give you the money in my wallet.”  The young woman, surprised by her teacher’s approach, took the money and then explained that, just before class, even though she didn’t believe in God, she and a friend had prayed for a box of diapers.  She explained that she was a single mother, had run out of money, and could not even buy her infant a box of diapers.  She was desperate and had asked her friends and parents for help, but no one could help her!  The two women spoke for a few minutes about the situation;   Sherry was not a Christian and had never been to church, so she didn’t know what to say about God speaking to her teacher, but she was thankful for the help.  They spoke for a few minutes, then went their separate ways. 

Over the next few months, they talked often, first about the young child, and then Sherry’s prospects for life.  They spoke often over the next few years; eventually, Sherry received Christ as her savior and remembered the help her friend had given her at the prompting of God’s Spirit.

 

There are so many truths from this true story!  Let me speak of just one:  God speaks to his people! Sometimes it is through the words of a teacher or preacher; or, as in our story, God speaks in the heart of a believer to act and, through the actions of others, to help in some way.  More often, God speaks through the Bible, which Christians believe to be the living, powerful Word of God.  Regardless, God speaks!  Here is one passage that speaks to this truth: “From childhood you have known the sacred writings which can give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  II Timothy 3:15-17

 

Let me encourage you to read the Bible and learn to trust God’s Word.  The scriptures can lead you to salvation in Jesus. As the teachings are applied to your life, they can transform and improve every area of your life, literally.  In the Bible, God speaks!

 

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I recently had a conversation with a young minister about the ministry of a church in the area.  The church was struggling to reach young people, even though they offered a variety of good, bible-centered ministries in the community.  The organization was ‘off’ in some ways, and there were those in the congregation who were resistant to change, particularly younger members who were unlikely to make meaningful financial contributions.  We talked about the issues of faith and obedience, as well as the struggle to get people to change things in the church from ‘the ways they have always been.’  The younger minister was a little angry and was considering leaving his place of service because people would not change.  I encouraged him to be patient and to give people time to consider the change needs he was talking about. I knew from my 45 years of experience that most in the church wanted their church to do well and to do the right thing.  It was a difficult discussion, because I knew how he was feeling; it can be very difficult, and even frustrating, to minister in a church with normal people who had different values!

 

Here is what the Apostle Paul wrote centuries ago, as he was dealing with the church in Ephesus, which was struggling with the very issues of church ministry, and how varying priorities and levels of spiritual maturity can cause real problems!

 

17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every

kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Ephesians 4:17-14

 

As you read these words, you can tell that Paul is dealing with a church struggling with people who have different values and lifestyles, which are hindering the church's work!  His words were direct and to the point: 

 

First, the “Gentiles”  were those in the area who were resisting Christian teachings.  He did not criticize them; he just gave an assessment – they were not acting like Christians!  They had turned towards a pagan lifestyle, sensual and characterized by sin. They were not interested in the ideas of the Christian faith.  Because of this, they were separated from God by their sin. 

 

Second, Paul challenges the church in Ephesus by saying in v.20, “But you did not learn Christ in this way.”  He reminded them of what they had been taught, and that because they had been saved through Jesus, they were to live differently.  They were to “lay aside the old self,” which meant giving up their old ways of life, and they were to “be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”  Following Jesus meant changing their thoughts, values, and actions!  The Christian life was more than just ‘getting saved’ and going to church; it was, and is, to be a daily endeavor, where those who claim to be “in Christ” routinely change their thoughts and behaviors to those that would fall in line with the biblical teachings they had received.

 

Over 2,000 years later, nothing has changed!  The Christian life is a matter of faith, of course, and is based upon the cleansing work of Jesus in our hearts.  After that process occurs as we claim him as Savior, God fully expects us to submit to His instructions, every day and in every way.  That is called “discipleship,” and is the way in which God changes us, and forms us into “new creatures in Christ,” and enables us to “be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”

 

Let me encourage you to follow Jesus, as you receive him into your heart, and, after that, live your life for him.  It is the very best thing you can do with your life! 

 

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After a long, high-speed chase early one morning in March of 1991, Rodney King was dragged out of his car and severely beaten by 4 LAPD officers.  His beating was a horrendous abuse of police power, and, when the videotape of the beating was made public, it caused massive unrest.  Ultimately, there erupted 6 days of rioting when it was announced that the 4 officers who beat Mr. King were all acquitted of their crimes.  During these eventful six days, 63 people were killed, and over 2, 300 were injured.    In May of 1992, King was interviewed in a press conference, where he was quoted as saying, “People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along?”    

           

The sad truth was, and is, “No, we cannot all get along.”

Isn’t that a sad testimony against modern man?  We can cure diseases, land on the moon, fly all over the world, and carry powerful computers and communication devices in our pockets. Still, we have not yet developed either the ability or the willingness to live in peace with those around us.  How tragic!

 

Jesus addressed a world that was just as violent and dangerous as our modern world, even more so, some might say!  In one of his sermons, he said this of the way those who followed him might learn to live.  This sermon is in John 13.  Hear these words of Jesus:   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  Vv.34-35  Jesus was talking about how he thought his people, “my disciples,”  should act, as they lived to share the saving message of the Gospel.     

           

Jesus was only about 30 years old. Still, in his short time on earth, he had seen more than enough violence, injustice, and suffering to know that mankind had a serious problem.   This problem of good relationships influenced almost everyone and contributed to the everyday misery that so many experienced.  Jesus knew that people wanted peace in their relationships, but they seemed helpless to live differently.  So, Jesus used this fact of humanity to teach one of his most important teachings!

           

Jesus simply taught, “Love one another.”  This love was not an emotion or a ‘warm fuzzy’ feeling; it was a choice to live to get along with others and work at keeping the peace.  This could lead to several actions:  practicing forgiveness; being patient when others speak or act in certain ways; choosing to be concerned for others' well-being; and even changing one's tone of voice, particularly when there is a disagreement or difference of opinion.  “Loving one another” would make every situation better and demonstrate that there is something about you that brings a positive dimension to any situation or relationship.  When mentioned, there would be a perfect opportunity to mention the importance of one’s faith in Jesus, and how that faith might help one in the relationships of their life – something in which many might be interested! 

           

Let us all follow Jesus’ teachings to “love one another” and create opportunities to share the life-changing Gospel of Jesus! 

 

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I was talking to a young man at a Christian ministers’ gathering a few weeks ago, and I asked him what position he held in the church where he served.  He said he was a “worship leader.”  I asked him what he meant, which seemed to throw him off a little bit.  He hesitated as he explained his position, and I said, to clear up the discussion, “You mean you’re a musician?”  He breathed a sigh of relief, smiled, and then began to talk about his work and background.  It was a little awkward, I think, as the term ‘worship leader’ is usually ascribed to the music leader in a church.  We had a good discussion, though, and all ended well.  He seemed to be a fine young man, and probably does well.

           

The awkwardness was probably sensed more by me, as one of my pet peeves in the modern church is the oft-stated idea that “worship” is the musical part of a church service.  It sounds good, and most people don’t question it, but defining “worship” as “music in a service” is a misguided understanding of the biblical teaching on worship in the Christian life. 

           

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church at Rome, mentioned the practice of worship in the context of Discipleship.  He said this, “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”  12:1-2   You can see from this passage that Paul understood the concept of worship to be the whole of one’s Christian experience; it is something you do, of course, when you gather in a Christian service, but it is, more importantly, a lifestyle that the Christian is to take on as he or she chooses to follow Jesus, every day. 

           

Paul explains what a life of worship entails:

 

“present your bodies:”  When one ‘gives’ their body to God, or ‘presents’ their body to God, it invokes the memory of the old practice of taking an infant to the temple in the Jewish faith, and presenting the child’s body as a ‘gift’ to God.  Not only was it a way for the parents to commit to God to raise the child in faith, but it was also a way to birth and nurture the child’s faith and help that child grow in the years to come.  When one matures  and makes a conscious decision to follow Jesus as Savior, he “presents” his body for service to God; it is a way of saying to God, “I am yours.”

 

“a living and holy sacrifice:”  Again, this refers to the common Jewish practice of making a sacrifice to God, out of love and devotion to Him.  In this passage, though, the sacrifice is not a dead animal or grain but the believer’s gift of their time and energies in following Jesus.  When you sacrifice your life:  your time and energies, abilities, even monies, that is a ‘holy’ gift to God, set aside for his service.  This is worship!

 

“acceptable to God:” A life lived in faithful obedience to God is the ‘gift’ that pleases Him!  He is not looking for perfection, of course; he looks for obedience and faith, and the willingness to serve Him, in any and every way.  Again, this is part of a ‘life of worship.’

 

“reasonable service of worship:”  The word Paul uses here is literally “logical,” and not just “spiritual.”  In other words, after receiving Jesus as Savior and committing one’s life to His service, it is logical and truly spiritual to live for Him!  For the believer, a life without faith, service, and self-sacrifice is not spiritual, and it surely makes no sense at all.  What you have in Jesus is just that good, and life-changing!

           

This is just a small part of the biblical discussion of worship, to be sure.  Worship is a life of faith-service to God; it entails literally everything you do, as it all “proclaims” the faith that is in you, and brings glory to the God who saved you.  Worship Him!

           

Please, join us in this grand endeavor; People need Jesus!

 

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The last time they were together, Jesus instructed his disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  “God therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

           

Just 50 days later, a dramatic event occurred during the Jewish holiday, the “Feast of Weeks,” that set the early Church on an unstoppable trajectory!  In that week, there was a tremendous crowd in town, and on the Day of Pentecost, 50 days from the Easter event, the Holy Spirit came upon the crowd of disciples, and they all started speaking in tongues. People could see what looked like ‘tongues of fire’ among the crowd, and, more importantly, among the disciples of Jesus, because speaking to people from all over the world and overcoming the language barrier was no longer a problem!  Somehow, the Holy Spirit moved among the crowd. Everyone could understand the disciples as they talked about Jesus, the Christ, and how he had been crucified and resurrected, so that all people might be saved from their sin.  This is how the crowd responded, as they were moved to receive the message of Jesus: “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls.  And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”  Acts 2:41-42 

           

This is how God works through His people!  He teaches us, encourages us, leads us to be bold in our proclamations about Jesus, and, most importantly, to live a life that is shaped by the understanding that sharing the Gospel message is what we are to be about.  Years later, the Apostle wrote about this very question in his letter to the Church at Colossae.  He addressed this need by making two  points:  One, “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak for the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; in order that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.” 4:2-4   He was asking the Church to pray for his mission team, that God might use them to share the Gospel.  In the following verses, he said this: “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.  Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, that you may know how you should respond to each person.”  4:5-6 Paul encouraged those in the Church to pray and be diligent, both in their Christian life and in the task of sharing the Gospel with those they encountered.

           

This was God’s plan for the Church!  That Christians would learn eternal truths from scripture, pray for those without faith, and live and speak with others so that they might be saved.  There were occasional miracles, to be sure, and, once in a while, a dramatic event might be brought about by God’s Spirit.  God’s plan for reaching the world was the way of the individual disciple, working through the local Church, sharing the Gospel with their friends and family, and bringing them to faith. 

           

This is God’s plan for you!  Live and speak so that others may hear about Jesus, and make their salvation a matter of personal prayer.  God can use our normal lives to bring others to faith as we are obedient to his leadership and love and serve others in the name of Jesus.

           

Please, join us in this grand endeavor; People need Jesus!

 

The best way you can support our ministry is by sharing this video with your friends and family!

 

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Thank you for watching. We will see you next week!

I remember the question I asked my mother one morning, "Do we have to go to church?  I was sick of going to church all the time!  I had things to do:  bikes to ride, pigs in the barnyard to tease, creeks to fish, and brothers and sisters to play with – and here I was, being forced to clean up and dress up, and go to church – again!  I was all of 4 years old; my mother was the church pianist in our small, rural Baptist church, and my dad was a Deacon.  We went to church all the time – in my young mind, it was a crazy way to mess up a perfectly good Sunday!

 

I smile now when I think of that morning; I was blessed that my parents were unrelenting in our church attendance.  We prayed over our meals at home, we went to church, seemingly "all the time," and, before I knew it, I was in our church's Youth Group in High School, pursuing a cute little brown-eyed cheerleader that eventually became my wife, now of over 46 years.  That was fast!

 

I smile because my parents' insistence on church attendance, "as long as you're living under my roof!"  my Father roared, led me to a life I now see as orchestrated by our loving God.   I first received  Christ as my Savior. That simple decision of my 12-year-old self led to me to follow God's call into ministry; marry that cute little Baptist girl who shared the same values and experiences in the faith;  and now, after over 45 years in ministry, have discovered that I have been blessed with wonderful, faithful, daughters and sons-in-law, and grandchildren who are all on the path to faith.  I cannot imagine a better life for my family and me!

 

I have been forced to grow and mature in the faith, not just to lead others in ministry, but to survive what has been, at times, terribly difficult.  And because of our shared experiences as a family, my daughters' own families are involved in ministries, serving others, and, even now, are calling me from time to time to ask questions about spiritual matters.  We sometimes pray together; we celebrate our faith together, and we share concerns for our nation as 'fellow believers.'  Almost without thinking, our choices in life and faith have led us to be "The Church," together as a family.  Again, I cannot imagine a better life for me and my family!

 

We have lived the truth declared in the preaching of every generation since Moses: "God has a plan for your life." 

 

The Prophet Jeremiah, writing to God's people who were living in exile after being conquered by the Babylonians, spoke of "God's Plan."  He told them to build their lives, have families, raise them in faith, and seek the welfare of the cities where they lived.  He summed up the instructions with the mention of God's plan: "For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope."  Jeremiah 29:11  

 

God has a plan for your life, and it is the very best life you can imagine!  It will not be perfect or necessarily easy, and there will be challenges and losses, as well as good days and bad.  But as you live your life with faith and trust in God's teachings and leadership, you will be able to say, with this old preacher, "I cannot imagine a better life for my family and me!"

 

The best way you can support our ministry is by sharing this video with your friends and family!

 

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Thank you for watching. We will see you next week!

Do you believe in miracles? ✨

 

This week, Pastor reflects on the supernatural origins of life. He recalls a conversation with his daughter while she was studying biology. Looking at the complexity of the "Krebs Cycle," she was breathless with excitement—not just because she understood the science, but because she saw it as "obvious proof" of God's handiwork.

 

In Luke 2, we see the Shepherds react to the miracle of Jesus' birth. They didn't let logic or doubt stop them; they went "straight to Bethlehem" to see what the Lord had made known to them.

 

The Challenge: If God were to do something outside of a normal event in your life, would you reject it or believe? This Christmas, we invite you to live in faith and trust in the God who works miracles to save us.

Simply believe. 🙏

 

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Christmas is about Jesus, the "reason for the season," but not everyone responds with joy. In this message, we look at the reaction of King Herod, who became enraged at the thought of a new "King of the Jews" and sought to destroy Him (Matthew 2:16).

 

Jesus said, "He who is not with me is against me" (Luke 11:23). Herod rejected Christ violently. How will you respond to the Gospel? Will you count the cost, humble yourself, and place your faith in Jesus? The life you can live in Christ is the best life!

 

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I love Christmas!  It is an outrageous celebration, outrageously expensive, and, without a doubt, absolutely distorted from the real ‘reason for the season.’  The truth is, many in America and around the world don’t have a clue about the real reason for this season of celebrations, decorations, donations, and gift-giving!  Some think it’s all about the myth of Santa Claus and his sleigh, delivering toys to kids around the world.  Others think it’s just a clever marketing strategy by business owners, hoping to sell record numbers of toys, dolls, and children's clothing for children of every age.  And, not so surprisingly, there are a faithful number who remember the ‘reason for the season,’ which is, of course, the birth of the Christ Child, Jesus.

 

 

Jesus was the prophesied Messiah, who was God’s ‘cure’ for the fatal disease of the sin of humanity.  We were created in purity and innocence by the hand of God, and he intended that we would live with him into eternity, in a loving, nurturing relationship.  He would bless us and teach us the wonders of the universe, and we would all, literally, “live happily ever after!”  Unfortunately, it was not too long before man rejected God’s leadership and chose to disobey God, thus causing a separation between man and God.  Mankind was cast out of the Garden of Eden and was destined to live apart from God, struggling for an existence on a now-unfriendly planet.  There was nothing man could do to ‘fix’ the problem, no matter how hard he tried.  It was over almost as soon as it began!  The ways of sin consumed us all, and we as a people have struggled for joy in this life ever since.

 

 

But God wasn’t finished with us!  In his wisdom, he set in motion a plan to save sinful man: There would come an anointed one, Jesus the Messiah, who would be born through a miraculous conception, by a young woman, Mary, and her husband, Joseph.  This special child would grow to live a perfect life and give himself up as the perfect sacrifice for our sin when he was crucified on the cross.  This sacrifice would cover the stain of our sin and would, once again, enable all mankind to walk with God.  God’s plan was that man might come to him and confess his sin, and turn over the leadership of his life to the God who created us all.  In this ‘gift’ of the Messiah, and what came to be called the Salvation of God, He began to work, re-creating man in the image of his son, the Messiah, Jesus.  By this process, God would cleanse us of sin, give us a new heart, and create within us the desire and ability to live a new life, which is the old life that God originally planned.  This is the “reason for the season;’ which is a truly outrageous gift!

           

 

Let me encourage you to celebrate this outrageous season by receiving the wonderful gift of Salvation through the Christ Child, the One who grew to become Jesus, the Savior of the World.  God loves you, desires to save you and give you a new life, and uses you to bless those in your life.  This is the very best life for you, because it is the life you were created to live!

 

Your financial support is the backbone of our ministry, providing funding for outreach, facility upkeep, and essential resources. Your generosity fuels our mission and makes a real impact. Give here: https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/

 

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Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to this journey with you—see you next week!

The old country song closes with the words, “Where seldom is heard,  a discouraging word, and the skies are not cloudy all day.”  Many of you will remember the song “Home on the Range,” written by Daniel Kelley and Dr. Brewster Higley back in the 1940s, which became a classic.  It sang of a place in time where everything was good, and the only words one heard were supportive and encouraging.  A mythical place, to be sure, but it showed how desperately everyone needs to be encouraged!        

It’s been close to 70 years since that song became popular, but it still makes sense to us today.  I learned of the need for “an encouraging word” many years ago, during my time at one of my earlier churches, where I served as Pastor.  I had begun to complain about everything, almost every day; at some point, my wife merely suggested that we might be better off if I quit complaining all the time!  She was right, of course; I needed to hear encouraging words, and I needed to speak encouraging words – my wife needed to listen to them!                        

 

Interestingly, the Bible teaches us this very thought:  “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the  moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29

Here are a few emphases of the larger passage, which contains verse 29:

 

Encouraging words build others up.  “That it may give grace to those who hear.”  v.29  People need to be built up by fellow Christians

.

Encouraging words reflect Christian experience.  “Just as God in Christ has forgiven you.”  v. 32 Our faith in Jesus gives us the joy of forgiveness and salvation, and a reason for hope in life.

 

Encouraging words please God.  “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit.” v.30  Out of love and respect towards God, we are to speak in ways that will honor God and bring glory to Him.  God feels the pain of our sin and depravity! 

 

So here is an obvious way God wants us to relate to others: Let us all speak an encouraging word, seeking the best in life.  When we are obedient to God’s teachings in scripture, we build others up, encourage them in the hard times of this life, and serve to give people hope, based upon the truth that God is always at work in every situation.  There is a reason to be encouraged! 

 

Your financial support is the backbone of our ministry, providing funding for outreach, facility upkeep, and essential resources. Your generosity fuels our mission and makes a real impact. Give here: https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/

 

Stay updated by downloading our App: https://a3a.me/firstbaptistofindependence or liking our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/1stBaptist/. These platforms keep you engaged and connected.

 

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to this journey with you—see you next week!