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Follow along for Rev Kev's Sermons as well as place to keep up on News and Events that pertain to FBC in Independence, MO
Episodes
Sunday Jun 11, 2023
Sunday Jun 11, 2023
God gifted King Solomon with great wisdom. He pursued pleasure, wealth, knowledge, and accomplishment for meaning. By the end, through wise reflection, he learned that all good things are from God and should be used for His will & glory.
You can best support our Ministry 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.
Sunday Jun 04, 2023
Sunday Jun 04, 2023
Wisdom comes in all forms – sometimes it is very ‘academic’ in nature, focusing upon something you can know and understand, and sometimes it requires almost no ‘book smarts’! Wisdom is not just something you can ‘know,’ sometimes wisdom is something you ‘do.’ For instance, you can understand human biology and sexuality and even grasp something of the tension between the races; but that may not mean you have a clue as to how to get along with people. Some of the smartest and most capable people live their lives alone simply because they lack the wisdom that leads to good relationships with others!
The Bible is a story of a man named Nabal and his wife, Abigail. Nabal was driven and forceful and a capable and wealthy businessman. He had amassed quite a fortune because of his business acumen and ability to make sound business decisions. At the same time, though, he was recognized as a fool, as he had a hot temper and tended to abuse and take advantage of those with whom he did business. On the other hand, his wife wasn’t known for anything other than being attractive and able to get along with everyone; she was loved and respected by all who knew her!
In the Bible, I Samuel 25, there is a story of an encounter with King David of Israel just before he became King. He was out in the wilderness, and he and his men were hungry, and he sent his men to ask Nabal and his workers for some food. He rebuffed David’s men and made it clear he had no respect for David; this infuriated him! He told his men to get their swords because he would lead them to kill Nabal and all his soldiers! However, before David’s men could make the journey to the attack, Abigail heard what had happened. She tried to talk to her foolish husband, but he was passed out drunk, so she took matters into her own hands. She had her assistants help her load a mass of food and wine on horses and delivered the gift to David as he made his way into town. She apologized for her husband’s bad decision, asked for mercy from David, and fed them all. She made such a positive impression on David that he withdrew his intention to kill Nabal and returned home. Abigail then explained what she had done to her now-sober husband, who, upon hearing what his wife had done, went into a huge, screaming fit! In his rage, he had a massive stroke, which struck him down; 10 days later, Nabal died.
Here are a couple of things we can learn from this old story:
First, the willingness and ability to form good relationships with others can be a lifesaver in some situations. Nabal almost lost everything simply because he was rude to David’s men and didn’t want to help them – even though they had protected his workers while in the field! David didn’t kill him only because of Abigail’s efforts. She was kind and gracious, apologized for her husband’s offense, and was generous in the way she helped David and his men.
She saved lives with her very simple efforts!
Another thing we can learn is that it often takes real work to form and even heal the relationships in our lives. Abigail took the initiative to mend their broken relationship with David. Then she did the hard work of traveling, giving gifts, and even offering an explanation and apology for her husband’s actions. Too, David demonstrated that some relationships could only be saved with forgiveness is given. David ‘let it go,’ and went on his way, allowing Nabal and his people to get on with their lives.
Good relationships are priceless and a continual source of God’s blessing!
Let us all learn the ways of good relationships from both Abigail and David and put those lessons into practice.
You can best support our Ministry 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.
Sunday May 28, 2023
Sunday May 28, 2023
A few years ago, a national survey asked respondents several questions regarding how they felt about Christians and the Church.
Unfortunately, the opinions of many were quite negative!
- 91% said Christianity had an anti-gay image.
- 87% said it was too judgmental.
- 85% claimed that the Church and Christians were hypocritical.
The report was hard to read because the results were so negative. The very things Jesus warned us about have become an accepted part of the church in America!
One day Jesus told a story about a religious leader, a Pharisee, who came into the temple to pray. He made a big show of his efforts! He prayed out loud so everyone would know he was very spiritual. In his prayer, he thanked God that he was a good person and was nothing like a sinner standing nearby. In the story, Jesus contrasted this self-righteous leader with that sinner:
His sin so broke him that he couldn’t raise his head, and he beat his chest as a sign of humility!
His prayer was short and simple, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” (Luke 18:13)
Jesus surprised everyone that day – when he finished the story, which was a contrast between a respected leader and a sinful tax collector, he commented that the sinner, a man rejected by everyone, was the more spiritual of the two.
Here’s what Jesus said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other, for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself she be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)
God values what is in our hearts!
He is not impressed by a well-worded prayer or even religious acts of service – if one’s heart isn’t right with God, and there is no humility, good works and religious titles mean almost nothing to God!
Humility comes as we allow God to work in our lives. Open your heart to his influence and Word, and be alert to the self-righteousness that can separate us from God and others.
You can best support our Ministry 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.
Sunday May 14, 2023
Sunday May 14, 2023
Even when you get just what you ask for, it may not be what you thought!
A few weeks ago, I walked out of a store into a large, car-filled parking lot, and my eyes immediately fixated upon a small, bright-red sports car. It was beautiful! I walked up to the car, looked it over, and then realized that someone was sitting in the driver's seat. Just as I caught his eye, he opened the door and began an excruciating climb out of the low-slung car. Because there was no way for me to escape the situation without talking, I waited. Then I asked him, after watching him struggle to lift himself out of the car, if it was 'worth it.' He flashed me a big smile and said, "Oh yeah!" We both had a good laugh and spoke for a moment about the perils of aging and "getting what you've always wanted."
Isn't that the way it is in life? You can yearn for something for years, save your money and finally get it, but the results are almost always the same:
After the new is worn off, it begins to lose its luster. Eventually, time takes its toll, and the joy and satisfaction it gives tend to fade. Almost everything in life is like that, and part of maturing is learning that not many things are genuinely 'worth it' to gain, especially if the costs of ownership are high! Whatever it is, be it a car, house, or pair of shoes.
This is part of what the Bible talks about. When we read scripture, we are taught that almost everything in this life will fade. What brings joy and happiness today will one day no longer be as satisfying, or it might wear out or even be stolen!
In fact, we are taught that only two things bring truly lasting joy into our lives: good and loving relationships and a living faith in Jesus.
Our relationships with others can be a true blessing, bringing joy into our hearts and putting a smile on our faces. Our faith in Jesus can be with us through good times and bad, giving us insight into the situations of life, encouraging and strengthening us, and ultimately carrying us into life after this life on earth. It is "worth it!"
The Apostle Paul says, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:4-7)
It's alright to gain worldly goods – they can be seen as blessings, or gifts, from God. Remember that everything in this life will fail; the only things truly 'worth it' are your good and loving relationships and your faith in Jesus.
You can best support our Ministry 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.
Sunday May 07, 2023
Sunday May 07, 2023
Sunday Apr 30, 2023
Sunday Apr 30, 2023
If there are no ‘newborns,’ things cease to exist, don’t they? This goes for plants, animals, people, and people of faith!
Many years ago, there was a religious group who were fervent in their Christian faith and lived isolated from the world as much as they could.
They were called ‘Shakers’ because one of their religious rituals involved a sort of dancing that involved a very rhythmic shaking while they held a strict formation. They were known for moral purity and love for others; they became famous because their simple lifestyle, unadorned with fancy decorations, led them to design and build a type of furniture highly admired for its beauty and simplicity. Another characteristic they had was that they, as a group, were committed to a life of celibacy. Not only would there be no sexual contact among the group, but there would also be no newborn babies or children! As you can imagine, this caused all sorts of problems. Obviously, the group would slowly but surely, get older, with fewer and fewer young adults; finally, though, they would cease to exist, as there was no ‘birth replacement’ within the group. There would be a few that would continue to attend, and there were occasionally new families who joined this group. Still, the lack of births ultimately led to their demise. At last count, after more than 200 years since their inception, the group numbers less than an individual.
Without some form of reproduction, the group simply faded away!
Reproduction, interestingly, is part of God’s plan for all living things.
He created all things: plants and animals, people, and groups, to reproduce. To reproduce is to bring life; to fail to reproduce is to invite death!
This is true for all forms of life, including religious groups.
In the book of Acts in the Bible, there are multiple stories of individuals in the early church who had a burden to ‘reproduce’ in the faith. At one point, two disciples of Jesus, Peter, and John, were arrested for preaching the message of Jesus. The leaders couldn’t get away with killing them, but they wanted to stop their efforts to bring new people into the faith. They said they would let them go under the condition that they stop talking about Jesus.
Their response was clear and very simple: “We cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard.” In other words, they would ‘reproduce’ people of faith everywhere they went!
The rest is history: Peter and John and most Christians proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus after that. At one point, a small group of disciples became one of the largest religious groups in human history – The Church!
From the beginning, this was God’s plan: Jesus would be crucified and resurrected and form The Church from his followers. Then and forever after, members of the church would insistently share the message of Jesus and bring others into the faith. People would be ‘born into’ a relationship with Christ, and they, too, would take up the banner of Jesus.
Let us all take up this ‘banner’ of the cross.
People everywhere need Jesus; we who know him can lead them to faith and everlasting life!
You can best support our Ministry 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.
Sunday Apr 23, 2023
Sunday Apr 23, 2023
Several years ago, I purchased several ducks for my small farm with the hope of watching them raise baby ducks. I thought this might be interesting and a source of delight for my grandchildren. Unfortunately, my ducks were not interested in laying on their eggs and hatching them, so for the first couple of years, none of their eggs hatched. But then, something happened that really surprised me! A couple of my older hens (chickens) went ‘broody’ (which meant they wanted to sit on eggs) and began to sit on a few of the duck eggs. 28 days later, I had five little ducks following around their ‘chicken’ mothers! They hid under their wings at first, then began to venture away; that is, until something, or someone, scared them. They stayed close to their mothers into adulthood and never mixed with the other ducks in the barnyard. As long as I had them, they drew courage and companionship from their mothers!
This is the way of nature, isn’t it? No matter the type or species, life can be gained through a herd, a family, a root system, or a vine. Jesus understood this!
In a sermon to his disciples, Jesus explained that he had the ability to give life and strength to those that would stay close to them. He used the analogy out of local vineyards when he said, “I am the vine, and you are the branches.” (John 15: 5)
He explained that as long as his followers stayed connected to him by their faith and obedience to his teachings, they would live, grow, and produce fruit. The Vinedresser (Father God in this sermon) would tend the vines, caring and pruning for them so that they might stay healthy and fruitful.
“I am the vine” has become a powerful teaching in the Christian faith! We cannot ‘live’ in the faith without maintaining our faith in, and connection to, Jesus, the vine. Through him, we receive teachings, hope, and strength. No one can stop this – it is, quite literally, a “God thing!”
Let me encourage you to cling to the ‘vine’ that is Jesus. Allow him to help you in every way, and make an effort to cling to him, even when you do not ‘feel like it.’ When you cling to Him, your life will be better and more joyful!
You can best support our Ministry 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!
Sunday Apr 16, 2023
Sunday Apr 16, 2023
Many years ago, I found myself lost while on a family vacation!
Instead of a map, I had been using an early version of what was then called a Garmin, which served as a high-tech electronic map. My Garmin developed a glitch in its software, and I found myself and my family lost at the end of a dirt road in the mountains of Arkansas. Out of desperation, we turned off the Garmin, backtracked to a gas station we had passed a few miles back, and bought an old-fashioned map.
That map was clear and concise and gave us a clear way of finding our destination. Our vacation went without a hitch, and we always carried a map after that.
The map always gave us the ‘way’ to get where we wanted to go!
We often need directions to get somewhere or to do or experience something; we seldom know the best ‘way’ to do something without instruction or guidance. That’s what Jesus was doing one day with his people.
Jesus was speaking to his disciples when they told him they did not know the ‘way’ to go to be with him after this life. Jesus then made a simple statement in John 14: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me.” I say this was a simple statement because the clear meaning is simple: ‘Follow Me.’ Jesus spoke of the afterlife and how to experience the afterlife that he intended to give to his people. The directions there were simple, “Follow me.” If people wanted to be with Jesus and live the life that Jesus wanted them to live, they only needed to ‘follow him’ in belief and practice. Jesus then said something that surprised them all: “No, none comes to the Father but through Me.”
Jesus not only claimed to be “the way, the truth, and the life,” he said there was no other way to reach a life with God in eternity apart from following him! Different religions and beliefs weren’t based on truth; instead, they were based upon the lie that man’s religions could cleanse them of sin and give them eternal life. Jesus corrected that idea by declaring that he was the way, and the truth, that could give eternal life. No one else can bring salvation to anyone – only Jesus can do that!
Jesus is the way to salvation, and just as importantly, Jesus is the only way to salvation. Follow Him, and be saved! The author of the book of Hebrews chapter 4 repeated the claim of Jesus when he said, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”
You can best support our Ministry 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.
Sunday Apr 09, 2023
Sunday Apr 09, 2023
Faith in Jesus isn't just another religion – it is a life-changing relationship with the Living God!
I recently came across a story of an individual who left his home in India as a young man and moved to London, where the opportunities for a good income were much better. He soon purchased a business, and he and his young wife invested their lives in this new venture. The years passed, and one shop turned into two, then three, and he finally stopped with five. He was doing great! One day he was in a local pub and heard a familiar tune – a popular Christian song. It spoke of how Jesus could change one's life and provide strength and hope for the future.
It occurred to this successful businessman that he knew absolutely nothing about Jesus! He was an intelligent adult, doing well in life, and a faithful Hindu – but he said there was just something about the story of Jesus that captured his imagination! Over the next several months, he began reading the Bible and studying the Christian faith. He began to attach a Christian church, just trying to find some answers that had come to him. Finally, after months of prayer and consideration, he invited Jesus into his life. He was soon baptized, along with his wife.
He continued to grow in his newfound faith. He felt something different within him and soon became a Christian leader, sharing his faith with others and getting involved in various ministry endeavors. He marveled at his life's difference now that he practiced this faith that offered a relationship with God through his son, Jesus. Looking back over his life, he spoke of how grateful he was that he had gone to that particular pub that day and how the message of Jesus had touched something within him that he didn't even know existed. He was saved, encouraged by his faith every day, and now had learned to face the prospect of loss and death with hope – Jesus would be with him every step of the way.
That is the glory of the Easter Story! Jesus can enter into one's life and give them hope and strength. He offers forgiveness for one's sin and shows the promise of eternal life. The only requirement is that one receives the message of Jesus and commits to following Him. There is nothing to do to 'earn' this salvation and hope; we must only receive it in faith. Jesus, through his death and resurrection (The Easter Story), had paid the price for our sins and had conquered fear and death. When we follow Him, we receive God's gift of salvation. God promises to help us in this life and the life that is to come!
This Easter season, let me encourage you to consider the message of Jesus. Confess your sin to him, and invite him into your heart and life. He will come to live in your heart, give you strength for this life, and hope for the life to come.
You can best support our Ministry 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.
Sunday Apr 02, 2023
Sunday Apr 02, 2023
Several years ago, after a move to a new community, I started doing business at a different bank. After establishing my accounts, I began using the ‘drive-through’ facility, which was faster and closer to my house. I soon began to dread my trips through this drive-through because I felt like the woman working there was cold, rude, and unprofessional. I continued to feel this way for over a year until, one day, I decided to give this woman another chance. I started to be more friendly to her, asking her about her family and getting to know her. Amazingly, she responded with a smile, and we soon became friends! Over the next several years, we often talked about her family and other concerns. Eventually, when her aging mother died, she asked me to perform the funeral for her! She and I were good friends for many years. She wasn’t cold, rude, or anything like that – the problem was that, in my haste to do my business, I hadn’t given her a chance. Over time I found that she was clever, intelligent, and warm-hearted. I just had to get to know her!
Many of us are that way in our approach toward God. We have a few pre-conceived ideas of how He thinks and feels without giving him a chance to become a part of our lives!
In one of his sermons in the gospel of John, chapter 10, Jesus, who claimed that He was God ‘in the flesh,’ referred to himself as “The Good Shepherd.” The farmers in the crowd understood what he meant: a good shepherd cared for his sheep, would get to know them and even care for them, and, if the situation demanded, he would fight to protect those in his herd! This is exactly how Jesus wanted his hearers to begin to think of God.
Let’s take Jesus’ comments about ‘The Good Shepherd’ to heart. Instead of viewing God as a cold and distant deity, let us consider God a loving father who cares for his children. Instead of an angry god who wants to punish and destroy those who have failed, let us remind ourselves that God’s primary motivations are to love and give us help and grace in this life.
God loves us and wants to have a living, daily relationship with us all! He wants to get involved in our lives, help, bless, and give us hope. May we all follow Him! God in the flesh, Jesus, is “The Good Shepherd.”
You can best support our Ministry 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.