First Baptist Owasso

Chris Wall • I Chronicles 9:39 Unity is one of the most consistent challenges to believers. Chronicles unveils the messy tale of God moving His people into this promised Kingdom of Priests. In a fascinating flashback, God shifts the camera backwards to from David to Saul revealing the shift of His people from CHAOS to UNITAS. As we seek the Lord through the Chronicles, Psalm 133, gives interesting insight into this chaotic time in Chronicles as works in His priest nation people. The lack of unity is a stumbling block to God’s purposes (John 13:34-35). Unity of the priest nation people is God’s will for First Baptist Owasso. When unity is present, we become a priest nation people ensuring the world sees Jesus. (John 17:20-21)

Chad Balthrop • 1 Chronicles 6:16-19 What are you called to do? God gave the children of Israel a family business. He called every person in every tribe to connect people in every nation to God. Out of these twelve tribes, God gave one tribe a significant task. He called the Levites to live in the heart of Israel to keep the heart of Israel fully surrendered to God. They reminded the nation of God's holiness. They called the people into God's presence. They did more than minister to people. They ministered to God.

Chris Wall • 1 Chronicles 4:24-27 The tribes of Simeon, Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh are STORYWORTH because they were groups who ultimately disappeared from the story of God’s people. The tribe of Simeon were valiant while the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh walked away from the Lord were the first to be conquered. Every role in ministry is important to God. The people of Simeon served valiantly even though their role seemed to be less significant. Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh wasted their opportunity. You may not think your gifts are small but God is calling you to embrace your place. Find your place of service to the Lord and steward it well. The ask: are you playing your position?

Chris Wall • I Chronicles 2:1-4 Description: When you hear the names Judah and David, so many positive thoughts come to mind. Judah became the tribe of Kings and David was known to be a “man after God’s own heart”. But, when you get behind the curtain of their family history, you very quickly discover these “peeps” produce more drama than the Kardashian’s. The STORYWORTH chapters in David’s family are the moments of brokenness to healing, failure to success, rebellion to obedience; that long game of repentance. Again, the Chronicler offered us more than a genealogical record. He offered to us a snapshot revealing how repentance impacts a family legacy.

Chris Wall • 1 Chronicles 1:1-10 It is worth our time thinking deeply on the story of God’s people. 1 Chronicles spends nine chapters chronicling families. Since we know that All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, this part of Scripture shows how your family’s story has great worth. In fact, as we develop a gameplan for a godly family, we will be certain to pass on the treasure of faithfulness to those coming behind us. Following Christ produces a powerful family legacy that is truly storyworth.

Chris Wall • I Thessalonians 5:16-28 We are a part of a Gospel Church where we conduct ourselves together as followers of Christ planted in this community. The church is described as a family in the New Testament and we are to treat each other as brothers and sisters. Because we have been united to Christ, God has been faithful to provide these family guidelines speaking to our congregational responsibility to God and one another.

Chris Wall • I Thessalonians 5:12-15 78 years ago, God planted this church right here in the heart of Owasso. Since then, First Baptist has been a growing body of believers on mission here, there, and everywhere. The impact of this church on our city, surrounding communities, state, and world is a beautiful collision. As a church, God has called us to collide with culture. Daily we engage the lost, the needy, the broken, the searching, the gifted, the growing, and the resourced; deepening their relationship with God and one another. As our church family looks forward to a season of growth in our community, may the Holy Spirit move us to beautifully collide with our culture raising up the next generation of leaders living on MISSION; HERE, THERE, and EVERYWHERE.

Chris Wall • I Thessalonians 5:1-11 We need to be ever mindful that Christ is coming back and the way He is coming back. Our friends and family who are unbelievers most likely do not realize what’s coming. Jesus and the apostles refer to this “as being like in the days of Noah.” While this day is good news to us, as it was to Noah in his preparations, it will be a terrible day to many. He’s coming back to judge the living and the dead. Considering the Day, God calls us to be awake and sober. To be diligent in our faith as those with a real, great hope of Jesus returning and a deep concern for those who don’t know Christ yet (2 Cor. 5:11 “By the Fear of the Lord, we persuade men).

Chris Wall • John 20:30-31

Chris Wall • John 1:14 The Word showed up in the flesh and dwelt among us. For the first time in world history, the glory of God has come in physical form. Jesus came full of grace and truth. Your spiritual growth is connected to the size of your vision. This Christmas, God is using the Gospel of John to give us all a bigger vision of Christ. Light has come into this world revealing the Glory of God. Shepherds were blessed by a growing vision of Jesus. John was transformed by a growing vision of Jesus. This Christmas, may we join them in being transformed by a growing vision of Jesus. God came down to earth and dwelt among us giving us a growing vision of Jesus. Merry Christmas, God still dwells among us.

Chris Wall • John 1:14 The Word showed up in the flesh and dwelt among us. For the first time in world history, the glory of God has come in physical form. Jesus came full of grace and truth. We understand that grace is a gift given no one deserves. Jesus came full of grace offering an underserved gift of salvation to ALL people. God became a man.Gabriel, the angel who stands in the presence of God came to Mary delivering the word of all words. Grace and truth were revealed. Grace is a gift given no one deserves - have you received it? Mercy is the withholding of punishment that is deserved - have you experienced it? Truth has been revealed through Christ coming down to earth - do you believe it?

Chris Wall • John 1:6-13 Prior to the birth of Christ, God sent John the Baptist as a forerunner to the birth of Christ. He came as a witness. Both John and Jesus came to a world that struggled to believe the message of the gospel and the call of God. God confronts every person in their sin calling to a decision to repent and follow Christ. God gave us eyes but we refused to see His glory. He gave us ears, but we are prone not to listen to His words. He gave us minds, but we often set our minds against His logical revelation. God came to His own but they rejected him. This Christmas it is time to stop closing your eyes, ears, and mind to the call of Christ and the real purpose of Christ coming down to earth.

Chris Wall • John 1:1-5 Jesus is God, born to deliver mankind from death and darkness. This first message of the Christmasseason, we must be able to recognize who Jesus is and why He came to the earth. It is through God the Sonthat we understand God’s mind, His will, His perfections, and His heart.

Chris Wall • John 21:20-25 Everybody experiences failure. And everybody experiences the fear of failure. The very fear of failing paralyzes people, becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. When you give in to the fear of failure, you usually fail. When you do it all your life, your life becomes filled with example after example of failure simply because you become afraid to even try. You cannot please God and live your life playing it safe. Peter’s decision to follow Jesus is big. This decision reveals how following Jesus shows us what it looks like to overcome failure.

Chris Wall • John 21:1-19 When your confidence is crushed, Jesus can restore your hope. Life is messy. It’s easy to be distracted by discouragement and get stuck in all the ways we’ve denied our faith or become a disappointment to others. But Jesus sees more in you than you’ll ever know. On the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus shares a meal with his disciples. He reignites their purpose. He restores Peter. He reminds them what He meant when he said, “Come follow me.”

Chris Wall • John 20:19-29 God has moved so clearly in our lives. Because this is true, it makes sense to take God at His Word. At the same time, trials produce overwhelming temptations to doubt the Lord. This is the story of Thomas. Every promise of God will prove true over time. Thomas discovered it was time to believe in Jesus. It is time for us to believe in Him too.

Keith Davis • John 17:20-26 When believers live unified while they are living in the world, many will take note, choose to believe in Jesus Christ, and God will be glorified.

Christ Wall • John 17:6-19 Paying attention to the prayers of Jesus produces lasting results. The night before the Crucifixion, God brought this prayer to John’s mind as this gospel was written. Jesus prayed for Himself, His disciples, and He prayed for you and me. As a modern-day disciple, the call to walk together as we engage the world remains a relevant revelation. May we never forget that Jesus prepares every disciple to engage each other and engage the world. It is time to get prepared.

Bob Bender • John 16:16-33 Last words are lasting words. If you were Jesus deciding on your farewell speech to your disciples on your last night together, what would you say to address their greatest need? Jesus tells us in the last verses of John 16:16-33, our life-changing passage. He wanted them to experience victory in the midst of their major headwinds and He wants you to experience the same.

Chris Wall • John 17:1-5 As followers of Christ, the ultimate advantage is ours. Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord. Knowing Jesus is the advantage that leads to a life that lasts. On the night Jesus was betrayed, he prayed in the garden with His disciples. His prayer reveals the glory of who He is, the gift He died to give, and the eternal life he has for all who believe.