First Baptist Church Gulf Breeze

Consider this a "write your own title" week. Just too many truth nuggets in this week's passage to narrow it down. Listen and let God speak the nugget He has for you ... then write in your own title!

Everything has been created by God.  Everything is held together by God.  There is nothing out of His reach or control.  He is Sovereign.  He is Lord.  No matter how things may look, feel, or seem, God is in control!

We have the ultimate message.  God's message to the world.  It's the message salvation.  His message, with our voice.  How will they hear unless someone tells them?  It's time to Speak Up!

Persecution is nothing new to the church. The Christian faith has been persecuted since it's inception. Even today, persecution happens all over the world. Surprisingly to many, there have been more martyrs for the faith in the last 100 years, then all of the previous years of Christianity combined. But, what about here in America? We've had some challenges, but has it been true persecution? By definition, no, but are those days coming? Is the American church on the brink of persecution? If so, what do we do next?

Repent. What comes to mind when you first hear that word? For many, it's the classic "turn or burn" scenario. It conjures up the guy with the cardboard sign and megaphone on the street corner. As negative as that may sound, repentance is definitely a Biblical concept. The Bible is clear on the need for repentance.

He is known by many names in the Bible, but the name He is most known for is "Jesus". The name itself is powerful. Men are saved, demons flee, every knee will bow. There is no other name that saves. There is power in the name of Jesus.

It's a fast paced world.  Even in this crazy time of pandemic, we are still hurried.  In the middle of all of this chaos, there are people.  Yes, people.  They are all around us.  We see them all the time, but do we SEE them?  As Christians, our calling, our mission is people.  Intently looking and seeing the person right in front of us ... that's the goal.

Ever been church shopping? You know, where you go from church to church to church looking for that "just right fit". Does the perfect church exist? This week we looked at what it means to be a church. Spoiler alert: There isn't a perfect church, but there is a perfect God that is always working on imperfect people!

Two thousand years ago, the apostle Peter stood up in front of a crowd of people. The words that came out of his mouth were powerful. The power wasn’t from him, but from the Holy Spirit. Over three thousand lives were changed that day. Since that very first Christian sermon, millions of sermons have been preached. But, we should never forget that the message is only part of the equation. The real power is behind the message.

There is power in the message of Jesus Christ.  But, the power isn't just the message.  There is power behind the message.  God uses ordinary people, and empowers them.  He makes the timid, bold.  He causes the shy to speak.  He provides the power to deliver that all important message.

Success in the past is not a guarantee for success in the future. How many stories have you heard of people falling away? A better question is how can we prevent ourselves from future failures?

What can we do? What can we do in a culture that seems to be falling apart all around us? Can we change the world? Better asked: Can "I" fix the world? The answer to this question is "no". I cannot fix the world, but I can do what I can do. We can each do our own part. That's what we can do, that's all we can do, but it's a start.

Racism is the front page news across America. Protests are happening every day. Opinions on the subject are varied. This past Sunday, we looked at racism. This message might make some uncomfortable. Some will wholeheartedly agree, some may disagree. Regardless, it should start a conversation and cause us to think.

The disciples along with others had gathered in the room. They were waiting. Jesus had been seen by many for 40 days after his resurrection. And then he left again. He told them to wait. The last 10 days were days of waiting. Now, it's 50 days after the resurrection. It's Pentecost. The promised one is coming.

In a world of rationalization, everything we promote comes down to faith. Faith is being sure of unseen things. All of Christianity is built on the foundation of faith. The times are troubled, the world seems to be falling apart. In the midst of all of the chaos, a rock solid faith is essential.

Does God hear us? In life there are seasons where it seems as though God isn’t listening. We pray and pray, but receive no answer. If God is indeed a good God, why would He subject us to waiting and silence?

It’s likely the most common question asked in Christian circles: “How Do I Know God’s Will For My Life?”. Typically we are asking for the “big things”. Career, Marriage, where to Live, College. The big decisions are where we seek God. But, God’s Will is so much bigger than these life events. These are obviously important, but God’s Will isn’t limited to just these. What we know for sure is God has a plan. God has a purpose. Doesn’t it make sense that He would reveal it to us? So, how? How does God talk to us and share His will for us?

Don’t give up! The Christian life is a marathon. It is full of sprints and rests, but it is a marathon. The race isn’t over. There is still so much ahead. Don’t give up!

There are times in life where you just want to get away. You just want to hide from the rest of the world and escape. These times come. What do you do when you are in a season like this?

The wisest man that ever lived one said there is a time for everything. Everything in life has a season. Ending something is challenging. Most people don’t like change. But, in this life there are several points where “Necessary Endings” are called for.