The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which means arrival/coming. Even though it starts near the end of our calendar year, it is the start of the Christian calendar year. When we observe Advent, we celebrate the birth (arrival) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is a time to retell theContinueContinue reading “The First Sunday of Advent: Stay Awake! (Mark 13:33-37)”
Tag Archives: Love
Thanksgiving & Prayer (Philippians 1:1-11)
This morning we begin a new sermon series on the Letter of Paul to the Philippians. Paul wrote this letter to the Christians/Saints in Philippi while he was imprisoned in Rome. Philippi was an important city to Paul. This was where Lydia was converted, Paul and Silas were imprisoned, and the “Philippian Jailer” was convertedContinueContinue reading “Thanksgiving & Prayer (Philippians 1:1-11)”
What Makes a Church Great?
What makes a church great? It depends on who you ask. There are some people who consider a church to be “great” when its average attendance reaches a certain point (e.g., 250 or 500). Only a great church—they argue—could attract that many people. The presence of many people is their proof that it is aContinueContinue reading “What Makes a Church Great?”
Jonah, where are you going? (Jonah 1-2)
Photo by Ray Bilcliff on Pexels.com https://soundcloud.com/firstbaptistscottcity/jonah-where-are-you-going The Book of Jonah recounts for us an important event in the life of Jonah and the city of Nineveh. Jonah was an Old Testament Prophet of the Lord. He is first mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25, “[Jeroboam] restored Israel’s border from Lebo-hamath as far as the SeaContinueContinue reading “Jonah, where are you going? (Jonah 1-2)”
Unknown yet Unforgettable (Mother’s Day)
We give thanks to God for the godly mothers who have positively impacted our lives. Whether it is your own mother or another woman who was a mother to you, we rejoice in a mother’s love. What is a mother? It has been said that a mother is someone who does the work of twenty,ContinueContinue reading “Unknown yet Unforgettable (Mother’s Day)”
Do not Judge! (Matthew 7:1-6)
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addressed the issue of judgment. He said to His disciples: “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged.” We must be extra cautious in how we understand this verse because it has been greatly misused over the years. Let us consider: Stop Judging One Another Jesus toldContinueContinue reading “Do not Judge! (Matthew 7:1-6)”
New Year’s Resolutions
I usually do not make New Year’s Resolutions. It seemed to me that I would resolve to do good things (lose weight/spend less) only to quickly devolve back into my old habits. But, I discovered that the problem was not with the resolutions, but with my resolve. Marina Milyavskaya, a psychologist at Carleton University, explainsContinueContinue reading “New Year’s Resolutions”
Extraordinary Love (Matthew 5:43-47)
Is there anybody you just don’t like? What do find yourself thinking about when you think of them? Jesus calls His disciples to be His ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20) and witnesses (Acts 1:8). As witnesses, we testify to the extraordinary power, love, and goodness of Christ. In other words, we testify about something better thanContinueContinue reading “Extraordinary Love (Matthew 5:43-47)”
What Jesus said about Murder (Matthew 5:21-26)
Making a snowman is a lot of fun. It’s even more fun when you have a hill nearby! There is a phrase you may have heard of called the “Snowball effect”. It’s defined as “a situation in which something increases in size or importance at a faster and faster rate.” A snowball effect can beContinueContinue reading “What Jesus said about Murder (Matthew 5:21-26)”
Jesus and the Law (Matthew 5:17-20)
Can you think of a moment when someone or something greatly exceeded your expectations? Maybe it was a restaurant, job, company or product? Think of a time when you were blown away by how much better it turned out to be than you thought it would. Now try to imagine being in Israel duringContinueContinue reading “Jesus and the Law (Matthew 5:17-20)”
First Baptist Scott City, MO 