Friendship Missionary Baptist Church

09/07/2026

September 7, 2026

Growing in Trust

Following God often takes us through unfamiliar territory, but He is faithful to lead us into His good plans.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Most of us can look back and see moments when God asked us to step beyond what felt comfortable. Maybe it was a call to forgive, to act generously, or to walk into something unfamiliar. These invitations can feel overwhelming—but they’re actually signs that God is drawing us deeper into relationship with Him.

Our natural tendency is to set boundaries around the areas where we feel safe following God. We might not say it out loud, but our hearts sometimes whisper, “I’ll trust You here, Lord, but not there.” It’s an honest impulse, and God isn’t surprised by it. But He loves us too much to let us settle for a small story when He has a larger, grander one in mind (Eph. 3:20).

When God challenges us beyond our self-determined limits, He isn’t testing us—He’s inviting us into a higher level of trust. No matter how far we’ve come, there’s always more of His goodness to discover. Each new step of surrender is an opportunity to experience His faithfulness in ways we haven’t yet imagined.

The Christian life isn’t about arriving. It’s about following. And the One who leads us knows the way, loves the journey, and has already prepared what’s ahead. All we have to do is take the next step.

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

🙌🏽 It’s First Sunday! 🙌🏽

Join us this Sunday as we worship, fellowship, and receive a Word from the Lord! Come expecting God to move! ❤️

📖 Sunday School | 9 AM
⛪ Worship Service | 10 AM

We’re looking forward to seeing you! 🙌🏽

09/04/2026

Due to an internet outage in the area, there will be no live stream for Bible study tonight. We hope to see you in person 🙏🏽💙

09/04/2026

September 4, 2026

When God Says “Not Yet”

Waiting for God’s “yes” grows our patience and anchors our trust in Him.

Genesis 16:1-12

God answers prayer in one of three ways: “yes,” “no,” or “not yet.” This last reply is possibly the most dreaded—and for good reason. Waiting requires us to trust God’s plan when we can’t yet see it. However, patience is an important trait for the Christian, as Scripture repeatedly teaches us in stories, proverbs, psalms, and epistles.

Waiting on God to unlock a door is always wiser than attempting to open it ourselves. After God promised him descendants (Gen. 12:2), Abraham waited 25 years with an answer of “not yet.” That is a long time to hold on to a promise!

Abraham and Sarah were human, and eventually they came up with their own plan to get an heir. Sarah’s servant Hagar bore Ishmael. It’s easy to understand the impulse; the waiting must have felt unbearable. But the consequences were painful. Bitterness and blame touched every member of the family (Gen. 16:4-6; Gen. 21:9-10). When the divine “yes” finally came through Isaac, it arrived in God’s timing and on His terms—as it always does.

Our patience isn’t to give God more time—He doesn’t need it. But waiting deepens our trust and prepares us for what He has on the other side of that door (Isa. 40:31). His timing is always worth trusting in, especially when the waiting is hard.

09/03/2026

September 3, 2026

Waiting for the Right Door to Open

When God closes a door, it’s an open to invitation to walk with Him down the path He has for us.

Acts 16:5-12

It’s natural to feel disappointed when a door of opportunity closes. But our heavenly Father will often prevent us from going forward when He wants to redirect our steps toward a wiser path. What shapes our journey is our reaction: Will we beat against the barred door or look for a new opening?

Paul’s second missionary journey included a series of divine “no admittance” signs. He set out to visit the churches he’d started across Asia, but the Holy Spirit led him away from city after city. Considering the apostle’s sense of urgency for the gospel, each closed door must have been deeply disorienting.

But Paul kept traveling in search of a place to plant a new church, and at last the Lord revealed an open door to Macedonia. The new route led into key cities with great promise. Philippi, Corinth, and Ephesus were major commerce centers teeming with dignitaries and traders who could carry the gospel farther and faster than the apostle ever could alone.

The Bible tells us to trust in the Lord instead of our own understanding (Prov. 3:5). When we learn to follow the Spirit’s prompting—even past doors we hoped would open—He directs our steps through the right ones

09/02/2026

September 2, 2026

Bringing Others to Jesus

When we answer the call to discipleship, we can’t help but share the good news with others.

John 1:35-42

When the disciple Andrew asked Jesus, “Rabbi ... where are You staying?” (John 1:38), he revealed he was hoping to spend time with the Messiah and learn from Him. That desire for sweet fellowship with the Lord wasn’t something Andrew kept to himself. His devotion to Christ naturally deepened his desire to share that joy with others—and he did so at every opportunity.

We find evidence of his mindset throughout the Gospels. Immediately after meeting Jesus, Andrew found his brother Simon and brought him to the Savior (John 1:41-42). Later, when a great multitude was hungry, he came across a boy who was willing to share his lunch. Andrew connected him with the Lord by means of the five loaves and two fish (John 6:8-9). And when some Greeks wanted to meet Christ, Andrew and Philip made the introductions (John 12:20-22). The disciple’s actions show he clearly saw the importance and the blessing of knowing the Messiah.

When Andrew answered the call to discipleship, Jesus said he would be catching men instead of fish (Matt. 4:18-19). As followers of Christ, we also have this same wondrous goal. Though our personalities, circles of influence, and opportunities to do so may vary, we’re each blessed with the chance to bring others to Jesus.

09/01/2026

📢 LEADERSHIP MEETING RESCHEDULED

Please be advised that tonight’s Leadership-Business Meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday, September 8 at 6:00 PM.

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. We look forward to seeing you on September 8! 🙏🏽

09/01/2026

September 1, 2026

Listening to God

God gives us many means to hear His voice and see His work in our life.

Proverbs 2:1-5

Learning to listen to God is an essential part of following His will. He speaks to His children through …

Scripture. The Bible is a rich revelation of who God is—His character, His promises, and His purposes (2 Tim. 3:16-17). It is an invaluable source that can help Christians discover what He is like and develop trust in Him. As we take in His Word, we can listen for the ways He might be directing us to apply it.

Prayer. God designed prayer to be a conversation, not a monologue. When we bring our heart to Him, we should linger—making space for Him to speak into our stillness (Ps. 46:10).

Circumstances. Throughout Scripture, the Lord revealed His ways to men and women through their circumstances—and He hasn’t stopped. Situations change, but our God does not.

Others. Pastors, friends, and mentors can all speak truth into our life. The Lord places believers in community so they can be encouraged, challenged, and helped.

In order to reach His children, God uses all four of these avenues, often working through two or more simultaneously. Our part is to stay attentive—always remembering that a message from the Lord will agree with His Word. What might He be saying to you today?