Antioch Baptist Church

09/08/2026

Don’t forget, this Sunday is Homecoming! Sunday School at 9:30am, Worship at 10:30am, and a meal to follow the service!!

Also, as a friendly reminder, there will be a church clean-up day on Saturday, September 12th. Please come out that morning starting at 9am to help.

09/06/2026

08/31/2026

Good morning, Antioch!

As I woke up this morning, something popped into my mind concerning the world that we live in. More specifically the Christian world that we live in.

Looking at the most recent happenings in American Church culture and comparing them to Church History, it seems that modern Christianity has lost something.
I believe that we have lost our embrace and our anticipation of persecution.

"Wait a minute, Pastor! Persecution is a bad thing!"

This depends on your view of what is eternally important: This life or the Next.
Large numbers of "Christians" in America have never truly been taught to look past this life. Instead, what they have been given is a soft, cushy, feel-good religion that is never tested by confrontation, trials, or persecutions.

This is not what Jesus taught us to look for, rather He taught us that following Him would bring real persecutions and trials.

In John 15:20 He teaches us, "Remember that word I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep your."

Jesus breaks this teaching down into two core realities:

1. The Principle of the Master and Servant: By reminding them that "a servant is not greater than his master," Jesus establishes a spiritual law of alignment. Followers of a leader should expect the same treatment that the leader received.
Since the religious and political leaders of the day rejected, slandered, and ultimately crucified Jesus, His followers cannot expect a smooth, universally praised path.

2. The Dual Reaction to the Gospel: Jesus highlights that the world's reaction to the disciples will mirror its reaction to him exactly. This reaction splits into two outcomes: First, Persecution. Those who hated and resisted Christ will hate and resist His Church. Second, Acceptance. Those who listened to, repented, and "kept" Christ's word will also receive the teaching of His disciples.

The Theological and Practical Significance are these...

A. Identity Found in Suffering: Persecution is not a sign of God's abandonment; rather, it is a validation of identity. Suffering for the sake of the Gospel proves that a believer belongs to Jesus and no longer belongs to the system of the world.

B. Realistic Expectations: Jesus does not promise His followers an easy, prosperous earthly life. By giving us this sober warning, He prevents us from being blindsided or disillusioned when trials arrive.

C. The Shared Mission: The verse underscores the absolute union between Christ and we the believers. The Church operates as the continuation of Christ's ministry on earth. meaning it will naturally absorb both the hostility and the triumphs that Jesus experienced.

Antioch, we are not called and saved to rest on the sidelines as if that is what it means to follow Christ. No, we need to "put skin in the game" and do what Christ did, say what Christ said, battle as Christ battled, and embrace the suffering that He too suffered.

In Christ...

08/24/2026

Good day Antioch!

Today I want to think about the Idea of resting in the Lord.
This is something that we Christians say that we do but I wonder if we really do. Do we even understand what it means or has it become clique like many other Christian ideas and sayings?

Resting in the Lord means having an embracing trust and dependence on God. This concept involves letting go of anxiety and control, allowing ourselves to rely on God's sovereignty and wisdom.
It is not merely about physical rest, but it encompasses a deeper spiritual peace that comes from surrendering burdens and trusting in God's plan.

The key aspects of Resting in the Lord are...

1. Trust in God's Sovereignty: Acknowledging that God is in control and has a plan for each individual.

2. Letting go of Anxiety: Releasing inner tensions and worries, as encouraged in Psalm 37:7, which advises to "wait patiently for Him."

3. Spiritual Renewal: Finding peace and renewal through surrendering one's cares to God, as highlighted in Matthew 11:28-30.

4. Experiencing Peace: Many believers find that this practice leads to a profound sense of fulfillment and tranquility.

One verse on this topic that stood out to me is Psalm 62:1 "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation."
Written by David, this verse expresses complete, quite trust in God during times of trouble, anchoring one's hope and rescue in the Lord rather than human help.

Instead of panicking or fighting back in panic, learn to quiet your hearts. Find your inner peace and rest in God's strength when life feels unstable.

In Christ...

08/17/2026

Good morning, Antioch!

Today a thought entered my mind, and that thought is "how often people believe that they can change their own sinful behavior."

This idea is not solely the behavior and pattern of those who are still outside of Christ, it often can be found among those who claim the Name of Christ as well.
We (people in general) believe that we are the factor of change even if we only do 10 - 1% of the work of change.

It is true that we can make changes to our outward appearance and behavior, but that type of change is never a lasting change because it only affects the symptom and not the disease.

That disease is of course our sin (and yes, Christians can and do still sin and can be hindered by it).

Psalm 51:10 teaches something very important about real lasting spiritual change.
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."
This verse is viewed as profound acknowledgment of our total depravity. Meaning that we are sinful in every aspect of who we are before God.

When David cries out "Create" he is using the Hebrew verb bara - this specific word was used for God's creating the universe out of nothing (ex nihilo). David is saying that within him there is nothing that can be repaired or be given a moral tune-up, nothing that he can assist God in with his "free-will."

He is confessing his own radical inability, acknowledging that his fallen nature is so thoroughly corrupted by sin that only an act of God can "fix" him.

Now think about this, David is saying that he cannot help God in this work. Meaning that this work of creating this clean heart in David has to be Monergistic.

Monergism is the theological doctrine that teaches that God alone effects our spiritual rebirth. Just as a dead person cannot resurrect themselves, a corrupted heart cannot cleanse itself.
David casts himself completely upon the sovereign mercy of God, understanding that holiness is something God must author, perform, and sustain from inside out.

This being the case lets finish by thinking about repentance. True repentance goes past feeling guilty or fearing consequences.
True repentance demands structural, internal alteration. David praying to "renew a right (steadfast) spirit" highlights the necessity of a persistent disposition aligned with God's law.

All of these are works that only God can do within us. Whether one is still lost needing salvation or they are saved believers, we all need to step aside and cry out to God to do in us and to continue doing in us only what He can do.

In Christ...

08/12/2026

Let’s help AWAKEN the youth in our area to the GOSPEL of JESUS! Our youth need to know they are loved, valued, and have a purpose in Christ. Please share the details of the event and help us spread the word!

08/10/2026

Good Monday Morning Antioch! As my family and I are about to take a trip today to help our son move into his college dorm, I find that anxiety and worry are right here with us.

Isn't it funny that we worry about things? As with us this morning, people worry about the unknown things. "Will he be okay away from us? Will he work hard in class? will he survive? Will we!?"
These are all logical concerns, as are most of peoples worries.

But does it help anything to worry? I mean most of the time can we change anything by worrying about them? Of course, the answer is NO. But we do it anyway, don't we?

Jesus says this to us in those times of worry, "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:34)

This means we should live one day at a time. Jesus teaches that wasting today's energy on future worries is useless because God gives grace and strength only for the present 24 hours.

Core lesson:
1. Focus on the Present: Do not let future "what-ifs" steal the joy and peace of today.

2. Worry is Useless: Worry over tomorrow cannot change the future or add time to your life; it only adds tomorrows heavy burden onto today.

3. Trust God Daily: God provides the grace and help you need right now. He will supply tomorrow's strength when tomorrow actually arrives.

4. Planning vs. Worrying: Jesus condemns paralyzing anxiety, not smart preparation. It is wise to plan, but wrong to trust your plans instead of God.

With all of life's changes and the struggles that come along with them, it is better to trust and follow the ONE who writes our future than to worry about what "might" happen.

In Christ,
Pastor Doug