First Baptist Church Middleton, TN

03/07/2026

Just in case you missed 60 Minutes: A legal spokesperson advised us to post this notice. This violation of privacy can be punishable by law. Note: Facebook Meta is now a public entity. Every member must post a note like this. If you do not publish a statement at least once, it will be technically understood that you are permitting the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in your profile status updates. I hereby declare that I do not give Facebook Meta my permission to use any of my personal data. I also do not give AI permission to look at my internet presence, period. I do not agree to let anyone offer me AI without my specific authorization or permission. Copy and paste to your page.

02/03/2026

Due to damage to the church building and continued icy conditions, FBC will not meet Wed. Feb. 4th.

01/30/2026

FYI--services canceled Sunday, February 1st.

There will be no services at FBC on Sunday. As you may already know, our building has sustained water damage and power continues to be off. As utility services become available help may be needed to assist with clean up and damage assessment.
God is faithful to us , let us be found faithful in extending the love of Christ to those around us. We can all offer words of prayer and encouragement for those around us as well as a helping hand if possible.
May you and yours be blessed!

01/28/2026

Due to water damage in the Sanctuary from a burst pipe and the continued icy conditions, First Baptist Church of Middleton will NOT have services tonight.

12/26/2025

December Memory Verse

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel. - Isaiah 7:14

Devotional

As many of you know, this is the last devotional that I am writing for First Baptist Church Middleton. I am hopeful that someone within the church might pick this up and continue in it.

Sometimes, God calls us to other places in our lives. This is exactly what God has done for us, me, Tasha, and the kids. But this does not mean that the work is done yet. As you know, the new year is coming in just a few short days. I am reminded of Romans 6:4, which states “We are buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life.” I know that this will be a time of newness for First Baptist, even though there might be pain associated with it in the immediate future. I am always convinced that, for us to grow as Christians, we are meant to go through times such as these. Isaiah 48:10 says “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.” Later on in the New Testament, 1 Peter 1:7 says “So that the genuineness of your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” The Lord refines us through hardships and through times of struggle, but we always come out of it closer to Him and more righteous than we have before.

Additionally, remember what James 1:2-4 says. In his letter, James writes “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” I urge you that during this new year to recommit yourselves to Christ, lean on his understanding, and to know that He is God. He will never let you down, and He will guide you completely. And lean on one another in this time. 2 Timothy 2:3 says “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” This is a time not to place any sort of blame, nor is it a time to try to decipher what happened in the past. Look towards the future, lean on one another, look to the cross, and trust in the Lord. He will guide your next steps.

God bless you for the time that you’ve allowed me to pastor to you through these devotionals. I hope that they have helped you to walk more closely with the Lord. I hope that you will join me in keeping First Baptist Middleton in your prayers as they seek their next pastor.

12/25/2025

Isaiah 9:6 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas from First Baptist Church of Middleton

12/25/2025

12/21/2025

Come be our guest this Wednesday, December 24th at First Baptist Church in Middleton.

12/19/2025

December Memory Verse

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel. - Isaiah 7:14

Devotional

Read: Matthew 2:1-23

We get to our last part of our devotionals on the Christmas story this week. Today, we look at the last visitors to Jesus, the Magi. We should note that we don’t actually know if there were three ‘kings’ (as they are mentioned in some translations of the English Bible), or if there were more than just the three. It’s likely that if there were people coming to seek the new prince of a nation, they would have brought an entire entourage, but the three gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh always points us to three people instead of a group. This also reinforces the trinity.

These magi go to where it would be logical to go when seeking a new king: the palace of Herod. And when they get there, Herod is not pleased at all to hear of this new ‘king’. We have to understand that Herod was a political leader, one there only by the grace of the Romans after Rome had conquered Judea around 63 BC. In short, his role was to ensure that the directives from Rome were carried out. Because of his status with Rome, he had become fabulously wealthy, and cherished his power within Judea, and his lust for staying in power was legendary. Even before what we will see in a moment, he had put to death his mother in law, his wife, as well as two of his own sons. He also had 46 members of the Sanhedrin killed, as well as his brother in law, all because he thought and feared that they would overthrow him.

When the magi come, they inquire as to where the new king is. And Herod calls the wise men of his court, and they direct them to Bethlehem, with Herod stating that he will come later to ‘worship’ him. The magi go to Jesus, present their gifts, gifts that would foreshadow Jesus’ role in the redemption of mankind in that incense would be used to cover the stench of death, as would myrrh. After their visit, the magi would be warned in a dream to return to their lands by a different route.

Herod would learn that the magi didn’t come back to him, and he was determined to destroy this threat. To me, this was not just someone who was deranged by his own power, it was Satan himself attempting to destroy the Son of Man, attempting to prevent his own downfall. Herod sends his soldiers to kill all the boys that are under the age of 2, fulfilling the prophecy from Jeremiah.

But God always was protecting his only begotten son. Joseph had been warned in a dream to go immediately. I can imagine that when he awoke from his dream, Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus were on the road before sunrise heading southwest towards Egypt. We know that this escape to Egypt also fulfills the prophecy that was given in Hosea 11:1, that God’s Son would be called out of Egypt.

It would be a long time before God would allow Joseph to return back to Judah. It would be after Herod the Great died and his sons would carve up the kingdom for themselves. God always protects his children, and he most certainly protected His own Son from those who would want to kill him. It was all part of God’s plan to redeem us all.

We hope that you have a very Merry Christmas, and remember to keep Christ in Christmas. God bless you!

12/12/2025

December Memory Verse

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel. - Isaiah 7:14

Devotional

Read: Luke 2:21-40

As we are getting close to Christmas, I’m sure that you’re a lot like me. You’re tired of waiting on Christmas to actually get here! Sure, you might have gone to some parties, maybe already exchanged gifts with friends or family, but you are waiting on Christmas day itself. It’s hard to wait! But we know that great things happen for those who wait in patience and in anticipation. There were two people who are in the Christmas story that had to wait a long time to see Jesus, and they are the subject of our devotional today.

The first of these people is Simeon. The Bible states in Luke 2:25-26 that “this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” It is likely that Simeon was very old, or else why would there be a statement that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah? When Jesus is brought to the Temple to be presented to the Lord according to the Law, Simeon immediately recognizes Jesus as the Messiah. This was certainly supernatural that he would recognize Jesus this way, most certainly also because he was filled with the Holy Spirit. And he blesses the family, and thanks God that he was able to have the prophecy fulfilled of seeing the Messiah.

After this happens, there is a woman that appears named Anna. She was a prophetess, a title that is reserved in the Bible for such women as Deborah and Miriam in the Old Testament. We know that, from this passage of scripture, that she was 84 years old, and that she had been a widow for a very long time. For some of you who are widowed or widowers, you know the pain of that separation from the one you so dearly love. It can invade your life. I sometimes wonder if Anna stayed close to the Temple and worked there because it gave her meaning, and it reminded her that the joy that we find in this life is always found in the Lord. She also recognizes Jesus as the Messiah, and gives thanks to the Lord, and amazingly, she becomes one of the first people that we see who tells everyone that the redemption of the Lord has come!

It is through these two people that we see that we can preserve and even find joy through waiting. Simeon and Anna both had waited to see the Messiah, and God had rewarded their patience and long-suffering by being able to see the Lord before their death. God truly loves us, and rewards that patience in Him.