Tri-City Baptist (New Albany)

08/17/2026

Suffering, Hope, and the Finished Work of Christ
Part 1 (Romans 5:1-5)
Monday 1 Minute Disciple
Day 1: The Story Pain Tries to Tell
Reading: 1 Peter 5:8

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."

Pain does not wait for a good time to arrive, and it rarely explains itself. It just hurts, and left alone at two in the morning, hurt starts narrating its own story: God has forgotten you. He has moved on. Peter calls that story exactly what it is, an accusation from an adversary building a case against you in the privacy of your own mind.

But Peter does not stop at the warning. He tells suffering believers scattered across an empire that hated them, you are not being singled out. The same afflictions are happening to your brothers and sisters everywhere. You are not forgotten. You are simply human, in a world still waiting to be made new.

Key Thought: Suffering is not proof God let go of you. It is proof you live in a world still waiting to be made new.

Today's Challenge: Name the accusation your pain has been whispering this week, and tell God the truth about it instead of believing it silently.

Prayer: Lord, when suffering tries to convince me You have left, remind me that You never have. Keep me from believing the accusation instead of trusting Your promise. Amen.

Sermon: https://dub.sh/ZK89nVN
Blog: https://dub.sh/u380rpO
Heaven: https://dub.sh/AqkXD2s
Discipleship: https://dub.sh/RkT5k2X

With love, Albert

08/10/2026

What the Lord Requires
Faithfulness Over Politics (Micah 6:6-8)
Monday 1 Minute Disciple
Day 1: The Negotiation That Never Works
Reading: Micah 6:6-7

"Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?"

Judah's offer gets bigger every verse: a calf, then thousands of rams, then rivers of oil, then a firstborn son. That is not devotion. That is panic, a heart trying to buy its way out of a problem it never actually named.

We do the same thing with a different currency. We assume the right vote, the right post, the right yard sign counts for something with God. It never has. Samuel told Saul the truth long before Micah wrote it down: to obey is better than sacrifice.

God was never confused about what He wanted from Judah, and He isn't confused about what He wants from you. We're the ones still trying to negotiate a cheaper price.

Key Thought: God has never needed a bigger offering from you. He has always wanted your obedience.

Today's Challenge: Name one place you've been negotiating with God instead of simply obeying Him, and just obey today.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for trying to buy what You've already asked me to give freely, my obedience. Show me where I'm negotiating instead of trusting You. Amen.

Sermon: https://dub.sh/hwQtJkZ
Blog: https://dub.sh/Ccs98nk
Heaven: https://dub.sh/jIn3jjC
Discipleship: https://dub.sh/z2ZyMHG
With love, Albert

08/07/2026

Friday 1 Minute Disciple

Day 5: Yes, Lord. Today.
Reading: James 4:13-17

"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

DEVOTION
This week James held up a mirror. We plan without God, forget how short life is, resist submitting our calendar to Him, dress up our self-reliance as wisdom, and postpone the obedience we already know we owe. Every day exposed the same root: pride that says I don't need to ask.

But there is a Man who never presumed on a single hour. Where we delayed, He obeyed. Philippians 2 says He "became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." In Gethsemane He prayed, "not my will, but thine, be done," and then He walked toward Calvary. He didn't wait for a more convenient season. When the Father's hour came, Jesus went.

He bore the sins we kept postponing to deal with. He died in our place, and three days later rose again. That is the gospel. Not what we do for Christ, but what Christ has already done for us.

KEY THOUGHT
The wisest thing you can say to God is never "later." It's "Yes, Lord. Today."

TODAY'S CHALLENGE
Ask yourself honestly, what have you been telling God "later" about? Bring it to Him today.

PASS IT ON
This Week's Truth
None of us plan with God or obey Him the way we should, but Jesus never delayed obedience once. He went to the cross willingly and rose again, so today, not someday, can be the day anyone is saved.

Conversation Starter

Ask someone:
"Do you ever catch yourself assuming you'll get around to God later?"

Gospel Bridge

You might say:
"Jesus is the Lord God in the flesh who never sinned and rose from the dead. He took the sin of the whole world on Himself at the cross and paid for it in full, not because of anything we did, but because of who He is. Whoever believes on Him, right now, has eternal life. Not next year. Today."

Pray for an Opportunity
Ask God for one conversation this week where you can offer someone the "today" of salvation instead of letting them wait for "later."

PRAYER

Lord, thank You that Jesus never said "later" to the Father's will. Thank You that today is still the day of salvation. Help me live in today's obedience instead of tomorrow's plans, and give me a chance to share this with someone who needs to hear it. Amen.

Sermon: https://dub.sh/uwC0NSq
Blog: https://dub.sh/sUMgfUQ
Heaven: https://dub.sh/R2LQaop
Discipleship: https://dub.sh/azdQ3yW

With love, Albert

08/04/2026

The Pride of Presumption
Living Today, Not Presuming on Tomorrow (James 4:13-17)
Tuesday 1 Minute Disciple

Day 2: Just a V***r

Reading: James 4:14

"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

James doesn't ask what you're doing with your life. He asks what your life is. His answer is the Greek word atmis (at-MEES), a v***r, mist rising off a kettle for a moment, then gone.

That is not an insult. Life is precious, God-given, sacred. But it isn't permanent. Job said man is of few days. Peter compared us to grass, green today, withered tomorrow. Moses prayed in Psalm 90, not for more days, but for wisdom to number the ones he had.
We know life is short.

We just don't believe it applies to us this week. We plan like we have unlimited tomorrows, when we have only ever been promised today.

Key Thought: Your peace was never found in knowing what tomorrow holds. It's found in knowing Who holds tomorrow.

Today's Challenge: Before you fall asleep tonight, thank God specifically for today, the one you were actually given.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to number my days, not to make me anxious, but to make me grateful. Every breath is a gift from You.
Help me hold today loosely and You tightly. Amen.

Sermon: https://dub.sh/9bEUgtg
Blog: https://dub.sh/0h0qVtb
Heaven: https://dub.sh/NNr46Pp
Discipleship: https://dub.sh/coYUJ82
With love, Albert

07/27/2026

How We Pray and Walk With God
Friendship With God Before Performance For God
Monday 1 Minute Disciple

Day 1: Enoch Walked

Reading: Genesis 5:24

"And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him."
Enoch isn't famous for what he built, led, or accomplished. Scripture says almost nothing about his resume. It says he walked with God.

The Hebrew word behind "walked" is halak (haw-LAK) — to walk, to go, to live a certain way. Here it's used in a form that pictures an ongoing, back-and-forth walk, not a single trip. Enoch didn't visit God. He walked with Him, day after day.

That's the picture we've lost. We measure faith by attendance, by knowledge, by how much ministry we're doing. None of that is walking. Walking means relationship — direction, companionship, and consistency, the same road and the same company, day in and day out.

Could two people walk together without talking? Not for long. And you cannot walk with God without knowing Him.

Key Thought: Walking with God is a relationship, not a resume.
Today's Challenge: Before you do one more thing "for" God today, spend two honest minutes just talking to Him — like walking beside a friend.

Prayer: Lord, I've confused activity for closeness too many times. Teach me to walk with You, not just work for You. I want what Enoch had — not a task list, but Your company. Amen.

07/20/2026

Time to Be Certain in Uncertain Times
Steady Joy from Habakkuk 3:17-19

Monday 1 Minute Disciple

Day 1: The Field Is Empty

Reading: Habakkuk 3:17
"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat, the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls." — Habakkuk 3:17

Habakkuk names every source of provision he had and crosses each one off the list. No fruit, no oil, no grain, no meat, no flock, no herd. This is not a bad year. This is total collapse.

Most of us never notice how conditional our joy is until a season like this hits. We praise God easily when the field is full. What we are usually leaning on is the harvest itself, the paycheck, the clean report, the full pantry.

Habakkuk names the whole list on purpose, so nothing is left to hide behind. Until the field goes empty, you never really know what your faith was resting on.

Key Thought: The human heart will tie its joy to the harvest until something teaches it to tie its joy to the Lord of the harvest instead.
Today's Challenge: Name your own empty field honestly today, out loud if you need to. Don't skip past it.

Prayer: Lord, show me what I have been leaning on instead of You. Where my field is empty right now, teach me to see it clearly, without pretending. Amen.

Sermon: https://dub.sh/dTgN4mg
Blog: https://dub.sh/LOe9W0l
Heaven: https://dub.sh/BMzHL4H
Discipleship: https://dub.sh/mThTi56
With love, Albert

07/17/2026

Friday 1 Minute Disciple

Day 5: Do You Believe This?
Reading: John 11:25-27
"Do you believe this? ... Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God. (John 11:26-27)"

DEVOTION
This week we watched one woman move from a faith that only looked backward, to good theology that never touched her grief, to standing face to face with the Person that theology was always pointing at.

Every day has really circled one question. Jesus does not ask what you have done. He does not ask if you have grieved well, served enough, or lived up to anything.

He asks if you believe him, and he asks it about himself, not your resume. Martha's answer left out everything she had ever done and named only who he was.

A few weeks later, he proved it by walking out of his own grave, exactly as he said he would.

KEY THOUGHT
"Do you believe this?" is still the only question that matters once everything else is stripped away.

TODAY'S CHALLENGE
Answer Jesus' question out loud today, in Martha's own words if you need to borrow them: "Yes, Lord, I believe."

PASS IT ON

This Week's Truth
Faith doesn't look backward, stay theoretical, or lean on anything we've done. It simply believes Jesus is who he said.

Conversation Starter
Ask someone: "If you died today, what would you say you're trusting to get you to heaven?"

Gospel Bridge
You might say: "Jesus said, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will never die.' He proved it by dying for our sins and rising the third day. He only ever asked one thing: do you believe this?"

Pray for an Opportunity
Ask God for one person this week who needs to hear that question.

PRAYER
Lord, thank you for a question this simple: not what have I done, but do I believe you. Yes, Lord, I believe. Bring someone across my path who needs to answer you too. Amen.

Sermon: https://tri-citybaptistchurch.subspla.sh/96zbhrb
Blog: https://tricitybaptistna.org/blog
Heaven: https://tricitybaptistna.org/heaven
Discipleship: https://tricitybaptistna.org/counseling

With love, Albert

07/06/2026

Getting a Man to Jesus
Four Friends, One Forgiven Man (Mark 2:1-12)
Monday 1 Minute Disciple

Day 1: A Man Who Could Not Move
Reading: Mark 2:3
"And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four."

The man in Mark 2 never gets a name. We don't know how long he had been paralyzed or what he had already tried. All we know is that he could not walk, and he could not get to Jesus on his own.

That is not just his story. It is every person's story before Christ. Romans 5:6 says we were "without strength." Not weak. Strengthless. Nothing left to offer God on our own.

Maybe you have spent years trying to move yourself closer to God through good behavior, or busyness, or simply trying harder. The man on the mat could not do that either. His only hope was somebody willing to carry him.

That is still true today. You cannot walk yourself to God. But you can still be carried to him exactly where you are.

Key Thought: You do not need strength to be saved. You need somebody willing to carry you, and a Savior willing to receive you.

Today's Challenge: Name one place in your life where you have been trying to "walk yourself" toward God instead of simply letting him carry you.

Prayer: Lord, I confess I have tried to move toward you in my own strength more times than I can count. Thank you that you do not wait for me to be strong before you receive me. Teach me today to come to you exactly as I am. In Jesus' name, amen.

Sermon: https://tri-citybaptistchurch.subspla.sh/mykct53
Blog: https://tricitybaptistna.org/blog
Heaven: https://tricitybaptistna.org/heaven
Discipleship: https://tricitybaptistna.org/counseling

With love, Albert

07/03/2026

Friday

But First
The Priority Problem
Friday 1 Minute Disciple

Day 5: Don't Say But First
Reading: Acts 24:25
"And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee."

Felix trembled. That is not a small detail. Something moved in him when Paul spoke. The Word got through the position and the power and the political calculation, and it reached something real. He felt it.

And then he made the most devastating decision a person can make. He did not say no. He said not yet. "When I have a convenient season, I will call for thee."

That was the last recorded conversation Felix ever had with the gospel. We do not know if there was another chance. The Bible closes the book on that exchange, and Felix walked away from it still trembling, having never acted on what he felt. The convenient season he was waiting for never came. It never does.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians the truth that holds up against every "but first" ever spoken: "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

If you are reading this and you have never placed your faith in Jesus Christ — you do not need to clean yourself up first. You do not need to get to a better season. You trust Christ alone — his death for your sin, his resurrection as your guarantee — and eternal life is yours. That is the whole offer. Now is the time.

Key Thought: The convenient season Felix was waiting for never came. Now is the accepted time.

Today's Challenge: Is there someone in your life who is living like Felix? They have heard the gospel. They have felt something. They are still waiting for a convenient season. Pray for them by name today.

PASS IT ON
This week's truth: Procrastination in following Christ is not a time management problem. It is a priority problem. Jesus went to the cross without delay — and his obedience is the ground every believer stands on. Now is the day of salvation.

Gospel Bridge: "There's a story in the Bible about a man named Felix who trembled when he heard the gospel — and then told the preacher to come back when he had a convenient season. That season never came. The Bible says now is the day of salvation. You don't have to have your life in order first. You just have to believe — trust Christ alone, his death for your sin, his resurrection as the proof. That's the whole offer."

Prayer: Lord, Felix is not just a Bible story. He is a warning with a name. Don't let me be him, and don't let the people I love be him either. Give me boldness to say yes — to go when you call, to speak when you open the door, to trust that now is always the right time for what you are asking. Amen.

Sermon: https://tri-citybaptistchurch.subspla.sh/bcg7bjq
Blog: https://tricitybaptistna.org/blog
Heaven: https://tricitybaptistna.org/heaven
Discipleship: https://tricitybaptistna.org/counseling

With love, Albert

07/02/2026

Thursday

But First
The Priority Problem
Thursday 1 Minute Disciple

Day 4: Not Convenient — Obedient
Reading: 1 John 2:17
"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

The cross was not convenient. There was not a single practical reason for the timing of it. The disciples were not ready. The crowds were volatile. The religious leaders were ready to move. By any reasonable measure, Jesus could have found a hundred better moments.

But he did not wait for a better moment. He went because the Father said go, and he went without delay.

John gives us the other side of this in verse 17. The things we chase — the "but firsts" we keep orbiting around — they are passing away right now. The world and its lusts are not permanent fixtures. They are temporary. What gets done in obedience to God is what lasts.

This is the gospel under the passage. Because Jesus obeyed without condition, without delay, all the way to a cross, his obedience stands in place of ours. We are not accepted by God because we finally stopped procrastinating. We are accepted because the second Adam did what the first Adam could not — and his record is ours by faith.

That is not permission to stay in your "but first." It is the power to walk out of it. Because his Spirit lives in you, and his Spirit is more than enough for whatever he is asking.

Key Thought: Because he obeyed, you have somewhere worth going. And you have the Spirit of God to get you there.

Today's Challenge: What step of obedience have you been calling "soon" for months? Do it today — even just the first part of it. Obedience does not wait for the feeling. The feeling usually follows the step.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that your obedience stands where mine has fallen short. Help me live today in light of what you have already done — not trying to earn what you have freely given, but walking forward in the grace you have already provided. Amen.

Sermon: https://tri-citybaptistchurch.subspla.sh/bcg7bjq
Blog: https://tricitybaptistna.org/blog
Heaven: https://tricitybaptistna.org/heaven
Discipleship: https://tricitybaptistna.org/counseling

With love, Albert