First Baptist Church Pleasanton, TX, 400 N Reed Street, Pleasanton, TX (2026)

09/08/2026

𝗪𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬⁣
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“𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩, 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴.” — 2 Corinthians 10:3–4⁣
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There is a battle taking place that cannot be seen with human eyes.⁣
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Paul knew this well. The church at Corinth had struggled with division, pride, immorality, false teaching, and resistance to spiritual authority. These problems involved real people making real decisions, but Paul recognized something deeper. The battle could not ultimately be won through human strength, persuasive personalities, or worldly power.⁣
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“𝘞𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩.”⁣
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Our greatest enemies are not simply the circumstances surrounding us or even the people opposing us. There is a spiritual battle being waged for what we believe, whom we trust, and whom we obey.⁣
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Paul calls some of these things “fortresses.”⁣
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A fortress is not built overnight. Stone is placed upon stone until eventually there is a stronghold that seems impossible to pe*****te. Sin can work similarly in our lives. One compromise becomes another. A lie believed repeatedly becomes something we accept as truth. Pride becomes self-sufficiency. Bitterness becomes resentment. Lust becomes bo***ge. Fear becomes unbelief.⁣
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Eventually we may begin defending the very thing from which Christ desires to free us.⁣
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But God has not left us defenseless.⁣
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Paul says our weapons are “𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴.” The surprising truth of Christianity is that God's greatest victory came through something the world considered utter defeat—the cross.⁣
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Paul had already reminded the Corinthians: “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥.” — 1 Corinthians 1:18⁣
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The world looked at Jesus hanging upon the cross and saw weakness...God was defeating sin.⁣
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The world saw humiliation...God was accomplishing redemption.⁣
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The world saw death...God was preparing resurrection.⁣
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At the cross, Jesus accomplished what human effort could never accomplish. Paul writes that Christ “disarmed the rulers and authorities” and “𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘏𝘪𝘮” (Colossians 2:15).⁣
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That means we do not fight sin merely by trying harder. We bring our sin beneath the victory Christ has already accomplished. We confront lies with His truth. We confront temptation through dependence upon His Spirit. We confront guilt with His forgiveness. We confront the enemy with the finished work of Jesus Christ.⁣
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And Paul continues: “𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵.” — 2 Corinthians 10:5⁣
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That is where the battle often becomes personal.⁣
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What fortress have I allowed to remain standing that Christ desires to tear down?⁣
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Perhaps there is an attitude I have excused, a sin I have tolerated, a thought I have repeatedly entertained, or an area of my life I have refused to surrender.⁣
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The answer is not greater confidence in myself.⁣
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It is greater confidence in Christ.⁣
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The cross may still look foolish to the world, but hell knows differently. At Calvary, Jesus broke the power of sin and defeated the enemy. And because He lives, no fortress in our lives is stronger than the Savior who conquered the grave.⁣
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Today, bring every thought, every temptation, every fear, and every stronghold beneath the authority of Jesus.⁣
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The cross that looked like weakness is still the power of God.

09/07/2026

𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐇𝐢𝐦⁣
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“𝘉𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦, 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵.” — 1 Corinthians 11:1⁣
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We all imitate someone.⁣
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Perhaps it was a parent, teacher, coach, pastor, or friend. Sometimes we do it intentionally; other times we simply discover that we have adopted their expressions, habits, or mannerisms. The people we admire have a way of shaping the people we become.⁣
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That makes Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 11:1 remarkable: “𝘉𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦, 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵.”⁣
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At first, those words could sound almost prideful. Look at me. Live like me. But Paul’s emphasis is not ultimately upon himself. He immediately qualifies the invitation: imitate me as I imitate Christ.⁣
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Paul knew he was not the standard. Jesus was.⁣
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Paul was painfully aware of his own continuing struggle with sin. In Romans 7:19 he confessed, “𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵, 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘰, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵.” He did not present himself as someone who had arrived at spiritual perfection. In Philippians 3:12, he admitted, “𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘰𝘣𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘯.”⁣
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Paul was still being transformed.⁣
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That actually makes his invitation more encouraging. Paul was not saying, Follow me because I never struggle. He was saying, Watch where I turn in the midst of my struggle.⁣
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He turned toward Christ.⁣
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Our goal, then, is not simply to become better versions of ourselves. Nor is it to become copies of Christians we admire. God’s purpose is to increasingly conform us “𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘚𝘰𝘯” (Romans 8:29).⁣
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That changes the question we ask about our lives.⁣
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Instead of asking, Do people admire me? perhaps we should ask, When people watch me, are they learning anything about Jesus?⁣
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Do they see His patience in the way I respond when frustrated? His compassion in the way I treat someone who is hurting? His forgiveness when I have been wronged? His humility when I could demand my own way? His obedience when following God becomes costly?⁣
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And when I fail, do they see me repent, return to Christ, and continue following Him?⁣
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John the Baptist beautifully expressed the heart of such a life: “𝘏𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦” (John 3:30).⁣
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That should be the desire of every follower of Jesus.⁣
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We are not trying to gather people around ourselves. We are pointing them beyond ourselves. We are not asking others to see how impressive our faith has become. We want them to see how wonderful our Savior is.⁣
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Perhaps the greatest legacy we could leave would be for someone to say, I learned something about following Jesus by watching you.⁣
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So today, choose your pattern carefully. Keep your eyes fixed upon Christ. Follow His example. Allow His character to increasingly shape yours.⁣
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And should someone begin following your example, make certain your footsteps are leading them to Jesus.⁣
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“𝘉𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦, 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵.”

09/07/2026

Yesterday we were reminded from 1 Corinthians 4:1–5 that everything we have belongs to the Lord, and what He requires of His stewards is faithfulness.

The question is not whether someone else has more gifts, more resources, or more opportunities. The question is whether I am faithfully using what God has entrusted to me.

One day, the Lord will bring to light what is hidden and reveal the motives of our hearts. Until then, we live and serve for an Audience of One.

So as you begin this new week, remember the question we closed with yesterday:

What is in your hands?

Your time. Your abilities. Your resources. Your influence. Your opportunities.

They have been entrusted to you by God.

Be faithful with what He has placed in your hands.

“In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.” — 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NASB)

09/01/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲⁣
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“𝘖𝘩, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥! 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴!” — 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝟷𝟷:𝟹𝟹⁣
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It is easy to marvel at the goodness of God when I am the recipient of it.⁣
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I can look at His provision, protection, forgiveness, and blessings and quickly explain why God has been good to me. The danger is that somewhere beneath my gratitude can hide a quiet assumption: Perhaps I deserved some of this.⁣
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Then I look at the people God loves.⁣
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He loves people who are nothing like me. He extends mercy to people I might avoid, patience to people I might dismiss, and grace to people whose lives I might consider undeserving. Suddenly, God's goodness becomes far more astonishing.⁣
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That is part of what brought Paul to his declaration in Romans 11:33.⁣
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For several chapters, Paul had wrestled with God's purposes for Israel and the Gentiles. Yet his conclusion was not that one group deserved God while another did not. Instead, he wrote, “𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘵 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘏𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘭” (Romans 11:32).⁣
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Before God, the categories of us and them disappear.⁣
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There are simply sinners who desperately need mercy.⁣
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Scripture repeatedly reminds us that God “𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺” (Acts 10:34). Jesus said that the Father “𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴” (Matthew 5:45). His goodness extends far beyond the boundaries we naturally construct.⁣
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And nowhere is the extravagance of God's care displayed more clearly than at the cross.⁣
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“𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘶𝘴, 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘶𝘴” (Romans 5:8).⁣
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God did not love us because He needed us. He is not enriched by our existence or diminished without our praise. Paul reminds us that God is not “𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴, 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘏𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨” (Acts 17:25).⁣
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Yet the God who needs nothing chose to give everything.⁣
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He gave His Son for rebellious people.⁣
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For people like me.⁣
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For people unlike me.⁣
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For people I understand and people I struggle to understand.⁣
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That realization should crush our pride while enlarging our worship. I cannot stand at the foot of the cross celebrating the mercy God has shown me while resenting His desire to show mercy to someone else.⁣
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Perhaps that is why Paul's theology erupts into worship:⁣
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“𝘖𝘩, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴…”⁣
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God's mercy is deeper than our prejudice. His wisdom reaches beyond our understanding. His grace crosses every boundary we construct. His love reaches people we might overlook.⁣
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And when we finally begin to understand just how undeserving we all are, we stop wondering why God would love *them*.⁣
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Instead, we stand amazed that He loves any of us.⁣
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Today, look at the people around you differently. Every person you encounter is someone created in the image of God and someone for whom the gospel is offered. Rather than dividing the world into us and them, ask God to help you see people through the extravagance of His mercy.⁣
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“𝘞𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘏𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘴.” — 1 John 4:19⁣
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God's love does not merely give us something to receive.⁣
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It gives us something to reflect.⁣

08/31/2026

𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭⁣
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“𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘺, 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴?” — Romans 6:16⁣
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Freedom is one of the great ideals of our culture. We want the freedom to choose our own path, determine our own identity, pursue our own desires, and live without anyone telling us what we must do.⁣
⁣
Yet Paul confronts us with an uncomfortable truth: everyone serves someone.⁣
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The question is not whether we will have a master. The question is which master we will obey.⁣
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Sin often introduces itself with the language of freedom: Do what you want. Follow your heart. No one has the right to tell you how to live. But there is a problem. Our desires themselves have been corrupted by sin. Jeremiah warned, “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘬” (Jeremiah 17:9).⁣
⁣
When broken desires become our guide, what initially feels liberating eventually becomes enslaving. The person who insists, “I can do whatever I want,” may eventually discover that he can no longer stop doing what he wants.⁣
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That is bo***ge.⁣
⁣
Paul describes the struggle personally in Romans 7:⁣
⁣
“𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵, 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘰, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵.” — Romans 7:19⁣
⁣
There is the prison of sin. We recognize what is right, desire something better, perhaps even promise ourselves that we will change—and then discover that we cannot free ourselves.⁣
⁣
Finally Paul cries out:⁣
⁣
“𝘞𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘢𝘮! 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩?” (Romans 7:24).⁣
⁣
Notice his question. It is not “What will set me free?” but “Who?”⁣
⁣
And immediately comes the answer:⁣
⁣
“𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥!” (Romans 7:25).⁣
⁣
Jesus does not merely offer better advice for prisoners. He opens the prison door.⁣
⁣
Jesus said, “𝘚𝘰 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘥” (John 8:36). At the cross, Christ broke sin's claim upon us. Through His resurrection, He gives us a new life. Through the Holy Spirit, He gives us power to walk differently.⁣
⁣
Christian freedom, therefore, is not the freedom to do whatever I desire. It is something infinitely better: the freedom to become what God created and redeemed me to be.⁣
⁣
Paul begins Romans 6 asking, “𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦?” His answer is emphatic: “𝘍𝘢𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘵!” (Romans 6:1–2). Grace does not free us to sin. Grace frees us from sin.⁣
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The world says freedom means having no master.⁣
⁣
The gospel says freedom is finally belonging to the right Master.⁣
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Today, consider what your choices reveal about whom you are obeying. Are there desires, habits, attitudes, or priorities promising freedom while quietly tightening their chains?⁣
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Do not merely try harder to escape them.⁣
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Run to Christ.⁣
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The chains of sin are stronger than our willpower, but they are not stronger than our Savior.⁣

08/30/2026

"Partners in Christ"
Philippians 1:1-11

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08/27/2026

𝐉𝐨𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞⁣
⁣
“𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘗𝘢𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘺𝘮𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.” - (Acts 16:25)⁣
⁣
When Paul received the vision of the man from Macedonia pleading, “Come over to Macedonia and help us,” there was little hesitation. Luke says, “𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢” (Acts 16:10). God had made His direction clear, and they obeyed.⁣
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We might expect such clear guidance to lead to a smooth journey. Instead, obedience led Paul and Silas into trouble.⁣
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In Philippi, God first opened Lydia’s heart to receive the gospel. But soon afterward, a slave girl possessed by a spirit began following Paul and his companions. When Paul commanded the spirit to leave her, her owners became furious because their source of income disappeared. Paul and Silas were dragged before the authorities, beaten with rods, thrown into the inner prison, and fastened in stocks.⁣
⁣
Imagine the questions they could have asked.⁣
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God, You called us here. We obeyed immediately. How did following You lead us here?⁣
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Yet Luke does not record Paul and Silas complaining about their circumstances. Instead, “𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘗𝘢𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘺𝘮𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘎𝘰𝘥.”⁣
⁣
They worshiped God before they knew what God was doing.⁣
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Then suddenly an earthquake shook the prison. The doors opened. The chains fell loose. When the jailer awoke and assumed the prisoners had escaped, he prepared to take his own life. Paul cried out, “𝘋𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦!” (Acts 16:28).⁣
⁣
Soon the jailer was asking the question that changed his eternity:⁣
⁣
“𝘚𝘪𝘳𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥?”⁣
⁣
“𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥” (Acts 16:30–31).⁣
⁣
What had looked like a terrible interruption was part of God's providence.⁣
⁣
God had not lost control when Paul was beaten. God had not abandoned His plan when Silas was chained. The prison was not evidence that they had misunderstood God's calling. God was working through circumstances they could not yet understand.⁣
⁣
And something beautiful grew from those days in Philippi. A church was established there—a church to which Paul would later write from another imprisonment:⁣
⁣
“𝘙𝘦𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴; 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘢𝘺, 𝘳𝘦𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦!” (Philippians 4:4).⁣
⁣
That makes the joy of Philippians even more meaningful. Paul wasn't writing about joy as a man unfamiliar with suffering. He had learned in Philippi that our circumstances do not have to make sense for God's providence to be trusted.⁣
⁣
We often judge what God is doing by what we can presently see.⁣
⁣
This shouldn't have happened.⁣
⁣
This isn't what I expected.⁣
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If God were really leading me, surely things would be going better.⁣
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But Scripture reminds us, “𝘞𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘥” (Romans 8:28). That does not mean everything that happens is good. It means that nothing—not opposition, suffering, disappointment, or even a prison cell—is beyond God's ability to accomplish His purposes.⁣
⁣
Paul and Silas teach us an important response to providence:⁣
⁣
Don't wait until you understand what God is doing before you worship Him.⁣
⁣
Sometimes we will eventually see why God allowed a particular circumstance. Sometimes we may not understand this side of eternity. But we can still trust the character of the One who sees what we cannot.⁣
⁣
The prison may have looked like a detour.⁣
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In the providence of God, it became a mission field.⁣
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So when today's circumstances tempt you to question God's direction, remember Philippi. Don't judge God's providence by the darkness of the midnight hour. Keep praying. Keep singing. Keep obeying.⁣
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God may be doing something through your circumstances that you cannot yet see.⁣

08/25/2026

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭⁣
⁣
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘭𝘺…” — Acts 6:7⁣
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⁣
Acts 6 begins with a problem that could have deeply divided the early church.⁣
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As the church grew, the Hellenistic Jews complained that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food while the Hebrew widows were being cared for. These believers shared the same Savior, but they came from different cultural backgrounds. Old distinctions had followed them into their new life together.⁣
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The apostles did not ignore the problem, nor did the church allow cultural comfort to become more important than Christian love. Instead, they responded with wisdom, humility, and Spirit-led action. Men of godly character were appointed to ensure that the need was addressed fairly.⁣
⁣
Then Luke tells us the result:⁣
⁣
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘭𝘺…” (Acts 6:7).⁣
⁣
Something remarkable happened when believers chose Christlike love over cultural preference. The church did not merely survive the conflict—it became a testimony of the transforming power of the gospel.⁣
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Luke even adds that “𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩.” These were men steeped in the religious system of Jerusalem. Perhaps some had spent their lives drawing lines between people—who was clean and unclean, acceptable and unacceptable, insider and outsider. Yet now they were witnessing a community in which those barriers were being overcome by the love of Christ.⁣
⁣
It reminds us of Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25–37. The priest and Levite passed by the wounded man, while the Samaritan—the cultural outsider—crossed the road to help him. Love required him to move beyond what was comfortable and convenient.⁣
⁣
Jesus had told His disciples that this kind of love would become evidence of their relationship with Him:⁣
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“𝘉𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘔𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴: 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.” (John 13:35)⁣
⁣
We naturally gravitate toward people who are like us. We sit with people we know, talk with people who share our interests, and build relationships with people who make us comfortable. But the love of Christ continually calls us across those comfortable boundaries.⁣
⁣
Sometimes the greatest testimony of the gospel is simply who we are willing to love.⁣
⁣
There are people around us who come from different cultures, generations, economic circumstances, personalities, or life experiences. Christ does not call us merely to tolerate those differences. He calls us to cross the room, begin the conversation, notice the overlooked, welcome the stranger, and serve the person we might naturally pass by.⁣
⁣
Paul reminds us, “𝘋𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴” (Philippians 2:3).⁣
⁣
Acts 6 reminds us that the way Christians treat one another can either obscure the gospel or beautifully display it.⁣
⁣
The early church moved beyond what was natural and comfortable—and “𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.”⁣
⁣
Perhaps someone around us needs to see the same thing today: not simply Christians who speak about the love of Jesus, but Christians willing to cross the boundaries of comfort to demonstrate it.⁣
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Today, ask the Lord: “Who have I been walking past that You are calling me to move toward?”⁣
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Because sometimes the clearest evidence that Christ has changed our hearts is that His love takes us places our comfort never would.

08/24/2026

Yesterday we were reminded from Acts 13:1–5 that the church is not simply a place where we gather—it is a people whom God sends.

As the church at Antioch worshiped, prayed, and fasted, the Holy Spirit called Barnabas and Saul for the work He had prepared for them. The church then prayed, laid hands on them, and sent them out.

The passage reminds us:

God prepares us in His presence.
God calls those He has prepared.
The church releases those God calls.
The prepared are sent with the Gospel.

That same mission continues today. God has placed each of us somewhere—a home, workplace, school, neighborhood, or community—where there are people who need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.

And this week, a team from our church will travel to New York City. But the calling to be sent does not belong only to those getting on an airplane. Every follower of Jesus has been entrusted with the Gospel.

The question for Monday morning is simple:

Where has God sent you today—and who needs to hear about Jesus because you are there?

“So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit…” — Acts 13:4

We gather to be prepared. We go because we have been sent.

I love you, Church!

08/24/2026

𝗪𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐝⁣
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“𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦; 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥.” — Acts 4:12⁣
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Peter’s words in Acts 4 are remarkable when we remember where he was standing. He was not speaking to an interested crowd but before the rulers, elders, scribes, and high priest—the very religious establishment that had rejected Jesus and demanded His crucifixion. Now they wanted His followers silenced as well.⁣
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Yet Peter did not soften the message.⁣
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“𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦.”⁣
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Peter leaves no room for Jesus to be merely one option among many. Salvation is not found in our morality, religious activity, sincerity, or good intentions. It is found in a Person—Jesus Christ.⁣
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Jesus Himself had said, “𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦; 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘔𝘦” (John 14:6).⁣
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But there is another phrase in Peter’s declaration that deserves our attention: “𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥.”⁣
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That little word must exposes the condition of every human heart. Our greatest problem is not that we need to become better people. We are sinners separated from a holy God. Paul writes, “𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥” (Romans 3:23). Sin leaves us with a debt we cannot pay and a righteousness we cannot produce.⁣
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We do not merely need help. We need rescue.⁣
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That is why Jesus came.⁣
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Jesus did not leave heaven simply to give us a better example for living. He came “𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵” (Luke 19:10). At the cross, He bore the judgment our sins deserved. Peter would later write, “𝘏𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴” (1 Peter 2:24). And through His resurrection, Jesus demonstrated His victory over sin and death.⁣
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This is what makes the exclusivity of Acts 4:12 such good news. There is only one Savior—but there is a Savior.⁣
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The question, then, is not whether I am religious enough, moral enough, or good enough. The question is whether I have trusted the One whom God has provided to save me.⁣
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And for those of us who have trusted Christ, Peter’s boldness should challenge us. If Jesus truly is the only name by which people must be saved, then His name is the one name we cannot afford to keep to ourselves.⁣
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Jesus alone saves because Jesus alone did what was necessary to save us.⁣
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Today, may we rest completely in Him for our salvation—and boldly point others to the only Savior they desperately need.

First Baptist Church Pleasanton, TX

09/08/2026

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