First Baptist Church Tonopah

First Baptist Church Tonopah First Baptist Church, Tonopah is a Southern Baptist church with a deep love for Jesus Christ and reverence for the Holy Bible.

We are a Holy Bible preaching, teaching Great Commission church. Sunday Coffee bar:9:45
Sunday Services:10:30

10/07/2026

34 For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. 36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), Jn 3:34–36.

John the Baptist spoke these words right after he said, "He [Jesus] must increase, and I must decrease." It is a statement that should be true for all of us. Our goal is to exalt Him!

But these last words remind me of a quote I heard the other day: "For the unbeliever, this life is as close as they will ever get to Heaven. For the believer, this life is as close as they will ever get to Hell."

Think about that for a while. Cherish the blessing of eternal life. And cherish the Lord who made it all possible.

10/06/2026

3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

Jn 3:3–8.

It was a big deal for Nicodemus to come see Jesus at night. It was a courageous act by a man more concerned with truth than with his reputation. He truly loved God.

Nicodemus tried hard to understand why Jesus had come. He wanted to know. He was hungry for a word from the Lord. There had been no such word for 400 years!

Jesus told Nicodemus that He came to bring people into the Kingdom of God; the very thing Nicodemus desired (even though he likely misunderstood what that is - like so many today). Jesus told Nicodemus that to be forgiven and enter into God's Kingdom he had to be "born again."

Nicodemus had no idea what Jesus was talking about. So, Jesus said we must be born by water and the Spirit. Churches have done all kinds of gymnastics trying to argue that this is about baptism or a number of other things. I don't think so. I think Jesus answered the confusion on Nicodemus' face with verse 6. Jesus was saying we need a physical birth (a baby is born aftter the mom's "water" breaks) and a subsequent and transformative spiritual birth.

People are still confused about this today. In truth, it is not hard to grasp. Jesus tells this religious leader he needs a radical new beginning that can happen only through a relationship with Him. It isn't about learning certain truths (though we should do that also), it is about trusting, surrendering to, and walking with Jesus in the new life He will show us.

I wonder what was going through Nicodemus' mind as he walked home after his meeting with Jesus. There is evidence that Nicodemus did become a follower of Christ. What will the evidence say about you?

10/04/2026

A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ John 1:30.

If we had heard John the Baptist saying these words, we would have thought he was speaking in riddles that made no sense. But John was not confused. He had great insight into the true nature of God's Son, Jesus.

In these words, John acknowledges the Son's eternal nature. He existed long before John the Baptist, long before He was even born. Jesus was not an ordinary person, even though He was fully human. He is the divine Son of God who came as a human being, to be tempted in every way we are tempted, and then, being sinless, gave His life for our sin.

Jesus was far more than our friend. He is our Lord and Savior, the One who deserves our worship and attentive obedience. Sing His praise today with gratitude and worship.

10/02/2026

16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. (James 5:16-18

If you are like most believers, you may struggle to pray meaningfully. God wants a conversation, not impressive words. Here we are told to confess our sins and pray for our healing. What are we being healed FROM? It is the power of sin to create distance and death in people.

The most powerful weapon we have is prayer. If we are earnest in our prayers, God says He will do great things. Of course, this means seeking His will in all circumstances. Truthfully, we have no idea how much time we have left on this earth. It is up to us to prayerfully go about our struggles, waiting on God's timing The rest is in His very capable hands. We don’t effect change; He does.

Prayer is a gracious gift. God allows us to participate in some of the wonderful things He does. Now, all we have to do is use it.

10/01/2026

13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.
James 4:13–16.

This passage is not forbidding us to plan for the future, for vacations, or for major purchases. Wisdom says that to do so is wise. What is forbidden is to plan for the future without being aware of, and submissive to, the sovereignty of God.

We are to make all plans somewhat tentative with the understanding that the LORD has the final say over our lives. This is why we often add the words, "if the Lord is willing," to our plans.

This is not a morbid, "you know, I could be dead before this happens." Instead, it is living our lives before the Lord's wisdom and sovereign plan. We are to always be ready to change plans or go in a different direction than planned, if so instructed by the Lord. And yes, we are to make plans, realizing the Lord could call us home at any time.

Make your plans. Save your money. But do so with the willingness to give up those plans or put the money into something different if so led by the Lord. He has our best interests at heart.

09/30/2026

The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”
Psalm 91:14–16

God offers this declaration of rescue to his children. Yet, we all know good, solid people who have faithfully called upon the Lord, yet they were not seemingly rescued but died instead.

The key to the promise is these words: "Those who trust in my name." When we trust in His name, we also trust that He knows what He is doing. We think our believing friends were not rescued because they died. But, what if the glories of Heaven are so much more than we imagine (and they are!)? Then, was not God rescuing them, even in their death?

This is why, in times of confusion, fear, or anxiety, I ask myself a very pointed question: "Do you trust God, or don't you?" This puts the matter squarely before me. My instinct is to quickly say, "Of course I trust the Lord." But, do I trust Him even when I don't understand? Do I trust Him in the hard times? Do I trust Him when I feel like I am under attack?

When I answer, "Yes, Lord, I trust you." I hear this whisper in the quiet that simply says, "Well, then put aside your questions and fears, and trust me!"

Point made.

09/29/2026

14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
James 3:14–18.

People take stands for differing reasons. This is true of believers as well. Sometimes we take a stand because we don't want to admit we might be wrong about something. Sometimes we take a stand as a "power move." We may convince ourselves that we are standing for the truth, and we feel quite proud of ourselves for it. Yet I think James contends that such an attitude stems only from "jealousy and selfish ambition," and that the result will usually be "disorder and evil." I would contend that this is at the heart of most church conflicts and splits.

Instead, we should present the truth with gentleness, seek peace, and be willing to yield to others (which I take to mean being open to the possibility that you may be wrong). We should be peacemakers, rather than pot-stirrers.

God cares about the unity of the church. We should as well.

09/28/2026

For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. Jas 3:2.

What a bold statement! Our Tongues (what we say) are vital to our growth in the Christian faith.

Crude speech, gossip, slandering words, defeatist words, unholy words, and false teaching are all ways the tongue can destroy. But it can also destroy our spiritual lives by what we fail to say: a cowardly testimony, an unwillingness to speak up for what is right.

Pay a little more attention to your words today. Hear yourself and then ask: "Is God honored by my words? Do my words indicate growth in holiness or a drift from holiness?

09/26/2026

12 So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. 13 There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. James 2:12–13.

James 2 begins with the observation that we tend to relate to others based on the money or power they have. I don't know why this is. Do we think they will give us money? Do we think we will become more powerful if we hang around those in power? It is silly, for sure.

What is true is that God placed us into the world to impact and to assist those who need more help. This is where real joy is found. This is when we can feel God's smile in response to our actions.

When we treat those who have less with honor, respect, and maybe even deference, that is when we are most like our Father in Heaven! When the Lord came into our lives, we were impoverished by sin. It may have been a time when we had even given up on ourselves. But God did not turn away to "hang out" with the rich and famous. He remains with us, calling us, and loving us.

Take a good look at your spiritual life and realize anew how impoverished you were when you met Him. If He had not pursued us, we would not be His followers today.

Try not to "look past" people today. Instead, relate to everyone with a kind word, a helpful hand, and some sincere encouragement.

09/24/2026

4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
Romans 15:4.

How is your Bible reading? Perhaps you, like me, sometimes run into passages where you must ask, "How is this relevant to me?" as your eyes mindlessly skim the text just to say you read it (or at least saw it).

Paul says the Bible (and he is talking about the OLD Testament) was written to teach us. The Bible is meant to give you hope and encouragement. These stories of faithful men and women are meant to inspire us to serve God with the same tenacity they had.

Open your Bible. Get into the account. Listen to what is said. Apply it to your life. See how God's Word serves as a lifeline, a friend, and some great instruction from our Father in Heaven.

Address

512 Tonopah Avenue
Tonopah, NV
89049

Opening Hours

9:45am - 12pm

Telephone

+17754823373

Website

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