Anxiety

The human mind is capable of great things! It is better than any computer; impressive in its ways. However, it is also riddled by sin. It forgets. It is selective in what it believes. It desperately needs to be “renewed.” Click to listen to this sermon from Romans 12.

Pandemics, hurricanes, earthquakes – these things SCREAM at us that the world is BROKEN. But why is that? And if it's broken, how did it happen, and when will it be fixed? Click for this encouraging sermon from Romans 8.

Stephen told people the truth. And they killed him for it. The story of Stephen (in Acts 7) is typical in Scripture – a faithful man tells people the truth, and they respond by killing him. But why? Why this ferocity? Why this anger? What did Stephen say that made them stone this gentle, loving … Continue reading The Stoning Of Stephen →

What do you tend to think about? Do you think good thoughts, or bad ones? Do you focus on good things, or bad things? The focus of your thoughts will direct your future. That is the Apostle Paul's warning in today's text in Philippians 4.

Will you stand tall if you face opposition? Standing is easy when there are no forces acting against you. It is harder when you are being pushed or pulled contrary to your will. Click to listen to Week 8 in our study of Philippians.

This world is NOT your home. You may think it is – but in the larger scheme of things, it is absolutely not. It is a short stay. It is a temporary pit-stop on an eternal highway. Click to listen to this reminder that the Christian's “citizenship” is in Heaven.

Your future IS better than your past. There IS hope on the horizon. That's the message of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3, when he talks about “pressing on” toward an encouraging future – no matter how bad your past has been. Click to listen to our latest study in the Book of Philippians.

“Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” What did the Apostle Paul mean in this statement? What kind of “work” was he talking about, and why is it done “with fear?” Click to learn more in Week 4 of our study on the Book of Philippians.

Jesus can relate to what you're going through. Philippians 2 says that He took on our nature and likeness, and experienced our hurts and pains. We refer to this as the “humility” or “condescension” of Christ. However, Philippians not only says that Jesus was humbled, it also says that He was exalted. Click to learn … Continue reading Every Knee Shall Bow (Philippians, Wk. 3) →

What is your purpose in life? Do you even know? If you have a Creator, does He have a say in what you're supposed to be doing? The Apostle Paul certainly believed this. To him, “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Click to learn more in Week 2 of our new series … Continue reading To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain (Philippians, Wk. 2) →

A new MP3 sermon from First Presbyterian Church is now available on SermonAudio.com with the following details: Title: The Question Of Free Will (In Our Salvation) Subtitle: Regeneration, Election, Calvin Speaker: Dr. Toby B. Holt Broadcaster: First Presbyterian Church Event: Sunday Service Date: 6/19/2019 Bible: Ephesians 2:1, Romans 9:21 Length: 41 min. Overview: What is … Continue reading The Question Of Free Will →

Paul was in prison. His situation was terrible. Death awaited. And yet, it was here that Paul wrote the most joyous letter in all of the Bible. How can this be? Join us for the first week in our study on the Book of Philippians.

Jerusalem was going down. The walls would be destroyed. The temple would burn. And the reason this was coming was because the people “did not know the hour of their visitation.” Click to learn why Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem, and what implications this might have for the future.

Our God is a consuming fire – and left to our own devices, we would melt before His gaze. So how will we survive on the day to come? What hope do we have? You see, the world has got God all wrong. They've denigrated His holiness to accommodate their sinfulness. And this is DANGEROUS. … Continue reading Our God Is A Consuming Fire →

Is your conscience bothering you? Do you feel guilty over something you’ve done – perhaps something that nobody else knows? Sometimes our guilt weights us down – even affecting our health. But remember, there is forgiveness. Absolutely. There is forgiveness for you and for whatever it is you’ve done. Click to be encouraged in this … Continue reading Finding Forgiveness: The Baggage Of Unconfessed Sins →

Is Jesus the ONLY way? Why or why not? There are a lot of religions – can Heaven be attained by all of them? Can well meaning people of any faith be saved, as long as they are sincere in their beliefs? And can these questions be answered in an intellectually honest, theologically consistent way? … Continue reading Is Jesus REALLY The Only Way To Salvation →

What does it mean to be “born again?” Is this a real thing? Does something really happen to us when we come to Christ, or is this just a fancy way of referring to our decision to follow Him? Click to learn what being born again is all about in this study of John 3.

A new MP3 sermon from Christ Presbyterian Church is now available on SermonAudio.com with the following details: Title: Predestination (The Potter And The Clay) Subtitle: Regeneration, Election, Calvin Speaker: Dr. Toby B. Holt Broadcaster: Christ Presbyterian Church Event: Sunday Service Date: 7/1/2018 Bible: Romans 8; Romans 9; Romans 9:21 Length: 31 min. Overview: Why does … Continue reading Predestination (The Potter And The Clay) →

-The Lord is my shepherd- I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures- He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul- He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will … Continue reading The Lord Is My Shepherd (Psalm 23) →

The devil is real. And the whole world is under his sway. That was the Apostle John’s exact warning in 1 John 5. With that said, what does the devil’s “reality” mean for you? And presuming that he attacks believers and the church, how does he go about it? Click to listen to our latest … Continue reading The World And The Devil Within It →

A man sows what he reaps. As Paul wrapped up his letter to the Galatians, this was his emphasis. The things that you do and the things that you say will produce some sort of harvest – the question is, what kind will it be? Are you sowing good seeds, or are you sowing the … Continue reading Galatians Summary: The Cross (Galatians, Wk. 10) →

Do you have an appetite for destruction? Do you find yourself doing things that you shouldn’t do, or wanting things that you shouldn’t want? There is a battle that is going on in our flesh. Don’t think otherwise. We do a lot of things that we know are wrong – the question is why? Join … Continue reading The Fruit Of The Spirit (Galatians, Wk. 9) →

Is God your father? Does He love you like a father loves a child, and actively pursue what is best for you? Or are you outside of His family. In the Bible, there is a doctrine called the “doctrine of adoption,” and it is one of the most encouraging teachings in the book. Click to … Continue reading God Is Your Father: Adoption (Galatians, Week 7) →

What’s the point of God’s laws? And how did He come up with these laws anyway – especially the ones that we don’t like or don’t understand? In Galatians 3, the Apostle Paul talks about the purpose of God’s laws and why they are a good and necessary thing. Click to learn more.

People are quick to believe lies. “O foolish Galatians – who has bewitched you?” This was the question that Paul had. He wanted to know who had misled his friends in Galatia. And then he reminded them of the truth of the Gospel, using Abraham as an example. Click to listen to this fascinating study … Continue reading The Lasting Legacy Of Abraham (Galatians, Week 5) →

Paul was angry with Peter – he rebuked him to his face. But do you remember why? The reason is extraordinarily significant. Click to learn more about this crisis in the early church, in this sermon from Galatians 2.

The Israelites and Gentiles had a violent history. The Gentiles had long oppressed the Israelites. There was great hatred and animosity between them. And yet, in God’s time, the Gentiles were to be engrafted into His family. This was amazing grace! But it wouldn’t come easy. Click to listen to Week 3 of our series … Continue reading Amazing Grace: Gospel To Gentiles (Galatians, Week 3) →

Don’t like the message? Attack the messenger. When our predecessors didn’t like the Biblical message, that’s what they did. Prophets, apostles, even Christ himself – all died because of what they had to say. Join us for Week 2 of our study in Galatians.

What is the Book of Galatians all about? The Book of Galatians was an epistle written by the Apostle Paul that contains some of the strongest and most critical statements in all of Scripture. Specifically, it talks about the way that you and I are saved. Click to learn why Galatians is so important (and … Continue reading Are You Saved By Works, Faith, Or Both (Galatians, Week 1) →

Are we in the “end times?” Are we in the “last days?” The Apostle Paul said that the end times would be marked by a great falling away within the visible church, and with the arrival of the “man of sin.” But what did he mean? Click to learn more in this study of 2 … Continue reading The Falling Away (Signs Of The End Times) →

In the center of the Garden of Eden, there were two trees. Now, we usually think of the tree that prompted man’s fall – the tree of the knowledge of “good and evil.” But there was another tree nearby, which Scripture calls the “Tree of Life.” Click to listen and learn more.

When the Devil comes for you or your children, it won’t be the serpent’s fangs that you should fear, but his words. Click to listen to this timely sermon from Colossians 2.

Join us tonight at 6:30PM EST on our YouTube channel (FPC Gulfport) for a livestream of our Christmas Eve worship service. Tonight’s service will include a string quartet, Christmas carols by candlelight, and an encouraging word from the Book of John. Check it out and be encouraged this Christmas season! We’ll see you at 6:30PM … Continue reading NEWS: Christmas Eve Livestream Today 6:30PM EST →

There is a villain in the Christmas story – a villain named Herod. Who was this man Herod, and what did he do that was so bad? Also, what was the Christmas Star and who were the Wise Men? Click to listen to this timely sermon from Luke 2.

A new MP3 sermon from Christ Presbyterian Church is now available on SermonAudio.com with the following details: Title: The King Of Christmas (Hope For The Holidays) Subtitle: Jesus Christ (Person And Work) Speaker: Dr. Toby B. Holt Broadcaster: Christ Presbyterian Church Event: Sunday Service Date: 12/15/2019 Bible: Isaiah 6; Luke 2 Length: 22 min. Overview: … Continue reading The King Of Christmas (Hope During The Holidays) →

Original sin – is it true? Is man born good, bad, or neutral? In other words, does the Bible say that we come into this world innocent, wicked, or as a spiritual free agent? The Apostle Paul taught on this topic at length – click to learn what he said in Romans 5.

“Are you the Messiah, or should we expect another?” Given who John the Baptist was, why would he ask this question of Jesus? What was going on in his heart and mind, and how would Christ respond? Click to listen to this encouraging sermon from Matthew 11.

When the storm hit, the sailors were exactly where Jesus had told them to go. But how can that be if He loved them so much? Storms happen. And sometimes God puts you right in their midst. But He does not leave you alone! Click to listen to this encouraging study of Matthew 14.

Belief or disbelief – either choice comes with reasons. What are yours? If you believe in God (or if you don’t) you may be expected to give a reason for those views. But not everyone can. In this sermon, we consider some reasons for faith in God and His book.

Have you had a bad week? A bad month? A bad year? If so, how do you respond when God’s word says to “make a joyful noise?” How do you respond with praise, when you are unhappy or depressed? How can you be joyous, when it seems like God is so far away? Click to … Continue reading Make A Joyful Noise (Even When Life Is Hard) →

Does it feel like you are drowning? For many of us, our present circumstances are so hard or unpleasant, that it feels like we’re drowning. We can’t seem to escape the situation that we’re in! If that’s you today, then click for this encouraging sermon from Jonah 2.

“Lord, I believe, help my unbelief,” the man cried. Like this man, many of us are living in a tension between that which we believe about God, and that which we doubt. Some doubt God’s person – but more often, we doubt God’s plan. If that’s you, then click to be encouraged in this sermon … Continue reading I Believe, Help My Unbelief! →

Are you in danger of “losing” your salvation? Are you one sin or one bad day away from being cast from God’s presence? If you’ve ever wondered these things, then this sermon from John 6 may provide some answers. Click to listen.

There is a storm on the horizon. There is a storm coming that will leave no man, no institution, and no nation untouched. It is a storm that all other storms point forward to. What will you do when it arrives? Click to learn more in this sermon from Matthew 7.

This is an increasingly dark and despairing world. In the midst of this present darkness, the world needs light, and not just more shadow! But where is that light going to come from? Will it come from you? Or has your life grown dark as well? Click to hear more in this convicting study of … Continue reading Light And Hope In This Present Darkness →

Is your marriage hurting or broken? Have you gone through, or are you considering, divorce? Click to hear what the Bible has to say about God’s view of marriage and divorce in the Old Testament book of Malachi.

What is “mercy ministry?” When someone calls your church in need of help, what happens next? In some cases, it is a referral to some other place or to a civic agency. But that is insufficient. Our love for God and for our neighbors requires something more. Click to listen to this sermon from Deuteronomy … Continue reading Open Hands, Open Hearts (Mercy Ministry) →

Life is hard. Pain is real. And yet, God is there. No matter how hard life may get, God will not abandon you over to it. He walks side by side with His children, hand in hand. Click to hear more in this encouraging sermon from Matthew 4. A new MP3 sermon from First Presbyterian … Continue reading God Has Not Abandoned You →

A new MP3 sermon from First Presbyterian Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Theological Pandemic: The Disease Of Our Day Subtitle: Book Of 1 John Speaker: Dr. Toby B. Holt Broadcaster: First Presbyterian Church Event: Sunday Service Date: 5/13/2020 Bible: 1 John 5 Length: 27 min. Overview: There is a … Continue reading Theological Pandemic: The Disease Of Our Day →

A new MP3 sermon from First Presbyterian Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Coronavirus And The Bible Subtitle: Christian Living Speaker: Dr. Toby B. Holt Broadcaster: First Presbyterian Church Event: Wednesday Study Date: 3/19/2020 Bible: Joshua 1:9 Length: 19 min. Overview: The Coronavirus is here. What does the Bible … Continue reading The Coronavirus And The Bible →

A new MP3 sermon from First Presbyterian Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Hope: Your Story Ends Well Subtitle: Depression Speaker: Dr. Toby B. Holt Broadcaster: First Presbyterian Church Event: Sunday Service Date: 2/22/2020 Bible: Psalm 113, Psalm 113:1 Length: 27 min. Overview: Are you ready to give up? Are … Continue reading Hope: Your Story Ends Well (Be Encouraged) →