Cartersville First Baptist Church

It has been said that Acts is the story of what happens in between prayer meetings. In Acts 12:1-25 the church earnestly prays, and their prayer flexes the omnipotent arm of Almighty God! Prayer is our power! Prayer pours out God’s power in our lives. How’s your prayer life?

As the Jerusalem church is dispersed, they fall into disobedience in regards to sharing the Gospel to the gentiles. It’s the church at Antioch that takes on the challenge and opens the door for the gentiles to be included in the faith. As a result, the Lord’s hand is upon them and the Kingdom of God is advanced.

Life changes like the weather. Life is not all green pastures and still waters. Life includes times of the valley of the shadow of death. Psalm 23 is a psalm for the shadows. Here we are reminded in times of trouble that we have a Shepherd who has promised to meet all our needs. His power provides for all our needs. His presence protects us from all fear. His preparations produce blessings now and forever! Can you with absolute confidence claim Lord as your shepherd?

Don’t you love it when a plan comes together? We sure do because life can eat our best plans for breakfast! Unlike our plans, God’s plans always come together! Therefore, what really matters in life is whether or not you are in or out of God’s plan. In Acts 10:1-48 we learn what puts us in God plan and what puts us out. God shows no partiality! God’s plans always come together. Prayer puts us in God’s plan. Our partiality puts us out!

Acts 9:32-43 tells the story of two problems. These two earthly problems had a heavenly purpose. Peter saw their purpose because he has his “glasses” on! He saw earthly problems through the eyes of the Holy Spirit! Such sight transformed Peter’s coming and going from ordinary to extraordinary. This text teaches us that God wants our going to accomplish His goals! Our earthly problems have a heavenly purpose! Can you see it?

Acts 9:1-31 is the single most well-known story in the book of Acts. Saul gets saved and learns that he is a chosen instrument of God. You may not have had a “Damascus Road Experience” like Saul did when he was saved—but if you’ve been saved you too are a chosen instrument of God to carry His name before ___________ (you fill in the blank). Have you realized you are an instrument? Have you realized your purpose in life? Are you ready to tell God, “Here I am, Lord!”?

What did it take to move the Gospel outside the city limits of Jerusalem? The answer might surprise you! In Acts 8:1-25 we see that persecution didn’t slow the Gospel—it sped the Gospel! In fact, nothing propels the Gospel more than persecution! Furthermore, this text also reminds us of five truths:  Every Christian is a Witness.  The Gospel brings Joy wherever it Goes. Nothing God has is for Sale! As the Gospel Goes there will Always be both True and False converts. The True Gospel Demands Everything! 

What does it take for a Christian to live a life worthy of the calling?  Join pastor Steven as he reminds us from the book of Ephesians that the secret is for us to remember how we came to Christ – totally abandoning our former way of life and putting on the new self which is created in righteousness and holiness.

Do you want to be a world changer? What is the single-greatest thing you can do to change the world? WITNESS! Witnessing changes the world! Yes, witnessing for Jesus will generate opposition. Yes, witnessing for Jesus will require speaking in the face of opposition. Yes, witnessing for Jesus is worth dying for by the hands of the opposition. Why? Because our witness changes the world!

Join Pastor Drew as he takes a look into the story of Acts 6:1-7 where a problem arose in the Jerusalem church and the Apostles were tasked with appointing a group of men to be part of the solution to the problem. The appointment of these men was part of God’s plan to create an opportunity for people to lead by serving the church through various ministries. Check out this message to find out how God allowed something incredible to happen as a result of solving the problem!

The resurrection of Jesus is the most revolutionary moment in all of history! The fact that Jesus is alive changes everything! His Gospel—the good news of his life, death, burial, and resurrection—changes everything! Has everything changed for you?

Acts 5:1-16 teaches us that the fear of God fuels the mission of God. These verses contain one of the most unusual accounts in the New Testament. God has commissioned His church to speak the Gospel. Meanwhile, Satan is doing everything within his power to prevent it. Satan has tried outside opposition. Now he deploys the tactic of inside deception. The Holy Spirit acts swiftly to protect the purity of the church, for where there is no purity there is no power.   The Holy Spirit’s actions restore a proper fear of God. This fear of God produces purity and purity restores power. Thus, from Acts 5:1-16 we see that the fear of God fuels the mission of God.

What does a church look like when the Holy Spirit is fully and freely at work? Acts 4:32-37 shows us! Here we see that the evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit is INTERNAL UNITY and EXTERNAL POWER. Internal unity produced radical generosity in the church and external power to share their story outside the church. This text challenges to consider the source of our SECURITY and the power of sharing our STORY.  What is your security in? Are you sharing your story of following Jesus with others?

What is the Holy Spirit all about? Why has God given us His Holy Spirit to live within us? Acts 2:1-41 shows us that God gave us His Spirit to empower us to accomplish His mission. This mission is be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. In this sermon we see that the primary purpose of being filled with the Spirit of God is so that we have the power to speak the Word of God.

Casualties in the Christian faith can be confusing. Just think about Judas. If one of Jesus’ own disciples was a casualty—is Jesus’ plan legit? Is God really in control? The account of Acts 1:15-26 reveals that casualties will occur, but that God’s plan cannot be stopped. There will be both frauds and failures along the way—but faith that stands up is possible by God’s grace!

God’s question for you and me is, “Can I get a witness?” As followers of Christ our identity and mission are summarized in just one word, “WITNESS.” The Book of Acts is the story of God empowering His church by His Spirit to be His witnesses. Witnessing happens ONE gospel conversation at a time. Who’s your ONE? As witnesses we win by the word of our testimony!

Life happens to all of us. How do you respond when life goes wrong? The book of Job teaches us how to respond wisely when life hurts. In the midst of life’s pain, Job points us to the unchanging wisdom, power, and goodness of God. Job is a book intended to lifeproof your faith.

In this 2nd message on three threats to your faith Solomon shows the futility of looking for life in the things of this world. Solomon experienced everything life under the sun had to offer and ultimately found it bankrupt. It offered no lasting satisfaction. In the end, Solomon discovers the secret of getting a life.

The Song of Solomon presents us with the design and delight of one of God’s most precious gifts love, marriage, romance, and the right expression of our sexuality. This gift from God is very good, but it can also be very dangerous when participated in outside of God’s design and timing. In this sermon, Dr. Walker presents God’s plan for our sexuality and how to pursue it God’s way.

Christmas is a miracle! God became a man for me and you! Have you received this miracle? Is your life a living witness to this miracle? Are you living in the grace upon grace this miracle provides? Do you daily marvel at the miracle of the God-Man?

In John 1:1-5 we encounter one of the most concise explanations of who Jesus, the God-Man, is and why He alone offers life to the world. Is Jesus your life? Do you treasure him? Above all, Jesus wants you to know him and treasure him.

The Son is Supreme! Jesus, the God-Man made everything, sustains everything, and is making all things new. Jesus is the supreme center of all reality. What reality are you living in? Is Jesus the supreme center of your life? 

Hebrews 1:1-4 presents us with the wonders of Jesus Christ—the God-man! More than any other text, Hebrews 1:1-4 tells us that Jesus is God’s final word. All God wanted to say to us He said in His Son. The question is . . . are you listening to and living for God’s final Word?

The economy of the Kingdom of God stands in stark contrast to the economy we know on earth. As partners in the Gospel God has called us to live by His economy. Here in Philippians 4:10-23 Paul gives us the “secrets” of living on earth by heaven’s economy.

What does Gospel partnership look like in action? What does it mean for us practically in our everyday lives? Philippians 4:1-9 commands us to put our faith into practice, provides specific instructions, and describes the supernatural blessings that accompany active obedience.

Every single person on the planet is pursuing and progressing in something. What are youpursuing? What are you progressing in? In Philippians 3:12-21 Paul tells us that as partners inthe gospel our ultimate pursuit must be knowing Jesus Christ. Salvation brings us into apersonal relationship with Jesus. The Christian life is all about progressively knowing Jesus moreeach day. Is Jesus your one, ultimate pursuit?

The Christian's foundation is an understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and throughout time, others have come along to tweak or change the Gospel altogether. In Philippians 3:1-11, Paul warns the church against this danger while reminding them of the principles that make us all true believers.

In Philippians 2:19-30 we encounter three examples of faithful gospel partners:Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus. These partners send and/or are sent for thesake of the Gospel. There is no sitting on the sidelines. Partners in the gospelmust actively participate in the gospel by sending or being sent for the good ofothers.

As Christians and partners in the Gospel our salvation is truly and completely a work of God. And yet, our calling is to participate by living out what God has worked in us. Working out our salvation means living purely and pouring ourselves out by God’s power for the Gospel and the good of others.

In Philippians 2:1-11 Paul reveals the path of progress in the Gospel. This path is the pattern of Jesus’ example. Jesus humbled himself before he was exalted. In humility Jesus came to unite us in a right relationship with God the Father. Our progress in the Gospel is unity through humility!

In this message, Pastor Drew challenges us to ask the question "Are we behaving like a Christian should?"

In this introductory message from Philippians 1:1-11 Dr. Walker proclaims God’spromise of the Gospel and our partnership in the Gospel. These verses remind usthat partnership in the Gospel is the greatest privilege on the planet.

This week Dr. Walker continues our focus on "First Things" from 2 Peter 1:3-11. God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. Our diligence, however, is required in our for our faith to be fruitful and effective for the Kingdom of God. This week we see how self-control, steadfastness, and godliness are to be cultivated in our lives by God's power.  

2 Peter 1:3-11. After giving us everything we need for life and godliness, God calls us as Christians to cultivate our faith for the sake of fruitfulness. This sermon is part 1 of 3 on how we cultivate our faith and make our lives count for the Kingdom of God. 

Revelation 19:1-21 - In this sermon Dr. Walker unpacks the last portrait the Bible paints of Jesus. This text answers the question, "Who is Jesus?"

Matthew 28:16-20. In this sermon Dr. Walker explains and applies the mission Jesus has entrusted to every believer until he returns--The Great Commission. No matter who we are, what we do,  or where we live--as Christ followers our mission is to make disciples!

Matthew 22:39-40; Luke 10:25-37 | This week Dr. Walker proclaims and explains the second great commandment--love your neighbor as yourself.

The good news of the Gospel is the truth that a person can be born again and enter the Kingdom of God all because God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. In this message, Dr. Kyle Walker explains what is perhaps the most well-known verse in the Bible. This text proclaims the love God has for us and calls us to respond.

In this message from John 3:1-15 Dr. Kyle Walker explains Jesus' answer to the question, "What does it take to enter the Kingdom of God." In the course of his conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus declares the truth that a person must be born again in order to enter the Kingdom of God. The good news of the Gospel is that we can be born again!