First Baptist Church Longview

Why do comparisons so often leave us feeling small, defensive, and desperate to prove our worth? Drawing from the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4, Pastor Collin Bullard explores how the drive to be better than others lies at the heart of pride and can turn feelings of inferiority into resentment and destruction. Rather than chasing superiority, he shows that God invites us to pursue excellence while responding to the gifts and successes of others with admiration and gratitude.

Pastor Collin Bullard explores the tension many believers feel when convictions about sexuality and gender collide with relationships they deeply value. Drawing from the call to walk in both truth and love in 2 John and the example of Daniel living faithfully in Babylon, he challenges the idea that agreement is the measure of genuine love. The central charge is that followers of Jesus can hold firmly to biblical convictions while treating others with compassion, humility, and respect. Rather than trying to control or change people, bear one another's burdens, trust God to work in hearts, and faithfully follow Christ as the perfect union of grace and truth.

Dr. Matthew Eppinette encourages Christians to approach difficult end-of-life questions with a biblical view of human dignity, emphasizing that life remains valuable even in weakness, suffering, and dependence on others. He highlights the importance of compassionate care, community support, and faithful preparation for medical decisions rather than viewing death as a solution to hardship. Throughout the discussion, he calls believers to trust God's purposes and to see meaning even in seasons of suffering.

What do we do when suffering feels overwhelming and the answers never seem to come? Through Job's story, Pastor Collin Bullard shows that God welcomes honest questions while reminding us that suffering is not meaningless. Instead of offering a simple explanation, God meets us in our pain through Jesus and gives us hope beyond death. Trust God's purposes, presence, and promises - even in life's hardest moments.

Looking at how technology continually promises more efficiency, more knowledge, and more time, Pastor Collin Bullard invites listeners to consider a deeper question: what if the goal is not to overcome our human limits, but to embrace them? Drawing from Psalm 8, he reflects on the wonder of a God whose greatness fills the heavens yet who lovingly knows and dignifies people as His image-bearers. True humanity is found not in trying to be like God but in being conformed to Jesus, the perfect image of God who embraced the limits of human life. With that perspective, listeners are encouraged to use technology wisely, protect relationships, cultivate the abilities God has given them, and rediscover the freedom and joy of simply being human.

How do we navigate a world full of complicated questions when everyone seems to have their own version of truth? Pastor Collin Bullard begins in Genesis 3, where humanity's first temptation was not simply disobedience but the desire to decide for themselves what is good and true apart from God. He shows that beneath debates about identity, meaning, technology, and ethics lies a deeper question: who gets to define reality, us or our Creator? Rather than trusting ourselves as the ultimate authority, listeners are invited to receive life, purpose, and truth from Christ, the One who comes seeking sinners with both grace and redemption.

What do you do when you've worked hard, done everything you know to do, and still come up empty? Drawing from John 21, Cam Reynolds reflects on the disciples' fruitless night of fishing and the moment they discovered that lasting fruit comes not from competence or effort, but from listening to and depending on Jesus. He highlights how Christ met Peter at the place of his failure with grace, provision, and restoration, showing that our identity is rooted first in loving Jesus, not proving ourselves. Whether carrying disappointment, regret, or exhaustion, listeners are invited to come to Christ, receive what He provides, and follow Him faithfully without comparing their journey to anyone else's.

What are we really inviting people into when we invite them to church? Drawing from Mark 3, 1 Corinthians 12, and Paul's teaching on the kingdom of God, Pastor Collin Bullard shows that the church is far more than a service or a building. Through Christ, people are welcomed into a family where they belong, a body where they are needed, and a kingdom where they live under a greater King. Listeners are encouraged to experience these realities for themselves and to faithfully invite others to “come sit with me” and discover the life-changing grace of Jesus.

How often do the worries of tomorrow steal the joy and peace available today? Drawing from Philippians 4:4-9, Dr. Randal Lyle reflects on Paul's call to rejoice, pray, and resist anxiety by remembering God's faithfulness. Rather than letting fear of the unknown dominate our thoughts, he reminds listeners that peace grows when we look back with gratitude at the ways God has already provided and cared for us. The invitation is to intentionally practice thanksgiving, trust God's character, and let His peace guard our hearts and minds even when life feels uncertain.

Katie Yoder invites listeners to consider how easily comparison can shape the way we see ourselves and others, often leaving us trapped in insecurity, envy, and the need to compete. Drawing from the story of Leah and Rachel in Genesis 29-30, he shows how a lifelong struggle with comparison led to compromise and conflict, yet God remained faithful through their brokenness. The central truth is that our worth is not found in measuring ourselves against someone else, but in receiving the love and identity God freely gives. As our eyes turn from rivalry and self-validation to the Lord, we can find freedom from the burdens of comparison and learn to rejoice in His purpose for our lives.

Pastor Collin raises a question many people quietly wrestle with: what do we do when someone hurts us and everything in us wants to settle the score? Drawing from Romans 12:14-21, he shows that followers of Jesus are called not only to reject revenge but to actively bless enemies, trusting God to handle justice perfectly. The central truth is that freedom comes when we stop trying to balance the scales ourselves and leave room for God to judge rightly. Through the example of Christ and powerful stories of forgiveness, listeners are encouraged to release old debts, pursue peace where possible, and allow God to overcome evil with good.

Have you ever read Scripture that sounds beautiful on paper but feels impossible to live out in real life? Walking through Romans 12:9–13, Pastor Collin Bullard highlights how the call to sincere love—marked by humility, zeal, patience, and generosity—reveals a standard far beyond what we can achieve on our own. The heart of the message is that genuine, Christlike love is not something we manufacture, but something God produces in us as we stay connected to Him. This leads us to stop striving in our own strength and instead come honestly before God, asking for help and trusting Him to transform our hearts from the inside out.

What if how you see yourself is shaping everything else in your life? In Romans 12:3–8, Pastor Collin shows how the gospel reshapes identity, removing pride and comparison. Each gift is given by grace for the good of others. Embrace humility and faithfully use what God has given you.

This sermon represents the work and research of the author. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was not used at any point in the writing or preparation of this sermon.

This sermon represents the work and research of the author. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was not used at any point in the writing or preparation of this sermon.

This sermon represents the work and research of the author. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was not used at any point in the writing or preparation of this sermon.

This sermon represents the work and research of the author. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was not used at any point in the writing or preparation of this sermon.

This sermon represents the work and research of the author. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was not used at any point in the writing or preparation of this sermon.This sermon benefitted greatly from the insight and structure of G. Campbell Morgan's book, "Mountains and Valleys in the Ministry of Jesus" (New York: F. H. Revell, 1908).

This sermon represents the work and research of the author. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was not used at any point in the writing or preparation of this sermon.

This sermon represents the work and research of the author. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was not used at any point in the writing or preparation of this sermon.

This sermon represents the work and research of the author. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was not used at any point in the writing or preparation of this sermon.

This sermon represents the work and research of the author. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was not used at any point in the writing or preparation of this sermon.

This sermon represents the work and research of the author. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was not used at any point in the writing or preparation of this sermon.

This sermon represents the work and research of the author. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was not used at any point in the writing or preparation of this sermon.

This sermon represents the work and research of the author. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was not used at any point in the writing or preparation of this sermon.

This sermon represents the work and research of the author. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was not used at any point in the writing or preparation of this sermon.

This sermon represents the work and research of the author. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was not used at any point in the writing or preparation of this sermon.

This sermon represents the work and research of the author. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was not used at any point in the writing or preparation of this sermon.

This sermon represents the work and research of the author. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was not used at any point in the writing or preparation of this sermon.

This sermon represents the work and research of the author. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was not used at any point in the writing or preparation of this sermon.