First Fairhope | Sermons

Life brings unexpected storms that can feel overwhelming and beyond our control. The story of Noah and the flood teaches us where to find refuge during these difficult seasons. When floods come in our lives, we need to enter four arks: God's Word, which provides our foundation and guidance; God's judgment, which refines and strengthens our faith; God's people, who offer support and community; and God's presence, which sustains us even in the darkest moments. Instead of trying to navigate life's storms alone, we must trust God's direction and find safety in these four arks He has provided.

As a new year begins, we often look ahead with hope—or anxiety—wondering whether the coming days will truly be “happy.” In Psalm 103, David redirects our focus by calling his own soul to remember the Lord and His benefits. Rather than anchoring joy in changing circumstances, David roots confidence in the unchanging character of God.The psalm reminds us that the past matters, not because we dwell there, but because it reveals God's faithfulness—He forgives, heals, redeems, and crowns His people with steadfast love. At the same time, the future matters, not because it is predictable, but because it belongs to a God who renews strength and satisfies His people with good things.Ultimately, the key truth emerges: who we know is more important than what we face. Circumstances may shift, health may falter, plans may change—but those who are securely held by Jesus can face a new year with genuine hope. The answer to the question, “Happy New Year?” is found not in the calendar, but in Christ. It is a happy new year for all who are in the grip of Jesus.

Paul's experience of giving thanks during a life-threatening storm at sea reveals how faith can transformour darkest moments. While trapped in a hurricane for two weeks, Paul shared a meal that echoed theLord's Supper, demonstrating that we can find gratitude even in crisis. Storms have a unique way ofclarifying what truly matters, stripping away everything nonessential and revealing our core values. Theyalso create opportunities for genuine community, as Paul invited everyone on the ship to share the mealtogether. Most remarkably, God can use our storms to accomplish His purposes, just as this very storm wasblowing Paul exactly where he needed to go to fulfill his mission.

Paul's experience of giving thanks during a life-threatening storm at sea reveals how faith can transformour darkest moments. While trapped in a hurricane for two weeks, Paul shared a meal that echoed theLord's Supper, demonstrating that we can find gratitude even in crisis. Storms have a unique way ofclarifying what truly matters, stripping away everything nonessential and revealing our core values. Theyalso create opportunities for genuine community, as Paul invited everyone on the ship to share the mealtogether. Most remarkably, God can use our storms to accomplish His purposes, just as this very storm wasblowing Paul exactly where he needed to go to fulfill his mission.

The early church provides powerful examples of faithful and unfaithful giving through Barnabas and Ananias and Sapphira. Barnabas demonstrated Spirit-led generosity that became the foundation for his world-changing ministry, while Ananias and Sapphira's deception served as a warning about lying to the Holy Spirit. Faithful giving flows from three key principles: it's a disposition of the heart rather than a calculated decision, it's motivated by love for the church body rather than personal impulses, and it's directed by the Holy Spirit rather than driven by emotions. Our giving patterns reveal what we truly believe about God's ownership, provision, and trustworthiness. When we give faithfully like Barnabas, we position ourselves for greater ministry opportunities and align our hearts with God's purposes.

The early church provides powerful examples of faithful and unfaithful giving through Barnabas and Ananias and Sapphira. Barnabas demonstrated Spirit-led generosity that became the foundation for his world-changing ministry, while Ananias and Sapphira's deception served as a warning about lying to the Holy Spirit. Faithful giving flows from three key principles: it's a disposition of the heart rather than a calculated decision, it's motivated by love for the church body rather than personal impulses, and it's directed by the Holy Spirit rather than driven by emotions. Our giving patterns reveal what we truly believe about God's ownership, provision, and trustworthiness. When we give faithfully like Barnabas, we position ourselves for greater ministry opportunities and align our hearts with God's purposes.

God's sovereignty means nothing exists apart from His relationship, nothing happens outside His purposeful activity, and nothing can thwart His gracious design in Christ. The apostles in Acts 5 demonstrate how we can live fearlessly despite opposition because God's plans cannot be stopped, as proven by Christ's resurrection. We don't need to fear failure because when we align with God's will, ultimate victory is assured. We don't need to fear inadequacy because God uses ordinary people and His strength is made perfect in our weakness. We don't need to fear pain because opposition often confirms we're walking in obedience, and suffering for Christ's sake is an honor that makes us more like our Savior.

God's sovereignty means nothing exists apart from His relationship, nothing happens outside His purposeful activity, and nothing can thwart His gracious design in Christ. The apostles in Acts 5 demonstrate how we can live fearlessly despite opposition because God's plans cannot be stopped, as proven by Christ's resurrection. We don't need to fear failure because when we align with God's will, ultimate victory is assured. We don't need to fear inadequacy because God uses ordinary people and His strength is made perfect in our weakness. We don't need to fear pain because opposition often confirms we're walking in obedience, and suffering for Christ's sake is an honor that makes us more like our Savior.

Many Christians struggle to find spiritual energy and joy to share their faith because they misunderstandrepentance as God's anger rather than His love. True repentance is a continuous lifestyle of turning towardGod, motivated by His desire for our good and His glory. Using Psalm 51 as a model, loving repentanceinvolves three key elements: love forgives completely, love restores what sin has broken, and love teachesus to become witnesses of God's mercy. One major obstacle to spiritual vitality is harboring bitterness,which grows in darkness and steals our joy. When we practice loving repentance and release bitterness, webecome energized witnesses who naturally want to share God's transforming love with others.

Many Christians struggle to find spiritual energy and joy to share their faith because they misunderstandrepentance as God's anger rather than His love. True repentance is a continuous lifestyle of turning towardGod, motivated by His desire for our good and His glory. Using Psalm 51 as a model, loving repentanceinvolves three key elements: love forgives completely, love restores what sin has broken, and love teachesus to become witnesses of God's mercy. One major obstacle to spiritual vitality is harboring bitterness,which grows in darkness and steals our joy. When we practice loving repentance and release bitterness, webecome energized witnesses who naturally want to share God's transforming love with others.

In Acts 3:19, Peter promises times of refreshing that come from God's presence after repentance. This unique biblical phrase describes the moment when our deepest spiritual thirst is finally satisfied and we experience incredible relief from life's burdens. God desires to pour out His fullness on us, but we often don't truly want it because it requires complete transformation. Revival comes through Jesus Christ alone and demands two crucial steps: repenting (changing our mind about what truly matters) and returning (making a 180-degree turn toward Christ). To experience God's refreshing presence, we must abandon worldly priorities and surrender completely to His lordship.

In Acts 3:19, Peter promises times of refreshing that come from God's presence after repentance. This unique biblical phrase describes the moment when our deepest spiritual thirst is finally satisfied and we experience incredible relief from life's burdens. God desires to pour out His fullness on us, but we often don't truly want it because it requires complete transformation. Revival comes through Jesus Christ alone and demands two crucial steps: repenting (changing our mind about what truly matters) and returning (making a 180-degree turn toward Christ). To experience God's refreshing presence, we must abandon worldly priorities and surrender completely to His lordship.

Acts 2 reveals the essential pattern for all believers: being filled with the Spirit and formed by the Word. The early church positioned themselves through prayer, waiting expectantly, and immersing themselves in Scripture. Being filled with the Spirit means allowing God's Spirit to control our lives, bringing creation out of uncreation and light out of darkness. When we're truly filled with both Spirit and Word, we naturally share the Gospel with others in ways they can understand. This pattern—positioning ourselves, being filled, and then sharing—remains our model for authentic Christian living today.

Acts 2 reveals the essential pattern for all believers: being filled with the Spirit and formed by the Word. The early church positioned themselves through prayer, waiting expectantly, and immersing themselves in Scripture. Being filled with the Spirit means allowing God's Spirit to control our lives, bringing creation out of uncreation and light out of darkness. When we're truly filled with both Spirit and Word, we naturally share the Gospel with others in ways they can understand. This pattern—positioning ourselves, being filled, and then sharing—remains our model for authentic Christian living today.

The Church in Acts wasn't just a crowd—it was a calling. A Spirit-filled movement of people living in unity, mission, and power. In this series, we'll rediscover what it means to be the body of Christ today: not just gathering, but going; not just believing, but becoming. Let's learn to see the Church as God intended—and be the Church the world needs.

The Church in Acts wasn't just a crowd—it was a calling. A Spirit-filled movement of people living in unity, mission, and power. In this series, we'll rediscover what it means to be the body of Christ today: not just gathering, but going; not just believing, but becoming. Let's learn to see the Church as God intended—and be the Church the world needs.

In them you can find out what God is like.You can run to them in the cold storms of lifeThey are deep. They are difficult.They help make life work.They are real prayers working out real issues with a real God.They are the PsalmsSummer in the Psalms

In them you can find out what God is like.You can run to them in the cold storms of lifeThey are deep. They are difficult.They help make life work.They are real prayers working out real issues with a real God.They are the PsalmsSummer in the Psalms

In them you can find out what God is like.You can run to them in the cold storms of lifeThey are deep. They are difficult.They help make life work.They are real prayers working out real issues with a real God.They are the PsalmsSummer in the Psalms

In them you can find out what God is like.You can run to them in the cold storms of lifeThey are deep. They are difficult.They help make life work.They are real prayers working out real issues with a real God.They are the PsalmsSummer in the Psalms

In them you can find out what God is like.You can run to them in the cold storms of lifeThey are deep. They are difficult.They help make life work.They are real prayers working out real issues with a real God.They are the PsalmsSummer in the Psalms

In them you can find out what God is like.You can run to them in the cold storms of lifeThey are deep. They are difficult.They help make life work.They are real prayers working out real issues with a real God.They are the PsalmsSummer in the Psalms

In them you can find out what God is like.You can run to them in the cold storms of lifeThey are deep. They are difficult.They help make life work.They are real prayers working out real issues with a real God.They are the PsalmsSummer in the Psalms

In them you can find out what God is like.You can run to them in the cold storms of lifeThey are deep. They are difficult.They help make life work.They are real prayers working out real issues with a real God.They are the PsalmsSummer in the Psalms

In them you can find out what God is like.You can run to them in the cold storms of lifeThey are deep. They are difficult.They help make life work.They are real prayers working out real issues with a real God.They are the PsalmsSummer in the Psalms

In them you can find out what God is like.You can run to them in the cold storms of lifeThey are deep. They are difficult.They help make life work.They are real prayers working out real issues with a real God.They are the PsalmsSummer in the Psalms

In them you can find out what God is like.You can run to them in the cold storms of lifeThey are deep. They are difficult.They help make life work.They are real prayers working out real issues with a real God.They are the PsalmsSummer in the Psalms

In them you can find out what God is like.You can run to them in the cold storms of lifeThey are deep. They are difficult.They help make life work.They are real prayers working out real issues with a real God.They are the PsalmsSummer in the Psalms

In them you can find out what God is like.You can run to them in the cold storms of life.They are deep;They are difficult. They help make life work.They are real prayers working out real issues with a real GodThey are the PsalmsThis is the Pastor's Summer Teaching Series: Summer in the Psalms

In them you can find out what God is like.You can run to them in the cold storms of life.They are deep;They are difficult. They help make life work.They are real prayers working out real issues with a real GodThey are the PsalmsThis is the Pastor's Summer Teaching Series: Summer in the Psalms

In them you can find out what God is like.You can run to them in the cold storms of life.They are deep;They are difficult. They help make life work.They are real prayers working out real issues with a real GodThey are the PsalmsThis is the Pastor's Summer Teaching Series: Summer in the Psalms

In them you can find out what God is like.You can run to them in the cold storms of life.They are deep;They are difficult. They help make life work.They are real prayers working out real issues with a real GodThey are the PsalmsThis is the Pastor's Summer Teaching Series: Summer in the Psalms