First Presbyterian Church of Baton Rouge

In response to the question “Is the Lord among us or not?” simply look to Jesus Christ, Emmanuel , who is God With Us. The Lord may not give us every answer to our questions and our tears this side of heaven. Rather, He gives us Himself. The day is coming, we are told, when every tear will be wiped away, when death and sorrow will be no more. Those griefs and unanswered questions will turn into reunions and unexpected answers that will allow us an even greater measure of joy than we ever could have known otherwise. Oh yes. The Lord is among us.

When we are in the wilderness, we need to think more deeply on who we actually are, and who the Lord is. Slogans from the world such as “you are enough” or “live your truth” won't stand up under the hot sun of suffering. But gathering around the oasis of God's word and letting it sink into our hearts with others will provide help and hope even in the most difficult of times.

Our culture treats the parting of the Red Sea primarily as figurative, thus denying the power of the historical event. The church is prone to believe God's mighty acts happened historically but forget that they have any power for us today. Exodus 14 shows us that we must go forward seeing what is real, and believing in God's glorious name.

The Lord's Passover reveals both the justice and mercy of God. As the final plague falls upon Egypt, God delivers his people through the blood of a spotless lamb, calling them to faithful trust and corporate obedience. The Passover becomes a sign of redemption, belonging, and hope passed from generation to generation. Yet this lamb points beyond Egypt to Jesus Christ, the true Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Through his sacrifice, believers are spared judgment and brought into communion with God and one another. This message calls the church to worship, humility, gratitude, and steadfast faith in God's redeeming grace.

The Lord's Passover reveals both the justice and mercy of God. As the final plague falls upon Egypt, God delivers his people through the blood of a spotless lamb, calling them to faithful trust and corporate obedience. The Passover becomes a sign of redemption, belonging, and hope passed from generation to generation. Yet this lamb points beyond Egypt to Jesus Christ, the true Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Through his sacrifice, believers are spared judgment and brought into communion with God and one another. This message calls the church to worship, humility, gratitude, and steadfast faith in God's redeeming grace.

The plagues of Egypt reveal God's sovereignty over Pharaoh, idols, pride, and rebellion. Through hard heads, hard hearts, and darkness felt, God exposes false worship, calls people to repentance, and demonstrates redemption. The darkness surrounding Jesus Christ shows the ultimate purpose: salvation, light, hope, joy, obedience, and deliverance through his glorious saving work.

The plagues of Egypt reveal God's sovereignty over Pharaoh, idols, pride, and rebellion. Through hard heads, hard hearts, and darkness felt, God exposes false worship, calls people to repentance, and demonstrates redemption. The darkness surrounding Jesus Christ shows the ultimate purpose: salvation, light, hope, joy, obedience, and deliverance through his glorious saving work.

Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush as a foundational conversion experience and a model for how believers meet God in times of uncertainty and transition. God often calls us in moments of discouragement and obscurity, requiring us to "turn aside" from our distractions to notice his presence. The burning bush represents God's holy, purifying nature—dangerous yet life-giving—and reveals that true transformation comes when we slow down enough to encounter the real God rather than a deity of our own making. Through Moses' story, we learn that God equips the unlikely and ordinary for extraordinary missions, and that Jesus Christ serves as the mysterious mediator who allows us to stand in God's holy presence without being consumed. We are challenged to examine our own "wilderness" experiences and trust God's timing, even when it seems inexplicably slow.

Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush as a foundational conversion experience and a model for how believers meet God in times of uncertainty and transition. God often calls us in moments of discouragement and obscurity, requiring us to "turn aside" from our distractions to notice his presence. The burning bush represents God's holy, purifying nature—dangerous yet life-giving—and reveals that true transformation comes when we slow down enough to encounter the real God rather than a deity of our own making. Through Moses' story, we learn that God equips the unlikely and ordinary for extraordinary missions, and that Jesus Christ serves as the mysterious mediator who allows us to stand in God's holy presence without being consumed. We are challenged to examine our own "wilderness" experiences and trust God's timing, even when it seems inexplicably slow.

"He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.""O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"

"He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.""O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"

" When they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs."

" When they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs."

"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good."No horror surpasses what transpired on a hill outside Jerusalem almost two millennia ago. And yet we call it "Good" Friday.

"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good."No horror surpasses what transpired on a hill outside Jerusalem almost two millennia ago. And yet we call it "Good" Friday.

"The hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners."The hour has come. All history hinges on this hour. And it is utterly terrifying. Jesus must decide: will he turn to protect his own skin and soul, or will he stay the course and embrace his Father's perfect and painful will?

"The hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners."The hour has come. All history hinges on this hour. And it is utterly terrifying. Jesus must decide: will he turn to protect his own skin and soul, or will he stay the course and embrace his Father's perfect and painful will?

"Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?"With the previous three days awash in drama—Sunday's triumphal entry, Monday's temple cleansing, and Tuesday's tense exchanges, with the silencing word from Psalm 110—now Wednesday comes like the calm before the storm. This is the day Judas made a deal with the religious officials to reveal to them Jesus' whereabouts on the next day. Judas became a betraying spy within the inner circle of Christ's disciples. 

"Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?"With the previous three days awash in drama—Sunday's triumphal entry, Monday's temple cleansing, and Tuesday's tense exchanges, with the silencing word from Psalm 110—now Wednesday comes like the calm before the storm. This is the day Judas made a deal with the religious officials to reveal to them Jesus' whereabouts on the next day. Judas became a betraying spy within the inner circle of Christ's disciples. 

"The LORD says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool."With each passing hour, Jesus drew nearer to thelion's jays. In just three days, he would be shamed and humiliated, tortured and executed. How did he keep going? On the inside he was singing.

"The LORD says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool."With each passing hour, Jesus drew nearer to thelion's jays. In just three days, he would be shamed and humiliated, tortured and executed. How did he keep going? On the inside he was singing.

" I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

" I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

"Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"Branches are cut from trees, hands are raised in praise, and the most important figure enters the great city for his final week.

"Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"Branches are cut from trees, hands are raised in praise, and the most important figure enters the great city for his final week.

"Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe."Jesus' body in which he died was not only restored to life but changed.

"Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe."Jesus' body in which he died was not only restored to life but changed.

"After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high."Imagine the moment when Jesus first sat down on heaven's throne.

"After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high."Imagine the moment when Jesus first sat down on heaven's throne.

True peace is found not in circumstances but in Jesus Christ, who reconciles humanity to God and to one another. Through his sacrifice, divisions rooted in sin, prejudice, and history are broken down, forming one unified body of believers. Christians are called to live out this peace by pursuing humility, community, and reconciliation, reflecting Christ's work by overcoming hostility and embracing others in love and grace together.

"Behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom."

"Behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom."

"As they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight."Think how it would have been if the resurrected Jesus stayed on earth. There is no way a billion people could relate to him. Even a million believers, we'd be waiting in line our whole lives to speak to him. But in ascending, leaving the earth but staying human, he now can relate to all of us all at once. How? By the gift of the Holy Spirit.

"As they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight."Think how it would have been if the resurrected Jesus stayed on earth. There is no way a billion people could relate to him. Even a million believers, we'd be waiting in line our whole lives to speak to him. But in ascending, leaving the earth but staying human, he now can relate to all of us all at once. How? By the gift of the Holy Spirit.

"God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it."The resurrection of Christ declares even more for those of us who are joined to him by faith. Not only is he unstoppable – so are we. What is the power that is at work in us, even now – we who have faith in him?

"God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it."The resurrection of Christ declares even more for those of us who are joined to him by faith. Not only is he unstoppable – so are we. What is the power that is at work in us, even now – we who have faith in him?

O death, where is your victory?O death, where is your sting?The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

O death, where is your victory?O death, where is your sting?The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

"You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ."Jesus had a physical heart like we all do. “On average 5,000 times each hour” and “Each beat upheld by the hand of his Father, like each beat of your heart.” But this particular heart started beating again! Do you think it was instantly, or did the Father slowly wake him up?  

"You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ."Jesus had a physical heart like we all do. “On average 5,000 times each hour” and “Each beat upheld by the hand of his Father, like each beat of your heart.” But this particular heart started beating again! Do you think it was instantly, or did the Father slowly wake him up?  

Through the cross, Jesus redeems his people like a bride rescued from death. The story of Ruth and Boaz reflects this covenant love, pointing to Christ the Redeemer who gives himself for his church. He rescues us from sin and death, making us his beloved bride and calling us to live in love and hope.

Through the cross, Jesus redeems his people like a bride rescued from death. The story of Ruth and Boaz reflects this covenant love, pointing to Christ the Redeemer who gives himself for his church. He rescues us from sin and death, making us his beloved bride and calling us to live in love and hope.

"You are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption."All springs from the Cross?

"You are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption."All springs from the Cross?