FPC Douglasville

Rev. James Harper preaches on 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 as part of our sermon series, "A Cross-Shaped Life." Life often presents unexpected moments when God's timing intersects with our human plans. These divine interruptions, called kairos moments, occur when God intervenes in our chronos time to accomplish His purposes. Recognizing these moments requires staying alert to unexpected events and maintaining a posture of availability rather than retreating to comfort zones. While God's timing doesn't always align with our preferences and may involve challenges, His interventions are always for our good. Character development often accompanies these divine moments, requiring us to develop virtues like patience and genuine love. Living with awareness of kairos moments means being willing to ask whether God might be working through unexpected circumstances and remaining open to possibilities that stretch us beyond our normal plans.

Rev. Scott York preaches on 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 as part of our sermon series, "A Cross-Shaped Life." Living a cross-shaped life means being motivated by Christ's love rather than personal gain or even future rewards. Paul describes being "beside ourselves" for God - doing things that seem irrational to the world because we serve Christ, not people. When we become new creations in Christ, we need new perspectives that see through gospel eyes rather than worldly ones. We can't bring our old identity and ways of thinking into this new life. As ambassadors of reconciliation, every Christian is called to carry God's message to others, embodying the same spirit of reconciliation that Christ showed us.

Rev. James Harper preaches on 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 as part of our sermon series, "A Cross-Shaped Life." Paul teaches that while our earthly bodies are like temporary tents that wear out, believers have a guaranteed eternal home in heaven. Though we groan under the weight of this broken world's struggles, God has given us the Holy Spirit as a promise of our future restoration. This hope should transform how we live, causing us to walk by faith rather than sight, live to please God alone, and trust in Jesus rather than our own good works. Our physical bodies may be wasting away, but we are being renewed day by day for an eternal future where there will be no more pain, mourning, or death.

Rev. James Harper preaches on 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 as a part of our sermon series, "A Cross-Shaped Life."  Life is like a limited television series with no second season, forcing us to confront what we do with our remaining time. While our physical bodies and inner selves are declining due to sin's corruption, God offers hope through spiritual renewal for those who come to Him through Jesus Christ. This renewal happens through regeneration and sanctification, transforming us day by day. To redeem our limited time, we should focus on four key areas: love more by extending love to difficult people, worship more through regular personal and corporate worship, study more by engaging with Scripture, and self-examine more by honestly presenting our struggles to God.

In this sermon, given on Ash Wednesday, Rev. Andrew Dickinson encourages us to examine our lives with God during this season of Lent. Tune in for this special sermon as we are beginning the season of Lent. 

Rev. James Harper preaches on 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 as part of our sermon series, "A Cross-Shaped Life."  Paul's second letter to the Corinthians reveals three transformative truths about faith and spiritual sight. First, our ability to see Jesus as Savior comes entirely from God's mercy, not our own merit or intelligence. Paul recognized that before his conversion, he was spiritually blind and dead, unable to make spiritual decisions on his own. Second, this understanding of God's mercy should lead us to live with both humility and integrity, pursuing noble goals through honorable means. Third, when we truly grasp that salvation comes through mercy alone, it provides unshakeable strength during life's most difficult trials. Paul's transformation from persecutor to missionary demonstrates that God can open anyone's spiritually blind eyes through His mercy.   family, Bible, sermon, community

Join Sarah Dickinson as she introduces the concept of Examen developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola in which we look to see what God reveals to us about who we are, his love and presence in our lives and what he is calling us to do.

Rev. James Harper preaches on 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 as a part of our sermon series, "A Cross-Shaped Life."  Paul addressed the Corinthian church's confusion about the relationship between the old Mosaic law and faith in Jesus. He explained that Jesus didn't come to add to the old covenant but to fulfill what was incomplete. The new covenant through Christ brings three revolutionary changes: God's presence is now permanent rather than temporary, our hearts are set free from uncertainty about our standing with God, and we are gradually transformed into Christ's image as we live before His face. This transformation happens through living 'Coram Deo' - before the face of God - allowing His presence to change how we speak, act, and think in every aspect of life. Plan a visit to FPC Douglasville where you will find Bible-focused worship, preaching, and teaching, and a great community for adults, teens, and children!  www.fpcdouglasville.org/planavisit

Today you'll get four short messages from four of our senior girls here at FPC!  Tune in as Aubrey Bailey, Trinity Clark, Reagan Bradley, and Payton Lee teach us about four different attributes of God. We know you will be encouraged to hear the wisdom of these young women as they are reflecting on who God is and the impact their faith is actively making in their lives. 

Rev. James Harper preaches on 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 as part of our sermon series, "A Cross-Shaped Life." The Scripture is not included in the podcast this week, so here it is: 12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.   Plan a visit to FPC Douglasville where you will find Bible-focused worship, preaching, and teaching, and a great community for adults, teens, and children!  www.fpcdouglasville.org/planavisit .  

Rev. James Harper preaches on 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 as a part of our sermon series, "A Cross-Shaped Life." Forgiveness is one of the most challenging aspects of Christian living, yet it's essential for spiritual health and authentic faith. Christian discipline should focus on restoration rather than punishment, following Jesus' example of pursuing reconciliation even with difficult people. Unforgiveness creates two prisons: one for those holding grudges and another for those living in shame. When we harbor resentment, we voluntarily lock ourselves in a prison of anger and bitterness, while those who have wronged us remain trapped until someone offers forgiveness. The key to freedom lies in remembering how much we ourselves have been forgiven by God. Plan a visit to FPC Douglasville where you will find Bible-focused worship, preaching, and teaching, and a great community for adults, teens, and children!  www.fpcdouglasville.org/planavisit

Rev. James Harper preaches on 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4 in our sermon series, "A Cross-Shaped Life." Paul faced character attacks from opponents in Corinth who called him unreliable rather than engaging his theological message. His response reveals four principles for handling conflict: expect people to be messy since human nature is flawed, examine your own motives to ensure you're living with integrity, address difficult issues with love rather than avoiding them, and genuinely apologize when you've made mistakes. These principles help us navigate relationships in a way that reflects the gospel's power to love people through their messiness.

Rev. James Harper kicks off a new sermons series through the book of 2 Corinthians: "The Cross Shaped Life."   Paul's letter to the Corinthians reveals powerful truths about finding hope during life's darkest moments. Writing from his own experience of despair in Asia Minor, Paul offers three key insights: suffering is inevitable in a broken world, God promises comfort to those who seek Him, and our pain can become a source of healing for others. Rather than promising an escape from hardship, Christianity offers something unique - a God who enters into our suffering through Christ. Paul encourages believers to find comfort through prayer and Scripture, particularly the Psalms, and to use their experiences of adversity to minister to others facing similar struggles.

Rev. Scott York preaches on Zechariah 3:1-10 as a part of our sermon series, "Prophets Foretold."  Heaven's standard isn't being good enough - it requires perfect holiness. We all fall short, standing before God like Joshua in filthy garments while Satan accuses us. But God promises a divine solution through the Messiah. Jesus took our sin upon himself at the cross and clothed us in his perfect righteousness. We don't need to clean ourselves up first; we come to God as we are and let him transform us. True faith means complete surrender, trusting Jesus as Lord over every area of life.

The scripture for today's reflection is Matthew 7:7-11.

Rev. James Harper preaches on Isaiah 9:1-7 as part of our Advent sermon series, "Prophets Foretold."   Christmas reveals the zeal of the Lord - God's passionate, consuming love that drove Him to send Jesus into the world. Unlike our culture's apathy and indifference, God burns with amazing love for His people. Isaiah's prophecy shows how this divine zeal brought light to darkness, gave us a child who is both fully God and fully human, and established permanent salvation. The antidote to Christmas apathy isn't found in perfect gatherings or gifts, but in praise. When we focus on God's zealous love and give Him the honor He deserves, it generates genuine joy and fulfillment that Christmas was always meant to bring.

The scripture for today's reflection is Psalm 139:7-12.

The scripture for today's reflection is Isaiah 7:10-15.

The scripture for today's reflection is Isaiah 9:2,6-7.

Rev. James Harper preaches on Micah 5:1-6 as part of our Advent Sermon Seried, "Prophets Foretold."   The prophecy in Micah reveals Jesus as both an ancient and future king, showing His eternal nature as the Word of God who spoke creation into existence and His promised return to establish His kingdom. Throughout history, Jesus has been speaking through creation itself, which explains why we feel drawn to something greater when experiencing nature's majesty. Our universal attraction to hero stories reflects God's design, as these narratives echo the true Gospel story of redemption. While we live in a broken world under sin's curse, we can live as citizens of Christ's kingdom by surrendering to His sacrificial love and obeying His teachings, even when they conflict with cultural norms.

The scripture for today's reflection is Isaiah 41:8-13.

The scripture for today's reflection is Revelation 21:23-25.

The scripture for today's reflection is Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14.

Rev. James Harper preaches on Amos 9:11-15 as part of our Advent Sermon Series, "Prophets Foretold."    When everything in life seems to be falling apart, we desperately need hope. The prophet Amos spoke to a prosperous but spiritually broken Israel, promising that God would repair what was broken. Human solutions, even religious ones, cannot fix spiritual brokenness - just as dead people cannot resurrect themselves. God provided the solution through the incarnation, when Jesus took on flesh to rescue humanity. The perfect Son of God was broken on the cross so that broken people could be healed. While we await complete restoration in the new creation, Jesus offers healing for wounded hearts today, inviting us to bring our pain directly to Him rather than trying to self-medicate or fix ourselves.

The scripture for today's reflection is Matthew 7:24-25.

The scripture for today's reflection is Isaiah 53:1-5.

The scripture for today's reflection is John 1:1-5, 9-13.

Rev. Andrew Dickinson preaches on the theme of the Bridegroom from Hosea 3:1-6, as a part of our Advent sermon series, "The Prophets Foretold."   The prophet Hosea's marriage to Gomer serves as a powerful illustration of God's unfailing love for His people. Despite Israel's spiritual adultery through idolatry, God demonstrates His redemptive heart by commanding Hosea to buy back his unfaithful wife from slavery. This costly act of redemption points to the coming Messiah who would pay the ultimate price for our freedom. God doesn't just forgive our sins but offers complete restoration - freedom, dignity, identity, and a place to belong. As we experience the depth of God's love, we learn to desire Him more than the temporary pleasures of sin. Perfect love casts out fear and transforms our hearts to respond with faithful devotion.  

The scripture for today's reflection is Psalm 13.

Rev. James Harper preaches on Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 in the final sermon of our sermon series, "The Search: Questions of Meaning and Purpose." Ecclesiastes challenges our worldly pursuits by showing that life lived purely under secular principles ultimately leads to emptiness. The phrase 'under the sun' describes relying on education, career success, wealth, and achievements for meaning. However, these strategies fail because everything physical ends, our bodies decline, pleasures fade, and we will be forgotten. The solution is to 'remember your Creator' while we still can. This involves returning to God's call, reclaiming our identity as His children, and recommitting to live out our faith. When we choose God, we find purpose that transcends earthly limitations and gain hope for life beyond physical death.

Rev. James Harper preaches on Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 as part of our sermon series, "The Search: Questions of Meaning and Purpose."  Life feels increasingly uncertain, from economic instability to personal struggles, leaving us grappling with how little control we actually have. The book of Ecclesiastes addresses this human experience by revealing our finite nature through vivid imagery of unpredictable weather, falling trees, and the mystery of life itself. While human strategies often fail when our limitations collide with unexpected events, true certainty comes from understanding that God is actively involved in creation and our lives. His providence means He works through all circumstances for good, transforming how we navigate uncertainty. As society becomes more secular, the church offers unique hope to those wounded by worldly philosophies that ultimately fail to provide lasting meaning.

Rev. James Harper preaches on Ecclesiastes 5:8-20 in our sermon series, "The Search: Questions of Meaning and Purpose."    The book of Ecclesiastes reveals that money and possessions cannot provide lasting satisfaction due to our insatiable human appetite, the temporary nature of material things, and wealth's tendency to distract us from real problems. True contentment comes from grounding our satisfaction in God rather than wealth. When properly oriented, money becomes a useful tool that can contribute to happiness through funding experiences with loved ones, buying time for relationships, saving for goals, and giving generously to meaningful causes. The key is displacing money from the center of our lives and replacing it with God, trusting Him to provide for our needs while using wealth as a tool for His glory.

Rev. James Harper preaches on Ecclesiastes 4:4-8 in our series, "The Search: Questions of Meaning and Purpose." Many people find their work unfulfilling despite professional success because they approach it from a worldly perspective. Ecclesiastes warns against two major pitfalls: creating identity through comparison with others and believing our achievements will provide lasting significance. God originally designed work to be meaningful and purposeful, but sin corrupted this plan. However, we can rediscover meaning by shifting our perspective from earthly to eternal purposes. This happens when we leverage our income for kingdom impact through generous giving, invest spiritually in the people around us, and volunteer our unique gifts in ministry. When we align our work with God's eternal kingdom, our daily jobs become platforms for lasting significance rather than empty pursuits.

Rev. James Harper preaches on Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:3 as part of our sermon series entitled, "The Search: Questions of Meaning and Purpose." Life's greatest question - why does God allow suffering - has puzzled humanity throughout history. Despite all our advances, suffering persists, and human philosophies like stoicism, dualism, hedonism, and karma ultimately fall short of providing real answers. The Bible reveals that suffering entered through human sin, disrupting God's originally good creation. However, God hasn't remained distant from our pain. Through Jesus Christ, God entered into suffering Himself, taking on our sin and its consequences out of love. While we see only a small piece of God's plan, like viewing three inches of a tapestry being woven, we can trust that the God who creates beauty is crafting something beautiful from our circumstances.

Rev. James Harper preaches on Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 as part of our sermon series entitled, "The Search: Questions of Meaning and Purpose."  Americans rank 23rd globally in happiness despite unprecedented opportunities for pleasure and material wealth. The ancient book of Ecclesiastes reveals why our common happiness strategies fail us. Pursuing pleasure leads to a hedonistic treadmill where we need more and more to feel satisfied. Accumulating beauty and material possessions provides only temporary fulfillment. Instead, lasting happiness comes through three biblical principles: caring for our physical health as God designed, building meaningful relationships that combat loneliness, and pursuing spiritual restoration through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

Rev. Scott York preaches on Ecclesiastes 1:1-18 to begin our sermon series, "The Search: Questions of Meaning and Purpose."   Life often feels empty when we try to find meaning without God's perspective. Ecclesiastes contrasts living under the sun (without God) versus under heaven (with God's eternal view). When we seek purpose through worldly wisdom, achievements, or human philosophy alone, we encounter the same meaningless cycles described in Scripture. We were designed as eternal beings to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. This dual purpose gives significance to every act of kindness, forgiveness, and sacrifice. Living with an eternal perspective transforms how we view daily choices and challenges, making even difficult Christian principles meaningful.