Message Podcast - Faith Baptist Church of Mandarin

The best way to predict your future is to pay attention to where you’re headed. But sometimes, especially when you are coming out of a crisis like our current pandemic, it’s easy to get distracted by what’s on the path. The fear of what you have just experienced can lead you away from the path you ought to be on. So, is there a way back? Come explore the steps you need to take in the days ahead, to move toward God’s destination.

In the 1920s, Charles Ponzi, defrauded investors with the promise of huge returns on their investments. In the end, everyone lost their investments and gained nothing. What spiritual investments have you made during this pandemic? Have you invested in things that have produced growth, or has this been a time a great loss? In this message you will learn biblical strategies that can grow your spiritual life, even during these challenging times.

Too often worship is viewed as a complicated and labor-intensive pursuit. Many have come to believe that in order to worship properly, you MUST meet at a certain place, wear specific clothing, and follow a well-defined liturgy. Yet did God intend for worship to be that complex? Join us as we rediscover the joy and simplicity of worship.

Social distancing, endless media coverage, political statements, handwashing, masks, and online services, have impacted everyone’s life. But how have such things influenced your attitude? Do you find yourself struggling with being negative, impatient, or judgmental? Maybe it’s time to check yourself? In this sermon we will seek to uncover and adjust our heart attitudes.

Physical pain and debilitation have a way of dominating our emotions and actions. In our quest to find relief, it is easy to assume that we know what we need. The truth is that often our felt need is not actually our primary need. Could it be that you have an even greater need?

Most of us understand that freedom is a rare commodity and hard to find. We also know that it comes at a cost and that it is worth it. The question is - "are you really free?" Do you feel trapped and enslaved by your circumstances, job, or past decisions? Does the weight of it make you feel less than free? Today we learn that true freedom of soul and mind is available through Jesus.

Life has a way of leaving us empty. Even though many of our pursuits in life seem fulfilling, at some point they all cease to satisfy. Has life left you thirsty? There was once a woman who came to a well to gather water. There she met Jesus and never thirst again. Are you thirsty?

We live in a world of instant results. Why wait when you can take action? The Apostle Peter could certainly relate to that mentality. Yet, as you examine Peter’s spiritual transformation, it looks more like a journey. And it all began by taking one small step that would eventually lead to a place Peter never imagined. What step does God want you to take?

Skeptics are not new and even existed during Jesus’s time. One of the greatest skeptics of all time was a man named Saul. Saul knew of Jesus. He saw the impact Jesus had on the world around Him. Yet he still did not believe. In fact, Saul sought to harm those who were believers in Jesus. At least, until something truly miraculous happens and his life is forever changed.

Have you ever noticed how the life of a believer is often different than other people? How is it that they have such peace, a purpose, and hope? It’s not just that they are religious; it's more than that. What’s the believer’s secret sauce? What do they have that others don’t?

The darkness of life can impact our faith. It can cause us to question if God is real, if He cares, and even if what He said is true. It might surprise you to learn that a similar dilemma took place on the very first Easter. Things were not going at all according to their plans. But when the sun came up on Sunday morning, everything forever changed!

Can God be good when life is not? When times become dark, they often plunge us into a place of questions we hoped we'd never have to ask. But when you feel broken, abandoned, and struggling to find answers, look for the light. Discover how you can cling to God even when your circumstances are overwhelming. Remember that when times are dark, God sends His light of hope.

On the first Palm Sunday, the world was filled with people, like us, who struggled with being patient. The people had waited a long time for God to deliver them. They had grown tired of waiting and decided that now was the time for God to do something. However, their impatience blinded them to what they were actually doing, and also caused them to miss how God was moving.

After Jesus died on the cross, those who had followed Him expected what everyone expects after someone dies—that they would stay dead. But one of Jesus’ disciples, John, gave an eyewitness account of what happened: Jesus rose from the dead! In this narrative, we see John making the case that Jesus is exactly who He claimed to be, the Messiah, the Son of God. The question remains, do you BELIEVE?

Guest Speaker: Dr. Charles ShoemakerChurch Planting America

Dr. Rick Wheeler