South Haven Baptist Church

In Luke 11, Jesus teaches that real prayer begins when we stop relying on ourselves and finally admit, "I have nothing." This message reveals the blessing that comes when we reach the end of our strength and discover that God truly is everything we need.

Psalm 14 reveals that atheism is not ultimately a problem of evidence...it is a problem of the heart. In this message, we examine how creation, conscience, and God's Word all point to Him, and why rejecting God is ultimately an issue of faith, not facts.

Have you ever been misunderstood? That is exactly what happened in Paul's relationship with the people in Corinth. He had every intention of coming to visit them both before and after his trip to Macedonia, but was unable to make the first visit happen. Some took this as Paul being dishonest or someone who could not be trusted. Through this situation, we not only see how Paul handled misunderstanding and criticism, but also how we can respond when others misunderstand us.

In this Psalm, we could diagnose David with having an "I" problem. He viewed his circumstances through the lens of selfishness, causing him to ask questions that only led him further away from encouragement and understanding. We have the tendency to fall into the same trap ourselves. Thankfully, we also see what David did to get his focus back where it belonged, and in doing so, he discovered the help and perspective he needed all along.

In this Mother's Day sermon, Pastor Tate takes a look at the wild side of motherhood as it is portrayed in the Bible. Through the examples of the ostrich, the hen, the bear, and the eagle, we learn several important and deeply valuable truths about a mother's role, heart, and influence.

As we begin our new series, "Real Church: A Study of 2 Corinthians," we are looking at a group of real believers who had heard a real preacher, had read some real letters from Paul, and were facing some very real problems. Thankfully, God not only had real solutions for them, but He still has real solutions for us today as well.

When the world around us feels unstable, ungodly, and overwhelming, Psalm 12 reminds us that we are not without help...God hears the cry of His people and responds. This message points us back to the unchanging power of God's Word, showing that even in a dark and confusing time, we can trust the Lord to act, protect, and preserve truth.

Fiery trials are not strange interruptions in the Christian life, they are often the very places where God teaches us His faithfulness most clearly. This message from 1 Peter 4 reminds us that trials are not meant to destroy us, but to deepen our faith, strengthen our testimony, and teach us to trust the Lord in ways we never could outside the fire.

At the close of his letter, Paul reminds the church that no matter their struggles, they are surrounded by encouragement, anchored by truth, and sustained by the grace of God. This powerful message will challenge you to examine who you walk with, what you hold onto, and why God's grace is still more than enough for everything you face.

This message reminds us that one simple act of sharing Christ can have eternal impact, just like Andrew bringing Peter to Jesus changed history. Instead of focusing on rejection or fear, we should focus on the incredible potential of what God can do through one faithful witness.

This sermon reminds us that while fear gives us many reasons to run and hide, faith gives us a far better reason to stand and trust the Lord. Though the world's foundations may crumble, God is still on the throne, still righteous, and still watching over His people.

Not every addiction destroys. Stephanas addicted himself to serving God and helping others. When a believer keeps showing up, keeps loving people, and keeps serving Christ, that life becomes faithful, fruitful, and worth following.

Some people won't come back because we're trying to drag them instead of praying for them. The father in Luke 15 didn't chase the prodigal, he trusted God, waited, and welcomed him home. Keep praying. God still knows how to bring prodigals to themselves.

When the psalmist became consumed with the wickedness around him, it made God seem distant, but the Lord had never moved at all. The answer was not in staring at the problem, but in lifting his eyes again to the God who is still present, powerful, and in control.

A moment is coming when every believer will be instantly changed and experience complete victory over sin, death, and the grave. Because of that promise, we must live now with unwavering faithfulness, knowing that everything we do for the Lord matters.

Psalm 9 teaches us to live a life filled with wholehearted praise, trusting God for what He has done and what He will do. Yet the passage also reminds us of a sobering reality that God will judge sin, calling every person to recognize their need for Him.

Everyone in Matthew 28 showed up expecting something, but no one expected an empty tomb. While some embraced the truth and ran with it, others sold it for convenience, and even the faithful struggled with doubt. This message challenges us to stop controlling the outcome, stand firm when truth is costly, and obey God even when we don't have it all figured out.

Because Christ is risen, the believer has the sure hope that death is not the end but the doorway to a glorified, incorruptible body prepared by God. This truth both corrects false doctrine and compels us to live righteously while maintaining a burden to share the gospel with those who do not yet know Him.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, believers have a living hope that is secure through His Word and His blood, giving confidence in salvation and purpose even in the midst of trials. This same resurrection makes us heirs of an eternal inheritance and enables us to live holy lives marked by genuine love for God and for one another.

What if the resurrection never happened? In this message, we move from the despair of that thought to the triumphant reality that Christ is risen, unpacking the preeminence, promise, power, and persuasion that make the resurrection the most life-changing truth you'll ever hear.

From Psalm 8, this message magnifies the excellence of God's name by revealing who He is through His powerful, personal names—our Provider, Healer, and Peace. By walking through Abraham, Moses, and Gideon, the sermon shows that real strength, healing, and peace come not from signs or self-effort, but from trusting God's Word and His character.

The young people of South Haven Baptist Church took care of the preaching and singning during the evening service. Listen and a let it be a blessing to you!

This powerful message from Revelation 12:11 challenges believers to stop living as defeated victims and start walking as overcomers through the blood of Christ and the power of their personal testimony. By drawing from the imagery of the Ark of the Covenant, the preacher reveals that victory over the devil comes through remembering your salvation, trusting God's provision, standing on Scripture, and surrendering your life fully to Him.

This message challenges believers to dig deeper into Scripture, reminding us that God intentionally conceals truths so that His people will seek them out with diligence and hunger. Through powerful examples, it calls us to examine our own hearts, repent of hidden sin, and respond rightly when confronted by the Word—either walking away in pride or humbling ourselves before Christ in repentance.

This sermon powerfully traces the unseen hand of God through history, showing how He raises and turns kings to accomplish His will and bring about His divine plan. It climaxes with a sobering look at the Laodicean church age, warning against lukewarm Christianity and urging believers to wake up, repent, and be ready for the soon return of Christ.

An attempted worship service by the rivers of Babylon reveals how God's people can gather with the right elements...place, people, and even music...yet still fail to truly worship because of bitterness, misplaced priorities, and spiritual dryness. This message challenges us to lay aside excuses, reclaim the "song" God gave us, and return to genuine, Spirit-filled worship before we lose what once stirred our soul.

This sermon is a sobering wake-up call to examine the slow, almost unnoticed spiritual decline that happens when sin, compromise, and misplaced affections creep into our lives. With piercing honesty, it challenges believers to look into the mirror of God's Word and ask, "When did I become someone I don't recognize anymore?"

A powerful warning from the life of Peter shows how a believer can slowly grow cold, through distance from Christ, careless words, and ignoring God's warnings, until they find themselves denying Him without even realizing it. This message challenges every listener to examine their spiritual temperature and return to the fire before coldness leads to devastation.

This message confronts the torment of doubting salvation and points believers back to the unshakable truth of God's Word and the inner witness of the Spirit. It powerfully reminds us that assurance isn't based on feelings or others' opinions, but on a personal, undeniable work of Christ in the soul that you can know for sure.

In Psalm 7, David begins in panic after accusations from Cush the Benjamite, fearing there is no one who can deliver him. But through honest self-examination and trust in God's righteous judgment, David moves from fear to faith, realizing that sometimes the best response is to let God be God and trust Him to defend the righteous.

Even in seasons when God once moved powerfully, spiritual dryness can creep into our lives, but God clearly shows how revival can return. From 2 Chronicles 7:14, this message reveals four simple yet life changing steps: humble yourself, pray, seek God's face, and turn from sin, leading to forgiveness and the healing of your spiritual "land."

This message from 1 Corinthians 15:1–11 brings us back to the foundation of everything in the Christian life...the gospel. Discover why the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are not only the definition of the gospel but also the power that changes lives, proves its truth, and compels believers to live fully for the grace of God.

In Psalm 6, David shows us that even the strongest believers face seasons of deep weakness, exhaustion, and discouragement. This sermon reveals how David responded in those moments, by honestly bringing his weakness to God, crying out for help, and trusting that the Lord hears, receives, and will ultimately give victory.

From James 4, this sermon reveals that the pathway to true revival is not hidden or mysterious, it begins when believers humble themselves before God. Through honest confession of selfishness, willing submission to the Lord, and a renewed desire to draw closer to Him, we discover God's promise that those who humble themselves will be lifted up.

This message from First Epistle to the Corinthians chapter 14 challenges believers to consider how the church should truly function when everything is done "decently and in order." With clear biblical teaching and practical illustrations, the sermon shows how God uses orderly worship to grow believers, edify the church, and reach the lost.

From the final invitation of Book of Revelation to Paul's urgent call in Epistle to the Romans, this sermon challenges us with one piercing question: are you truly an "even so, come" Christian, or are you secretly saying, "not yet"? In a world growing darker by the hour, we are reminded that Jesus is coming at the perfect time, and that truth should radically change how we live, what we cast off, and who we choose to please. If He returned today, would He find you faithful, awake, armored, and ready?

Rooted in Psalms chapter 5, this sermon reveals what happens when you stop staring at your problems and start looking up to God. David's circumstances did not immediately change, but his perspective did. He was reminded that the wicked will not ultimately prosper and that God pours out multitudes of mercy on those who trust Him. If you feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or unsure what to do next, this message will challenge you to look in the right place and rediscover both confidence and joy in the Lord.

In First Corinthians 14:1–19, we noted that the word "unknown" appears five times in front of "tongue," each time italicized, reminding us those words were supplied and urging us to study carefully. Paul's point is clear: what matters most is edification. He would rather speak five words that can be understood than ten thousand that leave people confused. God is not interested in spiritual showmanship but in strengthening His church. Clear, understandable truth that can be applied will always accomplish more than impressive words no one understands.

Sunday we looked at 1 Corinthians 13, often called the "love" or "charity" chapter of the Bible. In these powerful verses, the Lord reminds us that faith, hope, and charity are essential in the Christian life, but the greatest of these is charity. Do we truly agree with God's Word about that? If charity is the greatest, does our life reflect it?

You can read Job 1:13–19 in about a minute. In that single minute, everything in Job's life changed. What do you do when a phone call, a diagnosis, or a sudden loss turns your world upside down? How should a Christian respond when life shifts without warning? We looked at four powerful truths from Job's response that show us how to stand firm when one minute changes everything. If you are walking through a hard season, or want to be prepared for when it comes, I encourage you to listen to the full message. It may help you face your next minute with faith.

This past Sunday morning, we looked at the words the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:12. Paul declared, "I am persuaded," showing a settled confidence and a firm decision to trust and serve the Lord no matter the circumstances. We were reminded that Paul's persuasion did not come from a "what," but from a "Who." His confidence was rooted in the Person of Jesus Christ. Paul knew whom he had believed. Just as Paul was persuaded, we too must come to a place where our minds are made up. Not because of what we gain, but because of who He is.

This past Sunday, we looked at Psalm 4, a psalm meant to be accompanied by stringed instruments, often referred to as "Neginoth." In this psalm, we hear David cry out to the Lord in his distress. David's peace did not come when the people causing trouble in his life stopped their actions. His peace came as he counseled himself with the truths found within the psalm. As he reminded himself of who God is and what God does, his heart moved from turmoil to trust. Just like David, we can experience true peace—not when our circumstances change, but when we anchor our hearts in the truth of God's Word.

So far, we have learned who gives spiritual gifts to the believer and why those gifts are given. In this final part of our study, we will examine what the spiritual gifts are and how we can discern which ones God has given to us.

Have you ever played the game "Would You Rather?" the one where you're forced to choose between two options, even when neither seems ideal? As Christians, there's a much deeper question we all must face: Would we rather live at peace with Satan, or live with the power of God on display in our lives? Are we willing to choose the second option, even if it means experiencing opposition, pressure, and spiritual attack?

Psalm 3 was written during one of the most difficult seasons of David's life, when he was on the run from his own son, Absalom. Even in the hardest moments, we see that it is still possible to have a song. As we walk through this Psalm, we discover a clear progression that moves David from doubt and discouragement to a place of praise and peace. Just like David, we can experience that same journey in our own lives.

Last night, after a brief delay, we were finally able to have our Vision Sunday during our Wednesday night service. Pastor Tate shared the theme and vision for South Haven Baptist Church as we look ahead to 2026—and the theme is "Launch Out!" From Luke 5, we were reminded of powerful truths that can help every Christian take that next step of faith, just as Peter did when Christ gave the command to launch out. We're excited about what God is doing and what lies ahead for our church family!

In this second message on Spiritual Gifts, we examined Paul's picture of the body and its many members. Though each member serves a different function and exercises different spiritual gifts, true unity is found through the work of the Holy Spirit. While many focus on what the spiritual gifts are, this message challenged us to also consider why God gave these gifts to the church, to strengthen the body, promote unity, and bring glory to Him.

What if you had already seen your last tomorrow? James reminds us not to put things off until tomorrow, because tomorrow is never promised. If today were your last day, how would that change the way you live right now? In yesterday's sermon, "Your Last Tomorrow," Pastor Tate shared three essential truths we must know so we can live each day with urgency, faith, and obedience. Missed the message or want to listen again? We'd love for you to hear it.

What are spiritual gifts? What dangers arise when believers are ignorant of them? How does a believer receive spiritual gifts, and what are we meant to do with them? Listen to the sermon to find answers to these important questions.

We're often encouraged to trust God with the big things in life, and we should. But what about the little things? And what if that "little thing" is actually your last thing? Would you still be willing to trust God with it?

This Psalm begins with a question, unfolds with an explanation, and ends with a bold declaration. Along the way, we hear three distinct voices speaking, only one is worth listening to. Which one will you choose?