Our guest preacher Dr. David Sapp shares with us from 1 Corinthians 13:13 and Matthew 22:34-40 in a message titled "How to Write a Love Story." It's a simple and powerful word on how to love God and love our neighbor.
Dr. Paul Wallace shares with us from Isaiah 41:17-20 in a message titled, "Trees of Life." Paul speaks about seasons of waiting, discomfort, and the hopeful fruit those seasons can yield. -- First Baptist Church of Decatur is a vibrant, progressive, and active faith community committed to helping people follow in the way of Jesus Christ. You can learn more about FBCD by visiting us online: fbcdecatur.com
Craig Taylor, one of our beloved lay leaders at FBCD, shares with us a heartfelt and deeply meaningful message on paradox and faith. He pulls his message from multiple biblical texts (Hab. 3:17-18, Heb. 11:1-3, Mk. 9:23-24), but poetically draws them all together. Don't miss this one!
Pastor Emeritus, Dr. Peter Rhea Jones, shares with us some reflections on calling a new Senior Pastor and how we might help Dr. Jordan transition well in this coming season.
Our New Senior Pastor, Dr. David Jordan, shares with us from Luke 10:25-28, the introduction to the Parable of the Good Samaritan. He offers some fresh insights for us as we enter into a new season here at FBCD.
Shelley Woodruff shares with us from Leviticus 16:20-22 and Matthew 2:1-12 in a sermon titled, "Scapegoats and Stars." Shelley has an incredible way of weaving us into the stories of the Bible. This is a timely word for our particular faith community, especially as we enter into new beginnings with a new pastor. Enjoy!
Bob Williamson shares with us from Luke 12:32-40 in this special New Years Eve sermon.
Rev. Dr. David Gushee wraps up our Christmas series with "Christmas is Christ Supreme," where he offers a parting word on his last Sunday as our interim pastor. Scripture Reference: Colossians 1:15-20
Matt Snyder continues our "Christmas is..." series by looking at the simple nature of Jesus entering into the world and into our own lives. Scripture Reference: "“There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world… Now this was John’s testimony when the...
Rev. Kristen Koger kicks off our Christmas series "Christmas is..." by discussing the prophetic nature of the season. Looking at Daniel 6:6-27, Kristen walks us through what we can learn from Daniel's prayer life. Scripture Reference.
Dr. David Gushee finishes our series on John's Jesus by reflecting on the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11. What implications does this have for you and me? Listen to find out. Scripture Reference: "When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met...
Rev. Jeremy Sean Hall shared with us on Gratitude Sunday during the Fresh Start worship service on John 9:1-9, 30-38. SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can wo...
Rev. Bob Williamson shares with us on Gratitude Sunday from John 9:1-9, 30-38 in his sermon titled, "A Reason to Give." Bob says, “Thankfulness probably begins not by looking in the mirror, but by looking out the window. Looking at where we can invest our lives, our gifts, our time, beyond ourselves… how can we invest in God’s work and in others?” SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he ...
Dr. David Gushee shares with us from John 8:31-59 and looks at the discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees concerning "fathers" and "identity." What does this conversation actually have to do with us? What does it imply for us in today's world? Scripture Reference: Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free...
Dr. David Gushee shares with us from John 7:53-8:11 about the story of the woman caught in adultery. But what about the man who was with her? What is it about the Old Testament laws that seem to favor men over women? How is Jesus different? Dr. Gushee gives us a thought-provoking glimpse. Scripture Reference: Then each of them went home, while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. T...
Dr. David Gushee continues to share with us on "John's Jesus" by reflecting on John 5:1-18 and the story of the man who had been crippled for 14,000 days. Do you know it? Scripture Reference: Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. On...
Special guest, Pastor Emeritus, Rev. Dr. Peter Rhea Jones shares with us from the Gospel of John on the story of the woman at the well (John 4:4-30, 39-42). Scripture Reference: But he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a d...
Dr. David Gushee continues our new sermon series on "John's Jesus" by reflecting on John 2:13-25 and the story of Jesus cleansing the temple. Scripture Reference: "The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturn...
Dr. David Gushee kicks off our new sermon series on "John's Jesus" by reflecting on John 1:1-14 and John 2:1-11. He looks at not only the prologue of John, but the miracle at the wedding in Cana.
After one year of serving as the Interim Pastor at FBC Decatur, Dr. David Gushee shares with us where we are as a church, how we've grown, and what we have to look forward to. Scripture Reference: "Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing th...
Dr. Gushee finishes up our sermon series on the Parables of Jesus by sharing from Luke 18:1-8. Scripture: Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for an...
Rev. Dr. David Gushee continues our sermon series on the Parables of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. This one's from Luke 15:11-32, the story of the Prodigal Son. Scripture Reference: Luke 15:11-32 "Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’” -- Luke 15:31-32
Devita Parnell shares with us from Luke 14:15-24, continuing our series on Parables from the Gospel of Luke. Scripture Reference: "Then the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled.'" – Luke 14:23
Rev. Dr. David Gushee continues our sermon series on the Parables of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. This one's from Luke 12:35-48. Scripture: "'Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks.'" (Luke 12:35-36).
Rev. Kristen Koger, our Pastor to Children and Families at FBC Decatur, continues our sermon series on the Parables of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. This one's from Luke 11:1-13. Scripture: "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." (Luke 11:9-10).
Rev. Dr. David Gushee continues our sermon series on the Parables of Jesus as they are found in the Gospel of Luke. This one's from Luke 12:13-21. Scripture: "And he said to them, 'Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions...'" (Luke 12:15).
Rev. Dr. David Gushee continues our new sermon series on the Parables of Jesus as they are found in the Gospel of Luke. This one's about probably the most famous parable of all: the Good Samaritan. Scripture References: Luke 10:25-37 "'Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?' He said, 'The one who showed him mercy.' Jesus said to him, 'Go and do likewise.'" -- Luke 10:36-37
Rev. Dr. David Gushee kicks off our new sermon series on the Parables of Jesus as they are found in the Gospel of Luke. This one's about the Parable of the Sower. Scripture References: Luke 8:4-15 "When a great crowd gathered and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: 'A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. ...
Rev. Dr. David Gushee leads us in the final part of our sermon series on Genesis 1-11. Scripture References: Genesis 8:20-9:17: "God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you shall rest on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the air, on everything that creeps on the ground, and on all the fish of the sea; into your hand they are delivered. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and just as I gav...
Rev. Dr. David Gushee leads us in the sixth part of our sermon series on Genesis 1-11 (this one's about the flood). Scripture References: Genesis 6:5-8, 7:11-24 "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the ground, man and beas...
