Responsible Stewardship

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Responsible Stewardship

Before Kelly and I visited Israel in 2011, we updated our will to make sure our families were cared for through our estate. Stewardship is a responsibility we take personally in life and death. I want to invite you to an important seminar designed to help you plan and provide for the people and church […]

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Show the Truth

Christian love moves in four directions simultaneously—up, in, out, and across. We look upward to Christ as he reaches inwardly to change our hearts. We extend our hands outwardly to those who need this love, working together across the church with Christian sisters and brothers. 1 John 3:13-16 defines this four-fold love this way: “We […]

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Sabal Palm Partnership

When we say “Love Tallahassee,” there’s no better sign of success than the people who have volunteered at Sabal Palm. Under Rhonda Smith’s leadership and a great ministry group of leadership appointed by the missions committee, these volunteers have delivered the good news through good deeds. On Sunday, we told just one story about one […]

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We Love Weekday

Let the little children come to me, and forbid them not; for such is the kingdom of heaven. When Jesus said these words, he spoke to busy disciples trying to keep him away from children. The instructions still challenge us today. Our church has a tremendous ministry with parents and children of unreached families in […]

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Graduate Sunday

This Sunday, we congratulate the high school class of 2014 and their families. They graduate from five schools over the next two weeks and will attend eight different colleges this fall. What they have received from their church family is a degree that will last an eternity. First Baptist unites people across our community through […]

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Impressions

“You never get a second chance to make a _________.” If you said “first impression,” you’d be partially right. Long before new families try to find a parking place downtown, they have an impression of our church. They’ve met one of our members in the neighborhood, heard about us through word of mouth, or visited […]

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Two-Step Challenge

Our ministry in 2014 is off to a fast start. We’re just four months into the year, and we’ve celebrated Connections Weekend, Dessert Theatre, Disciple Now, a mission trip to Boston, and a Women’s Conference together. My home has been filled with laughter, study, and renewal. Think back with me about the impact of one […]

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Charter for the Common Way

Charter for the Common Way

This Sunday I begin a new sermon and worship series: “Charter for the Common Way.” I’ll be preaching through Acts 1-12 and highlighting the characteristics of Christian community in the book. In order to follow Christ’s command to share the gospel from “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth” (Acts 1:8), he […]

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Neighboring

It seems like every week when I open the paper or watch the news, I’m catching First Baptist in action around the community. These surprises come in all shapes and sizes. Each one shares out of a heart of love for Christ. With the successful completion of the Montgomery House, Gary and J.C. Montgomery are […]

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The Status Quo

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the traditional site in Jerusalem marking Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. Roman Catholics, Armenians, and Eastern Orthodox (primarily Greek Orthodox) share custodial responsibilities of the site. Each takes turns worshiping in various parts of the compound, but they can’t agree on its operations. They rely on a local Muslim group […]

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