Sherman First Baptist Church Messages

Psalm 150 is a concise summary of the entire Psalter, emphasizing the need to praise the great God of Heaven. It involves the place, the basis/reason, the method, and the participants of praise. In this sermon we see that when it comes praising God, all must give it their all.  (Text: Psalm 150:1-6)

Because the Holy Spirit has come, all people everywhere must repent, and all who do can rest in the promise and presence of the Spirit, anticipating the Day of the Lord with  blessed hope. (Text: Acts 2:1-41)

Guest Speaker Daniel Benedict (Text: Psalm 149)

All Creation has reasons to praise God, but the people of God have the most: He created us; He alone is exalted/worthy; he has redeemed us and brought us near to himself. As part of God’s Creation, we must join Creation in praising Him alone; as the people of God we must praise Him all the more. (Text: Psalm 148)

Psalm 147 calls the people of God to praise Him for His faithfulness shown in His behavior towards them and His work in creation. We are reminded to praise God for not abandoning us in our sin, suffering, and separation. (Text: Psalm 147:1-6)

Psalm 146 calls people to praise God and trust in him alone, for he alone can save. In this sermon, we hear that we should always praise God because we can always trust in Him. (Text: Psalm 146)

Our view of God determines our praise. Hearing and considering the works of God lead to praise for who God is and what he does. In this sermon, we see that we have every reason “from A-Z” to give praise to God who is good and does good. (Text: Psalm 145) 

Because Jesus’ disciples didn’t believe or understand his words, they anticipated the wrong things surrounding his death and resurrection. In this sermon, we learn that we need the words of Christ (Word of God) to help us make sense of a confusing and contrary world. (Text: Mark 16:1-8)

The Jacob narrative concludes with a  summary of four funerals and four blessings that highlight God’s enduring promises to his people.  In this sermon we consider that God’s promises endure though his people do not, and He is faithful though we are not. (Text: Genesis 35:1-29)

When Dinah is raped, the men of Shechem offer to become one people with Israel, Jacob’s sons seek revenge, and Jacob worries what the other nations will think of them.  In this sermon we learn how our response to injustice should reveal our Christian distinction and trust in God. (Text: Genesis 34:1-31)

Esau’s arrival is unexpectedly pleasant; instead of war, the brothers are reconciled. God delivers his people from enemies in multiple ways, including reconciliation. Never doubt what God can do in a hopeless or difficult situation. (Text: Genesis 33:1-20)

Jacob wrestles with a man who is later revealed to be God, who changes his name & blesses him. God uses trials to both weaken and strengthen us for his purpose and glory. (Text: Genesis 32:22-32)

Jacob seeks to reconcile with Esau but must prepare to deal with a crisis: Esau is coming with  unknown intentions. When we are in a crisis, we must trust God, remember his promises, pray, and then act, trusting all along the way.  (Text: Genesis 32:1-21)

When Laban discovers that Jacob has secretly fled and that his gods are missing, he chases after Jacob. Throughout this story Jacob’s God is contrasted with Laban’s gods, and we are reminded that there is only one true God, YHWH, is ever present, always watching, protecting, and providing.  (Text: Genesis 31:1-55)

Although Laban sabotaged Jacob’s wealth, God’s purpose to bless Jacob and his family were not hindered. When we confidently believe the promises of God, we don’t have to worry about what others may do to us or what we must do to get ahead. God’s purposes are not frustrated by anything or anyone; he can use anything to accomplish his purpose. (Text: Genesis 30:25-43)

When faced with a problem, do what you know you can do and trust God. When we fail to do what is right and trust God, we bring further complication to troubled lives. (Text: Genesis 29:31-30:24)

God uses difficult people and situations to conform his people into the image of Jesus Christ. God led Jacob to his family, his future wives, and his nemesis Laban all to accomplish his desired work in Jacob. (Text: Genesis 29:1-30)

God searches for people who were not searching for him and blesses them to accomplish his divine purpose. Being found by God changes everything, giving significance and meaning to our lives and leading us to respond by faith in obedience. (Text: Genesis 28:10-22)

Fathers (and all the rest of us) must submit to the revealed will of God, follow it, and teach it to their families. We invite trouble into our families when we try to resist or manipulate the revealed will of God.  (Text: Genesis 27:34-28:9)

God blessed Isaac despite his unbelief and the Philistines’ unfriendliness and hostility. God’s blessing is greater than men’s approval or rejection and allows us to live at peace with others (Text: Genesis 26:12-33).