Dunwoody Baptist

In Week 4 of the series, "Nehemiah: Beyond The Walls," Pastor Jimmy Carter challenges the congregation to transition from a scattered collection of individual agendas to a unified, mission-focused family. By contrasting the singular alignment of an aircraft carrier with the fragmented activity of recreational lake boats, he emphasizes that a church becomes truly unstoppable when everyday work is elevated to holistic worship and when active serving becomes the cultural standard for every member. Highlighting the tragic example of the nobles of Tekoa who refused to "stoop to serve," the pastor contrasts their pride with the ultimate humility of Jesus Christ, who stooped to serve and die for humanity. Ultimately, the sermon calls on believers to reject passive spectatorship, find their specific "place on the wall," and faithfully dedicate their time, talents, and resources to the collective mission of making disciples.

In Week 3 of the series,"Nehemiah: Beyond The Walls," Pastor Jimmy Carter draws a parallel to his college years at the University of Kentucky—where a failing football program was completely turned around by the vision of a new head coach—Jimmy transitions into a message based on Nehemiah 2:11–20 titled "Vision That Transforms." He emphasizes that a truly transformative, God-given vision must be grounded in facts by honestly assessing our broken realities and blind spots, rather than settling for comfortable dysfunction. Furthermore, it must be guided by faith to see possibilities from God’s perspective, and ultimately guarded through a unified fellowship to withstand inevitable opposition and discouragement. Jimmy concludes by sharing the historic restoration of the West Baden Springs Hotel as an illustration of the Gospel, reminding the congregation that Jesus meets us in the brutal facts of our sin, restores our brokenness through faith, and transforms us into a communal refuge for others.

In week 2 of the series, "Nehemiah: Beyond The Walls," Brian Smith emphasizes that while identifying brokenness and problems is easy, true transformation requires taking personal ownership. He illustrates this by sharing a lighthearted story about his own broken trash can, a real-life update on launching a new young adult ministry at his church, and a tragic account of a drowning in California where numerous bystanders failed to intervene because everyone assumed someone else would act. Turning to Nehemiah chapter two, Brian explains how Nehemiah, a trusted cupbearer to the King of Persia, risked his comfortable position and even his life by taking ownership of the brokenness of Jerusalem. Despite having no construction experience, Nehemiah spent four months fasting and praying before boldly requesting the king's permission, protection, and provisions to rebuild the city's ruined walls. Brian challenges the congregation to embrace the costly but necessary nature of ownership, reminding them that God equips those He calls, and ultimately points to Jesus Christ as the ultimate example of leaving a heavenly palace to bear a cup of suffering for a broken humanity.

In Week 1 of the series,"Nehemiah: Beyond The Walls" Pastor Jimmy uses the biblical story of Nehemiah to challenge the congregation of Dunwoody Baptist Church to move from passive observers of societal brokenness to active, empathetic burden bearers. Sharing personal illustrations—ranging from a sobering military simulation at Fort Knox that revealed the true weight of responsibility, to his family’s experience moving into a predominantly Black church to foster genuine racial reconciliation—Jimmy highlights the importance of identifying deeply with the broken rather than judging them from a distance. He emphasizes that Nehemiah’s first response to the devastation of Jerusalem was to weep, fast, and pray the promises of God, confessing his own connection to the community's sins. Ultimately, Jimmy points the congregation to Jesus Christ as the ultimate burden bearer who carried humanity's sins to the cross, urging believers to rely on His grace to courageously engage with, pray over, and support those suffering within their families, schools, and broader communities.

In Week 5 of the series, "Teach Us To Pray," Bridgette highlights the transformative power of combining prayer with fasting to seek Spiritual guidance, using the biblical story of Esther as a primary example. She explains how Esther and Mordecai transitioned from panic to purposeful action through communal fasting, eventually aligning with God’s plan to save the Jewish people from annihilation. Sharing personal anecdotes—including a breakthrough in ministry planning and finding peace during a difficult jury duty—Bridgette emphasizes that fasting is not merely skipping meals but an intentional act of humbling oneself to gain spiritual clarity and courage. She concludes by encouraging the congregation to embrace fasting as a tool to discern their own "such a time as this" moments, moving past fear to boldly follow God's calling.

In Week 4 of the series titled "Teach Us to Pray," Pastor Jimmy shares a vulnerable account of his own spiritual transformation, moving from a place of deep personal resentment toward a college teammate to understanding the radical requirements of Christian grace. Drawing from Luke 6:27–36, Jimmy explains that loving those who mistreat us is not a call to endure abuse, but a mandate to reflect the character of God, who was merciful to us while we were still His enemies. He challenges the congregation to view difficult people through the lens of the "Great Exchange"—remembering that because Christ stands between us and others, our responses should be governed by the grace we have received rather than the hurt we have felt. By sharing the moving story of his former rival Jeremy’s eventually conversion and untimely death, Jimmy emphasizes that a believer’s decision to offer mercy instead of retaliation can quite literally change the trajectory of someone’s eternity.

In week 3 of the series,"Teach Us To Pray", Using the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6 as a guide, Pastor Jimmy Carter outlined three pillars for a healthy spiritual life: childlike affection (approaching God as a loving "Abba" or Father), Christ-centered direction (surrendering one's will and relying on Him for daily needs), and Holy Spirit protection (seeking grace to resist temptation and evil). He concluded by urging the church to abandon divided hearts and "babbling" cliches, inviting them instead to enjoy the simple, profound privilege of talking to a Father who deeply loves them.

In week two of the series,"Teach Us To Pray," Brian Smith, Young Adults and Teaching Pastor, explores the theme of how to pray when we have made a mess of our own lives. He uses the narrative of King David in 2nd Samuel, tracing David's journey from a "man after God’s own heart" to a man who committed adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrated the murder of Uriah. Brian emphasizes that while we often blame others for the chaos in our lives, our "small" choices frequently lead to significant, destructive consequences that can leave us spiritually blind. Drawing from Psalm 51, Brian outlines a pattern for restoration: first, developing a personal relationship with God to understand His character; second, owning the severity of our sins without making excuses; third, asking for forgiveness; and finally, begging God to create a "clean heart" and do the internal work we cannot do for ourselves. Brian concludes by reminding the congregation that God does not seek outward religious performances or sacrifices, but rather a broken and humble spirit that acknowledges its need for His presence and the Holy Spirit.

In week 1 of the series, "Teach Us To Pray" Pastor Jimmy Carter shares a message centered on the persistence of prayer, using his daughter’s journey as a collegiate golfer and the teachings of Luke 11 to illustrate his point. He acknowledges the common frustration of feeling like God is silent, but he encourages the congregation to move from polite requests to "shameless boldness," arguing that if even an earthly friend will eventually respond to a persistent knock, how much more will a loving Heavenly Father provide for His children. Jimmy recounts how his daughter, K, faced the devastating loss of her health and a college scholarship, yet through that trial, she was formed by the discipline of seeking God even when the door seemed closed. Ultimately, Jimmy emphasizes that prayer is not merely a means to an end but the goal itself—a way to cultivate a deep, reliant relationship with God—and he invites the church to return to the "door" with renewed passion and consistency.

In this Easter message, Jimmy Carter uses the narrative of Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb to illustrate how the hope of the resurrection can liberate individuals from the "prisons" of grief, debt, illness, and despair. Drawing a parallel to the film The Shawshank Redemption, Jimmy emphasizes that while life often feels like an incarceration of unpleasant circumstances, the risen Christ meets believers in their confusion and calls them by name, just as he did with Mary in John 20. He argues that this divine hope does not merely provide personal comfort but serves to transform a person's "mourning into a mission," urging the congregation to live as missionaries who share this message of restoration within their own communities. Jimmy concludes by inviting the audience to stop trying to author their own lives and instead embrace the "greatest love story ever told" by inviting the Creator into their personal stories to find unassailable hope.