The Great Commission is not an option to be considered, it is a command to be obeyed. The question is not whether to obey this command, it is how we are to obey. It is the responsibility of every believer to pray, give, go, and partner with other believers as a church to send to […]

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The Apostle Peter’s first letter was written to the “elect exiles”. These people were chosen by God, but they were outcasts from society. They were aliens in the land they were inhabiting. They were scattered because of extreme persecution. Peter is trying to see life through their perspective and answer their questions. How do you […]

The post Salvation’s Future, Present, and Past appeared first on First Baptist Van Alstyne.

Churches in America are in decline. One of the primary reasons for this is that many church members have lost sight of what the local church is and what it is meant to do. Matthew 16:13-20 is one of only two passages where Jesus uses the word that we translate as “church.” The passage shows […]

The post Hold Firm: The Church and Her Ordinances appeared first on First Baptist Van Alstyne.

Few issues cause more debate than election vs. free will. God is sovereign, yet he has given us the ability to choose to follow or to disobey Him. It is difficult for human minds to understand the balance between the two, and extreme views exist on both sides. It is a complex issue, wrapped in […]

The post Hold Firm: God’s Purpose of Grace appeared first on First Baptist Van Alstyne.

Are you saved? This is an important question, and yet can also be a confusing question. What does it mean to “be saved”? In this message from the Hold Firm series, Pastor Mike looks at Article 4 of The Baptist Faith and Message, and unpacks Romans 1:14-17 to clarify what we believe about salvation. He outlines the […]

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When we look up at the night sky, it is easy to feel small compared to the expanse of the universe. In Psalm 8, the psalmist is struck by this realization and is moved to praise God for His greatness and His goodness.  In this message from the Hold Fast series, Pastor Mike explores what […]

The post Hold Firm: Man appeared first on First Baptist Van Alstyne.

Many believers are uncomfortable with the concept of the Holy Spirit. We find the idea of a spirit (or Ghost according to the King James Version) unsettling.  And mystery is a prominent aspect of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. We cannot control the Spirit and we lack a good analogy, so we lack understanding. […]

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The church in Philippi encountered a couple of problems. The first of these was rivalry among of believers. Paul addressed this by reminding them to show humility in the same way that Christ did. The second was rumblings of persecution. Paul reminded them that Jesus has been exalted and that one day every knee will […]

The post Hold Firm: God the Son appeared first on First Baptist Van Alstyne.

In both the Old and New Testaments, the Bible refers to God as Father. He is fatherly over all creation because He created all things, and He is specifically Father to all who believe. But for many, the concept of God as Father can be difficult because our own earthly fathers are far from perfect. […]

The post Hold Firm: God the Father appeared first on First Baptist Van Alstyne.

In Acts 17:22-31, Paul is on Mars Hill in Athens practicing apologetics. He is giving a defense of his faith and introducing the Greeks to the One True God. Just as in Paul’s day, we see many religious people around us. They worship many different “gods” but need to know the One True God.   […]

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