We are encouraged to count our blessings. But as we list the positives in our life, our attention is often drawn to the negatives. Then we begin to list and dwell on those challenges. It is difficult to be thankful while dwelling on the negatives. The book of Habakkuk is largely a lament. Habakkuk was […]

The post Thank You Notes: Thanksgiving Is a Choice appeared first on First Baptist Van Alstyne.

The colors red and blue, when included with the color white, are meant to unite Americans. However, during a political season, those colors serve to divide us. And this election has been more divisive in many ways than any other. As Christians, it is important for us to view everything through the lens of Scripture. […]

The post The Red and The Blue appeared first on First Baptist Van Alstyne.

Paul’s second letter to Timothy was written during Paul’s last days while in prison. As he was anticipating the end of his life, he wrote some last instructions to Timothy. This prison epistle rings with dungeon talk. Time was short, and Paul’s instructions were urgent.   In this final message of the series on The […]

The post The Apostle Paul: Final Words from a Seasoned Saint appeared first on First Baptist Van Alstyne.

In Acts 13:13-52 we have the first recorded example of a sermon preached by the apostle Paul, as well as the response. Paul had a profound calling to preach the gospel, and he took that calling very seriously. He knew his audience, so he used Old Testament narratives to set the stage for proclaiming the […]

The post The Apostle Paul: Paul the Preacher appeared first on First Baptist Van Alstyne.

Many of us set goals for our lives They may be short term or long term, but they are meant to push us to do and be more. Sports teams get together in the off-season to set goals for the next year. These goals are meant to improve the team and stretch them in some […]

The post The Apostle Paul: This Isn’t Easy appeared first on First Baptist Van Alstyne.

When taking a trip, some like to plan things out in advance and stick to the itinerary.  Others prefer to just go and be spontaneous. If you are traveling to an unfamiliar place or to another country, it is beneficial to have a guide who knows where to go and what to see. As we […]

The post The Apostle Paul: Here’s Your Itinerary appeared first on First Baptist Van Alstyne.

Everyone has scars and those scars usually have stories attached to them. Sometimes they are the result of accidents or surgeries. Sometimes they are the result of our own foolishness. Often scars are a reminder of pain. When we have to endure suffering, we wonder what we did to deserve it. But many times, our […]

The post The Apostle Paul: The Blessing of Suffering appeared first on First Baptist Van Alstyne.

In Acts 11, the church is experiencing a period of growth. Saul (who would later change his name to Paul) had been in Tarsus for a number of years. It was a difficult time for Saul. Although he had seen Jesus and had a miraculous transformation in his life, he was mistrusted by other believers […]

The post The Apostle Paul: Time for a Comeback appeared first on First Baptist Van Alstyne.

In today’s world, we take identity very seriously. Identity theft is something many people are concerned about. There have even been some strange cases of mistaken identity. When the Apostle Paul found Christ, he also received a whole new identity. Coming to terms with this created some problems. But he discovered, as we all must, […]

The post The Apostle Paul: A Whole New Identity appeared first on First Baptist Van Alstyne.

This message is the first in a new series from the book of Acts that looks at the apostle Paul’s life and ministry. Pastor Mike unpacks Acts 9:1-22 to show how Saul, a Pharisee of Pharisees and persecutor of Christians, encounters Jesus and begins a new life and ministry. Saul changes from a persecutor of […]

The post The Apostle Paul: From Terrorist to Treasure appeared first on First Baptist Van Alstyne.