First Baptist Church Big Spring Podcast

In today’s sermon, Living Water for a Thirsty Soul, Pastor Mark takes us to John 4 and the powerful encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well.

This story reminds us that Jesus sees us personally and meets us exactly where we are. He wasn't concerned with the barriers that separated people in that culture—background, race, upbringing, reputation, or social status. Jesus crossed every one of those barriers because He cared about this woman and wanted her to know the truth.

Pastor Mark reminds us that the same is true for us today. Jesus doesn't simply care about people in general—He cares about you personally. Whatever your background, whatever you've experienced, and whatever circumstances have shaped your life, Jesus offers something the world can never provide: living water for a thirsty soul.

But that raises the most important question of the message:

How do we get this living water?

The answer isn't found in religion, success, possessions, or trying to clean ourselves up. We receive the living water through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Listen in as Pastor Mark reminds us that the Savior who met a woman at a well thousands of years ago is still seeking thirsty souls today—and He still offers the gift of life that only He can provide.

We’ve made it to the next-to-last episode of That Ain’t in the Bible, and apparently we decided to go after the entire concept of professional church staff while we’re at it. You're welcome.

In this episode, Jonathan and Brandon tackle a common assumption in church life: “That’s what we pay the pastor and staff to do.”

Spoiler alert: that ain’t in the Bible.

Scripture presents a very different picture of the local church. Pastors and other leaders are called to equip the saints for the work of ministry—not to personally do all the ministry while everyone else watches from the sidelines. The church is a body, and every believer has a role to play in accomplishing the mission God has given us.

Jonathan and Brandon discuss why expecting pastors and paid staff to do everything can severely limit the effectiveness of a local church. If the Great Commission is actually the mission of every believer, then the church can't depend on a handful of paid employees to carry it out.

And before someone says, “But I just prefer the church to do things this way…”—here's the problem: the church isn't a spiritual version of Burger King. You don't get to have it your way. Personal preferences are not the mission, and your preferred level of involvement isn't a biblical measure of discipleship.

If we want to make disciples, serve our communities, reach the lost, and fulfill the Great Commission, we're going to have to stop asking, “What are they going to do for me?” and start asking, “What has God called me to do?”

Because pastors matter. Paid staff matter. But the church was never designed to be a spectator sport.

And if we really want to fulfill the Great Commission, we'd better figure this out.

Because expecting the pastor and paid staff to do all the work? Yeah... that ain't in the Bible.

In today’s sermon, Abide in Me, Pastor Mark takes us to John 15, where Jesus describes Himself as the vine and us as the branches. The message is simple but profound: we cannot produce spiritual fruit on our own. We must remain firmly connected to Christ.

As we abide in Jesus, He produces fruit in our lives. Pastor Mark walks us through four important lessons about that fruit:

Fruit is the proof of our relationship with Jesus. Our lives should provide evidence that we belong to Christ.

We can only display the fruit God produces. Spiritual fruit isn't something we manufacture through our own effort; it comes from remaining connected to Jesus.

Fruitful branches are pruned to produce more fruit. God sometimes removes things from our lives—not to harm us, but to make us more fruitful.

Our primary job is to remain firmly connected to Christ. The branch doesn't have to figure out how to produce fruit. It simply has to stay connected to the vine.

This message challenges us to ask an important question: Are we truly abiding in Jesus, or are we trying to produce spiritual fruit on our own?

When we remain connected to Christ, He does what only He can do—He produces fruit in us that brings glory to God.

Listen in and be reminded: the branch doesn't need to work harder to become the vine. It just needs to stay connected.

In this episode of That Ain’t In the Bible, Jonathan and Brandon tackle one of the most harmful clichés floating around modern Christianity: "If you're struggling, you just aren't trusting God enough."

Is that what the Bible actually teaches? Or is it another well-meaning saying that sounds spiritual but falls apart under biblical scrutiny?

The guys take a hard look at the lives of biblical heroes like Job, David, Elijah, Paul, and even Jesus Himself. They discuss how Scripture consistently shows that faithful believers experience suffering, discouragement, grief, persecution, and seasons of deep struggle—not because they lacked faith, but often because they were faithfully following God.

Along the way, Jonathan and Brandon push back against the false promises of the prosperity gospel, exposing the dangerous idea that enough faith guarantees health, wealth, or a struggle-free life. Instead, they point listeners to the biblical truth that God's presence is often most evident in our suffering, not in our escape from it.

Fair warning: if your favorite preacher says that enough faith guarantees a bigger paycheck, perfect health, and zero problems, this episode may cause you to reach for the remote... or your Bible. We recommend the Bible.

Because while trusting God through suffering is absolutely in the Bible..."Real Christians never struggle"?Yeah... that ain't in the Bible.

Article Referenced

In today’s sermon, Gethsemane: The Place of Burden, Pastor Mark takes us into the garden where Jesus faced the weight of what was about to come. Mark 14 gives us a glimpse into the humanity of Jesus as He wrestled in prayer while carrying a burden unlike anything we could ever fully understand.

As Jesus looked toward the cross, He saw three profound realities represented by the cup He was about to drink:

The cup of isolation — Jesus would face the cross alone.

The cup of physical pain — He knew the suffering and agony that awaited Him.

The cup of sinful shame — He would bear the weight of our sin and separation from the Father.

Yet in the middle of His anguish, Jesus prayed and surrendered Himself to the Father's will: "Not what I will, but what You will."

Pastor Mark reminds us that Gethsemane gives us an example for how we should respond when we face our own burdens. We can bring our deepest struggles honestly before God, pray with faith, and ultimately surrender our will to His.

We may not understand every burden God allows us to carry, but we can trust the One who carried the greatest burden for us.

What does ministry look like just across the border? In this special interview, Jonathan and Brandon sit down with Jerry Vincent, Pastor of College Baptist Church in Big Spring, to talk about his recent mission trip to Saskatchewan, Canada.

Jerry shares stories from an incredible week of ministry alongside churches across the province, including opportunities to preach the Word, lead Vacation Bible School, serve through community projects, and encourage local congregations. The conversation also includes a unique behind-the-scenes look at meeting with government leaders inside the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly, providing a fascinating glimpse into how God is opening doors for gospel conversations in unexpected places.

Throughout the episode, they why Canada remains a strategic mission field, the importance of partnering with churches to strengthen gospel ministry, and how God is at work in ways many believers in the United States may never realize.

Whether you're considering going on a future mission trip, curious about ministry in Canada, or simply love hearing stories of God at work, this conversation will encourage and challenge you to think beyond your own community and embrace the Great Commission wherever God calls.

Join us as we celebrate what God is doing north of the border—and discover why the mission field might be a whole lot closer than you think.

In today's sermon, Burning Daylight, Pastor Mark takes us to Romans 13:11–14, where the Apostle Paul reminds believers that the time is short and the call to live for Christ is urgent. As followers of Jesus, we cannot afford to drift through life spiritually asleep.

Pastor Mark challenges us with three simple but powerful commands:

Wake up – Recognize the urgency of the times and our need to live with spiritual awareness.

Get dressed – Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and live in a way that reflects His holiness and righteousness.

Be ready – Live each day prepared to fulfill the mission Christ has given His Church.

This message reminds us that our ultimate purpose is found in The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20). Every believer has been called to make disciples, and every church has been commissioned to take the gospel to the world.

Pastor Mark also gives a timely reminder that the enemy often distracts the church with internal disagreements. Instead of allowing conflict and personal preferences to divide us, we are called to pursue unity, love one another, and stay focused on the mission Jesus has entrusted to us.

Join Jonathan and Brandon for this episode as they discuss the topic of have business meetings become more important than prayer meetings? They'll weigh in the topic, discuss their predictions about whether more people would attend a church wide call to prayer or a business meeting to vote on a difficult topic. Don't miss this one and if you get upset, re-double your efforts to cry out the Holy Spirit for Him to bless our local church.

In today's sermon, God Tests Your Faith, Pastor Mark walks through the life of Abraham in Hebrews 11:8–19, reminding us that faith is not merely something we profess—it is something God grows through testing.

Using Abraham's journey as our example, Pastor Mark shows us four questions every believer will face and how faith responds to each one:

• The "Where?" Test – A believer follows where God is leading without knowing where.
• The "When?" Test – A believer waits for God's timing without knowing when.
• The "How?" Test – A believer expects God to do the impossible without knowing how.
• The "Why?" Test – A believer trusts God's purpose without knowing why.

Each of these tests calls us to deeper trust in God's character rather than our own understanding. Like Abraham, we are invited to walk by faith, even when the path ahead is unclear and the answers we want have yet to come.

Brandon recaps Youth Camp 2026.