“... They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt, and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road."-from Luke 19:28-40

“There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing: a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing; a strutting rooster, a he-goat, and a king secure against revolt” -from Proverbs 30:29-31

According to the Proverbs, there are four creatures stately in their stride, including a king. As we remember Palm Sunday, we are reminded of the King of King - Jesus the Christ - who strode into Jerusalem on an unlikely colt. Though an unusual King, the crowds can see this is the only king who is worthy of our praise.

When you compare these two passages side-by-side, it seems the differences stick out to us more than the similarities. After all, Jesus (though a King) does not appear "secure against revolt." He begins the week with cheers from the crowd of "Hosannah!" But we know, as we follow the last week of Jesus's ministry before His crucifixion, the cries of "Crucify Him!" will be heard before the week ends.

Join us this special Palm Sunday! (And bring a coat or jacket!).

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For more information about messages in this series, or to find out more about First Baptist Church Muncie (FBCM), please see our website: fbcmuncie.org

Our video live streams are available on our YouTube channel.

Find a video library of past sermons on our church center channel.

If you’re looking for a church home, or seeking information about the church, please submit a virtual visitor’s card.

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First Baptist Church, Muncie, Indiana is a Spirit-led Community gathered to join Christ’s presence in our community.

Our current scriptural watchword for this season is “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45).

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Walking Together

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

A couple of years ago, a survey was released suggesting our society is experiencing what researchers termed a "friendship recession." The survey found "only about half of the public is fully satisfied with the number of friends they have." And while the problem presents with both men and women, men are especially likely to report few friends: "The percentage of men with at least six close friends fell by half since 1990, from 55 percent to 27 percent." (AEI/ Survey Center on American Life).

Friendship is worth considering. Not only because it has become a concern for "civic life," but because the strange new world of the Bible causes us to think about friendship in a new way. Jesus calls his own disciples friends (John 15:15). Abraham is called a "friend of God" (Isaiah 41:8, James 2:23). What does it mean, however, to be a friend (and what might friends have to do with our theme this Lent: walking in wisdom)?

Read more at https://www.fbcmuncie.org/blog

For more information about messages in this series, or to find out more about First Baptist Church Muncie (FBCM), please see our website: fbcmuncie.org

Our video live streams are available on our YouTube channel.

Find a video library of past sermons on our church center channel.

If you’re looking for a church home, or seeking information about the church, please submit a virtual visitor’s card.

To financially support our ministry, please see our Church Center giving page.

First Baptist Church, Muncie, Indiana is a Spirit-led Community gathered to join Christ’s presence in our community.

Our current scriptural watchword for this season is “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45).

These message recordings are meant to be shared.

Please rate us 5 stars on Spotify, Apple Music, or your podcasting app of choice and share with family and friends.

“The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.” -excerpt from Proverbs 16:21-24

“A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool.”

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.”

Have you ever received contradictory advice?

In elementary school, I remember local law enforcement hosting a big “safety day” event. There were lots of fun things for five-year-old me–carnival games with candy, cool cars, and our own personal police badges. But there was also a serious teaching moment where we learned about “stranger danger.” I remember the teachers drilling it into our heads: “I will not talk to strangers. I will not talk to strangers. I will not talk to strangers.” All seemed fine.

Except then I went home. My family went out into town that night, and something happened that always happened when we were in public. My dad somehow managed to have a conversation with everyone he saw. I would ask how he knew so many people, and my dad would laugh. “I don’t know them. I was just being friendly.”

“But, Dad!” I yelled at him. “Don’t you know that you’re never, ever, EVER supposed to talk to strangers!?”

Obviously, that’s not what the police officers meant. I was too literal. My five-year-old mind had a hard time understanding the difference between when it was and was not okay to talk to someone I didn’t know.

Sometimes this is what it’s like to read Proverbs–it’s just a book of contradictory sayings!

Read more at https://www.fbcmuncie.org/blog

For more information about messages in this series, or to find out more about First Baptist Church Muncie (FBCM), please see our website: fbcmuncie.org

Our video live streams are available on our YouTube channel.

Find a video library of past sermons on our church center channel.

If you’re looking for a church home, or seeking information about the church, please submit a virtual visitor’s card.

To financially support our ministry, please see our Church Center giving page.

First Baptist Church, Muncie, Indiana is a Spirit-led Community gathered to join Christ’s presence in our community.

Our current scriptural watchword for this season is “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45).

These message recordings are meant to be shared.

Please rate us 5 stars on Spotify, Apple Music, or your podcasting app of choice and share with family and friends.

Walking in Wisdom Requires Faithfulness to God's plans

Even with our best efforts, we are prone to arrogance and missteps. In this section of Solomon's sayings, he reminds us that in God's grace, he has created everything with a purpose. God does not just assign us a purpose, leave us, and hope for the best. (No clockmakers here!) But in addition to creating us with purpose, God guides our every step, promising us peace and giving us grace when we struggle along the way. This Lent, we can recommit ourselves to the present purpose which God has called us.

Read more at www.fbcmuncie.org/blog.

Read more at fbcmuncie.org/blog

For more information about messages in this series, or to find out more about First Baptist Church Muncie (FBCM), please see our website: fbcmuncie.org

Our video live streams are available on our YouTube channel.

Find a video library of past sermons on our church center channel.

If you’re looking for a church home, or seeking information about the church, please submit a virtual visitor’s card.

To financially support our ministry, please see our Church Center giving page.

First Baptist Church, Muncie, Indiana is a Spirit-led Community gathered to join Christ’s presence in our community.

Our current scriptural watchword for this season is “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45).

These message recordings are meant to be shared.

Please rate us 5 stars on Spotify, Apple Music, or your podcasting app of choice and share with family and friends.

“Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech:

“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?

Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.” -excerpt from Proverbs 1:20-33

Fans of the 1990’s sitcom Boy Meets World love to quote “The Feeny Call.” Eric Matthews–a high school student–is neighbors with his teacher, Mr. Feeny. While both Eric and Mr. Feeny often complained about their constant close proximity, deep down they both loved it. On special occasions, usually when Eric needed advice, he would come out of his house and call for his beloved teacher in a ridiculous, sing-songy voice: “Feeny?! Fa-fa-fa-fa-feeny! Feenay! Fee-hee-heenay!”

Good teachers like Mr. Feeny know that they’re making a difference when their students seek them out for help. But in the second half of Proverbs 1, we see the opposite happening. No one is seeking Lady Wisdom. In fact, everyone is ignoring her. It’s Lady Wisdom who is going out calling to her students: “Eric?! Eh-eh-eh-eh-eric! Eric! Er-ri-iiiiic!”

What are we supposed to make of this role reversal?

Lent is the season of the Church year when Christian intentionally reflect on how much we need Jesus to be our Savior and Sustainer each day.

Read more at www.fbcmuncie.org/blog.

For more information about messages in this series, or to find out more about First Baptist Church Muncie (FBCM), please see our website: fbcmuncie.org

Our video live streams are available on our YouTube channel.

Find a video library of past sermons on our church center channel.

If you’re looking for a church home, or seeking information about the church, please submit a virtual visitor’s card.

To financially support our ministry, please see our Church Center giving page.

First Baptist Church, Muncie, Indiana is a Spirit-led Community gathered to join Christ’s presence in our community.

Our current scriptural watchword for this season is “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45).

These message recordings are meant to be shared.

Please rate us 5 stars on Spotify, Apple Music, or your podcasting app of choice and share with family and friends.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it…Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” - from Matthew 7:13-29

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”-from Proverbs 1:1-19

Famous poet Robert Frost writes, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”

Oh how our choices make a difference! But there is something more interesting than the outcome of the traveler’s chosen path. In fact, Mr. Frost doesn’t really share anything about the path that was chosen. He doesn’t say what cool sights he saw along the way of the chosen path. He doesn’t say anything about where the path ends up. The whole poem is dedicated to something that resonates more deeply with all of us: the difficulty of making a choice.

Sometimes, we get lucky and the right choice is clear and easy. But most other times, we are the traveler in Frost’s poem. We are stuck between two choices that appear equally good and promising. Yet we know that they will lead us to very different places. How are we supposed to choose?! How are we supposed to measure the roads before us?!

In the conclusion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks to our struggle to discern what the next right step is.

Read more at www.fbcmuncie.org/blog.

For more information about messages in this series, or to nd out more about First Baptist Church Muncie

Our video live streams are available on our YouTube channel.

Find a video library of past sermons on our church center channel.

If you’re looking for a church home, or seeking information about the church, please submit a virtual visitor’s

To financially support our ministry, please see our Church Center giving page.

Audio-Only Podcast Bumper Music is an arrangement of “Be Thou My Vision” by Dr. Clifton Davis, FBCM’s

First Baptist Church, Muncie, Indiana is a Spirit-led Community gathered to join Christ’s presence in our

We gather at 309 East Adams Street, Muncie, Indiana, 47305, each week. Our worship service is at 10:45 a.m

Our current scriptural watchword for this season is “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to

Sermon delivered by Kendall Ellis on March 2, 2025

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." from Matthew 7:1-12

Read more at fbcmuncie.org/blog

For more information about messages in this series, or to find out more about First Baptist Church Muncie (FBCM), please see our website: fbcmuncie.org

Our video live streams are available on our YouTube channel.

Find a video library of past sermons on our church center channel.

If you’re looking for a church home, or seeking information about the church, please submit a virtual visitor’s card.

To financially support our ministry, please see our Church Center giving page.

First Baptist Church, Muncie, Indiana is a Spirit-led Community gathered to join Christ’s presence in our community.

Our current scriptural watchword for this season is “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45).

These message recordings are meant to be shared.

Please rate us 5 stars on Spotify, Apple Music, or your podcasting app of choice and share with family and friends.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." - from Matthew 6:19-34

Treasure, money, and anxiety. If we haven't been convicted so far in Jesus's sermon on the mount, if one of us suspects Jesus is not talking about us, most reading along will have to admit there is something in this passage that feels like Jesus is speaking directly to us.

We worry and feel insecure about the future. And what is our response? Often, we need to shore up what we need: make more money, have more things, and live more securely. We worry (and sometimes with very good reason!) about what we will wear or our housing. And Jesus says simply, "Your Heavenly Father needs these things" and "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Jesus wants us to "Seek first the Kingdom and his righteousness," rather than worrying about tomorrow. But, Jesus . . . how?

How can we simply let "tomorrow worry about itself"?

Read more at www.fbcmuncie.org/blog.

For more information about messages in this series, or to find out more about First Baptist Church Muncie (FBCM), please see our website: fbcmuncie.org

Our video live streams are available on our YouTube channel.

Find a video library of past sermons on our church center channel.

If you’re looking for a church home, or seeking information about the church, please submit a virtual visitor’s card.

To financially support our ministry, please see our Church Center giving page.

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First Baptist Church, Muncie, Indiana is a Spirit-led Community gathered to join Christ’s presence in our community.

Our current scriptural watchword for this season is “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45).

Please rate us 5 stars on Spotify, Apple Music, or your podcasting app of choice and share with family and friends.

For more information about messages in this series, or to find out more about First Baptist Church Muncie (FBCM), please see our website: fbcmuncie.org

Our video live streams are available on our YouTube channel.

Find a video library of past sermons on our church center channel.

If you’re looking for a church home, or seeking information about the church, please submit a virtual visitor’s card.

To financially support our ministry, please see our Church Center giving page.

–

First Baptist Church, Muncie, Indiana is a Spirit-led Community gathered to join Christ’s presence in our community.

Our current scriptural watchword for this season is “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45).

Please rate us 5 stars on Spotify, Apple Music, or your podcasting app of choice and share with family and friends.

"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."

"Don't think the church is full of hypocrites. There's always room for at least one more." I shared this once from the pulpit. It is what I thought was a well-worn-out preacher joke. A person who heard me say it found it a bold statement: one he'd rarely heard a preacher share. Can you say that about "good church people"? Hypocrisy involves many things. We usually take it to mean to preach one thing and do another. The original word has the connotation of putting on a mask or putting on a big showy display. When I said the church always has room for more hypocrites, that is not to say anything positive about hypocrisy. It is to say it is a universal human temptation and the hospital for sinners which is the church is exactly where such people need to be: not because God loves hypocrisy but because he wants religious hypocrites to become genuinely spiritual.

Jesus, in fact, is against hypocrisy, but he is not surprised to see it.

Read more at www.fbcmuncie.org/blog.