First Baptist Church of El Dorado - Sermons

Today as a companion to our Global Missions Offering and Prayer Emphasis, Pastor Jonathan Kelley continues with week 3 of a 4-week series in the book of Acts.  MINDSET MATTERS. And, this Missionary Mindset shaped the way the church viewed EVERYDAY PLACES. EVERYDAY PEOPLE. EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS.

Today as a companion to our Global Missions Offering and Prayer Emphasis, Pastor Jonathan Kelley begins a 4-week series in the book of Acts.  God not only calls us to send out our money and send up our prayers, but also to send out of our lives.  I AM NOT HERE TO SIT.  I AM HERE TO BE SENT.

Today Pastor Jonathan Kelley concludes the sermon series called WE THE CHURCH. Throughout this series we have reclaimed the biblical vision for God’s local church. To reclaim that biblical vision begins by using the word church correctly. Week after week I have emphasized that according to the Bible the word church is a people. It’s a people who declare, as we did in week 1, WE ARE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST. It’s a people who declare, as we did in week 2, WE ARE GOD’S HOUSE. It’s a people who, as we learned last week, are GIFTED FOR THE GREATER GOOD for the good of we, the church. And, We, the Church, we are a people who will endure!

This is week three in our current series WE, THE CHURCH. In this series we are reclaiming the biblical vision for God’s local church. To reclaim that biblical vision begins using the word church correctly. All too often we think the word church means a place. When, in fact, according to the Bible church means a people. And, when it comes to church the difference between it being a place and a people well it’s monumental, because those two definitions point us in two directions. They give us two different mindsets.

If church is a place, it’s really easy to have the mindset of a villain. I am gifted for me and me alone. And, I am here for me and me alone. But, if we remember that church is a people. Our mindset will change. And your aspiration and action will become one in the same. Because finally you know,  I AM GIFTED FOR THE GREATER GOOD of We, the Church.

And, every person who has called on the name of Jesus. Every person who has the seal of Holy Spirit on their life has been gifted for the greater good. I have been gifted to serve the church and to minister alongside the church. Church family, if we truly desire We, the Church, to flourish in the future then our aspiration and action must be one in the same. I AM GIFTED FOR THE GREATER GOOD. 

Last week we began a new series called WE, THE CHURCH. In this series we are reclaiming the biblical vision for God’s local church. To reclaim that biblical vision begins using the word church correctly. All too often we think the word church means a place. When, in fact, according to the Bible church means a people. And, when it comes to church the difference between it being a place and a people well it’s monumental. 

Last week we learned that this people called church should declare WE ARE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST. It helped clarify our identity. Today we will further clarify the identity of the local church by declaring together WE ARE GOD’S HOUSE.  And, just like any other house. If you are going to build God’s House you need to pour the right foundation and pick the right materials. According to Paul the right foundation and the only foundation for any local church is Jesus Christ. Listen in as Pastor Jonathan shares how the Church at Corinth and First Baptist Church poured the right foundation and it’s the call of this generation to pick the right materials, to pick king-grade materials to once again build house a that will be a beacon of light in our community.

Pastor Jonathan Kelley begins a new series called WE THE CHURCH. In this series we will reclaim the biblical vision for God’s local church as the people of God. By reclaiming this biblical vision, each individual and each family can recommit themselves to the gathering of God’s people that happens each week. Not a commit to attendance but to engagement, involvement, and participation, because our lives are interwoven with one another. A commitment to engagement and involvement and participation, because God has given the church a mission to fulfill and “not even the firey gates of hell can stand against it.” WE ARE CHURCH.  

In today’s message we will begin our series by giving our attention to a passage that will help clarify the church’s identity as the people of God. It’s Revelation 21:1-3. In those few verses we hear that WE ARE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST. And, like any groom, Jesus Loves His Bride. Jesus Loves the Church. Jesus Loves First Baptist Church of El Dorado.

Today we are wrapping our current series called HOMEMADE. In this series we have examined the complementary roles that your homes—your family’s home and your church home—play in disciple-making process. In today’s message we will identify the glue that must shape and unite your family’s home and this church home, if we want to make another batch of HomeMade Disciples. If you desire every member of your family to have a growing relationship with Jesus, then you need the right glue to shape and unite your family’s home. If we desire our church family to be family that truly fulfills the great commission then we need the right glue to shape us and unite us. The GOSPEL IS THE GLUE if we want to produce another batch of HomeMade Disciples. 

There is no substitute for the gospel if we want our family’s home and our church home to make Homemade Disciples. The Gospel is the Glue that Shapes Disciples and Unites Disciples. Only the gospel declares that the Story of Jesus is the saving work of God.