First Baptist Decatur Podcast

Craig Taylor, one of our beloved lay leaders at FBCD, shares with us a heartfelt and deeply meaningful message on paradox and faith. He pulls his message from multiple biblical texts (Hab. 3:17-18, Heb. 11:1-3, Mk. 9:23-24), but poetically draws them all together. Don't miss this one!

Pastor Emeritus, Dr. Peter Rhea Jones, shares with us some reflections on calling a new Senior Pastor and how we might help Dr. Jordan transition well in this coming season.

Our New Senior Pastor, Dr. David Jordan, shares with us from Luke 10:25-28, the introduction to the Parable of the Good Samaritan. He offers some fresh insights for us as we enter into a new season here at FBCD.

Shelley Woodruff shares with us from Leviticus 16:20-22 and Matthew 2:1-12 in a sermon titled, "Scapegoats and Stars." Shelley has an incredible way of weaving us into the stories of the Bible.

This is a timely word for our particular faith community, especially as we enter into new beginnings with a new pastor. Enjoy!

Bob Williamson shares with us from Luke 12:32-40 in this special New Years Eve sermon.

Rev. Dr. David Gushee wraps up our Christmas series with "Christmas is Christ Supreme," where he offers a parting word on his last Sunday as our interim pastor.

Scripture Reference: Colossians 1:15-20

Matt Snyder continues our "Christmas is..." series by looking at the simple nature of Jesus entering into the world and into our own lives.

Scripture Reference:

"“There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world… Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, ‘I am not the Christ.’ They asked him, ‘Then who are you? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you a prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ Finally they said, ‘Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, ‘I am a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’’ Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, ‘Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?’ ‘I baptize with water,’ John replied, ‘but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptized.”

Follow Matt on Twitter

Rev. Kristen Koger kicks off our Christmas series "Christmas is..." by discussing the prophetic nature of the season. Looking at Daniel 6:6-27, Kristen walks us through what we can learn from Daniel's prayer life.

Scripture Reference.

Dr. David Gushee finishes our series on John's Jesus by reflecting on the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11. What implications does this have for you and me? Listen to find out.

Scripture Reference:

"When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.' Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.'" (John 11:17-23) Read the rest here.

Rev. Jeremy Sean Hall shared with us on Gratitude Sunday during the Fresh Start worship service on John 9:1-9, 30-38. 

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE:

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.”