First Baptist Joplin

John Swadley | Colossians 2:13-14

This message takes us deep into the heart of the gospel through Colossians 2:13-14, using powerful imagery that resonates with our human experience of guilt and the desperate need for cleansing. The sermon opens with a vivid childhood memory of falling into a cesspool—a visceral metaphor for how sin makes us feel dirty on the inside, desperate to be washed clean. We're invited to confront our own guilt honestly, not to wallow in condemnation, but to experience the liberating truth that Jesus paid it all on the cross. The message unpacks three transformative realities: Jesus made us spiritually alive through the new birth, He forgave all our sins completely, and He canceled the debt we could never pay. The Ten Commandments are presented not as a way to earn salvation, but as a mirror showing us our need for a Savior. Like the Irish custom of nailing debts to a public board, our sins were nailed to the cross with Christ, and His blood wrote 'paid in full' across every transgression. This isn't about religion or trying harder—it's about receiving the gift of forgiveness that transforms dead spirits into living ones, adopted into God's family forever.

John Swadley | John 17:20-23

Unity isn’t just a nice idea; Jesus treated it like a supernatural power source. This message digs into John 17 and the opening chapters of Acts, where Jesus prays that His people would be one just as He and the Father are one. That prayer wasn’t just for the disciples in the upper room — it’s for us right now.

This isn’t about agreeing on everything. It’s about choosing the same mission and letting go of the ego battles that hold us back. The Trinity itself models this rhythm of joyful deference — the Spirit lifting up the Son, the Son glorifying the Father.

The challenge is simple and uncomfortable: Will we choose unity so God can move… or let small disagreements rob us of what He wants to do?

Chad Thompson | Joshua 1:1-9

This week’s message offers a timely and challenging reminder of the Great Commission and our calling to active discipleship. Drawing from Joshua 1, we see God repeat the command to be strong and courageous—four times—because He knew Joshua would face real fear. In the same way, we are encouraged to step beyond comfort and into obedience.

The central truth is clear: God has chosen to use His people to reach the world, and there is no alternate plan. Our faith isn’t meant to stop at consuming spiritual content or knowing God’s commands; it’s meant to be lived out in obedience. The illustration of multiplication was especially striking—one disciple who makes disciples can impact over a billion people in 30 years, while leading someone to Christ daily reaches only a fraction of that. It’s a powerful reminder that God’s design is both intentional and transformative.

This message invites us to evaluate whether we are truly following Jesus or simply going through familiar routines. Are we known for His love and hope, or for lesser things that distract us from our mission? Ultimately, we are called to turn from wandering, embrace the adventure of being sent, and remember that as long as we have breath, God has purpose for us in His kingdom.

John Swadley | Acts 4:31-35

This week’s message flips our idea of “church” upside down. From Ephesians 2:19-20, we’re reminded that church isn’t a building, a program, or a religious chore. It’s the household of God — a family built on the foundation of the apostles with Jesus as the cornerstone. Christianity was never designed to be a solo project; it’s a team sport where we actually belong to one another. The New Testament gives us over 30 commands we can’t obey alone, which means walking away from church because of hurt is like swearing off all food because one restaurant served you something nasty. We’re not foreigners or outsiders anymore. We’re fellow citizens in God’s kingdom, welcomed into His home and His people.

Jesus takes what we do for His family personally, and Matthew 25:40 makes that unmistakable: whatever we do for the least of His brothers and sisters, we do for Him. This message calls us back to the heart of a healthy church family — one marked by gladness in gathering, growth both spiritually and numerically, and grace that never runs dry. None of us deserve to be here, yet every one of us is invited in.

John Swadley | Ephesians 2:19-20

What if we’ve been seeing church through the wrong lens? This message from Ephesians 2:19–20 flips the script—reminding us that the church isn’t an institution, it’s a family. We’re not just attendees or spectators; we’re brothers and sisters, citizens of God’s household, built on Christ as our cornerstone. When we treat faith like a solo mission, we miss the point—because Christianity was never meant to be done alone. Even when church gets messy or hard, we’re called to stay rooted in community, offering gladness, growth, and grace. Because in the end, what we do for the church, we do for Christ Himself.

Jason Taylor | Romans 12:1-2

What if worship isn’t something we do—but the way we live? This message from Romans 12:1-2 flips the script on our Sunday routines, calling us to worship God with every part of our lives. We were made to worship, yet sin keeps pushing us to idolize everything else—our comfort, our careers, even good things like family or ministry. True worship means surrendering it all, letting Jesus be not just first on our list but the entire list. When we die to self and live in awe of a holy God, our daily lives become altars—and our Sunday worship becomes an overflow of His power and presence.

John Swadley | Acts 16:27-31

Pastor John Swadley reminds us that sharing Jesus isn’t just a duty — it’s the heartbeat of a healthy church. Through stories of a rotten tomato, a businesswoman, a fortune-teller, and a Roman jailer, he paints a vivid truth: everyone needs Jesus — the good, the bad, and the ordinary.

Good people need Jesus because morality can’t erase sin. Bad people, even those who feel beyond saving, can find grace. And ordinary people — like the jailer who nearly gave up on life — can find purpose and peace through faith in Christ.

This message drives home one clear call: stop assuming who’s “too good” or “too far gone.” The gospel is for everyone. Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — then go and share that good news with the world.  

John Swadley | Galatians 5:13-26

A Spirit-led life isn’t about rules; it’s about relationship. When the Holy Spirit leads, freedom becomes service, not selfishness. We stop living to please ourselves and start reflecting Jesus through the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

The message calls us to stop operating on autopilot and start walking in step with the Spirit. Step where He leads, and the light comes on under your feet. The greatest decision is trusting Jesus for salvation. The second greatest? Choosing daily to live in Spirit mode.

John Swadley | Ephesians 2:10

In this week’s message, Pastor John challenges the church to leave the “luxury box” of comfort and get out on the field. Citing Ephesians 2:10, he reminds us that we’re not spectators—we’re God’s workmanship, created for good works that He prepared long before we were born.

Through stories of real people—from a volunteer who changed a life with a donated car seat to a teacher who crawled up stairs to reach her Sunday School class—the sermon paints a clear picture: serving isn’t optional; it’s who we were made to be.

We’re God’s team, each with unique talents perfectly designed for His work. The happiest people in the church aren’t the ones sitting in the stands—they’re the ones serving. Because when you pick up a servant’s towel, you start to look a lot more like Jesus.

John Swadley | Revelation 2:1-5

This week kicks off our new series, Marks of a Healthy Church, with a powerful reminder from Revelation 2:1-5. The church at Ephesus had great works, strong doctrine, and perseverance under pressure—but Jesus said they had lost their first love.

Through stories about camping trips, drifting currents, and even cereal-box prizes, Pastor John reminds us that our faith can quickly grow cold if we don’t deliberately stoke the fire of our devotion. First love is marked by passion, sacrifice, and an all-consuming preoccupation with Jesus. Without it, we risk robotic service, dry spiritual lives, and broken relationships.

At the heart of it all, a healthy church is a church that truly, deeply loves Jesus first.