Second Thoughts with Austin Gentry

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Ecclesiastes, a book on the wisdom and meaning of life, gives us a balanced view of wisdom itself. In chapter 7, we see a 'wholly' type of wisdom, the holy kind that comes from God: Jesus.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The book of Ecclesiastes is one of the least familiar books of the Bible, but it features one of the most popular passages in all of the Bible: "There is a season for..." King Solomon shows us why time is meaningful, and ultimately, how it can be redeemed and stewarded for eternity.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The book of Job ends on a note of humble trust, reconciliation and restoration, and an experience of abundance, beauty, complete inheritance, and fullness. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Elihu is a friend of Job who gives truly godly counsel. In contrast to Job's other friends and their harsh comments, questions, and counsel, Elihu gives a Job a right view of God, a real reason to trust, and a warning to be mindful of, and a promise to stay grounded in. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | When we suffer, we tend to ask the question, "Why?" But after that has run its course, we then switch gears and start asking another question: "Where?" We look in a myriad of ways to different people, places, and things to answer our deepest, most difficult questions. By looking at Job's 'where,' we find wisdom for our own 'why.' 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | When Job suffered, he learned a host of important truths in the valley. He learned what friendship does and does not look like in suffering, how to grieve and learn in your suffering long-term, and how to hope in future grace of the gospel promise. By looking at Job's life, we see great encouragement for our own. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The book of Job starts off with God's providential plan, namely, to allow Job to suffer. Though Job's suffering happened 4000 years ago, his suffering and God's plan in our suffering, relates just as much to us today. God is the same God, has a plan for us, and is using even the worst of our suffering in redemptive--not vindictive--ways for His glory and our good.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | On the road to Emmaus, Jesus reveals himself to two of his disciples, yet in a mysterious, enigmatic way. Why be so coy and confounding, immediately after the resurrection? Jesus had a bigger reason than just a 'spiritual high' - it would be something else that would sustain them for the rest of their lives.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | In Luke 22, Peter follows Jesus at a distance and then ends up denying Jesus 3 times. We are all like Peter: We count the costs, keep our distance, and deny Jesus' lordship in our lives. The good news of the gospel is that Jesus draws near to us and claims us, and does so at the cost of his very life.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | In the Lord's Supper, Jesus connects himself to perhaps the most sacred tradition in all of Judaism: The Passover. He shows us what the meal points back to, what it means for us now, and what promise it makes about the future.