Second Thoughts with Austin Gentry

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The topic of 'revival' can evoke many different ideas and experiences. But what is revival, exactly? In 2 Chronicles 34, we see what revival truly is, what revival is not, and how we access true revival ourselves.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Isaiah 6 shows us a True King when all other kings and kingdoms fail, and how that reorients and redeems everything—to how we perceive God, view ourselves, interact with others, and therefore, navigate life as we know it.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Isaiah 36-37 recounts a battle in Israel's history where the Assyrian Empire threatened to destroy them completely. In this story, we see the nature of real faith, the ultimatum of compromise, and the only confidence that will deliver.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The book of Hosea stands distinct from the other prophetic books because its message was not primarily a compelling word as much as it was a powerful visual. God calls Hosea to love and marry a prostitute to show Israel and the world what his love is like to his people who keep turning away from their covenant to their Lord. In this image of marriage, we see the profound, shocking, and relentless love of God on display for us.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The book of Jonah recounts a story full of unexpected reversal, deep irony, and profound portrayals of God, sin, and grace. The book functions like a mirror, so that we can see the worst of Jonah and Nineveh in all of us--and yet, the best of God in Jesus Christ for all of us, too.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | 1 Kings 18 features the pinnacle of the prophet Elijah's life and ministry: showing that 'The LORD is God' and exposing all other gods as false and fake. Scripture illustrates that false gods cause spiritual drought and cripple you in any circumstance, whereas only the true God causes flourishing and empowers you to run freely in any circumstance.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Solomon is considered the wisest king to have ever lived. But is his wisdom inaccessible to us? In the following audio, we'll look at why 1 Kings 3 gives us a template for how to perceive wisdom, how to receive wisdom, and how God gives wisdom. (1 Kings 3)

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | While social media has many advantages, it can pose many threats as well, especially regarding one's self-worth. In light of the smart phone revolution, the insurgence of social media, and the prevalence of the digital age, deriving self-worth from social media has become endemic to our society today. Our phones might be a symptom; however, they are not the disease. As the following audio makes clear, the real issue is not one's phone, but one's throne. What throne are we giving the authority to declare our self-worth? As Jesus declares in Matthew 7, the question is not whether you bow to a throne, but rather, what throne you're bowing to.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | 1 Samuel 24 recounts David hiding in a cave from his ruthless pursuer, King Saul. During this scene, David is tempted in two main ways: 1) to despair because of his circumstances, and 2) to take matters into his own hands so that he wouldn't despair. Where David finds strength to resist both temptations--to despair and to take control--shows us where we can find strength to resist temptations in our own circumstances as well. 1 Samuel 24 and its counterpart, Psalm 57, reveal to us a powerful concept in Scripture: faith in future grace empowers obedience, hope, and praise.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The book of Joshua marks the beginning of an entirely new era for the Israelites. They are situated on a nation-wide precipice of newness: a new leader, a new land, a new generation. Joshua's main message is not necessarily new, but it is contextualized in such a way so that it particularly resonates in seasons of newness. The book—although written in historical narrative form—artfully uses comparison and contrast between characters and battles to drive home this main theme: God fights for you, so simply trust and obey.