Second Thoughts with Austin Gentry

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The wilderness is not just a place of common complaint and occasional crossroad, but also a place of subtle comprise. In chapter 22, the narrative pans away from the Israelites in the wilderness to an interaction on a hillside directly above them. A place where a prophet compromises, God shows grace, and Israel waits unaware.  

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | In 1 Samuel 11, Saul's insecurities seep out once more under pressure, but the Spirit rushes upon him and gives him a newfound preparation, power, and perspective - even forgiveness - to be the king that Israel needs. In this chapter, we're able to see defining characteristics of Spirit-led leadership versus a leadership of the natural man - and how it makes all the difference. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The wilderness can be a place of complaint, but it will always be a place of crossroads. In fact, the complaints we choose to make in the wilderness will often impact what direction we tend to take at the crossroads. What happens at their crossroads? And what can we learn from them when we arrive at crossroads in our lives as well? 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | 1 Samuel 7 marks the first time in approximately 70 years where there is national revival in Israel. After a long, slow, steady spiritual descent, their sudden drop-off perfectly aligns with God's long, slow, steady ascension of Samuel to help bring the nation back to righteousness and peace. Their national 'turning point' involved 5 critical elements that are just as true for us today as it was back then, for them. The question is, what it be for us? 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Numbers 9 charts  a 'new beginning' for the people of God: namely, moving from Mount Sinai and into the wilderness. The end of chapter 9 gives an assessment of the whole journey: How did God lead in the wilderness? And how did the people respond? How should we? 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Psalm 139 features one of the most moving, emotional, and awe-inspiring prayers in all of Scripture about how fully, completely, and intimately God knows His children. How do you think God thinks about you? That may very well be the difference-maker of a faith that is happy and hopeful versus a faith that is pessimistic and weak. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Like the proverbial Invisible Man, the reality of power is always around us, moving among us, and affecting us in different ways. In fact, we not only live in power dynamics, we also wield power as well. How does Jesus operate in power? How should we?

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | If a picture says a thousand words, Psalm 23 says more. In only 6 verses, God gives us a panoramic view of past, present, and future; a motion-picture story of our lives; a moving portrayal of His care through it all. If we are His sheep, everything we could ever need, we have in the Shepherd.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | In Psalm 32, David writes about his spiritual journey - from committing a grave sin, to crafting a dark coverup, then to finding forgiveness and freedom and relief. In it, we see the penalty and power of sin, many principles on forgiveness, as well as faint prophesy about the Person who holds the keys of forgiveness and freedom in His nail-scarred, loving hands. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Psalm documents David's long, grueling journey of hardship that was met with long grace and long deliverance. When we are walking through long difficult seasons of life, David gives us 7 truths that give us long grace for a long journey of long deliverance.