Hey all!

You've probably noticed that we haven't been updating our podcasts here on this page. We have just recently moved all of our podcasts to our main website at www.toledofirstbaptist.com . Sorry for not letting you guys know earlier! If you listen through our ITunes account, we'll be updating that soon to pull from our new RSS feed instead of this one. We hope you have an amazing day and thank you for listening to us!

I recently watched a story about the woman who was responsible for the founding of Mother’s Day. Anna Jarvis was so determined to honor the memory of her mother that she lobbied business owners and members of congress until Mother’s Day was adopted as an official U.S. Holiday in 1914. Years later, as the holiday was commercialized, she advocated removing it from the calendar because it had lost its original meaning. This reversal caused many people to have strong opinions about her but one thing was plainly clear. Anna Jarvis was passionate about honoring Mother’s and not losing that focus.

Anna Jarvis left a legacy of passion and conviction for honoring motherhood. That is her legacy. Her memory lives on to this day through the holiday and the smiles of countless women who are honored by their families. The bottom line to this story is that we all leave legacies whether we want to or not. Legacies are a product of our beliefs and actions while we journey this earth. As we prepare for Sunday I want to you to ask yourself the question, “What is the legacy that I am leaving”?

Lois and Eunice were women who left a powerful legacy to their family and friends that was recorded for us in the New Testament. What was it that so moved the Apostle Paul that he referred to them by name? This Sunday please join us as we look at the legacy of these two woman and see how they lived their life in such a way that it remains with us today. Let their story and memory motivate you to be committed to leaving a legacy of love.

When my ninety-four-year-old father died, I was there and my family gathered. I was surprised when one of my siblings nearing seventy shakily volunteered he’d never seen a dead body. For me it was a sad moment to see my father go, but not shocking. I had learned early sooner or later you will experience grief. Death will come and without Christ along with grief, a certain fog of fear can drift in around your life and loved ones.

Christ has come to free us from living in bondage to the fear of death. Jesus rose from the grave to make us alive for a purpose. His plan is to love us forever.

Eph 2:4-7 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Wow!

When you believe in Jesus, you have every tomorrow forever. Someone said “no one is ready to live until they are ready to die.”

I really want you to be able to go through life full of hope and joy. This Sunday, the message is titled: “Forever”. If you want a glimpse of heaven, please give this a listen.

“I’m starving!”

When is the last time that was even close to true? Most of us could say sometimes “I’m really hungry “and then solve the problem with a trip to the kitchen or the nearest store. For hundreds of millions of people hunger is a daily companion and avoiding starvation is a seasonal battle.

◾A child dies from hunger related causes every 11 seconds

◾1 in 5 people live on less than $1.90 per day

◾2.5 billion people (more than 1/3 of the planet’s population) do not have access to proper sanitation. (Interestingly, 6 billion have access to cell phones)

◾About 795 million people are undernourished globally.

This Sunday we will learn what Christ taught about hunger and what we can do about it. Jesus was not just the friend to sinners but the champion of the poor. Sometime we all feel like What can we do for so many? Well Jesus shows us what He can do with our obedience.

Mat 15:32-34 | And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” The disciples *said to Him, “Where would we get so many loaves in this desolate place to satisfy such a large crowd?” And Jesus *said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”

This Sunday, we will hear what Jesus can do when we pay attention to needs and give Him what we have. There will be special testimonies and presentations that you won’t want to miss.

God has made us alive for a purpose. Freedom is a popular word. When we think of freedom we don’t always think about anything to do with religion.

Yet Jesus said:

John 8:31-32 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Jesus was talking about true freedom. A lot of religious types make Christianity look like a list of rules. Others treat following Jesus so selectively that it seems like it has no impact on their daily lives. We are saved to be the freest people on earth.

John 8:36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”

The problem with freedom is sin and how we approach it

John 8:34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

We have to learn how to live in Christ power so we are free.

Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

Sundays teaching will be on the three things that steal freedom.

What is it that God really wants from you? If we don’t get this question right nothing will ever be right.

This Sunday I will teach part two of the series, “MADE ALIVE FOR A PURPOSE – FAITHFUL FELLOWSHIP” Jesus rose from the dead to offer resurrection life to all who would receive Him. He did that to bring us into a love relationship with God.

1 Corinthians 15:19-22, For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Did you get that? He died for us so “we will live together with Him”, all the time, starting now! So that whether we are awake or asleep, – we will live together with Him. It is easy to quickly loose our focus on the relationship. It becomes a focus on some subjective rules about behavior or self defined holiness. It becomes performance based and success driven. God’s ways are higher than our ways. I am convinced if we will return to a focus on what God wants, God will begin to trust us and use us as never before.

What is more important in the long run; who the next president is or if one of your friends or family members comes to know Jesus as Lord and Savior? I am convinced that changing someone’s eternity deserves a lot more passion and attention than changing someone’s politics. Do they really know about what Jesus has done? Have they ever really surrendered to His lordship? Is Jesus the true Commander and chief of their soul? Are they following the Call He gave to love and invite others to Him? These are the real questions that must fill your hearts and mouths.

This Sunday is the day each year the Church has traditionally celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. He was made alive so you might be fully alive to bring God glory. As we prepare for Sunday please pray for people you will invite to come to worship. That makes some calls and ask them to sit and listen with you. The message will deal with the most important question “have you truly been made alive by God?” Jesus rose to make you alive to be fully alive for Him.

1 Co 15:20-22 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.