First Baptist Church Thomson, Ga

This message shows that the real threat to Christmas isn’t the Grinch or a snowstorm, but the doubts that can cloud our hope. In Luke 1:26–38, God meets Mary—and all the characters in the Christmas story—in their questions, fears, and uncertainties, proving He is not threatened by honest doubt. Christmas begins with God’s initiative, grows through our sincere questions, and rests on His power and promises, for “nothing is impossible with God.” The virgin birth, fulfilled prophecy, and the reliability of the Gospels remind us that Christmas is not a myth but miraculous truth. Like Mary, we’re invited to respond with humble trust: “May it be done to me according to Your word.” That is how we truly save Christmas from doubt.

Psalm 107 reminds us that whenever God’s people cry out to Him, He responds with His faithful love—guiding the lost, freeing the enslaved, healing the broken, and calming the storms that steal our hope. As the final message in our When God’s People Pray series, this passage shows that every answered prayer becomes an invitation to give thanks and to testify to God’s goodness. In every circumstance of life—confusion, discipline, sickness, or fear—God proves Himself faithful, present, and powerful, and His people are called to remember, rejoice, and proclaim His enduring love.

In this message from John 17, we “listen in” as Jesus prays the night before His crucifixion, revealing the priorities that should shape our own intercessions. If Matthew 6 teaches us how to pray, John 17 shows us how Jesus prays for us—and therefore how God’s people should pray for one another. As we adopt the heart of Jesus in our prayers—for our families, church, community, and fellow believers—we learn to pray with His priorities, His confidence, and His love. This is what it means for God’s people to pray like Jesus.

In this message we explore two powerful national prayers—Solomon’s in Israel’s days of glory and Daniel’s in its days of exile—to show that the future of any nation depends on the prayers of God’s people. Through gratitude for God’s past faithfulness, honest confession of our national and personal sins, and humble dependence on God’s mercy, we are called to stand in the gap for our country. On this Veterans Recognition Sunday, we honored those who have defended our freedoms while remembering that true renewal comes not from political power but from spiritual awakening among God’s people. As we paused throughout the sermon to pray, we dedicated ourselves anew to live for Christ, seek His mercy, and ask Him to once again heal and restore our land.

This message from 2 Chronicles 20 explores how King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah responded to overwhelming danger by seeking God’s wisdom through prayer. Rather than panicking or relying on human strategy, they turned to God first, admitted their helplessness, waited to hear His voice, and trusted His promise even before the victory came. As they worshiped, God fought the battle for them, turning a valley of fear into a valley of blessing. Their story reminds us that when we don’t know what to do, the wisest thing we can do is look to God—pray first, listen well, trust deeply, and give Him praise when He answers.

Colossians 1:9–14 reminds us that spiritual maturity doesn’t come from trying harder but from praying deeper. Just as children grow in understanding, God desires His people to grow in faith and wisdom. Paul’s prayer for the Colossians teaches us how to pray for that kind of growth: to know God’s will, to live in ways that please Him, and to remember all that Christ has already done for us. When God’s people pray for maturity, we ask not only for help in life’s challenges but for hearts that reflect His character—fruitful, faithful, and full of gratitude for His redeeming grace.

In When God’s People Pray for Renewal (Psalm 51), we look at one of the most honest and powerful prayers in all of Scripture — David’s cry for mercy and restoration after his sin with Bathsheba. This message shows that when we come clean before God, He washes us; when we come close to Him, He renews us; and when we come alive for Him, He uses us again. Through heartfelt confession and humble repentance, we discover that God’s grace not only forgives our past but restores our joy and renews our hearts for His glory.

In this opening message of the When God’s People Pray series, we look to the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9–13 as the pattern Jesus gave to teach us how to pray. More than a set of words to repeat, it’s a framework that reshapes our hearts—lifting our focus to God’s holiness, aligning our will with His kingdom, and deepening our dependence on His daily provision, forgiveness, and protection. When God’s people pray like Jesus taught us, our lives, our homes, and our church begin to reflect the power and presence of heaven on earth.

In this final message of the Stand Up! series, Paul’s closing words in 2 Timothy 4:6–22 remind us that the Christian life is a race to be run with endurance and a fight to be finished in faith. Drawing from his own example, Paul shows us how to live with the end in sight—pouring out our lives as an offering to God, staying faithful even when others fall away, trusting the Lord’s presence and power through every hardship, and leaving behind a legacy of faithfulness for those who follow. Finishing well isn’t about earthly success or recognition; it’s about running our race for the glory of the One who will one day welcome us home.

In this message from 2 Timothy 4:1–5, we are challenged to “Stand Up and Fulfill Your Ministry.” Paul’s final charge to Timothy reminds us that every believer has a calling from God, and our ministry matters in light of Christ’s judgment, His coming, and His kingdom. We are called to relay God’s Word faithfully, to proclaim it in every season, to use it to correct, rebuke, and encourage with patience and love. In a world drifting from truth, we must shine the light of the Gospel even brighter, exercising self-control, enduring hardships, and doing the work of an evangelist. This is how we run our race to the finish and fulfill the unique ministry God has entrusted to each of us.

In this message, Stand Up with the Word of God from 2 Timothy 3:10–17, Pastor David Lambert shows how God’s Word is the unshakable foundation we need in the midst of dark and difficult days. Building on last week’s warning about the dangers of the “last days,” this passage reveals what to embrace: Scripture proven in godly examples, rooted in a heritage of faith, breathed out by God Himself, and sufficient to teach, rebuke, correct, train, and equip us for every good work. In a world filled with deception and violence, we can stand strong, live faithfully, and shine brightly when we anchor our lives in the Word of God.

In this message from 2 Timothy 3:1–9, we are reminded that the Last Days will be marked by hard times—fierce, savage days when falsehood and violence run rampant. Paul describes a society, like a “crooked house,” built on misdirected loves, pride, broken relationships, and reckless ambition. Yet in the middle of a collapsing culture, God calls His people to stand up and stand out, not with empty religion but with the true power of Christ. This sermon challenges us to see through the imitations, draw the line against compromise, and rest in God’s control, knowing that His truth will stand when every counterfeit has fallen.

In this message from 2 Timothy 2:14–26, “Stand Up and Stay Focused,” we are reminded that courage isn’t just about bold moments but about keeping our eyes fixed on what matters most. Paul warns against wasting energy in pointless quarrels, false teaching, and youthful passions, and instead calls believers to build their lives on God’s firm foundation, pursue righteousness with His people, and serve others with gentleness and grace. This sermon challenges us to stand up with courage by staying focused on God’s Word and God’s mission.

In 2 Timothy 2:1–13, Paul calls believers to draw their strength from the grace of Christ rather than their own efforts. Using vivid images of a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer, he reminds us to live with focus, faithfulness, and fruitfulness as we entrust the gospel to others. We are to endure with hope, anchored in the resurrection of Jesus and the unchained power of God’s Word, persevering with purpose so that others may be saved. Finally, Paul points us to the triumphs of the gospel, encouraging us to stand confident in Christ’s unchanging faithfulness.

In Stand Up and Don’t Be Ashamed, Part 2 (2 Timothy 1:8–18), we discover how Paul calls believers to live unashamed of the Gospel—by relying on God’s power, guarding the treasure of truth through the Spirit, and refreshing one another in the struggle of faith.

From a Roman prison cell, Paul writes his final words to his spiritual son Timothy—not with despair, but with urgency and love. In 2 Timothy 1:1–7, we’re reminded to stand unashamed for the gospel by remembering the faith that formed us and rekindling the gifts God has given us. Through the Spirit’s power, love, and self-discipline, we can keep the fire of faith burning bright, even in seasons of fear, weakness, or discouragement.

God has uniquely shaped every believer through their gifts, passions, abilities, personality, and experiences to serve His Church and fulfill His mission—and when each of us lives out that design, the body of Christ flourishes.

This message explores our core value of being Relationally Centered—going the extra mile so people know they are loved and that they matter. This message reminds us that spiritual growth is a deeply relational process. True transformation happens when we are part of a gospel-centered community that shapes us through truth and encouragement, shakes us awake when we drift, and shows us Jesus through love, loyalty, and sacrificial service.

In a culture that often confuses or even attacks God’s design for the family, the church must rise with clarity and compassion. This week’s message, “Affirming Families” from our series From the Inside Out, is a call to rediscover the joy of family connection, rebuild strong foundations of faith at home, and reclaim the legacy we pass to the next generation. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, or single adult, this message will challenge and encourage you to make your home a place where faith begins and flourishes.

In a world full of storms, uncertainty, and overwhelming moments, Jesus remains our unshakable guide—our True North. Drawing from Matthew 14:22–33, this message reminds us that we can trust Jesus when we wonder, when we feel alone, when we feel powerless, and when we need hope and help. Just like Peter, we may step out in faith and still feel like we’re sinking—but Jesus reaches out immediately. It’s not about the size of our faith—it’s about the power and presence of our Savior.