First Baptist Church Thomson, Ga

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.

Dr. Matt Ward walks with us through some of our church's measures, that help us gauge how much we are growing in Christlikeness: Are we thinking like Jesus? Are we being like Jesus? Are we acting like Jesus? Though none of us can be exactly like Jesus, He is our standard and by holding our lives up to Him, we can see where we need to grow and change in our beliefs, character, and behaviors.

What does it mean to bear God’s image in Caesar’s world? In a time of growing division, political confusion, and cultural conflict, how should Christians think about patriotism, government, and their ultimate allegiance? In this message from Matthew 22:15–22 and Romans 13 we explore Jesus’ powerful teaching to "render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s." Discover how our identity as image-bearers of God shapes the way we live as faithful citizens of both our earthly nation and the eternal Kingdom of God.

What does it really mean to serve others with the heart of Jesus? In this message from Galatians 5 and 6, we are challenged to resist the inward drift of selfishness by embracing gospel-centered compassion. Discover how the principles of proximity, partnership, and purpose can guide our service to meet both physical and spiritual needs — not just to do good, but to make disciples.

What difference does it make for a family when Dad brings Jesus home—not just in crisis, but every day? This Father’s Day message explores the story of Jairus to show how a father’s faith can shape his home, bless the broken, and lead his family to life in Christ.

When Jesus gave His Great Commission and ascended to Heaven, the disciples were also left asking “How are we going to do this?” But Jesus already gave them the answer: He said we will receive power WHEN the Holy Spirit comes up on us. In this message, we will walk through a few key moments in the book of Acts that helps us see exactly how the Holy Spirit empowers us to be missionally engaged today.

Prayer is central to our worship—we pray in every service, every small group, every class. Many of us pray daily. But have we stopped to consider what we’re praying for? In this message, we’ll explore the kinds of prayers the Apostle Paul lifted up for the churches, and ask ourselves if our prayers reflect that same deep dependence on God’s Spirit, desire for His kingdom, and passion for His mission.

In Hebrews 11, the “hall of faith” passage, describes the quiet bravery and bold obedience of Moses's mother, Jochebed. She had no armies, no wealth, no platform—but she had the love of a mother and a trust in God that refused to bend the knee to fear. Because of her, the story of redemption for God’s people kept moving forward. In this sermon, we learn about radical parenting from her faithful example.

Worshipping authentically is one of our church’s Core Values. But what does it mean? To worship authentically is to “worship God in spirit and truth, both personally and together as a wholehearted response to who God is and what He has done.” To help us consider what authentic worship looks like, let’s turn to Isaiah 6:1-9, where we discover that authentic worship isn’t about the rituals, music, or performances—it’s about a real encounter with the living God that humbles us, cleanses us, and sends us out.

What are a church's values? They are core beliefs and shared convictions based on God’s Word, that we passionately and consistently hold up as nonnegotiables to guide us in accomplishing our mission. They help us answer the “why” and “how” questions of all we do as a church, all we promote, prioritize, and proclaim. In this series, we'll explore the eight core values of First Baptist Church, Thomson, GA. In this first message, we look at the value of being Biblically Faithful: Proclaiming and living out God’s Word with integrity, authority, and clarity.

After three weeks looking in the Old Testament at Jesus "died according to the Scriptures," we turn to John 20 in the New Testament to see what the resurrection means for those who come searching: For those looking for answers, the empty tomb gives us faith. For those overwhelmed by sorrow, the Risen Lord gives us joy. And for those like Thomas, who wrestle with doubts, the risen Christ offers us reasons to worship.

In this message, we look at one last prophecy: Isaiah’s Song of the Suffering Servant. It’s the fourth and final Servant Song in Isaiah. The Book of Isaiah is quoted in the NT more than any other prophet and has been called “the Fifth Gospel” because it reveals so much about Jesus. He begins looking at the Servant’s success, then describes His suffering. The last two sections of this passage mirror that—looking at His suffering then His success. These mirrored sections point us to the center of the song: the focus on the Servant’s significance.

Continuing to look at Old Testament prophetic scriptures that point us to Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, we look at Psalm 22, one of the most miraculous prophetic passages of Scripture. Charles Spurgeon called it the Psalm of the Cross, saying, "Before us we have a description both of the darkness and of the glory of the cross, the sufferings of Christ and the glory which shall follow. Oh for grace to draw near and see this great sight! We should read reverently, putting off our shoes from off our feet, as Moses did at the burning bush, for if there be holy ground anywhere in Scripture it is in this Psalm.” We will do just that in this sermon.