Focal Passage: James 2:14-26  The relationship between saving faith and good works has always been a source of controversy. Some would argue that we must work for our salvation, demonstrating to God that we are worthy of His love and grace.  On the contrary, Scripture teaches that saving faith is a Spirit-empowered gift from God through and in Jesus Christ. We do good works not to be saved but because

Focal Passage: James 1:1-12  Everyone hates them, but everyone has them — hard times. But why is it that when the grass is green, and all is well that we learn little about God and ourselves? We seem to learn more about life when we go through difficult times than we do when all is well. God has a way of using hard times to mold and shape us into

Focal Passage: Matthew 18:21-35  Love leads us to forgive. Not only that, being loved empowers and compels us to forgive. This discourse presents an incredible example of a man who had been forgiven an impossible debt, only to threaten and abuse another whose debt he would himself not forgive.  When we realize the great, infinitely immeasurable debt we owe, it is impossible for us to then withhold forgiveness from someone

By Scott Brown Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly Focal Passage: Romans 12:9-21 We’ve all likely heard stories of church hurt, crazy church splits and generally rowdy business meetings. It’s a shame so many are true. I’ve been in churches where you can smell the animosity in the air almost immediately.  I knew one that paid an off-duty officer to sit in just to keep the peace. Why do I tell

By Scott Brown Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly Focal Passage: 1 Timothy 2:1-8 Charles Spurgeon said, “No man can do me a truer kindness than to pray for me.” It is a wonderful privilege to intercede for others, standing in for them and crying out to heaven on their behalf. There are three things I’ve learned about praying for others. First, it takes intention. I can’t leave it up to

By Scott Brown Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly Focal Passage: I Corinthians 13:1-13  Love gives aim to our gifts and our service. Love gives not only purpose but substance to our lives. So, what does love look like?  This is a word that has been poorly defined and abundantly misused in our world today. Love is something more than affection, it is deeper than pleasure, something altogether different from infatuation. 

By Scott Brown Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly Focal Passage: Luke 10:25-37  An expert in the law, testing Jesus, began questioning Him about the law. This wasn’t the inquisitive questioning of a heartfelt seeker but an arrogant questioning seeking only to trap Jesus through cross examination.  This lawyer sums up the law rightly with the Great Commandment. He seems to be missing the point, though. A consuming love for God

By Scott Brown Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly Focal Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:4-14 The church at Corinth was truly a problem church, wouldn’t you agree? Just reading I Corinthians you can’t help but feel the frustration of Paul, trying to help this immature, divisive, selfish and sinful church to unite in submission under Christ. It’s no surprise they would ask Paul about spiritual gifts. It is likely some had begun

By Scott Brown Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly Focal Passage: Galatians 5:16-25 Amos 3:3 asks, “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?” As the people of God, we are to be walking in the Spirit and with the Spirit. But what does it mean to walk with the Spirit?  First, just like Amos, we must be agreed. We must agree to be going the same direction as Him. In

By Scott Brown Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly Focal Passage: 1 Corinthians 10:23-33 The question of the Christian’s freedom is something I’ve wrestled with since I first met Jesus. My first few years as a Christian I felt little freedom. I was bound tightly by legalistic ropes which kept my conscience in a constant shame.  No matter what sins I avoided and what good I did, at the end of