His Story

A New Identity

November 24, 2024 • Joey Rodgers • Galatians 2:16–21

Who we are isn’t defined by our vocation or family - Our identity is determined by God who knit us together in our mother’s womb. Our identity is determined by His grace when we receive Jesus as Lord. We’re transformed from a sinner to saint, from lost to found, from death to life as God sets us apart from sin unto Himself making us a new creation. We were all created with an identity and for a purpose.

Can You Hear Me Now?

November 17, 2024 • Joey Rodgers • Acts 9:1–31

Do you remember the old Verizon commercial, Can you hear me now? This concept is a great reminder of one of the most essential disciplines in the Christian Life – learning to distinguish God’s voice in our lives. He continues to speak to us today, but never contrary to His Word. No spiritual discipline is more vital to living the Christian Life than having spiritual ears tuned to hear God moving. Let’s look to the story of Paul’s conversion to learn a few lessons on hearing and responding to God’s voice.

The Way Of The Cross

November 10, 2024 • Chris Reynolds • Matthew 27:32–46

Jesus, the perfect Son of God, suffers and dies on the cross. This was his purpose in coming. He lived his entire life in obedience to the Father, and when it was time to go to the cross, he did not turn back. No one suffered more than Jesus did at the cross. Other men had died; other men had been crucified; but no one suffered more than Jesus did at the cross. So, why did Jesus have to suffer so much? Why did they do it to him, and why did he do it for us? Together we’ll examine, how Jesus bore the full pain of the cross. Jesus bore the full shame of the cross. Jesus bore the full insult of the cross. And then finally, Jesus bore the full penalty for sin at the cross.

Fired Up

November 3, 2024 • Joey Rodgers • Daniel 3

The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is one of the most exciting stories in the Bible teaching us about the importance of true faith. Faith isn’t blind belief. It’s belief that has measured the facts available and has drawn a credible conclusion that the person/information is reliable. While we all may not be facing a literal fire in our lives, often, we do face fiery situations that test our faith to determine the depth of our trust in God.

A Nobody from Nowhere

October 27, 2024 • Joey Rodgers • 1 Kings 17:7–24

In the 200 years following Solomon’s death, Israel had 19 consecutive wicked kings, each leading Israel further away from God. Israel turned so far away from Jehovah that God’s name was all but forgotten. The Assyrians would take over Israel, and the Babylonians would take over Judah. During this time, God raised prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Elijah to speak on His behalf and call the people to repent. When King Ahab and his pagan wife Jezebel plunged Israel into the worship of Baal, God used Elijah – a nobody from nowhere that God made a somebody somewhere for His glory.

The Wise Guy

October 20, 2024 • Joey Rodgers • 1 Kings 3

The Bible calls Solomon a wise fool. While he was the wisest man on earth, he did not always make the right decisions. Solomon had wisdom from above, but he didn’t always apply it. Sadly, the same can be true of us. Whether we have smarts, gifts, talents, wealth, etc. – if we don’t submit them to the Lord, we’re more likely to squander them than use them just like Solomon did. His life is a great reminder that it isn’t always how you start but how you finish that truly matters.

Achan for a Breakin'

October 13, 2024 • Joey Rodgers • Joshua 7

When Achan disobeys God's clear instructions, his secret sin not only costs him dearly but brings consequences to the entire community. Achan’s example shows us the reality of temptation and the far-reaching impact of our choices. Watch to discover how to guard your heart, live wisely, and avoid the trap of sin that takes you farther than you ever intended.

A Message on the 2024 Election

October 6, 2024 • Joey Rodgers • Ezekiel 33:1–6, Numbers 21:4–9

Politics, especially in our country, are complex. There are seldom simple solutions because we are dealing with the vast complexity of life in a social system. Not only do we have a civic duty to vote our convictions, but we have an obligation as Christians to vote according to what we find in scripture. While some of us are extremely passionate about politics or a particular candidate, we can’t miss the forest for the trees. We must not lose sight God is still sovereign and present. No matter who you vote for and who becomes president, governor, senator, etc. – no one person is going to save our nation. Our hope and trust must be in God. We must bend our knee and bow our hearts to Him alone.

Painted Grace

September 29, 2024 • Joey Rodgers • Exodus 11—12

The Passover is the most important event in the Old Testament. In this moment, God rescues the Israelites from Egyptian bondage after they sacrificed a lamb and painted its blood over the doorpost in their homes. This one event would follow the Israelites throughout their history, ultimately leading to the most essential event in human history where God would paint His grace over the lives of all humanity thru the sacrifice of Jesus on an old rugged cross.

Battle Royale

September 22, 2024 • Joey Rodgers • Genesis 32:22–30

In Genesis 32, we find the story of possibly the first-ever wrestling match – between a man named Jacob and God – where there was nowhere for Jacob to run or hide. Jacob’s story juxtaposes the sovereign rule of God and the tragic flaws within each of us. Jacob was a scoundrel… a cheat… and a grabber… YET – because of God’s sovereign plan and despite Jacob’s flaws, God used Jacob as the father of the nation of Israel. Jacob’s story reminds us that God can take our failures and use them for His glory and our good!

Is Jesus Enough

September 15, 2024 • Craig Hamlin • Genesis 13—22

The story of Abraham and Lot is perhaps the most illustrative story of the Christian life from the Old Testament. It contrasts two types of lives who take two different paths, both tested, and with only one finding the true, eternal hope in whom every person must believe. The story represents two ways Christians can live: one for the glory of God and one for the glory of themselves; one imperfect and yet, in the will of God, and another, imperfect but continuing to clamor for satisfaction outside of Jesus. In the end, the story for every Christian today begs the question, “Is Jesus Enough?” In other words, does the faith you have in Jesus find in you a deep trust in His promises, an increasing satisfaction in Him alone and fully-committed conviction to follow Him no matter where He leads or what it costs? You will have to answer that question as you look at the two lives, two paths, two tests and one hope of Abraham and Lot.

In The Beginning

September 8, 2024 • Joey Rodgers • Genesis 1:1

The story of the Bible is without a doubt the greatest of all love stories. It’s a compilation of events/stories that reveal God’s miraculous plan of redemption. Join us as we start a twelve-week journey as we discover God’s relentless love for His creation through the scarlet thread of God’s grace. We begin, in the beginning, before anything was in existence but God – and He created the heavens and the earth and everything in it.

First Baptist Church Peachtree City - GA