Read and listen to messages
preached from the pulpit of First Baptist Church

Read and listen to messages
preached from the pulpit of
First Baptist Church

The Tension - 2 Corinthians 5:7

Life is filled with moments where decisions must be made, paths must be chosen, and direction must be set. In those moments, every believer feels a pull in two different directions. One direction urges us to trust what we can see, calculate what makes sense, and move forward only when the outcome feels safe. The other direction calls us to trust God, obey His Word, and move forward even when the details are unclear. That inner pull is what can be described as the tension.

Second Corinthians 5:7 places this tension front and center: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” This verse is simple, but it is not easy. Paul is not dismissing wisdom, facts, or careful thought. Rather, he is declaring what must govern the Christian life. Faith, not sight, is meant to be the deciding voice. The believer does not deny reality, but refuses to let visible circumstances determine obedience. Faith asks, “What did God say?” while sight asks, “How will this work out?” Every day, believers must choose which voice will lead.

Throughout Scripture, faith is not primarily defined but displayed. From Abraham leaving his home without knowing his destination, to Noah building an ark before rain ever fell, faith rests on the Word of God. At the same time, Scripture also shows negative examples, such as Israel at Kadesh Barnea, where fear and sight overruled faith and led to long-term consequences. These accounts remind us that walking by faith is not optional for a fruitful Christian life. It is essential.

1. Sight Allows Circumstances to Preach to Us

When believers walk by sight, circumstances begin to act like preachers. Every situation starts sending a message. Bills preach anxiety. Delays preach doubt. Silence preaches abandonment. Prosperity in the lives of others can preach envy. When circumstances take the pulpit, they shape our thinking and influence our decisions.

The psalmist experienced this struggle in Psalm 73 when he admitted that his feet had almost slipped as he watched the prosperity of the wicked. What he saw distorted what he believed. It was not until he entered the sanctuary of God and returned to God’s truth that clarity came. Circumstances are constant preachers, but they are terrible theologians. They do not reveal God’s character, His faithfulness, or His promises. Scripture does.

Walking by faith requires choosing which voice will preach to us. God’s Word must have the final say, even when circumstances appear loud, convincing, and overwhelming.

2. Sight Allows Fear to Scare Us

Sight does not stop at preaching; it also produces fear. When circumstances dominate our thinking, fear naturally follows. Proverbs 29:25 warns, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” Fear asks questions filled with uncertainty. What if this fails? What if God does not come through? What if obedience costs too much?

Faith is not reckless, but it is courageous. The three Hebrew men standing before the fiery furnace saw real danger, yet they refused to let fear dictate their obedience. Sight would have told them to bow. Faith told them to stand. Their confidence was not in survival, but in God Himself. When faith led, fear lost its power.

Many believers struggle with anxiety because they are unintentionally walking by sight. Fear often disguises itself as wisdom, but fear is rooted in what we see, not in who God is. Faith trusts God even when fear insists on retreat.

3. Sight Allows Control to Manipulate Us

Another danger of walking by sight is the illusion of control. Sight convinces us that if we plan enough, manage carefully, and prepare backup options, we can control outcomes. Control feels responsible and even spiritual, but it subtly replaces trust with self-reliance.

Scripture confronts this mindset directly. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5–6). Faith does not mean inactivity, but it does mean surrender. Faith obeys while releasing the outcome to God. Sight obeys only if it can maintain control.

The tension between faith and sight becomes clear here. We often want to trust God while still holding the reins. True faith steps out of the driver’s seat and allows God to lead, even when the road ahead is unfamiliar.

Walking by Faith in Everyday Life

One of the most challenging truths from this message is that faith is often tested more in small, everyday decisions than in major crises. When life feels manageable, it is easy to rely on sight. When situations feel impossible, faith feels more natural. Yet God calls His people to walk by faith at all times, not only when options run out.

Faith believes what cannot be seen and obeys what is known to be true. It listens to God’s Word instead of circumstances, trusts God instead of fear, and submits to God instead of control. The Christian life cannot be lived partially by faith and partially by sight. The two compete for authority, and only one can lead.

Reflection Question

Where in your life are you feeling the tension between faith and sight right now? What would change if you chose to listen to God’s Word instead of your circumstances and walked forward in faith?

Read Story

Pastor JD Howell

4 min read

The Tension - 2 Corinthians 5:7

The Tension - 2 Corinthians 5:7

1. Sight Allows Circumstances to Preach to Us

Walking by faith requires choosing which voice will preach to us. God’s Word must have the final say, even when circumstances appear loud, convincing, and overwhelming.

2. Sight Allows Fear to Scare Us

3. Sight Allows Control to Manipulate Us

Walking by Faith in Everyday Life

Reflection Question

Where in your life are you feeling the tension between faith and sight right now? What would change if you chose to listen to God’s Word instead of your circumstances and walked forward in faith?

Read Story

Pastor JD Howell

4 min read

Sermon Series

The Evidence | Hebrews 11:1-6

Faith is one of the most commonly used words in the Christian life, yet it is often one of the most misunderstood. People say, “Just have faith,” or “Keep the faith,” but Scripture does not leave us with a vague idea of what faith is. Hebrews 11 begins with a definition. God wants us to know what true, biblical faith looks like because the Bible tells us plainly, “But without faith it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6). That statement alone shows how important this subject is.

At the end of Hebrews 11:1, the Bible calls faith “the evidence of things not seen.” That word evidence reminds us that faith is not a blind leap into the dark. Biblical faith is a response to what God has revealed about Himself. We do not see everything, but we are not without proof. God, in His kindness, has given us witnesses, testimonies, and evidence so that our faith can rest in what is true and certain.

In this passage, the Lord presents three pieces of evidence that show why faith in Him is reasonable, right, and pleasing to Him.

1. The Evidence in Creation

Hebrews 11:3 says, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” The first evidence God gives us is the world around us. Creation itself testifies that there is a Creator.

When we look at the order of the universe, the complexity of the human body, and the precision of nature, we are reminded that these things did not happen by accident. The design we see points to a Designer. Every sunrise, every living cell, every detail of the natural world declares that God exists and that He is powerful beyond our imagination. Before there was matter, there was God. Before there was time, there was God. Everything we see owes its existence to Him.

This matters because our faith is not only about believing that God created the world. It is about trusting the Creator with our lives. The One who spoke the universe into existence is able to save, to guide, and to sustain us. When we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, we are placing our faith in the same God who framed the worlds by His word. Creation gives us confidence that He is worthy of our trust.

2. The Evidence in Abel

Hebrews 11:4 tells us, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.” Abel’s life is presented as another witness, another piece of evidence.

Abel’s sacrifice was accepted not merely because of what he brought, but because of the faith behind it. God is not impressed by activity alone. He looks at the heart. Abel trusted God, and that faith shaped his obedience. Even today, thousands of years later, Abel’s testimony still speaks. His life reminds us that God sees faithful obedience, even when others misunderstand it.

There are times when you will obey God, and no one else will understand your decision. Your motives may be questioned. Your choices may be criticized. But God never misreads the heart of a person who is seeking to follow Him by faith. Abel’s example assures us that faith is never wasted. God sees it, and He uses it to encourage others long after our own lives are finished.

3. The Evidence in Enoch

Hebrews 11:5–6 points us to another witness: Enoch. The Bible tells us that Enoch walked with God and that he pleased God. Then the Scripture explains how he pleased God. “But without faith it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Enoch’s life teaches us that God is pleased not merely by what we do, but by the faith that leads us to do it. It is possible to attend church, to give, to serve, and even to speak about spiritual things without truly trusting God. Faith changes the motive behind the action. Faith says, “God, I trust You enough to obey You, even when I do not see the outcome.”

Walking with God is still the calling of every believer. We walk with Him as we read His Word, pray, worship, and obey what He has shown us. Day by day, step by step, we learn to trust Him more. Faith is not about perfection. It is about trust. God is not looking for flawless people. He is looking for people who will believe Him enough to follow Him.

Living by Faith Today

God has not asked us to live by blind hope. He has given us evidence. Creation declares His power. Abel declares that God sees faithful obedience. Enoch declares that faith is what pleases God. The question is not whether God is trustworthy. The question is whether we will trust Him.

Have you trusted Him for salvation? Have you trusted Him in your daily decisions, in your fears, in your relationships, and in your prayers? Faith shows itself in the choices we make. It shows itself when we forgive, when we obey Scripture, when we step forward in obedience even though we feel uncertain.

Reflection Question:If someone examined your choices this past week, would they find evidence of faith? What step of faith is God calling you to take today?

Feb 9, 2026

5 min read

Author: Pastor JD Howell

Sermon Series

Chapter Study | 2 Timothy 2:15

When it comes to studying the Bible, there is a quiet assumption that slips into church life if we are not careful. It sounds spiritual, it sounds respectful, and it even feels humble. It says, “That is the pastor’s job.” As if studying the Bible deeply belongs to the pulpit, but not to the pew. Yet the command in Scripture does not fall only on preachers. It lands on God’s people.

Paul told Timothy, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God” (2 Timothy 2:15). Approved unto God. That is the target. The goal of Bible study is not to impress people, win arguments, or collect information. It is to please the Lord. If God is pleased, it does not matter what man says. If God is displeased, then it does not matter how spiritual we look; we need to change. All of us should be challenged to step into the Word a little deeper, not as a competition, not as a comparison, but as obedience. God does not bless half-hearted obedience. He blesses a heart that follows where He leads.

One of the simplest, most helpful ways to begin is a chapter study. A chapter study is not the only way to study the Bible, but it is an excellent way to train your mind and heart to let Scripture speak for itself. It slows you down. It forces you to pay attention. It helps you see what God is saying, not merely what you want Him to say.

1. A Chapter Often Gives Intended Context

Verses have an address. They live inside paragraphs, paragraphs live inside chapters, and chapters are often built around connected thoughts. While chapter numbers were added later and are not inspired, they are still very useful. Most of the time, they help us follow a line of thought.

This matters because context guards us from a danger that is common today. It is the habit of grabbing a verse and using it like a weapon or a slogan, without paying attention to its meaning in its surroundings. You can create a serious error by pulling Scripture out of its “meaning location.” A chapter study helps prevent that. It helps us hear what God is actually saying, not just what we want to hear.

It also helps us understand the layers of Scripture. God spoke to real people in real situations, and some promises were given to specific individuals in specific moments. If we ignore that, we can misapply a passage and end up in error. You can learn from every story in the Bible, but you must learn it rightly. The principle may apply even when the specific situation does not. A chapter study keeps your feet planted on solid ground.

2. A Chapter Can Reveal Repeated Themes and Key Words

God does not repeat Himself by accident. When you read a chapter carefully, you start noticing words that keep appearing, ideas that keep resurfacing, and truths that are being emphasized. That repetition is the Holy Spirit underlining something for you.

When you slow down in a chapter study, patterns begin to show up that you would miss if you only skimmed a verse here and there. The Lord is often pointing your attention to what matters most. Repetition is one of His teaching tools, and a chapter study helps you recognize it.

3. A Chapter Often Shows Spiritual Progression

A chapter can show movement. Sometimes it is growth and victory. Sometimes it is a decline and a warning. Either way, you see how spiritual decisions play out over time.

When you trace a chapter, you can ask helpful questions that sharpen your understanding: What problem is being addressed? How does God respond? What change is expected? Those questions keep you from reading the Bible like random quotes. They help you read it like God intended, as truth that exposes the heart and directs the life.

4. A Chapter Equips Us for Real-Life Application

The Bible was not given to fill our heads only. It was given to shape our lives. You can apply biblical truth at work, at home, in conflict, in temptation, and in suffering. Scripture is meant to be lived.

That is why these three questions are so important when you study: What does this teach me about God? What does this reveal about me? What must I change? God reveals Himself through His Word, and the Word also reveals us. Sometimes it shows us an ugly attitude, a proud spirit, or a stubborn will. That can sting, but it is mercy. God is not trying to shame you; He is trying to grow you.

A Practical Example of Chapter Study

To model this, we walked through a chapter study in James 1. James begins with a greeting, then he moves through several connected areas of spiritual life. When you read the chapter as a whole, you see a repeated theme: spiritual maturity.

First, James teaches spiritual maturity in trials. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:2–3). Trials test faith, and faith under pressure produces patience. That patience is not meant to stay small. God wants it to finish its work in you. He is not merely trying to get you through trouble. He is trying to build you through trouble.

Then James addresses spiritual maturity in the face of temptation. He makes it plain that God is not the source of sin. Temptation does not come from a holy God trying to trip you up. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man” (James 1:13). James shows the pathway of sin and how it grows when we entertain it. That is not written to condemn you. It is written to warn you, so you can fight it early and win.

Finally, James teaches spiritual maturity in response to the Word of God. He calls us to be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. He warns that hearing without doing is self-deception. The Word is like a mirror. You look into it, and it shows you what you are, but the goal is not to glance and walk away unchanged. The goal is to keep looking, keep obeying, and keep growing.

In the middle of that chapter is a verse that captures the aim of the whole process. “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:4). That word “perfect” carries the idea of completeness, maturity, being fully grown. God is not only interested in getting you saved. He is interested in making you whole. He wants your faith mature, your reactions mature, your tongue mature, your obedience mature, and your love mature.

The world offers limited answers to our brokenness. It tries to explain pain, manage guilt, soothe anxiety, and satisfy desire, but it cannot complete what only God can complete. God provides the complete answer. He teaches you how to walk through trials, how to overcome temptation, and how to respond rightly to His Word. He does not just patch cracks. He grows you into spiritual maturity.

Reflection Question

Are you treating Bible study like “the pastor’s job,” or are you studying to be “approved unto God” for yourself? What is one step you need to take this week so that God can keep growing you toward being “perfect and entire, wanting nothing”?

Feb 9, 2026

6 min read

Author: Pastor JD Howell

Sermon Series

Faith for Today | Hebrews 11:1

When we talk about faith, it is easy to admire it from a distance. We respect it in the lives of Bible characters. We applaud it in the testimonies of others. We even celebrate it as a theme or an idea. But Hebrews 11 does not present faith as something reserved for history or for heroes of the past. It presents faith as something present, active, and necessary right now. The opening words make that unmistakably clear: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is not something we had once. Faith is something we live in today.

This chapter is often called the hall of faith, but it is not a hall of perfection. The men and women listed here were not flawless. Some made serious mistakes. Some failed in ways that would seem to disqualify them from being used by God. Yet God includes them because the qualification was never perfection. The qualification was faith. God does not require a perfect life to use someone. He requires a faith-filled life. Faith for today means choosing to trust God in the present, even when circumstances are unclear and outcomes are unknown.

Faith does not wait for ideal conditions. It operates in the here and now, often with incomplete information. We are reminded that we walk by faith, not by sight. Faith gives foundation to hope, not wishful thinking, but confident expectation. God has never broken a promise, and He never will. Because of that, faith becomes the solid ground on which hope stands.

1. Confidence in Eternal Life Through Jesus Christ

Biblical faith begins with a clear object, and that object is not vague or self-defined. Faith is anchored in God, and ultimately in His Son, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us that we are “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” He begins true faith, and He completes it. No system, no religion, and no personal effort can do that. Only Jesus can.

The foundation of faith is the gospel. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Faith places its full weight on what Christ has done. His death, burial, and resurrection secure our eternity. When a person places their faith in Jesus Christ alone, their eternal destiny is settled. That brings confident expectation, not fear or uncertainty.

Because of Christ, we live knowing that heaven is real. Salvation does not depend on our daily performance but on Christ’s finished work. God does not excuse sin, but He does secure the believer. Faith for today means living with the assurance that eternity is in God’s hands, not ours.

2. Confidence in God’s Sovereign Purposes

Hebrews 11 reminds us that faith often involves trusting God’s plan when it does not make sense. Noah built an ark without ever seeing rain. God asked him to obey before explaining all the details. That is often how faith works. Faith trusts God’s purposes even when the path feels confusing.

The Bible assures us, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). That does not mean all things feel good. It means God is always at work. Faith refuses to let circumstances preach louder than Scripture.

When trials come, it is easy to assign motives to God instead of trusting Him. Faith says, “Lord, I will trust You with this, even if You never explain it.” Faith believes that God’s purposes are good, even when life feels heavy and unanswered questions remain.

3. Confidence in God’s Sufficient Grace in Temptation

Faith is not only about eternal matters. It affects daily decisions, especially when temptation arises. Hebrews 11 points us to Joseph, a man who faced intense temptation yet chose faithfulness. He believed God was greater than the moment.

Scripture promises, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Faith believes that promise and acts on it.

Faith takes up the shield God provides. “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:16). When faith is active, temptation does not have the final word. God’s grace is sufficient, and He always provides a way to stand.

4. Confidence in God’s Daily Direction

A life of faith trusts God not only with eternity and temptation, but also with daily direction. Faith believes that God orders our steps, even when we cannot see the whole road ahead. Faith chooses obedience over clarity and trust over control.

Walking by faith means believing that God is involved in everyday decisions. He is not distant. He is personal, present, and purposeful. Faith says, “Lord, lead me today,” and then follows when He does.

5. Confidence That God Hears and Answers Prayer

Faith also shapes how we pray. Hebrews 11 reminds us that prayer is an expression of trust in God’s character. We do not always see immediate answers, but faith believes that God hears every request.

Some prayers are answered quickly. Others are answered over time. Some are answered in ways we do not fully see until eternity. Faith continues praying, trusting that God is faithful. We do not have to see the result today to know that God is at work.

Faith for today is not theoretical. It is lived. It shows up in salvation, in suffering, in temptation, in direction, and in prayer. The question is not whether we talk about faith, but whether we are walking in it.

Reflection QuestionAre you living by faith today, or are you relying on what you can see and understand? What step of faith is God calling you to take right now?

Feb 1, 2026

5 min read

Author: Pastor JD Howell

Sermon Series

The Evidence | Hebrews 11:1-6

In this passage, the Lord presents three pieces of evidence that show why faith in Him is reasonable, right, and pleasing to Him.