The message is the beginning of a five-week series on prayer, emphasizing its importance in connecting with God. The speaker references Pete Gregg's book, How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People, as a foundational guide for the series, highlighting its practical approach to prayer. The sermon focuses on three key principles for effective prayer: keeping it simple, keeping it real, and keeping it up. Simple prayers, like the Lord's Prayer, are accessible and profound, while authentic prayers allow individuals to express their true emotions to God. Consistency in prayer is emphasized, with encouragement to find a personal "place" for prayer, making it easy and enjoyable. Will Dyer uses examples from scripture and historical figures, such as Jesus and Susanna Wesley, to illustrate the importance of prayer in daily life and to inspire the audience to deepen their relationship with God through prayer.
The message reflects on the significance of the Advent season, emphasizing its dual focus: the celebration of Christ's birth and the anticipation of His return to restore and renew creation. It challenges the notion of escaping a broken world, as proposed by cultural figures like Elon Musk and Sam Altman, and critiques the theological idea of fleeing to heaven, instead highlighting the biblical promise of God dwelling with humanity on a renewed Earth. Drawing from Revelation 21, Will Dyer underscores the hope of a future where pain, chaos, and suffering are eradicated, and God's kingdom is fully established on Earth. The message calls for Christians to live as "Advent people," embodying hope, peace, joy, and love through acts of kindness, generosity, and faithfulness, reflecting God's kingdom in their daily lives. The sermon concludes with a prayer for trust in God's promises and a commitment to being agents of His kingdom on Earth.
The message emphasizes the dual significance of Advent, celebrating the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and anticipating His return in glory. It challenges the traditional view of Jesus' origin story beginning in the manger, highlighting instead the Gospel of John's portrayal of Jesus as the eternal Word, present with God from the beginning of creation. Will Dyer reflects on the profound truth that Jesus is the cosmic force through whom all things were created and the light that shines in the darkness, which cannot be overcome. Despite the presence of darkness and brokenness in the world, the message reminds us that Jesus "tabernacled" among us, offering hope, peace, joy, and love. It calls for a mature faith that sees Christ in everyone and everything, encouraging believers to trust in His presence and light, even in life's darkest moments.
The message emphasizes the importance of preparing for the coming of Jesus during the Advent season through repentance, which is described as a positive act of changing one's mind, heart, and direction to align with God's will. Drawing from John the Baptist's call to repentance, Will Dyer expresses the need to reflect on areas where we may not be living as God intended and to reorient our lives toward hope, peace, joy, and love. The message also underscores that life is not about us but about pointing others to Jesus, who brings true peace and freedom. As followers of Christ, we are called to embody and proclaim the promise of God's faithfulness and the coming of His kingdom, living as people of Shalom—the way things ought to be. The invitation is to embrace repentance as a hopeful and transformative act, preparing our hearts for the King and His eternal reign.
The message emphasizes the significance of Advent as a season of preparation and hope, focusing on two key dimensions: celebrating the birth of Christ at Christmas and anticipating His return in glory. Using the story of the wise men from Matthew 2, Will Dyer highlights their unwavering faith, willingness to step out of their comfort zones, and sacrificial giving as examples for how Christians should live with hope, trust, and devotion. Advent is a time to reflect on God's faithfulness, prepare our hearts, and give our greatest gifts—our lives—to Jesus, trusting in His promise to lead us to a future filled with peace, joy, and love. The message calls for living with a deep, enduring hope in Christ and embodying His virtues in the present moment.
The message is on Psalm 62, emphasizing the importance of living with a posture of gratitude and finding rest in God. Will Dyer highlights that true thanksgiving is not about being grateful for material possessions or perfect circumstances but about recognizing and being thankful for God's presence, power, and loving kindness (hesed). Drawing on historical context, such as Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving proclamation during the Civil War, the sermon underscores that gratitude begins in the soul and is rooted in the understanding that everything we have is a gift from God. Will Dyer encourages the congregation to reflect on Psalm 62 daily, finding peace and rest in God, who is described as a rock, salvation, and refuge. The message concludes with a prayer, asking for God's guidance to live with grace and gratitude, anchored in His love and mercy.
The message focuses on Psalm 30, emphasizing how God transforms mourning into joy and grief into dancing. It highlights the importance of living with gratitude and recognizing that every blessing is an unmerited gift from God. Will Dyer reflects on the honesty of the Psalms, which acknowledge both joy and pain, and reminds listeners that God hears their cries, rescues them from suffering, and renews their lives, bringing beauty from brokenness. Through personal anecdotes and biblical examples, the message underscores that even in moments of despair, God is present, working for good, and leading believers into a future filled with hope and joy. The ultimate act of joy and renewal is found in the resurrection of Jesus, which assures that sorrow and loss do not have the final word. Will Dyer encourages listeners to reflect on how God has turned their sorrow into joy and to live with grateful hearts, trusting in His enduring love and goodness.
11-9-2025
The message emphasizes gratitude and the call for followers of Jesus to share God's love and faithfulness with others, especially during the season of Thanksgiving. Drawing from Psalm 105 and 1 John 4:19-20, Will Dyer highlights the importance of remembering God's blessings and faithfulness throughout history and in personal lives. This gratitude should inspire Christians to give, serve, and pray for their community and missional partners, demonstrating God's love to the world. The church is committed to supporting various local and international initiatives, such as providing food, medical care, education, and shelter to vulnerable populations. The congregation is encouraged to respond by committing to these efforts through financial contributions, volunteering, and prayer, as a tangible expression of their faith and gratitude for God's love.
11-2-2025
Will Dyer reflects on the parable of the talents from Matthew 25:14-30, emphasizing its relevance to the present rather than the afterlife. They highlight the generosity of God and the responsibility of individuals and the church to use their gifts to serve others and further God's kingdom. Will Dyer critiques the tendency to hoard blessings and calls for a shift from scarcity to generosity, urging the congregation to actively share their resources, talents, and love to address spiritual and physical needs in the community. They celebrate the church's recent achievements, including becoming debt-free and allocating funds for missions, while encouraging personal reflection on how each individual can contribute to multiplying God's blessings. The message concludes with a prayer for boldness, gratitude, and a commitment to living with a heart of thanksgiving and service.
In this sermon, Mark, a young adult leader at First Baptist Church of Augusta, concludes the eight-week series "Practicing the Way," which focuses on being with Jesus, becoming like Him, and doing as He did. He emphasizes the importance of living out these principles within a church community, drawing inspiration from the early church as described in Acts 2:42-47. Mark highlights the church as a people united by Christ's resurrection, devoted to learning, fellowship, breaking bread, prayer, and serving others. He acknowledges the challenges and messiness of community but underscores its transformative power in fostering spiritual growth, mutual care, and outreach to the broader world. Mark encourages the congregation to embrace intentional relationships, live sacrificially, and be a visible representation of Christ's kingdom, creating a community that inspires awe and brings others to know Jesus.
10-19-2025The message emphasizes the importance of living an intentional Christian life by adopting a "rule of life," which is a structured set of daily, weekly, and monthly practices that help individuals stay connected to Jesus, the "vine," and bear spiritual fruit as His "branches." It highlights the Christian life as a journey of being with Jesus, becoming like Him, and doing as He did, rather than merely seeking salvation after death. Will Dyer encourages gratitude for life as a gift from God and challenges listeners to reflect on how they spend their time, urging them to cultivate habits such as prayer, scripture reading, Sabbath, fasting, community, and witness. By building a "trellis" of spiritual practices, believers can remain rooted in Christ, experience joy, and live lives that glorify God.
Romans 8:35-39
The message emphasizes the theme of being spiritually lost and the assurance of God's unwavering love and presence. Using personal anecdotes, scripture from Romans 8:35-39, and the poem "He Loves Me," the Rodger Murchison highlights that nothing can separate us from God's love, though we may sometimes feel distant due to sin or life's challenges. The sermon encourages self-reflection on one's spiritual direction, the importance of confession, and the need to follow Jesus' teachings as a way to heal from sin and live a better life. It concludes with the comforting reminder that, like a loving parent, God is always seeking us, ready to guide us home if we allow Him. The call to action is to embrace Jesus as the way, truth, and life, and to practice living in alignment with His example.
10-5-2025
The message emphasizes the inevitability of pain and suffering in life and the importance of confronting it with faith rather than avoiding it through denial, detachment, or numbing distractions. Using Psalm 23 as a guide, Will Dyer highlights how King David, despite his profound grief and failures, remained faithful to God and found comfort in His presence during dark times. The message encourages individuals to name their pain and grief, trust God to work through it, and allow it to transform them into fuller, more compassionate people. It underscores that suffering, when entrusted to God, can lead to spiritual growth and deeper connection with Him. The act of communion serves as a reminder of Christ's suffering and victory over death, offering hope that pain does not have the final word.
9-28-2025
The message emphasizes that the ultimate goal of following Jesus is to become a person of love, reflecting His character through compassion, generosity, forgiveness, and grace. Spiritual practices like prayer, reading Scripture, practicing Sabbath, and solitude are not ends in themselves but tools to shape believers into people who embody Christ's love. Will Dyer challenges listeners to evaluate whether their daily rhythms and faith practices are making them more loving, urging repentance and a renewed commitment to love if they fall short. The example of George Mueller, who transformed lives through his love-driven actions, illustrates how practicing the way of Jesus can lead to profound impact. Ultimately, the call is to align one's life with the greatest commandments: loving God and loving others.
9-14-2025
The message emphasizes the importance of intentional spiritual formation, urging individuals to reflect on how their environments, habits, and daily routines shape their character and faith. Drawing from Romans 12:1-2, it challenges listeners not to conform to the patterns of the world but to be transformed by renewing their minds through practices like prayer and Scripture reading. The speaker highlights how external influences, such as technology and societal norms, can unconsciously shape us, and stresses the need for deliberate habits that align with Jesus's teachings. Ultimately, the message calls for self-examination, asking "Who are you becoming?" and encourages reliance on Jesus's presence and guidance to foster transformation into people of peace, joy, and love.
9-7-2025
The speaker introduces an eight-week church-wide study called "Practicing the Way," based on John Mark Comer's teachings, emphasizing the transformative call of Jesus to "Come, follow me." Rooted in historical context, the speaker explains the significance of rabbis in ancient Israel and the rigorous educational journey leading to discipleship, highlighting how Jesus' invitation to fishermen like Peter and Andrew was revolutionary, as it extended to those deemed "not good enough." The call to follow Jesus is presented as an opportunity for personal formation—being with Jesus, becoming like Him, and doing as He did—rather than merely holding Christian beliefs. The speaker challenges listeners to move from identifying as Christians to becoming apprentices of Christ, urging them to carve out time to be with Jesus daily and embrace His call to discipleship for a deeper, transformative faith.
The message emphasizes the importance of finding one's identity in Christ rather than in work, achievements, relationships, or societal expectations. Using Paul's letter to the Corinthians as a foundation, it highlights how the church at Corinth lost its way by defining themselves through divisions, quarrels, and worldly measures. Will Dyer reflects on the human tendency to root identity in transient things like careers, appearances, or roles, which can lead to instability and dissatisfaction. Instead, the message calls for embracing the unshakable identity found in being a child of God, redeemed through Christ. Through this lens, believers are reminded that "all things are yours because you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God," encouraging them to live with confidence, purpose, and a deeper connection to God's grace.
8-17-2025
The message emphasizes the church's role in engaging with and transforming the city rather than retreating from it, even in a post-Christian culture. Using Jeremiah's call to seek the welfare of the city and examples from early Christianity, Will Dyer highlights how the church can address challenges like poverty, education, and social division through small acts of love and service. The church is called to be a community that plants roots, prays for the city, partners with organizations, and welcomes all people, demonstrating God's grace and glory. By doing small things with great love, the church can foster restoration and hope, ultimately sharing the gospel and transforming lives in the city.