Author page: First Baptist Church

About this Sermon We celebrate and reflect on World Communion Sunday with guest preacher, the Rev. Dr. Gary Reif. Gary served as interim pastor here from 2015-2017, and we are blessed to have Gary and his wife Barb as part of our greater Lafayette community.

About this Sermon Text About this Series What does being a "Baptist" mean? There are many ideas out in the world about what it means to be part of this unique tribe called Baptist- let’s explore our Baptist distinctives so that we might better understand who we are and what that means for us today.  Join us during the months…

About this Sermon Text About this Series What does being a "Baptist" mean? There are many ideas out in the world about what it means to be part of this unique tribe called Baptist- let’s explore our Baptist distinctives so that we might better understand who we are and what that means for us today.  Join us during the months…

About this Sermon Knowing who we are, as individuals and as a community of faith, is central. Being grounded in our identity allows us to move through the world with confidence in who we are and whose we are. Our identity as Baptists begins with our identity first as the beloved and good creation of God (Genesis 1:26-28). Then, our…

 About this Sermon Understanding what exactly Baptists believe can be a challenging task, since it really matters who precisely you are speaking with. However, there are several beliefs that most Baptists agree on. Today we begin with the idea of Bible freedom, which begins with the belief that the teachings of Scripture are essential to our faith. We also…

About this Sermon The vivid word picture found in Hebrews 11 is like a gallery filled with pictures, and more importantly, stories of the great ancestors of the faith. Those stories can inspire us, challenge us, and speak to us today. Furthermore, the complexities of their stories are what we should remember- not just that they were obedient to God,…

About this Sermon The vivid word picture found in Hebrews 9 is about sanctuary, going back to the camping-appropriate Tent of Meeting that the ancient Israelites used when they were wandering in the wilderness. But, as the writer of Hebrews reminds us, Jesus provides us a new way forward in worshiping God because Jesus makes sanctuary for us. Who are…

By exploring the word picture of the high priest in Hebrews 4:14-5:10, we explore the way that Jesus was also a student who is always with us. About this Series Hebrews is a mysterious member of the New Testament, one that we often do not spend much time in trying to understand.  Although scholars cannot tell us who exactly wrote…

About the Guest Preacher Rev. Amanda Guthrie recently moved to Lafayette from Portland, Oregon, and she serves as a chaplain at St. Elizabeth Hospital. A native of Pennsylvania, Amanda is an ordained minister in the UCC tradition. Amanda is married to Andrew (who happens to serve as the pastor at First Christian Church). About this Series Hebrews is a mysterious…