First Baptist Church Bartow

July 19, 2026

“How to Thrive When Your Pastor Leaves – Part 1: Fight for Unity”

When I came to pastor this church nearly nine years ago, I walked the campus one day and thought to myself with appreciation and excitement, “I can’t believe the Lord has allowed me to pastor this church.” Now, here I am all those years later thinking, “I can’t believe the Lord has called me to leave this church.” Indeed, though we’re excited about the future, it’s difficult for me and my family. However, I know it’s difficult for many of you as well. Today, I want to talk less about me and more about the church. What is the church to do? How does a church thrive when their pastor leaves? Well, in part one of this series, we’re going to see that the church thrives by fighting for unity. Before we go any further, let’s go to God in prayer and ask Him to speak to us. (prayer) I experienced a really special God moment on Friday. I picked up the flowers that were placed in here today for worship. As I was getting out of my car to bring them into the sanctuary, another man was getting back into his car and started to leave. He started to pull away in his car, and he rolled down his window and asked, “Do you know the pastor here?” I said, “Yes sir, I do.” He then asked if anyone from our church remembered Dr. Charles Stanley, and I told him there were some people who remember his time here. He then asked if there was any way that he could get in the building. I told him that I knew the pastor very well and I thought I could probably get in the building. I then told him that I was the pastor, and he started to cry. Here’s why he cried. The man is African American, and he grew up dirt poor on the west side of Bartow. He said when he was a boy some ladies from the white neighborhood had the courage to come to his part of town and teach children the Bible and songs about Jesus. When that man was just a young boy, he gave his life to Jesus. Then, as he grew older, he wanted a chance to come inside the historic First Baptist Church and see the building where Dr. Charles Stanley was pastor. However, because of his ethnicity, the young man was turned away. He never got a chance to walk inside First Baptist Church. That man would go on to be a church planter and pastor who planted and served churches all over the world. He now lives in California. He came back to Polk County because his brother died and he had to come to Lakeland for the funeral. However, he wanted to take one more opportunity to see First Baptist Church Bartow. He had just finished taking a photo of our historical sign out front, then he was on his way, but God changed everything. That man was crying tears of joy in our sanctuary because he finally got a chance to see First Baptist Church. Here’s what I want you to catch about that story. God worked it all out, but the man still had to pursue his desire to see First Baptist Church. God was the one who blessed the situation, but the man still had to drive in his car to 410 E. Church Street. Friends, if this church is to be united, it will be because God is blessing it. However, He will not do so without the church purposefully pursuing unity. So, let’s look now at three pursuits the church can make to fight for unity. First, . . .I. Pursue positivity. Friends, habitual negativity is not from God. God’s people have joy. God’s people have hope. God’s people have light, life, and love. As the people of God, we are to pursue positivity.  Here are a few ways you can pursue positivity. First, express gratitude. When you’re grateful for the Lord and His blessings, it’s hard to be negative. The Apostle Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18: “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Church, it is God’s will for you that you give thanks in everything, even in hard situations. Rejoice in the blessings God has given you and this church. Second, celebrate wins. We have a time with our staff and volunteer leade

July 12, 2026

Hosea (Hosea 1-3)

July 5, 2026

“Put Your Hope in God” (Psalm 42)

I was recently around a man who was very confident in his position about something. Yet, I knew that he was wrong, at least in part. He was an older man, so I wanted to respect him (he’s not a part of our church, by the way). He stated that he didn’t like it when he heard preachers say that we should have hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ. He said, “I don’t hope that I’m saved, I know that I’m saved.” I tried to explain to him that there are different kinds of hope, including the biblical kind of hope, which means we have assurance in something that brings us joy and comfort. For example, I have sure hope that the sun will rise tomorrow, I have sure hope that college football season will start in a few weeks, and most of all I have sure hope that no matter what happens in this world the Lord God loves me and He’s in control of all things. The man with whom I was speaking didn’t really want to hear my explanation, but I have sure hope in the fact that I won’t lose any sleep over what he thinks of me. In today’s psalm, written by the sons of Korah, we learn to “Put Your Hope in God.” Indeed, that is the message of Psalm 42.  Would you join me in prayer as we prepare to hear from God? (prayer) The sons of Korah were Levites, descended from someone who actually rebelled against Moses and Aaron.  Yet, this family line became known not as a rebellious people, but as people who were instrumental in leading Israel in the worship of God. Indeed, their legacy was redeemed (by the way, that’s a lesson for all of us; your family history does not determine your legacy). In Psalm 42, they write in the singular first-person perspective, meaning they’re writing from the perspective of one person who is speaking of the hope of God. However, there are several emotions that are swirling around in this psalm. Let’s look at what’s present here. First, let’s read the entire psalm. 1 As a deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for you, God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while all day long people say to me, “Where is your God?” 4 I remember this as I pour out my heart: how I walked with many, leading the festive procession to the house of God, with joyful and thankful shouts. 5 Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God. 6 I am deeply depressed; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your billows have swept over me. 8 The Lord will send his faithful love by day; his song will be with me in the night— a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I will say to God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?” 10 My adversaries taunt me, as if crushing my bones, while all day long they say to me, “Where is your God?” 11 Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.  As we reflect upon this psalm, notice first the . . .  I. Negativity from others. We experience negativity from others sometimes, don’t we? At times, it’s beyond mere negativity, and it’s downright evil. The psalmist spoke of this in Psalm 42. He said in verse 3, “My tears have been my food day and night, while all day long people say to me, ‘Where is your God?’” He’s filled with tears day and night.  Have you ever felt that way? Also, people are not merely mocking him; they’re mocking God. We see a lot of that in our world. People who speak negatively against us and our faith. In verse 5, he asks, “Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil?” In verse 6, he sa