First Fairhope | Sermons

S Pippin

Messages and Bible Study Series from First Baptist Church Fairhope, AL. Dr. Eric Hankins, Lead Pastor

  1. Getting a Better Pastor

    2d ago

    Getting a Better Pastor

    The relationship between a pastor and a congregation is one of the most important dynamics in the life of a local church. Jesus is the Great Shepherd, and every earthly pastor serves under His authority as an under-shepherd. Pastors are called to lead, teach, and care for their people with faithfulness and integrity. At the same time, congregations are called to follow well, be a joy to shepherd, and pray consistently for those who lead them. If you want a better pastor, the best place to start is by being a better sheep. Good sheep and good shepherds, working together under the lordship of Jesus Christ, is the context in which God does His greatest work.

    38 min

  2. Jun 21

    The Father's Arms

    In this Father's Day sermon, the pastor explores Romans 8:12-17 to unpack what it means that God is our heavenly Father. Using the image of a child jumping into a parent's arms in a pool, the sermon addresses the fears we carry about whether God is strong enough, loving enough, and trustworthy enough to catch us. Just as Israel struggled to trust God through the wilderness, we often hesitate to fully leap into the life God has for us. The central message is clear: do not be afraid, because the Father will catch you. The pastor outlines three ways the Father catches us. First, He catches us with His strength, having already provided salvation through Christ and making us co-heirs with Him. Second, He catches us with His Spirit, who pours God's love into our hearts and testifies that we belong to Him, echoing the intimate relationship Jesus had with the Father. Third, He catches us with His sovereignty, reminding us that even suffering is part of the Father's plan to shape us, glorify Himself in us, and draw us into deeper trust and love.

    35 min
  3. Prayer Changes Things

    Jun 14

    Prayer Changes Things

    Prayer is often misunderstood as a last resort, but Daniel chapter 9 reveals that God has sovereignly chosen to include our passionate prayers in His purposes. Daniel's prayer life demonstrates three key characteristics: personal holiness built through decades of faithful relationship with God, profound understanding of Scripture, and passionate engagement through fasting and honest supplication. Effective prayer aligns us with God's purposes through praise, claiming His promises, seeking pardon, and making petitions that honor His glory. While God's sovereignty remains absolute, He has chosen to work through our intercession, changing us in the process and drawing us into His kingdom work.

    36 min

  4. Jun 7

    What is a Child

    In a culture that struggles to define basic truths, we must examine what children truly are. Jesus understood children's nature and value, seeing them as central to God's kingdom. Children are good assets who deserve our highest value because they are made in God's image. They serve as examples, possessing qualities like trust, love, curiosity, and present-moment living that we should emulate in our faith. Most importantly, children are investments requiring our cultivation through grace, wisdom, and the gospel. We must stop hindering children through excessive screen time and over-scheduling, instead creating homes filled with God's Word and recognition of their precious nature.

    38 min
  5. Thanking & Breaking

    May 31

    Thanking & Breaking

    True biblical gratitude goes far beyond saying thank you. Jesus consistently gave thanks and then broke bread, demonstrating that authentic thanksgiving involves being transformed and broken open for others. When we truly receive Christ's gift of salvation, we don't just acknowledge it - we put it on like clothing, allowing His life to become our life. This transformation naturally leads to serving fellow believers and proclaiming the Gospel to the world. The woman with the alabaster vial exemplified this when her overwhelming gratitude led her to break something precious and give it away. You're not truly thanking until you're breaking.

    30 min

  6. May 24

    The Art of War

    In a culture that prioritizes tolerance over truth, Christians often struggle with confronting false beliefs. Paul's approach with the Corinthian church provides a biblical framework for spiritual warfare. He teaches us that our battle is fundamentally spiritual, not against people but against the lies that hold them captive. Our weapons are divinely powerful - prayer, love, and God's truth - and should be wielded from a position of humility rather than strength. The goal isn't to win arguments but to build people up in Christ, approaching difficult conversations with genuine love and concern for others' spiritual well-being.

    33 min

  7. May 17

    Return on Investment

    God designed families as the primary vehicle for passing down faith from generation to generation. Through the example of Timothy's grandmother Lois and mother Eunice, we see how faith is cultivated over time through faithful family investment. God gives families three essential gifts to pass down: power through tireless stability, love through unlimited affection, and sound thinking through incredible biblical content. Scripture works in families through teaching, reproving, correcting, and training in righteousness. The gospel foundation of Christ's death and resurrection becomes the cornerstone that makes families work, calling us to lay down our lives for one another. When families live out gospel truth, they become reflections of God's love to a hungry world.

    25 min

  8. May 10

    The Hand that Rocks the Cradle Rules the World

    Hannah's story reveals that model motherhood isn't about perfection, but about faithfulness to God's purposes. Living during Israel's chaotic period, Hannah demonstrates three key characteristics: worshiping the sovereign Lord while recognizing His greater plan, crying out honestly to God in times of struggle and brokenness, and serving sacrificially by holding loosely to what we love most. Her barrenness represents our fundamental need for God's intervention, and her eventual willingness to give Samuel back to God shows the ultimate sacrifice of motherhood. Hannah found satisfaction not in getting what she wanted, but in surrendering her desires to the Lord, teaching us that true fulfillment comes from giving ourselves completely to God rather than trying to control outcomes through our own strength.

    37 min
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About

Messages and Bible Study Series from First Baptist Church Fairhope, AL. Dr. Eric Hankins, Lead Pastor

Information

  • Creator
    S Pippin
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    658
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 First Fairhope
  • Show Website
    First Fairhope | Sermons