Tom Messer - Trinity Baptist Church

Tom Messer
  • 4.8 (12)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

The sermon podcast for Trinity Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL

  1. MAR 1

    What the Bible Says About the Afterlife

    Pastor Tom Messer's exploration of the afterlife confronts us with one of Jesus' most sobering teachings: the story of the rich man and Lazarus from Luke 16. At its core, this message challenges our assumptions about eternity and forces us to reckon with two fundamental truths: our souls are immortal, and there are only two eternal destinations. The rich man's torment wasn't punishment for wealth itself, but for building his entire identity on riches rather than on God. Meanwhile, Lazarus, whose very name means 'God is my help,' refused to let his desperate circumstances define him. Instead, he used his suffering to drive him toward God, recognizing his deep spiritual poverty and need for divine rescue. What emerges is a stark contrast between comfort and torment, between a life built on the solid foundation of Christ and one constructed on the shifting sands of worldly security. The urgency of this message cannot be overstated: we discover that hell is not primarily about fire and brimstone, but about becoming the worst version of ourselves eternally, trapped in an identity built on anything other than God. Yet within this sobering reality shines the brilliant light of God's love, demonstrated most powerfully when Jesus cried out on the cross, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' In that moment, He experienced the very separation and torment we deserved, paying an eternal debt we could never pay ourselves.

    50 min

  2. FEB 22

    What the Bible Says About Politics

    Pastor Tom Messer addresses how Christians should engage with politics while maintaining gospel unity within the church. He emphasizes that while politics is important, it is not ultimate; only the gospel of Jesus Christ can truly transform hearts and society. Pastor Tom Messer warns against both political idolatry and political despair, teaching that Christians can disagree on political issues while maintaining deep spiritual unity through their shared commitment to Christ. The core teaching focuses on developing humility, renouncing personal rights, and submitting to the Lordship of Christ as the pathway to joyful unity in a complex, divided world. He stresses that the church's witness to the world depends not on political uniformity but on demonstrating supernatural unity through the gospel.

    45 min

  3. FEB 15

    What the Bible Says About Marriage

    Pastor Tom Messer provides a comprehensive teaching on biblical marriage, emphasizing that marriage is both a divine institution (the "doing of God") and a divine revelation (the "display of God"). Pastor Tom Messer addresses the cultural attacks on marriage while affirming that God, not culture or courts, defines marriage. Using Matthew 19, he explores Jesus' teaching on marriage as an exclusive, permanent, priority, and fruitful relationship between one man and one woman. The sermon acknowledges the difficulties of marriage in a fallen world while offering hope through the gospel, emphasizing that marriage is designed to reflect Christ's love for the church. Pastor Tom Messer reminds us all that ultimate fulfillment comes through relationship with Jesus Christ, not marital status.

    44 min

  4. FEB 8

    What the Bible Says About Sin

    This sermon from Pastor Tom Messer addresses the critical question of what the Bible teaches about sin, emphasizing that sin is not merely about breaking rules but about rejecting God's wisdom. Pastor Tom explores how sin is deceitful, destructive, and leads to darkness, while contrasting it with the path of wisdom and righteousness. Drawing heavily from Proverbs, he emphasizes that victory over sin requires cultivating biblical wisdom, guarding one's heart, and ultimately looking to Jesus Christ as the light that overcomes darkness. Pastor Tom really challenges listeners to recognize that sin is actively seeking to destroy them and that they must daily pursue God's wisdom and strength to walk the narrow path toward life rather than the broad path toward destruction.

    42 min

  5. FEB 1

    What the Bible Says About Truth

    What governs our lives? This exploration by Pastor Tom Messer from 2 Peter 1:16-21 challenges us to examine the ultimate authority we allow to direct our choices, relationships, and futures. We live in a world where truth feels relative, where social media, culture, and our own feelings compete for control over our decision-making. Yet Scripture presents us with something far more reliable than personal experience or cultural trends—the authoritative Word of God, spoken through eyewitnesses and guided by the Holy Spirit. The passage reveals that Peter, despite witnessing Jesus transfigured in glory and hearing God's voice from heaven, declared something even more certain: the written Word of prophecy. This isn't about dismissing our experiences, but recognizing that our feelings, however real, aren't always right. Culture can tell us what's trending, but Scripture tells us what's true. The invitation here is radical: to bring every area of our lives—our thoughts, finances, relationships, and futures—under the authority of God's Word, not because it's easy or always feels good, but because it's the only foundation that won't shift beneath us. When we combine this submission with the transforming power of the gospel, we discover that obedience isn't crushing legalism but liberating truth that leads us into the life God designed for us.

    50 min

  6. JAN 25

    New Grace

    Pastor Tom Messer takes us to the shores of the Sea of Tiberias where we encounter one of the most transformative stories in Scripture—Peter's restoration after his devastating failure. Through John 21, we discover that our failures don't have to define us or disqualify us from God's purposes. Peter, who denied Jesus three times, found himself returning to his old life of fishing, believing perhaps that his calling was over. But Jesus meets him right there in his disappointment and discouragement, demonstrating that God specializes in new beginnings. The contrast between Peter's two fishing experiences reveals a profound truth: when Jesus first called Peter, he fell down saying 'depart from me, for I am a sinful man,' but after his failure and restoration, Peter couldn't get to Jesus fast enough—jumping out of the boat and swimming to shore. This shift illustrates the difference between a fallen identity built on what we achieve versus a gospel identity based on what we receive. Our worth isn't determined by our best days or our worst days, but by our relationship with Jesus. The empty nets that became full, the fire with fish already prepared on shore, and Jesus's three-fold question 'do you love me?'—all point to a God who doesn't need our perfection but invites us into intimacy despite our brokenness. This is the God of Regenesis, the God of starting over, who uses our failures as platforms for greater usefulness and deeper intimacy with Him.

    48 min

  7. JAN 18

    A New Covenant

    Join Pastor Tom Messer as he explores God's new covenant with His people as described in Jeremiah 31, contrasting it with the old covenant of law. Pastor Tom emphasizes that the new covenant transforms our relationship with God from external obedience to internal transformation, writing God's law on our hearts rather than stone tablets. The core message is that all human problems stem from forgetting who God is in any given moment. The new covenant reconciles the tension between God's justice (law) and His mercy (love), demonstrating that God is both perfectly holy and perfectly loving simultaneously. Through Christ's sacrifice, believers receive forgiveness not based on their performance but on Jesus' perfect obedience. This covenant relationship should reshape how Christians view God, themselves, and others, moving them from consumer-based relationships to covenant commitment. The sermon concludes with communion, illustrating how Christ's broken body and shed blood established this new covenant of grace.

    43 min

  8. JAN 11

    New Mercies

    This sermon explores the book of Lamentations, focusing on how believers can maintain hope during seasons of profound suffering and disappointment. The message centers on Lamentations 3:19-27, emphasizing that God's mercies are new every morning and His faithfulness never fails. Pastor Tom Messer addresses the inevitable reality that all Christians will face times when their world falls apart, when they feel abandoned by God, and when their circumstances challenge their understanding of God's character. The core theological truth presented is that hope is not restored when circumstances change, but when we remember the unchanging character and unfailing mercy of God. Pastor Tom teaches that suffering is part of being human and that these difficult seasons are designed to develop character and deepen faith. Two practical applications are emphasized: Preaching the Gospel to Yourself Daily and Bringing Your Disappointments Directly to God Through Honest Prayer and Lament.

    43 min
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4.8
out of 5
12 Ratings

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The sermon podcast for Trinity Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL

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