First Baptist Shreveport

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This is the official podcast channel of First Baptist Church in Shreveport, LA. 

  1. 1D AGO

    Sermon - Jeff Raines - David's Wreck [2 Samuel 11]

    “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 If you heard that there was a man eating lion roaming around South Highlands or Spring Lake or Broadmoor, would you think “well that’s good to know.  If I run into him when I go to get the mail I’m sure I’ll figure something out.  Or would you take some steps to defend yourself ahead of time against this lion?  King David, as described as “a man after God’s own heart” raises hopes.  He does do many great things, but in 2 Samuel 11, we have an account of David’s great sin.  Why is David vulnerable to this sin?  -He was unguarded and unaccountable.  Samuel was gone, his best friend Jonathan had been killed, and his closest advisors were at war.  Power can breed cruelty and arrogance and here David was alone and unchecked. - David has all he wants and now he is adrift having lost his mission.  He had a listlessness and a boredom that led him astray.  When we are confronted with temptation to sin, we can and should think about not only what Jesus WOULD do but what Jesus DID.  He lived in prayerful communication with the Father, he lived in community with the disciples, he lived a life of worship, he knew scripture- all of these things prepare us and help us guard our hearts against temptations.  Just like we see in this story of sin, it all tends to escalate.  Are you unguarded and unaccountable? Are you on the roof… tempted?  Are you escalating and hiding? Are you self deluded?  All of us are sinners, but there is a wonderful promise and good news for us:  “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.

    29 min

  2. APR 22

    Sermon - Jeff Raines - Gifts and Grace [2 Samuel 7]

    In this passage, King David is at the pinnacle of his power and wealth.  He considers building a house for God.  God then appears to David and emphatically says no.  God has a different, greater plan. Sometimes the things we want are not the best things for us.Sometimes we can talk ABOUT God and not TO God.  David might have been moving from being full of God to being full of himself.  (Eugene Peterson)God, the great Giver, is doing something greater.  (Psalm 50:9-15) David finds out that God’s plans are better than he could even have ever asked or imagined.   What God is up to is immeasurably MORE.   Are you in control?  Self-sufficient?  Or can you shift gears and recognize the gift of God that allows us to love as a response to that gift?

    24 min

  3. APR 15

    Sermon - Jeff Raines - Danger! [2 Samuel 6]

    The movement of the Ark of the Covenant in this story was a human centered effort with disastrous results.  David learns that worship can be dangerous and we should approach God on God’s terms.  We do not have a domesticated God that we can manage or control by superstition.   Worship is dangerous when we put ourselves at the center.  It’s easy to come into worship with an entertainment mindset.  It’s not about us.  It’s about honoring God.  Worship is not about singing the songs we like or don’t like.  Worship is presenting ourselves to the Lord- to listen and learn, to set our hearts before God to be shaped in Christ’s likeness.   We could get caught up in an autopilot mode to come to worship.  Instead, we could pray for help, encouragement, and conviction to center ourselves before God so that God is at the heart of our worship.   Later, we see David losing himself in the worship is God.  Worship is dangerous when we hold back our best.  David ends up dancing and giving his all when he comes into Jerusalem.  We should present our very best in worship- heart and soul.   Worship can be dangerous when we focus on other people rather than God.   Let’s present ourselves fully to God- the One who is worthy of all praise.

    31 min

  4. APR 8

    Sermon - Jeff Raines - Death and Life [Matthew 28:1-7]

    Are you in Christ today?  And how do you know?  Romans 10:9 says that “If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” That’s how we join in this explosion of life that happens at Easter! The first word we have from our resurrected Lord is REJOICE! (Matthew 28:8)  It’s a word for us today, too.  We can have hope even on our worst day, even when we experience tremendous loss.  This is the power of resurrection because death does not have the final word in our lives.  The Pharisees show us that when we are comfortable and we are in control, we tend not to want to hear about a new world because we like what we have here thank you very much.  Do we care more about control than about truth?  The guards were “like dead men.” They were assigned to guard a corpse and themselves became like corpses. Are we frozen in fear?  Where do you picture yourself in this story?  Joining resurrection life is possible for us!  You don’t have to be perfect.  In fact, it requires that we aren’t perfect and aren’t able to do it on our own.  When we are in Christ, we will be raised too.  Jesus is ready to welcome you with open arms with a call to rejoice.

    22 min

  5. APR 1

    Sermon - Jeff Raines - Looking Into the Well [John 12]

    This is the week that we remember Jesus’ passion - Holy Week.  Today we’re looking at Judas and the role that he played in the story of this week.  Judas was trusted and considered trustworthy as he was the keeper of the money.  How did he come to betray Jesus?  1- Judas betrayed Jesus because he loved money.  Does our loyalty have a price?  Do we have greed working in our hearts?  2 - Judas betrayed Jesus because he wanted a different kind of Messiah.  Isn’t it arrogant to think that our plan is better than God’s plan?  To seek power and position rather than seeking first the Kingdom of God?  Yet we’re still tempted today. 3 - Judas betrayed Jesus because he gave into temptation and evil.  How many of us stumble and fall?  All of us sin.  But will we stay on the road with Jesus when our pride is wounded and obedience is costly and we’re disappointed?  Peter also betrayed Jesus but Peter believed in the power of Jesus to forgive sins- even his own.  Peter’s failure wasn’t the end of the story because Jesus’ death wasn’t the end of the story.  When we believe in the power of Jesus’ death on the cross, our sins aren’t the end of our story either.  This is why we can cry, “Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’

    24 min

  6. MAR 25

    Sermon- Jeff Raines - Good Grief [2 Samuel 1]

    In 2 Samuel 1 we see David dealing with grief and loss when Saul dies.  Almost half of the Psalms, many written by David, are Psalms of LAMENT. What does grieving well look like?  - If we live in denial of death, we cannot live well. - There are no shortcuts in grief.  It is not linear and it is ongoing. - We can and should honestly bring our grief before God.   - There are no healthy ways to avoid grief.   - God knows loss and understands our grief. - Because we are people of the resurrection, we know that death will not have the final word. Present your hurt, your pain, and your loss to Jesus.  You will be comforted and find hope.

    26 min

  7. MAR 18

    Sermon - Jeff Raines - The Power of a Beautiful Life [1 Samuel 25]

    Are we pursuing what is good, beautiful, and true in our lives?   In 1 Samuel 25, we see Nabal, an independent, self-made and self-interested man reject a request for generosity, insulting David.  David doesn’t take it well and is ready for violence.  Nabal brings out the worst in David.   But Nabal’s wife Abigail intervenes, showing us that beautiful living calls us back to God.  Abigail sends gifts and offers humility and grace.  She recognizes David’s authority and brings down the temperature, de-escalating the situation How can WE live more beautiful lives? Identify our Nabals (what draws out coarseness, hatred, anger in our lives?)Seek out Abigails (spend time with those who remind us of God’s beauty, goodness, and truth)Live like Jesus (keep studying Jesus’ life, reflecting Jesus’ love) Beautiful living is God-centered and other-focused.  Let’s live more beautiful, Jesus-shaped lives.

    25 min

  8. MAR 11

    Sermon - Jeff Raines - Forgiveness [1 Samuel 24:4-7]

    Maybe the comfort and security that we all crave is actually spiritually dangerous for us.  In 1 Samuel 24:4-7, we see David in a cave in the wilderness of En Gedi showing great restraint and honor to Saul when it would have been so easy to justify taking his life.  Because of his faith and trust in the Lord, David acts with forgiveness and mercy.  Forgiveness transforms the forgiver.  AND  Forgiveness sometimes transforms the forgiven. There is no guarantee that the people we forgive change but responding with goodness, mercy and love is not about ignoring the actions but refusing to become evil in response to those actions.  Are you harboring bitterness, resentment or hate in your heart?  How can you make things right this week?  How can we follow the example of David and the Son of David by doing everything in our power to make things right?

    28 min
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About

This is the official podcast channel of First Baptist Church in Shreveport, LA. 

Information

  • Creator
    Various
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    126
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 First Baptist Shreveport
  • Show Website
    First Baptist Shreveport