The Modern Pew

From the Pulpit
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Bible teaching and preaching from the pulpit of West Georgia Apostolic Tabernacle and our online ministry The Modern Pew.

  1. APR 22

    The Divine Order of Life

    In a sermon titled “The Divine Order of Life,” Pastor Paul Bailey addressed the modern struggle of balancing competing life responsibilities without establishing a clear spiritual hierarchy. He emphasized that Scripture does not present life as a set of equal priorities, but rather as an ordered structure with God at the center. Referencing Matthew 6:33, he taught that seeking first the Kingdom of God establishes the foundation for every other area of life. The message challenged listeners to evaluate whether God is simply included in their routines or truly placed first, shaping every decision and direction they take. Pastor Bailey centered the message on God’s rightful place as the believer’s first priority. Drawing from Deuteronomy 6:5 and John 14:15, he explained that love for God is demonstrated through wholehearted devotion and obedient living. He stressed that obedience is the clearest evidence of genuine love. When God is truly first, it brings order to a person’s responsibilities, roles, loyalties, and identity. Whether in work, family, or civic life, everything must be subordinated to the believer’s relationship with God. Without this order, he warned, confusion increases, but with it, life gains clarity, stability, and purpose. He then highlighted the family as the primary earthly arena where spiritual order is lived out. Drawing from 1 Timothy 5:8, Pastor Bailey taught that providing for one’s household extends far beyond financial provision, including love, time, forgiveness, patience, and spiritual leadership. While acknowledging that every family faces challenges, he stressed that caring for one’s home is a direct expression of serving God. The home, he noted, becomes the first and most visible place where godly order is demonstrated through practical love and faithful responsibility. Addressing work and societal roles, he taught that all responsibilities flow correctly when God is first and the home is aligned under that order. Citing Colossians 3:23, he encouraged believers to work wholeheartedly as unto the Lord, transforming everyday labor into worship. While affirming respect for governing authorities from Romans 13:1, he reminded the congregation that God remains supreme, as reflected in Acts 5:29. Misplaced priorities, he cautioned, lead to conflict and instability, but proper divine order produces integrity, peace, and purpose in daily living. Pastor Bailey concluded with reflective questions that pressed listeners to examine whether God is truly first in their daily decisions and whether their lives reflect proper spiritual alignment. Referencing Proverbs 3:6, he affirmed that God directs the paths of those who acknowledge Him in all their ways. He emphasized that biblical order is simple but often neglected, and that transformation comes not from adding God to an already full life, but from placing Him at the center so everything else falls into place. Listeners were encouraged to hear the full message for deeper insight, clarity, and encouragement.

    47 min

  2. APR 15

    The Power of Choice

    The Power of Choice – Pastor Paul Bailey Pastor Paul Bailey delivered a clear and challenging message centered on one of the most fundamental realities of spiritual life: God has always given humanity the power—and responsibility—of choice. Beginning in Genesis, he pointed to the tree in the Garden of Eden as the earliest evidence that obedience to God has never been forced. God gave instruction, warning, and provision, but He also left room for man to decide whether to obey or reject His voice. Using Genesis 2:16–17, Pastor Bailey explained that the presence of the forbidden tree established an eternal principle: true obedience always involves a decision. From the very beginning, God made it clear that people would live with the responsibility of choosing what influences them, what directs them, and ultimately what rules their hearts. Moving to the life of Cain in Genesis 4, he showed how God did not leave Cain without guidance before sin took hold. Instead, God spoke directly, warning him that sin was near but also reminding him that he had authority over what happened next. That same pattern appears throughout Scripture—God reveals the way, but individuals must still choose whether to follow it. Joshua’s famous declaration, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve,” reinforced that serving God remains a personal decision that cannot be delegated. Pastor Bailey then turned to the example of Jesus, emphasizing that even Christ demonstrated the power of voluntary submission. In the wilderness and later in Gethsemane, Jesus faced moments where desire and obedience stood in tension. Luke 22:42 highlighted that surrender to God’s will was not automatic—it was chosen. He also noted that while Jesus invited many to follow Him, not all accepted that invitation, as seen in the rich young ruler who walked away sorrowfully because of competing priorities. The message continued with the reminder that even God’s promised “way of escape” must be chosen. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, believers are assured that God always provides a way through temptation, yet Pastor Bailey stressed that the escape route often does not look like what the flesh prefers. Forgiveness may be the way out of bitterness. Friendliness may be the answer to loneliness. God provides direction, but people must make room to recognize it before habit reacts. In closing, Pastor Bailey connected the message to the present spiritual climate, noting that while nations and kingdoms struggle outwardly, the deepest conflict happens within the human heart—over who will rule. Past patterns, flesh, fear, or the Spirit of God all compete for authority. His final challenge was direct: every believer has a choice to make, not only about life itself, but about how they will make their choices going forward.

    42 min

  3. APR 1

    Ministry to One Another

    Pastor Paul Bailey delivered a practical and timely message centered on the New Testament’s repeated call to minister to “one another,” emphasizing that Christianity was never intended to be lived in isolation but within active, relational fellowship. Drawing first from The Gospel of John 13:34–35, he reminded listeners that Jesus established love as the defining mark of true discipleship—not gifts, titles, or outward activity, but visible, sacrificial love expressed between believers.  The message began by examining the command to love one another, showing that biblical love is far more than emotion; it is a deliberate choice to seek another person’s good through compassion, commitment, and sacrifice. Referencing Epistle to the Romans 12:10, Pastor Bailey explained that genuine love honors others instead of demanding honor for self. He stressed that where love is absent, the Body of Christ weakens, but where love is active, spiritual life flourishes. ❤️ He then turned to the need to exhort and encourage one another, using passages from Epistle to the Hebrews 10:24–25 and First Epistle to the Thessalonians 5:11. He described exhortation as calling someone forward spiritually and encouragement as placing courage into another heart during seasons of weariness, trial, or pressure. He noted that believers must intentionally think about one another, because strengthening rarely happens by accident. Gathering together, he taught, creates opportunities for spiritual reinforcement, while isolation often leaves people vulnerable. 🤝 The sermon continued with the call to serve one another, drawn from Epistle to the Galatians 5:13–14 and First Epistle of Peter 4:10. Pastor Bailey emphasized that every believer has something to contribute and that spiritual gifts are not possessions to admire, but grace entrusted to be used for others. Service, he explained, is one of the clearest signs of maturity because love becomes visible when it takes practical form. 🛠️ Addressing forgiveness, he taught from Epistle to the Ephesians 4:31–32 and Epistle to the Colossians 3:13, warning that bitterness left unchecked quickly becomes division. Forgiveness, he said, is releasing the debt created by offense and choosing grace because Christ first extended grace to us. He reminded listeners that fellowship survives when forgiveness remains active. 💛 Finally, prayer for one another was presented as one of the deepest ministries believers can offer, using Epistle of James 5:16 and Ephesians 6:18. Pastor Bailey highlighted prayer as spiritual burden-bearing that brings healing, strength, and divine intervention where human effort cannot reach. He closed by challenging listeners to ask which of these five ministries they are intentionally practicing now, noting that the Body works best when believers stay close enough to love, serve, forgive, encourage, and pray in living fellowship. 🙏 This message offers both challenge and encouragement, making it especially worth hearing in full for anyone desiring stronger Christian relationships and deeper church life.

    41 min

  4. MAR 18

    Trust and Obey

    Pastor Paul Bailey’s message, “Trust and Obey,” centered on the timeless instruction of Proverbs 3:5-6, calling believers to trust the Lord fully rather than depend on their own limited understanding. Preaching with clarity and practical force, he reminded listeners that many people want explanations before they are willing to obey God, yet Scripture repeatedly shows that obedience often comes first and understanding follows later. Throughout the message, Pastor Bailey emphasized that God does not always reveal every detail of His plan before asking His people to act. Instead, the Lord often provides enough light for the next step, and that step becomes a test of faith. True wisdom, he explained, is not found in having every answer, but in responding rightly to what God has already said. Using Simon Peter’s experience in Luke 5:5-6, Pastor Bailey highlighted how human reasoning can conflict with God’s instruction. Peter and the other fishermen had worked all night without success, and everything in Peter’s experience told him that letting down the net again would be pointless. Yet Peter answered, “Nevertheless at thy word,” and that decision became the doorway to a miracle. The sermon made clear that the blessing came after obedience, not after debate. Trusting God means choosing His word over personal logic. The message also pointed to the servants at the wedding in Cana from John 2:7-8. Pastor Bailey noted that they were told exactly what to do, but they were not told why. Their part was obedience; Christ’s part was the miracle. It was a powerful reminder that believers are not responsible for figuring out everything ahead of time. They are simply called to obey, trusting that God knows what He is doing. Pastor Bailey then brought the message home with John 13:17 and James 1:22, stressing that hearing truth is not enough. Scripture connects blessing, joy, and spiritual maturity not merely to knowing truth, but to doing it. A person can listen to sermons, quote verses, and still miss the benefit of God’s word if it never moves into action. Obedience protects the believer from empty religion and produces fruit in everyday life. Closing with Hebrews 11:8, Pastor Bailey pointed to Abraham, who obeyed God’s call without knowing where the journey would lead. That example captured the heart of the sermon: the Christian life is built on trusting God enough to obey Him, even without seeing the whole road ahead. This message offers both challenge and encouragement. It urges listeners to stop delaying what God has already made clear and to take the next faithful step. Those who hear it will be reminded that God’s word is enough reason to move forward—and that many blessings are waiting on the other side of obedience.

    51 min

  5. MAR 11

    Known of God

    Pastor Paul Bailey delivered a direct and searching message titled “Known of God,” drawing attention to one of the most sobering truths in Scripture—the difference between merely knowing about Christ and truly being known by Him. Beginning in Matthew 7:21–23, Pastor Bailey reminded listeners that outward religious activity is not the same as a genuine relationship with the Lord. Jesus warned that many will one day call Him “Lord” and point to impressive spiritual works done in His name. Yet despite their activity, Christ will say to them, “I never knew you.” The message emphasized that religious performance, even when done publicly or passionately, is not proof of salvation. A person may speak the right language, participate in ministry, and appear devoted while still lacking a true submission to Christ. From there, the message unfolded a clear biblical chain: those who love God are the ones who are known by Him. Drawing from passages such as 1 Corinthians 8:3 and 2 Timothy 2:19, Pastor Bailey explained that being “known” by the Lord speaks of belonging to Him—being recognized as one of His own. God’s foundation stands firm, and He knows those who truly belong to Him. Yet Scripture also attaches a clear expectation: those who name the name of Christ must depart from iniquity. A real relationship with Christ never excuses sin; instead, it calls the believer to turn away from it. The message also highlighted the personal nature of Christ’s relationship with His people. In John 10, Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep. This knowledge is not distant or theoretical—it is personal, intimate, and relational. True believers do not simply know facts about Christ; they live in fellowship with Him and respond to His voice. Pastor Bailey then focused on one of the clearest tests of genuine love for Christ: obedience. Jesus Himself defined love in unmistakable terms in John 14:15—“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Love for Christ is not merely an emotional expression or verbal confession. According to 1 John 2:3–5, obedience to His Word is the evidence that a person truly knows Him. Where God’s Word is honored and followed, the love of God is being perfected and matured in the life of the believer. The message closed with a series of probing questions that challenge every listener to examine their own walk with Christ. Is Christianity built more on words than obedience? Is there a desire for God’s blessings while resisting His authority? Does daily life reflect a genuine love for Jesus through alignment with His teaching? Pastor Bailey concluded with the comforting promise of John 10:27–28, where Jesus declares that His sheep hear His voice, follow Him, and receive eternal life. The ultimate goal of the Christian life is not simply to know about Christ, but to be known by Him. Listeners are encouraged to pursue a real relationship with the Savior—one marked by love, obedience, and faithful devotion to His Word. This powerful message invites believers to move beyond empty profession and into a living, obedient relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

    30 min

  6. FEB 25

    Pursued by a Faithful God

    In Sunday’s message titled “Pursued by a Faithful God,” Pastor Paul Bailey walked the congregation through a sweeping biblical narrative that reveals the heart of God toward fallen humanity. With careful distinction, he explained that there is a profound difference between chasing and pursuing. Chasing pressures, corners, and often drives someone farther away. Biblical pursuit, however, is relational — marked by restoration, reconciliation, and renewed fellowship. Pastor Bailey began in Genesis, immediately after the fall of man. In Genesis 3:9, when God called out to Adam, “Where art thou?”, it was not a question seeking information but an invitation to confession. Rather than storming into the garden in wrath, God created space for response. The pattern continued with Cain in Genesis 4:6–7. Before judgment fell, God reasoned. He warned before consequences. He offered opportunity before discipline. Even in conviction, God spoke gently instead of forcing compliance. That same divine posture appears in the New Testament. In Luke 15, Pastor Bailey highlighted the parable of the prodigal son. The father did not chase the rebellious son into the far country. He allowed distance but remained watchful. When the son “arose,” repentance triggered restoration. As recorded in Luke 15:20, while the son was still a great way off, the father saw him, ran to him, and embraced him. The pursuit waited for awakening. Pastor Bailey then pointed to Christ’s lament over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37 — “I would… but ye would not.” Divine desire was clear, yet human responsibility remained intact. God longs to gather, but He does not override the will. This truth echoes again in Revelation 3:20, where Christ stands at the door and knocks. He stands patiently. He knocks persistently. He speaks personally. But the door must be opened from within. Fellowship cannot be forced. Closing in Jeremiah 31:3, Pastor Bailey reminded listeners that God’s posture has never changed: “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Across Scripture, the pattern remains consistent — God calls, God warns, God waits, and God draws. This message offers both comfort and conviction. When conviction comes, it is loving pursuit. When distance is felt, He is still watching. When His voice speaks, answer. When He knocks, open. “Pursued by a Faithful God” is a timely reminder that salvation is not God chasing humanity into subjection, but lovingly pursuing hearts in hope of willing surrender.

    37 min

  7. FEB 18

    The Opportunity in Offence

    In a sobering and thought-provoking message titled “The Opportunity in Offence,” Pastor Paul Bailey drew the congregation into a deeper understanding of how unavoidable offences in life can become defining spiritual moments. Preaching from Gospel of Matthew 18:7, he reminded listeners that Jesus made it clear offences “must needs come.” They are not sent by God, nor should they be blamed on Him. Rather, they are the inevitable result of living among fallen humanity. Yet within every offence lies a divine opportunity — not for retaliation, but for mercy. Pastor Bailey revisited the powerful confrontation between the prophet Nathan and King David in 2 Samuel 12. Nathan’s story of a rich man stealing a poor man’s lamb stirred David’s anger. Before realizing he was the guilty party, David pronounced severe judgment. The preacher emphasized that this was not merely a trap set by Nathan, but a moment of opportunity. David could have responded with compassion. Instead, he judged without pity. That response, Pastor Bailey suggested, revealed David’s heart and positioned him to receive judgment when the words came: “Thou art the man.” Throughout Scripture, a consistent pattern emerges: what is prepared for another often becomes the instrument of one’s own downfall. Haman’s gallows in Book of Esther 7:10 became his own means of execution. The men who heated the fiery furnace in Book of Daniel 3:22 were consumed by the very flames they intensified. Those who accused Daniel were cast into the lions’ den they had designed for him (Daniel 6:24). The message was clear — bitterness builds gallows, anger stokes fires, and unmerciful schemes often return to their architect. Turning again to Gospel of Matthew 18, Pastor Bailey examined the parable of the unforgiving servant. While the servant’s original debt was impossible to repay, forgiveness toward others was entirely within his power. The torment he experienced, Pastor Bailey proposed, was tied not to the original debt — which had been forgiven — but to mercy withheld. “What is due,” he asked, “may be the obligation of compassion.” Drawing from Epistle of James 2:13, he concluded with a resounding truth: mercy rejoices against judgment. Offences will come. But how one responds determines whether the cycle of judgment continues or is broken. Pastor Bailey urged listeners to see every offence not as a setback, but as an opportunity — an invitation to extend the very mercy they themselves have received. It is a challenging message, but one filled with hope for anyone willing to choose mercy over judgment.

    1 hr

  8. FEB 11

    The Manifold Christian Life

    In The Manifold Christian Life, Pastor Paul Bailey delivers a clear and thought-provoking message on the purpose, flow, and responsibility of God’s grace in the life of a believer. Beginning with the foundational truth that God pours into many areas of our lives intentionally, Pastor Bailey reminds listeners that all grace flows from one source—God Himself. From that single divine source, every area in need of healing, restoration, or strengthening can be touched by the Creator and Savior. The Christian life, he explains, is not merely about receiving grace, but about stewarding it faithfully. Anchoring the message in 1 Peter 4:10, Pastor Bailey emphasizes the call for believers to be “good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” He explains that the word manifold speaks of variety and diversity—many expressions flowing from one source. God’s grace is not limited or single-purpose; it is designed to reach every part of the Christian life. Using the illustration of a car engine, Pastor Bailey compares God’s grace to an intake manifold. Though there is only one fuel source, the manifold distributes fuel into multiple cylinders so the engine can function as designed. In the same way, God’s grace flows inward into many areas of a believer’s life. When grace does not flow inward properly, nothing else functions as it should. Grace, he teaches, is more than favor—it is God’s influence working within the heart and mind. Pastor Bailey walks through how this inward flow of grace meets specific needs: forgiveness that leads to repentance and restoration, encouragement to endure, companionship that assures God’s nearness, love that brings security, compassion that softens the heart, and understanding that provides clarity and wisdom. Ephesians 4:7 affirms that each believer receives grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift—exactly what is needed for each situation. The message then turns outward, stressing that grace is never meant to stop with us. What God pours in must be stewarded wisely as it flows out. Returning to the engine analogy, Pastor Bailey describes how exhaust manifolds direct what flows out. When properly managed, they produce power and efficiency; when restricted, they cause damage. Likewise, grace that is governed by faithful stewardship blesses others, but grace governed by self can be misused or restricted. Drawing from Luke 12:48, Pastor Bailey reminds listeners that receiving much brings responsibility. God evaluates not just what we receive, but how we manage it—through our words, actions, priorities, and decisions. This message challenges believers to examine their stewardship of grace and encourages listeners to hear how God’s grace can flow powerfully through their lives for His glory.

    45 min
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About

Bible teaching and preaching from the pulpit of West Georgia Apostolic Tabernacle and our online ministry The Modern Pew.

Information

  • Creator
    From the Pulpit
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    179
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Modern Pew
  • Show Website
    The Modern Pew