Daily Devotional

ow can a Baptist pastor lead his church to engage in vibrant ministry in a town full of Pentecostals? Even many of the heathens would picture a Pentecostal church as the one they would attend if they ever did. On top of that, I'm currently pastoring a church that has been in decline for more than a decade, and is still licking their wounds over a series of hellish protests by former members and guests (particularly at a business meeting almost a decade ago). Some of these former members and guests are related to many in town or at least are more popular than we are, so the church has developed a bad reputation in town. Much of this reputation is undeserved, but some of it probably is. We have mercy ministries like a food pantry and clothing closet, but they don't seem to reach this community as well as we would desire. Many in town want the church to die, and if things continue to go the way they have we eventually will. When I have these thoughts of discouragement, I stand on ...

  Sermon from January 26 Morning Worship service "How Related Are You to Sin?" - 1 John 1:6, 8, & 10 First Baptist Church, Carney, OK Pastor Dan Calkins Here's the link:  January 26, 2025 Sermon Link  

  Sermon from January 19 Morning Worship service "What Is God?" - 1 John 1:5 First Baptist Church, Carney, OK Pastor Dan Calkins Here's the link:  January 19, 2025 Sermon Link  

  Sermon from January 12 Morning Worship service "What Are We Witnessing?" - 1 John 1:1-4 First Baptist Church, Carney, OK Pastor Dan Calkins Here's the link:  January 12, 2025 Sermon Link  

  Today (January 6) is Epiphany, the day many churches set aside to remember the wise men, recorded in Matthew 2:1-12, who followed the star to find and worship “the King of the Jews.” One of the great hymns of the faith I enjoy dwelling on to help apply the wise men account is “This Is My Father’s World.” In this hymn, not only do we praise the Creator and speak of His creation giving back praise to Him, but we also focus on the sovereignty of our Father in Heaven. Think of this stanza: “This is my Father’s world, O let me never forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet . ” The God who led the wise men to worship this prophesied King is the same God that will receive the glory of every knee one day bowing and every tongue confessing that His Son, Jesus Christ, is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). Another hymn we often sing about the wise men is “We Three Kings of Orient Are.” It’s a title based merely on tradition, since we have no idea how many there were...

     Sermon from January 5 Morning Worship service "About My Father" - Luke 2:39-52 First Baptist Church, Carney, OK Pastor Dan Calkins Here's the link:  January 5, 2025 Sermon Link