John 21:1-14

It’s a fascinating scene: seven guys in a boat for an entire night. Three of them were professional fishermen, and yet they catch nothing. From the shore the next morning, a voice through the mist tells them to cast their net on the other side of the boat. It’s a very small change, a short distance from one side of the boat to the other. Yet the haul they make from this slight shift in the direction of their cast creates a huge, new opportunity. Clearly, something else is going on here we need to pay attention to. Join us as we explore this creative, rich and vital passage for our own discipleship and the ramifications for a growing faith. It will be well worth your time!

John 20:1-16

Who doesn’t love a good garden? But these were not just any gardens. The story is very clear; the implications from both the first and the second gardens we hear about for this Easter message hold the keys to how our lives are to proceed. Join us for this potent reminder of what resurrection really means for truly living everyday.

Luke 15

This is a foundational chapter for learning what Jesus stands for. Martin Luther once called Luke 15 “the gospel within the gospel.” It contains three stories within a broader story. Join us for an amazing journey through the heart of the gospel as told by Jesus. Confronted by some very religious people, listen to Jesus’ response and what the resulting good news means for you and me today, and every day.

Psalm 32:3-7; Luke 15:1-3; 11-24

Guilt and shame are very different. One is destructive; the other has the potential to facilitate healing. Focusing on Psalm 32 for this sermon, we explore how guilt can be a guide to liberation, to recovery, and to reestablishing helpful, hopeful days that God intends. Join us as we learn to together; be inspired by the insights provided from these passages; and may God work though these words to benefit your daily walk through The Power of Confession.

Next Week’s Sermon: Unconventional Boundaries. Also, look forward with us next week as we will continue this two week series looking more closely at Luke 15 and one of the most famous parables Jesus ever told. What you always thought you knew about this story might be far less then Jesus intended. Join us and find out the fascinating wisdom and subversive message of his words.

Luke 13:1-9

It is much easier to look at other people’s problems than to face our own. Just as, in this very difficult story of Jesus, people like us are wondering about people like others. They ask some very normal questions about why bad things happen and what to do about them.

But Jesus’ reaction to their concern, along with the story he tells as a result, lets us know there is much more here going on than we realize. Join us as we work together on these hard words, and as we work together with Jesus’ tough response.

In addition, we begin our sermon time today with a very important video message conversation Dr. Jordan has live with Pastor Andrei in Vinnytsia, Ukraine. You won’t want to miss this!

Psalm 27

It’s hard sometimes. Believing the goodness of God can be a daunting exercise when we’re surrounded by turmoil, filled with anxiety and unsettled with any number of issues we cannot control. If you can relate, you’re in good company. The psalmist declares faith:

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

And he then goes on to describe situations that sound very much like a combination of invasion, pandemic and looming disaster.

We hear these words of scripture as part of our larger worship context in which we have experienced a video interview I did with my friend, Pastor Andrei, a Ukrainian Baptist pastor. As pastor of Vinnytsia Grace Baptist Church, he and they are on the front lines of this horrible conflict following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Psalm 27 sounds as though it could have been written just for them, as well as for us. Join us as we hear these words and as I attempt to offer a real world and very present day context.

Jesus’ time in the wilderness is the focus of our sermon today. He, just like us in our own wilderness times, is confronted by series of temptations. As we share in the exploration of these important verses, and as we together, wrestle with our own struggles, may these moments of worship and learning nurture your faith for the wilderness, for this day, and for the days to come. We are glad you are joining us! of worship and learning nurture your faith for the wilderness, for this day, and for the days to come. We are glad you are joining us!

My grandmother used to say: “God gave you two ears, two eyes and one mouth for a reason. You should look and listen twice as much as you speak.” Today’s passage is known as “The Transfiguration.” So our story for today’s sermon is very much about Jesus. However, it is also equally about us. Join us for “Look and Listen” as we worship and learn together.

FBCD was blessed to host our guest preacher, Damon Corn. A member of FBCD who was ordained by our congregation in 2019, Damon and his ministry have gone on to bear beautiful fruit in his work as a prison chaplain and involvement with Edgewood Church. Listen in as Damon preaches from the Gospel of Luke and challenges us with Jesus' message of love and grace.

In our sermon for today, Dr. Jordan shares several biblical warnings and reasons for why love can be extremely difficult. He also provides clear insights for how we can overcome those difficulties. Join us as we are honest about the challenges; and hear, also, the good news that can overcome them.

Numbers and names can only tell us so much. But when coupled with the deep history of these valuable passages from the Bible, statistics and the people behind them become meaningful indicators. It is our hope that today’s message on “The State of the Church” will remind us of the good work that our Lord is doing in our midst. And while we hear some details of our church life, we also pray we will become increasingly aware of the vital role our congregation plays in the life of Decatur, and in the broader context of God’s mission in the world. Join us as we learn, grow, and become inspired again for how God can use us!

In this post-Christmas message, Rev. Shelley Woodruff shares with us from Luke 2:41-52 about when Jesus stayed in Jerusalem as a child and listened to the other teachers in the temple.

Our passage today offers a significant remedy to whatever insufficiency you might feel. And it provides a vital first step in gaining insights into God’s perspective.

On the third Sunday of Advent, Christmas Music Sunday, Dr. David Jordan walks us through Philippians 4:4-7 as we look at the theme for this week: jo.y

In the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the new church year, Rev. Dr. Paul Wallace walks us through key scriptural passages to help us focus on… the end.