First Baptist Church of Hardy

11/01/2026

10/31/2026

There’s a big difference between getting older, spiritually growing, and becoming spiritually mature. And sometimes we confuse the three.

I recall having a conversation with a childhood friend and we were talking about getting together for lunch or dinner, I remember making a comment about being “too old” to stay out all night and in so many words enjoy the things of the world, the strangest expression came across their face, as if I had said we can’t stay out after 9pm, when in reality I meant growth has taken place, I no longer desire the things of the past.

Aging happens whether we do anything about it or not. Growing takes nourishment. But maturity takes surrender, correction, and a willingness to change.

Just because we’ve lived a lot of years doesn’t mean we’ve gained wisdom. Just because we’ve been in church all our lives (if that happens to be the case) doesn’t mean we’ve grown spiritually. And just because we know Scripture doesn’t mean we’re living it.

Think about Peter.
Peter walked with Jesus, witnessed miracles, heard His teachings, and still had some growing up to do. He was quick to speak, quick to react, and sometimes let his emotions get ahead of his faith.

When Jesus was arrested, Peter drew his sword. Later, that same night, he denied even knowing Jesus three times.

But Peter’s story didn’t end with his failures.

In John 21, Jesus restored Peter and called him to feed His sheep. Peter had to learn that loving Jesus wasn’t just about what he said or how strongly he felt. It was about obedience, humility, and faithfulness.

The same Peter who once acted out of fear would later boldly proclaim the Gospel.

Peter didn’t mature simply because time passed. He matured because he allowed the Lord to change him.

And that ought to make us examine ourselves.

Are we just getting older, or are we becoming wiser? Are we growing closer to God, or have we simply become comfortable with our routines? Can we receive correction without getting offended? Can we admit when we’re wrong? Do we handle things differently today than we did five years ago?

Spiritual maturity isn’t measured by how long we’ve been saved, how many Bible verses we can quote, or how many church services we’ve attended.

It’s seen in how we love, forgive, respond to correction, control our tongues, and treat people when things don’t go our way.

We can have gray hair and still act childish. We can have years of church attendance and still be spiritually immature.

And here’s something worth remembering: Growth isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes God has to show us things about ourselves we’d rather not see.

We should never get so old in our ways that we become unwilling to grow in His.

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” — 2 Peter 3:18 (KJV)

“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” — 1 Corinthians 13:11 (KJV)

Heavenly Father, thank You for every year You’ve given me, but please don’t let me confuse getting older with becoming wiser. Show me the areas of my life where I still need to grow. Help me accept correction without pride, recognize my own faults before pointing out someone else’s, and learn from the things You’ve brought me through. Lord, don’t let me become so set in my ways that I stop listening to You. I don’t want to just grow old knowing about You. I want to grow closer to You and become more like You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Something to think about today: If someone compared the person you are today with the person you were five years ago, would they see spiritual maturity, or would they simply see that you’ve gotten five years older? (Tina)

10/28/2026

We look forward to seeing you and we’re saving you a seat!

10/28/2026

Submission Starts With Me

Scripture: James 4:7 (KJV)

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

When we hear the word submission, most of us immediately think about marriage and how a wife is supposed to submit to her husband. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that submission is something God expects from all of us.

It’s easy to talk about what somebody else should be doing. We can point out where somebody isn’t doing what the Bible says. But how often do we stop and ask ourselves if we’re being obedient to God?

I think about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew what was ahead of Him. He knew the pain and suffering He was about to face. And even though He prayed for that cup to pass from Him, He still said, “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42)

That right there is submission.

Jesus didn’t submit because He was weak. He submitted because He was obedient to His Father, even when it meant going through something difficult.

And I wonder how often God asks us to do something, but we struggle because it’s not what we want to do.

Sometimes it’s keeping our mouth shut when we have plenty we could say. Sometimes it’s forgiving somebody who hasn’t even asked for forgiveness. And sometimes it’s simply letting go of our need to always be right or listen to correction and apply it.

In marriage, God gives both the husband and wife responsibilities. The husband is called to love his wife as Christ loved the church, and the wife is called to respect and submit to her husband as unto the Lord. But neither one should be so focused on the other’s responsibilities that they forget their own.

Ephesians 5:21 says, “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

I believe a lot of problems in our homes could be handled differently if we spent more time asking God to work on us instead of always asking Him to change or fix the other person.

That doesn’t mean we have to agree with everything, overlook wrongdoing, or accept mistreatment. It means we need to make sure our own hearts are right before God.

Because at the end of the day, I can’t answer for whether somebody else obeyed God. But I will have to answer for whether I did.

And that’s something we all need to remember.

Something to think about today:

Are we really submitted to God, or are we only willing to obey Him when it’s convenient and when things go our way?

Lord, I know there are times when I want things my way. There are times when I let my feelings, my pride, and my own opinions get in the way of what You’re trying to teach me. Help me to be obedient even when it’s hard. Teach us as husbands, wives, parents, and children of God to put You first in everything we do. Help us love one another, respect one another, and remember that our first responsibility is to You. Lord, work on my heart, even in the places I don’t always want to admit need changing. In Jesus’ name, Amen. (Tina)

10/27/2026

A realization we as Christians need to get ahold of. We Can’t Hold On to Hate and Expect Love to Grow

Sometimes we have to let go or love from a distance because not everyone is healthy for our well-being; however hate should never have a place in this.

Matthew 5:44 (KJV)

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

It’s hard to sincerely pray for someone when we’re holding bitterness and hatred toward them. We may say the words, but God knows what’s in our hearts.

And sometimes, if we’re being truthful, we’d rather see someone get what they deserve than see God bless them.

But that’s not the heart Jesus calls us to have.

Think about Stephen in Acts chapter 7. He was being stoned to death by people who hated him because of his faith. Yet, with his dying breath, he cried out, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” (Acts 7:60)

Stephen wasn’t pretending they hadn’t hurt him. He wasn’t saying what they were doing was right. He was choosing mercy when he had every human reason to be bitter.

That’s something worth thinking about.

Jesus never told us we had to trust everyone, agree with everyone, or allow people to continually mistreat us. But He did command us to love our enemies and pray for those who hurt us.

And here’s something else we need to remember: Praying for someone doesn’t always mean our hearts are already where they need to be. Sometimes prayer is where God begins changing our hearts.

We can come to Him hurt, angry, and struggling to forgive. But we shouldn’t be content to stay there.

We can’t ask God to show us mercy while refusing to extend mercy to others. We can’t hold tightly to hatred and expect to grow in the love of Christ.

Forgiveness doesn’t excuse what someone did, and it doesn’t always mean reconciliation is possible. But it does mean surrendering our desire for revenge and trusting God with what we cannot change.

Maybe the hardest prayer we’ll ever pray isn’t for someone we love.

Maybe it’s for someone who hurt us deeply.

And maybe that prayer needs to begin with, “Lord, before You change them, please work on my heart.”

Heavenly Father, You know every hurt we’ve carried and every wrong we’ve experienced. Help us not to allow those hurts to turn into hatred. Teach us to forgive as You have forgiven us. When it’s difficult to pray for someone, remind us that they need Your grace just as much as we do. Search our hearts, Lord, and remove anything that doesn’t belong there. Help us love people without compromising truth and forgive without holding on to bitterness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Something to think about, Are we truly praying for the people who have hurt us, or are we secretly hoping God will give them what we think they deserve? (Tina)

10/27/2026

Something for both, Men and Women tomorrow night!

10/24/2026

… I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). — John 10:10

The more we speak about something, the more of that something we have. For example, if you talk about all the things you don’t like, you’ll start to dislike them even more, but talking about who and what you love will increase the ability to love in your life.

Very few people learn this blessed lesson: Love the life you have and never compare yourself, or what you have, to anyone else. I want to encourage you to learn to love every moment. If there’s something you really dislike in your life, change it if you can. If you don’t like your job, look for a different one. If you don’t like your neighborhood, move. If you don’t like the weather, realize you can’t change it and change your perspective. As Reinhold Neibuhr said: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

The more you’re filled with loving thoughts and the more you speak loving words, the happier you will be.

Father, please give me the ability to focus on the good things You’ve placed in my life, and to deal with the things that frustrate in the right way. Thank You for Your grace! In Jesus’ name, amen. (Tina)

10/24/2026

Come worship, praise and fellowship with us Tomorrow! We will save you a seat!

10/21/2026

Mark your calendars!!

10/21/2026

Everyone is welcome ❤️