FBC Independence Podcast

I remember the question I asked my mother one morning, "Do we have to go to church? I was sick of going to church all the time! I had things to do: bikes to ride, pigs in the barnyard to tease, creeks to fish, and brothers and sisters to play with – and here I was, being forced to clean up and dress up, and go to church – again! I was all of 4 years old; my mother was the church pianist in our small, rural Baptist church, and my dad was a Deacon. We went to church all the time – in my young mind, it was a crazy way to mess up a perfectly good Sunday! I smile now when I think of that morning; I was blessed that my parents were unrelenting in our church attendance. We prayed over our meals at home, we went to church, seemingly "all the time," and, before I knew it, I was in our church's Youth Group in High School, pursuing a cute little brown-eyed cheerleader that eventually became my wife, now of over 46 years. That was fast! I smile because my parents' insistence on church attendance, "as long as you're living under my roof!" my Father roared, led me to a life I now see as orchestrated by our loving God. I first received Christ as my Savior. That simple decision of my 12-year-old self led to me to follow God's call into ministry; marry that cute little Baptist girl who shared the same values and experiences in the faith; and now, after over 45 years in ministry, have discovered that I have been blessed with wonderful, faithful, daughters and sons-in-law, and grandchildren who are all on the path to faith. I cannot imagine a better life for my family and me! I have been forced to grow and mature in the faith, not just to lead others in ministry, but to survive what has been, at times, terribly difficult. And because of our shared experiences as a family, my daughters' own families are involved in ministries, serving others, and, even now, are calling me from time to time to ask questions about spiritual matters. We sometimes pray together; we celebrate our faith together, and we share concerns for our nation as 'fellow believers.' Almost without thinking, our choices in life and faith have led us to be "The Church," together as a family. Again, I cannot imagine a better life for me and my family! We have lived the truth declared in the preaching of every generation since Moses: "God has a plan for your life." The Prophet Jeremiah, writing to God's people who were living in exile after being conquered by the Babylonians, spoke of "God's Plan." He told them to build their lives, have families, raise them in faith, and seek the welfare of the cities where they lived. He summed up the instructions with the mention of God's plan: "For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 God has a plan for your life, and it is the very best life you can imagine! It will not be perfect or necessarily easy, and there will be challenges and losses, as well as good days and bad. But as you live your life with faith and trust in God's teachings and leadership, you will be able to say, with this old preacher, "I cannot imagine a better life for my family and me!" The best way you can support our ministry is by sharing this video with your friends and family! 💰 Give Online: Your contributions make our ministries possible. Give here 📲 Download our App: Stay up to date on all things FBC.Download the App 👍 Like our Page: Follow us on Facebook 📍 Visit Us: Join us every Sunday at 10:30 AM, 500 W. Truman Road, Independence, MO Thank you for watching. We will see you next week!

Christmas is about Jesus, the "reason for the season," but not everyone responds with joy. In this message, we look at the reaction of King Herod, who became enraged at the thought of a new "King of the Jews" and sought to destroy Him (Matthew 2:16). Jesus said, "He who is not with me is against me" (Luke 11:23). Herod rejected Christ violently. How will you respond to the Gospel? Will you count the cost, humble yourself, and place your faith in Jesus? The life you can live in Christ is the best life! Support Our Ministry: Your financial support provides funding for outreach, upkeep, and essential resources. Thank you for your generosity! Give here: https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/ Stay Connected:Download our App: https://a3a.me/firstbaptistofindependence Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/1stBaptist/ We look forward to this journey with you—see you next week!

The old country song closes with the words, “Where seldom is heard, a discouraging word, and the skies are not cloudy all day.” Many of you will remember the song “Home on the Range,” written by Daniel Kelley and Dr. Brewster Higley back in the 1940s, which became a classic. It sang of a place in time where everything was good, and the only words one heard were supportive and encouraging. A mythical place, to be sure, but it showed how desperately everyone needs to be encouraged! It’s been close to 70 years since that song became popular, but it still makes sense to us today. I learned of the need for “an encouraging word” many years ago, during my time at one of my earlier churches, where I served as Pastor. I had begun to complain about everything, almost every day; at some point, my wife merely suggested that we might be better off if I quit complaining all the time! She was right, of course; I needed to hear encouraging words, and I needed to speak encouraging words – my wife needed to listen to them! Interestingly, the Bible teaches us this very thought: “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 Here are a few emphases of the larger passage, which contains verse 29: Encouraging words build others up. “That it may give grace to those who hear.” v.29 People need to be built up by fellow Christians . Encouraging words reflect Christian experience. “Just as God in Christ has forgiven you.” v. 32 Our faith in Jesus gives us the joy of forgiveness and salvation, and a reason for hope in life. Encouraging words please God. “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit.” v.30 Out of love and respect towards God, we are to speak in ways that will honor God and bring glory to Him. God feels the pain of our sin and depravity! So here is an obvious way God wants us to relate to others: Let us all speak an encouraging word, seeking the best in life. When we are obedient to God’s teachings in scripture, we build others up, encourage them in the hard times of this life, and serve to give people hope, based upon the truth that God is always at work in every situation. There is a reason to be encouraged! Your financial support is the backbone of our ministry, providing funding for outreach, facility upkeep, and essential resources. Your generosity fuels our mission and makes a real impact. Give here: https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/ Stay updated by downloading our App: https://a3a.me/firstbaptistofindependence or liking our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/1stBaptist/. These platforms keep you engaged and connected. Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to this journey with you—see you next week!

When I was in college, studying to become a minister, I came across a Bible tract titled something along these lines: “How to witness for the wrong side.” In the picture was a smiling, John Denver look-alike young man, casually dressed. He had the word “Jesus” in large letters across the front of his exaggerated cowboy hat; additionally, there were Bible Tracts in his hands, and falling out of his pockets, with all sorts of snarky comments about non-believers, and even obvious insults aimed at those of various political positions that were considered ‘unchristian,’ by many in the Church. The point was clear – When Christians try to proclaim the Gospel message to the world, they need to be sure they are proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus, instead of insulting comments on political issues, or words that have almost nothing to do with the Gospel message! This true story brings me to ask a question: As a believer, does your life proclaim the Gospel of Jesus? Are you sure you understand what is, and is not, the Gospel message? And, finally, how does the Gospel message affect one’s life when it is truly accepted into one’s heart? There is a story in the Bible regarding a “true believer” of the Jewish faith, who, out of religious zeal, had begun to persecute members of the Church. The man was a Pharisee named Saul, who was walking towards the city of Damascus to seek out and persecute Christians. Here is where the story picks up: “And it came about that as he journeyed, he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? And he said, “Who art Thou, Lord?” and he said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but rise, and enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do.” Acts 9:3-6. Those with Saul took him to Damascus, where God led one named Ananias to explain the Gospel message to him and show him the path to life with God. The ‘rest of the story,’ of course, is that of Saul receiving Christ, becoming a traveling evangelist for Jesus, and writing much of what became the New Testament! One of the most interesting elements of this story is that Saul, who later became known as Paul (the Roman version of his name), was an active Pharisee in the Jewish faith. He believed in God, and he fought for what he thought was the true faith – but the true faith included Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law. He didn’t understand that he had been proclaiming and defending what was now the ‘wrong’ faith; the true faith was now Judaism, as fulfilled through Jesus! Saul, before his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, was a witness for the wrong faith, because it was a faith that was not centered on the message of salvation through Jesus. Here’s what we can learn from Saul’s experiences: Let us make sure we correctly understand what the Gospel is that we have been given to proclaim! The Gospel we have been given is the message that Jesus, Son of God, God in the flesh, came and lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay for our sin, and was risen from the dead to show God’s power over death. Then he ascended into heaven, to be seated with God on the throne of heaven, to reign over all things forever. Salvation comes when we believe the truths of the Gospel and receive Jesus as our Savior, committing our lives to Him. The Gospel is not an opinion one might have on abortion, immigration, or any other political or social topic – it is the message of salvation in Jesus! It is acceptable to express an opinion on any topic, of course, but if the goal is to proclaim the Gospel and lead people to Jesus, then they must focus on the truth of the Gospel and not on one’s opinions concerning the social issues of the day. To live as a Christ-follower involves a change in the direction of our lives! In the s

I recently read an article in a Christian publication featuring a young woman in her 20s with a bright smile and confident presence. Expecting a testimony of faith, I was surprised to learn she was a successful porn star, earning over $40 million in just two years. Despite her profession, she claimed a strong Christian faith, saying, “I have a close relationship with my church, and I love God. I believe He will forgive your sins for anything, and I think He’s happy that I’m successful.” She acknowledged that her work may be sinful but seemed to rely on the idea that God’s forgiveness was automatic. She also claimed to live a moral life, stating that having morals is essential to survive in the industry. This raises serious questions about how we define morality and how we apply God’s Word in our lives. The Bible teaches that our faith must be genuine and lived out through obedience, not just words. Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13–16). Our lives should reflect Christ and draw others to Him—not cause confusion about what it means to follow Him. Depending on grace while planning to continue in sin is a dangerous spiritual mindset. God calls us to repentance, not selective obedience. True faith involves surrendering our whole lives—not just the parts we’re comfortable giving up. This story reminds us that how we live matters. People around us are watching, and they need to see real faith in action. Our culture is saturated with compromise, but we are called to live set-apart lives rooted in the truth of Scripture. This week, think about your witness. Are you reflecting Christ in a way that leads others toward Him? Are you serious about the spiritual and moral leadership our world so desperately needs? Let your life be salt and light. Someone near you may come to know Jesus because of your example. Your support is invaluable in spreading our ministry. By sharing our podcasts, you help build a strong community of believers. We appreciate your contributions and encourage you to inspire others to join our mission. Your involvement keeps our community connected and thriving. Your financial support is the backbone of our ministry, providing funding for outreach, facility upkeep, and essential resources. Your generosity fuels our mission, making a real impact. Give here: https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/ Stay updated by downloading our App: https://a3a.me/firstbaptistofindependence or liking our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/1stBaptist/. These platforms keep you engaged and connected. Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to this journey with you—see you next week!

When I was a student back in ‘Preacher School,” I was having a difficult time in one of my classes, which dealt with interpreting the Old Testament. I didn’t like what the teacher was teaching. I disagreed with his interpretation of a great story from the days of the Hebrew people before Jesus. At one point in his lecture, the teacher stopped and asked for questions; I immediately shot up my hand! He called on me, and I said, a little too aggressively, that I disagreed with what he had said about the story. This started a very difficult discussion in front of the class that taught me a lesson I have used almost weekly in my 45 years as a Pastor. My professor was very kind and said, “Ok, Mr. Payne. Tell me your thoughts about our story and why you disagree with what I’ve said. I did so as well as I could. Even though I had held to my beliefs for some time, they had never been ‘tested.’ As the words came out of my mouth, I realized that my answer didn’t seem to make as much sense as before my involvement in this class. (This upper-level class taught us to read and interpret the Old Testament in the original Hebrew language). When I finished, the teacher, still kind and patient with me, began to ask me a series of questions. For instance: “What are the words in the Bible that have led you to reject my interpretation?” Following my answer, another question: “Knowing what you know from our studies in Hebrew, is your interpretation supported by the text?” We had quite a discussion, and he continued to lead me through a thought process that revealed that not only was I wrong in my interpretation, but what I held to be true was completely distorting the passage's meaning! This experience changed my life! The fact that I embarrassed myself in front of the class was bad enough, but that was an easy lesson. The greater lesson that affects me today is that if my beliefs and interpretations contradict the scriptures, I am wrong! As my professor said, pay attention to what the Bible says and what the Bible does not say.’ Many of you who are reading this article may have had experiences in life with similar effects. In the Bible, we can read that John the Apostle had many! For instance, at one point in Mark 5, Jesus raised from the dead a young girl, the child of a Roman soldier. They had argued with Jesus over this because they thought it was too late; also, they were probably resistant to helping a Roman soldier whom they saw as their enemy. Jesus’ actions and kindness to the soldier and the raising of the girl from the dead challenged their understanding of life and death. They taught them that even a Roman soldier’s family was worthy of God’s love. This was one of Jesus’ methods by which he taught his disciples how to live and minister in his name. The disciples who witnessed this miracle were forever changed – their beliefs and practices concerning ministering to people and offering God’s love to them were forever altered! The point of this whole message is that when we follow Jesus and cling to our faith in him, He will change our lives over time! He will teach, correct, and mature us in the faith. The goal is for us to live our lives so that He might use us in ministry to a world that desperately needs what only Jesus can give! Here’s a passage that can help us in our journey: “If then you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not the things on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3 Your support is invaluable in spreading our ministry. By sharing our podcasts, you help build a strong community of believers. We appreciate your contributions and encourage you to inspire others to join our mission. Your in