First Baptist

The path of every man toward God and his relationship with Him is unique. However, because we all share the same human nature, there are certain stages and characteristics common to our spiritual journey.

Known to historians as "the First American," Benjamin Franklin is without a doubt the most accessible of America's founding fathers. His writings have inspired millions of Americans, and even now, more than 200 years after his death, his wit and humor still brighten lives all across the world. But what was this great man's view on faith? Was he really a Deist as so many historians have proposed? Was he a humanist like so many of his French friends? Is there any possibility that he could have been a Christian? In this unique volume, Bill Fortenberry has collected everything that Franklin ...

An overview of the historical and theological development of these two confessions, with a comparison of content and analysis of them. These two Baptist confessions were written and published by men living in the tedium of life unique to them – in their culture, period of history, and the theological development of their beliefs. While many books have been written by Baptists on the topic of confessions, the preponderance of those books are academic and biased towards the 1689 London Baptist Confession. My intention is to present a non-academic overview of how these confessions came to be...

John the Baptist is one of Scripture’s most striking figures — a prophet filled with the Spirit from the womb, a voice crying in the wilderness, the baptizer at the Jordan, and the humble witness who declared, “He must increase, I must decrease.” This book follows his journey from miraculous birth to martyr’s death, showing how his life prepares the way for Christ and still points us to Him today. With Scripture, teaching, personal reflections, poetry, and questions for study, this devotional guide brings John’s story alive for modern disciples.

Becoming a first-time dad can feel like getting the ball with no playbook. The stakes are high, the clock is ticking, and the pressure is on. Society tells you that your life is over and you’ll never sleep again. But here’s the truth: Fatherhood doesn’t mean losing your sanity, hobbies, or sense of self. With The First-Time Dad Playbook, you’ll step into the role with confidence and crush it—on day one and beyond.

Dr. Norris is a fearless man in more ways than one. We have known men who seemed to have any amount of moral courage, who were physical cowards; and we have known men abundantly endowed with physical courage, who were moral cowards. But Dr. Norris is afraid of nothing, either in the physical or moral realms. Who but Dr. Norris would have dared even to attempt what, by the blessing of God, he has achieved in Detroit? Even the most daring of other men would have been afraid to try. It was this Editor's privilege and honour years ago to enjoy the warm personal friendship of the late Russell H....

This is a simple and very short booklet. It is not meant to be comprehensive. It provides a big picture structure to the book of Romans in the New Testament. In fact, if you have Kindle Unlimited, just read this in half an hour or less. That said, because of this hidden partition, it further clarifies some controversial aspects of Romans: Who can be spiritual Jews? What does Romans 9 really means and does it have anything to do with Calvinism? Is Romans 13 really about the government? If you are interested in answering those questions and more, this is a succinct and compact guide. The book...

At the beginning of every year, a Mason stands at a threshold. Plans are made. Offices are filled. Work is prepared. Yet Masonry teaches that labor does not begin with action, but with orientation. Before the tools are lifted, the Mason must first face the Light. The First Light: A Mason’s Book for the Opening of the Year is a contemplative guide designed to be read slowly across the course of a year. Structured around twelve reflections, one for each month, the book explores the inner disciplines that sustain the Work of Masonry beyond ritual and office. Each chapter focuses on a single ...

What can a Jewish historian, writing under Roman patronage, tell us about Jesus, John the Baptist, James the brother of Jesus, and the world of the New Testament? More than many realize. In this comprehensive study, Edward D. Andrews examines the writings of Flavius Josephus, the first-century priest, general, and historian whose works preserve invaluable accounts of Judea, Rome, and the key figures who shaped biblical history. Far from undermining Scripture, Josephus provides remarkable confirmation of its people, events, and settings — from Herod the Great to Pontius Pilate, from the ...

The First Baptist Church of New York City, founded in 1745 and formally constituted in 1753, is among the oldest Baptist congregations in America. Under early leaders like Jeremiah Dodge and Revolutionary chaplain John Gano, the church established itself in lower Manhattan. It grew through the 19th century, moving uptown with the city and actively supporting missions and Bible societies. Its most influential period came under Rev. Dr. Isaac M. Haldeman (1884–1933), who made it a national center of fundamentalism, premillennialism, and biblical inerrancy, opposing liberal theology and the ...

The premise of this book is that learning to let go of anger—and ultimately forgiving the offender—will transform the foundation of every kind of relationship we have. Stanley defines anger as "a strong feeling of intense displeasure, hostility, or indignation as a result of a real or an...

The argument about women in ministry is not a modern argument. It is two thousand years old. And the record is more complicated than either side usually admits. Jim Stovall is a journalist, not a theologian. When a retired Baptist minister and lifelong friend suggested this subject for the I'm No Expert, But series, Stovall did what journalists do: he went looking for what the record actually shows. What he found surprised him. The earliest Christian documents name women as deacons, apostles, and teachers. The restriction on women in ordained ministry developed over centuries, shaped by ...

Part of the furor in the Middle East is the identity of Israel. Various sects of Christianity try to tackle its relationship with the nation, kingdom, and homeland of the Jews. With that in mind, this book aims to answer the following question Biblically: Why is the Church not and never will be Israel? Discover: The five main views of the relationship between the Church and Israel The difference between the New Testament and New Covenant (It's not what you think) Why passages that seem to imply that the Church is Israel doesn't actually say so The question is explored in many angles, and...

The Life of Rev. W. W. Everts, D.D. Discover the Extraordinary Life of a 19th-Century Titan of Faith and Reform Step into the tumultuous and transformative landscape of 19th-century America through the definitive biography of Rev. Dr. William Wallace Everts (1814–1890). Penned with intimate insight by his son and originally published in Philadelphia by Louis H. Everts, this timeless work chronicles the journey of a fearless frontier youth who rose to become one of the most forceful, influential, and courageous voices in the American pulpit. From his early pastoral beginnings in New York ...

Hard hitting, funny, outrageous, and tender by turns, Secret Radio delivers a scathing assessment of the scandals, gross ignorance of Scripture, and back room deals that have been tolerated in Fundamentalism, while at the same time showing the genuine faith of many who labor for Christ and find Him faithful to His people. Told in journal format as Grace narrates her story, the book chronicles the lives of Grace and her five roommates during her senior year, from the dreamy Lilly who draws action and adventure comics to the brilliant, poker-faced Cinn, the godly Amy Carmichael and tragic ...

Hard hitting, funny, outrageous, and tender by turns, Secret Radio delivers a scathing assessment of the scandals, gross ignorance of Scripture, and back room deals that have been tolerated in Fundamentalism, while at the same time showing the genuine faith of many who labor for Christ and find Him faithful to His people. Told in journal format as Grace narrates her story, the book chronicles the lives of Grace and her five roommates during her senior year, from the dreamy Lilly who draws action and adventure comics to the brilliant, poker-faced Cinn, the godly Amy Carmichael and tragic ...

The Rapture and Return of Jesus Christ First and Second Thessalonians In this epistle the Apostle Paul teaches us The benefit of belonging to a New Testament Church Every Christian would benefit from belonging to a local New Testament (Baptist) Church. In the worst of circumstances, the support and fellowship, the prayer and encouragement helps us through those tough times. The importance of having a good testimony Though the church in Thessalonica was a young one, and had experienced terrible persecution, it had gained a testimony throughout their region. This church serves today to teach ...

Within these pages are the notes and lectures I gave as a teacher of church planting.I have had experience in church planting in three different levels: As the member of a brand new church plant As the pastor being sent out of his church to plant a new church As the pastor of the sending church of a man pastoring a new church plant I've seen this work from many different viewpoints, have sat in on multiple hours of sermons, lessons and messages on church planting and I have served as the sending pastor of church planters with many different talents, temperaments, and tools with which to ...

Jesus said no one comes to the Father except through him. But in our inclusive world, such an exclusive claim isn't popular. Believers today face persistent pressure to abandon this belief, which the world sees as antiquated at best and hateful at worst. What we need is godly encouragement to stay the course and courage to share the gospel compassionately with those around us.

This collection of prayers by noted Hebrew Bible scholar Walter Brueggemann can be used in both public worship and private devotion. These prayers run the gamut from particular days in the church year to special moments in the lives of worshiping communities to events playing out on the world stage. In all cases, the prayers show us how God accompanies us through all the moments and stages of our life, bringing us the joys of life even amid a broken and hurting world and especially offering a joyous calling in Christ to serve that world.