Shows / First Words of Encouragement
First Words of Encouragement
The preaching ministry of the First Baptist Church of Winnsboro, LA. A new episode is available each Thursday before noon. Contact us at www.fbcwinnsboro.com
Episodes
- First Words of Encouragement
The Good News of the Birth of John the Baptist –Luke 1:57-80
The miraculous birth of John the Baptist reveals how God honors His ancient promises, calling parents Zacharias and Elizabeth to obedient faith despite social…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Fulfillment in Jesus: A Call to Praise" – Luke 1:39-56
Believers need to actively recognize God's supernatural work in and around them, responding with joyful, unreserved praise for His faithfulness and salvation…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Embracing the Unknown: Trusting God’s Plan Beyond the Details” – Luke 1:26-38
God’s plans often unfold in unexpected ways, but because He sees what we cannot and knows what we do not, we can trust His wisdom and goodness. Like Mary, we…
- First Words of Encouragement
“What brings you joy? – James 1:1-4
Dr. Joe Waller, Professor of Christian Studies at Louisiana Christian University in Pineville, LA. For more information about LCU, click here. For more…
- First Words of Encouragement
Great Stories of the Bible: The Promise to Zacharias – Luke 1:5-25
Despite facing years of childlessness, the priest Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth remained steadfast in their faith until the angel Gabriel announced they…
- First Words of Encouragement
Great Stories of the Bible: The Faith of Esther – Esther 4:15-17; 5:1-8; 7:1-10
Faith combats evil by first humbly depending on God, then patiently seeking His wisdom and timing. Like Esther, believers are called to act courageously when…
- First Words of Encouragement
Great Stories of the Bible: Spiritual Rehab: A Journey Back to God – Nehemiah 2:1-18
We need to recognize what sin has damaged, seek God’s help, and rebuild our walk with Him. As Jesus restores our hearts, He strengthens His church. For more…
- First Words of Encouragement
Great Stories of the Bible: Rebuilding the Altar – Ezra 1:1-3; 3:7-13
Ezra reminds us that genuine revival begins when God’s people make worship their highest priority and rebuild their lives on Christ as the true foundation…
- First Words of Encouragement
“The Story Continues” – Matthew 28:16-20
The story of Christ continues through imperfect believers who are empowered by His authority to make disciples, baptize, and teach others. Because Jesus…
- First Words of Encouragement
Brazil Report from Bro. Craig & Susanne Beeman
Listen to the report of the experiences of our pastor and his wife as they went on a mission trip to Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. For more information about our…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: Standing Firm in the Lion’s Den” – Daniel 6
Daniel, at 80, serves faithfully with an "extraordinary spirit" in Babylon, so jealous officials create a 30-day law requiring prayer only to King Darius to…
- First Words of Encouragement
Mission Testimony of Abby Smith
Join us today as we hear from Abby Smith as she shares her testimony of her call to missions. For more information, click here.
- First Words of Encouragement
Brazil Mission Report: Joey & Brandi Cordill, and Bob Nelson
Hear how the trip to Brazil went. For more information, click here.
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories from the Bible: Weighed and Found Wanting” – Daniel 5
Pride blinds us to God's authority, but His warnings cannot be ignored forever. Though we have all been weighed and found wanting, Christ offers mercy to all…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: The Most High Rules” – Daniel 4
King Nebuchadnezzar’s story in Daniel 4 teaches us that God is the ultimate ruler, overseeing everyone and every kingdom. He can bring down the proud and…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Freedom in Christ” – Romans 6:18-19; Galatians 5:1,13
Earthly freedom is temporary and limited, but the freedom Jesus Christ gives is eternal, freeing believers from the power of sin and the burden of trying to…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: Standing Firm in the Fire” – Daniel 3
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego show us what it means to stand firm when the world pressures us to compromise our faith. Even in the fire, God remains with His…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: A King and His Dream” – Daniel 2
Human intellect and earthly empires are ultimately limited, failing to provide lasting answers or security in times of crisis. By contrast, God alone possesses…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: The Valley of Dry Bones” – Ezekiel 37:1-14
Just as God brought life to a valley of dry bones, He can revive spiritually dry people and churches through the power of His Word and Spirit. The central…
- First Words of Encouragement
“The Story behind the Supper” – Exodus 12:14; 1 Corinthians 11:26; Exodus 12:24-27, 42
The Passover and the Lord’s Supper were both established by God as memorials of redemption, with the Passover pointing to Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Grest Stories of Bible: Jonah’s Lessons on Compassion and Grace” – Jonah 3:10-4:11
Jonah’s story teaches us that God's boundless grace is available to all people, not just favored groups. It challenges listeners to overcome personal biases…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: Jonah Embraces the Call” – Jonah 3:1-9
God’s mercy gives second chances, and when we respond in immediate obedience, He uses His message to bring real transformation—both in us and in others. Like…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: Jonah’s Journey to Redemption” – Jonah 1:17-2:10
Jonah finds himself in a dire situation after trying to escape God's call. His time in the fish leads to an earnest prayer, showcasing his realization of God's…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: Jonah: Running into the Storm” – Jonah 1:4-16
Jonah’s attempt to run from God led him straight into a storm that exposed his disobedience and showed how sin affects everyone around us. The passage reminds…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: Jonah and teh Call from God” – Jonah 1:1-3
Whenever God speaks to us with a clear call to righteousness, we have a sacred opportunity to stand up and speak truth where it is needed most. Instead of…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Faith over Fear beyond Covid” – John 12:42-43
Faith over fear means choosing God’s approval over people’s acceptance, refusing to let fear keep your faith hidden or silent. True faith is lived openly…
- First Words of Encouragement
“The Value of the Words of God” – Psalm 119:105
The Word of God serves as a personal lamp that provides enough light for each immediate step, ensuring we make righteous decisions in our daily actions…
- First Words of Encouragement
“The Search for Jesus: Finding Hope in the Resurrection” – John 20:1-10
In this Easter Sunday message, we explore the transformative power of the empty tomb. Life often feels like a roller coaster of highs and sudden drops, leaving…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Embracing the Cross of Christ” – John 12:27-36
Jesus chose the Father’s will over comfort, embracing the cross to bring victory over sin, darkness, and death. We are called to trust His purpose, walk in His…
- First Words of Encouragement
“The Power of Unseen Hope” – John 11:30-46
Jesus proves that no situation is too far gone by meeting our deepest grief with divine compassion and the miraculous power of the Resurrection. For more…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: Jeremiah and the Well” – Jeremian 38
This message from Book of Jeremiah 38:1–13 teaches that standing faithfully for God’s truth will bring opposition, but believers must remain courageous and…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: The Cost of Ignoring God’s Word” – Jeremiah 36
God’s Word is given so people can hear it, engage with it, and repent, yet human pride often leads people—like King Jehoiakim—to reject or ignore it. However…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: TheSuffering Servant” – Isaiah 53
The Suffering Servant is a figure of great compassion and sacrificial love. He experiences ridicule and suffering on behalf of others, highlighting the theme…
- First Words of Encouragement
“The Great Stories of the Bible: Ecountering the Holy: Isaiah’s Vision and Our Call” - Isaiah 6:1-8
Though Israel appeared outwardly religious, their hearts were far from God, and Isaiah’s vision shows that a true encounter with God’s holiness exposes sin…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: Lessons from a Fallen King” – 2 Kings 23:28-35
After the death of King Josiah, his son Jehoahaz reigned only three months before being removed by Pharaoh Neco, showing how quickly ungodly choices and…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Prayer” – Acts 12
Special guest preacher, Dr. Mark Johnson, president of Louisiana Christian University. For more information, click here.
- First Words of Encouragement
“The Great Stories of the Bible: More Than a Makeover” – 2 Kings 23:21-27
God is not interested in cosmetic religion but in deep, uncomfortable reformation that removes idols and restores true devotion. Josiah’s life shows unmatched…
- First Words of Encouragement
“The Great Stories of the Bible: The Lost Book of the Law” - 2 Kings 22:1-23:3
Israel and Judah spiral through years of spiritual decline until, in Josiah’s day, the forgotten Book of the Law is rediscovered and exposes the depth of the…
- First Words of Encouragement
“The Great Stories of the Bible: The Seven-Year-Old King” – 2 Kings 11
God is always at work, even when chaos, betrayal, and uncertainty surround His people, faithfully preserving His promises and His chosen King. The story of…
- First Words of Encouragement
“The Great Stories of the Bible: The Cleansing of the House of Ahab” – 2 Kings 9
God works through Elisha and the anointing of Jehu, showing that even amid Israel’s rebellion, God equips and calls His servants to act in obedience for His…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Only One Thing is Needed” – Luke 10:38-42
Our primary devotion must be sitting at the feet of Jesus rather than getting lost in the noise of productivity. Even good acts of service can become…
- First Words of Encouragement
“The Presentation of Jesus” – Luke 2:21-38
Mary and Joseph’s faithful obedience to Jewish rituals opened the door for divine encounters with Simeon and Anna, who recognized Jesus as the promised Savior…
- First Words of Encouragement
IMB Missionary, Ross Frierson
Hear the bells ring and hear from our International Mission Board Missionary, Ross Frierson. For more information about our church, click here.
- First Words of Encouragement
Third Sunday of Advent: Guest Preacher-Brian Rogers
For more information about our church, click here.
- First Words of Encouragement
Second Sunday of Advent: The Marvel fo Joseph” - Matthew 1:18-25
Joseph’s quiet strength shines through his justice, compassion, and willingness to follow God’s direction even when life felt confusing and unfair. His…
- First Words of Encouragement
“The First Sunday of Advent: The Marvel of Mary” Luke 1:26-28
Mary had an unexpected calling to bear the Son of God. God can use anyone, regardless of their limitations, to accomplish His purposes. We believers, need to…
- First Words of Encouragement
"Entering the Presence of God with a Grateful Heart” – Psalm 100:4-5
Worship begins with a heart prepared by gratitude, for thanksgiving and praise are the “keys” that usher us into the Lord’s presence. We give thanks not merely…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: The Gratitude of Naaman” – 2 Kings 5:15-27
Naaman’s story shows a man transformed by God’s mercy, whose newfound gratitude led him to forsake old ways and honor the one true God. Gehazi’s actions warn…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: The Cleansing of Naaman” – 2 Kings 5:1-14
The story of Naaman's leprosy cure illustrates three spiritual principles: that God uses the humble (like the servant girl) to point people toward healing, and…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: Elisha: A New Beginning” – 2 Kings 2:13-25
God calls us beyond our comfort zones, equipping us with strength and purpose for the mission He sets before us—just as He did with Elisha after Elijah. For…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: Elijah Moves on Up” – 2 Kings 2:1-12
Like Elisha, believers today must rely on God's care, seek His empowerment, and carry on the mission entrusted to them by Christ. For more information about…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: You Cannot Ourun God” - 1 Kings 22:29-40
God's Word is always fulfilled, whether it brings blessing or judgment, as seen in King Ahab’s downfall despite his attempts to avoid prophecy. Ignoring or…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: The Cost of Greed: Part 2” - 1 Kings 21:17-29
King Ahab’s greed led him to steal Naboth’s vineyard, revealing a heart enslaved to sin and rebellion against God’s authority—but God’s justice would not be…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: The Cost of Greed: Part 1” - 1 Kings 21:1-16
When greed rules, we lose sight of God, but when Christ rules, we learn that in Him, we already have everything we need. For more information about our church…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: He’s Still God in the Valleys” – 1 Kings 20:22-43
God is not limited to the mountaintops of life but is also fully present and powerful in the valleys of difficulty, proving His strength when human resources…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: Elijah Regains his Purpose” - 1 Kings 19:13-21
Elijah’s story reminds us that even when we feel purposeless or alone, God still has work for us and will renew our calling. His mission is bigger than any one…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: How Big is Your God?” – 1 Kings 18:17-39
The people of Israel had forsaken God, leaning on their own understanding and choosing Baal instead of trusting the Lord, showing how small they allowed God to…
- First Words of Encouragement
“Great Stories of the Bible: Fatih and Provision in the Droughts of Life” – 1 Kings 17:7-24
God often brings us to places where we must depend entirely on Him, stripping away our illusions of control. Elijah’s story in 1 Kings 17 shows that God…
- First Words of Encouragement
Honduras Mission Trip Report - Jackson Cordill
One of our own, Jackson Cordill, recently returned from a mission trip to Honduras. Listen as he shares about how God moved when he was there. For more…