By Scott Brown
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly

Focal Passage: Galatians 5:16-25

Amos 3:3 asks, “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?” As the people of God, we are to be walking in the Spirit and with the Spirit. But what does it mean to walk with the Spirit? 

First, just like Amos, we must be agreed. We must agree to be going the same direction as Him. In Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby teaches we must find out where God is at work and join Him there. 

We need to stay prayed up and surrendered to see the direction in which God is walking and eagerly walk with Him. Walking with the Spirit is not just about the final destination but the fellowship along the way. Walking with God gives the picture of fellowship with Him.  [Read more…]

By Scott Brown
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly

Focal Passage: 1 Corinthians 10:23-33

The question of the Christian’s freedom is something I’ve wrestled with since I first met Jesus. My first few years as a Christian I felt little freedom. I was bound tightly by legalistic ropes which kept my conscience in a constant shame. 

No matter what sins I avoided and what good I did, at the end of every day I couldn’t shake the feeling God was mad at me and I had to try even harder tomorrow. 

I was miserable and none of this brought a greater godliness to me or good to others.  [Read more…]

By Scott Brown
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly

Focal Passage: Ephesians 5:8-21

Paul makes a really interesting contrast here to describe the wonder of the Spirit’s filling of the believer. 

Unlike the pagans, believers are not to be drunk with wine but filled with the Spirit. Whatever fills us controls us. I’ve met people filled with pride, filled with bitterness, filled with anger, filled by addictions, and even those blessed people overwhelmingly and obviously filled by the Spirit. Once more, whatever fills us controls us. 

Being controlled by drunkenness only leads to debauchery. This is wasteful, riotous living. I’ve met no one who would say drunkenness made their life better.  [Read more…]

By Scott Brown
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly

Focal Passage: Romans 8:9-17

At the moment of conversion, when we are born again, the Holy Spirit takes up residence inside us. He indwells the believer and gives them power to live for Jesus. This comes with many benefits to us. It is a constant reminder we are not left alone to stumble through the adventure of the Christian life. 

GotQuestions.org lists 10 incredible things this indwelling accomplishes or promises to us. The person of the Holy Spirit comes to a soul dead in sin and creates new life. He confirms to the believer they belong to the Lord as a fellow heir with Christ.

The Spirit installs us as members of Christ’s universal Church. He gives spiritual gifts, according to His will, for effective service to God and the edification of the church. He illuminates Scripture to help us understand and apply its truths. The Holy Spirit enriches and empowers our prayer lives, Himself also interceding for us in prayer.  [Read more…]

By Scott Brown
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly

Focal Passage: John 3:1-8, 14-17

John chapter 3, need I say more? This is an amazing encounter as Jesus breaks down the beauty of the gospel and our desperate need of it to Nicodemus. 

To this man who had the right bloodline, the right credentials, and the right training He says, “You must be born again.” Nicodemus could not continue on the same path he was on and get where he was trying to go. 

He was broken and beyond repair. He could not merely make a new start, he needed new life. This is true for each of us, as well. God is not only the God of second chances, He is the God of new life! Which is good, because we “must be born again.” [Read more…]