Advertise on podcast: First Baptist Owasso

Chris Wall • I Corinthians 5:1-13 In a culture that often tolerates and even celebrates sin, God calls His church to live differently. In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul confronts the danger of unchecked sin within the body and reminds us that membership matters. The church is not a casual gathering—it is a covenant family where we are responsible for one another’s spiritual health. This passage challenges us to mourn over sin rather than ignore it, to pursue holiness rather than compromise, and to lovingly confront rather than passively tolerate. Like leaven in dough, sin that is left unaddressed will spread—weakening our witness, confusing our message, and compromising our mission. Yet even in discipline, the goal is never punishment—it is restoration. God calls us to be a people marked by sincerity and truth, walking together in accountability and grace. A counter-cultural church is a holy church—one where we are known, where we pursue holiness, where we stand on truth, and where we fight for one another’s restoration in Christ.

Chris Wall • I Corinthians 4:1-5 In a world where authority is often resisted and leadership is questioned; many have developed an allergy to being led. This isn’t new—it was alive in the Corinthian church, where pride and preference created division. But God’s answer isn’t the removal of leadership—it’s the installation of the right kind of leaders. In 1 Corinthians 4, Paul gives us a clear picture of what faithful, Christ-centered leadership looks like and then challenges the church to follow those leaders. As an elder-led, congregationally ruled church, our unity depends on recognizing, affirming, and imitating the right kind of leaders. When we recognize biblical leadership, we overcome the Authority allergy—and live out a gospel adventure that changes the world, starting right here where God planted us.

Chad Balthrop • I Corinthians 3:1-10 Adulting is hard. Everyone enjoys the freedom to stay out late, eat ice cream for dinner, and spend time with whomever they want. But no one likes buying tires, fixing broken air conditioners, or paying bills. Relationships make adulting even more difficult. We want what we want when we want it, and we want what we want right now! I’m not sure who you think you are to get in the way of me having it! In the book of First Corinthians, the Apostle Paul challenges us to spiritual maturity. He pushes us to milk maturity for all it’s worth and reveals that spiritual maturity is the foundation for practical unity. With three simple words, he helps us recognize when we’re the ones being immature and shows us how to grow up in every relationship. Ultimately, the most persuasive evidence that Jesus transforms lives is the unity of diverse people joyfully serving God and one another – and that’s the best “adulting” we’ll ever experience!

Keith Davis • I Corinthians 2:1-16 Paul reminds the believers in Corinth that when he first came to them, he did not rely on eloquent speech or human wisdom. Instead, he simply preached Jesus Christ and the cross, trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit. In the same way, he calls them to remain humble, united, and focused on God so that their lives would reflect His influence in the city of Corinth.

Chris Wall • I Corinthians 1:18-31 At first glance, the cross looked like defeat. From a worldly perspective, the crucifixion of Jesus appeared to be the end — a failed movement and a silenced King. But what looked like weakness was actually the wisdom and power of God on full display. God has always worked this way. He takes what appears foolish and reveals true wisdom. He takes what seems weak and shows His strength. The cross divides humanity: to those who are perishing, it is foolishness, but to those who are being saved, it is the very power of God. The world cannot reason its way to redemption, so God chose what the world calls foolish — the preaching of Christ crucified — to save those who believe. Some demand signs. Others seek sophistication. Both stumble over a crucified Savior. But rejecting the cross does not remove it; it only deepens the fall. Paul reminds the Corinthians, and us,, that not many were wise, powerful, or noble by worldly standards. That is not a flaw in God’s plan; it is the strategy. God chose the weak and lowly so that no one could boast in themselves. In Christ we receive righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Our standing is secure, our transformation is underway, and our future is certain. Therefore, let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

Chris Wall • I Corinthians 1:10-17 Paul begins addressing one of the major issues in the Corinthian church—division. His challenge to the believers “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” to agree with one another and be united in mind and purpose. Fights were raging with some believers claiming allegiance to Paul, others to Apollos, Cephas (Peter), or even Christ. These factions were toxic to the work of the church revealing pride and misplaced loyalty, undermining the unity of the body. The church was out of tune. An out of tune church is noticeable to a seeking world. Conflict resolution among God’s people remains one of the main storylines in the entire New Testament. We have learned that the greatest tactic of the enemy is twisting the truth of God’s word. The second greatest tactic of the enemy is to disrupt the unity of the church. Our calling is to be unified in mind and judgment.

Chris Wall • I Corinthians 1:1-9 A DIVIDED WORLD NEEDS A UNIFIED CHURCH. We are living in one of the most divided cultural moments in our lifetime. Our world is fractured. Politics divide us. Generations divide us. Social media trains us to argue. Culture tells us to choose sides. Even Christians can begin to define themselves more by opinions than by Christ. And if we’re not careful, the spirit of the age will creep into the church. But God has not called the church to reflect the division of the world. God has called the church to display something different. A supernatural unity. A gospel-shaped togetherness. That’s why we are beginning a new series today called Unified—Unity is devotion to ONE MISSION - God’s Mission - (Knowing God and Helping people follow Jesus here, there, and everywhere)

Chris Wall • Revelation 3:14-21 The church in Laodicea had the most direct warning of all the churches. This was a church that was neither hot nor cold but lukewarm. They were stuck in complacency, self-satisfaction, and blindness to their true condition. They would brag about their wealth and sufficiency, but really, they were poor, naked and shameful. Their complacency as ambassadors for Christ made them ineffective, forgetting that their mission was to represent the living God in a broken world. The revelation is clear: God disciplines those He loves, and His correction is an invitation to restoration, not rejection. Our church needs to hear the urgent warning of the church at Laodicea. Complacency weakens our witness and is a dangerous place to live.

Chad Balthrop • Revelation 3:7-13 I like bold statements. I like swagger. I like the confidence that comes from believing that, even with the odds stacked against you, you have everything you need to win. It’s not arrogance. It’s grit. In the book of Revelation, the church at Philadelphia was like that. They were small, scrappy, persecuted. Every time they got knocked down, they got back up. God opened a door for them that no one could shut. They persevered for one simple reason – The ultimate champion chose them to be part of His championship team. They were faithful. They overcame, and they showed us what it means to play like a champion today.

Chris Wall • Revelation 3:1-6 Jesus confronts the church at Sardis as a congregation with a reputation for life but a reality of spiritual death. Though active on the surface, they had neglected the gospel, forgotten what they had received, and drifted from Spirit-led obedience. Christ’s command is clear and urgent: wake up, strengthen what remains, remember the truth, and repent. Spiritual vitality cannot be sustained by appearance or activity alone—only by dependence on the Holy Spirit and faithful obedience to God’s Word. When believers walk together in unity, using their God-given gifts, the church is strengthened and prepared to stand against sin and deception. For FBC Owasso, the warning is unmistakable: forgetting the Lord’s calling and gifts leads to the loss of our witness. But if we respond quickly to Christ’s voice, Spirit-filled unity and obedience will shape our future.

Chris Wall • Revelation 2:18-29 Jesus addresses the church in Thyatira, commending their love, faith, service, and perseverance. This was a church whose works were increasing over time. Yet alongside this growth, they stumbled into a dangerous compromise: they tolerated a false teacher. This was a teacher who led believers into immorality and idolatry. Despite being given time to repent, she remained unyielding, and her influence was corrupting the church. Christ calls the church to quick repentance, showing that delay only deepens sin’s grip. For those who repent, there is both mercy and grace. Spirit-led obedience is the mark of a believer. The Spirit will naturally move us to reject compromise, embrace holiness, and hold fast to what Christ has taught. For our church today, this passage reminds us that love and service must be matched with discernment and obedience. Quick repentance and Spirit-led faithfulness keep us in step with God’s will and purpose. The message to the church at Thyatira highlights the core value of Spirit-led obedience to the Lord.

Chris Wall • Revelation 2:12-17 Jesus speaks to the church in Pergamum, a community living “where Satan’s throne is.” They were surrounded by idolatry and persecution but were able to hold fast to Christ’s name, even when one of their own was martyred. Though these are great wins, Jesus confronts them for tolerating false teaching, specifically the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans where they were falling for compromise with immorality and idol worship. The bottom line was they were failing to rightly apply God’s word. Christ calls them to repent, reminding them that His Word is like a sharp, double-edged sword. The Spirit’s correction brings both warning and grace, pressing the church to realign their thinking with God’s truth. Tension from the Holy Spirit is a gift. The Spirit is faithful to expose where compromise has crept in and redirects hearts to obedience. When rightly applied, God’s Word helps believers think clearly about life, family, ministry, and work, keeping Christ at the center of all. The promise for those who overcome is deeply personal: hidden manna for spiritual nourishment and a white stone with a new name, symbolizing acceptance and identity in Christ. For our church, Pergamum’s message reminds us that true faithfulness requires Spirit-led correction and the courage to live by God’s Word in every sphere of life.

Chris Wall • Revelation 2:8-11 The church in Smyrna was a congregation facing poverty, slander, and persecution. Their example reminds us how our hope rests in the power of His resurrection. Though outwardly poor, Smyrna was a church rich in faith. Their suffering had a purpose. Suffering proved to be a refining process, preparing them for eternal reward. Jesus warns that the devil will throw some into prison and that tribulation will test them. Yet He calls them not to fear but to remain faithful even to the point of death, promising the crown of life. The lesson is clear: trials are not signs of God’s absence but opportunities to draw near to Him in deeper dependence. Tough times become the environment where faith is forged, purified, strengthened, and proven genuine. For our church, this message highlights that suffering, though painful, is often the pathway to the richest experiences of God’s presence. As we endure with faith, we are being prepared for glory and a gospel adventure testimony that extends into heaven itself.

Chris Wall • Revelation 2:1 To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Chad Balthrop