Advertise on podcast: Tom Messer - Trinity Baptist Church

What if God could restore what you thought was lost forever? In this message from our Joel series, Pastor Tom Messer explores Joel 2 with a message titled "A Call Back to the Heart of God." Through the devastation of a locust invasion, God's people experienced tremendous loss. But when they turned back to Him in genuine repentance, God offered an incredible promise: He would restore the years the locusts had eaten. This promise reveals something powerful about the heart of God. His desire isn't simply to repair what's broken, but to bring His people back into a relationship with Him marked by peace, wholeness, and restoration. Whether you've experienced loss in your relationships, finances, health, or spiritual life, Scripture reminds us that God is not indifferent to our pain. His faithfulness doesn't depend on our performance or our ability to make everything right. It flows from His unchanging character and His love for His people. True restoration isn't ultimately about getting back everything we've lost. It's about returning to the God who makes us whole. The greatest gift of restoration isn't what God gives us. It's God Himself. Watch now and discover the hope of returning to the heart of God and trusting Him to restore what has been broken. New to Trinity? tbc.org/im-new/ Need prayer? tbc.org/prayer/ To support the ministry of Trinity: tbc.org/give

What if your heart has drifted from God, even while you're doing all the right things? In this message from our "Wake Up" series, Pastor Tommy Carr explores Joel 2 with a message titled "The Heart God Responds To." Through the devastation of a locust plague, God sends a powerful wake-up call to His people. What appeared to be a season of destruction was also an invitation to examine their hearts and return to Him. It's possible to attend church, sing the songs, and go through the motions of faith while slowly drifting away from a genuine relationship with God. Scripture reminds us that God isn't looking for religious appearances. He's looking for hearts that are fully surrendered to Him. Sometimes God allows our comfort and security to be shaken, not because He has abandoned us, but because He loves us too much to leave us where we are. The message of Joel is both urgent and hopeful. God calls us to examine what we've allowed to take root in our hearts, turn away from spiritual complacency, and return to Him with genuine repentance. God isn't simply interested in what we do for Him. He wants our hearts. Watch now and discover what it means to respond to God's call with a heart that is truly surrendered to Him. New to Trinity? tbc.org/im-new/ Need prayer? tbc.org/prayer/ To support the ministry of Trinity: tbc.org/give

What if the difficult circumstances in your life are God's way of waking you up? In this message, Pastor Tom Messer begins our new series through the book of Joel with a message titled "When God Gets Our Attention" from Joel 1. Through the devastation of a locust invasion, God delivers a powerful message to His people. What appeared to be a natural disaster was also a spiritual wake-up call, exposing how easily comfort, routine, and self-reliance can lead us away from a genuine relationship with God. It's possible to go through the motions of religion while our hearts grow distant from the Lord. When we begin to value God's blessings more than God Himself, we lose sight of what it truly means to worship Him. But even in difficult circumstances, God's desire is to draw us back to Himself. Sometimes He allows the things we've depended on to be shaken so that we might recognize our need for Him. The message of Joel isn't simply about judgment. It's an invitation to wake up, examine our hearts, cry out to God, and experience the hope of repentance, revival, and restoration. Watch now and discover how God can use life's most difficult moments to draw us into a deeper relationship with Him. New to Trinity? tbc.org/im-new/ Need prayer? tbc.org/prayer/ To support the ministry of Trinity: tbc.org/give

What is really controlling your life? In this message from our Fruit of the Spirit series, Pastor Tom Messer explores the final fruit, Self-Control, through 1 Corinthians 9 and 10. We discover that biblical self-control is about more than resisting temptation or trying harder to make better choices. It's about allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts from the inside out. Every day, we face a choice between living according to our own desires and surrendering to the Spirit of God. Scripture reminds us that lasting self-control doesn't come from willpower alone. It comes from learning to love the right things in the right order, allowing our relationship with Christ to shape everything else in our lives. When God transforms our hearts, the desires and habits that once controlled us begin to lose their grip. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can experience genuine freedom and live with greater purpose, discipline, and faithfulness. Self-control isn't simply about saying no to the wrong things. It's about loving God above everything else and allowing Him to direct our lives. Watch now and discover how the Holy Spirit produces lasting self-control in a life surrendered to Christ. New to Trinity? tbc.org/im-new/ Need prayer? tbc.org/prayer/ To support the ministry of Trinity: tbc.org/give

What if true strength isn't found in taking control, but in surrendering it to God? In this message from our Fruit of the Spirit series, Pastor Tom Messer explores Matthew 11 and reveals the biblical meaning of meekness, not weakness, but strength under control. Our world often celebrates power, independence, and self-reliance. But Jesus offers a different way to live. Describing Himself as meek and lowly in heart, He invites us to exchange the weight of striving in our own strength for the freedom of walking alongside Him. Through the example of Christ, we discover that meekness transforms how we relate to God, ourselves, and others. It teaches us to trust God more deeply, remain teachable, extend forgiveness, and respond with grace even in difficult circumstances. True meekness isn't about becoming weaker. It's about allowing the strength of Christ to shape our hearts and direct our lives. If you've been carrying burdens, struggling with control, or trying to navigate life in your own strength, this message will encourage you to find rest in Jesus. Watch now and discover how the Holy Spirit produces meekness in a life surrendered to Christ. New to Trinity? tbc.org/im-new/ Need prayer? tbc.org/prayer/ To support the ministry of Trinity: tbc.org/give

What does it truly mean to live by faith? In this message from our Fruit of the Spirit series, we look at Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matthew 25 and discover that faithfulness is about more than what we believe—it’s revealed by what we do with what God has entrusted to us. Each servant in Jesus’ parable was given something different, but each was responsible for how they used what they received. Two invested what they had been given, while one allowed fear to keep him from doing anything at all. The same challenge applies to us. God has entrusted each of us with time, relationships, resources, abilities, and opportunities. Faithfulness means refusing to compare our portion with someone else’s and choosing instead to invest what God has placed in our hands for His purposes. Our actions ultimately reveal what we believe about God. Watch now and be challenged to live with faith, invest what you’ve been given, and faithfully steward the life God has entrusted to you. New to Trinity? tbc.org/im-new/ Need prayer? tbc.org/prayer/ To support the ministry of Trinity: tbc.org/give

What does it truly mean to be good? In this message from our Fruit of the Spirit series, Pastor Tommy Carr explores Romans 12 and the biblical meaning of goodness, not simply being nice or doing good things, but experiencing a transformation that begins in the heart. True goodness isn't something we manufacture through willpower or determination. It is produced by the Holy Spirit as we surrender our lives to God and allow Him to shape us into the people He created us to be. From the beginning of creation, goodness has been part of God's design. As the Spirit transforms us, that goodness begins to change the way we love others, respond to our enemies, navigate conflict, and live out our faith in the ordinary moments of everyday life. The Christian life isn't ultimately about trying harder to be good. It's about trusting God more deeply and allowing His Spirit to produce something within us that we could never produce on our own. Watch now and discover what it looks like to live a life marked by the goodness of God. New to Trinity? tbc.org/im-new/ Need prayer? tbc.org/prayer/ To support the ministry of Trinity: tbc.org/give

What if kindness is more than good manners? What if it's evidence that God is transforming your heart? In this message from our Fruit of the Spirit series, Pastor Tom Messer explores Ephesians 4 and reveals that biblical kindness is far more than simply being nice. It is the outward evidence of a life being changed by the Holy Spirit. Our words, attitudes, and actions have the power to either build others up or tear them down. Scripture reminds us that bitterness, anger, and corrupt speech don't just damage relationships, they grieve the Holy Spirit who is at work within every believer. The good news is that God doesn't leave us the way He found us. As we surrender to the Holy Spirit, He replaces bitterness with compassion, anger with grace, and selfishness with genuine kindness that reflects the character of Christ. If you've ever struggled to respond with kindness in difficult relationships or challenging situations, this message will encourage you to let God transform your heart from the inside out. Watch now and discover how the Holy Spirit produces a kindness that changes both your life and the lives of those around you. New to Trinity? tbc.org/im-new/ Need prayer? tbc.org/prayer/ To support the ministry of Trinity: tbc.org/give

What if patience is more than just waiting? What if it's evidence that God is changing you from the inside out? In this message from our Fruit of the Spirit series, Pastor Tom Messer explores Colossians 3 and reveals that biblical patience isn't about gritting your teeth or simply enduring difficult people and circumstances. It's the result of a heart being transformed by the Holy Spirit. The Bible describes patience as being "long-tempered", a life marked by grace, self-control, and endurance. Rather than reacting in anger, frustration, or resentment, God is shaping us to respond more like Christ. This message reminds us that patience isn't a personality trait reserved for a few people. It's a promise for every believer as we allow the Spirit to work in our lives. As we put off our old way of living and put on the character of Christ, our words, our reactions, and our relationships begin to reflect Him. If you've ever struggled with difficult people, stressful situations, or simply running out of patience, this message will encourage you to let God do His transforming work from the inside out. Watch now and discover how the Holy Spirit produces true patience in every follower of Christ. New to Trinity? tbc.org/im-new/ Need prayer? tbc.org/prayer/ To support the ministry of Trinity: tbc.org/give

What if peace isn't the absence of problems, but the presence of God? In this message from our Fruit of the Spirit series, Pastor Tommy Carr opens Philippians 4 to reveal the kind of peace that remains steady even when life feels anything but. Our world tells us peace comes from having everything under control. But God's Word paints a different picture. True peace isn't found in perfect circumstances, it's found in trusting the God who is with us through every circumstance. Whether you're facing anxiety, conflict, uncertainty, or disappointment, this message will encourage you to stop chasing temporary calm and start anchoring your heart in the unchanging presence of God. When we place our lives in His hands, we discover a peace that guards our hearts, steadies our minds, and carries us through whatever lies ahead. Watch now and discover the peace that only Christ can give. New to Trinity? tbc.org/im-new/ Need prayer? tbc.org/prayer/ To support the ministry of Trinity: tbc.org/give

What if real joy isn't found in changing your circumstances, but in changing your foundation? In this message from our Fruit of the Spirit series, Pastor Tom Messer explores Romans 5 and reveals the source of a joy that cannot be shaken. Our world constantly tells us that happiness is found in success, comfort, relationships, or the next achievement. But those things come and go. Biblical joy is different. It isn't based on what happens around us—it flows from what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. Because we have been justified by faith, we can experience a deep, unshakable joy that remains steady even in seasons of hardship, uncertainty, and suffering. When our lives are rooted in the Gospel, we discover an inner strength that no outward circumstance can take away. If you've been searching for lasting joy, this message will encourage you to stop looking to your circumstances and start resting in the finished work of Christ. Watch now and discover the joy that only the Holy Spirit can produce. New to Trinity? tbc.org/im-new/ Need prayer? tbc.org/prayer/ To support the ministry of Trinity: tbc.org/give

What does it mean to truly love the way God loves? In the first message of our Fruit of the Spirit series, Pastor Tom Messer opens 1 Corinthians 13 to reveal that love is far more than an emotion—it's the foundation of the Christian life. Our culture often measures spiritual maturity by what we do, how much we serve, or the gifts we possess. But Scripture tells us that without love, even our greatest accomplishments amount to nothing. This message challenges us to look beyond outward activity and examine the condition of our hearts. As we learn to walk in the Spirit, God begins producing a love that reflects His character—a love that transforms our relationships, our witness, and our lives. If you've ever wondered what genuine spiritual growth looks like, this message is for you. Watch now and discover why love is the first and greatest fruit of a life surrendered to Christ.

What does it really mean to abide in Christ? In this message from our Follow Me series, The Dependent Life, Pastor Tom Messer unpacks Jesus' powerful teaching in John 15:1-8, where He describes Himself as the true Vine and His followers as the branches. Many of us spend our lives trying harder to become better Christians, but Jesus offers a different path. Lasting transformation isn't the result of greater effort—it's the result of a deeper connection to Him. Through the imagery of the vine and branches, this message reveals the difference between mechanical growth and organic growth. We don't produce spiritual fruit by striving harder; we bear fruit by abiding in Christ. As we remain connected to Him, He prunes what hinders our growth and produces a life marked by increasing fruit, lasting joy, and complete dependence on His power. If you've ever felt exhausted trying to live the Christian life in your own strength, this message will remind you that God never intended you to. He invites you to stay close to Him and let His life flow through yours. Watch now and discover how a life of dependence on Jesus leads to real transformation.

How will the world know that you truly follow Jesus? In this message from our Follow Me series, Pastor Tom Messer takes us to John 13, where Jesus gives His disciples one unmistakable mark of authentic faith: "Love one another as I have loved you." This isn't the kind of love our culture often celebrates. Jesus calls us to a love that is unconditional, sacrificial, and expressed through humble service. Before going to the cross, He knelt to wash His disciples' feet. Then He demonstrated the ultimate act of love by laying down His life for us. True discipleship is more than what we know, what we say, or even where we go to church. It is revealed by the way we love others. This message will challenge you to move beyond a comfortable definition of love and embrace the kind of love that only Jesus can produce in us. The good news is that we don't have to manufacture this love on our own—we simply receive it from the One who loved us first and allow His love to overflow into the lives of others. If you want your life to reflect Jesus in a way the world can recognize, this message is for you. Watch now and discover the defining mark of a true disciple.

What does it really mean to follow Jesus? In the opening message of our Follow Me series, Pastor Tom Messer takes us to Luke 14, where Jesus delivers one of His most challenging invitations. Speaking to a large crowd, He makes it clear that discipleship is more than admiration, emotion, or religious activity—it requires wholehearted commitment. Using the illustrations of a builder counting the cost and a king preparing for battle, Jesus calls us to carefully consider what it truly means to follow Him. Discipleship isn't an impulse decision or a convenient addition to our lives. It's a daily surrender that changes everything. This message challenges each of us to ask an honest question: Am I following Jesus on my terms, or on His? Whether you've been walking with Christ for years or you're just beginning to explore faith, this sermon will encourage you to move beyond curiosity and embrace the life-changing call of true discipleship. Watch now and discover what Jesus meant when He said, "Follow Me."