Advertise on podcast: Tom Messer - Trinity Baptist Church

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."

What are you still holding on to that God has asked you to surrender? In this message from Genesis 35, Pastor Tommy Carr takes us back to Bethel, where Jacob is called to return to the place where he first encountered God. But before he can move forward, he must deal with the idols that have quietly taken root in his home and in his heart. The same question confronts us today. Our idols may not be carved from stone, but they can be just as powerful—success, approval, money, comfort, control, or the hidden sins we think we have under control. This message is a call to radical surrender. Not to manage our idols, hide them away, or keep them as a backup plan—but to bury them once and for all. When we fully surrender to God, we discover that His presence goes before us, His power surrounds us, and He is fighting battles on our behalf that we cannot even see. If you've been holding something back from God, this message will challenge you to trust Him completely and experience the freedom that only comes through wholehearted surrender. Watch now and discover what happens when you stop clinging to lesser things and give everything to God. New to Trinity? tbc.org/im-new/ Need prayer? tbc.org/prayer/ To support the ministry of Trinity: tbc.org/give

What if the greatest thing holding you back isn't your past—but an unresolved relationship? In Grace and Reconciliation, Pastor Tom Messer walks through Genesis 33 and one of the most remarkable moments in Scripture: the reunion of Jacob and Esau after twenty years of separation. This powerful message challenges us to honestly examine our own relationships. Is there someone we've wronged? Is there someone we're struggling to forgive? Through Jacob's humility and Esau's unexpected grace, we discover that reconciliation isn't about winning arguments—it's about winning people. The Bible reminds us that broken relationships don't just affect our lives; they impact our fellowship with God. Unforgiveness, pride, and unresolved conflict can become anchors that keep us from experiencing the freedom and purpose God has for us. In this message, you'll discover how biblical reconciliation begins with humility, requires personal accountability, and is sustained by the same grace God has extended to each of us through Jesus Christ. If you've been carrying the weight of hurt, conflict, or fractured relationships, this message offers hope, healing, and a path forward. Watch now and discover how God's grace can restore what seems impossible. New to Trinity? tbc.org/im-new/ Need prayer? tbc.org/prayer/ To support the ministry of Trinity: tbc.org/give

Have you ever felt like you’re wrestling with God? In this message from Genesis 32, Pastor Tom Messer explores one of the most powerful encounters in Scripture—Jacob wrestling with God through the night. What begins as a struggle ends with a transformed life, reminding us that our greatest breakthrough isn’t found in getting what we want from God, but in truly encountering Him. Too often, we spend our lives wrestling with relationships, circumstances, disappointments, and unanswered questions. But beneath every struggle lies a deeper question: Do we truly know God, or have we simply become familiar with Him? Jacob’s story challenges us to stop trying to control our lives, stop using God to accomplish our own agendas, and instead surrender to the One who changes us from the inside out. A genuine encounter with God always leaves us different—more dependent on His grace and more confident in His promises. Most importantly, this message points us to Jesus, who endured the ultimate struggle on our behalf so that we could experience victory, not through our own strength, but through His finished work on the cross. If you’re longing for breakthrough, healing, or a deeper relationship with God, this message is for you. Watch now and discover what happens when you stop wrestling for control and start surrendering to God’s grace. New to Trinity? tbc.org/im-new/ Need prayer? tbc.org/prayer/ To support the ministry of Trinity: tbc.org/give

Can you ever truly outrun your past? In this message, You Cannot Outrun Your Past, Pastor Tom Messer walks through Genesis 31 and the difficult relationship between Jacob and Laban to reveal how God brings healing to the deepest wounds of our lives. Relational pain, betrayal, disappointment, and unresolved hurt have a way of following us wherever we go. But God doesn’t call us to ignore our past—He invites us to walk through it with Him. In this powerful message, you’ll discover how to: • Trust God’s protection, even when you can’t see Him at work. • Confront your pain honestly through biblical lament instead of burying it or becoming bitter. • Find freedom by establishing healthy boundaries and bringing your past to the cross of Christ. Jacob’s story reminds us that healing isn’t found by running from our past—it’s found by surrendering it to the One who can redeem it. If you’re carrying the weight of broken relationships or unresolved pain, this message offers biblical hope and practical encouragement for moving forward in God’s grace. Watch now and discover the freedom that comes when you stop running and start trusting.

Have you ever sensed God calling you to something more—but found yourself held back by comfort, fear, or the familiar? In Renewing God’s Call, Pastor Tom Messer walks through Genesis 31 and the life of Jacob to reveal a powerful truth: God’s call is persistent. Even when we’ve grown comfortable, distracted, or hesitant, God continues to draw us back to His purpose. Jacob’s journey reminds us that God often uses seasons of discomfort to move us toward transformation. The greatest obstacles to following Him are often the things we cling to most—our security, our routines, and even the idols we’ve allowed to take His place. This message is an invitation to leave behind what is holding you back, anchor your life in God’s promises, and pursue His presence above everything else. Most importantly, we’re reminded of the Gospel: because Jesus was forsaken on the cross, those who belong to Him never will be. That promise gives us the confidence to follow wherever God leads. If you’ve been wondering whether God is still calling you, this message is for you. Watch now and be encouraged to trust His voice, follow His leading, and renew your commitment to His call.

What are you hoping will finally make you happy? In this message, A Lesson on Misplaced Hope, Pastor Tom Messer walks through Genesis 29-30 and the lives of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel—three people searching for fulfillment in places that could never truly satisfy. Jacob believed Rachel would complete him. Leah longed for the love and acceptance of her husband. Rachel thought having children would finally give her significance. Yet each of them discovered the same truth: when we place our ultimate hope in people, relationships, achievements, or circumstances, disappointment is inevitable. This powerful message challenges us to examine where we’ve attached our deepest hopes and whether we’re asking temporary things to meet eternal needs. Through Leah’s remarkable journey, we see what happens when a heart shifts from seeking approval from others to finding identity and worth in God alone. Her story reminds us that true satisfaction isn’t found in getting what we’ve always wanted—it’s found in discovering that Jesus is enough. If you’ve ever struggled with disappointment, unmet expectations, or searching for meaning in the wrong places, this message is for you.