First Baptist Church of Salem, MA

Who are we? As a church here in Salem, today we begin a year-long journey through our refreshed Statement of Faith. We begin today with the “love behind all love” — the Trinity.

Politics is one of those things we’re not supposed to talk about anymore in church. Right? Well the Scriptures and the Psalms actually have a lot to teach us about how believers in the risen Jesus are to engage with the world around us. So let’s get uncomfortable and learn about how we can be witnesses of the gospel in intense political times.

Does what you say with your mouth actually matter? It is very easy for us today to get careless with the words we use. So listen in today to discover the real power behind words and what the Word of God teaches us about the life and death we hold on our tongue.

Out of all the good and pleasant things in the world, unity is one almost every person longs for. What is it about unity that so (unironically) unites us as humans? Listen in today as we learn simple truths in a poetic way from King David in Psalm 133.

We have all kinds of common sayings and refrains in our world. Why are they so important to our formation as a community? Listen in today to learn how a few liturgies from Psalm 118 can drastically transform our every day lives.

What does it look like for a community to walk through seasons of weariness and heaviness together? Listen in today as we learn from Psalm 102 about the hope and redemption of all that is wearying.

Why is obedience so good for a community? Listen in today to learn about how listening to God's voice, especially when difficult, and how it can be the best possible thing for a community of people.

How many days have you been on this earth? How many days do you have left? Most importantly, how are you to live wisely with the days you have? Listen in today to learn how to best "number our days" and live wisely.

Why can't we see God? Is there a reason? Listen in today to learn a little bit more about why the voice of God is enough for us and how it shapes and forms us in powerful ways.

The Psalms are a collection of writings that do more than just teach us. They form us. By God’s grace, it is our hope and prayer this summer that we learn through worship, shared struggled, community, and witness how we are being formed deeper and deeper into the image of Christ.

Marriage is not just a beautiful earthly blessing; it is the ultimate hope of the cosmos. Listen in today as we learn about God's transformative hope for the world through the metaphor of marriage.

The Christian view of sex is perhaps the most scrutinized and targeted doctrine today. Why? What is it about sex and intimacy that garners so many opinions? Listen in today as we learn about God's design for intimacy for us, and not just physically.

Marriage, like any good dance or music or sport, is about establishing healthy rhythms. What are those for marriage and for relationships in the church? Listen in today and discover the "profound mystery" of marriage.

Forgiveness is the heart of the Christian gospel. When it comes to marriage and the church, it then is so important. Listen in today as we learn about the power of forgiveness.

Communication is often the hardest part about marriage. How do couples find healthy ways to speak and listen to one another? But it's not just married couples; it's all people, and churches too. Listen in today as we learn from the Scriptures about how Jesus shows us the way.

What is biblical marriage? And who is for? Listen in today as we begin a 6-week journey into understanding the power of biblical marriage, as not just for married couples, but as God's greatest gift for the whole church.

Christian friendship finds its deepest meaning in shared mission for God's purposes. Listen in today to learn more about Jesus's heart for sending people out and how that prepares us to receive the greatest relationships in life.

The beauty of the local church is that it is not held captive by one generation. Listen in today as we learn about the opportunities for true, inter-generational friendship and learn specifically about the friendship between Paul and Timothy in the New Testament.

There are many good things that make up a real friendship, but none more important than honesty. Listen in today to learn the power of honesty and truth, as seen through two stories in the Scripture.

What kind of relationships can legitimately change the world? Listen in today to learn about Ruth and Naomi's friendship and what it teaches us about how our differences can bring about our greatest hope.

Friendship is one of God's greatest gifts to the whole world. There is nothing like a close friendship. But where does friendship come from? Who is the greatest, first friend? Listen in today as we learn together about God's initiative to create and pursue us as humans as true friends.

As we begin a new year, honesty is important. Especially with regards to our heart. This is what the famous parable in Matthew 13 invites us into. It does not invite us to become something different or to try harder. Rather, it simply invites us to honest reflection and then to honest openness to the Word of God for us.

It is easy to walk through our lives and only see the troubles and challenges. But today we dare to dream of what the New Creation will be. Listen in today as we learn the real reason for why we'll be at all.

What is the role of work in our lives today? And how will that carry over into a beautiful eternity in the New Creation? Listen in today as we learn about the glorious purpose of work and how it is far better than most of us assume.

Advent is not just about looking back at Jesus' birth. It's also (more so) about looking forward to his second coming. Listen in today as we learn how to wait for the fulfillment of who we will be forever.

What is your brightest hope for tomorrow? As we come to the end of the book of Revelation and the final sermon in our fall series, we finally discover our ultimate joy. Listen in and be filled with everlasting hope for forever.

Hope is not just for tomorrow… it’s for today too. What does hope in Christ do for us today, while we’re living and breathing? Listen in today for hope for your life.

Who is Jesus? We know Jesus for many things, but how do you feel about Jesus being our Conquering King? Listen in today to get the fullest picture of the dynamism of Jesus Christ, our King.

What does hallelujah mean and why does it burst out in an overflow in Revelation 19? Listen in to hear why.

Is Judgment Day real? Will all of us have to give account for our lives? Listen in today to hear a series of "yes or no" thoughts about how our lives can be lived and how it impacts our eternity.

Politics has never been hotter or more polarizing than it is now. How could there possibly be hope for politics today? Listen in today and find how the Lamb provides our deepest hope, even for politics.

Is suffering the worst thing in our lives, or perhaps the most important thing in our lives? While often our pain, trials, and sufferings are the hardest things about our life, listen in today to learn how God restrains and uses our sufferings for more than we could ever imagine.

What is the purpose of our tears? Who causes them? Why do they exist? Listen in today as we learn how even our tears point to our greatest hope.

What is your ultimate hope in life? What do you wish to see the most? Listen in today as we learn together about our greatest hope (for every creature!) and how our souls can find everything we've ever wanted.

The church is the beautiful creation of Jesus Christ. He loves the church. But for every generation, sin and dangers exist in the church. Listen in today to the powerful teaching of Jesus to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3.

Is everything okay in our world? While it may seem like the world is getting worse and worse, and darker and darker, as we listen to Revelation 1 we see another Story. It's the Story of Hope and confident trust in the plans of God. Listen in today as we being our journey into the book of Hope, the book of Revelation.

As we step into the fall together, this is a good time to remind and encourage one another. Listen in today to a special message from Paul McPheeters on what the Christian life really practically is.

The only way to conclude a summer in the Psalms is to close in praise! This is what the Psalms really are all about, because that is what all of life - from beginning to end - is all about. Listen in to learn the ABCs of praise from Psalm 145.

As we approach the fall and a new season, where are you looking for your help? Psalm 121 is a beautiful, well-known Psalm that talks about looking up to the mountains for help. But the Psalm is really directing someplace further. Listen in today to discover more about where our true help is found.

What does it look like to really trust in the Lord? Listen in today as we learn from David in Psalm 20 and hear practical applications for our current times.

“When will things be normal again?” All of ask this question at some point in our life. What are we to do in times like this? Listen in today to David in Psalm 11 and learn what he did during a foundation-rocking time in his life.

We live in an anxious world and many of us live anxious lives. How do we practically walk through anxiety and find real peace? Listen in today for 7 practical steps that point us to Jesus.

We live in a shifting world of instability. As we walk into the summer, we are looking for the anchor to give us stability amidst instability, hope amidst hopelessness, and confidence amidst fear. Listen in today as we begin our summer series in the Psalms and learn practical ways to find confidence when facing opposition.

Guarding is not just a defensive posture. The best way to keep something is by sharing it. Listen in today as we learn this valuable lifelong truth as it applies to the most important treasure we possess - the gospel of Jesus.

What is true generosity? Listen in today to learn about how generosity is always more than simply material riches or money, but how it deeply reflects our heart.

As we come to the end of 1 Timothy, Paul gives Timothy a final commission to godliness. Listen in today as we learn the specifics of that commission and commit to it ourselves in our time.

Life is more than simply being godly. While this may sound completely contradictory to our whole sermon series, as we hear from Paul today in 1 Timothy 6, godliness must be combined with a deeper reality. Listen in today to discover the power of contentment.

As we finish the last of our three part series on biblical honor, today we look at how we are to honor our bosses. Why does God places such a high priority on authority, and honoring those who are “over us”? What does it mean for us today? How is it relevant? Listen in today to see how we can learn to honor in the way of Jesus.

As we continue our second part of our three part series on honor, this week we consider how to honor church leaders. What does it look like to be a healthy church where the leadership is honorable and the congregation is honoring? Listen in today for a pretty honest and vulnerable account of how this can look.

Honor is one of the highest aims of the Christian life and one of the greatest treasures of the Christian church. Listen in today as we hear about the place of honor specially reserved for widows in the life of the church.