First Baptist Church Staunton

God hurls a great wind. The sailors cry out. Jonah sleeps. In this episode we slow down in Jonah 1:4–17 learning how to ask qood questions as we meditate and study on scripture. The questions will lead us to a powerful conversation Jesus has with a Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28.

Who was Jonah really? Before we follow him onto the boat, we need to meet him. In part 2 of our series, Jonah and Jesus, we dig into Jonah 1:1–3 to uncover who this prophet was, what he already knew about the God who was sending him, and why that knowledge may have been precisely why he ran.   And as we read Jonah, we continue to discover how Jesus showed his disciples in Luke 24, the whole Old Testament whispers his name. We're learning to read with those ears — slowly, meditatively, not just for information but for transformation.

What if the Old Testament is less a rulebook and more an invitation to encounter Jesus? In this series, we open the book of Jonah through the lens of Luke 24, where the risen Jesus himself teaches his disciples how to read Scripture — and everything changes. Together we'll slow down, meditate, and discover deeper layers of grace, repentance, and mission hidden in a story you thought you already knew. Join us as we read not just for information, but for transformation.

In this Easter Sunday episode, we turn to John 20 to explore the resurrection of Jesus and the question at its core: is it fact or fiction? Walking through the eyewitness accounts, the empty tomb, and the responses of those who first encountered the risen Christ, we’re invited to wrestle with the reality of the resurrection. This message challenges both doubt and belief, pointing to the resurrection as the foundation of Christian hope. Ultimately, it calls us to respond personally to the risen Jesus with faith, trust, and renewed life.

In this episode of Abide, we reflect on John 12 and Mary’s act of anointing Jesus’ feet, a moment rich with love, humility, and prophetic meaning. As the series centers on John 15, this story invites us to consider what it means to abide not only in Jesus’ life, but in His coming death. With Holy Week on the horizon, we’re called to slow down and dwell in the weight of the cross and the depth of Christ’s sacrifice. Mary’s devotion becomes a model for abiding in Jesus with reverence, surrender, and a deep awareness of what lies ahead.

In this episode of Abide, we explore what it means to choose joy through the spiritual practice of celebration. Drawing from John 15 and the story of Jesus at the wedding in Cana in John 2, we see how abiding in Christ leads to a life marked not by obligation, but by deep, lasting joy. Jesus’ first miracle reveals a God who delights in restoration, abundance, and rejoicing with His people. As we remain in Him, we are invited to embrace celebration as a powerful expression of faith and trust in His goodness.

In Part 5 of our Abide series, we turn to John 13 and the powerful moment when Jesus washes His disciples’ feet, revealing the heart of true servant leadership. Jesus shows that abiding in Him isn’t just about belief it’s about humbly serving others the way He served us. This episode also celebrates a meaningful moment in our church as we ordain one of our newest deacons, recognizing a call to lead through service. 

In Part 4 of our Abide sermon series in the Gospel of John, we explore the theme of love through the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John 4. This encounter reveals a love that crosses boundaries, breaks through shame, and meets us exactly where we are. Discover how Jesus offers living water and invites us into a deeper, transforming relationship with Him. 

In Part 3 of our Abide series, we turn to Gospel of John chapter 6, where Jesus declares, “I am the Bread of Life.” As the crowd searches for another miracle, Jesus invites them—and us—into something deeper than temporary satisfaction. What does it mean to truly hunger for Christ and depend on Him daily?

Part 2 of our Abide series explores Jesus’ late-night conversation with Nicodemus in John 3. This is a moment filled with honest questions and spiritual curiosity. As Nicodemus wrestles with what it means to be “born again,” we see how Jesus welcomes sincere doubt and invites deeper understanding. What does it look like to abide in Christ when we don’t have all the answers? This episode unpacks how bringing our questions into the light can become the place where faith grows.

This message begins our new series, Abide, centered on Jesus’ invitation in Gospel of John 15: “Remain in me, as I also remain in you.”As we begin our journey through John’s Gospel, we explore what it truly means to remain  to Christ. In a culture that pushes us to strive and perform, Jesus calls us to something deeper — abiding.

In this week’s episode, we welcome guest teacher Clint Webb as he concludes our Pray First series with the sermon Prayer 101. He dives into knowing God through prayer. Whether you’re new to prayer or looking to strengthen your spiritual practice, this episode offers a fresh perspective on making prayer the foundation of your daily life.

In this message from the Pray First series, we explore gratitude as a vital and formative practice in prayer—one that shapes our hearts, resists self-sufficiency, and becomes an act of worship. Thanksgiving reorients us toward God as the giver of every good gift. Even amid suffering and hardship, we’re invited to practice what Paul calls “giving thanks in all circumstances,” not by denying suffering, but by choosing praise despite it. Gratitude, rooted in “hallowed be your name,” becomes an act of "defiant adoration"—pushing back against cynicism, entitlement, and despair—and opening our lives to joy, humility, and deeper communion with God.

We blink and find ourselves in 2026! Wasn’t it just yesterday when...?Before January flys by, we will take a breath. Pause. And consider a simple yet powerful theme: Pray First.Before we plan, before we worry, before we act, we’re invited to pray. James, the half brother of Jesus said, “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). Beginning our year rooted in prayer will be formational.

In this Sunday morning message, we reflect on Luke 24 and Jesus’ journey on the road to Emmaus with two disciples. Through this story, we explore the power of hospitality—how inviting, listening, and making space can open our eyes to Christ’s presence among us. As the disciples welcome a stranger, their hearts and understanding are transformed. This message invites us to practice hospitality as a sacred way of encountering Jesus in our everyday lives.