Are you surviving as a Christian, or are you thriving? A plant survives when it has enough water to keep its leaves from falling off. A plant thrives when it is so rooted that it puts out fruit. The New Testament does not call us merely to survive the Christian life. It calls us to bear much fruit.

In one chapter, Luke 10, Jesus shows us what a thriving disciple looks like. He sends out seventy-two on mission. He tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. He sits down in a living room in Bethany with two sisters, one of whom is getting it right while the other is being pulled apart by good things.

Five principles emerge:

1. Be on mission

2. Share a simple message

3. Show concern and compassion

4. Avoid distractions

5. Remember the most important thing

These are not five separate things. They are one thing seen from five angles.

Paul ended the greatest letter ever written with a list of names.  Sixteen chapters of the deepest theology in the Bible — justification, the Spirit, election, the love that nothing can separate — and Paul closes Romans not with one more doctrinal climax, but with twenty-six names. Phoebe, the patroness who carried the letter. Prisca and Aquila, the ministry couple. Mary, who “worked hard.” Rufus, likely the son of Simon of Cyrene. Tertius, the scribe who took dictation for the whole letter and then slipped in his own greeting near the end.  In this series finale on Romans 16, we walk verse by verse through the names because the gospel of Romans always produces a community, and that community always has names.  

#Romans #Sermon #Bible #Romans16 #SeriesFinale #Gospel #Church

Passage: Romans 15:22–33 

Series: Unashamed 

Speaker: Pastor Joshua Fisher

Paul ends the longest letter in the New Testament not with a doctrinal flourish, but with travel plans, a money offering, a prayer request, and a confession that he is afraid. And then a benediction strong enough to carry the church for two thousand years: "May the God of peace be with you all." In this message from the latter part of Romans 15, we walk with the apostle through four marks of a gospel-shaped life: 

1. Gospel-Shaped Plans that are held in an open hand, driven by the unreached, and confident in Christ even through prison cells. 

2. Gospel-Shaped Partnership - a church family that owes one another across continents. 

3. Gospel-Shaped Prayer - teamwork anchored in the Son's intercession and the Spirit's love, honest enough to name our fears. 

4. Gospel-Shaped Peace - not the absence of trouble, but the presence of the warrior-king who will crush Satan under our feet. 

Whatever you are bringing into this week whether it is a decision, a diagnosis, a strained relationship, a quiet fear - hear the apostle's blessing land on you personally: the God of peace is with you. 

#Romans #Sermon #Bible #GodOfPeace

Success in our culture is defined by how well we can please ourselves. But in Romans 15:1–21, the Apostle Paul shows us that real Christian maturity is measured by how well we serve others.

Following the example of Jesus, the Infinitely Strong One, who Himself served the lowly, we are challenged to a higher calling that builds up our neighbors and reaches the nations.

What to Expect:

• The Christological Pattern: Why the "Active Obedience" of Christ is the blueprint for our lives.

• Instruction & Hope: How the "Encouragement of the Scriptures" fuels our endurance.

• The Priestly Service: Why your daily work is a sacred offering to God.

• Missionary Momentum: Celebrating how the Gospel is moving in our community!

The Challenge: Stop using your strength for self-indulgence. Start using it for neighbor-building. May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you labor for His name!

#Highercalling #SeriousJoy #FSBCPomeroy #PomeroyOhio #Mission #ServantLeadership

It’s the anthem of our age and the driving force of the professional world. We are taught to stand our ground, defend our freedom, and exercise our rights at all costs. But on this Mother’s Day, as we dive into Romans 14, the Apostle Paul introduces a radical, counter-cultural strategy for the church: Love Over Liberty.

Mothers are the ultimate "CEOs of Deference"— constantly laying down their own rights and comforts to build up their families. Today, Pastor Josh explores how the Church is called to that same nurturing heart. Whether the debate is over ancient food laws or modern preferences, Paul’s roadmap for unity is clear: We must move from the courtroom of judgment to the altar of love.

In This Message:

The Motherhood Model: How sacrificial love serves as the blueprint for Christian unity.

The Welcome: Why we affirm the person even when we disagree with the opinion.

The Kingdom Metric: Why the Kingdom of God isn’t about eating, drinking, or personal preferences—it’s about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

The Challenge:

Real Christian liberty isn't the "freedom to do what we want," but the freedom to serve God and others without the bondage of pride. This week, let’s prioritize "mutual upbuilding" over our own opinions. Let’s be a church big enough for different views, but too small for pride.

This message challenges us to consider not only how we manage our calendars, responsibilities, and routines, but how we are managing our character in light of Christ’s return.

Join us as we open God’s Word, consider the debt we can never repay, and the ongoing call to love like Jesus.

#lovelikejesus #loveoneanother #bethechurch

In a culture of suspicion and polarization, the Apostle Paul gives us a staggering reality check in Romans 13:1–7. He tells us that all human authority is a "borrowed" authority—instituted and overseen by a Sovereign God.

We don't submit because leaders are perfect; we submit because our God is Providential.

In this message, we’re exploring:

The Origin of Authority: Why your boss (and your government) is a "servant" of God.

The Conscience of a Citizen: Why paying taxes and giving honor are acts of worship.

The Limits of Caesar: How to maintain a "Higher Loyalty" when human laws clash with Divine Truth.

#SovereignSubmission #PomeroyOhio #FaithAndPolitics #LeadershipIntegrity

After eleven chapters of deep theology (the indicatives of what God has done), Paul shifts to the imperatives which is how we must live. He calls for a "Living Sacrifice" and "Logikēn Worship."

This isn't just a Sunday morning ritual; it’s a total-body surrender of the 166 hours we spend outside these walls.

In this message, we explore:

The 166-Hour Rule: Why true worship begins when you leave the sanctuary.

The Great Resitance: How a renewed mind prevents the world from "squeezing" you into its mold.

Gifts as Trusteeship: Why your professional intellect and leadership aren't platforms for your ego, but trusts for the body of Christ.

Counter-Cultural Ethics: How to overcome evil with an offensive strategy of the gospel.

Stop trying to fit God into the margins of your career. It's time to stop conforming and start being transformed.

#Romans12 #LivingSacrifice #ProfessionalGrowth #PomeroyOhio

Most of us spend 60 hours a week building a foundation for our lives. We work for the promotion, we secure the platform, and we carry the weight of making sure it doesn't all fall apart. But what happens to your security when the ground begins to shift?

In this message, Pastor Josh dives into Romans 11:1–24 to explore the "Unfailing Mercy of God." Looking at the Apostle Paul’s metaphor of the Olive Tree, we find a counter-cultural truth for every high-achiever: You don’t support the root; the root supports you.

Christianity isn't about adding another "to-do" to your list; it’s about resting in a sovereign, gravity-defying mercy that is completely irrevocable.

In this service:  Real-time Transformation: We celebrate 2 life-changing salvations from this week as well as Faith Made Public On Baptism Sunday with 5 individuals following Christ in baptism, moving from the "self-made" trap to the "God-sustained" life.

Stop holding yourself up. Start resting in the Root.

Worship with us:  Join us in person: First Southern Baptist Church of Pomeroy

#TheSelfMadeTrap #PomeroyOhio #SovereignGrace #BaptismSunday #ProfessionalGrowth #ChristianLeadership #fsbcpomeroy

The world expected a warrior on a warhorse to crush Rome. Instead, they got the "Unheard-Of King"—a Savior on a donkey who came to crush death. As we kick off Holy Week, we are looking at the radical paradox of Jesus: He is sovereign enough to control every detail of history, yet humble enough to be approachable to the outcast.

Today, we move closer to the Cross in our "Who’s Your One" series. We don't represent a distant, angry judge; we represent a King who rode into Jerusalem to die for His subjects. Who is the "unreachable" person on your heart today? Let’s bring them to the feet of the King.

TODAY’S MESSAGE HIGHLIGHTS:

The Sovereign Preparation: Why "The Lord has need" of the ordinary.

The Prophet’s Paradox: Choosing the peace-donkey over the warhorse.

The People’s Passion: Shouting "Hosanna" (Save us now!) to the only One who can.

 We all have a "Zacchaeus"—the person we’ve secretly labeled too far gone, too successful, or too messy for the Gospel. But today, Pastor Josh shows us that Jesus doesn't just "pass through" our Jerichos; He stops, looks up, and calls the outcasts by name.

In the final week of our series "The One," we dive into Luke 19:1–10. We see a "traitor" transformed by the scandalous grace of a Savior who declared it a "divine necessity" to stay at the house of a sinner. If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines of the Great Commission, it’s time to hit the waters.

Who is the ONE person God is calling you to reach this Easter?

In week three of The One, Pastor Josh unpacks Colossians 4:2–6 and delivers a hard truth: evangelism is a spiritual battle — and it is won on your knees before it is ever won in the street.

Paul didn't ask for better technique. He asked for an open door. There's a reason for that.

📍 First Southern Baptist Church — Pomeroy, Ohio 📖 Text: Colossians 4:2–6 🎙 Series: The One: Reaching Pomeroy One Heart at a Time

In Luke 15:1–7, Jesus answers the grumbling of the religious elite with a parable that exposes the heart of God — a shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine and searches until he finds the one. That word "until" changes everything.

This is Week 2 of our series "The One" at First Southern Baptist Church in Pomeroy, Ohio.

📖 Text: Luke 15:1–7 (ESV) 📍 First Southern Baptist Church | Pomeroy, OH 🎙️ Pastor Joshua Fisher

#TheOne #Luke15 #GoodShepherd #Evangelism #Easter2026

In this message, Pastor Josh tackles the tough questions: Is God unfair? Does my effort actually matter? Using the ancient imagery of the Sovereign Potter, we will discover that God’s choice isn't a cold decree it is a merciful reality. While we often scream, "It’s not fair!" when life is hard, we will find that God is actually better than "fair." He is a Master Craftsman who intentionally shapes every "jar of clay" for a specific purpose and a divine glory.

Stop trying to be the Potter and find rest in being the clay. Whether you are joining us from your living room or on the go, prepare to move from the exhaustion of human exertion into the security of Divine Mercy.

🔗 QUICK LINKS:

📱 Download our Mobile App: Get the App Here

🤝 New here? Plan a Visit: Connect with us

🛐 How can we pray for you? Request Prayer

💰 Support the Mission: Give Online

#WhosYourOne #FSBCPomeroy #TheOne #AnnieArmstrong #PomeroyOhio #Luke5

Big Idea: Those God justifies, His Spirit leads—from slavery to sonship—so we put sin to death by the Spirit and walk with the assurance of adoption.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro — From probation to belonging

02:15 Why the flesh can’t please God (v.8)

07:45 The Spirit dwells: new identity (v.9–11)

14:10 Debtors not to the flesh (vv.12–13)

20:40 Led by the Spirit = sons of God (v.14)

27:05 Adoption, not slavery: “Abba! Father!” (v.15)

33:30 Assurance: the Spirit bears witness (v.16)

39:10 Practices for home & work

44:30 Prayer & invitation

KEY TAKEAWAYS

You owe the flesh nothing (v.12).

By the Spirit you put to death sin’s deeds (v.13).

Spirit-leading marks God’s children (v.14).

Adoption replaces fear with “Abba!” (v.15).

Assurance is the Spirit’s witness in step with the Word (v.16).

PRACTICES FOR THE WEEK

3-Minute Morning Liturgy: Read Rom 8:14–16 → breathe “Abba, Father” → ask for one obedience today.

Stop–Swap–Spirit (conflict tool): Stop 10 sec → swap harsh words for a gentle question → whisper, “Spirit, lead me.”

Mortification Audit (10 min): Name one deed of the flesh → cut access → replace with a Spirit-feeding habit (Scripture, song, serving).

Witness from adoption: “I don’t have every answer, but I carry the Answer—Jesus adopted me. Can I share how?”

Discover why God chooses to use our "beautiful feet"—dusty and moving—to carry the news that the war is over. We’ll also look at the heartbreak of rejection and the persistence of a God whose arms remain outstretched "all day long" to a contrary world. Be the link in the chain!

Join us as we move from the race to the Rock.

In this mid-week check-in, we explore:

Our Christian life is not defined by the one or two hours we spend "at church," but by how we live in our homes, workplaces, and leisure time.

A Transformed Mind: True discipleship means refusing to conform to the convictions of this current "world" or age. Instead, we allow the Gospel to transform our thinking so we can discern God's will in everyday situations.

Passive Strength: We are commanded to "be strengthened," a passive call that reminds us the strength we need comes from the outside. It is a divine enabling found only in the grace of Christ.

The Unbound Word: Even when circumstances seem to "chain" our plans, the Word of God is not bound. This truth gives us the confidence to remain evangelistic, knowing that our faithfulness leads to fruitfulness.

Tonight’s Mission

We are summoned to a lifetime of worship through personal self-sacrifice. Use this evening to conduct a "sober self-assessment" of the portion of trust God has assigned to you. Let us build one another up, caring for each other’s welfare as we wait to gather again.

The expansion of Christ’s kingdom continues through us—from generation to generation—as we hand off the faith we have received.

Connect With Us

First Time? We’d love to connect with you! Tap the "Connect" button in the app or visit our website to let us know you’re watching.

Join a First Team: Don't just watch—participate! Discover how your unique gifts can edify the whole body.

Join a First Table: Stewardship is a corporate effort. Find a small group where your grace can meet someone else's need.

#StewardOfMiracles #PomeroyOH #FirstSouthern #MultiplyingTheUnheardOf #Romans12 #2Timothy2 #EvidenceOfGrace

In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus warns us against the "Danger of the Dirt"—the temptation to bury what God has given us because of fear. But at First Southern, we have seen too much of the "unheard of" power of God to live in fear. God has invested heavily in us. Now, we ask: How will we invest in His Kingdom?

Today, Pastor Josh discusses the joy of financial stewardship and our vision for the future. We don't give to "get" a miracle; we give because we have already received one. Join us as we learn to stop burying our talents and start investing in the harvest!

Tune in as Pastor Josh challenges us to stop "owning" our testimonies and start "trading" them in the marketplace. Join us as we look at Psalm 66:16 and Romans 9:17 to see why your story is the "Gospel fuel" our community needs.

#PomeroyOhio #TheUnheardOf #EvidenceOfGrace #Stewardship #Romans9 #MarketplaceEvangelism

Today, Pastor Josh kicks off our new series, The Steward of Miracles, by shattering the "Myth of Ownership." We often believe our lives, our health, and our resources belong to us. But the Word of God declares, "You are not your own; you were bought with a price." If God healed you, He was performing maintenance on His own property. If He gave you life, He is the Author of your story. Join us as we learn what it means to stop living as owners and start living as stewards of the miraculous grace of God.

In This Service:

Celebrating the 2025 season of breakthroughs.

Reclaiming the biblical truth of God’s absolute ownership.

Launching our First Teams and First Tables for 2026.

New to First Southern? We are so glad you’re here! We’d love to connect with you.

Ways to Give: Your stewardship fuels the mission here in Ohio and to the ends of the earth.

App: Tap the "Give" button below.

Online: Visit www.fsbcpomeroy.org

#EvidenceOfGrace #StewardOfMiracles #PomeroyOH #SBC #FirstTeams #FirstTables #SovereignGrace

In this special year-end message, Pastor Josh looks at the "Ebenezer" moment in 1 Samuel 7:12. An "Ebenezer" is a "Stone of Help"—a physical marker of a spiritual reality. At First Southern, 2025 has been a year of literal markers:

If God has been faithful "Thus Far," we can trust Him for the "Further." This message bridges our 2025 season of miracles with our 2026 mission to live as stewards of His glory and dive deep into the sovereignty of God in Romans 9.

In this message, we explore:

The Backward Look: Why we must raise an "Ebenezer" for the healings and breakthroughs of 2025.

The Outward Look: How our local miracles fuel our global mission through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

The Forward Look: Anchoring our future in Romans 11:36—"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things."

John 1:9–18; Philippians 2:5–11

December 21 (4th Sunday of Advent)

What you’ll hear:

Why Paul speaks in the present tense as a believer (vv. 14–17)

The conflict between the inner man and “another law” (vv. 18–23)

The honest groan: “Wretched man that I am!” (v. 24)

The doxology of hope: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (v. 25)

In this message you’ll learn:

• Why the Law is a mirror, not a monster

• The problem isn’t the commandment—it’s our corruption

• How conviction leads to freedom, not shame

• Law and Gospel: exposed desires, greater grace in Christ

In Christ, we have died to the Law’s condemnation so we now belong to the risen Lord and bear fruit for God by the power of the Spirit—not by willpower or tradition.

Text: Romans 7:1–6

Reflection Questions

Where do I still treat God as only a rule-giver?

What “fruit for death” needs uprooting in my life?

What one step can I take today to “serve in the new way of the Spirit”?

We don’t win by bravado but by the unbreakable love of God in Christ.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro — When the week fights back

02:10 If God Is For Us (v.31)

07:05 He Did Not Spare: Cross = Proof (v.32)

13:20 Charges Dismissed: God Justifies (v.33)

19:15 Four Pillars: Died • Raised • Reigns • Intercedes (v.34)

26:40 Suffering ≠ Separation (vv.35–36)

32:25 More Than Conquerors—In the storm (v.37)

37:55 Nothing Can Separate (vv.38–39)

44:10 Practices for Monday

48:30 Prayer & Invitation

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• God is for you—Calvary is the receipt (vv.31–32).

• No charge can stick—the Judge has ruled: righteous in Christ (v.33).

• No condemnation—Jesus died, rose, reigns, and prays for you (v.34).

• No separation—not death, life, powers, or anything in creation (vv.35–39).

• We “hyper-conquer” by love, not swagger (v.37).

PRACTICES FOR THE WEEK

1. The 32–34 Ladder (60 sec daily):

“Father, You did not spare Your Son (v.32). Silence every charge (v.33). Jesus, intercede for me now (v.34). Amen.”

2. Cross Out Your ‘Separators’:

Write three fears (debt/diagnosis/depression). Draw a bold X and write: “Romans 8:35–39 — cannot separate.”

3. Conquer by Love:

One costly, Christlike act today—bless, forgive, or serve someone under stress.