First Baptist Church Muncie Indiana

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, bec...

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth." - from John 14:8-17; 25-27

"If only I had been there, and seen Jesus in the flesh myself, then it would be easy to trust him."

Maybe you've had a thought like this before. If so, the Gospels may surprise you on reading how those who knew Jesus received him. Those who saw him, lived with him, and fo...

"Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else." - from 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Those who get payback or those who are peacemakers. We have a choice on which we will be.

In a lecture on forgiveness and its limits, Elizabeth Bruenig described her two children fighting. They knew hitting each other was against the rules, punishable by the docking...

“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” -excerpt from 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:11

I’ve never watched It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but my favorite meme comes from an episode where Char...

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified…For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” -excerpt from 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

I had the “bright idea” to pop into a spin exercise class last week. The good news is that it was the most thorough workout I’ve done in years. The bad news is that it was the most thorough exercise I’ve done in years.

Being the first time I had ever done a cycling-based cla...

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution, we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now, we live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?
-excerpt from 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13
If you ever decide to pop into the church office during the Pastors’ office hours on Tuesda...

Proclaimers: Easter People Have Been Entrusted With the Gospel

This week's sermon scriptures are 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16.

For more information about messages in this series, or to find out more about First Baptist Church Muncie (FBCM), please see our website: fbcmuncie.org

Our video live streams are available on our YouTube channel.

Find a video library of past sermons on our church center channel.

If you’re looking ...

"You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit."-From 1 Thessalonians 1

My daughter is one and a half years old. It's hard to believe. So much, she learns from imitation. Her new favorite phrase is "Oooooh Noooo!" Often when she says something, Kendall and I think: "Where did she...

“In their fright, the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you…’”-excerpt fromLuke 24:1-12; 36-49

The women & Peter discover the resurrection, but no Jesus is in sight. Later, when Jesus appears to the disciples, they wrongly assume he is a ghost…Sometimes when we encounter Christ, w...

“... They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt, and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road."-from Luke 19:28-40

“There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing: a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing; a strutting rooster, a he-goat, and a king secure against revolt” -from Proverbs 30:29-31

According to the Pr...

Walking Together

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
from Hebrews 10:19-25

A couple of years ago, a survey was released suggesting our society is experie...

“The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.” -excerpt from Proverbs 16:21-24

“A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool.”
-excerpt from Proverbs 17:10-12

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.”
-excerpt from Proverbs 27:1

Have you ever received contradictory advice?

In elementary school, I remember local law enforcemen...

Walking in Wisdom Requires Faithfulness to God's plans
This week's scripture is Proverbs 16:1-9.

Even with our best efforts, we are prone to arrogance and missteps. In this section of Solomon's sayings, he reminds us that in God's grace, he has created everything with a purpose. God does not just assign us a purpose, leave us, and hope for the best. (No clockmakers here!) But in addition to creating us with purpose, God ...

“Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech:

“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?

Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.” -excerpt from Proverbs 1:20-33

Fans of the 1...

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it…Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” - from Matthew 7:13-29

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but f...

Sermon delivered by Kendall Ellis on March 2, 2025

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." from Matthew 7:1-12

Read more at fbcmuncie.org/blog

For more information about messages in this series, or to find out more about First Baptist Church Muncie (F...

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." - from Matthew 6:19-34

Treasure, money, and anxiety. If we haven't been convicted so far in Jesus's sermon on the mount, if one of us suspects Jesus is not talking about us, most reading along will have to admit there is something in this passage tha...

For more information about messages in this series, or to find out more about First Baptist Church Muncie (FBCM), please see our website: fbcmuncie.org

Our video live streams are available on our YouTube channel.

Find a video library of past sermons on our church center channel.

If you’re looking for a church home, or seeking information about the church, please submit a virtual visitor’s card.

To financially support ...

"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."
- From Matthew 6:1-8; 14-18

"Don't think the church is full of hypocrites. There's always room for at least one more." I shared this once from the pulpit. It is what I thought was a well-worn-out preacher joke. A person who heard me say it found it a bold statement: one he'd...