Sunday Message recorded 07 December 2025
by Senior Pastor Victor Morrison
First Baptist Church - Columbus, TX, USA
1700 Milam St.
Columbus, TX, USA 78934

Angels of Christmas (Hebrews 1:4-14)

Have you started decorating your tree yet? I saw this year the Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center is 75’ tall imported from Norway. They hung 50,000 Christmas lights on the tree in celebration of the season.

As far as I can tell, many believe lighting the Christmas tree originated with Martin Luther in the 16th century, who lit his tree after walking in the woods and seeing the stars twinkling between the branches of the trees. It made him remember the wise men who followed the star to where Jesus was born in Bethlehem. So, he came back home and attached candles to his Christmas tree.

Galatians 4:4-7 reminds me of the illumination Paul gave to the churches across Galatia regarding the coming of Christ and the incredible impact His coming made on the world. His words form what could viewed as five strands of beautiful lights, summarizing what Christmas is really all about.

1. Incarnation of the Son, 4:4

2. Redemption out of Slavery, 4:4-5

3. Adoption into Sonship, 4:5-7

4. Reception of the Spirit, 4:6

5. Description of the Share, 4:7

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Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations  
Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison  
First Baptist Church
1700 Milam Street
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
http://fbccolumbustx.org/

The Hanging of the Christmas Lights (Galatians 4:4-7)

What would you say was the greatest Christmas gift you ever received? Among the greatest some people consider the best are gift like…a new vehicle, time, handmade cards from children, birth of a child, extension to life for one diagnosed with a terminal illness, visits from family, cash, voucher booklet from a teenager promising the completion of various chores, etc.

The angel told Joseph in a dream, “She (Mary) will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” An angel announced to a group of shepherds out in the fields, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Passages like these remind us that salvation through Christ is the greatest Christmas gift we will ever receive!

Peter wrote the letter known as 1 Peter to encourage a group of persecuted followers of Christ back in AD 63. He would remind them of the magnitude of their salvation in Christ despite the loss of material possessions and the cost of martyrdom of family and friends in Christ. As a matter of fact, over the next four years Peter and Paul would both be put to death for their faith in Christ. Yet, they died with courage and hope, cherishing the priceless gift of salvation given to them through Christ.

In this study of 1 Peter 1:10-12, the Apostle will focus on four beautiful aspects of salvation in Christ: the prophets’ investigation of salvation, the Spirit’s inspiration regarding of salvation, the apostles’ instruction about salvation and the angels’ interest in salvation.

Together, let’s admire this precious Christmas gift as we agree with Paul who wrote of it, “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15.

The Prophets’ Investigation of Salvation, 1 Peter 1:10-11

The Spirit’s Inspiration regarding Salvation, 1 Peter 1:11

The Apostles’ Instruction about Salvation, 1 Peter 1:12

The Angels’ Interest in Salvation, 1 Peter 1:12

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Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations  
Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison  
First Baptist Church
1700 Milam Street
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
http://fbccolumbustx.org/

The Greatest Christmas Gift (1 Peter 1:10-12)

Sunday Message re-recorded 26 November 2025
by Deacon Mark Vickers
First Baptist Church - Columbus, TX, USA
1700 Milam St.
Columbus, TX, USA 78934

Wonderfully Stuck: Learning to Trust God to Fight Our Battles (Exodus 13:17-14:31)

Sunday Message recorded 23 November 2025
by Senior Pastor Victor Morrison
First Baptist Church - Columbus, TX, USA
1700 Milam St.
Columbus, TX, USA 78934

Thanking God for My Church (Colossians 1:3-8)

“I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.” 116:17

Luke tells us in his Gospel account that during His last supper with the disciples, Jesus took the bread and the cup, and then, gave thanks. This was the night before His death. Obviously, He was not giddy in His emotions, but He was deliberate in the exercise of His will in obedience to Father’s plan as He offered what I would call, a “sacrifice of thanksgiving”.

Similarly, some scholars believe the historical setting of Psalm 116 was the trauma King Hezekiah experienced when Isaiah the prophet announced the king’s terminal illness. The background can be read in 2 Kings 20:1-11; 2 Chronicles 32:24-26 and Isaiah 38.

This psalm is extremely personal as the author refers to his own experiences 37x, ranging from the good, the bad to the ugly. Let’s run this psalm through a slow-motion replay and listen as Hezekiah gives us a frame by frame commentary on what he was going through spiritually.

William Bradford must have offered a “sacrifice of thanksgiving” as the Pilgrims offered thanksgiving in the early autumn of 1621. Less than one year before that Thanksgiving, while the Mayflower was anchored off Provincetown Harbor, the Pilgrims sent out several expeditions of men to explore the region to seek out the best place to build their colony. While William Bradford was away on one of these explorations, on December 7, 1620, his wife, Dorothy, fell off the Mayflower into the freezing waters of Provincetown Harbor, and drowned.

We can arrange our learning from this psalm around five fingers that King Hezekiah will slowly open up to the Lord as he offers to God his “sacrifice of thanksgiving.” As we approach Thanksgiving, perhaps this is a tougher year than unusual for you. If so, then follow Hezekiah’s example in offering thanks to God and praying about your hardships, praying not based upon feelings but faith. Giving thanks to God not because you are in a comfortable situation but because the Lord is worthy of praise.

Anguish beneath my praying, 116:3, 6, 10-11

Attention to my praying, 116:2, 4

Answer to my praying, 116:1-2, 6-9

Attitude with my praying, 116:5, 15-17

Advancing after my praying, 116:7, 13-14, 18-19

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Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations  
Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison  
First Baptist Church
1700 Milam Street
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
http://fbccolumbustx.org/

Offering to God the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving (Psalm 116)

Sunday Message recorded 16 November 2025
by Senior Pastor Victor Morrison
First Baptist Church - Columbus, TX, USA
1700 Milam St.
Columbus, TX, USA 78934

My Gratefulness for His Goodness (Psalm 103:1-5)

Sunday Message recorded 09 November 2025
by Senior Pastor Victor Morrison
First Baptist Church - Columbus, TX, USA
1700 Milam St.
Columbus, TX, USA 78934

The Blessing of a Quiet Time (Psalm 84)

Sunday Message recorded 02 November 2025
by Associate Pastor Josh Shell
First Baptist Church - Columbus, TX, USA
1700 Milam St.
Columbus, TX, USA 78934

Choosing what Matters (Luke 10:38-42)

Sunday Message recorded 19 October 2025
by Deacon Stephen Mick
First Baptist Church - Columbus, TX, USA
1700 Milam St.
Columbus, TX, USA 78934

Unashamed - Part 1 (Romans 1:16-17)

Weekly Biblical devotions that help us Grow in Grace. Real stories and absolute truths from Scripture that provide strength, hope and encouragement. Hosted by Victor Morrison, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Columbus, Texas, USA.

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Sunday Messages from First Baptist Church - Columbus, TX 1700 Milam St. Columbus, TX 78934 USA

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