First Presbyterian Church of Baton Rouge

Packing List for the Promised Land

Look and Live

Repentance and faith are central in the story of Numbers 21. When the Israelites recognize their sin and repent, God provides a means of healing: looking in faith at the bronze serpent. This act foreshadows Christ, showing that true restoration comes through honest repentance and trusting in God's gracious provision.

Giants in the Land

Giants are real, but God’s promises remain. Faith stays rooted, resolute, and compassionate. Though challenges and defeat come, faithfulness is better than cowardly rebellion because God fights with his people.

When God Pours Out

Our strong cravings often lead us to complain about our circumstances instead of trusting God’s provision. God empowered his people to speak truth, redirect hearts, and remind one another that our deepest need is found in his sovereign care. We learn to listen to his Spirit and grow in gratitude for the daily provisions he provides and encourage one another in truth and love.

When God Pours Out

Our strong cravings often lead us to complain about our circumstances instead of trusting God’s provision. God empowered his people to speak truth, redirect hearts, and remind one another that our deepest need is found in his sovereign care. We learn to listen to his Spirit and grow in gratitude for the daily provisions he provides and encourage one another in truth and love.

When God Moves In

God still desires to dwell with his people. God wants our entire schedule to revolve around him. Our work, our family, our finances, our relationships. We should work toward everything centering around his presence.

When God Moves In

God still desires to dwell with his people. God wants our entire schedule to revolve around him. Our work, our family, our finances, our relationships. We should work toward everything centering around his presence.

Exercising True Freedom

“Oh, beautiful for patriot dreamThat sees beyond the yearsThine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears!” For years I assumed Katharine Lee Bates, writer of "America the Beautiful," meant Boston or Los Angeles or Chicago. But no city in our great nation will come to the point where tears shall be no more. No, it is only the great heavenly city, the city prepared by our God as a bride prepared for her husband (Rev. 21:1-4). Praise God, that day is coming, and it is only as we wait for that city that we can love the cities in which we are in here and now, to live and love and God’s free and forgiven people.

Exercising True Freedom

“Oh, beautiful for patriot dreamThat sees beyond the yearsThine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears!” For years I assumed Katharine Lee Bates, writer of "America the Beautiful," meant Boston or Los Angeles or Chicago. But no city in our great nation will come to the point where tears shall be no more. No, it is only the great heavenly city, the city prepared by our God as a bride prepared for her husband (Rev. 21:1-4). Praise God, that day is coming, and it is only as we wait for that city that we can love the cities in which we are in here and now, to live and love and God’s free and forgiven people.

False and True Glory

False worship reaches for empty glory, while true worship seeks God’s presence, beauty, truth, goodness, grace, and holiness. God’s glory changes our lives, shapes us as his distinct people, gives meaning, hope, joy, and draws the pain out of our souls.