What does First B Jackson teach about serving god?
Drawn from the messages where it was actually addressed: the words said from the front, the passages taught, and where to hear the whole thing.
At First Baptist Jackson, the teaching on serving God is grounded in a simple but demanding idea: the way a believer lives day to day is meant to make the gospel compelling to the people around them. Working through Titus 2, both Pastor Jason and Pastor Ron pressed hard on the phrase Paul uses after his instructions to each group in the household, that they are to behave this way so that they might adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. The word behind "adorn" is kosmeo, the root of both cosmos and cosmetics, meaning to arrange beautifully, to make something compellingly attractive. The ordinary conduct of a Christian, whether at work, at home, or in relationship, is meant to function that way toward the teaching about God and salvation.
Both messages also confronted the question of whose will a person is actually serving. The same Greek word doulas, translated bond servant or slave, is used throughout the New Testament with the highest dignity to describe believers who have willingly placed themselves under Christ's authority. Self-control runs through nearly every group Paul addresses in that chapter, and Ron was direct that submitting the will to God's grace is not a one-time decision but the daily work of a person who belongs to Christ.
The motive for all of this is not duty for its own sake. Titus 2:11 grounds the whole chapter in grace: the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation, and it is that same grace that trains believers to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives right now. Serving God, on this teaching, flows out of what God has already done, not out of an effort to earn standing before Him.
Taught from Titus 2:11-12 · Titus 2:9-10 · Titus 2:14 · Titus 2:1 · John 3:16
The passage taught · John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
World English Bible
The messages that teach on it
- July 22, 2018 Gotta Serve Somebody Titus 2 sermon on what it means to willingly serve Christ, live self-controlled lives, and adorn the gospel through everyday work and conduct.
- July 22, 2018 You're Gonna Have to Serve Somebody Pastor Keith works through Titus 2, tracing how God's grace trains believers toward self-control, godliness, and zeal for good works while we wait for Christ's return.
Mentioned along the way
- December 21, 2025 What Do You Do With the Message? A Wyoming pastor traces how Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds each heard a message from God and acted on it, asking what we will do with the same message.
- July 2, 2023 Faith in a Great God Pastor Ray walks through Luke 17:1-10, connecting four teachings on false teaching, forgiveness, faith, and service into a single picture of what it means to follow Jesus.
- July 2, 2023 Faith in a Great God Jesus teaches His disciples about false teaching, forgiveness, faith, and service in Luke 17. One sermon on what it really means to follow Him.