Today, we are bringing you the second message in Pastor Shannon Miller’s series, “Stand Firm: Lessons in Philippians 1-2:4.” Pastor Shannon Miller continues our study with a sermon titled “From Prison to Pulpit,” walking us through Philippians 1:12-18.

In this episode, Brother Shannon addresses the reality that life and ministry can be incredibly taxing. When we face adversity, the devil often whispers discouragement to steal our joy and convince us that our efforts do not matter. Yet, looking at the Apostle Paul’s perspective on his own Roman imprisonment, we see that true joy is maintained by keeping our focus entirely on Jesus. Paul didn’t complain about his circumstances; he recognized that his chains were actually in Christ, strategically placed to further the gospel message and reach the entire Palace Guard.

    Welcome to the Calhoun Baptist Church worship service. In Part Two of the “Stand Firm: Lessons from Philippians 1-2:4” series, Pastor Shannon Miller delivers a message titled “From Prison to Pulpit,” based on Philippians 1:12-18.   This week’s sermon explores the Apostle Paul’s perspective on his imprisonment, highlighting how his unwavering focus on Jesus allowed him to maintain joy and continue advancing the gospel despite intense adversity. Pastor Miller challenges the congregation to keep their eyes on Christ during difficult seasons, illustrating this point with a reference to the Christian rock band Audio Adrenaline and their song about walking on water.   The service features congregational singing of several classic hymns, including “Lord I’m Coming Home,” “His Name is Wonderful,” “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name,” and “I Am Thine, O Lord”.

    Service Overview   In today’s service, we lift our voices in worship with a collection of classic hymns that center our hearts on Christ, including “Because He Lives,” “The Solid Rock,” “Heaven Came Down,” and “I’d Rather Have Jesus.” Following our time of worship, we begin part one of our new sermon series, “Stand Firm,” looking closely at the Apostle Paul’s opening prayer in Philippians 1:3-11. Using the illustration of a child’s messy, crayon-scribbled letter, Pastor reminds us that while early, childlike faith is beautiful and pleasing to God, He ultimately calls us to cultivate a mature faith. Just as a child’s expression of love grows more articulate, thoughtful, and intentional over time, our spiritual lives are meant to develop deep roots. We are challenged to let our love abound more and more—not just in emotional feeling, but in true knowledge and spiritual discernment. By grounding our love in a deeper understanding of God’s truth, we are better equipped to navigate the complexities of life, approve the things that are truly excellent, and produce the fruit of righteousness until the day of Christ.   Service Timestamps

• 03:27 – Worship: Because He Lives
• 07:27 – Worship: The Solid Rock
• 10:22 – Worship: Heaven Came Down
• 14:31 – Worship: I’d Rather Have Jesus
• 18:30 – Sermon: Stand Firm: When Love Grows Up (Philippians 1:3-11)

In today’s episode, Brother Shannon Miller begins our new sermon series, “Stand Firm: Lessons from Philippians,” with a message titled “When Love Grows Up.” Preaching from Philippians 1:3-11, Brother Shannon explores how Christian love is never meant to be stagnant; it is either growing and evolving, or it is shrinking and dying.   Using the beautiful illustration of a child’s messy, misspelled handwritten note to their mother, Brother Shannon reminds us that while early faith and love are genuine, they are meant to mature over time into a love that fully demonstrates itself in action and understanding. He unpacks the Apostle Paul’s prayer for the church, challenging us to let our love grow beyond simple emotion and abound in real knowledge and discernment. Mature Christian love is not blind; it carefully assesses what is right and wrong, striving to be “sincere” and authentic—much like ancient pottery held up to the sunlight to prove it has no hidden flaws or wax filling in the cracks.   Ultimately, we are reminded that we do not have to manufacture this growth on our own. It is God who plants the seed and begins this good work in us, and we can trust Him to complete it until our lives are filled with the fruits of righteousness

 

What a fantastic weekend at the 117th Calhoun Colt Show! The booth we set up to hand out free snow cones to the community was a huge success. We handed out nearly five hundred snow cones between Friday evening and Saturday. This required a lot of ice, with over 200 lbs of ice to make the snow cones. Children and adults seemed to really enjoy the free sweet treat!

Far more important than the pounds of ice or the cups of syrup were the conversations we had across the counter. The absolute best part of the weekend was having the opportunity to chat, share laughs, and make genuine connections with so many individuals and families in our community. Every single snow cone handed out was a chance to share a smile, spread a little love, and remind our neighbors that we are a church that cares about them. 

If we had the pleasure of meeting you this weekend at the Colt Show, we’d love to see you again! We warmly invite you to join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM or to simply reach out if there is any way our church family can pray for or support you this season.

 

    For the past ten years, Calhoun Baptist Church has been immensely blessed by the faithful leadership, preaching, and pastoral care of Brother Mark Abney. Alongside his wife, Lori, Brother Mark has faithfully walked with our congregation through every season of life—offering steady guidance from God’s Word, comfort in times of sorrow, and joyous celebration during our greatest milestones.   Pastoring a church is a profound calling that requires deep sacrifice, and we are incredibly grateful for the devotion the Abneys have shown to our church family. Thank you, Brother Mark and Lori, for pouring your hearts into this congregation. Your legacy of faith, love, and unwavering commitment to the Gospel has left an indelible mark on Calhoun Baptist Church.   As you step into this new season of life and ministry, please know that you go with our deepest love, our heartfelt gratitude, and our continual prayers. May the Lord richly bless you both in all the new things He has planned for your future!

In today’s episode, we are sharing a special message from Brother Mark titled “God and New Things,” based on Isaiah 43:18-21. This sermon marks a significant transition, as Brother Mark steps aside from pastoring our congregation following God’s direction in March of this year.

Before we begin the audio, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to Brother Mark and his wife, Lori. Thank you for dedicating ten years and one week of your lives to faithfully leading, teaching, and loving the people of this church. You have walked alongside this congregation through marriages, the passing of loved ones, and everyday life, and your steadfast guidance will be greatly missed. As you move forward to help establish the new Artesian church, we pray for God’s continued blessings and favor on your ministry. We also look forward to the future as we officially welcome our new pastor, Brother Shannon Miller, and his wife, Gabby.

 

We are so glad you are joining us for this recording of our morning worship service. This is a deeply special day for our church family as we celebrate our pastor and sit under his preaching one final time before his retirement.

 

Today’s Message: “New Things”

Speaker: Brother Mark Abney

Scripture Text: Isaiah 43:18-21

 

About the Sermon: In his final sermon as our pastor, Brother Mark Abney turns to the book of Isaiah to deliver a powerful message of hope and transition. Just as the prophet reminded God’s people that the Lord makes a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, Brother Mark shares how God is always at work doing a “new thing” in our lives and in His church. We praise God for Brother Mark’s faithful years of pastoral ministry to our congregation, and we pray this message encourages you to trust the Lord with your future!

In today’s episode, we welcome back our guest preacher, Brother Shannon Miller, as he brings a message titled “The Lady, the Slave, and the Jailer: The Gospel Comes to Philippi,” based on Acts 16:11–34.

Our world is filled with people from wildly different backgrounds, social statuses, and walks of life. Yet, this passage in Acts reminds us that the unstoppable power of the Gospel can break through every barrier. The message explores how the saving grace of Jesus Christ arrived in the Roman colony of Philippi and transformed three very distinct lives: Lydia, a wealthy businesswoman whose heart the Lord opened; a young, exploited slave girl delivered from deep spiritual darkness; and a desperate Roman jailer who was brought to the brink of taking his own life before finding salvation.

In addition to these powerful biblical accounts, today’s episode also features a moving personal testimony of how God can take a rebellious teenager from Windsor and transform him into a follower of Christ. This message is a beautiful reminder that no matter who you are, what your past looks like, or what struggles you face, God’s saving power is able to reach you exactly where you are and bring you into His family.

The Lady, the Slave, and the Jailer: The Gospel Comes to Philippi

A Message from Acts 16:11-34 by Brother Shannon Miller

We are delighted to share this recording of our Sunday morning worship service at Calhoun Baptist Church. Whether you missed the service, want to revisit the message, or are checking out our church for the very first time, we pray this time in God’s Word is a blessing to you.

 

About This Message

How does the Gospel bridge the gap between people of completely different backgrounds, social classes, and life experiences? In this message, Brother Shannon Miller opens the Scriptures to Acts 16 to examine the moment the unstoppable power of Jesus Christ first arrived in the city of Philippi.

Through the text, we witness the saving grace of God transform three very distinct lives:

• Lydia: A wealthy, industrious businesswoman whose heart the Lord opened.

• The Slave Girl: A young woman exploited by others and bound in deep spiritual darkness.

• The Roman Jailer: A desperate, hardened man on the brink of taking his own life.

Their stories provide a beautiful, timeless reminder that the ground is level at the foot of the cross. No matter who you are, what your background is, or what your past looks like, the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ is for you.

Join Us in Person!

If you are in the Calhoun area and looking for a church family that faithfully teaches the Bible, we warmly invite you to join us this coming Sunday. We are a Southern Baptist congregation standing firmly on the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, and we would love to welcome you to our fellowship.

• Sunday School: 10:00 AM

• Morning Worship: 11:00 AM

• Location: 307 S. College St., Calhoun, MO 65323

If you have any questions, would like to know more about what we believe, or have a prayer request, please reach out to us at [email protected] or call us at 660-694-3630.