You can grow up around sacred things and slowly stop seeing them as sacred. In this message, we explore the hidden danger of familiarity, the real meaning of baptism, and why so many people treat baptism like the finish line instead of the beginning of a new life with Jesus.

Baptism is not magic. It’s not spiritual insurance. It’s not graduation.

It’s surrender. It’s identity. It’s a public declaration that the old life does not get the final word.

This is Part 4 of “By the Waters” from Forest Park Church.

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Our mission: Help people follow Jesus one step at a time.

Stay Connected with FPC _______________________________ Website: http://www.forestparkchurch.com Forest Park Church Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/forestparklive Forest Park Church Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/forestparkchurch Forest Park Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forestparkchurch Scott Neal Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scottnealonline Scott Neal Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/scottnealfpc

What do you do when life doesn’t turn out the way you hoped?

In Part 3 of our series "By the Waters," we walk through the story of Mara in Exodus 15 and wrestle with a difficult reality: following Jesus does not exempt us from pain, disappointment, or bitter seasons. But Christianity doesn’t teach us to deny bitterness. It teaches us what to do with it.

If you’ve ever asked: “God, where are You?” “Why is this happening?” “How much longer?” …this message is for you.

The same God who brought Israel through the Red Sea met them at the bitter water too. And the same God who met them there still meets us in our wilderness seasons today.

Mara is real. But Mara is not final. Elim is coming.

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To support our ministry and help us continue to reach people in Elizabeth City, and around the world click here: http://www.forestparkchurch.com/give/

Our mission: Help people follow Jesus one step at a time.

Stay Connected with FPC _______________________________ Website: http://www.forestparkchurch.com Forest Park Church Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/forestparklive Forest Park Church Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/forestparkchurch Forest Park Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forestparkchurch Scott Neal Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scottnealonline Scott Neal Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/scottnealfpc

In Part 2 of By the Waters, we step into one of the most powerful moments in Gospel of John — the encounter at the well in chapter 4.

This message exposes something subtle but dangerous: You can be surrounded by the things of God… and still miss the heart of God.

While an outsider finds living water, the insiders miss the moment entirely. Jesus sees a person. They see a problem. Jesus sees a harvest. They’re thinking about lunch.

And that tension hits closer to home than we’d like to admit.

This message isn’t about shame. It’s about clarity. It’s about lifting our eyes again.

Big idea: Outsiders need to see Jesus. Insiders need to see people.

If you’ve ever felt spiritually numb, distracted, or stuck in routine… this will challenge you in the best way.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest messages and content by clicking here: https://www.youtube.com/forestparkchurch?sub_confirmation=1

To support our ministry and help us continue to reach people in Elizabeth City, and around the world click here: http://www.forestparkchurch.com/give/

Our mission: Help people follow Jesus one step at a time.

Stay Connected with FPC _______________________________ Website: http://www.forestparkchurch.com Forest Park Church Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/forestparklive Forest Park Church Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/forestparkchurch Forest Park Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forestparkchurch Scott Neal Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scottnealonline Scott Neal Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/scottnealfpc

Time is going to pass either way. The real question is: who will you become while it does?

In the first message of our new series “By the Waters,” we look at the moment Jesus called ordinary fishermen into something extraordinary and what that means for us today. It’s easy to drift through life stuck in routine, comfort, and repetition. But Jesus calls us beyond just making a living into a life of purpose, impact, and significance.

This message is a challenge to stop coasting and start being intentional with your life, your gifts, and your faith.

Key Takeaways: -Most people don’t ruin their lives, they drift through them -Routine isn’t wrong, but it can keep you stuck in something too small -Jesus calls ordinary people into extraordinary purpose -A meaningful life requires intentional steps, not passive living -The mission moves forward when people step in, not just watch

If you’ve ever felt like you’re just going through the motions, this message is for you.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest messages and content by clicking here: https://www.youtube.com/forestparkchurch?sub_confirmation=1

To support our ministry and help us continue to reach people in Elizabeth City, and around the world click here: http://www.forestparkchurch.com/give/

Our mission: Help people follow Jesus one step at a time.

Stay Connected with FPC _______________________________ Website: http://www.forestparkchurch.com Forest Park Church Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/forestparklive Forest Park Church Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/forestparkchurch Forest Park Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forestparkchurch Scott Neal Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scottnealonline Scott Neal Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/scottnealfpc

Have you ever had one moment completely shift your mood, your faith, or your peace?

In this message, we wrap up the More Than a Moment series by looking at the story of Lazarus in John 11 and discovering a powerful truth: we don’t always need a different moment, we need a higher perspective.

When life feels uncertain, when prayers feel unanswered, and when God seems silent, it’s easy to get stuck in what’s right in front of us. But Jesus invites us to see from a different vantage point. A perspective filled with hope, purpose, and resurrection life.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or just trying to hold onto faith, this message is for you.

Key Thought: Sometimes nothing around you changes… until your perspective does.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest messages and content by clicking here: https://www.youtube.com/forestparkchurch?sub_confirmation=1 To support our ministry and help us continue to reach people in Elizabeth City, and around the world click here: http://www.forestparkchurch.com/give/ Our mission: Help people follow Jesus one step at a time. Stay Connected with FPC _______________________________ Website: http://www.forestparkchurch.com Forest Park Church Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/forestparklive Forest Park Church Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/forestparkchurch Forest Park Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forestparkchurch Scott Neal Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scottnealonline Scott Neal Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/scottnealfpc

What does it actually mean to be lost?

In Part 2 of More Than a Moment, we look at one of the most familiar stories Jesus told in Gospel of Luke chapter 15 and discover something deeper than we’ve been taught.

Being lost isn’t about how far you’ve gone. It’s about disconnection.

Through the story of the prodigal son, we see that whether you’ve run from God or spent your life trying to earn from Him, the issue is the same and the invitation is the same.

God isn’t after performance. He wants relationship. If you’ve ever felt stuck, distant, or unsure how you got where you are, this message is for you.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest messages and content by clicking here: https://www.youtube.com/forestparkchurch?sub_confirmation=1

To support our ministry and help us continue to reach people in Elizabeth City, and around the world click here: http://www.forestparkchurch.com/give/

Our mission: Help people follow Jesus one step at a time.

Stay Connected with FPC _______________________________ Website: http://www.forestparkchurch.com Forest Park Church Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/forestparklive Forest Park Church Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/forestparkchurch Forest Park Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forestparkchurch Scott Neal Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scottnealonline Scott Neal Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/scottnealfpc

Easter isn’t just a moment… it changes everything. For a lot of people, Easter feels like a tradition. A holiday. Something you show up for and move on from. But what if it’s more than that?

What if the resurrection isn’t just about life after death… but about life right now?

In this message, we explore the real weight of Easter and why it matters more than anything else. Because if Jesus actually rose from the dead, it doesn’t just inspire us, it redefines everything. Your past. Your present. Your future.

This isn’t about religion. It’s about a reality that can change how you see your life today. In this message, you’ll discover: • Why Christianity rises and falls on the resurrection • What Easter means for your life right now, not just someday • How your past no longer gets to define you • Why you’re not alone in what you’re walking through • How your story isn’t over, even if it feels like it If you’ve ever wondered if Easter really matters… this is for you.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest messages and content by clicking here: https://www.youtube.com/forestparkchurch?sub_confirmation=1

To support our ministry and help us continue to reach people in Elizabeth City, and around the world click here: http://www.forestparkchurch.com/give/

Our mission: Help people follow Jesus one step at a time.

Stay Connected with FPC _______________________________ Website: http://www.forestparkchurch.com Forest Park Church Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/forestparklive Forest Park Church Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/forestparkchurch Forest Park Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forestparkchurch Scott Neal Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scottnealonline Scott Neal Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/scottnealfpc

For many of us, we were taught that Jesus died because God needed a sacrifice. But what if that’s not the full story?

What if Jesus didn’t die because God demanded blood… but because God is love?

In Part 3 of Killing God, we wrestle with the real question behind the cross: Why did Jesus have to die?

This message challenges the idea of an angry, distant God and reveals something far more powerful: 👉 A love that sees you fully 👉 A love that doesn’t wait for you to get it right 👉 A love that would rather die than give up on you Even when we rejected it… Even when we nailed it to a cross… Love stayed.

If you’ve ever struggled to believe God actually loves you… this message is for you.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest messages and content by clicking here: https://www.youtube.com/forestparkchurch?sub_confirmation=1

To support our ministry and help us continue to reach people in Elizabeth City, and around the world click here: http://www.forestparkchurch.com/give/

Our mission: Help people follow Jesus one step at a time.

Stay Connected with FPC _______________________________ Website: http://www.forestparkchurch.com Forest Park Church Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/forestparklive Forest Park Church Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/forestparkchurch Forest Park Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forestparkchurch Scott Neal Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scottnealonline Scott Neal Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/scottnealfpc