AUGUST 30, 2026 SERMON NOTES

Dr. Ronny Raines, Senior Pastor

Acts: Learn to Listen to God’s Servant

Acts 27:21-26

21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. 22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship,24 and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on some island.”

Storms aren't meant to defeat us; they're meant to develop us. The greatest times of spiritual growth often happen during the hardest times of life. 

I. Accept the Certainty of Storms (Acts 27:1-12)
1. Faith
2. Friends
     i. Who Will Pray for You? 
     ii. Who Will Listen to You? 
     iii. Who Will Sacrifice for You? 
     iv. Who Will Share with You?  

II. Hear the Warning of Servants (Acts 27:13-26)
1. Believe Truth
2. Face Reality 

III. Remember the Promises of Scripture (Acts 27:27-44)
1. Listen
2. Remember 
3. Pray
4. Overcome
5. Serve 

AUGUST 30, 2026 STUDY GUIDE

Acts: Learn to Listen to God’s Servant

Acts 27:21-26

It's common to experience storms. If you live in Florida, hurricanes are common. If you live in Oklahoma, tornadoes are frequent. If you live in California, wildfires are natural. If you live in Tennessee, heatwaves are predictable, as we just recently experienced.     

Take a few minutes and read Acts 27. Paul was on his way to Rome as God promised. He and his traveling companions experienced a violent storm. Cargo was thrown overboard. The ship struck land. People leaped into the water. It was a tense moment of life. 

What kind of personal storms have you faced? Physical? Financial? Relational? Mental? Spiritual?  

Every person in your Bible study group falls into one of three categories:   

- You're currently in a storm.

- You just came through a storm.

- You're headed into a storm (often without warning). 

As you study Acts 27, here are three truths for you to know and obey.

1. Accept the Certainty of Storms (Acts 27:1-12). Paul and his companions faced mild conditions at first and then severe conditions later. As the saying goes, you can't escape death or taxes. You can't miss storms either. As you face personal storms, what do you need to thrive, and not just survive? How strong is your faith? Who are your closest friends? Paul clung to his faith and his friends. 

2. Hear the Warning of Servants (Acts 27:13-26). Paul spoke God's truth; he warned his traveling companions. It's natural to warn people of impending danger. However, many people turn away from getting involved because it's often complicated or messy. Paul shared truth and helped his shipmates face reality. Do you need to warn another person about an approaching storm?                 

3. Remember the Promises of Scripture (Acts 27:27-44). Paul was a man of the Word. He knew how to listen to God's voice. Life was uncertain on the ship, but Paul heard a comforting Word from the Lord. When the storms are raging in your life, what do you do? Take a few minutes and share insights on how you navigated a physical, financial, relational, mental, or spiritual storm. 

Paul and his companions survived the storm by clinging to planks or pieces of the ship. As you face storms, please understand this next statement. 

Storms aren't meant to defeat you; they're meant to develop you. The greatest times of spiritual growth often happen during the hardest times of life.

Here are a few discussion questions for you and your group: 

- Why does God allow His children to face violent storms?

- Who do you need to warn about an approaching storm? 

- What biblical promises do you need to pray and speak? 

As you close this week's study, take a few minutes and pray together. Below are three ways to pray for one another. 

- Pray for anyone currently facing a storm. 

- Pray for God to use you to serve others. 

- Pray for God to be glorified through any storm He allows. 

May you cling to God's provision during your storm! 

FBC Clarksville is praying for you. We hope to study and worship with you this weekend. 

Grace and Peace!   

View all of the "Acts" Sermon Series Study Guides at fbct.org/acts.   

NEW GROWTH GROUPS

NEW Growth Groups are available, and we’d love for you to get connected! Check out all of the new 2026 Growth Groups and sign up today at fbct.org/growthgroups.

FIRST STEPS CLASS

UPCOMING CLASS: Wednesday, September 9, 2026

DINNER: 5:00-5:45PM Grace BUILDING, 3rd Floor Steeple Landing

CLASS: 5:45PM Grace BUILDING, 3rd Floor Steeple Landing

Our First Steps class is designed for new members and guests. We invite you to join our Senior Pastor, Dr. Ronny Raines, and our ministry team for our next membership class. We'll treat you to a delicious meal in the Laida Fellowship Hall, and then help you discover how God wants to use you at First Baptist Church. As you attend the class, we'll cover the following subjects:

• A personal relationship with Jesus Christ

• Meaning of church membership

• Biblical baptism

• The Lord's Supper

• The church's beliefs and vision

• Opportunities to give

• Ways to serve in the church

• Ministries at First Baptist Church 

• Meet our ministry team

• Time for Q&A

• Tour our church facilities

We hope you'll join us for our next First Steps class. You can register by filling out the online form at fbct.org/firststeps or by contacting Dana in the pastor's office at 931.245.0000 or dana.abee@fbct.org.

CAR SHOW

SEPTEMBER 26 | 9:00-11:00 AM | GRACE PARKING LOT

Join us on Saturday, September 26 from 9:00-11:00 am for the First Baptist Clarksville Show & Shine Car Show! Come and enjoy a time of fellowship, coffee, donuts, and family fun. Have a car you’d like to show? All makes and models welcome! Contact the church for more information - info@fbct.org or 931.245.0000.

FIRST BAPTIST MUSIC

Check out all of the First Baptist Worship Team videos from our online worship services at fbct.org/music.

THE VOICE - MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

Stay up to date with all that is going with our monthly newsletter, the Voice! Visit fbct.org/voice!

MEMBERSHIP AND GIVING TOOLS

Fellowship, Worship and Discipleship are fundamental to an obedient life in Christ. First Baptist Church maintains several tools to help us stay connected, share and offer the sacrifice of praise, and grow together. Scroll to the bottom of the home page at fbct.org and click on "app" to see options for adding these tools to your phone or other device. You can use these tools to stay connected to your discipleship group, contact the church, watch past worship services and sermons, as well as support the FBC financially as the Lord directs for you and your family. There are even instructions for how to access these tools using your web browser.

Using these apps, updating your profile information to share with the church is easy. When changes occur in your family life such as a move to a new home, change in email address, etc. you can update your information to be sure that our communication with you is efficient. You can even add a picture to make it easier for your church family to put a name with a face!

Information about any groups that might be of interest to you, such as Connect Groups, teams, committees, etc will be available as well.  Group Leaders can use the tools to take attendance online and access other features.  You can contact the church through the app, read messages from group members/leaders and browse the church directory.

Check out fbct.org/app  for instructions on how to get the app and reach the membership and giving website.

LOVE the time of worship through song today? You can follow us on Spotify and listen to our playlist each week! Follow us on Spotify “First Clarksville” and sing along!