I had the great privilege of preaching in the pulpit that is usually occupied by one of the three highly gifted pastors of First Baptist Church San Jacinto. Stacy Johnson and I met at William Carey University in the early nineties. We were two of very few reformed theologians on campus. In fact, we were two of the few pastors who would have even been considered conservative. (I have no idea what the theological environment is like there now.) This weekend we reminisced about those days of preaching in “dead” churches, debating liberal professors, having long theological discussions, and catching bass in the lake behind his house in Wiggins, MS.
FBC San Jacinto is a unique church. It is has three pastors, the pastors are Calvinists, they sing the great hymns of the faith… you may be saying that you know Baptist churches like this – maybe so, but there aren’t many like this is Southern California!
I preached from 1 Corinthians chapter 1 on “The Message of the Cross.” I’m sure all of us have had that discussion about which kind of songs are most effective before the sermon. Well, prior to entering the pulpit Pastor Bret Capranica led the congregation in a hymn written by Basil Manley, Jr. in 1850.
Lord, I deserve Thy deepest wrath
Ungrateful, faithless, I have been
No terrors have my soul deterred
Nor goodness wooed me from my sin.My heart is vile, my mind depraved
My flesh rebels against Thy will
I am polluted in Thy sight
Yet, Lord, have mercy on me still!Without defense, to Thee I look
To Thee, the only Savior, fly
Without a hope, without a friend
In deep distress to Thee I cry.Speak peace to me, my sins forgive
Dwell Thou within my heart, O God
The guilt and power of sin removed
And fit me for Thy blest abode.
NOW THAT WILL EITHER DRIVE YOU TO JESUS… or Dr. Phil 
Actually, I don’t know if a song has ever been written that could prepare the hearts of a congregation any more that the lyrics of that hymn. Bret, told the congregation that if they didn’t like that song then they would definitely not like his exposition of Romans 3. I, for one, am enjoying listening to Bret’s series through Romans. As some of you may know, Bret and I enjoy friendly debates about “D” and “CT”, but I am always blessed when Bret preaches.
I truly had a wonderful time with these shepherds and their flock. In fact, if I were not a pastor I would join this church and submit to the leadership of these servants of the Lord. They are living examples of what a church can be when it has godly, biblical leadership. And as a Southern Baptist I am glad that they are committed to strengthening this great denomination. In an era where Calvinists are maligned and despised by many Baptist leaders, I am thankful the Stacy, Bret, and James are counted among my close friends.
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Jason Robertson is a husband and a father and a pastor. He is dedicated to leading and equipping his the Church with God’s word and biblical theology for life ministry, using a combination of pastoral, church planting and evangelism experience. He holds a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is experienced in church planting, evangelism, missions, and the training of pastors and Bible teachers.
Jason has been preaching the gospel since 1985, serving the first ten years of ministry as a Southern Baptist itinerant evangelist out of Milldale Baptist Church in Zachary, LA which ordained him in 1993. He has preached in hundreds of churches in over 30 States and 4 countries. He planted churches in Siberia, Russia in the summers of 1993 and 1994. He founded Murrieta Valley Church in California, which he planted in cooperation with the SBC NAMB in 2001. He also teaches ministry students at California Baptist University.
You can hear his sermons and read his manuscripts on sermonaudio.com. Just follow the link to "sermons" at the top of this page.
Jason, we very much enjoyed you being with us. We had a great day worshiping with you. You fed us well from God’s word. Thanks for the kind comments. What a joy to work together with brother pastors such as James and Stacy in one local church – we are very blessed.